bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management of heart failure in Piedmont Region
Authors: Montali Nicolò , Bobbio Marco , Cerrato Enrico , Azzaro Giuseppe , Bianchini Bianca , Bonzano Alessandro , Calì Maria Vincenza , Cavaliere Rodolfo , Correndo Livio , Deorsola Antonella , Guillevin Regine , Mainardi Loredana , Montagna Laura , Pistono Massimo , Trevi Gian Paolo
Published: January 2016

emerging problem in industrialized countries: it continues to be diagnosed at high rates and has an decreased survival time, raising new problems, such as the need of an adequate medical service organization and resource expenditure. Aim of this analysis was a quantitative evaluation of diagnostic and therapeutic resource use for CHF in outpatient departments in Piedmont, Italy. Methods. We performed a cross-sectional observational study, based on a two-month data collection in 12 outpatient departments dedicated to congestive heart failure. Information was obtained on each patient using a specific anonymous data collection form. Results. We obtained and analyzed for the study 547 forms. Mean patient age was 66.1 years, mean ejection fraction was 36.6%. Coronary artery disease accounted for 34.6% of congestive heart failure cases, followed by idiopathic etiology (26.4%). Main comorbidities were diabetes (22.3%) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (17.7%). Sixty-nine% of patients received a medical treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, 72.6% with β-blockers, 48.8% with aldosterone antagonists. As far as diagnostic resource use during a six-month period preceeding observation, 46.8% of patients underwent echocardiographic examination, 9.9% Holter ECG, 6.0% coronary angiography. Therapy was more often increased in patients who underwent an instrumental evaluation during the preceeding six-month period. Conclusions. Data suggests that in Piedmont outpatients with chronic heart failure receive a high drug prescription level and a small number of instrumental evaluations, as suggested in main international guidelines.
Flow mediated dilation in patient with Berlin Heart Incor left ventricle assist device
Authors: Tarro Genta Franco , Colajanni Elena , Sbarra Pierluigi , Tidu Massimo , Rinaldi Mauro , Bosimini Enzo
Published: January 2016

Endothelial function measured with brachial ultrasound (BU) is a validated prognostic factor in heart failure patients. LVAD (left ventricle assist device) application is a promising surgical technique to treat refractory heart failure patients both as a bridge to heart transplantation or as destination therapy. Clinical recovery in such patients may be associated to normal endothelial function measured by BU but, as recently reported, only in pulsatile flow LVAD patients. The present paper report a case of normal endothelial function even in a axial LVAD patient.
Effectiveness and Cost of Insecticide-Treated Bed Nets and Indoor Residual Spraying for the Control of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: A Cluster-Randomized Control Trial in Morocco
Authors: Faraj Chafika , Yukich Joshua , Adlaoui El Bachir , Wahabi Rachid , Mnzava Abraham Peter , Kaddaf Mustapha , El Idrissi Abderrahmane Laamrani , Ameur Btissam , Kleinschmidt Immo
Published: January 2016

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) remains an important public health problem in Morocco. A cluster-randomized trial was conducted with the following three study arms: 1) long-lasting insecticide-treated nets (LLINs) plus standard of care environmental management (SoC-EM), 2) indoor residual spraying (IRS) with α-cypermethrin plus SoC-EM, and 3) SoC-EM alone. Incidence of new CL cases by passive and active case detection, sandfly abundance, and cost and cost-effectiveness was compared between study arms over 5 years. Incidence of CL and sandfly abundance were significantly lower in the IRS arm compared with SoC-EM (CL incidence rate ratio = 0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.15–0.69, P = 0.005 and sandfly abundance ratio = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.18–0.85, P = 0.022). Reductions in the LLIN arm of the study were not significant, possibly due to poor compliance. IRS was effective and more cost-effective for the prevention of CL in Morocco.
Modelización matemática y álgebra: un tándem perfecto en la formación de ingenieros
Authors: Montero Morales José Antonio , Badía Folguera David
Published: January 2016

Este artículo se enmarca en el ámbito de la modelización matemática utilizada como herramienta docente, fundamental en la enseñanza del  álgebra lineal a futuros ingenieros de telecomunicaciones. Se presentan varios ejemplos técnicos en los que el álgebra lineal juega un papel relevante, y se expone como pueden ser utilizados dichos ejemplos para conseguir que los alumnos de primer curso comprendan mejor los conceptos algebraicos tratados. En la parte final del artículo se comentan algunos de los resultados obtenidos en la experiencia realizada en la ETSEEI La Salle (Universidad Ramón Llull), de la que pueden extraerse conclusiones significativas en relación a la influencia que ejerce, en el rendimiento final de los estudiantes, el uso de estos ejemplos contextualizados.
Un problema a resolver con los algoritmos de caminos más cortos
Authors: Jordan Cristina , Burriel Jordi , Herráiz Raquel
Published: January 2016

Numerosos problemas pertenecientes a los más diversos campos pueden ser resueltos a partir de la modelización en teoría de grafos, materia en pleno auge, podríamos decir que con crecimiento exponencial, por su amplia aplicabilidad. Uno de los primeros problemas que se plantean al alumno que inicia el estudio de la teoría de grafos es el cálculo del trazado de un camino de mínimo peso de un vértice a otro, es decir, el cálculo de la distancia mínima que separa dos vértices dados, así como el recorrido a realizar para obtenerla. Para ilustrarlo, motivar su estudio e iniciar al estudiante en el mundo de la modelización y su amplia gama de posibilidades, presentamos el siguiente caso concreto, en el que ayudamos a la policía a atrapar a los autores de un robo. La solución consiste en representar la ciudad en la que tiene lugar el atraco mediante un grafo no dirigido ponderado positivo, y aplicar el algoritmo de Floyd, entrelazado con razonamientos de tipo combinatorio. Podremos asegurar al final del ejercicio que los ladrones no tienen escapatoria, relacionando la solución con otro concepto de la teoría de grafos, la cortadura de vértices.
El idiotismo de la sociedad tradicionalista tecnificada de principios de siglo XX en Colombia: La crítica de Luis Vidales a través de "Suenan timbres"
Authors: Zuluaga Hernández Esnedy Aidé
Published: January 2016

En este artículo tratamos, por medio de Suenan timbres de Luis Vidales, el idiotismo de la sociedad tradicionalista tecnificada de principios de siglo XX en Colombia. Estudio que realizamos desde el concepto de idiotismo de Vidales, en estrecha relación con el de cultura de viñeta de Rafael Gutiérrez Girardot, para plantear la burla del poeta a la sociedad capitalista, que cuestiona la presencia de la Iglesia católica y la política conservadora en todos los estadios de la vida nacional.
Los museos como factor de integración social del arte en la comunidad. La experiencia del Voluntariado cultural de mayores
Authors: Gilabert González Luz María , Lorente Guerrero Xavier
Published: January 2016

Tras abordar la revisión de los museos como instituciones culturales encargadas de conservar la memoria cultural y su evolución a lo largo del tiempo, el artículo describe la práctica cultural que se está produciendo en el entorno español para realizar la difusión del arte, su reproducción y la transmisión de cultura, la historia y la identidad y el papel primordial que están desempeñando paulatinamente las personas mayores en una sociedad española cada vez más envejecida. Estas nuevas actividades de fortalecimiento social, a partir del voluntariado de las personas mayores, están relacionadas con la «generatividad » (potencialidad de una generación) que, por este medio, la persona y los grupos sociales adquieren nuevas competencias, lo que permite hacer más fuerte a una sociedad para todas las edades. Nunca, en la historia del Trabajo Social, han existido tantas personas mayores dispuestas a participar activa y comunitariamente y nunca ha pasado tan desapercibido para tantos agentes sociales un movimiento social de estas características.
Hacia una revisión estratégica del sector de inteligencia en El Salvador
Authors: Morales Peña Juan Carlos
Published: January 2016

El análisis del sector de inteligencia en El Salvador, permite dimensionar los alcances y orientaciones de la revisión estratégica en ésta área especializada del Estado, en tanto propuesta y principal recurso de gestión. Contribuyendo en el proceso al desarrollo del concepto y a la aproximación cualitativa a los organismos productores de inteligencia. Esta disciplina no convencional ha registrado una expansión en su campo de estudio por la influencia de lo global. Por ello y dada las limitaciones de acceso a estadísticas e informes, se utilizó una encuesta élite para expertos del sector; cuyo procesamiento ha servido para reconstruir a mediana escala la situación de esta área sensible de la esfera gubernamental. Así también ha hecho posible la identificación de los retos de profesionalización y transformación futura que deben enfrentar. Todo lo anterior generando un aporte fundamental de ubicación de factores estratégicos claves, hacia los cuales debe dirigirse y orientarse el cambio en el sector.
Discurso del Coordinador Principal del Centro de Investigación Científica en el marco de la presentación pública del séptimo número de la revista “Policía y Seguridad Pública”
Authors: Morales Peña Juan Carlos
Published: January 2016

Revista Policía y Seguridad Pública 5(2) 2015: 508-512
Libros: Inteligencia cultural. Habilidades interpersonales para triunfar en la empresa global
Authors: Gutiérrez Portillo Alejandra Patricia
Published: January 2016

Revista Policía y Seguridad Pública 5(2) 2015: 515-516
Cine: La vida de los otros
Authors: Morales Peña Juan Carlos
Published: January 2016

Revista Policía y Seguridad Pública 5(2) 2015: 528-532
An Exploratory Study of Typical and Traditional Culinary Arts in Surakarta and Semarang as Cultural Heritage to Support Indonesian Tourism Industry
Authors: Ardriyati Wienny , Wiwaha Julius Arya
Published: January 2016

As a three-year-project funded by the Government of Indonesia in support of tourism industry, the current study explored the existence of tradional culinary arts of Surakarta and Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia in an attempt to promote Indonesian tourism industry. A variety of traditional snacks from the two cities were identified to find out the similarities and differences in terms of exclusiveness and flavors. As a qualitative and descriptive research, the data were collected through observation on the types of traditional snacks, and interviews with the vendors with respect to the process of production. The findings showed that Surakarta is rich in traditional snacks, such as Sosis Solo, Jadah Blondo, Intip Goreng, Rambak, and various kinds of Lenjongan. In Semarang, on the other hand, there are Ganjel Ril, Winbgko Babat, Kue Senteling, Wedang Tahu, Lumpia and one type of Lenjongan—therefore Lenjongan can be assumed is the only similar food in the two cities. The snacks from the two cities have distinctive features of flavors that deserve both domestic and international recognition. Therefore these types of snacks can be tourism icons to attrack national and international tourists to visit both cities. In conclusion, the typical traditional culinary arts should be preserved and maintained to support Indonesian tourism industry.
Group Awareness in Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning Environments
Authors: Ghadirian Hajar , Ayub Ahmad Fauzi Mohd , Silong Abu Daud , Abu Bakar Kamariah Binti , Hosseinzadeh Maryam
Published: January 2016

It is commonly discussed that a key challenge for online collaboration is to promote group awareness. Although this challenge has gained intensified consideration by scholars, scarce attempt has been devoted into development of a reasonable hypothetical comprehension of what group awareness really is and how it can be studied empirically. This paper discusses the conceptions and the research approaches that underlie research on group awareness in computer-supported collaborative learning circumstances. While reviewing literatures they were classified in three categories (behavioral, knowledge and social awareness) and variations in underlying techniques for visualization of awareness were also provided. It was found that research is dominated by the knowledge awareness, which focus on awareness of self and group members’ level of expertise, skills, prior knowledge of task as well as areas of interest. However, some researchers studied all dimensions of awareness. Findings suggest that the notion of displaying of awareness information has been shifted from implicit to the explicit technique through which users intentionally express their current understanding and feelings or assess self and others and provide necessary information to be visualized. The paper suggests some areas for future empirical investigations and concludes with some theoretical considerations on the nature of group awareness.
Factors Affecting ICT Adoption among Distance Education Students based on the Technology Acceptance Model—A Case Study at a Distance Education University in Iran
Authors: Dastjerdi Negin Barat
Published: January 2016

The incorporation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into education systems is an active program and movement in education that illustrates modern education and enables an all-encompassing presence in the third millennium; however, prior to applying ICT, the factors affecting the adoption and use of these technologies should be carefully investigated. The present study was conducted to examine the factors affecting ICT adoption among distance education students based on the Technology Acceptance Model. The present descriptive survey was conducted in a statistical population consisting of all the distance education students residing in Isfahan, Iran, in 2013, 281 of who were selected as the sample population through simple random sampling. The data collection tool used was a researcher-made questionnaire designed based on field studies and using the questionnaires used in studies conducted by Nair (2012), Alanazy (2006) and Wikins (2008). The items in each section were designed based on the constructs and factors forming the Technology Acceptance Model examined in this study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data in SPSS-21 and LISREL. The results of the analysis showed significant relationships between perceived usefulness and ease of ICT use and the attitude toward the use of these technologies, between the attitude toward ICT use and the decision to use ICT, and also between the decision to use ICT and its actual use.
A Decision-Making Model of Low-Carbon Supply Chain Based on Government Subsidy
Authors: Qi Xu , Li-Jun Xiao
Published: January 2016

In order to study the role of government subsidy in a low-carbon supply chain, a two-stage game model for the subsidy of low-carbon technology and the subsidy of recycling is built. And the optimized subsidy strategy under the two kinds of subsidy policies is obtained. This paper also studies the impacts of carbon emission abatement, subsidy and the factors of subsidy on the supply chain and the government, so as to compare the two kinds of subsidy strategy. This study shows that the coefficient of environmental benefits has a positive impact on the two kinds of subsidy. The subsidy can stimulate the carbon emission abatement, and the fixed cost has a negative impact on the will of the carbon emission abatement for the enterprises. Besides, the low-carbon preference of the consumers has a positive impact on the carbon emission abatement under the subsidy of low-carbon technology. Furthermore, the government under takes the main costs of the low-carbon technology under the subsidy of low-carbon technology. The environmental benefit also has a positive impact on the subsidy and profits of the government and the profits of the supply chain under the recycling subsidy. Both kinds of subsidy strategies can achieve supply chain coordination.
Organizational Characteristics Role in the Implementation of Information Security in Knowledge Management with a Focus on Employee Safety Behavior
Authors: Solat Rafiee Abozar , Alem Tabriz Akbar , Babaei Mohammadreza
Published: January 2016

Nowadays competitive advantage maintenance and organizational survival are not possible with no knowledge management. Due to the fact that the main components of the organizational knowledge transfer are human resources and this force only can produce and share knowledge content in the context of a safe system.  Therefore, the implementation of the information security and safety principles observance by the personnel are essential in knowledge management. Among these factors, organizational characteristics can be an affecting factor in the implementation of information security in knowledge management. In this study, the role of organizational characteristics on the implementation of the information security in organization's knowledge management with a focus on safety behavior of the staff in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and its subsidiaries, is investigated. The study type is applied research and the method is descriptive method which its population consists of senior managers and experts in the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology and its subsidiary companies. The sample size of 253 people has been set. A questionnaire was used to measure the research variables. Regression analysis was used to investigate the relationships between variables and AMOS software was used in this study. The results showed a significant relationship between organizational characteristics with safety behavior and also safety behavior with information security implementation in knowledge management. The organizational characteristics significantly are associated with the implementation of information security in knowledge management.
Manifestation of Culture in Traditional Architecture of Iranian House Based on Old Houses in Kashan
Authors: Farshchi Hamidreza , Sediqi Arfaei Fariborz , Askari Kashan Vahid , Jamali Fatemeh
Published: January 2016

Culture has huge effect on designing architecture form and space and also on quality of resident lives. Architecture applied in the places should be based on recognition of resident culture so as to satisfy their mental and physical needs, otherwise they would not be able to communicate with the space and feel pleasant sense of belonging. Although most designers focus on significance and influence of culture on building, they simply ignore the essence of culture and its impact on designs. In this research, in order to recognize how Islamic Iranian culture components manifest in the body of traditional house architecture, old houses in Kashan by using case study and descriptive and analytical method are studied. Considering culture elements including values, national norms and customs, myths and religious beliefs, spatial hierarchy, internal and external consistency, privacy, and communication with the nature and type of planning as the main criteria, this conclusion can be drawn that despite of all functional and regional limitations, architects pay adequate attention to resident culture and its impact on the deepest layers of their mind. Such researches are truly essential to survive contemporary housing pattern which is constantly falling into decline under the municipal laws.
Mechanistic Studies on the Palladium‐Catalyzed Direct C‐5 Arylation of Imidazoles: The Fundamental Role of the Azole as a Ligand for Palladium
Authors: Perego Luca Alessandro , Grimaud Laurence , Bellina Fabio
Published: January 2016

An in‐depth mechanistic study on the palladium‐catalyzed direct arylation of imidazoles at the C‐5 position is presented. The interactions of triphenylphosphine (PPh3)‐ligated aryl‐Pd species with 1,2‐dimethyl‐1H‐imidazole (dmim) have been studied in detail. In contrast with previous suggestions, phosphine‐ligated organo‐Pd species are not active and the reaction proceeds through imidazole‐ligated organo‐Pd intermediates. The kinetics of the oxidative addition of aryl halides with dmim‐ligated Pd(0) species have been characterized in a Pd(dba)2/dmim model system. A thorough study of the equilibria involving novel [ArPd(dmim)2X] complexes (X=I, OAc) and the unexpected cationic [ArPd(dmim)3]+ is also reported. The ability of these species to effect the CH arylation of dmim at room temperature in the presence of acetate is also demonstrated.

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A Chiral Disulfoxide Ligand for the Efficient Rhodium‐Catalyzed 1,2‐Addition of Arylboroxines to N‐Tosylarylimines
Authors: Zhao Guang‐Zhen , Sipos Gellért , Salvador Alvaro , Ou Arnold , Gao Pengchao , Skelton Brian W. , Dorta Reto
Published: January 2016

Enantiomerically pure diarylmethylamines are important building blocks in active pharmaceutical ingredients. Herein, we report a rhodium precatalyst with a chiral disulfoxide ligand that effects the 1,2‐addition of arylboroxines to aromatic imines to give high yields and high enantioselectivities of these products. The present paper describes a system that is very simple, where the ease of synthesis of the chiral ligand is combined with low catalyst loadings and reaction conditions that do not need any additives or external base.

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Targeted next‐generation sequencing of 22 mismatch repair genes identifies Lynch syndrome families
Authors: Talseth‐Palmer Bente A. , Bauer Denis C. , Sjursen Wenche , Evans Tiffany J. , McPhillips Mary , Proietto Anthony , Otton Geoffrey , Spigelman Allan D. , Scott Rodney J.
Published: January 2016

Causative germline mutations in mismatch repair (MMR) genes can only be identified in ~50% of families with a clinical diagnosis of the inherited colorectal cancer (CRC) syndrome hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC)/Lynch syndrome (LS). Identification of these patients are critical as they are at substantially increased risk of developing multiple primary tumors, mainly colorectal and endometrial cancer (EC), occurring at a young age. This demonstrates the need to develop new and/or more thorough mutation detection approaches. Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) was used to screen 22 genes involved in the DNA MMR pathway in constitutional DNA from 14 HNPCC and 12 sporadic EC patients, plus 2 positive controls. Several softwares were used for analysis and functional annotation. We identified 5 exonic indel variants, 42 exonic nonsynonymous single‐nucleotide variants (SNVs) and 1 intronic variant of significance. Three of these variants were class 5 (pathogenic) or class 4 (likely pathogenic), 5 were class 3 (uncertain clinical relevance) and 40 were classified as variants of unknown clinical significance. In conclusion, we have identified two LS families from the sporadic EC patients, one without a family history of cancer, supporting the notion for universal MMR screening of EC patients. In addition, we have detected three novel class 3 variants in EC cases. We have, in addition discovered a polygenic interaction which is the most likely cause of cancer development in a HNPCC patient that could explain previous inconsistent results reported on an intronic EXO1 variant.
Dehydrogenation of Alcohols over Alumina‐Supported Silver Catalysts: The Role of Oxygen in Hydrogen Formation
Authors: Liu Huihui , Tan Hui‐Ru , Tok Eng Soon , Jaenicke Stephan , Chuah Gaik‐Khuan
Published: January 2016

The acceptorless dehydrogenation of alcohols at low temperatures holds promise as a clean energy source and has been the subject of much research. In view of the thermodynamic limitations imposed by a positive Gibbs free energy, we examine the feasibility and extent of hydrogen formation from alcohol dehydrogenation using alumina‐supported Ag catalysts. The results showed that in a closed system at 120 °C, the conversion of benzyl alcohol to benzaldehyde was limited by the available oxygen. The energetically demanding acceptorless route with hydrogen evolution contributed less than 2.5 % to the overall conversion. The presence of oxygen as an acceptor is vital for the progress of the reaction. In open systems even without an active influx of oxygen, alcohol dehydrogenation occurred readily but water was the main product rather than hydrogen.
The Artist in Dialogue with Himself
Authors: Arnhold Hermann , Pirsig‐Marshall Tanja
Published: January 2016

As a painter, August Macke is one of the icons of Expressionism. His drawings, however, are less well known, and yet they represent one of the most impressive artistic achievements of the 20th century. Now a digitisation project in Münster is making this richly varied æuvre available online.
Miniaturisation is the Name of the Game
Authors: Ostendorf Andreas , König Karsten
Published: January 2016

Nanostructuring and ultra‐short laser pulses allow extremely small structures to be manufactured more cheaply and easily. This technology has promising applications in microelectronics and biomedicine.
Synthesis and Characterization of Uniformly Coated Particles of Nickel Basic Carbonateshell/Copper Oxalatecore
Authors: Haider Farzana , ul Haq Ikram , Gulab Hussain , Khan Kafeel Ahmad
Published: January 2016

The coated system, i.e., nickel basic carbonateshell/copper oxalatecore, were synthesized by heating dispersions, containing various amounts of the cores (copper oxalate particles), urea, and nickel sulfate for different intervals of time at 85 °C. These uniformly coated particles were obtained under narrow set of the experimental conditions. On heat treatment, the shell and core materials transformed independently into their respective oxides and ended up with coated particles composed of nickel oxideshell/copper oxidecore. The above‐mentioned systems of particles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x‐ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA).
Evaluation of downscaled CMIP5 model skill in simulating daily maximum temperature over the southeastern United States
Authors: Keellings David
Published: January 2016

Downscaled CMIP5 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5) climate projections of maximum daily temperature from the Downscaled CMIP3 and CMIP5 Climate and Hydrology Projections archive are examined regionally over the southeastern United States. Three measures of model skill (means‐based, distribution‐based, extreme‐based) are utilized to assess the ability of 15 downscaled models to simulate daily maximum temperature observations. A new test is proposed to determine statistical significance of the probability density function‐based skill measures. Skill scores are found to be generally high for all three measures throughout the study region, but lower scores are present in coastal and mountainous areas. Application of the significance test shows that while the skill scores may be high, they are not significantly higher than could be expected at random in some areas. The distribution‐based skill scores are not significant in much of Florida and the Appalachians. The extreme‐based skill scores are not significant in more than 90% of the region for all models investigated. The findings suggest that although the downscaled models have simulated observed means well and are a good match to the entire distribution of observations, they are not simulating the occurrence of extreme (above 90th percentile) maximum daily temperatures.
Molecular dynamics‐smoothed molecular dynamics (MD‐SMD) adaptive coupling method with seamless transition
Authors: He Nianfeng , Liu Yan , Zhang Xiong
Published: January 2016

Smoothed molecular dynamics (SMD) method is a recently proposed efficient molecular simulation method by introducing one set of background mesh and mapping process into molecular dynamics (MD) flow chart. SMD can sharply enlarge MD time step size while maintaining global accuracy. MD‐SMD coupling method was proposed to improve the capability to describe local atom disorders. The coupling method is greatly improved in this paper in two essential aspects. Firstly, a transition scheme is proposed to avoid artificial wave reflection at the interface of MD and SMD regions. The new transition scheme has simple formulation and high efficiency, and the wave reflection can be well suppressed. Secondly, an adaptive scheme is proposed to automatically identify the regions requiring MD simulation. Two adaptive criteria, the centro‐symmetry parameter criterion and the displacement criterion, are also proposed. It is found that both the two criteria can achieve good accuracy but the efficiency of the displacement criterion is much better. The coupling method does not demand reduction in mesh size near the interface, and a multiple time stepping scheme is adopted to ensure high efficiency. Numerical results including wave propagation, nano‐indentation, and crack propagation validate the method and show nice accuracy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pralatrexate Monitoring Using a Commercially Available Methotrexate Assay to Avoid Potential Drug Interactions
Authors: McPherson Jordan P. , Vrontikis Alaina , Sedillo Courtney , Halwani Ahmad S. , Gilreath Jeffrey A.
Published: January 2016

Pralatrexate (PDX) is a folate antagonist structurally similar to methotrexate (MTX). Unlike MTX, it is currently not known whether PDX exhibits delayed clearance and heightened toxicity in the setting of fluid overload. A specific serum assay for PDX is not commercially available. To our knowledge, we report the first case using an MTX serum assay as a surrogate for PDX concentrations to avoid a potential drug‐drug interaction with pralatrexate. We describe a 76‐year‐old man with refractory cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma who began therapy with weekly PDX 15 mg/m2 intravenous infusions on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28‐day cycle. He subsequently developed mucositis, a moderate right‐sided pleural effusion, and peripheral edema over the next 5 weeks. Aggressive diuresis with furosemide was initiated, which was then withheld the day before his next PDX dose to avoid a potential drug‐drug interaction between PDX and furosemide. His baseline MTX/PDX concentration (measured prior to administration of the cycle 2, week 2 PDX dose) was less than 0.20 μmol/L (i.e., undetectable). After PDX administration, his 1‐hour peak MTX/PDX concentration increased to 0.58 μmol/L. Aggressive diuresis was withheld until his MTX/PDX concentration was undetectable, 43.5 hours later. PDX is more potent than MTX and displays similar pharmacokinetic properties. PDX concentrations using the serum MTX assay reflect lower values than those reported from PDX‐specific assays in clinical studies. Because PDX is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of uncommon malignancies, it is unlikely that a specific assay will be commercially developed. We propose that the MTX serum assay has merit for use in determining when to reinstate possible interacting drug therapies such as loop diuretics.
Reactive arthritis: can't see, can't pee, can't climb a tree…
Authors: Szamocki Sonia , Martyn‐Hemphill Clarissa , Green James S.A.
Published: January 2016

Reiter's disease, also known as reactive arthritis, is a seronegative HLA‐B27‐associated autoimmune disease, characterised by oligoarthritis of large joints with additional ophthalmic and urological manifestations. Many will recall the aide‐mémoire ‘can't see, can't pee, can't climb a tree’ from their medical school days. This article describes the history and aetiology of Reiter's disease, along with its treatment and prognosis, and reminds readers to be vigilant for its characteristic signs and symptoms.
Simply Good Teaching: Supporting Transformation and Change Through Education for Sustainability
Authors: Bedi Gitanjali , Germein Susan
Published: January 2016

This article proposes that Education for Sustainability (EfS), with its focus on transformative and learner-centred approaches, and higher order thinking skills, enriches teaching and learning in Vocational Education and Training (VET), with implications for quality pedagogy more generally. EfS pedagogy has the potential to inform a new discourse on VET's role in citizenship and responsibility for the future, characterised by some as a shift from productivism to ecologism, and described by UNESCO/ILO as critical thinking towards sustainable development. After reviewing the literature on quality pedagogy in VET, as well as on EfS itself, this article evaluates the impact and effectiveness of a nationwide professional development program to upskill VET practitioners in EfS pedagogy. Early findings indicate personal transformations for participants both as individuals and VET professionals, with high levels of teaching practice enhancement generally through uptake of EfS principles and practice. Based on our findings, we draw conclusions and make recommendations for further research.
A Survey of Multidisciplinary Clinicians Working in Rehabilitation for People with Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Pagan Elizabeth , Ownsworth Tamara , McDonald Skye , Fleming Jennifer , Honan Cynthia , Togher Leanne
Published: January 2016

Little is known about clinicians’ experiences in rehabilitation for people with traumatic brain injury (TBI). This survey study aimed to investigate clinicians’ scope of practice, perceived barriers to practice, factors influencing confidence levels and professional development preferences. Participants included 305 clinicians (88% female, 97% aged 20–60 years) from psychology (28%), occupational therapy (27%), speech pathology (15%), physiotherapy (11%), social work (6%), rehabilitation medicine (3%) and nursing (3%) disciplines. Survey results indicated that goal setting, client or family education, and assessment for rehabilitation, were the most common activities across all disciplines (>90%). Client-related barriers, family-related barriers and client–therapist relationship barriers were more frequently selected than workplace context and professional skill barriers (p <.05). Clinicians working with clients with mild TBI reported significantly fewer barriers (p< .05); yet, they were less confident in overcoming barriers than clinicians working with clients with more severe TBI (p< .001). Clinicians with fewer years of experience (<2 years) reported significantly lower confidence in overcoming barriers than clinicians with 2–10 years and >10 years of experience (p< .01). The most commonly selected professional development areas included new interventions and therapies, translating rehabilitation research into everyday practice and client specific topics. These findings provide a unique multidisciplinary perspective on clinicians working in TBI rehabilitation in Australia. Understanding of the perceived barriers to practice and professional development needs may guide training and support initiatives for clinicians which, in turn, may enhance the quality of brain injury rehabilitation.
PEPFAR support of alcohol–HIV prevention activities in Namibia and Botswana: a framework for investigation, implementation and evaluation
Authors: Glenshaw M. , Deluca N. , Adams R. , Parry C. , Fritz K. , Du Preez V. , Voetsch K. , Lekone P. , Seth P. , Bachanas P. , Grillo M. , Kresina T. F. , Pick B. , Ryan C. , Bock N.
Published: January 2016

Background

The association between harmful use of alcohol and HIV infection is well documented. To address this dual epidemic, the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) developed and implemented a multi-pronged approach primarily in Namibia and Botswana. We present the approach and preliminary results of the public health investigative and programmatic activities designed, initiated and supported by PEPFAR to combat the harmful use of alcohol and its association as a driver of HIV morbidity and mortality from 2008 to 2013.

Approach

PEPFAR supported comprehensive alcohol programming using a matrix model approach that combined the socio-ecological framework and the Alcohol Misuse Prevention and Intervention Continuum. This structure enabled seven component objectives: (1) to quantify harmful use of alcohol through rapid assessments; (2) to develop and evaluate alcohol-based interventions; (3) to promote screening programs and alcohol abuse resource services; (4) to support stakeholder networks; (5) to support policy interventions and (6) structural interventions; and (7) to institutionalize universal prevention messages.

Discussion

Targeted PEPFAR support for alcohol activities resulted in several projects to address harmful alcohol use and HIV. Components are graphically conceptualized within the matrix model, demonstrating the intersections between primary, secondary and tertiary prevention activities and individual, interpersonal, community, and societal factors. Key initiative successes included leveraging alcohol harm prevention activities that enabled projects to be piloted in healthcare settings, schools, communities, and alcohol outlets. Primary challenges included the complexity of multi-sectorial programming, varying degrees of political will, and difficulties monitoring outcomes over the short duration of the program.
Meta-connectomics: human brain network and connectivity meta-analyses
Authors: Crossley N. A. , Fox P. T. , Bullmore E. T.
Published: January 2016

Abnormal brain connectivity or network dysfunction has been suggested as a paradigm to understand several psychiatric disorders. We here review the use of novel meta-analytic approaches in neuroscience that go beyond a summary description of existing results by applying network analysis methods to previously published studies and/or publicly accessible databases. We define this strategy of combining connectivity with other brain characteristics as ‘meta-connectomics’. For example, we show how network analysis of task-based neuroimaging studies has been used to infer functional co-activation from primary data on regional activations. This approach has been able to relate cognition to functional network topology, demonstrating that the brain is composed of cognitively specialized functional subnetworks or modules, linked by a rich club of cognitively generalized regions that mediate many inter-modular connections. Another major application of meta-connectomics has been efforts to link meta-analytic maps of disorder-related abnormalities or MRI ‘lesions’ to the complex topology of the normative connectome. This work has highlighted the general importance of network hubs as hotspots for concentration of cortical grey-matter deficits in schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease and other disorders. Finally, we show how by incorporating cellular and transcriptional data on individual nodes with network models of the connectome, studies have begun to elucidate the microscopic mechanisms underpinning the macroscopic organization of whole-brain networks. We argue that meta-connectomics is an exciting field, providing robust and integrative insights into brain organization that will likely play an important future role in consolidating network models of psychiatric disorders.
A Novel Fault Detection Method for an Integrated Navigation System using Gaussian Process Regression
Authors: Zhu Yixian , Cheng Xianghong , Wang Lei
Published: January 2016

For the integrated navigation system, the correctness and the rapidity of fault detection for each sensor subsystem affects the accuracy of navigation. In this paper, a novel fault detection method for navigation systems is proposed based on Gaussian Process Regression (GPR). A GPR model is first used to predict the innovation of a Kalman filter. To avoid local optimisation, particle swarm optimisation is adopted to find the optimal hyper-parameters for the GPR model. The Fault Detection Function (FDF), which has an obvious jump in value when a fault occurs, is composed of the predicted innovation, the actual innovation of the Kalman filter and their variance. The fault can be detected by comparing the FDF value with a predefined threshold. In order to verify its validity, the proposed method is used in a SINS/GPS/Odometer integrated navigation system. The comparison experiments confirm that the proposed method can detect a gradual fault more quickly compared with the residual chi-squared test. Thus the navigation system with the proposed method gives more accurate outputs and its reliability is greatly improved.
Aging Trajectories in Different Body Systems Share Common Environmental Etiology: The Healthy Aging Twin Study (HATS)
Authors: Moayyeri Alireza , Hart Deborah J. , Snieder Harold , Hammond Christopher J. , Spector Timothy D. , Steves Claire J.
Published: January 2016

Little is known about the extent to which aging trajectories of different body systems share common sources of variance. We here present a large twin study investigating the trajectories of change in five systems: cardiovascular, respiratory, skeletal, morphometric, and metabolic. Longitudinal clinical data were collected on 3,508 female twins in the TwinsUK registry (complete pairs:740 monozygotic (MZ), 986 dizygotic (DZ), mean age at entry 48.9 ± 10.4, range 18–75 years; mean follow-up 10.2 ± 2.8 years, range 4–17.8 years). Panel data on multiple age-related variables were used to estimate biological ages for each individual at each time point, in linear mixed effects models. A weighted average approach was used to combine variables within predefined body system groups. Aging trajectories for each system in each individual were then constructed using linear modeling. Multivariate structural equation modeling of these aging trajectories showed low genetic effects (heritability), ranging from 2% in metabolic aging to 22% in cardiovascular aging. However, we found a significant effect of shared environmental factors on the variations in aging trajectories in cardiovascular (54%), skeletal (34%), morphometric (53%), and metabolic systems (53%). The remainder was due to environmental factors unique to each individual plus error. Multivariate Cholesky decomposition showed that among aging trajectories for various body systems there were significant and substantial correlations between the unique environmental latent factors as well as shared environmental factors. However, there was no evidence for a single common factor for aging. This study, the first of its kind in aging, suggests that diverse organ systems share non-genetic sources of variance for aging trajectories. Confirmatory studies are needed using population-based twin cohorts and alternative methods of handling missing data.
A novel miR-200b-3p/p38IP pair regulates monocyte/macrophage differentiation
Authors: Yu Xiao , Wang Qi-Long , Li Yue-Fang , Wang Xu-Dong , Xu Anlong , Li Yingqiu
Published: January 2016

Monocyte/macrophage differentiation represents a major branch of hematopoiesis and is a central event in the immune response, but the molecular mechanisms underlying are not fully delineated. Here we show that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) interacting protein (p38IP) is downregulated during monocyte/macrophage differentiation in vitro. Overexpression of p38IP halted monocyte/macrophage differentiation, whereas forward knockdown of p38IP by RNA interference induced G1/S arrest and promoted monocyte differentiation into macrophages and the maturation of macrophages as well. Moreover, we found that miR-200b-3p was upregulated during monocyte/macrophage differentiation and mediated the downregulation of p38IP by binding to the 3′ untranslated terminal region of p38IP mRNA. Overexpression of a miR-200b-3p mimic resembled the effect of p38IP knockdown, whereas a miR-200b-3p inhibitor blocked monocyte/macrophage differentiation by enhancing p38IP expression. Further western blotting analysis revealed that p38IP downregulation enhanced the activity of p38 MAPK and the subsequent accumulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, thus promoting G1/S arrest and monocyte/macrophage differentiation. Moreover, the decline of GCN5 acetyltransferase caused by p38IP downregulation was required but was not sufficient for monocyte/macrophage differentiation. This study demonstrated a new role for p38IP and a novel miR-200b-3p/p38IP pair in the regulation of monocyte/macrophage differentiation.
Gold nanoparticles as sensitive optical probes
Authors: Yuan Zhiqin , Hu Cho-Chun , Chang Huan-Tsung , Lu Chao
Published: January 2016

Recent advances in Au NP based optical sensing systems for various analytes based on absorption, fluorescence and SERS are summarized.
Facile preparation of free-standing rGO paper-based Ni–Mn LDH/graphene superlattice composites as a pseudocapacitive electrode
Authors: Quan W. , Tang Z. L. , Wang S. T. , Hong Y. , Zhang Z. T.
Published: January 2016

A novel film electrode was assembled via a simple filtration process, with an rGO paper as the substrate and Ni–Mn LDH/graphene superlattice composites as the functional layer.
Superior anti-CO poisoning capability: Au-decorated PtFe nanocatalysts for high-performance methanol oxidation
Authors: Cai Zhao , Lu Zhiyi , Bi Yongmin , Li Yaping , Kuang Yun , Sun Xiaoming
Published: January 2016

A surface-engineering strategy is utilized to improve the anti-CO poisoning capability of PtFeAu nanocatalysts, resulting in their high-performance methanol oxidation.
Morphological dependence of silver electrodeposits investigated by changing the ionic liquid solvent and the deposition parameters
Authors: Figueredo-Sobrinho Francisco A. A. , Santos Luis P. M. , Leite Davi S. , Craveiro Diego C. , Santos Samir H. , Eguiluz Katlin I. B. , Salazar-Banda Giancarlo R. , Maciel Cleiton D. , Coutinho-Neto Maurício D. , Homem-de-Mello Paula , de Lima-Neto Pedro , Correia Adriana N.
Published: January 2016

The low toxicity and environmentally compatible ionic liquids (ILs) are alternatives to the toxic and harmful cyanide-based baths used in industrial silver electrodeposition.
Enhanced sampling simulation analysis of the structure of lignin in the THF–water miscibility gap
Authors: Smith Micholas Dean , Petridis Loukas , Cheng Xiaolin , Mostofian Barmak , Smith Jeremy C.
Published: January 2016

Using temperature replica-exchange molecular dynamics, we characterize a globule-to-coil transition for a softwood-like lignin biopolymer in a tetrahydrofuran (THF)–water cosolvent system at temperatures at which the cosolvent undergoes a de-mixing transition.
Equation of state for water and its line of density maxima down to −120 MPa
Authors: Pallares Gaël , Gonzalez Miguel A. , Abascal Jose Luis F. , Valeriani Chantal , Caupin Frédéric
Published: January 2016

Based on sound velocity measurements, the knowledge of the line of density maxima of water is extended down to a temperature of 17.8 °C and a pressure of −116 MPa.
Environmentally friendly high performance homopolymerized epoxy using hyperbranched epoxy as a modifier
Authors: Liu Tuan , Han Bing , Zhang Liangdong , Wu Min , Xing An , Miao Xuepei , Meng Yan , Li Xiaoyu
Published: January 2016

A high performance, low cost, and environmentally friendly epoxy is demonstrated for the first time by copolymerizing a small amount of epoxide-terminated hyperbranched polyether with DGEBA.
Substrate induced diastereoselective hydrogenation/reduction of arenes and heteroarenes
Authors: Gualandi A. , Savoia D.
Published: January 2016

Nature/structure of the (hetero)arene, substituent and reducing agent affect the diastereoselectivity.
Efficient conversion of glucose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural using bifunctional partially hydroxylated AlF3
Authors: Lu Ye-Min , Li Hu , He Jian , Liu Yan-Xiu , Wu Zhi-Bing , Hu De-Yu , Yang Song
Published: January 2016

Mesoporous AlF3 material bearing both Lewis and Brønsted acid sites exhibits high catalytic performance in glucose-to-fructose isomerization and subsequent dehydration to HMF (57.3% yield).
Triple-shape memory effects of bismaleimide based thermosetting polymer networks prepared via heterogeneous crosslinking structures
Authors: Zhang Qiwei , Wei Hongqiu , Liu Yanju , Leng Jinsong , Du Shanyi
Published: January 2016

A series of bismaleimide based triple shape memory polymers with heterogeneous crosslinking structures were synthesized, and their shape memory behaviours are characterized.