bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interactions between apparently ‘primary’ weather-driven hazards and their cost
Authors: Hillier J K , Macdonald N , Leckebusch G C , Stavrinides A 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
A statistical analysis of the largest weather-driven hazards in the UK contradicts the typical view that each predominates in distinct events that do not interact with those of other hazard types (i.e., are ‘primary’); this potentially has implications for any multi-hazard environments globally where some types of severe event are still thought to occur independently. By a first co-investigation of long (1884–2008) meteorological time-series and nationwide insurance losses for UK domestic houses (averaging £1.1 billion/yr), new systematic interactions within a 1 year timeframe are identified between temporally-distinct floods, winter wind storms, and shrink–swell subsidence events (P < 0.03); this increases costs by up to £0.3 billion/yr (i.e., 26%), although impacts will be spatially variable depending upon the interplay of hazards. ‘Memory’ required in the environmental system to cause these intra-annual links between event types appears to reside in soil moisture and, tentatively, sea surface temperatures. Similar, unidentified interactions between non-synchronous events are likely worldwide, and the analytical methods we have developed to identify and quantify them are suitable for application to meteorological, geological (e.g., volcanic) and cryospheric (e.g., avalanches) hazards.
Postdialysis Hypertension: Associated Factors, Patient Profiles, and Cardiovascular Mortality
Authors: Losito Attilio , Del Vecchio Lucia , Del Rosso Goffredo , Locatelli Francesco 
Published: September 2015

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
A postdialytic increase in blood pressure (BP) is a recognized but often an overlooked complication. The epidemiology and predisposing factors are still not well defined. We studied a large sample of Italian dialysis patients to assess the prevalence of postdialysis hypertension (PDHYPER), defined as any increase of systolic BP (SBP) &gt;10mm, Hg above the predialysis value, the associated factors and its role in cardiovascular (CV) mortality.

PATIENTS AND METHODS
In this observational study, we assessed dialysis associated changes in BP in 4,292 hemodialysis (HD) patients over 1 month (51,504 sessions). We compared the clinical characteristics of the patients with stable BP values during the HD session with those with PDHYPER. We also assessed the impact of PDHYPER on CV mortality.

RESULTS
A total of 994 (23.1%) patients had PDHYPER. Patients with PDHYPER were more likely to be hypertesive, older, have a shorter dialysis vintage, be male, have lower SBP, lower changes in weight during HD, and receive more antihypertensive medications. These predictive factors were shown to be associated with an interaction between weight loss and dialysis, suggesting a volume-related mechanism in its pathogenesis. PDHYPER was also associated with CV mortality.

CONCLUSIONS
In our study on a large Italian cohort of dialysis patients, the prevalence of PDHYPER was higher than what was previously reported and is a significant risk factor for CV mortality in dialysis patients. The pathogenesis is multifactorial but hypertensive state, antihypertensive medications, and extracellular volume expansion appear to play a major role.
John Rawls: Moral and Political Philosophy
Authors: Mandle Jon 
Published: September 2015

John Rawls (b. 1921–d. 2002) was the leading Anglo-American political philosopher of the second half of the 20th century. In his seminal 1971 book, A Theory of Justice (revised edition, Rawls 1999c, cited under Primary Texts), Rawls defends a liberal theory of social and political justice that he called “justice as fairness” as an alternative to utilitarianism, the then-dominant framework. By considering which principles of justice would be chosen from a hypothetical but fair initial choice situation called “the original position,” Rawls presents a variation on the traditional social contract doctrine. He argues that, deprived of specific knowledge of their own situation, the parties in the original position would be forced to reason impartially, and they would agree to principles of justice that required an equal scheme of basic rights and liberties, fair equality of opportunity, and an egalitarian (although not strictly equal) distribution of wealth and positions of authority. These principles are to be used to evaluate the basic structure of society—the system formed by a society’s basic social institutions. Rawls continues to defend these principles of justice and the argument from the original position, but in his second book, Political Liberalism (Rawls 2005, cited under Primary Texts), he presents justice as fairness as an example of a “political conception of justice” (pp. xxix, 11–15). Recognizing the diversity of reasonable comprehensive religious, philosophical, and moral doctrines, Rawls argues that a democratic society’s “public reason” should not be tied to any particular comprehensive doctrine, and its stability could be founded only on an overlapping consensus of reasonable comprehensive doctrines. Although Rawls intended his principles of justice to be used in evaluating the basic institutional structure of a society, some theorists argued that the same (or similar) principles should also be used to evaluate the justice of the global order. In The Law of Peoples (Rawls 1999b, cited under Primary Texts), however, Rawls rejects this direct extension. Instead he argues for a far less egalitarian standard of permissible economic inequality among societies and for toleration of certain non-liberal societies that reject the liberal rights he defends domestically (although toleration need not be extended to those who rejected basic human rights). In all three of these areas—defending a liberal conception of justice, modeled on the idea of a social contract, as an alternative to utilitarianism; developing the ideas of democratic justification contained in public reason and a political conception of justice; and introducing a distinction, grounded in a political liberalism itself, between the standards of domestic justice and those of international relations or global justice—Rawls was both controversial and agenda-setting for Anglo-American philosophy. In political philosophy today, his theories continue to represent a baseline against which other theories present themselves.
Apparent photosphere, thermalization surface and spectrum of black hole winds: Frequency-dependent case
Authors: Tomida Mizuho , Orihashi Masashi , Fukue Jun , Ogura Kazuyuki 
Published: September 2015

Abstract
We examine the apparent photosphere, thermalization surface and expected spectrum of a black hole wind, which is an optically thick, spherically symmetric outflow blown off from the very center of a black hole, taking into account the frequency dependence of opacities. In the case of the optically thick spherical wind, the apparent photosphere is generally aspherical, since the wind density gradually decreases with radius. In addition, if electron scattering is important, the thermalization surface decouples with the apparent photosphere, and is located deep inside it. Furthermore, since the free–free opacity depends on frequency, the location of the thermalization surface also depends on frequency. We find that the shape of the apparent photosphere is aspherical, but does not depend on frequency so much. On the other hand, in the low-frequency regime the thermalization surface is located somewhat closely to the apparent photosphere, and its shape is aspherical, since the free–free opacity dominates the electron scattering one at low frequencies. In the high-frequency regime, however, the thermalization surface is located deep inside the flow, and its shape is nearly spherical, since the electron-scattering opacity dominates the free–free one at high frequencies. As a result, the expected spectrum becomes a multi-temperature blackbody one; the spectrum has a Wien peak, but the spectral slope below the peak is shallower than the Rayleigh–Jeans slope. This is partly due to the non-spherical shapes of the apparent photosphere and thermalization surface in some cases, but mainly because we observe a different part for different frequencies; i.e., low-frequency photons come from larger thermalization radii with lower temperatures, while high-frequency ones come from smaller thermalization radii with higher temperatures.
Risk Analysis of Pneumonitis in Taxane Therapy After Chemoradiotherapy for Patients With Metastatic or Recurrent Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Kishida Yoshihiro , Tsushima Takahiro , Endo Masahiro , Hamauchi Satoshi , Todaka Akiko , Yokota Tomoya , Machida Nozomu , Yamazaki Kentaro , Fukutomi Akira , Onozawa Yusuke , Yasui Hirofumi 
Published: September 2015

Objectives:
Taxane chemotherapy for esophageal cancer causes pneumonitis, not only by itself but also by radiation recall. This study aimed to clarify the risk of pneumonitis in patients with esophageal cancer who receive taxane therapy after chemoradiotherapy.

Methods:
The data of 129 patients with metastatic or recurrent esophageal cancer who initiated taxane therapy between September 2002 and June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Patient selection criteria were as follows: performance status ≤2, preserved organ functions, previous chemoradiotherapy with a radiation dose of ≥50 Gy, grade 0 or 1 pneumonitis at taxane initiation, and no concomitant malignancy. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for pneumonitis.

Results:
Patient characteristics were as follows: males/females, 116/13; median age, 63 years (range, 44 to 80 y); performance status of 0/1/2, 61/60/8; smoking history, 112 (88%); location of the primary tumor Ce/Ut/Mt/Lt/Ae 12/30/66/20/1; median radiation dose, 60 Gy; history of radiation pneumonitis, 39 (30%); history of other pulmonary disease, 4 (3%); and median duration between the last radiation therapy (RT) exposure and taxane initiation, 6.1 months (range, 1.0 to 71 mo). During the median observation period of 7.8 months from taxane initiation, the incidence of grade 2 and 3 pneumonitis was observed in 7 (5.4%) and 3 (2.3%) patients, respectively. No patient died of pneumonitis. The only independent risk factor for pneumonitis was a ≤4-month period between the last RT exposure and taxane initiation (P=0.03).

Conclusions:
A short period between the last RT exposure and taxane initiation is an independent risk factor for pneumonitis development.
Comorbidities and Psychosocial Characteristics as Determinants of Dropout in Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation
Authors: Pardaens Sofie , De Smedt Delphine , De Bacquer Dirk , Willems Anne-Marie , Verstreken Sofie , De Sutter Johan 
Published: September 2015

Background:
Despite the clear benefits of cardiac rehabilitation (CR), a considerable number of patients drop out early.

Objective:
Therefore, we wanted to evaluate dropout in CR with a special focus on comorbidities and psychosocial background.

Methods:
Patients who attended CR after acute coronary syndrome, cardiac surgery, or heart failure (N = 489) were prospectively included. Dropout was defined as attending 50% of the training sessions or less (n = 96 [20%]). Demographic and clinical characteristics, exercise parameters, and psychosocial factors were analyzed according to dropout, and those with a trend toward a significant difference (P < .10) were entered in a multivariate logistic model.

Results:
The presence of a cerebrovascular accident (4.18 [1.39–12.52]) involved a higher risk of dropout, and a comparable trend was seen for the presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (2.55 [0.99–6.54]). Attending the training program only twice per week also implicated a higher risk of an early withdrawal (3.76 [2.23–6.35]). In contrast, patients on β-blockers were less likely to withdraw prematurely (0.47 [0.22–0.98]). Singles were more likely to drop out (2.89 [1.56–5.35]), as well as those patients who were dependent on others to get to CR (2.01 [1.16–3.47]). Finally, the reporting of severe problems on the anxiety/depression subscale of the EuroQOL-5D questionnaire involved a higher odds for dropout (7.17 [1.46–35.29]).

Conclusions:
Neither demographic characteristics nor clinical status or exercise capacity could independently identify patients who were at risk of dropout. The presence of comorbidities and a vulnerable psychosocial background rather seem to play a key role in dropout.
Cardiac Rehabilitation Online Pilot
Authors: Higgins Rosemary O. , Rogerson Michelle , Murphy Barbara M. , Navaratnam Hema , Butler Michael V. , Barker Lauren , Turner Alyna , Lefkovits Jeffrey , Jackson Alun C. 
Published: September 2015

Background:
While cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recommended for all patients after an acute cardiac event, limitations exist in reach.

Objective:
The purpose of the current study was to develop and pilot a flexible online CR program based on self-management principles “Help Yourself Online.”

Methods:
The program was designed as an alternative to group-based CR as well as to complement traditional CR. The program was based on existing self-management resources developed previously by the Heart Research Centre. Twenty-one patients admitted to Cabrini Health for an acute cardiac event were recruited to test the program. The program was evaluated using qualitative and quantitative methods.

Results:
Quantitative results demonstrated that patients believed the program would assist them in their self-management. Qualitative evaluation, using focus group and interview methods with 15 patients, showed that patients perceived the online CR approach to be a useful instrument for self-management.

Conclusions:
Broader implications of the data include the acceptability of the intervention, timing of intervention delivery, and patients’ desire for additional online community support.
ATRX binds to atypical chromatin domains at the 3’ exons of ZNF genes to preserve H3K9me3 enrichment
Authors: Valle-García David , Qadeer Zulekha A. , McHugh Domhnall S. , Ghiraldini Flávia G. , Chowdhury Asif H. , Hasson Dan , Dyer Michael A. , Recillas-Targa Félix , Bernstein Emily 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACTATRX is a SWI/SNF chromatin remodeler proposed to govern genomic stability through the regulation of repetitive sequences such as rDNA, retrotransposons, and pericentromeric and telomeric repeats. However, few direct ATRX target genes have been identified and high-throughput genomic approaches are currently lacking for ATRX. Here we present a comprehensive ChIP-sequencing study of ATRX in multiple human cell lines, in which we identify the 3’ exons of zinc finger genes (ZNFs) as a new class of ATRX targets. These 3’ exonic regions encode the zinc finger motifs, which can range from 1-40 copies per ZNF gene and share large stretches of sequence similarity. These regions often contain an atypical chromatin signature: they are transcriptionally active, contain high levels of H3K36me3 and are paradoxically enriched in H3K9me3. We find that these ZNF 3’ exons are co-occupied by SETDB1, TRIM28 and ZNF274, which form a complex with ATRX. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated loss-of-function studies demonstrate (i) a reduction of H3K9me3 at the ZNF 3’ exons in the absence of ATRX and ZNF274 and, (ii) H3K9me3 levels at atypical chromatin regions are particularly sensitive to ATRX loss compared to other H3K9me3-occupied regions. As a consequence of ATRX or ZNF274 depletion, cells with reduced levels of H3K9me3 show increased levels of DNA damage, suggesting that ATRX binds to the 3’ exons of ZNFs to maintain their genomic stability through preservation of H3K9me3.
A Lean Six Sigma program in higher education
Authors: Svensson Carsten , Antony Jiju , Ba-Essa Mohamed , Bakhsh Majed , Albliwi Saja 
Published: September 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the body of Lean Six Sigma (LSS) knowledge within the field of higher education institutions. The paper will review the initial phase of an implementation and highlight future challenges of applying the LSS method in a complex transactional environment.

Design/methodology/approach
– The observations presented in this paper originate from rolling out a large LSS implementation at a recently established university. The paper is supported with secondary data from literature.

Findings
– The implementation of LSS methodology at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology has resulted in improvements in business processes and efficiency. This has been achieved through project execution and training programs. Approximately 350 staff members have completed awareness training, 50 yellow belts and 150 green belts have been trained, and the first round of seven black belts have completed training of which two have completed certification.

Research limitations/implications
– This paper is based on an empirical study of a single instance and the authors’ experiences as practitioners.

Originality/value
– This paper is the first description of what is believed to be one of the largest implementations of LSS in higher education.
Empirical evidence on fiscal forecasting in Eurozone countries
Authors: de Deus Joseph David Barroso Vasconcelos , de Mendonça Helder Ferreira 
Published: September 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the literature on the determinant factors of government budget balance forecast errors for Eurozone countries based on four different database sources from 1998 to 2011.Design/methodology/approach– Besides the analysis on quality and efficiency of government budget balance projections, panel data analysis is made from different methods taking into account economic, political, institutional and governance factors, and lagged forecast errors for estimations of budget balance forecast errors.Findings– The results show that even with the concern and pressure due to the fiscal crisis in the Eurozone, the bias in fiscal forecasts remains.Originality/value– One contribution of this paper, in comparison to other studies, is the use of longer time periods for the analysis of forecast errors as well as the employment of different data sources for detecting systematic patterns of errors, and the use of various estimation methods for the fiscal forecast error determinants, which gives insights into the reliability and robustness of results obtained in earlier studies. In particular, the introduction of variables such as fiscal council and fiscal rules allows one to check whether institutional behavior may change the effect from debt on fiscal forecast errors.
Preoperative and Intraoperative Factors for Early Failure of Native Arteriovenous Fistulas
Authors: Yap Yit‐Sheung , Chuang Hung‐Yi , Wu Chien‐Hung , Chi Wen‐Che , Lin Cheng‐Hao , Liu Yi‐Chun 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe aim of the study was to assess the potential predictive factors for early arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failure following the fistula first initiative. We retrospectively reviewed the data of 159 end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients who underwent AVF creation. The preoperative factors such as demographic, comorbidity condition, laboratory parameters and medication, and intraoperative or surgical‐related factors were assessed. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, significant predictive factors of early AVF failure were female gender (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 2.63 (1.19–5.81); P = 0.017), higher body mass index (P = 0.038), and lower hemoglobin level (P = 0.048), while adjusting for preoperative factors or all factors. For adjusting of intraoperative factors, reduced venous diameter (P = 0.056) tended to be associated with early AVF failure. In conclusion, female gender, higher body mass index and lower hemoglobin level predicted the occurrence of early AVF failure in ESRD patients.
Interleukin‐29 induces receptor activator of NF‐κB ligand expression in fibroblast‐like synoviocytes via MAPK signaling pathways
Authors: Xu Lingxiao , Feng Xiaoke , Shi Yumeng , Wang Xiaoxi , Kong Xiangqing , Zhang Miaojia , Liu Mei , Tan Wenfeng , Wang Fang 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAimWe previously reported that interleukin‐29 (IL‐29) was highly expressed in the blood and synovium of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and contributed to synovial inflammation by induction of proinflammatory cytokine production. Given chronic inflammation can trigger the process of bone erosion, and receptor activator of nuclear factor‐κB ligand (RANKL) plays a crucial role in bone erosion of RA, we hypothesize that IL‐29 mediates bone erosion in RA by regulation of RANKL expression. Here, we investigated the effect of IL‐29 on RANKL expression in RA fibroblast‐like synoviocytes (FLS) and the relevant signaling pathways involved in it.MethodsPrimary fibroblast cells isolated from RA patients were stimulated by recombinant IL‐29 in the presence or absence of anti‐IL‐29 antibody, and the expression levels of RANKL were assessed using real‐time polymerase chain reaction and immunostaining. Furthermore, the IL‐29 signaling pathway for regulation of RANKL was also examined by Western blotting assay.ResultsIL‐29 upregulated RANKL expression in a dose‐dependent manner, and blockade of IL‐29 resulted in a significantly reduced RANKL expression in RA‐FLS. Incubation RA‐FLS with IL‐29 (100 ng/mL) led to phosphorylation of ERK (extracellular signal‐regulated kinase), p38 and JNK (c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase). The expression of RANKL induced by IL‐29 could be completely blocked by the inhibitors of mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway, including PD98059 (ERK inhibitor), SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) and SP600125 (JNK inhibitor).ConclusionThese findings indicate, for the first time, that IL‐29 could directly induce RANKL expression in RA‐FLS via MAPK signaling pathway, suggesting IL‐29 might be a new target in the prevention of joint destruction in RA.
Long noncoding RNAs could be potential key players in the pathophysiology of Sjögren's syndrome
Authors: Sandhya Pulukool , Joshi Kandarp , Scaria Vinod 
Published: September 2015

AbstractLong noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are a recently discovered class of noncoding functional RNAs encoded by metazoan genomes. Recent studies suggest a larger regulatory role for lncRNAs in critical biological and disease processes. Mounting evidence on the role of lncRNAs in regulating key processes of the immune system prompted us to hypothesize the role of lncRNAs as key regulators of the pathophysiology of Sjögren's syndrome (SS). We used two similar approaches based on reanalysis of microarray expression datasets and curation of lncRNA‐protein coding gene interactions from literature to derive support for our hypothesis. We also discuss potential caveats to our approach and suggest approaches to validate the hypothesis. Our analysis suggests the potential larger and hitherto unknown role of lncRNA regulatory networks in modulating the expression of key genes involved in the pathogenesis of SS and thereby modulating the pathophysiology of SS.