bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Metaphorical Language in the Zhuangzi
Authors: Morrow C. M. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractChapter 27 of the ancient Chinese text the Zhuangzi (c. 400 BCE) describes three kinds of language: yuyan , zhiyan , and chongyan . Wang Fuzhi ( 1619–1692) first coined the term ‘sanyan ’ or ‘tripartite‐language’ to emphasize their overlapping characteristics and incorporate them into a cohesive approach to the text. Sanyan has been used consistently in interpreting the Zhuangzi since the earliest compilation of its extant version and continues to inform academic publications today. Based on descriptions found in the Zhuangzi's ‘miscellaneous chapters’ (chapters 23–33) and on contemporary scholarship, I will explain how this model of sanyan functions and then how it facilitates philosophical reading of the Zhuangzi. Understanding the Zhuangzi's metaphorical language through sanyan lends access into the interrelated semantic field of the pre‐Qin philosophical canon and helps unravel Zhuangzi's often‐cryptic philosophical expressions.
The Uniqueness Thesis
Authors: Kopec Matthew , Titelbaum Michael G. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractThe Uniqueness Thesis holds, roughly speaking, that there is a unique rational response to any particular body of evidence. We first sketch some varieties of Uniqueness that appear in the literature. We then discuss some popular views that conflict with Uniqueness and others that require Uniqueness to be true. We then examine some arguments that have been presented in its favor and discuss why permissivists (i.e., those who deny Uniqueness) find them unconvincing. Last, we present some purported counterexamples that have been raised against Uniqueness and discuss some possible reasons why proponents of Uniqueness might find these similarly unconvincing.
Enhanced stress responses and metabolic adjustments linked to diapause and onset of migration in the large milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus
Authors: Dean Charles A. E. , Teets Nicholas M. , Koštál Vladimir , Šimek Petr , Denlinger David L. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractIn response to short‐day photoperiods in the autumn, the large milkweed bug Oncopeltus fasciatus Dallas enters a reproductive diapause and migrates south to avoid the adverse environmental conditions and food shortages that prevail in the winter. Milkweed bugs are one of only a few temperate insects that undergo long distance migration during diapause, making them a good model for investigating trade‐offs associated with migratory diapause. Although enhanced stress tolerance is typical of diapause, it is unclear whether this aspect of diapause would be retained in a species that migrates to more favourable conditions. The present study tests (i) whether diapause enhances thermal tolerance; (ii) whether food shortage, which is required for maximal expression of diapause, influences thermal tolerance during diapause; and (iii) whether the potential changes in stress tolerance are associated with upregulated heat shock protein expression or metabolic adjustments (including cryoprotectant synthesis), or both. Both cold tolerance at −10 °C and heat tolerance at 43 °C are significantly higher in diapausing O. fasciatus, whereas food restriction has no further effect on thermal tolerance. None of the heat shock protein transcripts measured are significantly upregulated in response to diapause, and the experiments also fail to detect any cryoprotectant accumulation during diapause. Thus, although heat shock proteins and cryoprotectants are common mechanisms for enhancing thermal tolerance in many diapausing insects, the results of the present study suggest that alternative mechanisms are responsible in milkweed bugs.
Photoenolization of o‐Methylvalerophenone Ester Derivative
Authors: Das Anushree , Lao Emily A. , Gudmundsdottir Anna D. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractPhotolysis of ester 1 in argon‐saturated methanol and acetonitrile does not produce any product, whereas irradiation of 1 in oxygen‐saturated methanol yields peroxide 2. Laser flash photolysis studies demonstrate that 1 undergoes intramolecular H atom abstraction to form biradical 3 (λmax ~340 nm), which intersystem crosses to form photoenols Z‐4 and E‐4 (λmax ~380 nm). Photoenols 4 decay by regenerating ester 1. With the aid of density functional theory calculations, it was concluded the photoenol E‐4 does not undergo spontaneous lactonization or electrocyclic ring closure because the transition state barriers for these reactions are too large to compete with reketonization of E‐4 to form 1.
Temporal dynamics of sediment bacterial communities in monospecific stands of Juncus maritimus and Spartina maritima
Authors: Cleary D. F. R. , Polónia A. R. M. , Sousa A. I. , Lillebø A. I. , Queiroga H. , Gomes N. C. M. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractIn the present study, we used 16S rRNA barcoded pyrosequencing to investigate to what extent monospecific stands of different salt marsh plant species (Juncus maritimus and Spartina maritima), sampling site and temporal variation affect sediment bacterial communities. We also used a bioinformatics tool, PICRUSt, to predict metagenome gene functional content. Our results showed that bacterial community composition from monospecific stands of both plant species varied temporally, but both host plant species maintained compositionally distinct communities of bacteria. Juncus sediment was characterised by higher abundances of Alphaproteobacteria, Myxococcales, Rhodospirillales, NB1–j and Ignavibacteriales, while Spartina sediment was characterised by higher abundances of Anaerolineae, Synechococcophycidae, Desulfobacterales, SHA–20 and Rhodobacterales. The differences in composition and higher taxon abundance between the sediment bacterial communities of stands of both plant species may be expected to affect overall metabolic diversity. In line with this expectation, there were also differences in the predicted enrichment of selected metabolic pathways. In particular, bacterial communities of Juncus sediment were predicted to be enriched for pathways related to the degradation of various (xenobiotic) compounds. Bacterial communities of Spartina sediment in turn were predicted to be enriched for pathways related to the biosynthesis of various bioactive compounds. Our study highlights the differences in composition and predicted functions of sediment‐associated bacterial communities from two different salt marsh plant species. Loss of salt marsh habitat may thus be expected to both adversely affect microbial diversity and ecosystem functioning and have consequences for environmental processes such as nutrient cycling and pollutant remediation.
CAX‐ing a wide net: Cation/H+ transporters in metal remediation and abiotic stress signalling
Authors: Pittman J. K. , Hirschi K. D. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractCation/proton exchangers (CAXs) are a class of secondary energised ion transporter that are being implicated in an increasing range of cellular and physiological functions. CAXs are primarily Ca2+ efflux transporters that mediate the sequestration of Ca2+ from the cytosol, usually into the vacuole. Some CAX isoforms have broad substrate specificity, providing the ability to transport trace metal ions such as Mn2+ and Cd2+, as well as Ca2+. In recent years, genomic analyses have begun to uncover the expansion of CAXs within the green lineage and their presence within non‐plant species. Although there appears to be significant conservation in tertiary structure of CAX proteins, there is diversity in function of CAXs between species and individual isoforms. For example, in halophytic plants, CAXs have been recruited to play a role in salt tolerance, while in metal hyperaccumulator plants CAXs are implicated in cadmium transport and tolerance. CAX proteins are involved in various abiotic stress response pathways, in some cases as a modulator of cytosolic Ca2+ signalling, but in some situations there is evidence of CAXs acting as a pH regulator. The metal transport and abiotic stress tolerance functions of CAXs make them attractive targets for biotechnology, whether to provide mineral nutrient biofortification or toxic metal bioremediation. The study of non‐plant CAXs may also provide insight into both conserved and novel transport mechanisms and functions.
To Bridge the Divide between Evidence and Policy: Reduce Ambiguity as Much as Uncertainty
Authors: Cairney Paul , Oliver Kathryn , Wellstead Adam 
Published: April 2016

AbstractPolicy makers cannot consider all evidence relevant to policy. They use two shortcuts—emotions and beliefs to understand problems and “rational” ways of establishing the best evidence on solutions—to act quickly in complex, multilevel policy‐making environments. Many studies only address one part of this problem. Improving the supply of evidence helps reduce scientific and policy maker uncertainty. However, policy makers also combine their beliefs with limited evidence to reduce ambiguity by choosing one of several possible ways to understand and solve a problem. We use this insight to consider solutions designed to “close the evidence–policy gap.”
Flexible bronchoscopy‐induced massive bleeding: A 12‐year multicentre retrospective cohort study
Authors: Zhou Guo‐Wu , Zhang Wei , Dong Yu‐Chao , Huang Hai‐Dong , Hu Chengping , Sun Jiayuan , Jin Faguang , Gu Ye , Li Qiang , Li Shiyue 
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackground and objectiveAlthough massive bleeding is the most life‐threatening complication caused by flexible bronchoscopy, data on flexible bronchoscopy‐induced massive bleeding are scarce, and the associated clinical characteristics and prognostic factors are unknown.MethodsThis was a multicentre retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent flexible bronchoscopy in 33 tertiary hospitals from January 2001 to June 2013. The clinical characteristics and outcomes were collected and analysed.ResultsA total of 194 patients with massive bleeding were identified among 520 343 patients who underwent flexible bronchoscopy. The average blood loss reached up to 378 mL. The overall incidence and mortality were 0.037% and 0.004%, respectively, and the overall fatality was 10.8%. The risk of massive bleeding induced by therapeutic bronchoscopies was significantly higher than that induced by diagnostic bronchoscopies (incidence: 0.059% vs 0.031%, P < 0.001; mortality: 0.012% vs 0.003%, P < 0.001; fatality: 20% vs 8.4%, P = 0.068). Multivariate analysis showed that age ≥65 years, tracheal bleeding, blood loss ≥500 mL and occurrence of shock were independent factors predicting poor outcome, while emergency surgery was an independent protective factor. Re‐bleeding occurred in six patients, resulting in three deaths within a month.ConclusionFlexible bronchoscopy‐induced massive bleeding is rare but life‐threatening. Age, bleeding location, bleeding volume, circulation condition and emergency surgery were independent prognostic factors.
Persistence with inhaled corticosteroids reduces the risk of exacerbation among adults with asthma: A real‐world investigation
Authors: Corrao Giovanni , Arfè Andrea , Nicotra Federica , Ghirardi Arianna , Vaghi Adriano , De Marco Roberto , Pesci Alberto , Merlino Luca , Zambon Antonella ,   on behalf of the CRD Real‐World Evidence Scientific Board
Published: April 2016

AbstractBackground and objectiveReal‐world evidence suggests that persistence with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), the mainstay of asthma drug therapy, is generally poor. The effect of persistence with ICS on the risk of asthma exacerbation was addressed in a population‐based study.MethodsThe cohort of 2335 beneficiaries of the National Health Service provided by the Italian Region of Lombardy, aged 18–40 years and newly treated with ICS during 2005–2008, was followed from their first ICS dispensation until 2010. Discontinuation of treatment with ICS and starting oral corticosteroid therapy during follow‐up were respectively regarded as proxies of poor persistence with asthma medication and asthma exacerbation (outcomes). A proportional hazards model was fitted to identify predictors of ICS discontinuation. Case‐crossover and case‐case‐time‐control designs and conditional logistic regressions were used to estimate the association between persistence with ICS and asthma exacerbation.ResultsCumulative incidences of discontinuation were 36%, 57% and 78% at 6 months, 1 year and 5 years, respectively. Predictors of poor persistence were female gender, use of antibiotics during follow‐up, absence of use of short‐acting beta‐agonists prior to and after starting treatment with ICS and starting and maintaining ICS monotherapy during follow‐up. The odds ratios of asthma exacerbation (and 95% confidence intervals) associated with ICS exposure during the current period, contrasted with exposure during the reference period, were 0.4 (0.2, 0.9) and 0.3 (0.1, 1.0) from case‐crossover and case‐case‐time‐control estimates, respectively.ConclusionPersistence with ICS treatment in adults with asthma reduces the risk of exacerbation in the real‐life setting.
Ethnic Networks and Price Dispersion
Authors: Anderson M. A. , Davies M. H. , Smith S. L. S. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractWe offer and test a model linking ethnic networks to global price dispersion which predicts lower price dispersion as shared ethnic populations between countries rise, effects that may reverse at higher levels as network discipline breaks down. Using Chinese, Indian and Japanese data, we find that country pairs linked by the Chinese network have significantly lower mean price dispersion. A one standard deviation increase in the size of the Chinese coethnic network lowers price dispersion by 6–33%, an effect that reverses as the network gets large. No such evidence exists for the Indian or Japanese networks.
Shedding Light on Price‐ and Non‐price‐competitiveness Determinants of Foreign Trade in the Four Largest Euro‐area Countries
Authors: Giordano Claire , Zollino Francesco 
Published: April 2016

AbstractSince the mid‐2000s standard price‐competitiveness indicators for euro‐area countries have recently provided conflicting signals, particularly in Italy. The manufacturing unit labor cost (ULCM)‐based indicator reports a major competitiveness loss in Italy. Owing to the internationalization of production processes and to the fading representativeness of labor on overall costs we argue that price‐based measures are more appropriate than those based on ULCMs to assess external competitiveness and play a more important role in explaining export growth. Measuring non‐price competitiveness and considering global value chains are also crucial to correctly identify the determinants of trade flows in the four largest euro‐area countries.
Exploring Complete School Effectiveness via Quantile Value Added
Authors: Page Garritt L. , Martín Ernesto San , Orellana Javiera , González Jorge 
Published: April 2016

SummaryIn education studies value added is by and large defined in terms of a test score distribution mean. Therefore, all except a particular summary of the test score distribution is ignored. Developing a value-added definition that incorporates the entire conditional distribution of students' scores given school effects and control variables would produce a more complete picture of a school's effectiveness and as a result provide more accurate information that could better guide policy decisions. Motivated in part by the current debate surrounding the recent proposal of eliminating co-payment institutions as part of Chile's education reform, we provide a new definition of value added that is based on the quantiles of the conditional test score distribution. Further, we show that the quantile-based value added can be estimated within a quantile mixed model regression framework. We apply the methodology to Chilean standardized test data and explore how information garnered facilitates school effectiveness comparisons between public schools and those that are subsidized with and without co-payments.
Hamiltonian Monte Carlo Sampling in Bayesian Empirical Likelihood Computation
Authors: Chaudhuri Sanjay , Mondal Debashis , Yin Teng 
Published: April 2016

SummaryWe consider Bayesian empirical likelihood estimation and develop an efficient Hamiltonian Monte Carlo method for sampling from the posterior distribution of the parameters of interest. The method proposed uses hitherto unknown properties of the gradient of the underlying log-empirical-likelihood function. We use results from convex analysis to show that these properties hold under minimal assumptions on the parameter space, prior density and the functions used in the estimating equations determining the empirical likelihood. Our method employs a finite number of estimating equations and observations but produces valid semiparametric inference for a large class of statistical models including mixed effects models, generalized linear models and hierarchical Bayes models. We overcome major challenges posed by complex, non-convex boundaries of the support routinely observed for empirical likelihood which prevent efficient implementation of traditional Markov chain Monte Carlo methods like random-walk Metropolis–Hastings sampling etc. with or without parallel tempering. A simulation study confirms that our method converges quickly and draws samples from the posterior support efficiently. We further illustrate its utility through an analysis of a discrete data set in small area estimation.
Two-sample Testing in High Dimensions
Authors: Städler Nicolas , Mukherjee Sach 
Published: April 2016

SummaryWe propose new methodology for two-sample testing in high dimensional models. The methodology provides a high dimensional analogue to the classical likelihood ratio test and is applicable to essentially any model class where sparse estimation is feasible. Sparse structure is used in the construction of the test statistic. In the general case, testing then involves non-nested model comparison, and we provide asymptotic results for the high dimensional setting. We put forward computationally efficient procedures based on data splitting, including a variant of the permutation test that exploits sparse structure. We illustrate the general approach in two-sample comparisons of high dimensional regression models (‘differential regression’) and graphical models (‘differential network’), showing results on simulated data as well as data from two recent cancer studies.
Information-Adaptive Clinical Trials: A Selective Recruitment Design
Authors: Barrett James E. 
Published: April 2016

SummaryWe propose a novel adaptive design for clinical trials with time-to-event outcomes and covariates (which may consist of or include biomarkers). Our method is based on the expected entropy of the posterior distribution of a proportional hazards model. The expected entropy is evaluated as a function of a patient’s covariates, and the information gained due to a patient is defined as the decrease in the corresponding entropy. Candidate patients are only recruited onto the trial if they are likely to provide sufficient information. Patients with covariates that are deemed uninformative are filtered out. A special case is where all patients are recruited, and we determine the optimal treatment arm allocation. This adaptive design has the advantage of potentially elucidating the relationship between covariates, treatments and survival probabilities by using fewer patients, albeit at the cost of rejecting some candidates. We assess the performance of our adaptive design by using data from the German Breast Cancer Study Group and numerical simulations of a biomarker validation trial.
Farm Women and the Empowerment Potential in Value‐Added Agriculture
Authors: Wright Wynne , Annes Alexis 
Published: April 2016

AbstractWhile the number of women in farming has risen in the United States, less clear is whether increasing participation in agriculture translates into empowerment. Are invisibility and disempowerment lingering expressions of farm women's experience? Using qualitative data drawn from 32 interviews with Michigan value‐added farmers, we examine the extent to which women have been able to experience empowerment, and the ways in which value‐added agriculture specifically fosters an empowering context. We adopt a conceptualization of empowerment from the development scholarship in order to establish a baseline for scrutiny, viewing empowerment as a multidimensional process constituting the “power to” realize one's goals, the opportunity to exercise “power with” others, and the ability to find and nurture “power within” the self. Our findings indicate that value‐added agriculture provides a unique context for women's empowerment. At the same time, the extent to which value added‐agriculture constitutes a venue for women's empowerment is complex, is multifaceted, and requires constant negotiation. It can be organized and performed in such a way as to subvert the empowerment process by confining women to specific social locations that may reproduce oppressive structures.
Use of a Picture Exchange Communication System for preventive procedures in individuals with autism spectrum disorder: pilot study
Authors: Zink Adriana Gledys , Diniz Michele Baffi , Rodrigues dos Santos Maria Teresa Botti , Guaré Renata Oliveira 
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACTThe aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in order to facilitate patient‐professional communication during preventive procedures. In this study, 26 patients with ASD, between 5 and 19 years of age (10±3.3 y), were divided into two groups: G1 (n = 13) with no previous experience of dental treatment, and G2 (n = 13), with such previous experience. The initial approach followed the principles of the Son‐Rise Program®. The seven PECSs presented the routine of the dental office: “room,” “ground,” “chair,” “dentist,” “mouth,” “low,” and “triple.” Each PEC was used up to three times in order to acquire the skill proposed. It was verified that G2 required a greater number of times to achieve the acceptance of PECS “ground,” “dentist,” “mouth,” and “triple” (p < .05). We concluded that PECS facilitated patient‐professional communication during preventive procedures, including for ASD patients with previous dental experience.
We Avoid RAAS Inhibitors in PD Patients with Residual Renal Function
Authors: Turner Jeffrey M. 
Published: April 2016

AbstractPreserving residual renal function in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) positively impacts mortality. While it is important to avoid nephrotoxic agents in this setting, clinicians should appreciate that inhibitors of the renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system (RAAS), including angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers are likely to preserve glomerular filtration rate and prolong the time until patients on PD reach anuria, and this may improve mortality in these patients. In addition, RAAS blockade favorably affects the peritoneal membrane by reducing morphologic changes that can lead to ultrafiltration failure. This in turn may delay or prevent modality failure in patients on PD. Thus, clinicians should avoid the impulse to stop RAAS inhibitors in the PD population.
We Give Aminoglycoside Antibiotics at the End of Hemodialysis
Authors: Eyler Rachel 
Published: April 2016

AbstractWe often administer dialyzable medications after dialysis to ensure that adequate concentrations are maintained in the body until the next session. In the case of aminoglycosides, we may have the opportunity to dose more aggressively predialysis, and then use the clearance of the drug by dialysis to limit toxicities. Predialysis aminoglycoside dosing is intriguing, although studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of this approach are necessary before it can be used routinely.