bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Communication: Photoactivation of nucleobase bound platinumII metal complexes: Probing the influence of the nucleobase
Authors: Sen Ananya , Dessent Caroline E. H.
Published: December 2014

We present UV laser action spectra (220-300 nm) of isolated nucleobase-bound PtII(CN)42− complexes, i.e., Pt(CN)42−⋅M, where M = uracil, thymine, cytosine, and adenine. These metal complex-nucleobase clusters represent model systems for identifying the fundamental photophysical and photochemical processes occurring in photodynamic platinum (II) drug therapies that target DNA. This is the first study to explore the specific role of the nucleobase in the photophysics of the aggregate complex. Each of the complexes studied displays a broadly similar absorption spectra, with a strong λmax ∼ 4.7 eV absorption band (nucleobase localized chromophore) and a subsequent increase in the absorption intensity towards higher spectral-energy (Pt(CN)42− localized chromophore). However, strikingly different band widths are observed across the series of complexes, decreasing in the order Pt(CN)42−⋅Thymine > Pt(CN)42−⋅Uracil > Pt(CN)42−⋅Adenine > Pt(CN)42−⋅Cytosine. Changes in the bandwidth of the ∼4.7 eV band are accompanied by distinctive changes in the photofragment product ions observed following photoexcitation, with the narrower-bandwidth complexes showing a greater propensity to decay via electron detachment decay. We discuss these observations in the context of the distinctive nucleobase-dependent excited state lifetimes.
Weakly nonlinear Rayleigh-Taylor instability of a finite-thickness fluid layer
Authors: Wang L. F. , Guo H. Y. , Wu J. F. , Ye W. H. , Liu Jie , Zhang W. Y. , He X. T.
Published: December 2014

A weakly nonlinear (WN) model has been developed for the Rayleigh-Taylor instability of a finite-thickness incompressible fluid layer (slab). We derive the coupling evolution equations for perturbations on the (upper) “linearly stable” and (lower) “linearly unstable” interfaces of the slab. Expressions of temporal evolutions of the amplitudes of the perturbation first three harmonics on the upper and lower interfaces are obtained. The classical feedthrough (interface coupling) solution obtained by Taylor [Proc. R. Soc. London A 201, 192 (1950)] is readily recovered by the first-order results. Our third-order model can depict the WN perturbation growth and the saturation of linear (exponential) growth of the perturbation fundamental mode on both interfaces. The dependence of the WN perturbation growth and the slab distortion on the normalized layer thickness (kd) is analytically investigated via the third-order solutions. Comparison is made with Jacobs-Catton's formula [J. W. Jacobs and I. Catton, J. Fluid Mech. 187, 329 (1988)] of the position of the “linearly unstable” interface. Using a reduced formula, the saturation amplitude of linear growth of the perturbation fundamental mode is studied. It is found that the finite-thickness effects play a dominant role in the WN evolution of the slab, especially when kd < 1. Thus, it should be included in applications where the interface coupling effects are important, such as inertial confinement fusion implosions and supernova explosions.
Growing ordered and stable nanostructures on polyhedral nanocrystals
Authors: Lu L. X. , Bharathi M. S. , Upmanyu M. , Zhang Y. W.
Published: December 2014

Using both theoretical analysis and phase field simulation, we reveal robust and facile self-assembly routes, which allow the growth of different stable and ordered nanostructures on various polyhedral nanocrystals (NCs) heteroepitaxially. Our studies show that by increasing the NC's size, transitions from formal growth to ordered quantum dots on the facets and further to ordered quantum dots on the corners take place. The predicted morphologies and their transitions are in excellent agreement with existing widely scattered experimental results. Our study presents a facile and potentially practical route for mass-producing hybrid NCs with well-defined size, shape, composition, and architecture.
Financial viability, benefits and challenges of employing a nurse practitioner in general practice
Authors: Helms Christopher , Crookes Jo , Bailey David
Published: December 2014

This case study examines the financial viability, benefits and challenges of employing a primary healthcare (PHC) nurse practitioner (NP) in a bulk-billing healthcare cooperative in the Australian Capital Territory. There are few empirical case reports in the Australian literature that demonstrate financial sustainability of this type of healthcare professional in primary healthcare. This case study demonstrates that the costs of employing a PHC-NP in general practice are offset by direct and indirect Medicare billings generated by the PHC-NP, resulting in a cost-neutral healthcare practitioner. The success of this model relies on bidirectional collaborative working relationships amongst general practitioners and NPs. PHC-NPs should have a generalist scope of practice and specialist expertise in order to maximise their utility within the general practice environment.

What is known about the topic?
NPs represent a growing workforce of highly trained and educated advanced practice nurses that aims to improve access to timely and affordable healthcare for underserviced populations. Recent legislation has allowed for greater exploration of innovative models of care using NPs in Australian primary healthcare.

What does this paper add?
This case study provides practical information on the financial and logistical implications of employing an NP in a bulk-billing general practice. It demonstrates the broad capability of this workforce in Australian primary healthcare, and gives an overview of the facilitators and barriers to their use in private practice.

What are the implications for practitioners?
Employment of a PHC NP in general practice requires careful consideration of the direct and indirect benefits associated with the complimentary care they offer. NP access to the Medicare Benefits Schedule is severely restricted, which impairs their ability to achieve a full scope of practice and may contribute to increased health system costs and inefficiencies. There are opportunities for integration and facilitation of this emerging role in general practice with existing nursing workforce. Further research into this evolving area would be of benefit.
Which dimensions of access are most important when rural residents decide to visit a general practitioner for non-emergency care?
Authors: Ward Bernadette , Humphreys John , McGrail Matthew , Wakerman John , Chisholm Marita
Published: December 2014

Objective Access to primary healthcare (PHC) services is key to improving health outcomes in rural areas. Unfortunately, little is known about which aspect of access is most important. The objective of this study was to determine the relative importance of different dimensions of access in the decisions of rural Australians to utilise PHC provided by general practitioners (GP). Methods Data were collected from residents of five communities located in ‘closely’ settled and ‘sparsely’ settled rural regions. A paired-comparison methodology was used to quantify the relative importance of availability, distance, affordability (cost) and acceptability (preference) in relation to respondents’ decisions to utilise a GP service for non-emergency care. Results Consumers reported that preference for a GP and GP availability are far more important than distance to and cost of the service when deciding to visit a GP for non-emergency care. Important differences in rankings emerged by geographic context, gender and age. Conclusions Understanding how different dimensions of access influence the utilisation of PHC services is critical in planning the provision of PHC services. This study reports how consumers ‘trade-off’ the different dimensions of access when accessing GP care in rural Australia. The results show that ensuring ‘good’ access requires that policymakers and planners should consider other dimensions of access to services besides geography. What is known about the topic? Research indicates that poorer ‘access’ to GPs, an impediment to seeking primary care at times of need, is the most important factor distinguishing rural from urban health service utilisation behaviour, which undoubtedly contributes to the poorer health outcomes characterising rural and remote populations. Much of the policy on access to date has focussed on increasing the number of GP located in rural and remote areas that are characterised by acute medical workforce shortages. What does this paper add? This study provides empirical data to show how different dimensions of access influence rural Australians’ decisions to utilise a GP service. Overall, rural Australians rank preference for a GP as the most important factor in their decision to visit a doctor for a non-emergency consultation. Important differences in rankings emerged by geographic context, gender and age. Distance to a GP service ranks consistently as the third most important access factor and cost is rated the least important aspect of access. What are the implications for practitioners? Although current rural health policies and incentives should continue to target the need to increase the availability of GP in non-metropolitan areas, this alone may not be sufficient to improve GP service utilisation. Other dimensions of access, particularly consumer preference, which are amenable to interventions both nationally and locally, are equally important.
‘Right' for publication: strategies for supporting novice writers across health and medical disciplines
Authors: Paliadelis Penny , Parker Vicki , Parmenter Glenda , Maple Myf
Published: December 2014

The idea that scholarly writing is an integral part of academic and clinical work is not new; however, increasing expectations that health professionals contribute to research output through publication, regardless of level of employment or experience, creates anxiety and dissonance for many novice and sometimes not-so-novice writers. Publications and the impact of scholarly work have become the key indicators not only of the performance of individual health academics, but also of health disciplines and universities more broadly. In Australia, as in many other countries, publications as the measure of research impact and outputs are expected in professional disciplines, universities and schools. Research impact is assessed and rated against other institutions and used as a means of allocating scarce research funding. Publishing has become a matter of professional reputation and sustainability. This paper reports on a project designed to enhance publication rates across health disciplines based at a rural university, where many staff members combine academic work with ongoing clinical roles. Without deliberate and focused support to enhance skills and confidence in writing it was unlikely that these academics and clinical staff members would be able to develop the kind of track record required for a successful academic career or promotion. This paper outlines the development, delivery and outcomes of this university-funded project, which drew on evidence in the literature to increase the publication rates across two Schools (Health and Medicine) at a rural university. What is known about the topic? The dissemination of scholarly work is an expectation in most health disciplines, and there are numerous strategies presented in the literature designed to boost publication rates. However, the expectation to publish becomes more challenging because many teaching positions straddle both clinical and academic roles. This article reports on a project focused on increasing the rate of published work by implementing some of the strategies discussed in the literature. What does this paper add? This paper describes the development, delivery and outcomes of a project focused on implementing strategies discussed in the literature to increase the confidence and competence of clinical and academic health professionals to publish their scholarly, project-based and research work. What are the implications for practitioners? With many health professionals combining clinical and teaching roles, there is an expectation that as they progress through their careers they can demonstrate evidence of scholarly publications. This paper provides an overview of the development and delivery of a strategy to encourage health professionals to publish that may be useful across a range of health settings.
Carbon-Supported Spinel Nanoparticle MnCo2O4 as a Cathode Catalyst towards Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Dual-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell
Authors: Hu Dengping , Zhang Guangyao , Wang Juan , Zhong Qin
Published: December 2014

The poor kinetics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in neutral media and ambient temperature limit the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). So higher-performing, low-cost oxygen reduction catalysts play a key role in power output. Through direct nanoparticle nucleation and growth on carbon black, a nanocomposite of manganese cobaltite and carbon black (in situ-MnCo2O4/C) was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method. Subsequently, the in situ-MnCo2O4/C samples were characterized. The results show that the MnCo2O4 nanoparticles with a crystalline spinel structure are well dispersed on carbon black. Electrochemical measurements reveal that in situ-MnCo2O4/C demonstrates excellent ORR catalytic activity, which may account for the synergetic coupling effect between MnCo2O4 and carbon black. The ORR on as-prepared in situ-MnCo2O4/C hybrid mainly favours a direct 4-electron reaction pathway in alkaline solution. Moreover, in situ-MnCo2O4/C was used as an alternative catalyst for ORR in dual-chamber MFC. The obtained maximum power density is 545 mW m–2, which is far higher than that of the plain cathode (Pmax = 214 mW m–2) and slightly lower than that of commercial Pt/C catalyst (Pmax = 689 mW m–2). This study implies that in situ-MnCo2O4/C nanocomposite is an efficient and cost-effective cathode catalyst for practical MFC application.
Consequences of Subtle Chiral Effects: From ‘Majority-Rules’ to ‘Minority-Rules’
Authors: Stals Patrick J. M. , Artar Müge , Vendrig Pim , Palmans Anja R. A. , Meijer E. W.
Published: December 2014

Mixing experiments were conducted on dilute solutions of asymmetrically substituted benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxamides (BTAs) with stereogenic methyl groups ranging from the α- to the δ-position with respect to the amide in one of the three side groups. While normally the majority compound determines the helical sense preference of the formed supramolecular polymers, we find here that several combinations show a helical preference governed by the minority compound. BTAs with the methyl substituent at the α- and γ-position overrule the helical preference of BTAs with the methyl substituent at the β- and δ-position. This new effect is referred to as a ‘minority-rules’ system.
Paying the price in an era of HIV treatment as prevention: a retrospective study of the cost burden of HIV treatment for people living with HIV in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Wilkinson Anna L. , McMahon James , Cheah Yik-Siang , Bradshaw Catriona S. , El-Hayek Carol , Stoové Mark
Published: December 2014

Background An estimated 25 700 people live with diagnosed HIV (PLWH) in Australia and ~1200 newly diagnosed cases were notified in 2012. New HIV prevention strategies focus on individual uptake of treatment; however, a potential barrier is the financial burden of antiretroviral treatment (ART). We describe HIV ART dispensed and the estimated associated costs for PLWH in Victoria. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of pharmacy data on ART dispensed between January 2012 and November 2013 from a hospital network, including Victoria’s largest sexual health clinic was conducted. Estimated annual patient costs of ART were calculated by the number of items dispensed per year, concession status, dispensing site and applicable co-payment. Results: A total of 60 225 dispensing records from 3903 individuals were included; this represented 83.8% of pharmaceutical benefits scheme-recorded ART dispensed in Victoria over this period. The estimated annual co-payment costs for patients without a concession card and who were collecting two medications was $433.20. One-fifth of patients (21.3%) collected four or more items, equating to an estimated annual cost of at least $866.40 without a concession card and $141.60 with a concession card. Of those dispensed four or more items, 40.4% were concession card holders. Conclusions: There may be meaningful patient costs associated with accessing ART for some PLWH. New HIV treatment-based prevention strategies need to consider financial vulnerabilities and appropriately targeted initiatives to alleviate patient costs associated with ART, ensuring they do not act as a barrier to commencement of and adherence to HIV treatment.
Taming the great: enhanced syphilis screening in HIV-positive men who have sex with men in a hospital clinic setting
Authors: Trubiano Jason A. , Hoy Jennifer F.
Published: December 2014

Syphilis incidence in HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM) continues to increase, with strategies based on early detection and treatment urgently required to control rising infections. There are barriers to enhanced testing in certain settings. At our tertiary referral HIV centre, testing rates before and after a period of enhanced syphilis testing in HIV-positive MSM were assessed. When compared with the control period (pre-enhanced screening), the enhanced syphilis testing was associated with a significant increase in syphilis testing of HIV-positive patients undergoing routine viral load testing (136 out of 574, 23% vs 317 out of 574, 55%; P < 0.0001) and a three-fold increase in new syphilis diagnoses (4 out of 574 vs 18 out of 574, P = 0.004).
“Island girl from the island”
Authors: Hiramoto Mie
Published: December 2014

This study investigates the construction of hybrid identity and cultural values as demonstrated by local Hawai‘i residents in the multiethnic urban community of Honolulu. Due to its unique historical background, Honolulu has become host to a variety of Pacific and East Asian ethnic and cultural communities, many of which are places wherein tattooing has been a traditional practice among the natives. Ideals of culturalized identity were espoused by tattoo wearers through discourse with the researchers. The results demonstrate that many wearers feel an interconnection or transnationalism with one or more of Hawai‘i’s constituent cultures, and often imbue tattoos with personal or cultural meaning, with the goal of displaying the semiotic ideology of their local specific identity in a Hawai‘i context.
‘Stupidest of all the primates’
Authors: Furukawa Gavin
Published: December 2014

This article examines the effect of linguistic anxiety on identity by analyzing the use of English in Japanese television from the perspective of Sociocultural Linguistics. Close analysis of segments from Japanese television entertainment programs shows how both verbal and visual intertextual resources are used to create linguistic anxiety at the micro level of personal interaction, on the macro level of government policy and television genre, and also at meso levels that exist between both the macro and micro. Semiotic resources such as costumes, set design, subtitles, and other elements in the mediascape allow for circulation of ideologies from government policies into assessments of individuals. The role of meso level discourse in the bidirectional transmission of linguistic anxiety between the macro levels of society and the micro levels of personal interaction is discussed.
Linguistic insecurity and reproduction of the Malay community’s peripherality in Singapore
Authors: Said-Sirhan Yurni
Published: December 2014

Singapore’s thriving globalized economy, founded on the ideology of meritocracy and conservative aversion to welfare provision, privileges industriousness, talent and competence, which works to justify the socioeconomic peripherality of a segment of the Malay community. These Malays are encouraged to acquire entrepreneurial skills through programmes run by privatized self-help organizations to attain social mobility. But privileging of Standard English as a necessary linguistic and cultural resource in such programmes results in linguistic insecurity, and the programme participants’ attempt to use English backfires due to their limited competence in the language. The analysis in this paper focuses on the anxieties involved in the positioning strategies that Malay participants employed in interviews and interactions during a micro-business training programme. Participants’ discursive strategies ofadequationanddistinction(Bucholtz and Hall, 2005) show how their linguistic insecurity about English reflects the tension between the prevailing negative branding of Malays as underachievers and their resistance towards it.
Linguistic and cultural learning processes of four Chinese exchange students at a women’s university in Japan
Authors: Asada Hirofumi
Published: December 2014

With an inter-disciplinary perspective of second language acquisition and cross-cultural adaptation, this study explores the nature of linguistically- and culturally-specific learning processes perceived by sojourners during study abroad. Methodologically, their diary entries with follow-up interviews were analyzed using the grounded theory approach. Findings included two themes that emerged as key in determining and reflecting sojourners’ learning processes in the host environment: (1) attitudes towards normative or authentic language use; and (2) perceptions of traditional or exploratory identity. Furthermore, dynamic tensions were observed between these two themes, constrained by the prescriptive knowledge and skills that sojourners had developed in formal classroom instruction and learning in the home country.
Variations dans l’acquisition du marqueur ergatif en basque par des enfants bilingues basque-français
Authors: Duguine Isabelle , Köpke Barbara , Nespoulous Jean-Luc
Published: December 2014

This paper presents the findings of a longitudinal study of seven Basque-French bilingual children and three monolingual Basque-speaking children concerning the acquisition of the morphological marking of the ergative case in Basque. Following the hypotheses put forth to account for the development of early bilingualism, the aim of the study was to establish whether bilingual children follow the same developmental sequences as monolingual children during the acquisition of the ergative case. The research protocol we have developed involves relatively unguided as well as constrained data focusing on the production of the ergative case in these two contexts. The data show significant inter-individual and inter-task differences in the production of the ergative case that contribute to some variation in language acquisition. The findings lead us to question classifications of early bilinguals based on age of acquisition alone.
Status des ö/Österreichischen Deutsch
Authors: Černá Kateřina
Published: December 2014

Im folgenden Artikel befassen wir uns mit der Sprachenpolitik sowohl auf der europäischen als auch auf der nationalen Ebene. Wir widmen Aufmerksamkeit dem Status des ö/Österreichischen Deutsch, vor allem der rechtlichen Verankerung des Sprachgebrauchs und ihren praktischen Auswirkungen. In der Linguistik wurde die Plurizentrizität der deutschen Sprache anerkannt; das österreichische Deutsch und das Schweizerdeutsch gelten aber eher als die A(nderen) Sprachvarietäten neben der D(ominanten) Varietät, nämlich des bundesdeutschen Deutsch (Clyne, 1995; Ammon, 1995). Auf der supranationalen Ebene spielte die Abgrenzung der österreichischen Varietät gegenüber den dominierenden EU-Sprachen in der Zeit des EU-Beitritts Österreichs eine starke Rolle, was durch das Protokoll Nr. 10 manifestiert ist. Auch ist die immer wachsende Position der Minderheitensprachen auf der einen Seite und die Anerkennung der Staatsprachen auf der anderen Seite ein ständiges Thema des EU-Rechtes. Auf der nationalen Ebene sind der Import der ausländischen Sprachen (Englisch und Bundesdeutsch) und die Verbreitung der inländischen Minderheitensprachen von der Bedeutung. Die Funktionen der Volksgruppensprachen sind in der Fülle Sprachgesetze nicht immer eindeutig deklariert. Neben der juristischen Lage werden einige über die Sprachpraxis aussagende Forschungsergebnisse eingebracht.
Using Multimethod Occupancy Estimation Models to Quantify Gear Differences in Detection Probabilities: Is Backpack Electrofishing Missing Occurrences for a Species of Concern?
Authors: Pregler Kasey C. , Vokoun Jason C. , Jensen Timothy , Hagstrom Neal
Published: December 2014

The Bridle Shiner Notropis bifrenatus is a small, rare minnow species native to northeastern streams and lakes. It is declining over most of its range and currently is listed as a species of concern in Connecticut. Surveys conducted with seine nets in the 1960s found Bridle Shiners at 56 locations statewide. In contrast, surveys conducted in the 1990s using electrofishing detected Bridle Shiners at 8 locations. Different sampling techniques made it difficult to assess what portion of the observed decline might be a sampling artifact, confounding efforts to assess the actual conservation status. We sampled 18 habitat patches in three Connecticut watersheds in 2012 to determine if seining for Bridle Shiners yielded a higher detection probability than backpack electrofishing. A multimethod occupancy estimation modeling approach, using the program PRESENCE, quantified the probability of correctly detecting Bridle Shiners by gear and as detection covaried with habitat features. Backpack electrofishing detection probability was lower and approximately half that of seining. The abundance of Bridle Shiners in the sample patch was the most supported covariate to detection and particularly aided detection for electrofishing. High mean water velocity improved the detection probability of backpack electrofishing and reduced that of seining. It is possible that the 1990s sampling underestimated the number of populations of Bridle Shiners, and a repeat survey of all historic locations using a seine is recommended.

Received April 3, 2014; accepted September 15, 2014
Substitutes or Complements? Consumer Preference for Local and Organic Food Attributes
Authors: Meas Thong , Hu Wuyang , Batte Marvin T. , Woods Timothy A. , Ernst Stan
Published: December 2014

This research examines consumer preference and compares their willingness‐to‐pay for a host of value‐added attributes of processed blackberry jam, and focuses on various organic and local production location designations. Instead of being treated as a binary attribute, three levels of USDA organic are considered: 100% organic, at least 95% organic, and made with organic ingredients (at least 70% organic). For local production, three levels are also included in the analysis: cross‐state region (the Ohio Valley), state boundary (state‐proud logos), as well as sub‐state regions. Stated‐preference data collected from a choice experiment in a mail survey in Kentucky and Ohio are used. Results from the study confirm positive willingness‐to‐pay for both organic and local attributes. However, consumers were willing to pay comparatively more for jam produced locally in regions smaller than the border of a state compared to organic jam. Furthermore, substitution and complementary effects between food attributes were investigated. The study found strong substitution effects between organic and local production claims, an issue that has thus far received minimal treatment in the existing literature on organic and local food willingness‐to‐pay studies. The results indicate a large degree of overlapping values in the willingness‐to‐pay for these two food attributes. In addition, the “small farm” attribute considered in the study also appears to be a substitute for organic and local attributes, which confirms the previous belief that one of the many reasons consumers purchase organic or local products is to support small or family‐owned farms.
A New Proposal for the Target Value for Home BP in Type 2 Diabetes Patients: The J-HOP Study
Authors: Eguchi Kazuo , Hoshide Satoshi , Komori Takahiro , Nagasaka Shoichiro , Kario Kazuomi
Published: December 2014

OBJECTIVE

The target levels of home-monitored blood pressure (BP) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have not yet been established. We sought to examine the appropriate target home BP level in T2DM.

METHODS

This is a subanalysis of the Japan Morning Surge-Home Blood Pressure (J-HOP) study. We enrolled 4,310 patients who had at least 1 cardiovascular risk factor, and clinic and home BP monitoring was performed. The urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) was measured as a marker of microvascular disease. Quadratic equations of the relationship between clinic/home systolic BP (SBP) and log-transformed UACR were used to determine the home BP value. Home BP levels corresponding to clinic SBP/diastolic BP (DBP) level using the UACR values were calculated separately by the presence/absence of diabetes.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 64.9±10.9 years; 47.0% were males. Of the 4,310 subjects enrolled, 1,057 (24.5%) had T2DM (the DM group) and 3,253 (75.5%) did not (non-DM group). The home BP levels equivalent to clinic BP 140/90mm Hg were 135/84 and 135/83mm Hg in the DM and non-DM groups, respectively. The home SBP levels equivalent to clinic SBP 130/80mm Hg were 122/79mm Hg in the non-DM group and 129/78mm Hg in the DM group.

CONCLUSIONS

Regardless of diabetic status, the home BP level that corresponds to the clinic SBP 140/90mm Hg was 135/85mm Hg. In patients with T2DM, the home SBP level equivalent to clinic SBP 130/80mm Hg was 129/78mm Hg with regard to the extent of microvascular disease.
Workflow4Metabolomics: a collaborative research infrastructure for computational metabolomics
Authors: Giacomoni Franck , Le Corguillé Gildas , Monsoor Misharl , Landi Marion , Pericard Pierre , Pétéra Mélanie , Duperier Christophe , Tremblay-Franco Marie , Martin Jean-François , Jacob Daniel , Goulitquer Sophie , Thévenot Etienne A. , Caron Christophe
Published: December 2014

Summary: The complex, rapidly evolving field of computational metabolomics calls for collaborative infrastructures where the large volume of new algorithms for data pre-processing, statistical analysis and annotation can be readily integrated whatever the language, evaluated on reference datasets and chained to build ad hoc workflows for users. We have developed Workflow4Metabolomics (W4M), the first fully open-source and collaborative online platform for computational metabolomics. W4M is a virtual research environment built upon the Galaxy web-based platform technology. It enables ergonomic integration, exchange and running of individual modules and workflows. Alternatively, the whole W4M framework and computational tools can be downloaded as a virtual machine for local installation.

Availability and implementation: http://workflow4metabolomics.org homepage enables users to open a private account and access the infrastructure.

W4M is developed and maintained by the French Bioinformatics Institute (IFB) and the French Metabolomics and Fluxomics Infrastructure (MetaboHUB).

Contact  :  contact@workflow4metabolomics.org
mirPub: a database for searching microRNA publications
Authors: Vergoulis Thanasis , Kanellos Ilias , Kostoulas Nikos , Georgakilas Georgios , Sellis Timos , Hatzigeorgiou Artemis , Dalamagas Theodore
Published: December 2014

Summary: Identifying, amongst millions of publications available in MEDLINE, those that are relevant to specific microRNAs (miRNAs) of interest based on keyword search faces major obstacles. References to miRNA names in the literature often deviate from standard nomenclature for various reasons, since even the official nomenclature evolves. For instance, a single miRNA name may identify two completely different molecules or two different names may refer to the same molecule. mirPub is a database with a powerful and intuitive interface, which facilitates searching for miRNA literature, addressing the aforementioned issues. To provide effective search services, mirPub applies text mining techniques on MEDLINE, integrates data from several curated databases and exploits data from its user community following a crowdsourcing approach. Other key features include an interactive visualization service that illustrates intuitively the evolution of miRNA data, tag clouds summarizing the relevance of publications to particular diseases, cell types or tissues and access to TarBase 6.0 data to oversee genes related to miRNA publications.

Availability and Implementation: mirPub is freely available at http://www.microrna.gr/mirpub/.

Contact:  vergoulis@imis.athena-innovation.gr or dalamag@imis.athena-innovation.gr

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Highly-efficient Cas9-mediated transcriptional programming
Authors: Chavez Alejandro , Scheiman Jonathan , Vora Suhani , Pruitt Benjamin W. , Tuttle Marcelle , Iyer Eswar , Kiani Samira , Guzman Christopher D. , Wiegand Daniel J. , Ter-Ovanesyan Dimtry , Braff Jonathan L. , Davidsohn Noah , Weiss Ron , Aach John , Collins James J. , Church George M.
Published: December 2014

The RNA-guided bacterial nuclease Cas9 can be reengineered as a programmable transcription factor by a series of changes to the Cas9 protein in addition to the fusion of a transcriptional activation domain (AD)1–5. However, the modest levels of gene activation achieved by current Cas9 activators have limited their potential applications. Here we describe the development of an improved transcriptional regulator through the rational design of a tripartite activator, VP64-p65-Rta (VPR), fused to Cas9. We demonstrate its utility in activating expression of endogenous coding and non-coding genes, targeting several genes simultaneously and stimulating neuronal differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Genetic Analysis of Substrain Divergence in NOD Mice
Authors: Simecek Petr , Churchill Gary A. , Yang Hyuna , Rowe Lucy B. , Herberg Lieselotte , Serreze David V. , Leiter Edward H.
Published: December 2014

The NOD mouse is a polygenic model for type 1 diabetes that is characterized by insulitis, a leukocytic infiltration of the pancreatic islets. During ~35 years since the original inbred strain was developed in Japan, NOD substrains have been established at different laboratories around the world. Although environmental differences among NOD colonies capable of impacting diabetes incidence have been recognized, differences arising from genetic divergence have not previously been analyzed. We use both Mouse Diversity Array and Whole Exome Capture Sequencing platforms to identify genetic differences distinguishing 5 NOD substrains. We describe 64 SNPs, and 2 short indels that differ in coding regions of the 5 NOD substrains. A 100 kb deletion on Chromosome 3 distinguishes NOD/ShiLtJ and NOD/ShiLtDvs from 3 other substrains, while a 111 kb deletion in theIcam2gene on Chromosome 11 is unique to the NOD/ShiLtDvs genome. The extent of genetic divergence for NOD substrains is compared to similar studies for C57BL6 and BALB/c substrains. As mutations are fixed to homozygosity by continued inbreeding, significant differences in substrain phenotypes are to be expected. These results emphasize the importance of using embryo freezing methods to minimize genetic drift within substrains andof applying appropriate genetic nomenclature to permit substrain recognition when one is used.
Beyond capital? The challenge for sociology in Britain
Authors: Holmwood John
Published: December 2014

This article offers a ‘local’,British, reading ofPiketty's landmark book,Capital in the Twenty‐First Century, suggesting that the challenge it offers to sociological approaches to inequality is more fundamental than hitherto recognized. The variations in ‘national trajectories’ exposed byPiketty revealBritain to be anomalous in terms of standard approaches to the path dependencies embedded in different welfare regimes. Using the recent work ofMonicaPrasad on ‘settler capitalism’ in theUSAand the tax and debt‐finance regime associated with it, the article suggests that colonialism and empire and its postwar unravelling has had deep consequences forBritish social stratification, albeit largely neglected byBritish sociologists. Finally, it points to the fact that the form of tax and debt‐finance regime that has become reinforced inBritain is at the heart of recent radical reforms to higher education. These are the currently unexplicated conditions of our future practice as sociologists and, therefore, an obstacle to building a critical sociology on the foundations laid out byPiketty.
After Piketty?
Authors: Atkinson A.B.
Published: December 2014

In this paper, I take Capital in the Twenty‐First Century by Thomas Piketty as the starting point for a set of twelve policy proposals that could bring about a genuine shift in the distribution of income towards less inequality. In designing the set of proposals, I draw on the experience of reducing inequality in postwar Europe and on an analysis as to how the economic circumstances are now different in the twenty‐first century, highlighting the role of technical change and the rise in capital emphasized by Piketty. The proposed measures span many fields of policy, and are not confined to fiscal redistribution, encompassing science policy, competition policy, public employment, a guaranteed return on small savings, a capital endowment, as well as more progressive taxation of income and wealth transfers, and a participation income. Inequality is embedded in our social structure, and the search for a significant reduction requires us to examine all aspects of our society. I focus on inequality within countries, and what can be achieved by national governments, with the UK specifically in mind. The primary audience is those concerned with policy‐making in national governments, but implementation should not be seen purely in these terms. There are different levels of government, and certain proposals, particularly those concerned with taxation, may only be feasible if pursued by a group of countries in collaboration. The last of the twelve proposals – for a basic income for children – is specifically directed at the European Union. Finally, actions by individuals as consumers, as workers, or as employers, can all contribute to reducing inequality.
Capital and time: uncertainty and qualitative measures of inequality
Authors: Bear Laura
Published: December 2014

This review compares Piketty and Marx's approaches to capital and time in order to argue for the importance of qualitative measures of inequality. These latter measures emphasize varying experiences across classes and through history of uncertainty and insecurity. They explore how the social rhythms of capital profoundly affect the ability to plan a life‐course. Quantitative measures such as those used by Piketty that focus on the amount of capital that accrues through time cannot capture such important phenomenon. This is especially because their calculations rest on absolute amounts of capital recorded in formal state statistics. Their limits are particularly revealed if we consider issues of: informal labour, social reproduction, and changing institutional forms of public debt. If we are to build the inter‐disciplinary rapprochement between social science and economics that Piketty calls for it must be through asserting the value of qualitative measures of insecurity and its effects on decision making. These are important to track both at the macro‐level of institutions and at the micro‐level scale of human lives. It is, therefore, through emphasizing the existing strengths of both anthropology and history that we can meet Piketty's important challenge to make our scholarship relevant to current political and social debates.
Piketty in the long run
Authors: Cowell Frank A.
Published: December 2014

I examine the idea of ‘the long run’ inPiketty (2014) and related works. In contrast to simplistic interpretations of long‐run models of income‐ and wealth‐distributionPiketty (2014) draws on a rich economic analysis that models the intra‐ and inter‐generational processes that underly the development of the wealth distribution. These processes inevitably involve both market and non‐market mechanisms. To understand this approach, and to isolate the impact of different social and economic factors on inequality in the long run, we use the concept of an equilibrium distribution. However the long‐run analysis of policy should not presume that there is an inherent tendency for the wealth distribution to approach equilibrium.
Piketty's capital and social policy
Authors: Piachaud David
Published: December 2014

Piketty's Capital (2014) primarily describes and analyses changes in the distribution of wealth and annual incomes. This paper focuses on his policy proposals that make up Part Four of the book.

Piketty defends the ‘social state’ but he discusses it largely in terms of distribution and redistribution between tax units. This neglects the important role of social policy in promoting recognition and redistribution of income and opportunities that is related to gender, race, disability and sexual orientation. Nor does Piketty consider inequalities in health which effect life‐time incomes, nor the impact of housing policies on house prices and the distribution of wealth. It is argued that Piketty's approach to social security is simplistic and plays down the complexity of competing policy goals. On taxation, Piketty defends progressive taxation and proposes a global capital levy. The latter proposal runs into formidable problems in seeking global taxation in a world of nation states. Rather than seeking a policy that is, for the foreseeable future, wholly politically impractical, a case is made for less idealistic but more practical and urgent tax coordination between nations to address the widespread avoidance of taxation that large corporations and the very wealthy are now permitted – taxation on which the future of the social state depends.

The importance of human and social capital, which are largely set aside by Piketty, are discussed. Finally,it is argued that his approach to policy is to describe trends and propose amelioration of growing inequality rather than to identify causes of the trends and propose policies that might address the causes. Nevertheless, the importance of his work in bringing issues of inequality to the fore, especially among economists, is recognized and applauded.
The politics of Piketty: what political science can learn from, and contribute to, the debate on Capital in the Twenty‐First Century
Authors: Hopkin Jonathan
Published: December 2014

Thomas Piketty's imposing volume has brought serious economics firmly into the mainstream of public debate on inequality, yet political science has been mostly absent from this debate. This article argues that political science has an essential contribution to make to this debate, and that Piketty's important and powerful book lacks a clear political theory. It develops this argument by first assessing and critiquing the changing nature of political science and its account of contemporary capitalism, and then suggesting how Piketty's thesis can be complemented, extended and challenged by focusing on the ways in which politics and collective action shape the economy and the distribution of income and wealth. Although Capital's principal message is that ‘capital is back’ and that without political interventions active political interventions will continue to grow, a political economy perspective would suggest another rather more fundamental critique: the very economic forces Piketty describes are embedded in institutional arrangements which can only be properly understood as political phenomena. In a sense capital itself – the central concept of the book – is almost meaningless without proper consideration of its political foundations. Even if the fact of capital accumulation may respond to an economic logic, the process is embedded in a very political logic. The examples of housing policy and the regulation, and failure to regulate, financial markets are used to illustrate these points.
Where's the capital? A geographical essay
Authors: Jones Gareth A.
Published: December 2014

This paper is inspired byThomasPiketty's bookCapital in theTwenty‐FirstCentury.Piketty does a wonderful job of tracing income and wealth over time, and relating changes to trends of economic and population growth, and drawing out the implications for inequality, inheritance and even democracy. But, he says relatively little about where capital is located, how capital accumulation in one place relies on activities elsewhere, how capital is urbanized with advanced capitalism and what life is like in spaces without capital. This paper asks ‘where is the geography inCapital’ or ‘where is the geography of capital inCapital’? FollowingPiketty's lead, the paper develops its analysis through a number of important novels. It examines, first, the debate thatJaneAusten ignored colonialism and slavery in her treatment of nineteenth centuryBritain, second, howBalzac and thenZola provide insight to the urban political economy of capital later in the century, and third, howKatherineBoo attends to inequality as the everyday suffering of the poor.
Changes in Quality of Health Care Delivery after Vertical Integration
Authors: Carlin Caroline S. , Dowd Bryan , Feldman Roger
Published: December 2014

Objectives

To fill an empirical gap in the literature by examining changes in quality of care measures occurring when multispecialty clinic systems were acquired by hospital‐owned, vertically integrated health care delivery systems in the Twin Cities area.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Administrative data for health plan enrollees attributed to treatment and control clinic systems, merged with U.S. Census data.

Study Design

We compared changes in quality measures for health plan enrollees in the acquired clinics to enrollees in nine control groups using a differences‐in‐differences model. Our dataset spans 2 years prior to and 4 years after the acquisitions. We estimated probit models with errors clustered within enrollees.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Data were assembled by the health plan's informatics team.

Principal Findings

Vertical integration is associated with increased rates of colorectal and cervical cancer screening and more appropriate emergency department use. The probability of ambulatory care–sensitive admissions increased when the acquisition caused disruption in admitting patterns.

Conclusions

Moving a clinic system into a vertically integrated delivery system resulted in limited increases in quality of care indicators. Caution is warranted when the acquisition causes disruption in referral patterns.