bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intracameral Chemotherapy (Melphalan) for Aqueous Seeding in Retinoblastoma: Bicameral Injection Technique and Related Toxicity in a Pilot Case Study
Authors: Munier Francis L. , Gaillard Marie-Claire , Decembrini Sarah , Bongiovanni Massimo , Beck-Popovic Maja
Published: December 2016

Background: The anterior chamber has been shown by pharmacokinetic studies to represent a sanctuary never achieving a tumoricidal dose with the present administration routes, such as systemic, intra-arterial, or intravitreal injections. Method: A novel intracameral chemotherapy technique is described to control aqueous seeding in a pilot unilateral group E retinoblastoma case with primary aqueous seeding. Anterior segment toxicity was carefully monitored. Results: Control of the retinal tumor and vitreous seeding was achieved by intra-arterial and intravitreal chemotherapies. Sterilization of the aqueous was achieved after a first cycle of 7 melphalan injections in the anterior chamber, but relapse was noted 3.5 months later. This relapse was finally controlled with a second cycle of 6 intracameral injections targeting the posterior chamber. Corneal endothelial cell density remained stable over the injection period. Heterochromia and a progressive cataract developed, which required cataract surgery. At 5 years' follow-up, the patient is tumor free with normal vision (20/20 in both eyes), full binocularity, and no metastasis. Conclusions: The present bicameral injection technique appears to be safe and effective with limited toxicity. Melphalan-induced side effects were noted on the iris and lens but with no impact on the final visual function.
Medications That Increase Osmolality and Compromise the Safety of Enteral Feeding in Preterm Infants
Authors: Chandran Suresh , Chua Mei Chien , Lin Wanyun , Min Wong Jia , Saffari Seyed Ehsan , Rajadurai Victor Samuel
Published: December 2016

Background: Medications added to preterm milk feeds have the potential to raise osmolality, causing feed intolerance and necrotizing enterocolitis. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in the osmolality of milk feeds and water with 14 medications and the diluent amounts required to keep the osmolality below the safety threshold of ≤450 mOsm/kg. Changes in the osmolality of milk with medications while on continuous infusion over 2 and 4 h were determined. Methods: This study was designed to measure the osmolality of 14 commonly used medications in preterm infants both neat and when supplemented with expressed breast milk (EBM), EBM with fortifier (EBMF), preterm formula (PTF), and water. Dose-effect curves were plotted, and the volume of each diluent was calculated to keep the osmolality ≤450 mOsm/kg. Time-effect curves were plotted at 2 and 4 h for each medication for both EBM and EBMF. Results: Neat osmolality of all except 5 medications were above 2,000 mOsm/kg. The osmolality rose with decreasing proportions of diluents used, depicting an indirect curvilinear relationship between the increasing dilution and osmolality for all except 2 medications. As a diluent, EBM was required in lower dilutions than EBMF. Dilutions needed for additives with PTF were very similar to those of EBM. The change in osmolality over time with additives was statistically significant for EBMF. Conclusions: EBM and PTF were found to be safer diluents than EBMF for enteral additives. The practice of keeping milk feeds with medications for continuous feeding is safe for a period of 4 h in EBM.
Reviewing Patients Following Mesh Repair; The Benefits
Authors: Kowalik Claudia R. , Lakeman M.M.E. , Oryszczyn Josephine E. , Roovers Jan Paul W.R.
Published: December 2016

Background/Aims: The use of synthetic mesh implants for vaginal prolapse surgery is still a subject of debate due to safety concerns. We aimed to explore long-term complications of all women treated with mesh surgery for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in our centre. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of 188 women who underwent vaginal mesh surgery in a Dutch University Hospital between 2007 and 2012. The prevalence of mesh exposure, pain symptoms and patient satisfaction has been documented. Results: Vaginal mesh surgery was performed in 188 women - in 147 (78%) because of recurrent POP. After a median follow-up of 40 months (range 12-76 months), 11 women (6%) had a symptomatic exposure of whom 8 women underwent surgery. Nine women (5%) had de novo pain following mesh surgery and in 3 women, (2%) this symptom was persistent despite treatment. Eighty-six percent of the responders were satisfied about their treatment. Conclusion: With this study, we showed that performing a total mesh recall is feasible. The prevalence of persisting symptomatic exposure and persisting pain symptoms was low in our population. Most of the complications we found were treatable. This is also reflected in the high overall satisfaction rate.
Sardegna, tradução e interculturalidade
Authors: Queiroz Susi Leolinda Rosas , Caramori Alessandra
Published: December 2016

O presente trabalho, partindo da realização de uma tradução comentada, tem o propósito de refletir sobre questões práticas do processo tradutório, assim como sobre o público a que se destina. Considerando a perspectiva funcionalista dos estudos da tradução, foi analisado o capítulo “Sardegna” do livro infantil Italia: storie, ballate e racconti, do escritor italiano Roberto Piumini. Foram também abordados os conceitos de estrangeirização e domesticação propostos pelo teórico Lawrence Venuti ao discutir o objetivo principal deste trabalho: fazer conhecer ao público brasileiro um pouco da Itália através de suas regiões e de personagens importantes de sua cultura. A perspectiva da mediação cultural foi então decisiva para conduzir as escolhas do tradutor, incluindo sua opção por uma tradução comentada e por sua apresentação bilíngue.
Multistability of Delayed Recurrent Neural Networks with Mexican Hat Activation Functions
Authors: Liu Peng , Zeng Zhigang , Wang Jun
Published: December 2016

This letter studies the multistability analysis of delayed recurrent neural networks with Mexican hat activation function. Some sufficient conditions are obtained to ensure that an [Formula: see text]-dimensional recurrent neural network can have [Formula: see text] equilibrium points with [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] of them are locally exponentially stable. Furthermore, the attraction basins of these stable equilibrium points are estimated. We show that the attraction basins of these stable equilibrium points can be larger than their originally partitioned subsets. The results of this letter improve and extend the existing stability results in the literature. Finally, a numerical example containing different cases is given to illustrate the theoretical results.
Notes on Singaporean native Zingiberales II: revision of Marantaceae, with a new generic record and notes on naturalised and commonly cultivated exotic species
Authors: NIISSALO MATTI A. , KHEW GILLIAN S. , WEBB EDWARD L. , LEONG-ŠKORNIČKOVÁ JANA
Published: December 2016

An illustrated revision of Marantaceae in Singapore with an identification key and proposed national IUCN Red List assessments is presented here. In total three genera and four species are considered native to Singapore (Donax canniformis, Phrynium hirtum, Stachyphrynium parvum, and Stachyphrynium latifolium) representing 33 % of diversity currently known to occur in Peninsular Malaysia. Although the genus Phrynium Willdenow (1797: 1) was previously reported for Singapore based on the presence of P. villosulum, we show that this species is, contrary to previous accounts, not native but introduced. Newly reported Phrynium hirtum therefore represents a new native generic record for the country. We are changing the status of Schumannianthus benthamianus, previously considered native, to cultivated, as there are no historic or recent collections of this species. Non-native species commonly employed in Singapore streetscapes and parks are also briefly discussed and illustrated in this paper. Actoplanes ridleyi, Donax grandis, Donax parviflora, Maranta tonchat, Phrynium latifolium and Phrynium sumatranum are lectotypified and Maranta arundinacea Blanco (non L.) is neotypified.
Sections in Eugenia (Myrteae, Myrtaceae): nomenclatural notes and a key
Authors: MAZINE FIORELLA F. , BÜNGER MARIANA OLIVEIRA , DE FARIA JAIR EUSTÁQUIO QUINTINO , LUCAS EVE , SOUZA VINICIUS CASTRO
Published: December 2016

Eugenia currently comprises c. 1050 species and is the largest angiosperm genus in Brazil. Recent morphological and taxonomic revision of Eugenia s.l. in light of current phylogenetic knowledge necessitates a new infra-generic classification. This study, based on available systematic data, circumscribes Eugenia in its current sense and provides detailed descriptions and illustration of the resulting nine infra-generic sections: Eugenia sects. Eugenia, Calycorectes, Hexachlamys, Phyllocalyx, Pilothecium, Pseudeugenia, Racemosae, Speciosae and the largest, Umbellatae that contains two thirds of the species in the genus. Relationships between Eugenia and Old World genera currently accepted as synonyms of Eugenia (Jossinia, Monimiastrum, Myrtopsis and Chloromyrtus) are also discussed. The paper presents a wide range of changes at the sectional level resulting in five new sectional synonyms, two new combinations, a lectotypification and one name of new status. An identification key to the sections is provided.
Pimpinella enguezekensis (Apiaceae), a new species from East Anatolia Region (Turkey)
Authors: YEŞIL YETER , YILDIRIM HASAN , AKALIN EMINE , PIRHAN ADEMI FAHRI , ALTIOĞLU YUSUF
Published: December 2016

The new species Pimpinella enguezekensis (Apiaceae) is described from Ağılbaşı village (Engüzek), Darende district in Malatya city (E of Turkey). It shows a unique combination of morphological characteristics concerning the size, shape and margins of leaves, the indumentum of petals and the morphology of fruits. It is related to Pimpinella species with entire leaves and yellow flower, such as P. flabellifolia, P. paucidentata, P. sintenisii and P. nephrophylla of section Reutera subsection Flabellifoliae. The new species is more closely related to P. flabellifolia, with which it shares some morphological similarities, but from which it is easily distinguished by its multi-stemmed habit, smaller rhomboid leaves with spiny dentate margins, glabrous petals, and smaller fruits lacking ribs. According to micromorphological studies, fruits of P. enguezekensis are glabrous and show reticulate striate surface. Furthermore, they also show remarkable anatomical differences with regard to fruits of P. flabellifolia, the commissure width in P. enguezekensis being more than twice smaller than in P. flabellifolia and the mericarp length/width ratio in P. enguezekensis being also smaller than in P. flabellifolia. An identification key of the yellow-flowered species with entire leaves is reported. Moreover, a distribution map for P. enguezekensis and other Turkish yellow-flowered related species is presented.
A new species of Graphis (Graphidaceae: Lichenized Ascomycota) and a revised key of the genus in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil

Authors: FEUERSTEIN SHIRLEY CUNHA , KOCH NATÁLIA MOSSMANN , LUCHETA FABIANE , VARGAS VERA MARIA FERRÃO , DA SILVEIRA ROSA MARA BORGES
Published: December 2016

(A new species of Graphis [Graphidaceae: Lichenized Ascomycota] and a revised key of the genus in Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil). In this paper we describe a new species of the lichen genus Graphis, namely G. suzanae Koch & Feuerstein. This species is characterized mainly by lirellae with entire labia, a partially exposed disc with orange pigment in the epithecium, a lateral thalline margin, a laterally carbonized excipulum, a clear hymenium, and transversely septate ascospores measuring 40–44 × 8–10 μm. The chemistry of the species was assessed through TLC analysis. A complete key with G. suzanae and 56 more species of Graphis that where previously recorded to the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, is included.
Assessing the Climate Impacts of the Observed Atlantic Multidecadal Variability Using the GFDL CM2.1 and NCAR CESM1 Global Coupled Models
Authors: Ruprich-Robert Yohan , Msadek Rym , Castruccio Frederic , Yeager Stephen , Delworth Tom , Danabasoglu Gokhan
Published: December 2016

The climate impacts of the observed Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV) are investigated using the GFDL CM2.1 and the NCAR CESM1 coupled climate models. The model North Atlantic sea surface temperatures are restored to fixed anomalies corresponding to an estimate of the internally driven component of the observed AMV. Both models show that during boreal summer the AMV alters the Walker circulation and generates precipitation anomalies over the whole tropical belt. A warm phase of the AMV yields reduced precipitation over the western United States, drier conditions over the Mediterranean basin, and wetter conditions over northern Europe. During boreal winter, the AMV modulates by a factor of about 2 the frequency of occurrence of El Niño and La Niña events. This response is associated with anomalies over the Pacific that project onto the interdecadal Pacific oscillation pattern (i.e., Pacific decadal oscillation–like anomalies in the Northern Hemisphere and a symmetrical pattern in the Southern Hemisphere). This winter response is a lagged adjustment of the Pacific Ocean to the AMV forcing in summer. Most of the simulated global-scale impacts are driven by the tropical part of the AMV, except for the winter North Atlantic Oscillation–like response over the North Atlantic–European region, which is driven by both the subpolar and tropical parts of the AMV. The teleconnections between the Pacific and Atlantic basins alter the direct North Atlantic local response to the AMV, which highlights the importance of using a global coupled framework to investigate the climate impacts of the AMV. The similarity of the two model responses gives confidence that impacts described in this paper are robust.
Novel Methods for Optically Measuring Whitecaps under Natural Wave-Breaking Conditions in the Southern Ocean
Authors: Randolph Kaylan , Dierssen Heidi M. , Cifuentes-Lorenzen Alejandro , Balch William M. , Monahan Edward C. , Zappa Christopher J. , Drapeau Dave T. , Bowler Bruce
Published: December 2016

Traditional methods for measuring whitecap coverage using digital video systems mounted to measure a large footprint can miss features that do not produce a high enough contrast to the background. Here, a method for accurately measuring the fractional coverage, intensity, and decay time of whitecaps using above-water radiometry is presented. The methodology was developed using data collected in the Southern Ocean under a wide range of wind and wave conditions. Whitecap quantities were obtained by employing a magnitude threshold based on the interquartile range of the radiance or reflectance signal from a single channel. Breaking intensity and decay time were produced from the integration of and the exponential fit to radiance or reflectance over the lifetime of the whitecap. When using the lowest magnitude threshold possible, radiometric fractional whitecap coverage retrievals were consistently higher than fractional coverage from high-resolution digital images, perhaps because the radiometer captures more of the decaying bubble plume area that is difficult to detect with photography. Radiometrically obtained whitecap measurements are presented in the context of concurrently measured meteorological (e.g., wind speed) and oceanographic (e.g., wave) data. The optimal fit of the radiometrically estimated whitecap coverage to the instantaneous wind speed, determined using robust linear least squares, showed a near-cubic dependence. Increasing the magnitude threshold for whitecap detection from 2 to 4 times the interquartile range produced a wind speed–whitecap relationship most comparable to the concurrently collected fractional coverage from digital imagery and previously published wind speed–whitecap parameterizations.
Adaptive Observation Error Inflation for Assimilating All-Sky Satellite Radiance
Authors: Minamide Masashi , Zhang Fuqing
Published: December 2016

An empirical flow-dependent adaptive observation error inflation (AOEI) method is proposed for assimilating all-sky satellite brightness temperatures through observing system simulation experiments with an ensemble Kalman filter. The AOEI method adaptively inflates the observation error when the absolute difference (innovation) between the observed and simulated brightness temperatures is greater than the square root of the combined variance of the uninflated observational error variance and ensemble-estimated background error variance. This adaptive method is designed to limit erroneous analysis increments where there are large representativeness errors, as is often the case for cloudy-affected radiances, even if the forecast model and the observation operator (the radiative transfer model) are perfect. The promising performance of this newly proposed AOEI method is demonstrated through observing system simulation experiments assimilating all-sky brightness temperatures from GOES-R (now GOES-16) in comparison with experiments using an alternative empirical observation error inflation method proposed by Geer and Bauer. It is found that both inflation methods perform similarly in the accuracy of the analysis and in the containment of potential representativeness errors; both outperform experiments using a constant observation error without inflation. Besides being easier to implement, the empirical AOEI method proposed here also shows some advantage over the Geer–Bauer method in better updating variables at large scales. Large representative errors are likely to be compounded by unavoidable uncertainties in the forecast system and/or nonlinear observation operator (as for the radiative transfer model), in particular in the areas of moist processes, as will be the case for real-data cloudy radiances, which will be further investigated in future studies.
Myeloid neoplasms with eosinophilia
Authors: Reiter Andreas , Gotlib Jason
Published: December 2016

Molecular diagnostics has generated substantial dividends in dissecting the genetic basis of myeloid neoplasms with eosinophilia. The family of diseases generated by dysregulated fusion tyrosine kinase (TK) genes is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) category, “Myeloid/lymphoid neoplasms with eosinophilia and rearrangement of PDGFRA, PDGFRB, or FGFR1, or with PCM1-JAK2.” In addition to myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), these patients can present with myelodysplastic syndrome/MPN, as well as de novo or secondary mixed-phenotype leukemias or lymphomas. Eosinophilia is a common, but not invariable, feature of these diseases. The natural history of PDGFRA- and PDGFRB-rearranged neoplasms has been dramatically altered by imatinib. In contrast, patients with FGFR1 and JAK2 fusion TK genes exhibit a more aggressive course and variable sensitivity to current TK inhibitors, and in most cases, long-term disease-free survival may only be achievable with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Similar poor prognosis outcomes may be observed with rearrangements of FLT3 or ABL1 (eg, both of which commonly partner with ETV6), and further investigation is needed to validate their inclusion in the current WHO-defined group of eosinophilia-associated TK fusion-driven neoplasms. The diagnosis chronic eosinophilic leukemia, not otherwise specified (CEL, NOS) is assigned to patients with MPN with eosinophilia and nonspecific cytogenetic/molecular abnormalities and/or increased myeloblasts. Myeloid mutation panels have identified somatic variants in patients with a provisional diagnosis of hypereosinophilia of undetermined significance, reclassifying some of these cases as eosinophilia-associated neoplasms. Looking forward, one of the many challenges will be how to use the results of molecular profiling to guide prognosis and selection of actionable therapeutic targets.
Gene-edited pseudogene resurrection corrects p47phox-deficient chronic granulomatous disease
Authors: Merling Randall K. , Kuhns Douglas B. , Sweeney Colin L. , Wu Xiaolin , Burkett Sandra , Chu Jessica , Lee Janet , Koontz Sherry , Di Pasquale Giovanni , Afione Sandra A. , Chiorini John A. , Kang Elizabeth M. , Choi Uimook , De Ravin Suk See , Malech Harry L.
Published: December 2016

Key Points

Gene-editing correction of the GT deletion in exon 2 of NCF1 pseudogenes corrects p47phox-deficient chronic granulomatous disease. The nonfunctional pseudogenes NCF1B and NCF1C can be resurrected to produce functional p47phox protein by gene editing.
UQlust: combining profile hashing with linear-time ranking for efficient clustering and analysis of big macromolecular data
Authors: Adamczak Rafal , Meller Jarek
Published: December 2016

Background

Advances in computing have enabled current protein and RNA structure prediction and molecular simulation methods to dramatically increase their sampling of conformational spaces. The quickly growing number of experimentally resolved structures, and databases such as the Protein Data Bank, also implies large scale structural similarity analyses to retrieve and classify macromolecular data. Consequently, the computational cost of structure comparison and clustering for large sets of macromolecular structures has become a bottleneck that necessitates further algorithmic improvements and development of efficient software solutions.

Results

uQlust is a versatile and easy-to-use tool for ultrafast ranking and clustering of macromolecular structures. uQlust makes use of structural profiles of proteins and nucleic acids, while combining a linear-time algorithm for implicit comparison of all pairs of models with profile hashing to enable efficient clustering of large data sets with a low memory footprint. In addition to ranking and clustering of large sets of models of the same protein or RNA molecule, uQlust can also be used in conjunction with fragment-based profiles in order to cluster structures of arbitrary length. For example, hierarchical clustering of the entire PDB using profile hashing can be performed on a typical laptop, thus opening an avenue for structural explorations previously limited to dedicated resources. The uQlust package is freely available under the GNU General Public License at https://github.com/uQlust.

Conclusion

uQlust represents a drastic reduction in the computational complexity and memory requirements with respect to existing clustering and model quality assessment methods for macromolecular structure analysis, while yielding results on par with traditional approaches for both proteins and RNAs.
3D imaging of Mars' polar ice caps using orbital radar data
Authors: Foss Frederick J. , Putzig Nathaniel E. , Campbell Bruce A. , Phillips Roger J.
Published: December 2016

Since its arrival in early 2006, various instruments aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) have been collecting a variety of scientific and engineering data from orbit around Mars. Among these is the Shallow Radar (SHARAD) instrument, supplied by Agenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) and designed for subsurface sounding in the 15–25 MHz frequency band. As of this writing, MRO has completed more than 46,000 nearly polar orbits of Mars, 30% of which have included active SHARAD data collection. By 2009, a sufficient density of SHARAD coverage had been obtained over the polar regions to support 3D processing and analysis of the data. Using tools and techniques commonly employed in terrestrial seismic data processing, we have processed subsets of the resulting collection of SHARAD observations covering the north and south polar regions as SHARAD 3D volumes, imaging the interiors of the north and south polar ice caps known, respectively, as Planum Boreum and Planum Australe. After overcoming a series of challenges revealed during the 3D processing and analysis, a completed Planum Boreum 3D volume is being used currently for scientific research. Lessons learned in the northern work fed forward into our 3D processing and analysis of the Planum Australe 3D volume, currently under way. We discuss our experiences with these projects and present results and scientific insights stemming from these efforts.
FWI for model updates in large-contrast media
Authors: Brandsberg-Dahl Sverre , Chemingui Nizar , Valenciano Alejandro , Ramos-Martinez Jaime , Qiu Lingyun
Published: December 2016

We describe a new solution for recovering the long-wavelength features of a velocity model in gradient-based full-waveform inversion (FWI). The method uses reflected and transmitted wave modes to recover high-resolution velocity models. The new FWI gradient enables reliable velocity updates deeper than the maximum penetration depth of diving waves and reduces the FWI dependency on recording ultralong offsets. We also discuss a new FWI regularization scheme that overcomes the limitations of the inversion in the presence of high-contrast geobodies and cycle skipping. The solution utilizes a priori information about the earth model in the regularization as an extra term in the objective function. The implementation makes use of the split Bregman method, making it efficient and accurate. Results from applying the new FWI gradient to field data show that we can combine both transmitted and reflected energy in a global FWI scheme to obtain high-resolution velocity models without imprint of the reflectivity on the velocity updates. We illustrate the new regularization method's potential on the BP 2004 velocity benchmark model where our regularized FWI solution is capable of using a simple starting velocity model to deliver a high-quality reconstruction of salt bodies.
Effect of Trifluoromethyl Group Position in Bis-styrylbenzenes on Their Characteristics
Authors: Mochizuki Hiroyuki
Published: December 2016

Three trifluoromethyl-substituted bis-styrylbenzenes were synthesized: 1,4-bis(2-trifluoromethylstyryl)benzene (2CF3), 1,4-bis(3-trifluoromethylstyryl)benzene (3CF3), and 1,4-bis(4-trifluoromethylstyryl)benzene (4CF3). Although these compounds did not exhibit marked differences in their solution-phase spectra, the fluorescence spectrum shape of 2CF3 in the solid state was different from those of 3CF3 and 4CF3, showing a longer peak wavelength and larger full width at half maximum. Furthermore, the fluorescence quantum yield of 2CF3 in the solid state was much higher than that in diluted solution, indicating the occurrence of aggregation-induced emission. The ionization potentials (IPs) decreased in the order of 2CF3 > 4CF3 > 3CF3, showing that the introduction of the trifluoromethyl group in the 3-position was most effective for decreasing IPs.
Deposit Competition and Financial Fragility: Evidence from the US Banking Sector
Authors: Egan Mark , Hortaçsu Ali , Matvos Gregor
Published: December 2016

We develop a structural empirical model of the US banking sector. Insured depositors and run-prone uninsured depositors choose between differentiated banks. Banks compete for deposits and endogenously default. The estimated demand for uninsured deposits declines with banks' financial distress, which is not the case for insured deposits. We calibrate the supply side of the model. The calibrated model possesses multiple equilibria with bank-run features, suggesting that banks can be very fragile. We use our model to analyze proposed bank regulations. For example, our results suggest that a capital requirement below 18 percent can lead to significant instability in the banking system. (JEL E44, G01, G21, G28, G32)
Microeconomic Origins of Macroeconomic Tail Risks
Authors: Acemoglu Daron , Ozdaglar Asuman , Tahbaz-Salehi Alireza
Published: December 2016

Using a multisector general equilibrium model, we show that the interplay of idiosyncratic microeconomic shocks and sectoral heterogeneity results in systematic departures in the likelihood of large economic downturns relative to what is implied by the normal distribution. Such departures can emerge even though GDP fluctuations are approximately normally distributed away from the tails, highlighting the different nature of large economic downturns from regular business-cycle fluctuations. We further demonstrate the special role of input-output linkages in generating tail comovements, whereby large recessions involve not only significant GDP contractions, but also large simultaneous declines across a wide range of industries. (JEL D57, E16, E23, E32)
Experimental Evidence on the Long-Run Impact of Community-Based Monitoring
Authors: Björkman Nyqvist Martina , de Walque Damien , Svensson Jakob
Published: December 2016

We evaluate the longer run impact of a local accountability intervention in primary health care provision in Uganda. Short-run improvements in health care delivery and health outcomes remained in the longer run despite minimal follow-up. We find no impact on the quality of care or health outcomes of a lower cost intervention that focused on encouraging participation but did not provide information on staff performance. We provide suggestive evidence that informed beneficiaries are more likely to identify and challenge (mis)behavior by providers and, as a result, turn their focus to issues that they can manage locally. (JEL H75, I11, I18, O15, O18)
Treatment of severe neuropatic pain for patients with the syndrome of Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber: case report
Authors: Soares Danielle Cristina de Oliveira , De Araújo José Nilson Fortaleza , Limaverde Fernando Santiago , Fortaleza Leila Yasmin Maria Cidrão , Paulino Grêta Palácio , Oliveira Lean de Sousa , Oliveira Lean de Sousa
Published: December 2016

Introduction: Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome is a rare congenital anomaly whose etiology has not yet been elucidated. It is characterized by the triad of vascular malformations, cutaneous hemangiomas and overgrowth of bone and soft tissue adjacent. Pain is a common symptom and can be triggered in the following situations: venous disease, scoliosis by the different members and hemangiomas that affect the body surface, the deep planes or viscera. Case report: A female patient, 17, sent from the SARAH Hospital - Fortaleza to the Institute of Clinic Pain José Frota diagnosed with cerebral palsy type triplegia on right eye and anophthalmia featuring an expansive process of vascular origin extending to the paraspinal region, surpassing sciatic foramen and affecting posterior muscles of the left thigh and leg. There are signs of involvement of the sciatic nerve and deep femoral vessels. He was diagnosed with Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome. She had continuous pain in shock and burning, EVA 10, extending from the lower back, groin and left leg region. The source of hospital treatment consisted of gabapentin 180mg 12/12h, codeine 10mg 12/12h, ibuprofen 300mg 12/12h, codeine/paracetamol 30mg 12/12h and morphine oral 10mg while in pain, but without pain relief. She also used paroxetine 20mg daily, due to depression. The painful condition prevented sleep, caused irritation and worsened the quality of life of the patient. She continued treatment with gabapentin 300mg 12/12h, dipyrone 500mg 12/12h, Methadone 5mg 12/12h and reassessed two weeks showing significant improvement in pain symptoms and sleep, EVA 2. Conclusion: Pain is a symptom commonly described in the clinical picture of patients with this syndrome. The treatment of this disease is still a challenge. The malformations great gifts made it not always possible embolization or painkillers locks. The therapeutic results with strong opioid were satisfactory and have improved the quality of life of the patient.
Αντιμετώπιση των επιπτώσεων της κρίσης στην εκπαίδευση: Απόψεις και πρακτικές διευθυντών στην πρωτοβάθμια εκπαίδευση
Authors: Αυγητίδου Σοφία , Κομίνια Ελένη , Λυκομήτρου Σόνια , Αλεξίου Βασιλική , Ανδρούσου Αλεξάνδρα , Κακανά Δόμνα-Μίκα , Τσάφος Βασίλης , Κουσαξίδης Κωνσταντίνος
Published: December 2016

Στην εργασία αυτή διερευνούμε τις απόψεις προϊσταμένων και διευθυντών σχολικών μονάδων προσχολικής και δημοτικής εκπαίδευσης για τα ζητήματα που αντιμετωπίζουν λόγω της κοινωνικο-οικονομικής κρίσης και τις στρατηγικές που υιοθετούν για την αντιμετώπισή τους.  Ενώ υπάρχουν εθνικές και διεθνείς αναφορές για τις συνέπειες της κοινωνικο-οικονομικής κρίσης στην εκπαίδευση, έχουμε λίγες έρευνες που μελετούν τις απόψεις των διευθυντών για τις επιπτώσεις της κρίσης στην εκπαίδευση και τις πρακτικές που επιλέγουν σε συγκεκριμένα πλαίσια.  Στην έρευνα συμμετείχαν 16 προϊσταμένες νηπιαγωγείων και 34 διευθυντές και διευθύντριες δημοτικών σχολείων τριών διαφορετικών περιοχών (Αθήνα, Θεσσαλονίκη και Βόλος).  Η συλλογή δεδομένων έγινε με  ημι-δομημένες συνεντεύξεις. Η ανάλυση των δεδομένων έδειξε ότι υπήρχαν τόσο ομοιότητες όσο και διαφορές σε σχέση με το πώς οι συμμετέχοντες νοηματοδότησαν τις επιπτώσεις της κρίσης και τις στρατηγικές που επέλεξαν για την αντιμετώπισή τους.  Οι στρατηγικές που οι διευθυντές και οι προϊσταμένες ανέφεραν ότι υιοθετούν για την αντιμετώπιση των επιπτώσεων της κρίσης στην εκπαίδευση είναι πολλαπλές και αναδεικνύουν τις δυνατότητες δράσης και αντίστασης με στόχο την καταπολέμηση των κοινωνικών ανισοτήτων που η κρίση δημιουργεί.  Στο άρθρο συζητιούνται ο αλληλέγγυος και κοινωνικός ρόλος που αναλαμβάνει το σχολείο καθώς και ο ρόλος του ως σχεδιαστή καινοτόμων εκπαιδευτικών πρακτικών με αντισταθμιστικό χαρακτήρα. 
A Bioconductor workflow for processing and analysing spatial proteomics data
Authors: Breckels Lisa M. , Mulvey Claire M. , Lilley Kathryn S. , Gatto Laurent
Published: December 2016

Spatial proteomics is the systematic study of protein sub-cellular localisation. In this workflow, we describe the analysis of a typical quantitative mass spectrometry-based spatial proteomics experiment using the MSnbase and pRoloc Bioconductor package suite. To walk the user through the computational pipeline, we use a recently published experiment predicting protein sub-cellular localisation in pluripotent embryonic mouse stem cells. We describe the software infrastructure at hand, importing and processing data, quality control, sub-cellular marker definition, visualisation and interactive exploration. We then demonstrate the application and interpretation of statistical learning methods, including novelty detection using semi-supervised learning, classification, clustering and transfer learning and conclude the pipeline with data export. The workflow is aimed at beginners who are familiar with proteomics in general and spatial proteomics in particular.
Systematic assessment of multi-gene predictors of pan-cancer cell line sensitivity to drugs exploiting gene expression data
Authors: Nguyen Linh , Dang Cuong C , Ballester Pedro J.
Published: December 2016

Background:Selected gene mutations are routinely used to guide the selection of cancer drugs for a given patient tumour. Large pharmacogenomic data sets were introduced to discover more of these single-gene markers of drug sensitivity. Very recently, machine learning regression has been used to investigate how well cancer cell line sensitivity to drugs is predicted depending on the type of molecular profile. The latter has revealed that gene expression data is the most predictive profile in the pan-cancer setting. However, no study to date has exploited GDSC data to systematically compare the performance of machine learning models based on multi-gene expression data against that of widely-used single-gene markers based on genomics data.Methods:Here we present this systematic comparison using Random Forest (RF) classifiers exploiting the expression levels of 13,321 genes and an average of 501 tested cell lines per drug. To account for time-dependent batch effects in IC50measurements, we employ independent test sets generated with more recent GDSC data than that used to train the predictors and show that this is a more realistic validation than K-fold cross-validation.Results and Discussion:Across 127 GDSC drugs, our results show that the single-gene markers unveiled by the MANOVA analysis tend to achieve higher precision than these RF-based multi-gene models, at the cost of generally having a poor recall (i.e. correctly detecting only a small part of the cell lines sensitive to the drug). Regarding overall classification performance, about two thirds of the drugs are better predicted by multi-gene RF classifiers. Among the drugs with the most predictive of these models, we found pyrimethamine, sunitinib and 17-AAG.Conclusions:We now know that this type of models can predictin vitrotumour response to these drugs. These models can thus be further investigated onin vivotumour models.
Effects of sub-lethal teratogen exposure during larval development on egg laying and egg quality in adult Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Killeen Alexis , Marin de Evsikova Caralina
Published: December 2016

Background: Acute high dose exposure to teratogenic chemicals alters the proper development of an embryo leading to infertility, impaired fecundity, and few viable offspring. However, chronic exposure to sub-toxic doses of teratogens during early development may also have long-term impacts on egg quality and embryo viability. Methods: To test the hypothesis that low dose exposure during early development can impact long-term reproductive health, Caenorhabditis elegans larvae were exposed to 10 teratogens during larval development, and subsequently were examined for the pattern of egg-laying and egg quality (hatched larvae and embryo viability) as gravid adults. After the exposure, adult gravid worms were transferred to untreated plates and the numbers of eggs laid were recorded every 3 hours, and the day following exposure the numbers of hatched larvae were counted. Results: While fecundity and fertility were typically impaired by teratogens, unexpectedly, many teratogens initially increased egg-laying at the earliest interval compared to control but not at later intervals. However, egg quality, as assessed by embryo viability, remained the same because many of the eggs (<50%) did not hatch. Conclusions: Chronic, low dose exposures to teratogens during early larval development have subtle, long-term effects on egg laying and egg quality.
Impacts of Climate Change on Agriculture and Changing Adaptive Strategies in the Coastal Area of Lakshmipur District, Bangladesh
Authors: Hasnat Mohammad , Hossain Nazmul , Muhibbullah Muhammad , Sarwar M. D , Shormin Tanjia
Published: December 2016

The coastal area of Bangladesh is topographically susceptible to disaster where and climate change addresses a new depressing effect to coastal agriculture. The main objective of the present study was to explore the impacts of climate changes on agriculture and changing adaptive strategies in the coastal district of Lakshmipur in Bangladesh. Primary data were collected through field observation survey, questionnaire survey and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). To conduct the questionnaire survey, around 120 respondents have been selected randomly from the coastal areas of Ramgati and Kamal Nagar upazilla under Lakshmipur district. The whole survey was conducted during monsoon and winter seasons in the month of March 2014 to February 2015. The present study was carried out through primary and secondary sources of data collection. Field observation survey, questionnaire survey and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) (during March, 2014 to February, 2015) were accomplished for collecting primary data. The questionnaires contained structured and close ended questions to collect the information through face to face interview from the respondents. Secondary data were collected from Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD). Collected data were processed and analyzed by the help of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS: version-16) and map of study area were prepared by Arc GIS 9.1 software. The results revealed that about 87.5% of respondents have experienced climate change and its impact on their agriculture gradually from 40 years. They also perceived increase in temperature, drought, flood, cyclone and salinity intrusion, rain less winter season, long summer season, unpredictable rainfall, and changing the monsoon respectively. About 96.6 % respondents perceived decrease in rainfall. Results also revealed that about 53% of respondents experienced severe intensity of major climate change induced disasters. Furthermore, 9% respondents experienced little bit severity. Agricultural crops cultivation is changing from previous time due to the climate changing events and decreasing crop production due to their damaging effects. Almost 40% of respondents in the study area were not familiar with coping strategy in response to climate change. They tried to adjust and cope with cultivation of short duration crops, introducing new variety and making embankment.To minimize the effects of climate change short duration crops, new variety and making embankment for crop cultivation need to adopt in study area.
Bioremediation of Liquid Waste Oil Through Bioreactor: A Case Study
Authors: Hasmawaty Hasmawaty
Published: December 2016

This article aims to explain the process of bioremediation of waste oils and found the rate of reaction kinetics model microbes. Samples were taken from liquid waste petroleum oil and gas companies Prabumulih South Sumatra, Indonesia. The isolation process using a medium Zobell’s and produces ten types of bacteria from the group Citrobacter sp, Micrococcaceaekarbon, and Flavobacterium sp. These bacteria’s is used in wastewater treatment bioreactor which have characteristic as follow: operate semi-continuously, using aeration column that contain polyurethane foam, variation of air discharge is 2 and 6 ml/sec, volume waste variation is 5 and 10 liters, 10 liters’ isolate, KNO3 (640 gram) and K2HPO4 (10 gram) as nutrition. The results showed that when bioremediation process contains 10 liters’ liquid waste, 10 liters’ isolate, and 6 ml/sec air discharge, it can reduce pH, specific gravity, BOD level, and the final weight of waste. Remediation process also increases the number of microbes, fatty oils and DO. Microbial maximum productivity is 59.50 with saturated concentration (Ks) at 3.25, and its slope is 0.43. Kinetics equation model following could be formulated as μ = 0.43/s/3.25+s.
Application of Isotopes in Studying Lake Water – Groundwater Interactions in Parts of Tumkur District of Karnataka
Authors: Rao M.S , Kumar L , Krishan Gopal , Rangaraj C , Kumar C. P
Published: December 2016

In the present study, to demonstrate use of combined isotopic and salinity mapping in understanding local scale groundwater-surface water conditions the water samples were collected from 4 nos. of defined lakes (Kadaba, Belavatta, Pura and Nittur); groundwater samples were collected from shallow hand pumps/tube wells along the periphery of the lakes. The rain samples were also collected. The lake water appears to get enriched in its isotopic composition mainly due to evaporation in this region. Lake water salinities are lower compared to nearby groundwater salinity. The flow of groundwater, recharged at Nittur lake, continues to its downstream at least till Pura. Increase in salinity of groundwater is seen between the points Pura-groundwater & surface water (may be due to dissolution of sub-surface soil). The groundwater sampled at Belavatta is found to be recharged from local precipitation and not from surface body. The water body (Kadaba) is getting filled mainly due to precipitation and to some extent due to runoff from the upper reach of water body. There is a strong link between lake water–groundwater (e.g. site Pura) and groundwater–lake water (e.g. Site Kadaba). Therefore, this procedure is expected to radically increase the accountability of usage and help in planning of suitable ground water supply and would provide a holistic approach to promote maximum agricultural output and industrial growth.
Ethnobotanical Documentation of Wild Edible Plants Used by Gujjar Community of Tarai West Forest Division Ramnagar, Nainital, India
Authors: Pandey Kailash , Pande Neeta
Published: December 2016

The present investigation highlights the identification and documentation of wild edible plants used by Gujjar community in foothills of Shiwalik range ofKumaun Himalaya. Survey method by using semi structured interview schedule with the Gujjar community was used to collect the information. During the survey, a total of 51 plants belong to 33 families and 46 genera were listed as edible, out of which 39% trees, 25% shrubs, 22% herbs and 14% were climbers. Various parts of the plant were used as food, of which fruits and leaves were extensively used. The study also deals with the availability status of listed plants,about 13 plants found abundantly, 09 were common and 29 plants placed in rare category. The results emerge from this study suggested that exploration and documentation of wild edibles plants offer new variety of food to be added in the healthy diet but their survival in near future is threatened due to lack of awareness and documentation. Therefore, both wild edibles plants as well as traditional knowledge need priority action for conservation.
Is that Environmental Factor Affected the Distressed Farmers’ most!? - An Exploratory Factor Analysis of Constraint and Amelioration Strategies in National Calamity Hit Region of India
Authors: Lal Sudhanand , Kadian K.S. , Wodajo Workneh , Shruti Shruti
Published: December 2016

The Kosi River is infamous in India for its rapid and recurrent changes of course and the widespread flood damages it causes almost annually. But, the flood of 18th August, 2008 was the most devastating down the memory lane of the survival. The destruction was of such a magnitude that state government of Bihar had to seek World Bank (Project ID: P122096) assistance. Keeping this in view, an earnest effort was made to study the perceived constraints of distressed farmers and strategies for its amelioration. To materialize pretested closed structured interview schedule the application of the principle axis factoring vis-à-vis exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was done among 60 respondents from the non-sample. EFA extracted 4 latent broad constraints having Eigen value >1 that was rechristened as: environmental, pecuniary, policy and miscellaneous constraints. Finally, 20 specific constraints under 4 broad constraints were used to collect data from 160 respondents in the sample area. Garret methodology was used to rank the specific constraints under broad constraints. Friedman two-way ANOVA by ranks test deciphered that severity order of broad constraints was environmental, pecuniary, miscellaneous and policy constraints respectively. Since, the World Bank project is running in full swing in the calamity stricken region and so the four broad constraints as well as the 20 specific constraints identified and suggestion to ameliorate these can be vital for policy formulation and its implementation. The authors also suggest that in case of dearth of fund the most severe environmental constraints should be given due weightage followed by severity of other broad constraints.