bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design, Analysis, and Characterization of a Two-Legged Miniature Robot With Piezoelectric-Driven Four-Bar Linkage
Authors: Dharmawan Audelia G. , Hariri Hassan H. , Soh Gim Song , Foong Shaohui , Wood Kristin L.
Published: January 2018

This paper presents the design and development of a new type of piezoelectric-driven robot, which consists of a piezoelectric unimorph actuator integrated as part of the structure of a four-bar linkage to generate locomotion. The unimorph actuator replaces the input link of the four-bar linkage, and motion is generated at the coupler link due to the actuator deflection. A dimensional synthesis approach is proposed for the design of four-bar linkage that amplifies the small displacement of the piezoelectric actuator at the coupler link. The robot consists of two such piezo-driven four-bar linkages, and its gait cycle is described. The robot's speed is derived through kinematic modeling and experimentally verified using a fabricated prototype. The robot prototype's performance in terms of its payload capability and nominal operating power is also characterized experimentally. These results will be important for developing a motion planning control strategy for a autonomous robot locomotion, which will be part of future work.
Decomposition of Collaborative Surveillance Tasks for Execution in Marine Environments by a Team of Unmanned Surface Vehicles
Authors: Shriyam Shaurya , Shah Brual C. , Gupta Satyandra K.
Published: January 2018

This paper introduces an approach for decomposing exploration tasks among multiple unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) in congested regions. In order to ensure effective distribution of the workload, the algorithm has to consider the effects of the environmental constraints on the USVs. The performance of a USV is influenced by the surface currents, risk of collision with the civilian traffic, and varying depths due to tides and weather. The team of USVs needs to explore a certain region of the harbor and we need to develop an algorithm to decompose the region of interest into multiple subregions. The algorithm overlays a two-dimensional grid upon a given map to convert it to an occupancy grid, and then proceeds to partition the region of interest among the multiple USVs assigned to explore the region. During partitioning, the rate at which each USV is able to travel varies with the applicable speed limits at the location. The objective is to minimize the time taken for the last USV to finish exploring the assigned area. We use the particle swarm optimization (PSO) method to compute the optimal region partitions. The method is verified by running simulations in different test environments. We also analyze the performance of the developed method in environments where speed restrictions are not known in advance.
Social determinants of community-level human papillomavirus vaccination coverage in aschool-based vaccination programme
Authors: Jean Stephen , Elshafei Malak , Buttenheim Alison
Published: January 2018

Objective

To assess social patterns in human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage in a school-based, government-funded vaccination programme located within a single-payer universal healthcare system.

Design

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of HPV vaccine uptake data for the 2013–2014 school year for 131 local authorities in England, and then evaluated the association between vaccine uptake and socioeconomic status at the aggregate level.

Data sources

HPV vaccination coverage data from Public Health England’s vaccine uptake guidance and the UK’s March 2011 Census.

Main outcome measures

We measured three-dose local authority-level vaccine series initiation to completion.

Results

We found that in local authorities where there are more high-income families, the vaccination rate is lower than in local authorities with more low-income families. Local authorities with a higher percentage of whites, compared with non-whites, had higher HPV vaccination rates. Additionally, local authorities with more non-migrants had higher rates of vaccination. Local authorities with more education deprivation had higher rates of vaccination. Local authorities’ higher proportions of high-status occupations had worse vaccination coverage. In bivariate analyses across all the socioeconomic indicators, a 1 SD change in the indicators was associated with about a 2.25 percentage point decrease (for income, education and occupation) or increase (for race and migrant composition) in HPV dose coverage in the local authority. In multivariable analyses, only race remained as a significant predictor of HPV coverage at the local authority level.

Conclusions

Across all three doses, there are notable variations by socioeconomic status, with steep reverse gradients in three socioeconomic indicators. More quantitative and qualitative research needs to be conducted to determine the effects of the 2014 transition from a three-dose regimen to two-dose regimen on vaccination coverage, especially in groups that experience lower rates of vaccination.
Biotransformation and removal of heavy metals: a review of phytoremediation and microbial remediation assessment on contaminated soil
Authors: Emenike C.U. , Jayanthi B. , Agamuthu P. , Fauziah S.H.
Published: January 2018

Environmental deterioration is caused by a variety of pollutants; however, heavy metals are often a major issue. Development and globalization has now also resulted in such pollution occurring in developing societies, including Africa and Asia. This review explores the geographical outlook of soil pollution with heavy metals. Various approaches used to remedy metal-polluted soils include physical, chemical, and biological systems, but many of these methods are not economically viable, and they do not ensure restoration without residual effects. This review evaluates the diverse use of plants and microbes in biotransformation and removal of heavy metals from contaminated soil. Mechanisms on how natural processes utilizing plants (phytoremediation) and microorganisms (bioremediation) remove or reduce heavy metals from soil at various levels are presented. This review concludes that remediation technologies are necessary for the recovery of metal-contaminated environments and the prevention of continuous environmentally toxic impacts on living organisms.
Entanglement entropy of AdS5 × S5 with massive flavors
Authors: Hu Sen , Wu Guozhen
Published: January 2018

We consider backreacted [Formula: see text] coupled with [Formula: see text] massive flavors introduced by D7 branes. The backreacted geometry is in the Veneziano limit with fixed [Formula: see text]. By dividing one of the directions into a line segment with length l, we get two subspaces. Then we calculate the entanglement entropy between them. With the method of [I. R. Klebanov, D. Kutasov and A. Murugan, Nucl. Phys. B 796, 274 (2008)], we are able to find the cut-off independent part of the entanglement entropy and finally find that this geometry shows no confinement/deconfinement phase transition at zero temperature from the holographic entanglement entropy point of view similar to the case in pure [Formula: see text].
A note on supersymmetries in AdS5/CFT4
Authors: Takeuchi Fumiya , Sakaguchi Makoto
Published: January 2018

The [Formula: see text] superconformal algebra is derived from the symmetry transformations of fields in the [Formula: see text] SYM action in [Formula: see text]. We use a Majorana–Weyl spinor in [Formula: see text] instead of four Weyl spinors in [Formula: see text]. This makes it transparent to relate generators of the [Formula: see text] superconformal algebra to those of the super-[Formula: see text] algebra. Especially, we obtain the concrete map from the supersymmetries [Formula: see text] and conformal supersymmetries [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text] SYM to the supersymmetries [Formula: see text] in the [Formula: see text] background.
A Novel Low Line Regulation Voltage Reference with No Amplifier
Authors: Li Qiang Li , Deng WanLing , Ma Xiao Yu , Huang JunKai
Published: January 2018

A novel low line regulation voltage reference (VR) without an amplifier is presented in this paper. The design is achieved by subtracting two voltages which have the same temperature curves. All circuits use only one Bipolar Junction Transistor (BJT) to decrease the area greatly. Designed with the SMIC 0.18[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m CMOS process, the simulation results show that the output voltage is 0.902[Formula: see text]V at TT process corner when the power supply is larger than 1.7[Formula: see text]V. The temperature coefficient (TC) is 3.6[Formula: see text]ppm/[Formula: see text]C to 7.4[Formula: see text]ppm/[Formula: see text]C at different power supplies and process corners. The simulated power supply rejection ratio (PSRR) is [Formula: see text]80[Formula: see text]dB at TT process corner when the power supply is 2.5[Formula: see text]V, and the PSRR at different process corners are almost the same. The line regulation of the proposed circuit is 0.005[Formula: see text]mV/V.
First- and Second-Order Statistics of Interference-Limited Mobile-to-Mobile Weibull Fading Channel
Authors: Milosevic Nenad , Stefanovic Caslav , Nikolic Zorica , Bandjur Milos , Stefanovic Mihajlo
Published: January 2018

In this paper, we consider a cooperative mobile-to-mobile wireless short-term Weibull fading channel. The source mobile station communicates with the destination via a relay. The channel is considered to be interference-limited, and the interference is present at both relay and the destination. The exact closed-form expressions for the destination mobile station signal-to-interference ratio probability density function and the cumulative distribution function are derived. Approximate numerically efficient closed-form expressions for the level crossing rate and the average fade duration are also derived, using Laplace approximation for a three-fold integral. The influence of the fading channel parameters on the mentioned statistical measures is investigated. The theoretical results are verified by the Monte-Carlo simulation.
A Treatment Planning of Radio Frequency Ablation for Spinal Tumor
Authors: Tian Zhen , Dong Tong , Cheng Yanyan , Hu Jian , Nan Qun
Published: January 2018

In order to establish a treatment plan to predict therapeutic parameters accurately by radio frequency ablation (RFA) in spinal tumor, we use finite element method (FEM) to build a database in different therapeutic parameters (voltages 10–30[Formula: see text]V and heating-up time 120–1200[Formula: see text]s) and structures of electrode (single and multi). For predicting parameters through database, we compare three modes. We acquired 383 sets of data as database. The results show support vector machine (SVM) model is the best one to be applied in treatment planning, in which error rates (0 and 0.33%) were the smallest and correlation coefficients (1.000 and 0.999) were the closest to 1.
Veritesting Challenges in Symbolic Execution of Java
Authors: Sharma Vaibhav , Whalen Michael W. , McCamant Stephen , Visser Willem
Published: January 2018

Scaling symbolic execution to industrial-sized programs is an important open research problem. Veritesting is a promising technique that improves scalability by combining the advantages of static symbolic execution with those of dynamic symbolic execution. The goal of veritesting is to reduce the number of paths to explore in symbolic execution by creating formulas describing regions of code using disjunctive formulas. In previous work, veritesting was applied to binary-level symbolic execution.

Integrating veritesting with Java bytecode presents unique challenges: notably, incorporating non-local control jumps caused by runtime polymorphism, exceptions, native calls, and dynamic class loading. If these language features are not accounted for, we hypothesize that the static code regions described by veritesting are often small and may not lead to substantial reduction in paths. We examine this hypothesis by running a Soot-based static analysis on six large open-source projects used in the Defects4J collection. We find that while veritesting can be applied in thousands of regions, allowing static symbolic execution involving non-local control jumps amplifies the performance improvement obtained from veritesting. We hope to use these insights to support efficient veritesting in Symbolic PathFinder in the near future. Toward this end, we brie y address some engineering challenges to add veritesting into SPF.
Signaling to and from the RNA Polymerase III Transcription and Processing Machinery
Authors: Willis Ian M. , Moir Robyn D.
Published: January 2018

RNA polymerase (Pol) III has a specialized role in transcribing the most abundant RNAs in eukaryotic cells, transfer RNAs (tRNAs), along with other ubiquitous small noncoding RNAs, many of which have functions related to the ribosome and protein synthesis. The high energetic cost of producing these RNAs and their central role in protein synthesis underlie the robust regulation of Pol III transcription in response to nutrients and stress by growth regulatory pathways. Downstream of Pol III, signaling impacts posttranscriptional processes affecting tRNA function in translation and tRNA cleavage into smaller fragments that are increasingly attributed with novel cellular activities. In this review, we consider how nutrients and stress control Pol III transcription via its factors and its negative regulator, Maf1. We highlight recent work showing that the composition of the tRNA population and the function of individual tRNAs is dynamically controlled and that unrestrained Pol III transcription can reprogram central metabolic pathways.
Pazopanib Exposure Relationship with Clinical Efficacy and Safety in the Adjuvant Treatment of Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Sternberg Cora N. , Donskov Frede , Haas Naomi B. , Doehn Christian , Russo Paul , Elmeliegy Mohamed , Baneyx Guillaume , Banerjee Hiya , Aimone Paola , Motzer Robert J.
Published: January 2018

Purpose: PROTECT, a phase III, randomized, placebo-controlled study, evaluated pazopanib efficacy and safety in the adjuvant renal cell carcinoma setting. The relationship between pazopanib exposure (Ctrough) and efficacy and safety was evaluated.

Patients and Methods: Evaluable steady-state blood trough concentrations were collected from 311 patients at week 3 or 5 (early Ctrough) and 250 patients at week 16 or 20 (late Ctrough). Pazopanib pharmacokinetic (PK) data were analyzed via a population model approach. Relationship between Ctrough or dose intensity and disease-free survival (DFS) was explored via Kaplan–Meier and multivariate analysis. Adverse events (AE) and AE-related treatment discontinuation proportions were summarized by Ctrough quartiles.

Results: Most (>90%) patients with early or late Ctrough data started on 600 mg. Mean early and late Ctrough overlapped across dose levels. Patients with higher early Ctrough quartiles achieved longer DFS (adjusted HR, 0.58; 95% confidence interval, 0.42–0.82; P = 0.002). Patients achieving early or late Ctrough >20.5 μg/mL had significantly longer DFS: not estimable (NE) versus 29.5 months, P = 0.006, and NE versus 29.9 months, P = 0.008, respectively. Dose intensity up to week 8 did not correlate with DFS, consistent with population PK model–based simulations showing overlapping pazopanib exposure with 600 and 800 mg doses. The proportion of AE-related treatment discontinuation and grade 3/4 AEs, with the exception of hypertension, was not correlated to Ctrough.

Conclusions: In the adjuvant setting, higher pazopanib Ctrough was associated with improved DFS and did not increase treatment discontinuations or grade 3/4 AEs, with the exception of hypertension. Clin Cancer Res; 24(13); 3005–13. ©2018 AACR.

See related commentary by Rini, p. 2979
Both Serum Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor and Interleukin-6 Levels Are Not Associated with Therapeutic Response to Lamotrigine Augmentation Therapy in Treatment-Resistant Depressive Disorder
Authors: Kagawa Shoko , Mihara Kazuo , Suzuki Takeshi , Nagai Goyo , Nakamura Akifumi , Nemoto Kenji , Kondo Tsuyoshi
Published: January 2018

Background/Aims: Serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were prospectively monitored in relation with therapeutic response to lamotrigine augmentation therapy in 46 (15 males and 31 females) inpatients with treatment-resistant depressive disorder during an 8-week treatment with lamotrigine using an open-study design. Methods: The subjects were 46 depressed patients who had already shown insufficient response to at least 3 psychotropics including antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and atypical antipsychotics. The diagnoses were major depressive disorder (n = 19), bipolar I disorder (n = 6), and bipolar II disorder (n = 22). The final doses of lamotrigine were 100 mg/day for 26 subjects who were not taking valproate and 75 mg/day for 20 subjects taking valproate, respectively. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) before and after the 8-week treatment. Blood sampling was performed before the start of lamotrigine treatment and at week 8. Serum BDNF and IL-6 levels were measured using quantitative sandwich enzyme immunoassays. Results: No significant changes in serum BDNF or IL-6 levels during the 8-week lamotrigine treatment were observed in the total of subjects, responders or nonresponders. There was no significant correlation between the changes in serum BDNF or IL-6 levels and the percent improvement in MADRS scores in the overall subjects. Conclusion: The present study suggests that the acute effect of lamotrigine augmentation therapy for a major depressive episode is not related to either BDNF or IL-6, at least in patients with treatment-resistant depressive disorder.
Are Supply Shocks Contractionary at the ZLB? Evidence from Utilization-Adjusted TFP Data
Authors: Garín Julio , Lester Robert , Sims Eric
Published: January 2018

The basic New Keynesian model predicts that positive supply shocks are less expansionary at the zero lower bound (ZLB) compared to periods of active monetary policy. We test this prediction empirically using Fernald's (2014) utilization-adjusted total factor productivity series, which we take as a measure of exogenous productivity. In contrast to the predictions of the model, positive productivity shocks are estimated to be more expansionary at the ZLB compared to normal times. We find that there is no significant difference in the response of expected inflation to a productivity shock at the ZLB compared to normal times.
How to model intraindividual change in cohort data using Mplus’ multi-group approach
Authors: Gniewosz Burkhard , Gniewosz Gabriela
Published: January 2018

The present article aims to show how to model longitudinal change in cohort sequential data applying latent true change models using Mplus’ multi-group approach. The underlying modeling ideas are described and explained in this article. As an example, change in internalizing problem behaviors between the age of 8 and 13 years is modeled and predicted by gender. The example data stems from a large German cohort sequential study and comprises 806 children in three birth cohorts (2001, 2000, 1999). Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of this modelling approach are discussed. Annotated syntax is provided online for the models.
Family Continuity and Territorial Power in West Francia
Authors: Lisson Jelle
Published: January 2018

The political history of early medieval West Francia is often conceived of as the story of influential lineages. This article explores the territorial power and social status of the “house of Vermandois” in the ninth and tenth centuries, suggesting that (a) there is only rare proof of large-scale continuity between different generations of the lineage, (b) there is no evidence that the accumulation of wealth into the hands of the family was the chief purpose of the actions of individual “Herbertians,” and (c) the traditional picture of a “house” is indebted to modern historians confused by post–tenth-century sources.
Comparative Survival Analysis of Urea Kinetic Based Indices
Authors: Stosovic M. , Stanojevic M. , Radovic M. , Naumovic R. , Jovanovic D. , Simic S. , Marinkovic J. , Stankovic S. , Djukanovic L.J.
Published: January 2018

Background

Although urea kinetic modeling indices for measuring dialysis dose are recommended by world expert groups, it is not quite clear whether some of these are superior in predicting the outcome over others. This prospective, single-center study was carried out with the aim to compare predictive value of different indices and methods of measuring dialysis dose.

Methods

The analysis included 93 anuric patients having been on hemodialysis for at least 2 years who were followed-up for 75-months. The dialysis dose was measured by Kt/V (formal UKM, 3 and 2 urea samples), Kt/V (Daugirdas), Kt/V (Lowrie), eKt/V (Daugirdas), URR and TAC urea.

Results

Correlations between dialysis indices and survival time were significant for all indices (p<0.01) except for TAC. All indices, except for TAC urea, were significant predictors of mortality (multivariate Cox regression analysis; p<0.01) and differences of significant levels among these colinear parameters were small.

Conclusion

All examined indices except for TAC urea were highly predictive of patient mortality. Daugirdas and Lowrie simplified Kt/V indices are as predictive of all-cause mortality as more complex formal UKM methods in long-term patients on a 3×4h/week schedule.
Hyaluronan – Regulator and Initiator of Peritoneal Inflammation and Remodeling
Authors: Yung S. , Chan T.M.
Published: January 2018

Although previously described as an inert space filler, there is now compelling evidence to underscore the importance of hyaluronan in physiologic and pathologic processes. Despite its simple structure, hyaluronan plays essential roles in embryonic development, phenotypic changes, proliferation, wound healing, inflammation and angiogenesis. Hyaluronan is a major component of the glycocalyx that forms a protective barrier around mesothelial cells, and bestows upon the peritoneal membrane a slippery non-adhesive surface preventing abrasion, infection and tumor dissemination. Hyaluronan is associated with mesothelial-to-mesenchymal transdifferentiation, recruitment of leukocytes to sites of inflammation, and mediates the reparative process after tissue injury by initiating increased synthesis of growth factors. Serum and dialysate levels of hyaluronan are increased in patients maintained on peritoneal dialysis (PD), of which the levels are further increased during episodes of peritonitis. The level of hyaluronan in PD effluents is often used as a surrogate marker for peritoneal inflammation and can predict patient survival. This review will describe the multifaceted roles of hyaluronan in the peritoneum and how these roles are modulated during PD.
Regional Citrate Anticoagulation for Hemodialysis: Calcium-Free Vs. Calcium Containing Dialysate - A Randomized Trial
Authors: Buturovic-Ponikvar J. , Cerne S. , Gubensek J. , Ponikvar R.
Published: January 2018

Background

The majority of citrate protocols for hemodialysis (HD) use calcium (Ca)-free dialysate, a limited number use dialysate with Ca, aiming to simplify the procedure. This randomized clinical study sought to compare the anticoagulant effect of citrate using Ca-free dialysate and dialysate with Ca 1.25 mmol/L.

Methods

Fifty HD procedures (in 5 chronic HD patients treated by chronic citrate anticoagulation) were randomly assigned to Ca-free dialysate (25 procedures) or Ca-1.25 dialysate (25 procedures), both with Mg 0.5 mmol/L, Na 138 mmol/L, and bicarbonate 28 mmol/L. Ca-free HD: 15% Na3 citrate 80 ml/hour was infused into the arterial line, and 1 M CaCl2, 14 ml/hour into the venous line. Ca-1.25 group: 15% Na3 citrate 100 ml/hour, 1 M CaCl2 2–4 ml/hour. Polyflux H dialyzers were used. Antithrombotic effect was assessed visually after HD at 3 points: dialyzer, arterial, and venous bubble traps, using a score of 5 (no clotting) to 1 (total clotting).

Results

Ca-free group: arterial bubble trap score 4.7 ± 0.5, dialyzer 4.5 ± 0.6, venous bubble trap 4.8 ± 0.6. Ionized calcium (iCa) at dialyzer inlet 0.34 ± 0.17, outlet 0.21 ± 0.06 mmol/L. All HDs were completed successfully. Ca-1.25 group: arterial bubble trap score 4.7 ± 0.5 (NS), dialyzer 2.6 ± 1.04 (p<0.01), venous bubble trap 2.4 ± 0.9 (p<0.01). Volume of clot in venous bubble trap was 1.9 ± 1.8 mL (range 0.5–6 mL). iCa at dialyzer inlet 0.24 ± 0.05 mmol/L (p<0.05), outlet 0.63 ± 0.11 mmol/L (p<0.01). Four of 25 HD procedures (16%) were prematurely terminated due to threatening dialyzer clotting, in 6/25 HD procedures (24%), the venous line was changed (p<0.01).

Conclusion

Citrate anticoagulation with Ca-1.25 dialysate resulted in significantly worse anticoagulation of dialyzer and venous bubble trap compared with Ca-free dialysate, despite higher citrate dose.
Clinical and Biomaterial Evaluation of a new Condensed Dual-Function Extracorporeal Circuit in Reoperation for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Authors: Gunaydin Serdar , Mccusker Kevin , Vijay Venkataramana
Published: January 2018

Purpose

This prospective, randomized study compared the clinical performance of three types of circuits: a newly introduced, fully-coated, interchangeable open-closed circuit with a dual configuration (hard shell with a bypass shunt), reduced length, and reduced prime of less than 800 cc (CondECC); a completely coated circuit (ECC); and a similar uncoated, open circuit with standard length and prime (CONT).

Methods

75 patients undergoing reoperation for coronary revascularization were randomly allocated into three groups (N=25): Group 1: CondECC with shortened tubing, components and an open-closed configuration of low priming volume with a centrifugal pump and a shunt which bypassed the reservoir for closed configuration; Group 2: ECC with a roller pump and hard-shell reservoir; Group 3: CONT. Blood samples for CBC, inflammatory mediators [Interleukin-2 (IL-2), Complement-3a (C3a)] and flow cytometry (CD11 b/CD18) were collected after induction (T1) and heparin administration (T2), 15 min after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) (T3), before cessation of CPB (T4), 15 min after reversal (T5), and the first postoperative day (T6).

Results

Leukocyte counts demonstrated significant increases at T4, T5 in CONT but remained stable in ECC and CondECC (p<0.05). Platelets were preserved better at T4, T5 in both ECC and CondECC study groups (p<0.05). IL-2 and C3a levels were significantly lower at T3, T4, T5 in CondECC and T4, T5 in ECC (p<0.05). Blood protein adsorption analysis demonstrated increased amount of microalbumin on CONT fibers (p<0.05).

Conclusions

The CondECC is a flexible, dual-function, open/closed configuration system that was easy to use, safe and achieved better biocompatibility when compared to coated and uncoated conventional circuits.
Treating the “Illness” of Cherubism and Craniofacial Fibrous Dysplasia: Addressing the Stigma of Craniofacial Difference
Authors: Konradi Amanda
Published: January 2018

Stigma is a factor of diseases of craniofacial disfigurement, associated with negative health outcomes. Psychosocial interventions can improve the “illness” experience. The law can improve care by framing patients' rights, defining physicians' obligations to make psychological referrals, and fostering an activist orientation among patients.
Blueprint for Transparency at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Recommendations to Advance the Development of Safe and Effective Medical Products
Authors: Sharfstein Joshua M. , Miller James Dabney , Davis Anna L. , Ross Joseph S. , McCarthy Margaret E. , Smith Brian , Chaudhry Anam , Alexander G. Caleb , Kesselheim Aaron S.
Published: January 2018

Background

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) traditionally has kept confidential significant amounts of information relevant to the approval or non-approval of specific drugs, devices, and biologics and about the regulatory status of such medical products in FDA’s pipeline.

Objective

To develop practical recommendations for FDA to improve its transparency to the public that FDA could implement by rulemaking or other regulatory processes without further congressional authorization. These recommendations would build on the work of FDA’s Transparency Task Force in 2010.

Methods

In 2016-2017, we convened a team of academic faculty from Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Yale Medical School, Yale Law School, and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to develop recommendations through an iterative process of reviewing FDA’s practices, considering the legal and policy constraints on FDA in expanding transparency, and obtaining insights from independent observers of FDA.

Results

The team developed 18 specific recommendations for improving FDA’s transparency to the public. FDA could adopt all these recommendations without further congressional action.

Funding

The development of the Blueprint for Transparency at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was funded by the Laura and John Arnold Foundation.
Holding Space for Literate Identity Co-Construction
Authors: Hikida Michiko
Published: January 2018

Many students of color who are also identified as “struggling” readers are likely to have negative experiences in school. In this article, I discuss the findings of a case study examining how reader identities emerged in and through language for such students. The discourse data analyzed here concern an interactional pattern in which the focal students and their teacher collaborated in disrupting identities of deficiency, and instead constructed literate identities within whole-group discussions of text. These findings highlight moments of agency from students marginalized in schools and point toward ways that teachers and students can collaboratively create space for students’ literate voices to be heard.
Perioperative Medicine: A Burgeoning Field with Profound Importance to a Modern Clinician
Authors: Gaduputi Vinaya , Chilimuri Sridhar , Changela Kinesh
Published: January 2018

AIMS AND SCOPE

This article serves in introducing the readers to the developing field of perioperative medicine. We have made an effort to come up with the latest management guidelines covering multiple subspecialties in form of a special supplement. This compendium in perioperative medicine serves as a comprehensive guide to a practicing clinician, in managing patients with various medical comorbidities undergoing surgical procedures and avoiding common pitfalls.
Space in a Social Movement: A Case Study of Occupy Central in Hong Kong in 2014
Authors: Wang Xu , Ye Yu , Chan Chris King-chi
Published: January 2018

Few studies have examined the role of space in social movements. The existing studies have primarily emphasized the physical nature of space (e.g., space as distance) and overlooked other attributes of space, such as space as the materialization of power relations and space as lived experience. In this article, we explore the role of space in social movements based on a case study of the Occupy Central in Hong Kong in 2014. During the protest, the organizers occupied and reconfigured the campuses and mobilized the participants both through and in space. We find that the campus space helped stimulate the feelings and emotions of the students and increased their enthusiasm to participate in the demonstration. The participants were then sent from the campuses (mobilization spaces) to the demonstration spaces where they occupied and transformed the urban public spaces into private spaces, thus leading to contention over and of space with the state powers. Our findings reveal that the campus space is an important resource that organizers can use for mobilization. We also find that the special features of a campus, including aggregation, networks, isolation, and homogeneity, can facilitate the formation of social movements. We argue that the three attributes of space interact with one another in facilitating the social movement. Thus, our findings suggest that space acts as not only the vessel of struggle but also a useful tool and a target of struggle.
Multiculturalism, interculturalism, ‘multiculture’ and super-diversity: Of zombies, shadows and other ways of being
Authors: Sealy Thomas
Published: January 2018

Multiculturalism has increasingly become challenged and outcast, whether directly or summarily, as theoretically useful or empirically valid. This has come prominently from three corners: interculturalism, ‘everyday’ multiculturalism or ‘multiculture’ and super-diversity, in all of which the zombieness of multiculturalism is seen to be mutually reassured. Nevertheless, there are significant short comings that have not been thoroughly addressed and considered. In this article, I offer a thoroughgoing engagement with and critique of these bodies of work, identifying their points of convergence and divergence, the underlying principles in their relation to multiculturalism and suggesting how they fall short, often of their own goals, in multiple and significant ways. I argue that the cosmopolitan individualism they wish to celebrate ignores the fact of power relations, inequality, conflict and the necessity of politics. The micro-level ‘solutions’ offered, I suggest, do not provide a substitute for a macro-level multiculturalism. Moreover, the conceptualisations of identity also do not stand up to scrutiny. This, I interrogate with a particular reference to religious identity to indicate the shortcomings in these literatures. I propose instead that not only is multiculturalism not the zombie it is claimed but also that it continues to offer better critical resources than its challengers.
Understanding Queer Normality: LGBT+ Representations in Millennial Flemish Television Fiction
Authors: Vanlee Florian , Dhaenens Frederik , Van Bauwel Sofie
Published: January 2018

Queer television studies scholarship tends to construct “queerness” and “normality” as incommensurable concepts, defining queer “against the normal rather than the heterosexual.” In this article, we show how this construction is specifically intertwined with highly liberalized media contexts, and generates a fundamentally static understanding and operationalization of the concept of normality in queer television studies. Turning to Flemish television fiction of the late 1990s, we point to a dynamic and open-ended approach toward sexual and gender diversity, and illustrate how televised normality itself can be a queer phenomenon. In doing so, we offer a framework to understand the proliferation of LGBT+ characters and storylines in twenty-first-century Flemish television fiction, and contribute to a nuanced understanding of the dynamics of normalization and television fiction in a western European television industry.
Does Stroke Rehabilitation Really Matter? Part A: Proportional Stroke Recovery in the Rat
Authors: Jeffers Matthew Strider , Karthikeyan Sudhir , Corbett Dale
Published: January 2018

Background. In human upper-limb stroke, initial level of functional impairment or corticospinal tract injury can accurately predict the degree of poststroke recovery, independent of rehabilitation practices. This proportional recovery rule implies that current rehabilitation practices may play little or no role in brain repair, with recovery largely a result of spontaneous biological recovery processes. Objective. The present study sought to determine if similar biomarkers predict recovery of poststroke function in rats, indicating that an endogenous biological recovery process might be preserved across mammalian species. Methods. Using a cohort of 593 male Sprague-Dawley rats, we predicted poststroke change in pellet retrieval in the Montoya staircase-reaching task based on initial impairment alone. Stratification of the sample into “fitters” and “nonfitters” of the proportional recovery rule using hierarchical cluster analysis allowed identification of distinguishing characteristics of these subgroups. Results. Approximately 30% of subjects were identified as fitters of the rule. These rats showed recovery in proportion to their initial level of impairment of 66% (95% CI = 62%-70%). This interval overlaps with those of multiple human clinical trials. A number of variables, including less severe infarct volumes and initial poststroke impairments distinguished fitters of the rule from nonfitters. Conclusions. These findings suggest that proportional recovery is a cross-species phenomenon that can be used to uncover biological mechanisms contributing to stroke recovery.
Collectively Improving Our Teaching: Attempting Biology Department–wide Professional Development in Scientific Teaching
Authors: Owens Melinda T. , Trujillo Gloriana , Seidel Shannon B. , Harrison Colin D. , Farrar Katherine M. , Benton Hilary P. , Blair J. R. , Boyer Katharyn E. , Breckler Jennifer L. , Burrus Laura W. , Byrd Dana T. , Caporale Natalia , Carpenter Edward J. , Chan Yee-Hung M. , Chen Joseph C. , Chen Lily , Chen Linda H. , Chu Diana S. , Cochlan William P. , Crook Robyn J. , Crow Karen D. , de la Torre José R. , Denetclaw Wilfred F. , Dowdy Lynne M. , Franklin Darleen , Fuse Megumi , Goldman Michael A. , Govindan Brinda , Green Michael , Harris Holly E. , He Zheng-Hui , Ingalls Stephen B. , Ingmire Peter , Johnson Amber R. B. , Knight Jonathan D. , LeBuhn Gretchen , Light Terrye L. , Low Candace , Lund Lance , Márquez-Magaña Leticia M. , Miller-Sims Vanessa C. , Moffatt Christopher A. , Murdock Heather , Nusse Gloria L. , Parker V. Thomas , Pasion Sally G. , Patterson Robert , Pennings Pleuni S. , Ramirez Julio C. , Ramirez Robert M. , Riggs Blake , Rohlfs Rori V. , Romeo Joseph M. , Rothman Barry S. , Roy Scott W. , Russo-Tait Tatiane , Sehgal Ravinder N. M. , Simonin Kevin A. , Spicer Greg S. , Stillman Jonathon H. , Swei Andrea , Tempe Leslie C. , Vredenburg Vance T. , Weinstein Steven L. , Zink Andrew G. , Kelley Loretta A. , Domingo Carmen R. , Tanner Kimberly D.
Published: January 2018

Many efforts to improve science teaching in higher education focus on a few faculty members at an institution at a time, with limited published evidence on attempts to engage faculty across entire departments. We created a long-term, department-wide collaborative professional development program, Biology Faculty Explorations in Scientific Teaching (Biology FEST). Across 3 years of Biology FEST, 89% of the department’s faculty completed a weeklong scientific teaching institute, and 83% of eligible instructors participated in additional semester-long follow-up programs. A semester after institute completion, the majority of Biology FEST alumni reported adding active learning to their courses. These instructor self-reports were corroborated by audio analysis of classroom noise and surveys of students in biology courses on the frequency of active-learning techniques used in classes taught by Biology FEST alumni and nonalumni. Three years after Biology FEST launched, faculty participants overwhelmingly reported that their teaching was positively affected. Unexpectedly, most respondents also believed that they had improved relationships with departmental colleagues and felt a greater sense of belonging to the department. Overall, our results indicate that biology department–wide collaborative efforts to develop scientific teaching skills can indeed attract large numbers of faculty, spark widespread change in teaching practices, and improve departmental relations.
Epistemic injustice in psychiatry
Authors: Crichton Paul , Carel Havi , Kidd Ian James
Published: January 2018

It has been argued that those who suffer from medical conditions are more vulnerable to epistemic injustice (a harm done to a person in their capacity as an epistemic subject) than healthy people. This editorial claims that people with mental disorders are even more vulnerable to epistemic injustice than those with somatic illnesses. Two kinds of contributory factors are outlined, global and specific. Some suggestions are made to counteract the effects of these factors, for instance, we suggest that physicians should participate in groups where the subjective experience of patients is explored, and learn to become more aware of their own unconscious prejudices towards psychiatric patients.
Psychiatry trainees' experiences of cognitive-behavioural therapy training in a UK deanery: A qualitative analysis
Authors: Carson Amy Alice , Clark Sarah Emily
Published: January 2018

Aims and method

To explore core psychiatry trainees' experiences of cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) training by using interpretative phenomenological analysis of semi-structured interviews conducted with seven core trainee psychiatrists in Yorkshire and the Humber Deanery.

Results

Four key themes emerged: (1) barriers to training; (2) guidance, with emphasis on the importance of supervision groups; (3) acquisition of new skills and confidence; (4) personal influence on the training experience.

Clinical implications

Many trainees in Yorkshire have a positive experience of CBT training; however, some also experience barriers to acquiring the relevant skills. Further research should build on the positive factors and barriers identified here, with a view to guiding improvements in training nationwide.
Quality of Life From Canadian Cancer Trials Group MA.17R: A Randomized Trial of Extending Adjuvant Letrozole to 10 Years
Authors: Lemieux Julie , Brundage Michael D. , Parulekar Wendy R. , Goss Paul E. , Ingle James N. , Pritchard Kathleen I. , Celano Paul , Muss Hyman , Gralow Julie , Strasser-Weippl Kathrin , Whelan Kate , Tu Dongsheng , Whelan Timothy J.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

MA.17R was a Canadian Cancer Trials Group–led phase III randomized controlled trial comparing letrozole to placebo after 5 years of aromatase inhibitor as adjuvant therapy for hormone receptor–positive breast cancer. Quality of life (QOL) was a secondary outcome measure of the study, and here, we report the results of these analyses.

Methods

QOL was measured using the Short Form-36 (SF-36; two summary scores and eight domains) and menopause-specific QOL (MENQOL; four symptom domains) at baseline and every 12 months up to 60 months. QOL assessment was mandatory for Canadian Cancer Trials Group centers but optional for centers in other groups. Mean change scores from baseline were calculated.

Results

One thousand nine hundred eighteen women were randomly assigned, and 1,428 women completed the baseline QOL assessment. Compliance with QOL measures was > 85%. Baseline summary scores for the SF-36 physical component summary (47.5 for letrozole and 47.9 for placebo) and mental component summary (55.5 for letrozole and 54.8 for placebo) were close to the population norms of 50. No differences were seen between groups in mean change scores for the SF-36 physical and mental component summaries and the other eight QOL domains except for the role-physical subscale. No difference was found in any of the four domains of the MENQOL

Conclusion

No clinically significant differences were seen in overall QOL measured by the SF-36 summary measures and MENQOL between the letrozole and placebo groups. The data indicate that continuation of aromatase inhibitor therapy after 5 years of prior treatment in the trial population was not associated with a deterioration of overall QOL.
The Concept of Intergovernmental Integration: Types and Characteristics
Authors: Гарнов Андрей , Garnov Andrey , Топчий В. , Topchiy V. , Киселева К. , Kiseleva K. , Гарнова А. , Garnova A.
Published: January 2018

Nowadays intergovernmental integration plays a great role because it gives an opportunity to shore upeconomic, cultural, political, social relations. There are some types of intergovernmental integration, and each of them has its own characteristics of functioning. Cooperation of counties is a mechanism of external politics realization.
Making sense of hormone replacement therapy
Authors: Abernethy Kathy
Published: January 2018

Hormone replacement therapy remains the most effective treatment for the relief of menopausal symptoms and is an essential part of the management of women with premature ovarian failure. Over recent months, media coverage of HRT has left women anxious over its safety, and some prescribers may be unclear of the current evidence. This article summarises the current evidence so prescribers may be confident in offering this treatment for menopause, based on individualized risk.
Contraceptive Use over Five Years After Receipt Or Denial of Abortion Services
Authors: Moseson Heidi , Foster Diana Greene , Upadhyay Ushma D. , Vittinghoff Eric , Rocca Corinne H.
Published: January 2018

CONTEXT

Nonuse and inconsistent use of contraceptives contribute to a high incidence of unintended pregnancy and abortion among U.S. women. Little is known, however, about how these outcomes shape women's subsequent contraceptive use and unintended pregnancy risk.

METHODS

Contraceptive use was examined among 880 participants in the Turnaway Study, a five‐year longitudinal study of women who sought abortions at 30 U.S. facilities in 2008–2010. Multivariable mixed‐effects logistic and multinomial regression models assessed differences in use by whether women received the abortion; results were used to calculate predicted percentages of women using each method. The main groups of interest were 415 women who had an abortion at a gestation near their facility's limit and 160 who were denied abortion because they were beyond the limit, and who consequently gave birth.

RESULTS

During each of the approximately five years of follow‐up, the predicted percentage using any contraceptive method was 86% among women who had the abortion and 81% among those denied it. Over the entire period, the former women were more likely than the latter to use any method (odds ratio, 1.8). However, they were less likely to rely on female sterilization, rather than no method (risk ratio, 0.5), and more likely to use barrier methods (1.7) or short‐acting reversible contraceptives (2.6).

CONCLUSION

Women's elevated risk of unintended pregnancy after abortion is likely due at least partly to reliance on methods with relatively low effectiveness. Factors affecting contraceptive access postabortion, as well as individual characteristics such as fecundability, require research attention.
Military service, combat exposure, and health in the later lives of US men
Authors: Maclean Alair , Edwards Ryan D.
Published: January 2018

Researchers have produced mixed findings regarding the relationship between military service, war-zone deployment, combat exposure, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and physical health at older ages.  This article uses data drawn from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to estimate growth curve models that predict how self-rated health and life-threatening illness vary across groups of men defined as combat and non-combat veterans, compared to non-veterans.  According to the findings, combat veterans have worse health than men who did not experience combat during the draft era decades after their service, while non-combat veterans have health that is similar to if not better than non-veterans. Combat veterans were less healthy than these other men based both on a subjective measure of self-rated health and on an objective count of life-threatening illnesses several decades after service.  Studies that simply compare veterans to non-veterans may thus continue to produce mixed findings, because particular types of veterans serve in ways that relate differently to health.