bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A High Accurate Multiple Classifier System for Entity Resolution Using Resampling and Ensemble Selection
Authors: Xing Zhou , Xingchun Diao , Jianjun Cao
Published: October 2015

Classifiers are often used in entity resolution to classify record pairs into matches, nonmatches, and possible matches, the performance of classifiers is directly related to the performance of entity resolution. In this paper, we develop a multiple classifier system using resampling and ensemble selection. We make full use of the characteristics of entity resolution to distinguish ambiguous instances before classification, so that the algorithm can focus on the ambiguous instances in parallel. Instead of developing an empirical optimal resampling ratio, we vary the ratio in a range to generate multiple resampled data. Further, we use the resampled data to train multiple classifiers and then use ensemble selection to select the best classifiers subset, which is also the best resampling ratio combination. Empirical study shows our method has a relatively high accuracy compared to other state-of-the-art multiple classifiers systems.
Transmission Power Control with the Guaranteed Communication Reliability in WSN
Authors: Kim Dae-Young , Jin Zilong , Choi Jungwook , Lee Ben , Cho Jinsung
Published: October 2015

In a wireless sensor network, sensor nodes are deployed in an ad hoc fashion and they deliver data packets using multihop transmission. However, transmission failures occur frequently in the multihop transmission over wireless media. Thus, a loss recovery mechanism is required to provide end-to-end reliability. In addition, because the sensor nodes are very small devices and have insufficient resources, energy-efficient data transmission is crucial for prolonging the lifetime of a wireless sensor network. This paper proposes a transmission power control mechanism for reliable data transmission, which satisfies communication reliability through recovery of lost packets. The proposed method calculates packet reception rate (PRR) of each hop to maintain end-to-end packet delivery rate (PDR), which is determined based on the desired communication reliability. Then, the transmission power is adjusted based on the PRR to reduce energy consumption. The proposed method was evaluated through extensive simulations, and the results show that it leads to more energy-efficient data transmission compared to existing methods.
Acute Effects of the Novel Psychoactive Drug 2C-B on Emotions
Authors: González Débora , Torrens Marta , Farré Magí
Published: October 2015

Background. 2C-B (Nexus) is one of the most widespread novel psychoactive substances. There is limited information about its pharmacological properties, and few studies in humans concern its acute and chronic effects. 2C-B has been classified as a stimulant, hallucinogen, entactogen, and/or empathogen.Objectives. To evaluate the emotional, subjective, and cardiovascular effects of 2C-B.Methods. Twenty healthy recreational 2C-B users (12 women) self-administered a 20 mg dose of 2C-B. Evaluations included emotional (IAPS, FERT, and speech), subjective (visual analog scales, ARCI, VESSPA, HRS, and POMS questionnaires), and cardiovascular effects (blood pressure and heart rate).Results. Positive subjective effects predominated with a reduction of anger under the influence of 2C-B. It did, however, increase reactivity to negative emotional stimuli and decrease the ability to recognize expressions of happiness. Augmented emotionality in speech could be appreciated by others. 2C-B induced euphoria and well-being, changes in perceptions, and slight hallucinogenic states. Mild sympathetic actions were observed.Conclusions. The specific profile that 2C-B exerts on emotions suggests its classification as an entactogen with psychedelic properties.
Low-Frequency Volatility in China’s Gold Futures Market and Its Macroeconomic Determinants
Authors: Liu Song , Tang Tingfei , McKenzie Andrew M. , Liu Yibin
Published: October 2015

We extract low- and high-frequency volatility from China’s Shanghai gold futures market using an asymmetric Spline-GARCH (ASP-GARCH) model. We then regress monthly low-frequency volatility on selected monthly macroeconomic indicators to study the impact of macroeconomy on gold futures market and to test for excess volatility. Our main result is volatility in China’s Shanghai gold futures market resulting from both macroeconomic fluctuations and investor behaviour. Chinese Consumer Price Index Volatility and US dollar volatility are the two main determinants of low-frequency gold volatility. We also find significant evidence of excess volatility, which can in part be explained in terms of loss-aversive investor behaviour.
Obesity Is Not Associated with Impaired Immune Response to Influenza Vaccination in HIV-Infected Persons
Authors: Gowda Charitha , McKittrick Noah , Kim Deborah , Kappes Rosemarie A. , Lo Re Vincent , Tebas Pablo
Published: October 2015

Introduction. HIV-infected individuals demonstrate lower immunogenicity to the influenza vaccine, despite immunologic and virologic control of HIV infection. Obesity has been previously shown to be associated with diminished antibody responses to other vaccines in HIV-uninfected persons. However, no studies have examined if obesity is associated with diminished protective immune response to influenza vaccination among HIV-infected persons on antiretroviral therapy (ART).Methods. We performed a retrospective analysis of immunogenicity data from a clinical trial of inactivated, trivalent influenza vaccine. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants with seroconversion, defined as >4-fold increase in anti-hemagglutinin antibody titers after vaccination. Secondary endpoints were the proportion of participants with seroprotection (defined as antibody titers of ≥1 : 40) and geometric mean hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers.Results. Overall, 48 (27%) participants were obese (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2). Seroconversion rates were comparable between obese and nonobese subjects for all three vaccine strains. Further, postvaccination geometric mean titers did not differ by body mass index category.Conclusion. Obesity was not associated with diminished antibody response to influenza vaccination in a sample of healthy HIV-infected persons.
Follicular Thyroid Carcinoma Metastatic to the Kidney: Report of a Case with Cytohistologic Correlation
Authors: Nath Vikas , Baliga Mithra , Lewin Jack , Souza Frederico , Akhtar Israh
Published: October 2015

Here we report a case of a 45-year-old female who underwent thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer and presented 20 years later with a left renal mass. CT-guided core biopsy was performed, and imprints and histologic sections of the biopsy showed cells resembling thyroid follicular cells with a background containing colloid. Immunohistochemistry revealed positivity for thyroglobulin and thyroid transcription factor 1, consistent with metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC). The patient later underwent radical nephrectomy; histologic sections of the resected tumor revealed an encapsulated lesion morphologically similar to the biopsy specimen. Thyroid metastases to the kidney are extremely rare and are often detected during postthyroidectomy surveillance by elevation in thyroid hormone levels,131I scintigraphy, or18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in positron emission tomography studies. Treatment involves total thyroidectomy, resection of the metastatic foci, and131I therapy. The differential diagnoses of renal metastasis of FTC include the encapsulated follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), which possesses some of the nuclear features seen in conventional PTC but may occasionally be indistinguishable from FTC in cytologic preparations, and renal lesions such as benign thyroidization of the kidney and thyroid-like follicular carcinoma of the kidney, which mimic FTC in histologic appearance but do not stain with thyroid markers.
An Iterative Regularization Method for Identifying the Source Term in a Second Order Differential Equation
Authors: Zouyed Fairouz , Djemoui Sebti
Published: October 2015

This paper discusses the inverse problem of determining an unknown source in a second order differential equation from measured final data. This problem is ill-posed; that is, the solution (if it exists) does not depend continuously on the data. In order to solve the considered problem, an iterative method is proposed. Using this method a regularized solution is constructed and an a priori error estimate between the exact solution and its regularized approximation is obtained. Moreover, numerical results are presented to illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of this method.
Multivariable Fuzzy Control Based Mobile Robot Odor Source Localization via Semitensor Product
Authors: Jiang Ping , Wang Yuzhen , Ge Aidong
Published: October 2015

In order to take full advantage of the multisensor information, a MIMO fuzzy control system based on semitensor product (STP) is set up for mobile robot odor source localization (OSL). Multisensor information, such as vision, olfaction, laser, wind speed, and direction, is the input of the fuzzy control system and the relative searching strategies, such as random searching (RS), nearest distance-based vision searching (NDVS), and odor source declaration (OSD), are the outputs. Fuzzy control rules with algebraic equations are given according to the multisensor information via STP. Any output can be updated in the proposed fuzzy control system and has no influence on the other searching strategies. The proposed MIMO fuzzy control scheme based on STP can reach the theoretical system of the mobile robot OSL. Experimental results show the efficiency of the proposed method.
PSF Estimation via Gradient Cepstrum Analysis for Image Deblurring in Hybrid Sensor Network
Authors: Shi Mingzhu , Liu Shuaiqi
Published: October 2015

In hybrid sensor networks, information fusion from heterogeneous sensors is important, but quite often information such as image is blurred. Single image deblurring is a highly ill-posed problem and usually regularized by alternating estimating point spread function (PSF) and recovering blur image, which leads to high complexity and low efficiency. In this paper, we first propose an efficient PSF estimation algorithm based on gradient cepstrum analysis (GCA). Then, to verify the accuracy of the strategy, estimated PSFs are used for image deconvolution step, which exploits a novel total variation model coupling with a gradient fidelity term. We also adopt an alternating direction method (ADM) numerical algorithm with rapid convergence and high robustness to optimize the energy function. Both synthetic and real blur experiments show that our scheme can estimate PSF rapidly and produce comparable results without involving long time consuming.
Ligament and Droplet Generation by Oil Film on a Rotating Disk
Authors: Sun Hengchao , Chen Guoding , Wang Li’na , Wang Fei
Published: October 2015

The lubrication and heat transfer designs of bearing chamber depend on an understanding of oil/air two-phase flow. As initial and boundary conditions, the characteristics of ligament and droplet generation by oil film on rotating parts have significant influence on the feasibility of oil/air two-phase flow analysis. An integrated model to predict the oil film flow, ligament number, and droplet Sauter mean diameter (SMD) of a rotating disk, which is an abstraction of the droplet generation sources in a bearing chamber, is developed based on the oil film force balance analysis and wave theory. The oil film thickness and velocity, ligaments number, and droplet SMD are calculated as functions of the rotating disk radius, rotational speed and oil volume flow rate and oil properties. The theoretical results show that the oil film thickness and SMD are decreased with an increasing rotational speed, while the radial, transverse velocities, and ligament number are increased. The oil film thickness, radial velocity, and SMD are increased with an increasing oil flow rate, but the transverse velocity and ligament number are decreased. A test facility is built for the investigation into the ligament number of a rotating disk, and the measurement of ligament number is carried out by means of a high speed photography.
Serial Analysis of Ten Precipitation-Based Indices by Land Use in Semiarid Regions
Authors: Rodríguez-Moreno Victor M. , Ruíz-Corral J. Ariel , Padilla-Ramírez J. Saúl , Peña-Ramos Alfonso , Kretzschmar Thomas G.
Published: October 2015

Open ecosystems in Mexico are under increasing pressure, due particularly to the expansion of cities and agricultural activities. These developments occur without integrating biodiversity concerns in land use planning and result in extensive fragmentation and transformation of the landscapes. The semiarid region of Mesa Central was characterized using ten precipitation-based indices. Using multivariate statistical and geostatistical spatial analysis techniques, the influence of those indices on five land use strata was explored. Land use analysis indicated that the maximum values of the five significant precipitation-based indices were found in Grasslands, Agricultural Use, and Shrubs; minimum values were characteristic of substrates Secondary Desert Vegetation and Other Use. Our results suggest that the greatest number of extreme precipitation events is likely to occur in open ecosystems and consequently will have a strong influence on landscaping and land use. The semivariogram analysis and geostatistical layers demand attention from research institutions, policy makers, researchers, and food producers to take the appropriate and coordinated actions to propose scenarios to deal with climate change. Perhaps this study can stimulate thought concerning research endeavours aimed at promoting initiatives for biodiversity conservation and planning programs for climate change mitigation.
Analysis of Global Solar Irradiance over Climatic Zones in Nigeria for Solar Energy Applications
Authors: Osinowo Adekunle Ayodotun , Okogbue Emmanuel Chilekwu , Ogungbenro Stephen Bunmi , Fashanu Olugbenga
Published: October 2015

Satellite derived solar irradiance over 25 locations in the 5 climatic zones of Nigeria (tropical rainforest TRF, Guinea savannah GS, Sahel savannah SHS, Sudan savannah SUS, and Mangrove swamp forest MSF) was analyzed. To justify its use, the satellite data was tested for goodness of agreement with ground measured solar radiation data using 26-year mean monthly and daily data over 16 locations in the 5 climatic zones. The well-known R2, RMSE, MBE, and MPE statistical tests were used and good agreement was found. The 25 locations were grouped into the 5 climatic zones. Frequency distribution of global solar irradiance was done for each of the climatic zones. This showed that 46.88%, and 40.6% of the number of days (9794) over TRF and MSF, respectively, had irradiation within the range of 15.01–20.01 MJ/m2/day. For the GS, SHS, and SUS, 46.19%, 55.84% and 58.53% of the days had total irradiation within the range of 20.01–25.01 MJ/m2/day, respectively. Generally, in all the climatic zones, coefficients of variation of solar radiation were high and mean values were low in July and August. Contour maps showed that high and low values of global solar irradiance and clearness index were observed in the Northern and Southern locations of Nigeria, respectively.
Acute Cardioembolic and Thrombotic Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusions Have Different Morphological Susceptibility Signs on T2∗-Weighted Magnetic Resonance Images
Authors: Zheng Mei , Fan Dong-sheng
Published: October 2015

Presence of susceptibility sign on middle cerebral artery (MCA) in T2∗-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) images has been reported to detect acute MCA thromboembolic occlusion. However, the pathophysiologic course of thrombotic MCA occlusion differs from embolic occlusion, which might induce different imaging characters. Our study found that the occurrence rate of the MCA susceptibility sign in cardioembolism (CE) patients was significantly higher than in large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) patients, and the diameter of the MCA susceptibility sign for CE was greater than for LAA. Moreover, the patients with hemorrhagic transformation had MCA susceptibility signs with a significant larger mean diameter than patients without hemorrhagic transformation. Therefore, we hypothesized that the morphology of susceptibility signs could be used to differentiate acute cardioembolic and thrombotic MCA occlusions, which helped to select appropriate treatment strategies for different patients.
Effect of Micro‐ to Nanosize Inclusions upon the Thermal Conductivity of Powdered Composites with High and Low Interface Resistance
Authors: Zain-ul-abdein Muhammad , Awan Waqas S. , Ijaz Hassan , Taimoor Aqeel A. , Muhammad Ayyaz , Rather Sami ullah
Published: October 2015

Materials for thermal management application require better control over the thermophysical properties, which has largely been achieved by fabricating powdered composite. There are, however, several factors like filler volume fraction, shape morphology, inclusion size, and interfacial thermal resistance that limit the effective properties of the medium. This paper presents a methodology to estimate the effective thermal conductivity of powdered composites where the filler material is more conductive than the matrix. Only a few theoretical models, such as Hasselman and Johnson (HJ) model, include the effect of interfacial resistance in their formulation. Nevertheless, HJ model does not specify the nature of the interfacial thermal resistance. Although Sevostianov and Kachanov (SK) method takes care of interface thickness, they, on the other hand, have not taken into account the interfacial resistance due to atomic imperfections. In the present work, HJ model has been modified using SK method and the results were compared with experimental ones from the literature. It has been found that the effect of interfacial resistance is significant in highly resistive medium at microscale compared to nanoscale, such as Cu/diamond system, while, in a highly conductive medium, like bakelite/graphite system, the effect of shape factor is more significant than interfacial thermal resistance.
A Systematic and Narrative Review of Acupuncture Point Application Therapies in the Treatment of Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma during Dog Days
Authors: Wen Cai-Yu-Zhu , Liu Ya-Fei , Zhou Li , Zhang Hong-Xing , Tu Sheng-Hao
Published: October 2015

Acupuncture point application therapies, including San-Fu-Tie and San-Fu-Jiu, have been widely employed to treat diseases with attacks in winter during dog days in China. The therapies combine Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture points with the nature. However, the previous studies were reported to be unsystematic and incomplete. To develop a more comprehensive understanding of the effects of acupuncture point application therapies on allergic rhinitis and asthma, a systematic review of the literature up to 2015 was conducted. After filtering, eighteen randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving 1,785 subjects were included. This systematic and narrative review shows that acupuncture point application therapies have been extensively applied in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and asthma with advantages of favorable treatment effect, convenient operation, receiving patients’ good acceptability and compliance, and few side effects. Meanwhile, the study elaborated the operating process of San-Fu-Tie and San-Fu-Jiu in detail. The review may provide a reference for clinical application in future. However, the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms of San-Fu-Tie and San-Fu-Jiu in treating the above diseases need to be validated by more well-designed and fully powered RCTs in a larger population of patients.
Peripapillary Intrachoroidal Cavitation in Myopia Evaluated with Multimodal Imaging Comprising “En-Face” Technique
Authors: Azar Georges , Leze Romain , Affortit-Demoge Aude , Faure Céline
Published: October 2015

Objectives. To demonstrate the usefulness of “en-face” Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) combined with Fluorescein Angiography (FA) in the investigation of peripapillary intrachoroidal cavitation.Materials and Methods. A 72-year-old man followed for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) for 4 years was referred for an asymptomatic “peripapillary lesion.” A full ophthalmological examination and conventional imaging of the retina were done. FA, Indocyanine Green Angiography (ICG-A), and SD-OCT using the “en-face” technique were also performed.Results. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 20/25 both eyes. Slit-lamp examination revealed no abnormalities of anterior segment. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was normal. Fundus examination showed a triangular yellow-orange thickening at the inferior border of both optic nerves. FA showed early hypofluorescence of the lesion and progressive staining without any dye pooling. SD-OCT with “en-face” technique showed an intrachoroidal hyporeflective space resembling a cavitation below the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).Conclusions. “En-face” SD-OCT and FA are valuable techniques for the diagnosis of peripapillary intrachoroidal cavitation associated with myopia. Pathophysiological insights regarding SD-OCT findings and angiography behavior are offered.
Comparative Transcriptomes and EVO-DEVO Studies Depending on Next Generation Sequencing
Authors: Liu Tiancheng , Yu Lin , Liu Lei , Li Hong , Li Yixue
Published: October 2015

High throughput technology has prompted the progressive omics studies, including genomics and transcriptomics. We have reviewed the improvement of comparative omic studies, which are attributed to the high throughput measurement of next generation sequencing technology. Comparative genomics have been successfully applied to evolution analysis while comparative transcriptomics are adopted in comparison of expression profile from two subjects by differential expression or differential coexpression, which enables their application in evolutionary developmental biology (EVO-DEVO) studies. EVO-DEVO studies focus on the evolutionary pressure affecting the morphogenesis of development and previous works have been conducted to illustrate the most conserved stages during embryonic development. Old measurements of these studies are based on the morphological similarity from macro view and new technology enables the micro detection of similarity in molecular mechanism. Evolutionary model of embryo development, which includes the “funnel-like” model and the “hourglass” model, has been evaluated by combination of these new comparative transcriptomic methods with prior comparative genomic information. Although the technology has promoted the EVO-DEVO studies into a new era, technological and material limitation still exist and further investigations require more subtle study design and procedure.
A New Derivation and Recursive Algorithm Based on Wronskian Matrix for Vandermonde Inverse Matrix
Authors: Zhou Qun , Zhang Xinjian , Liu Xiongwei
Published: October 2015

For an analytical expression of Vandermonde inverse matrix, a new derivation process based on Wronskian matrix and Lagrange interpolation polynomial basis is presented. Recursive formula and implementation cases for the direct formula of Vandermonde inverse matrix are given based on deriving the unified formula of Wronskian inverse matrix. For the calculation of symbol-type Vandermonde inverse matrix, the direct formula and recursive method are verified to be more efficient than Mathematica which is good at symbolic computation by comparing the computing time in Mathematica. The process and steps of recursive algorithm are relatively simple. The derivation process and idea both have very important values in theory and practice of Vandermonde and generalized Vandermonde inverse matrix.
A Bizarre, Unexplained, and Progressive External Rotation of the Shoulder as a Presentation of a Metastatic Deposit in the Rotator Cuff
Authors: El-Tawil Sherif , Prinja Aditya , Stanton Jeremy
Published: October 2015

We describe the first reported case of a tumour deposit within the rotator cuff presenting as a bizarre, progressive, and fixed external rotation deformity of the shoulder. It is also the first reported case to our knowledge of an oesophageal primary metastasising to the rotator cuff.
New Sample Preparation Method for Quantification of Phenolic Compounds of Tea (Camellia sinensisL. Kuntze): A Polyphenol Rich Plant
Authors: Punyasiri P. A. Nimal , Jeganathan Brasathe , Dananjaya Kottawa-Arachchi Jeevan , Ranatunga Mahasen A. B. , Abeysinghe I. Sarath B. , Gunasekare M. T. Kumudini , Bandara B. M. Rathnayake
Published: October 2015

Chemical analysis of the Sri Lankan tea (Camellia sinensis, L.) germplasm would immensely contribute to the success of the tea breeding programme. However, the polyphenols, particularly catechins (flavan-3-ols), are readily prone to oxidation in the conventional method of sample preparation. Therefore, optimization of the present sample preparation methodology for the profiling of metabolites is much important. Two sample preparation methodologies were compared, fresh leaves (as in the conventional procedures) and freeze-dried leaves (a new procedure), for quantification of major metabolites by employing two cultivars, one is known to be high quality black tea and the other low quality black tea. The amounts of major metabolites such as catechins, caffeine, gallic acid, and theobromine, recorded in the new sampling procedure via freeze-dried leaves, were significantly higher than those recorded in the conventional sample preparation procedure. Additionally new method required less amount of leaf sample for analysis of major metabolites and facilitates storage of samples until analysis. The freeze-dried method would be useful for high throughput analysis of large number of samples in shorter period without chemical deterioration starting from the point of harvest until usage. Hence, this method is more suitable for metabolite profiling of tea as well as other phenol rich plants.
Isolation, Production, and Characterization of Thermotolerant Xylanase from Solvent TolerantBacillus vallismortisRSPP-15
Authors: Gaur Rajeeva , Tiwari Soni , Rai Priyanka , Srivastava Versha
Published: October 2015

Sixty bacterial strains isolated from the soils sample in the presence of organic solvent were screened for xylanase production. Among them, strain RSPP-15 showed the highest xylanase activity which was identified asBacillus vallismortis. The isolate showed maximum xylanase production (3768 U/mL) in the presence of birch wood xylan and beef extract at 55°C pH 7.0 within 48 h of incubation. The enzyme activity and stability were increased 181.5, 153.7, 147.2, 133.6, and 127.9% and 138.2, 119.3, 113.9, 109, and 104.5% in the presence of Co2+, Ca2+, Mg+2, Zn+2, and Fe+3ions (10 mM). Xylanase activity and stability were strongly inhibited in the presence of Hg and Cu ions. The enzyme was also stable in the presence of 30% ofn-dodecane, isooctane,n-decane, xylene, toluene,n-hexane,n-butanol, and cyclohexane, respectively. The presence of benzene, methanol, and ethanol marginally reduced the xylanase stability, respectively. This isolate may be useful in several industrial applications owing to its thermotolerant and organic solvent resistance characteristics.
The Immunotherapy Roadmap
Authors: Yang James C.
Published: October 2015

As new active agents are discovered and approved, it is clear that combinations of these immunotherapies will be needed to reject most human cancers. The era of personalized patient tumor analysis has arrived just in time to guide these combinations. Clin Cancer Res; 22(2); 275–6. ©2015 AACR.

See related article by Moon et al., p. 436
Treatment Considerations of Lung Involvement in Rheumatologic Disease
Authors: Robles-Perez Alejandro , Molina-Molina Maria
Published: October 2015

Lung involvement in rheumatologic diseases has a broad spectrum of clinical and radiological presentations, from acute and inflammatory predominance to chronic and fibrotic lung disorders. Therapy has to be guided by the type of rheumatologic disease, the kind of lung involvement and the risk associated with the clinical state of the patient and prognostic factors. Although several therapeutic approaches have been used, the best treatment is still not certain; clinical trials are mandatory, which would require a better knowledge of the pulmonary pathogenesis of immunologic diseases. The following review is focused on the therapeutic options for those rheumatologic disorders that could present as a predominant interstitial lung disease which may confer a bad or life-threatening prognosis.
Educação à distância (EAD), conceitos e reflexões
Authors: Garcia Vera L. , Carvalho Junior Paulo Marcondes
Published: October 2015

Pode-se classificar os processos educativos envolvendo duas variáveis: tempo e espaço. Na educação à distância (EAD) há uma separação do professor e aluno no espaço e/ou tempo. Há muita variedade na execução da EAD, envolvendo: estudo individual ou em grupo; papel do professor especialista e dos facilitadores de aprendizagem; tipo de tecnologia do material instrucional (papel, meios eletrônicos, fitas de vídeo, fitas cassete, rádio, TV, etc.) e métodos de ensino-aprendizagem. Na EAD o professor pode assumir o papel de especialista (no conteúdo) e/ou tutor no processo de ensino-aprendizagem. Geralmente é utilizado um Ambiente Virtual de Aprendizagem, um software para a disseminação do conteúdo do curso e a interação entre alunos e professores. Os cursos à distância podem ser realizados utilizando diferentes tecnologias de comunicação, no entanto, é fato que o computador e o uso da Internet têm potencializado este tipo de educação com a possibilidade de acessibilidade e inclusão.
Ensino clínico em cenários reais de prática
Authors: Borges Marcos C , Frezza Gustavo , Souza Cacilda da Silva , Bollela Valdes Roberto
Published: October 2015

O ensino clínico em cenários reais de prática é um componente essencial da educação na área da saúde. Ele estimula e garante que os estudantes aprendam sobre a prática profissional, sendo um dos mais efetivos meios para o desenvolvimento de habilidades clínicas, particularmente anamnese, exame físico, comunicação, ética, atitude humanística e profissionalismo. Tradicionalmente, enfermarias e ambulatórios, supervisionados por professores clínicos (preceptores), são os locais mais utilizados para o ensino clínico. Porém, apesar da excelente capacitação para a prática profissional, a grande maioria dos preceptores pode ter limitações para o ensino clínico. Assim, para que se atinja um nível de qualidade satisfatória no ensino clínico é necessário tanto a diversificação dos cenários reais de prática como o desenvolvimento do corpo docente. Este artigo aborda os desafios do ensino clínico nos cenários reais de prática e apresenta modelos e estratégias para professores e alunos qualificarem esta atividade dentro e fora do hospital.
Trends in Mortality Following Acute Myocardial Infarction Among Dialysis Patients in the United States Over 15 Years
Authors: Shroff Gautam R. , Li Shuling , Herzog Charles A.
Published: October 2015

Background

We sought to determine 15‐year trends in mortality rates among dialysis patients with acute myocardial infarction (
AMI
) in the contemporary era.

Methods and Results

Using the
US
Renal Data System database, we assembled 4 study cohorts of period‐prevalent dialysis patients in 1993, 1998, 2003, and 2008 who were hospitalized for an index
AMI
in that calendar year.
ST
‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (
STEMI
) and non‐
STEMI
were identified, and in‐hospital mortality was calculated. Cumulative probability of death during 2‐year follow‐up after
AMI
admission was estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method and adjusted for patient characteristics. A total of 42 933 dialysis patients with
AMI
were included. Between 1993 (n=4494) and 2008 (n=16 361), proportional increases occurred in patient groups aged ≥75 years (23% and 31%, respectively;
P
<0.001), of black race (25% and 31%, respectively;
P
<0.001), with end‐stage renal disease due to diabetes (42% and 55%, respectively;
P
<0.001), and with non‐
STEMI
(42.2% and 80.7%, respectively;
P
<0.001). For all patients with
AMI
, in‐hospital mortality rates decreased (31.9% in 1993, 18.8% in 2008;
P
<0.001), as did unadjusted 2‐year cumulative probability of death after
AMI
admission (76.5% in 1993, 71.5% in 2008;
P
<0.001). Between 1993 and 2008, among STEMI patients, in‐hospital mortality (38.2% and 25.9%,
P
<0.001) and unadjusted 2‐year cumulative probability of mortality (77.3% and 71.2%,
P
<0.001) decreased, but decreases did not occur among NSTEMI patients (14.2% and 14.9%,
P
=0.47, and 70.9% and 70.1%,
P
=0.52 respectively).

Conclusions

In‐hospital mortality and 2‐year cumulative probability of death following
AMI
among dialysis patients decreased between 1993 and 2008 but only among
STEMI
patients, coincident with increased in‐hospital percutaneous coronary intervention rates. Period‐prevalent cases of non‐
STEMI
markedly increased without interval change in survival.
The Commune Debates on the Eve of Peasant Emancipation: The Long Shadow of Russian Paternalism
Authors: Taitslin Anna
Published: October 2015

This article provides an overview of the prehistory leading up to the abolition of serfdom in Russia, the proposals for peasant emancipation made by the provincial Committees of Gentry Deputies, the reception of these proposals by the Editing Commissions, and the debate on peasant emancipation in the Russian press. The focus of the article is on the misplaced impetus that led to the adoption of the communal ownership of peasant land as a centerpiece of the Great Reform legislation of 1861.
Toward an eu-Russian Energy Agreement: Principles of Liberalization Under eu and Russian Energy Law
Authors: Boute Anatole
Published: October 2015

Although the Ukraine conflict and the resulting political hostility between Russia and the West have put a stop to the 2000 eu-Russia Energy Dialogue, the mutual benefits of energy cooperation and cross-border energy investments are undeniable. Taking these mutual benefits into account, energy would be a logical area of focus if the eu and Russia were to decide to re-initiate their strategic partnership in the event of a normalization of the situation in Ukraine. Although this scenario still is highly hypothetical and a further deterioration of eu-Russian relations is possible, it is important to reflect on the creation of institutional structures that would enable the eu and Russia to rebuild trust by working together in a field of common strategic interest. In this context, this article examines the possibility of establishing an eu-Russian energy agreement to overcome the current misunderstandings that exist between the eu and Russia in respect of the interpretation and application of the main concepts of energy law. The legal certainty resulting from such an energy-specific agreement could contribute to improving the investment climate for cross-border eu-Russian energy investments and possibly, through closer investment ties, enhancing trust between the eu and Russia.
The Austrian Experience: The Mamardashvili Variant
Authors: Dobrokhotov Aleksandr L’vovich
Published: October 2015

“Vienna at the Dawn of the 20th Century” is the last lecture given by M. K. Mamardashvili in October 1990 in the Pushkin Museum of Art, one month before his untimely death. One would not call this a text which sums up Mamardashvili’s life and work. We are confronted with a text, typical for the “Georgian Socrates,” with deviations, asides, ellipses and entimemes, but also brimming with his usual intense concentrated pursuit of an elusive meaning. However, the topic this time is the particular experience of Austrian culture. Nevertheless, in this “tune” we hear Mamardashvili’s key theme: consciousness and its ambivalent relationship to culture. Why Vienna? In this generalised symbol of the Austrian spirit (a metaphoric substitution for the tripartite culture of Vienna – Prague – Budapest), the author sees a self-determined turning away of culture from a state of retrograde stagnation towards a living “I”, present in the here and now.
The genus Inocybe (Inocybaceae, Agaricales, Basidiomycota) in Thailand and Malaysia
Authors: Horak Egon , Matheny P. Brandon , Desjardin Dennis E. , Soytong Kasim
Published: October 2015

Twenty-five species of Inocybaceae are reported from Thailand and Malaysia. Thirteen are described as new from four different major clades of the family: I. errata from the Mallocybe clade, I. bicolorata and I. proxima from the Inosperma clade, I. neglecta from the Pseudosperma clade, and I. brevisquamulosa, I. fragilissima, I. latibulosa, I. lineata, I. ornata, I. parvibulbosa, I. pileosulcata, I stellata and I. thailandica from Inocybe sensu stricto. Nineteen species are documented in full, circumscribed by morphological and molecular (ITS and nLSU sequences) features. Six additional lineages are depicted in a molecular phylogenetic context but at present lack sufficient morphological data for complete description. Illustrations of anatomical features, photographs of basidiomes, and SEM images of basidiospores are presented. A key to 19 species of Inocybaceae from Thailand and Malaysia is provided.
Neotypification of Solidago × niederederi (Asteraceae)
Authors: Pliszko Artur
Published: October 2015

Solidago ×niederederi Khek (1905: 22) (Asteraceae) was described by Khek (1905) as a natural hybrid between S. canadensis Linnaeus (1753: 878) and S. virgaurea Linnaeus (1753: 880). The hybrid was discovered by Niedereder in the area of Stoder (Austria) in the beginning of the twentieth century. It is morphologically more or less intermediate between the presumed parents, especially in characters such as capitula size, leaf shape and venation (Khek 1905, Nilsson 1976, Karpavičienė & Radušienė 2015). Moreover, it is characterized by reduced pollen viability, and produces only very few well-developed achenes (Nilsson 1976, Migdałek et al. 2014, Karpavičienė & Radušienė 2015). According to the protologue (Khek 1905) the pappus is absent in the hybrid (“Pappus fehlend”), however, I noticed the pappus in all examined generative specimens of the hybrid from Poland. The parental species of S. ×niederederi belong to different taxonomical sections: S. canadensis is a member of S. sect. Unilaterales Don in Loudon (1830: 348), and S. virgaurea is a member of S. sect. Solidago Linnaeus (1753: 878) (Nesom 1993). The hybrid has been reported from several countries in Europe: Austria, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, and Russia (Nilsson 1976, Burton 1980, Sunding 1989, Mayorov et al. 2012, Pliszko 2013 and literature cited therein, Karpavičienė & Radušienė 2015). It is usually found in anthropogenic habitats together with both parental species, and its presence emphasizes the invasive character of S. canadensis (Pliszko 2013).
Relationships between Optimal Precursors Triggering NAO Onset and Optimally Growing Initial Errors during NAO Prediction
Authors: Dai Guokun , Mu Mu , Jiang Zhina
Published: October 2015

Based on a viewpoint that the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) is a nonlinear initial-value problem, the predictability of NAO event onset is studied through investigation of the relationship between the optimal precursor (OPR) to its onset and the optimally growing initial error (OGE) in onset prediction. The problem is explored by the method of conditional nonlinear optimal perturbation with a triangular T21, three-level, quasigeostrophic global spectral model.

For the NAO onset, there are two types of OGEs. Numerical results show that, with the optimization time of 3 days, a type-1 OGE bears a great resemblance to OPR, and the similarity coefficient between them is 0.98 for both positive (NAO+) and negative NAO (NAO−). A type-2 OGE is also characterized by a similar pattern to OPR, but with an opposite sign. With the extension of the optimization time to 7 days, the similarity coefficient between OPR and type-1 (type 2) OGE gradually decreases to 0.82 (−0.81) for NAO− and 0.87 (−0.57) for NAO+. However, in the linear regime, such high similarity between OPR and OGE can only be found with an optimization time of 3 days.

Further analysis reveals that a type-1 (type 2) OGE has a similar growth behavior to that of the corresponding OPR of the same-phase (opposite phase) NAO event, both of which develop into a dipole NAO anomaly pattern. This similarity between OPR and OGE suggests that the nonlinear process plays an important role in the NAO event, which simultaneously provides a theoretical foundation for its targeted observations.
Getting to wellness: The potential of the athletic model of marginal gains for the treatment of bipolar disorder
Authors: Nierenberg Andrew A , Hearing Casey M , Sande Mathias Isadora , Young L Trevor , Sylvia Louisa G
Published: October 2015

Objective:

People with bipolar disorder frequently have persistent symptoms, continued problems functioning and comorbid medical conditions. We propose applying the athletic coaching concept of marginal gains to help patients address these challenges to achieve wellness.

Method:

We review the concept of marginal gains and potential interventions to improve long-term outcomes for bipolar patients.

Results:

Evidence exists to help bipolar patients with diet and exercise, gradual behavioral change, mobile applications and peer support.

Conclusion:

Marginal gains, small and doable improvements across a broad range of areas, have great potential to improve the lives of people with bipolar disorder.
Psychiatric comorbidities of adults with early- and late-onset attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Lin Yu-Ju , Yang Li-Kuang , Gau Susan Shur-Fen
Published: October 2015

Objective:

We evaluated the psychiatric comorbidities in adults who were diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders, 5th edition attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder as a function of recalled symptom onset before and after the age of 7 years and whether the childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms were associated with psychiatric comorbidities.

Method:

In all, 214 adults who were diagnosed with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders, 5th edition attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and 174 non-attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder controls (aged 17–40 years) received psychiatric interviews to confirm their previous and current attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder status and other psychiatric diagnoses. Demographics and risks of lifetime psychiatric disorders were compared among three groups: (1) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, onset <7 years (early-onset); (2) attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, onset between 7 and 12 years (late-onset) and (3) non-attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder controls. We also tested the effects of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms on the risk of later psychiatric comorbidities by Cox regression analyses.

Results:

Regardless of the age of onset, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder was significantly associated with a wide range of psychiatric comorbidities. There were similar comorbid patterns between early- and late-onset attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Regardless of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis, increased severity of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms was associated with higher risks of oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, dysthymia and sleep disorder but not major depression, which was associated with the attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that elevating the threshold of age of onset to 12 years in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental disorders, 5th edition would not over-diagnose attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the adult population. Recalled childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptom severity was correlated with conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, dysthymia and sleep disorders.
Rasch Model Parameter Estimation in the Presence of a Nonnormal Latent Trait Using a Nonparametric Bayesian Approach
Authors: Finch Holmes , Edwards Julianne M.
Published: October 2015

Standard approaches for estimating item response theory (IRT) model parameters generally work under the assumption that the latent trait being measured by a set of items follows the normal distribution. Estimation of IRT parameters in the presence of nonnormal latent traits has been shown to generate biased person and item parameter estimates. A number of methods, including Ramsay curve item response theory, have been developed to reduce such bias, and have been shown to work well for relatively large samples and long assessments. An alternative approach to the nonnormal latent trait and IRT parameter estimation problem, nonparametric Bayesian estimation approach, has recently been introduced into the literature. Very early work with this method has shown that it could be an excellent option for use when fitting the Rasch model when assumptions cannot be made about the distribution of the model parameters. The current simulation study was designed to extend research in this area by expanding the simulation conditions under which it is examined and to compare the nonparametric Bayesian estimation approach to the Ramsay curve item response theory, marginal maximum likelihood, maximum a posteriori, and the Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo estimation method. Results of the current study support that the nonparametric Bayesian estimation approach may be a preferred option when fitting a Rasch model in the presence of nonnormal latent traits and item difficulties, as it proved to be most accurate in virtually all scenarios that were simulated in this study.
Intra-firm Wage compression and Coverage of Training Costs
Authors: Pfeifer Christian
Published: October 2015

The author uses German linked employer-employee data to estimate the impact of intra-firm wage dispersion on the probability that establishments pay for further training. About half of all establishments in the estimation sample cover all direct and indirect training costs, which contradicts the standard human capital approach with perfect labor markets. The main finding of cross-section, panel, and instrumental variable probit estimations is that establishments with larger intra-firm wage compression are more likely to cover all direct and indirect training costs, which is consistent with theoretical considerations of the “new training literature” about imperfect labor markets.
The world cities of Hong Kong and Singapore: Network hubs of global finance
Authors: Meyer David R
Published: October 2015

The world cities of Hong Kong and Singapore, former creations of British colonialism, gained prominence as global financial centers primarily from decisions of firms headquartered in the core of Europe and North America to base their senior management in Hong Kong for Asia-Pacific and Singapore for Southeast Asia. This study uses qualitative interviews with financiers in both cities to examine how they use their networks to produce financial services from core-contending centers in a regional economy containing mostly core-contending, semiperipheral, and peripheral countries. The results reveal that Hong Kong’s and Singapore’s financiers and their firms gain competitive advantages in producing financial services from their network exploitation of their access to sophisticated information, knowledge, and expertise about Asia.