bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of a Parenting Support Program to Prevent Abuse of Adolescents in South Africa
Authors: Cluver Lucie D. , Lachman Jamie M. , Ward Catherine L. , Gardner Frances , Peterson Tshiamo , Hutchings Judy M. , Mikton Christopher , Meinck Franziska , Tsoanyane Sibongile , Doubt Jenny , Boyes Mark , Redfern Alice A.
Published: February 2016

Purpose:

Violence against children increases in adolescence, but there is a research and practice gap in research-supported child abuse prevention for the adolescent years. A pilot program for low-resource settings was developed in collaboration with nongovernmental organizations, government, and academics in South Africa, using research-supported principles.

Method:

This study used a pre-post design to test initial effects of a 10-session parenting program with 60 participants (30 caregiver–adolescent dyads) in high-poverty rural South Africa. Areas requiring further testing and adaptation were also identified.

Results:

Pre-post findings show medium to large program effects in reducing child abuse and adolescent problem behavior, as well as large effects in improvements of positive parenting, and perceived parent and adolescent social support.

Discussion:

There is potential to reduce child abuse, improve parenting, and reduce adolescent problem behavior in rural South Africa through parenting programs. Further development, testing and longer term follow-up are required to ascertain potential for scale-up.
Utility of the MMPI-2-RF Validity Scales in Detection of Simulated Underreporting: Implications of Incorporating a Manipulation Check
Authors: Crighton Adam H. , Marek Ryan J. , Dragon Wendy R. , Ben-Porath Yossef S.
Published: February 2016

We examined the utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory–2–Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) underreporting Validity Scales in a simulation design with a sample of 257 undergraduate college students. Extending past research by Sellbom and Bagby, we added a manipulation check to determine whether individuals complied with instructions to underreport and examined the impact of underreporting on all of the MMPI-2-RF substantive scales. Results indicated that individuals who complied with instructions to underreport produced statistically significantly and meaningfully higher scores on the MMPI-2-RF underreporting Validity Scales (Uncommon Virtues [L-r] and Adjustment Validity [K-r]) when compared with those who received standard instructions and with individuals who did not comply with instructions to underreport. Moreover, in comparisons with both groups, participants who complied with instructions to underreport had lower scores on the majority of the substantive scales. L-r and K-r added incremental predictive utility (in reference to one another) in differentiating individuals who underreported from individuals who were given standard instructions.
Role of the Apolipoprotein E Polymorphisms in the Development of Retinal Vein Occlusion in a Tunisian Population: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Mrad Meriem , Fekih-Mrissa Najiba , Wathek Cheima , Sayeh Aicha , Maalej Afef , Rannen Riadh , Nsiri Brahim
Published: February 2016

Apolipoprotein E ( APOE) is a member of the apolipoprotein gene family. APOE is polymorphic with 3 main allelic types: ∊2, ∊3, and ∊4. Certain of these alleles have been associated with higher vascular risk. However, the association of APOE genotypes with retinal biomarkers and risk of retinal stroke is less clear. This study evaluated the role of APOE polymorphisms in retinal vein occlusion (RVO). In the present study, 2-point mutations coding amino acid residues 112 and 158 were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from DNA extracted from Tunisian participants. APOE genotypes were determined by multiplex PCR followed by molecular hybridization. Eighty-eight patients (26 women and 62 men) and 100 age- and gender-matched healthy participants were enrolled. The statistical study revealed a higher frequency of the ∊4 allele in patients as compared to controls (27.3% vs 9%) with a significant association of the ∊4 allele with the disease ( P < 10−3, Pa < 10−3, odds ratio [OR] = 3.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.1-6.8). The frequency of the ∊3 allele was significantly lower in the patients with RVO compared to the controls (60.2% vs 82.5%, respectively; P < 10−3, Pa < 10−3, OR = 0.32, 95% CI = 0.19-0.53). The ∊3 allele seems to be protective against the disease. There was no association between the APO ∊2 allele and RVO. The association of APOE allele and genotype with RVO requires further investigation in different populations.
Impact of sarcopenia on long-term mortality following endovascular aneurysm repair
Authors: Hale Allyson L , Twomey Kayla , Ewing Joseph A , Langan Eugene M , Cull David L , Gray Bruce H
Published: February 2016

Sarcopenia, also known as a reduction of skeletal muscle mass, is a patient-specific risk factor for vascular and cancer patients. However, there are no data on abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) patients treated with endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) who have sarcopenia. To determine the impact of sarcopenia on mortality following EVAR, we retrospectively reviewed 200 patients treated with EVAR by estimating muscle mass on abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans. Mortality was analyzed according to its presence ( n=25) or absence ( n=175). Sarcopenia was more common in women than men (32.0% vs 9.7%; p=0.005). Patients with sarcopenia had an increased risk of mortality compared to those without (76% vs 48%; p=0.016). Of note, the overall mortality rate was 51% with a median follow up of 8.4 years (interquartile range, 5.3–11.7). In conclusion, the presence of sarcopenia on a CT scan is an important predictor of long-term mortality in patients treated for AAA with EVAR. Pending further study, these data suggest that sarcopenia may aid in pre-procedural long-term survival assessment of patients undergoing EVAR.
Screening accuracy of the parent-completed Ages and Stages Questionnaires – second edition as a broadband screener for motor problems in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Vanvuchelen Marleen , Van Schuerbeeck Lise , Braeken Marijke AKA
Published: February 2016

Children with autism spectrum disorders are at risk for motor problems. However, this area is often overlooked in the developmental evaluation in autism diagnostic clinics. An alternative can be to identify children who should receive intensive motor assessment by using a parent-based screener. The aim of this study was to examine whether the Ages and Stages Questionnaires – second edition may be used to identify gross and fine motor problems in children. High-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder (n = 43, 22–54 m) participated in this study. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values and areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were calculated by comparing the Ages and Stages Questionnaires – second edition scores to the developmental evaluation of the Peabody Developmental Motor Scale – second edition. The results revealed that both the Ages and Stages Questionnaires – second edition gross and fine motor domain may be used to identify children without motor problems. In contrast, sensitivity analyses revealed the likelihood of under screening motor problems in this population. The Ages and Stages Questionnaires – second edition met only the criteria of a fair to good accuracy to identify poor gross motor (sensitivity = 100%) and below-average fine motor development (sensitivity = 71%) in this sample. Hence, the capacity of the Ages and Stages Questionnaires – second edition to identify motor problems in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder appears to be limited. It is recommended to include a formal standardized motor test in the diagnostic procedure for all children with autism spectrum disorder.
Reading Balint group work through Lacan’s theory of the four discourses
Authors: Van Roy Kaatje , Marché-Paillé Anne , Geerardyn Filip , Vanheule Stijn
Published: February 2016

In Balint groups, (para)medical professionals explore difficult interactions with patients by means of case presentations and discussions. As the process of Balint group work is not well understood, this article investigates Balint group meetings by making use of Lacan’s theory of the four discourses. Five Balint group case presentations and their subsequent group discussion were studied, resulting in the observation of five crucial aspects of Balint group work. First, Balint group participants brought puzzlement to the group, which is indicative of the structural impossibility Lacan situates at the basis of all discourse (1). As for the group discussion, we emphasize ‘hysterization’ as a crucial process in Balint group work (2), the supporting role of the discourse of the analyst (3) and the centrality of discourse interactions (4). Finally, the potential transformation of the initial puzzlement is discussed (5). We conclude by putting forth the uniqueness of Balint group work as well as the potential usefulness of our analysis as a framework for Balint group leaders and professionals in charge of continuing medical education.
Estimation of Income and Price Elasticities of India’s Trade in Services
Authors: Thomas Mini P.
Published: February 2016

India’s international trade in services benefited immensely from the change in policy stance from import substitution to export promotion in the post-1991 period. Services trade received a further boost when India became signatory to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1995. This article aims to estimate the income and price elasticities of India’s services trade during the post-WTO period, using the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach to cointegration, for the time period starting from 1996–97 Q1 (Quarter 1) to 2011–12 Q4 (Quarter 4). This study finds that the long-run income elasticity of services export is quite high and statistically significant, when the gross domestic product (GDP) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries is taken as proxy for GDP of importing countries. However, the price elasticity of services export is found to be statistically insignificant. In case of services import, both the income and price elasticities of demand are found to be statistically significant, and services import is found to be more responsive to income than relative prices. The implications of the empirical findings for India’s current account deficit are also explored.
WTO Accession of Afghanistan
Authors: Mobariz Ahmad Shah
Published: February 2016

This article undertakes a cost and benefit analysis of Afghanistan’s accession to World Trade Organization (WTO) while attempting to shed light on the post-accession challenges. For the empirical part of our analysis, we have applied the WITS/SMART model to assess the implication of WTO membership. The partial equilibrium model embedded in World Integrated Trade Solution (WITS) allows users to estimate the impact of tariff reductions on trade flows, tariff revenue, and consumer surplus for a single market at a time. Tariff cut is an independent variable, and government revenue, trade creation, consumer welfare and general welfare of the economy are the other variables. The results show that Afghanistan consumers stand to benefit from tariff reforms with overall positive welfare gains to the economy. However, a reduction in tariff will lead to a fall in government revenue and a substantial increase in imports which may raise some concerns over the negative trade balance. The last section of the article studies the post-accession challenges of WTO accession with a special focus on developmental, institutional, legal and environmental challenges. Our analysis based on the sectoral mix of Afghanistan’s economy suggests that producers will lose out. Findings of this study support the argument to maintain maximum policy space for Afghanistan for its long-term development need purposes.
Economic Upgrading in Bangladesh’s Apparel Value Chain during the Post-MFA Period
Authors: Moazzem Khondaker Golam , Sehrin Farzana
Published: February 2016

Bangladesh’s success in the global apparel value chain following the expiration of the Multi-Fibre Arrangement in 2005 deserves study to understand how a least developed country can become a major source of apparels within a short period of time. This article shows that even under a quasi-hierarchical governance structure, suppliers in Bangladesh have made significant progress in economic upgrading, particularly process and product upgrading. Competitive pressure linked to the ‘open sourcing’ of apparels has caused leading firms to ease conditionalities on the production process. Preferential access to major markets, timely responses to buyers’ changing demands, favourable policies related to the import of raw materials, production and export of apparels and new labour-related policies have facilitated economic upgrading. Suppliers have accordingly benefited from substantial investment in productive capacity, technological know-how and workers’ skills. Further upgrading would require more investment in firm-level productivity and improvement in physical and social compliance.
Degradation of urban environment and human health by emissions from fossil-fuel combusting electricity generators in Abeokuta metropolis, Nigeria
Authors: Oguntoke Olusegun , Adeyemi Adeoye
Published: February 2016

Electricity generators of varying capacities are popularly utilized in Nigeria as alternative source of power owing to the unreliability of electricity supply through the national grid. This study evaluated the impact of emissions from generating sets on air quality and human health in selected areas of Abeokuta city, Nigeria. The levels of particulates (PM1, PM3), carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulphide and methane were monitored using portable samplers. Copies of questionnaire were administered to generator operators and nearby residents so as to collect additional information. The capacities of sampled generators ranged from 1 to 25 kVA. The range of mean concentrations of PM1 (4.7–219.2 µg/m3), PM3 (7.8–251.6 µg/m3), carbon dioxide (4.5–10.9%), methane (0.0–1.2 ppm), carbon monoxide (141.1–4167.0 ppm), NOx (4.0–85.7 ppm), methane (2.3–31.0 ppm), sulphur oxides (3.5–65.6 ppm) and hydrogen sulphide (0.0–0.7 ppm) was highest at generator sites. The distance of sample sites to generator locations accounted for 14–66% variation of pollutants levels. Ailments frequently suffered by the exposed residents included nasal congestion (66%), cough (33%), headache (24%) and fever (12%). A national policy on appropriate use of electricity generator is urgently needed in Nigeria.
Infrastructural action in Vietnam: Inverting the techno-politics of hacking in the global South
Authors: Nguyen Lilly U
Published: February 2016

This article introduces the concept of infrastructural action and argues that it serves as a useful analytical tool to understand hacking in the global South. Infrastructural action consists of the delicate ways in which people establish socio-technical connections when located along the margins of global modernity. In Vietnam, hacking is situated within the illicit circulations of global commodities. These circulations form pervasive infrastructures for clandestine importation of “hand-carried” goods into the country. Embedded within these circulations, hacking consists of a strategy for breaking into global techno-culture rather than breaking out of socio-technical limitations. By contextualizing hacking within the larger dilemmas of distance within global integration, this notion of infrastructural action serves as a critique of the techno-political ethos of transgression typical of hacking discourses in the global North.
Storying practices of witnessing: Refiguring quality in everyday pedagogical encounters
Authors: Nxumalo Fikile
Published: February 2016

This article seeks to contribute towards an unsettling of dominant framings of quality pedagogical practices. The author puts to work the figure of the modest witness as a way of storying everyday pedagogical encounters in childhood settings that might refigure quality in practice as materialized more-than-human becomings. Working within the particular context of British Columbia, Canada, the author’s particular orientation is towards emergent interferences to child-centred orientations in everyday practices of art-making and multispecies encounters in relation with a local mountain forest. Through descriptive visual and textual accounts of small stories, the author experiments with foregrounding implicated, responsive and messy practices-in-question that bring hopeful possibilities for reimagining quality in practice without the enclosures of fixed and final resolutions.
Scarcity at school
Authors: De Bruyckere Pedro , Simons Maarten
Published: February 2016

In this review essay we examine the consequences for education of the insights shared in the book Scarcity by Mullainathan and Shafir (2013). After a brief summary of the book, we describe three possible links between scarcity and 1) the creation of slack at school, 2) the student’s personal environment and 3) and the turning of learning into a production process. Based on these three possible consequences further avenues for research are presented.
Endovascular Aneurysm Sealing Is Associated With Reduced Radiation Exposure and Procedure Time Compared With Standard Endovascular Aneurysm Repair
Authors: Antoniou George A. , Senior Yashika , Iazzolino Luigi , England Andrew , McWilliams Richard G. , Fisher Robert K. , Torella Francesco
Published: February 2016

Purpose: To compare indirect measures of radiation exposure and operating time between endovascular aneurysm sealing (EVAS) and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Methods: The study compared 32 consecutive patients (mean age 78 years; 21 men) with AAA who underwent standard EVAS with 32 consecutive patients (mean age 78 years; 25 men) treated with EVAR between November 2013 and May 2015. Electronic medical records and image archiving databases were interrogated to retrieve relevant information and scans. Screening time and dose area product (DAP) were the primary outcome measures. Data are presented as median and interquartile range (IQR). Correlations were tested with the Spearman rank coefficient (ρ). Results: The screening time was shorter in EVAS than in EVAR [16 (IQR 14, 20) vs 32 (IQR 26, 38) minutes; p<0.001]. DAP was lower in EVAS than in EVAR [54 (IQR 42, 77) vs 111 (IQR 75, 157) Gy∙cm2; p<0.001]. Digital subtraction angiography delivered 20% (IQR 15%, 28%) of the DAP in EVAS compared with 14% (IQR 11%, 19%) in EVAR (p<0.001), but the absolute time used on digital subtraction was marginally lower in EVAS than in EVAR [1.07 (IQR 0.52, 1.23) vs 1.19 (IQR 0.70, 1.39) minutes; p=0.037]. The operating time was shorter for EVAS [121 (IQR 105, 146) vs 162 (IQR 145,186) minutes; p<0.001]. There was a moderate correlation between DAP and screening time (ρ=0.597, p<0.001), fluoroscopy time (ρ=0.595, p<0.001), digital subtraction time (ρ=0.301, p=0.015), and operating time (ρ=0.512, p<0.001). Conclusion: EVAS is associated with reduced radiation exposure and operating room usage compared with EVAR, which may have safety and financial implications.
Berberine induces dedifferentiation by actin cytoskeleton reorganization via phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and p38 kinase pathways in rabbit articular chondrocytes
Authors: Yu Seon-Mi , Cho Hongsik , Kim Gwang-Hoon , Chung Ki-Wha , Seo Sung-Yum , Kim Song-Ja
Published: February 2016

Osteoarthritis is a nonrheumatologic joint disease characterized by progressive degeneration of the cartilage extracellular matrix. Berberine (BBR) is an isoquinoline alkaloid used in traditional Chinese medicine, the majority of which is extracted from Huang Lian ( Coptis chinensis). Although numerous studies have revealed the anticancer activity of BBR, its effects on normal cells, such as chondrocytes, and the molecular mechanisms underlying its actions remain elusive. Therefore, we examined the effects of BBR on rabbit articular chondrocytes, and the underlying molecular mechanisms, focusing on actin cytoskeletal reorganization. BBR induced dedifferentiation by inhibiting activation of phosphoinositide-3(PI3)-kinase/Akt and p38 kinase. Furthermore, inhibition of p38 kinase and PI3-kinase/Akt with SB203580 and LY294002, respectively, accelerated the BBR-induced dedifferentiation. BBR also caused actin cytoskeletal architecture reorganization and, therefore, we investigated if these effects were involved in the dedifferentiation. Disruption of the actin cytoskeleton by cytochalasin D reversed the BBR-induced dedifferentiation by activating PI3-kinase/Akt and p38 kinase. In contrast, the induction of actin filament aggregation by jasplakinolide accelerated the BBR-induced dedifferentiation via PI3-kinase/Akt inhibition and p38 kinase activation. Taken together, these data suggest that BBR strongly induces dedifferentiation, and actin cytoskeletal reorganization is a crucial requirement for this effect. Furthermore, the dedifferentiation activity of BBR appears to be mediated via PI3-kinase/Akt and p38 kinase pathways in rabbit articular chondrocytes.
Suspect Properties
Authors: Stanger-Ross Jordan ,   Landscapes of Injustice Research Collective
Published: February 2016

In 1943, after Japanese Canadians were uprooted from coastal British Columbia, federal officials commenced selling all of their property without consent. This article argues that the dispossession of Japanese-Canadian-owned property has an urban history that has been largely overlooked, as arguments for the dispossession emerged from the Vancouver municipal government, which focused federal attention on the historic Japanese-Canadian neighborhood in the city. Federal officials seized upon the condition of a small number of deteriorating “slum” properties as a justification of wholesale dispossession. An initiative town planners in Vancouver thus helped to motivate the wholesale dispossession of Japanese Canadians.
A concept of integrated environmental approach, Part 2: Integrated approach to rehabilitation
Authors: Bomberg Mark , Wojcik Robert , Piotrowski Jerzy
Published: February 2016

In the first part of this series, we discussed that the building structure, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and moisture management all need to be considered simultaneously to ensure durability of materials and control cost of near-zero energy buildings. These factors must be addressed through contributions of the whole design team. It is also evident that building physics must take an active role in development of near-zero energy buildings. The need to ensure good indoor environment and durability of materials and limit the cost of buildings led to integrated design process that now is typical in Canada for design of low-energy buildings. Furthermore, interactions between energy efficiency, quality of indoor environment and moisture management led us to introduce a concept of “environmental control.” In the meantime, we made an unexpected observation—Vancouver dwellings in 2002 use the same amount of energy as 1920 uninsulated masonry buildings erected in the same location. We concluded that despite having advanced technology, our lack of vision prevents us from an effective use of this technology. With the quest for sustainable buildings, we should learn more from termites, who appear to master the art of hygrothermal control better than humans as they are capable of maintaining highly stable interior comfort zone without heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning equipment. Nevertheless, whatever progress is achieved in new low-energy buildings, it is lost when rehabilitating existing buildings because there an owner will typically do one step at a time. If the financial constraints do not allow for more, this first step should be an integrated action that includes a combination of insulation and heating systems.
Distribution fields visual tracking based on Newton style convergence descending
Authors: Tian-jian Liu , Gui-min Lin , Zu-tao Zhang
Published: February 2016

Traditional mean shift method has the limitation that could not effectively represent object accurately and converge the correct target position fast. To address this problem, in this paper, we propose a novel tracking algorithm using a Newton style convergence descending way based on distribution Fields target representation scheme. In contrast with traditional mean shift algorithm, the computational efficiency is greatly improved due to the SSD form of the histogram in distribution Fields and the efficient Newton style search. Our method adds uncertainty information of the target model and ensures a more accurate convergence to the true target. Moreover, we use a Kalman filter to predict target location in modified mean shift framework. This contributes to shorten convergence speed of the algorithm. Experiment results on several challenging video sequences have verified that the proposed algorithm is efficient and effective in many complicated scenes.
Patient safety incidents associated with failures in communication reported from critical care units in the North West of England between 2009 and 2014
Authors: Thomas Antony N , MacDonald John J
Published: February 2016

Communication is central to the safe and effective delivery of critical care. We present a retrospective analysis of hospital incident reports attributed to communication that were generated by 30 intensive care units in the North West of England from 2009 to 2014. We reviewed when during the critical care pathway incidents occur, the personnel involved, the method of communication used, the type of information communicated and the level of harm associated with the incident. We found that patient safety incidents tend to occur when patients are transferred into or out of the intensive care unit and when information has to be communicated to other teams during the critical care stay. We then examine ways that the patient handover process may be modified to improve communication and safety.
Gutter Impingement in Total Ankle Arthroplasty
Authors: Schuberth John M. , Wood David A. , Christensen Jeffrey C.
Published: February 2016

Gutter pain and impingement are recognized entities following total ankle arthroplasty (TAA). However, little concrete information is available in the existing literature regarding the etiology, potentiating factors, treatment and prevention of gutter disease. This comprehensive monograph discusses this problem in expansive detail and provides insight to surgeons who perform TAA, such that these complications can be minimized in the future.

Levels of Evidence: Level V: Expert opinion
Free Exercise and the Resurgence of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act
Authors: Lay William D.
Published: February 2016

This article considers the development of protections of the Free Exercise of Religion, initially under the First Amendment, and later, following Congress’s discontent with the Supreme Court’s decision in Employment Division of Oregon v. Smith, under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The article discusses how this development resulted in the Court’s controversial split decision in the case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby in 2014, and considers why commentators take such diverse views of that case.
Omani Parents’ Involvement in Their Children’s English Education
Authors: Al-Mahrooqi Rahma , Denman Christopher , Al-Maamari Faisal
Published: February 2016

High levels of parental/guardian involvement in their children’s education are often associated with a number of educational, social, and even psychological benefits. These include higher rates of school attendance, greater communication with the school or education provider, better social adjustment, and higher levels of academic achievement including in the development of literacy skills. However, despite this, research from the Arab world on the relationship between parental involvement and children’s development of English language literacy skills has tended to report mixed results, with this also being the case in the Sultanate of Oman. To explore this issue within the Omani context, the current study examined the potential benefits, challenges, and practices of Omani parents as these relate to their children’s English language studies. A two-section Likert-type response scale questionnaire was administered to 391 parents of students in the country’s public school system. The first questionnaire section related to participants’ attitudes about parental involvement in their children’s English studies while the second explored the frequency with which parents engaged in activities related to their children’s English classes. Results indicate that Omani parents are generally aware of the importance of their involvement in their children’s development and believe that they should be involved in a number of home- and school-based activities. However, despite this, their actual level of involvement in their children’s English language studies was somewhat limited.
The Whys, Hows, and Lessons Learned From Our 780-Person Writing Class
Authors: Bowse Robert , Lawrence Holly
Published: February 2016

Two business communication faculty share the story of teaching a 780-person business writing class. The article discusses the challenges of teaching such a large writing class. Challenges ranged from adopting a hybrid course model to hiring adjunct faculty for help with the task of grading. The article offers lessons learned, and recommends that one proceed with caution when considering a superlarge format for writing instruction. Both theory and experience are used to support this position.
Preference for Popular and World Music: A Review of Literature
Authors: Williams Matthew
Published: February 2016

Reviews of literature on music preference may provide music educators with a variety of research on information, techniques, and methods to implement in the music classroom. Calls to widen the types of music used in curricula seem to underscore the importance of research exploring preference using music other than, and in addition to, Western art music. The present review of literature explores nonmusical factors, including external characteristics and listener characteristics, as well as musical factors contributing to decisions of musical preference related to popular and world music to aid educators in planning effective and meaningful music activities.
Generating functions for stoichiometry and structure of single- and double-layer sheet-silicates
Authors: Hawthorne Frank C.
Published: February 2016

Two-dimensional nets may be used to generate the stoichiometry and structure of single-layer and double-layer sheet-silicate minerals. Many sheet-silicate minerals are based on the 3-connected plane nets 63, 4.82, (4.6.8)2(6.82)1and (52.8)1(5.82)1, and some more complicated nets, e.g. (5.6.7)4(5.72)1(62.7)1, (4.122)2(42.12)1, (52.8)1(5.62)1(5.6.8)2(62.8)1,have one or two representative structures. Many complicated sheet-silicate minerals are based on sheets of 2-, 3- and 4-connected tetrahedra that may be developed from 3- and 4-connected plane nets by a series of oikodoméic operations on 3- or 4-connected nets that change the topologyof the parent net. There are three classes of oikodoméic operations: (1) insertion of 2- and 3-connected vertices into 3- and 4-connected plane nets; (2,3) replication of single-layer sheets by topological mirror or two-fold-rotation operators, and condensation of the resulting twosingle-layer sheets to form double-layer sheets. The topological aspects of these sheet structures may be described by functions that express stoichiometry in terms of tetrahedron connectivities (formula-generating functions) and functions that associate these formula-generating functionswith specific two-dimensional nets. Using these functions, we may generate formulae and structural arrangements of single-layer and double-layer silicate structures with specific local and long-range topological features.
Method to represent the distribution of QTL additive and dominance effects associated with quantitative traits in computer simulation
Authors: Sun Xiaochun , Mumm Rita H.
Published: February 2016

Background

Computer simulation is a resource which can be employed to identify optimal breeding strategies to effectively and efficiently achieve specific goals in developing improved cultivars. In some instances, it is crucial to assessin silicothe options as well as the impact of various crossing schemes and breeding approaches on performance for traits of interest such as grain yield. For this, a means by which gene effects can be represented in the genome model is critical.

Results

To address this need, we devised a method to represent the genomic distribution of additive and dominance gene effects associated with quantitative traits. The method, based on meta-analysis of previously-estimated QTL effects following Bennewitz and Meuwissen (J Anim Breed Genet 127:171–9, 2010), utilizes a modified Dirichlet process Gaussian mixture model (DPGMM) to fit the number of mixture components and estimate parameters (i.e. mean and variance) of the genomic distribution. The method was demonstrated using several maize QTL data sets to provide estimates of additive and dominance effects for grain yield and other quantitative traits for application in maize genome simulations.

Conclusions

The DPGMM method offers an alternative to the over-simplified infinitesimal model in computer simulation as a means to better represent the genetic architecture of quantitative traits, which likely involve some large effects in addition to many small effects. Furthermore, it confers an advantage over other methods in that the number of mixture model components need not be knowna priori. In addition, the method is robust with use of large-scale, multi-allelic data sets or with meta-analyses of smaller QTL data sets which may be derived from bi-parental populations in precisely estimating distribution parameters. Thus, the method has high utility in representing the genetic architecture of quantitative traits in computer simulation.
BMC Bioinformatics reviewer acknowledgement 2015
Authors: Krüger Dirk
Published: February 2016

Contributing reviewers

The editors of BMC Bioinformatics would like to thank all our reviewers who have contributed to the journal in Volume 16 (2015).
Feasibility and safety of low-flow extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal to facilitate ultra-protective ventilation in patients with moderate acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Fanelli Vito , Ranieri Marco V. , Mancebo Jordi , Moerer Onnen , Quintel Michael , Morley Scott , Moran Indalecio , Parrilla Francisco , Costamagna Andrea , Gaudiosi Marco , Combes Alain
Published: February 2016

Background

Mechanical ventilation with a tidal volume (VT) of 6 mL/kg/predicted body weight (PBW), to maintain plateau pressure (Pplat) lower than 30 cmH2O, does not completely avoid the risk of ventilator induced lung injury (VILI). The aim of this study was to evaluate safety and feasibility of a ventilation strategy consisting of very low VT combined with extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R).

Methods

In fifteen patients with moderate ARDS, VT was reduced from baseline to 4 mL/kg PBW while PEEP was increased to target a plateau pressure – (Pplat) between 23 and 25 cmH2O. Low-flow ECCO2R was initiated when respiratory acidosis developed (pH < 7.25, PaCO2 > 60 mmHg). Ventilation parameters (VT, respiratory rate, PEEP), respiratory compliance (CRS), driving pressure (DeltaP = VT/CRS), arterial blood gases, and ECCO2R system operational characteristics were collected during the period of ultra-protective ventilation. Patients were weaned from ECCO2R when PaO2/FiO2 was higher than 200 and could tolerate conventional ventilation settings. Complications, mortality at day 28, need for prone positioning and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and data on weaning from both MV and ECCO2R were also collected.

Results

During the 2 h run in phase, VT reduction from baseline (6.2 mL/kg PBW) to approximately 4 mL/kg PBW caused respiratory acidosis (pH < 7.25) in all fifteen patients. At steady state, ECCO2R with an average blood flow of 435 mL/min and sweep gas flow of 10 L/min was effective at correcting pH and PaCO2 to within 10 % of baseline values. PEEP values tended to increase at VT of 4 mL/kg from 12.2 to 14.5 cmH2O, but this change was not statistically significant. Driving pressure was significantly reduced during the first two days compared to baseline (from 13.9 to 11.6 cmH2O; p < 0.05) and there were no significant differences in the values of respiratory system compliance. Rescue therapies for life threatening hypoxemia such as prone position and ECMO were necessary in four and two patients, respectively. Only two study-related adverse events were observed (intravascular hemolysis and femoral catheter kinking).

Conclusions

The low-flow ECCO2R system safely facilitates a low volume, low pressure ultra-protective mechanical ventilation strategy in patients with moderate ARDS.
Mild versus moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease: three-year outcomes in a routine clinical setting of cholinesterase inhibitor therapy
Authors: Wattmo Carina , Minthon Lennart , Wallin Åsa K.
Published: February 2016

Background

There is an increasing interest in cognitive and functional outcomes in the respective stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and in novel therapies particularly for the milder phases of AD. Our aim was to describe and compare various aspects of disease progression in patients with mild versus moderate AD in routine clinical practice of cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI) therapy.

Methods

This 3-year, prospective, observational, multicentre study included 1021 participants. Of these, 734 had mild AD (Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, 20–26) and 287 had moderate AD (MMSE score, 10–19) at the start of ChEI treatment. At baseline and every 6 months, patients were assessed using cognitive, global, instrumental and basic activities of daily living (ADL) scales. Potential predictors of deterioration in moderate AD were analysed using mixed-effects models.

Results

The change from baseline between participants with mild and moderate stages of AD after 3 years of ChEI therapy differed significantly on the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog) and basic ADL, but not using the MMSE and instrumental ADL scales. Protective independent factors for better cognitive long-term outcome in the group with moderate AD were older age, higher instrumental ADL ability, no antipsychotics, usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs/acetylsalicylic acid, living with family member, lower education and a higher mean dose of ChEI. Apolipoprotein E genotype did not influence the rates of disease progression or the longitudinal outcomes. Prediction models were provided for moderate AD.

Conclusions

More sensitive cognitive measures, such as the ADAS-cog scale, are required to detect a possibly faster deterioration among the participants with moderate AD. This study highlighted the clinical importance of instrumental ADL evaluations in patients at a mild stage of AD, and the importance of optimizing the ChEI dose even for individuals with moderate AD. Solitary living was a risk factor for faster cognitive decline, and probably expanded the need for formal care in the group with moderate AD. The patients with more advanced AD and presumably more pronounced neuroinflammation might have additional cognitive benefits from longer-term treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs.
Meeting report: GenBank microbial genomic taxonomy workshop (12–13 May, 2015)
Authors: Federhen Scott , Rossello-Mora Ramon , Klenk Hans-Peter , Tindall Brian J. , Konstantinidis Konstantinos T. , Whitman William B. , Brown Daniel , Labeda David , Ussery David , Garrity George M. , Colwell Rita R. , Hasan Nur , Graf Joerg , Parte Aidan , Yarza Pablo , Goldberg Brittany , Sichtig Heike , Karsch-Mizrachi Ilene , Clark Karen , McVeigh Richard , Pruitt Kim D. , Tatusova Tatiana , Falk Robert , Turner Seán , Madden Thomas , Kitts Paul , Kimchi Avi , Klimke William , Agarwala Richa , DiCuccio Michael , Ostell James
Published: February 2016

Many genomes are incorrectly identified at GenBank. We developed a plan to find and correct misidentified genomes using genomic comparison statistics together with a scaffold of reliably identified genomes from type. A workshop was organized with broad representation from the bacterial taxonomic community to review the proposal, the GenBank Microbial Genomic Taxonomy Workshop, Bethesda MD, May 12–13, 2015.
Final Results of the Sunbelt Melanoma Trial: A Multi-Institutional Prospective Randomized Phase III Study Evaluating the Role of Adjuvant High-Dose Interferon Alfa-2b and Completion Lymph Node Dissection for Patients Staged by Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy
Authors: McMasters Kelly M. , Egger Michael E. , Edwards Michael J. , Ross Merrick I. , Reintgen Douglas S. , Noyes R. Dirk , Martin Robert C.G. , Goydos James S. , Beitsch Peter D. , Urist Marshall M. , Ariyan Stephan , Sussman Jeffrey J. , Davidson B. Scott , Gershenwald Jeffrey E. , Hagendoorn Lee J. , Stromberg Arnold J. , Scoggins Charles R.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

The Sunbelt Melanoma Trial is a prospective randomized trial evaluating the role of high-dose interferon alfa-2b therapy (HDI) or completion lymph node dissection (CLND) for patients with melanoma staged by sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy.

Patients and Methods

Patients were eligible if they were age 18 to 70 years with primary cutaneous melanoma ≥ 1.0 mm Breslow thickness and underwent SLN biopsy. In Protocol A, patients with a single tumor-positive lymph node after SLN biopsy underwent CLND and were randomly assigned to observation versus HDI. In Protocol B, patients with tumor-negative SLN by standard histopathology and immunohistochemistry underwent molecular staging by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Patients positive by RT-PCR were randomly assigned to observation versus CLND versus CLND+HDI. Primary end points were disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).

Results

In the Protocol A intention-to-treat analysis, there were no significant differences in DFS (hazard ratio, 0.82; P = .45) or OS (hazard ratio, 1.10; P = .68) for patients randomly assigned to HDI versus observation. In the Protocol B intention-to-treat analysis, there were no significant differences in overall DFS (P = .069) or OS (P = .77) across the three randomized treatment arms. Similarly, efficacy analysis (excluding patients who did not receive the assigned treatment) did not demonstrate significant differences in DFS or OS in Protocol A or Protocol B. Median follow-up time was 71 months.

Conclusion

No survival benefit for adjuvant HDI in patients with a single positive SLN was found. Among patients with tumor-negative SLN by conventional pathology but with melanoma detected in the SLN by RT-PCR, there was no OS benefit for CLND or CLND+HDI.
A Randomized, Open-Label, Multicenter, Phase III Study of Epoetin Alfa Versus Best Standard of Care in Anemic Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer Receiving Standard Chemotherapy
Authors: Leyland-Jones Brian , Bondarenko Igor , Nemsadze Gia , Smirnov Vitaliy , Litvin Iryna , Kokhreidze Irakli , Abshilava Lia , Janjalia Mikheil , Li Rubi , Lakshmaiah Kuntegowda C. , Samkharadze Beka , Tarasova Oksana , Mohapatra Ranjan Kumar , Sparyk Yaroslav , Polenkov Sergey , Vladimirov Vladimir , Xiu Liang , Zhu Eugene , Kimelblatt Bruce , Deprince Kris , Safonov Ilya , Bowers Peter , Vercammen Els
Published: February 2016

Purpose

An open-label, noninferiority study to evaluate the impact of epoetin alfa (EPO) on tumor outcomes when used to treat anemia in patients receiving chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer.

Methods

Women with hemoglobin ≤ 11.0 g/dL, receiving first- or second-line chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer, were randomly assigned to EPO 40,000 IU subcutaneously once a week or best standard of care. The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary end points included overall survival, time to tumor progression, overall response rate, RBC transfusions, and thrombotic vascular events.

Results

In 2,098 patients randomly assigned, median PFS (based on investigator-determined disease progression [PD]) was 7.4 months in both groups (hazard ratio [HR], 1.089; 95% CI, 0.988 to 1.200); upper bound exceeded prespecified noninferiority margin of 1.15. Median PFS per independent review committee–determined PD was 7.6 months in both groups (HR, 1.028; 95% CI, 0.922 to 1.146); upper bound did not exceed prespecified noninferiority margin. Median overall survival at clinical cutoff (1,337 deaths) was 17.2 months in the EPO and 17.4 months in the best standard of care group (HR, 1.057; 95% CI, 0.949 to 1.177), median time to tumor progression was 7.5 months in both groups (HR, 1.094; 95% CI, 0.991 to 1.209), and overall response rate was 50% versus 51% (odds ratio, 0.950; 95% CI, 0.799 to 1.130). RBC transfusions were 5.8% versus 11.4% (P < .001), and thrombotic vascular events were 2.8% versus 1.4% (P = .038), respectively.

Conclusion

The primary end point, PFS based on investigator-determined PD, did not meet noninferiority criteria. As a consistency assessment with the primary finding, PFS based on independent review committee–determined PD met noninferiority criteria. Overall, this study did not achieve noninferiority objective in ruling out a 15% increased risk in PD/death. RBC transfusion should be the preferred approach for the management of anemia in this population.
Longitudinal Assessment of Neurocognitive Outcomes in Survivors of Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated on a Contemporary Chemotherapy Protocol
Authors: Jacola Lisa M. , Krull Kevin R. , Pui Ching-Hon , Pei Deqing , Cheng Cheng , Reddick Wilburn E. , Conklin Heather M.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

Survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) treated with CNS-directed chemotherapy are at risk for neurocognitive deficits. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the neurodevelopmental trajectory in this vulnerable population.

Methods

Patients enrolled in the St. Jude Total Therapy Study XV, which omitted prophylactic cranial radiation therapy in all patients, completed comprehensive neuropsychological assessments at induction (n = 142), end of maintenance (n = 243), and 2 years after completion of therapy (n = 211). We report on longitudinal change in neurocognitive function and predictors of neurocognitive outcomes 2 years after completing therapy.

Results

Neurocognitive function was largely age appropriate 2 years after completing therapy; however, the overall group demonstrated significant attention deficits and a significantly greater frequency of learning problems as compared with national normative data (all P ≤ .005). Higher-intensity CNS-directed chemotherapy conferred elevated risk for difficulties in attention, processing speed, and academics (all P ≤ .01). The rate and direction of change in performance and caregiver-reported attention difficulties differed significantly by age at diagnosis and sex. End-of-therapy attention problems predicted lower academic scores 2 years later, with small to moderate effect sizes (│r│= 0.17 to 0.25, all P ≤ .05).

Conclusion

Two years after chemotherapy-only treatment, neurocognitive function is largely age appropriate. Nonetheless, survivors remain at elevated risk for attention problems that impact real-world functioning. Attention problems at the end of therapy predicted decreased academics 2 years later, suggesting an amplified functional impact of discrete neurocognitive difficulties. Age at diagnosis and patient sex may alter neurocognitive development in survivors of childhood ALL treated with chemotherapy-only protocols.