bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Collective intelligence: analysis and modelling
Authors: Suárez Valencia Erika , Bucheli Víctor , Zarama Roberto , Garcia Ángel 
Published: September 2015

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to focus on the underpinning dynamics that explain collective intelligence.Design/methodology/approach– Collective intelligence can be understood as the capacity of a collective system to evolve toward higher order complexity through networks of individual capacities. The authors observed two collective systems as examples of the dynamic processes of complex networks – the wiki course PeSO at the Universidad de Los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia, and an agent-based model inspired by wiki systems.Findings– The results of the wiki course PeSO and the model are contrasted with a random network baseline model. Both the wiki course and the model show dynamics of accumulation, in which statistical properties of non-equilibrium networks appear.Research limitations/implications– The work is based on network science. The authors analyzed data from two kinds of networks: the wiki course PeSO and an agent-based model. Limitations due to the number of computations and complexity appeared when there was a high order of magnitude of agents.Practical implications– Better understanding can allow for the measurement and design of systems based on collective intelligence.Originality/value– The results show how collective intelligence emerges from cumulative dynamics.
Utility-based models and decision making problems for selected network processes
Authors: Jozefczyk Jerzy , Gasior Dariusz 
Published: September 2015

Purpose
– The concept of utility was the first time applied in Economics. The purpose of this paper is to report its usefulness for the decision making in complex technological systems, in general and in computer networks, in particular. Three selected decision-making problems are considered, corresponding solution algorithms are explained and results of numerical experiments are presented for the selected real-world case study.

Design/methodology/approach
– Referring to similar decision-making problems in Economics, three problems of different time horizon are investigated: strategic investment planning, short-term network rate allocation and on-line network operating. Deterministic and uncertain versions are taken into account, and the latter one is handled more thoroughly. The formalism of uncertain variables is used to represent the parameter uncertainty which concerns users’ demands for services in computer networks as well as network links’ capacities. Corresponding optimization tasks are presented. Numerical experiments concerning a part of the computer network Pionier working in Poland confirmed the usefulness of the solution algorithms proposed.

Findings
– The carried out numerical experiments verified the importance and worth of the decision-making algorithms for the Pionier computer network. It particularly concerns the game theory-based algorithm solving the on-line network operating problem which enables calculating the rates for computer links distinctly, i.e., separately for every link.

Research limitations/implications
– More case studies should be considered to formulate more general corollaries. The application of utility concept for wireless sensor networks needs further studies on solution algorithms.

Practical implications
– The results can be directly applied to a class of modern computer networks, e.g., content delivery networks, self-managing networks, context aware networks, multilevel virtual networks.

Originality/value
– The paper presents the unified and systematic approach for individual results previously obtained, and it considers one case study.
The Sounds of Intent project: modelling musical development in children with learning difficulties
Authors: Ockelford Adam 
Published: September 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to set out the current status of the Sounds of Intent project, and explains some of the theoretical thinking that has underpinned its development over a period of 12 years. Sounds of Intent maps the musical development of children and young people with learning difficulties. It currently exists as an online resource that offers practitioners a framework for assessment (with an online recording tool), information and downloadable resources.

Design/methodology/approach
– The approach to the development of Sounds of Intent has been through two main phases: first, exploratory, qualitative analysis was used to inform the development of a model setting out how musical abilities and engagement are thought to develop in children and young people with learning difficulties; and second, the framework’s efficacy has been evaluated through gathering data from a number of practitioners in the field that has been analysed principally through quantitative means.

Findings
– The principal findings of the Sounds of Intent project to date are that virtually all children (with the exception of those who are incapable of processing sound or vibration at all) are able to engage with music, whether reactively, proactively or interactively. The great majority have potential for musical development that can be realised over time, given an appropriately rich and engaging environment.

Originality/value
– Sounds of Intent is the first research project in the world to focus on the musical development of children and young people with learning difficulties, and makes the first attempt to set out how this may occur. Since its public launch in 2012, the Sounds of Intent web site has had over 4,000,000 unique hits, with over 500,000 downloads of resources, from people all over the world.
Resource allocation priorities in social care for adults with a learning disability: an analysis and comparison of different stakeholder perspectives
Authors: Davies Sue , Clarkson Paul , Hughes Jane , Stewart Karen , Xie Chengqiu , Saunders Rob , Challis David 
Published: September 2015

Purpose
– How resources for social care are allocated to individual service users has long been a concern. There are debates regarding the priority given to certain needs in Resource Allocation Systems (RASs). The purpose of this paper is to compare the views of adults with a learning disability and Directors of Adult Social Care regarding their priorities for resource allocation with priorities arising from observed resource allocation decisions.

Design/methodology/approach
– In a consultation workshop, 12 adults with learning disabilities were asked to rank the perceived importance of eight needs-related outcomes. Directors of Adult Social Care completed an online questionnaire concerning the distribution of resources across the same eight outcomes. Actual resource allocation data from 11 local authorities were also modelled against these outcomes. A variable importance metric (the percentage contribution of each outcome to predicting costs) was used to rank the importance of these outcomes in terms of determining actual resource allocation. Findings from these data collections were compared.

Findings
– There were discrepancies between the views of adults with a learning disability, the perspectives of Directors and actual resource allocation data. Whereas adults with a learning disability perceived psychological well-being as most important, Directors and actual resource allocation data stressed the importance of activities of daily living and carer burden.

Originality/value
– This analysis will prove useful in understanding the concerns of adults with a learning disability and whether these are adequately addressed by current RASs.
Commentary on “Assisting individuals ageing with learning disability: support worker perspectives”
Authors: Stevens Martin 
Published: September 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to explore some of the themes identified by Wark et al.’s paper and to highlight commonalities and differences between the Australian and the UK social and health care regimes. It also points to evidence about other implications for policy and practice of the increasing numbers of people growing older who have learning disabilities.

Design/methodology/approach
– The commentary analyses some policy and practice documents and identifies a range of other research and commentary on this topic.

Findings
– Wark et al. have identified areas of importance for supporting older people with learning disabilities, particularly access to suitable and acceptable services and the importance of sufficient support worker time. They also identify gaps in the research on people’s needs and service responses. The commentary also highlights other factors for consideration in work with this group of people, particularly the implementation of personalisation policies in social care and integration between health and social care services.

Research limitations/implications
– There is a need for further research into developing policy and practice for health and social care for older people with learning disabilities. Some of the evidence supports the case for specialist involvement, particularly by nursing professionals.

Originality/value
– The paper and this commentary highlight the challenges associated with the increasing number of older people with learning disabilities in contemporary debates about the role of the state and professional specialists.
Dietary Components Affect the Plasma and Tissue Levels of Lutein in Aged Rats with Lutein Deficiency—A Repeated Gavage and Dietary Study
Authors: Sheshappa Mamatha Bangera , Ranganathan Arunkumar , Bhatiwada Nidhi , Talahalli Ramprasad Ravichandra , Vallikannan Baskaran 
Published: September 2015

AbstractThe aim of this study was to find out the influence of selected dietary components on plasma and tissue response of repeated micellar and dietary lutein in aged rats with lutein deficiency. In repeated (16 d) gavage study, micellar lutein was co‐ingested with either phosphatidylcholine (PC), lyso‐phosphatidylcholine (lysoPC), β‐carotene, dietary fiber or vegetable fat (3% soybean oil). In dietary study, rats were fed (4 wk) semi‐synthetic diet either with lutein + PC, lutein + dietary fiber or B. alba (lutein source) + PC. The post‐prandial plasma and tissue response of lutein was measured by HPLC. Results showed that micellar fat, PC and lysoPC significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased the lutein levels in plasma (31.1%, 26.8%, and 34.9%), liver (27.4%, 29.5%, and 8.6%), and eyes (63.5%, 90.2%, and 86%) compared to the control group (group gavaged micelles with no dietary components studied). Similarly, dietary study showed an enhanced plasma, liver, and eye lutein levels by 44.8%, 24.1%, and 42.0% (lutein + PC group) and 51.7%, 39.8%, and 31.7% (B.alba + PC group), respectively compared to control. The activity of antioxidant enzymes in plasma and liver of both the studies were also affected compared to control. Result reveals, that PC enhance the intestinal absorption of both micellar and dietary lutein which is either in free or bound form with food matrices in aged rats with lutein deficiency. Hence, PC at a concentration used in this study can be considered to improve the lutein bioavailability in lutein deficiency.
Increased aortic wall thickness for the diagnosis of aortitis: a computed tomography‐based study
Authors: Slobodin Gleb , Nakhleh Afif , Rimar Doron , Wolfson Vladimir , Rosner Itzhak , Odeh Majed 
Published: September 2015

AbstractAimsTo evaluate the usefulness of computed tomography (CT)‐measured aortic wall thickness (AWT) as a sole imaging finding for the confirmation of clinically suspected aortitis.MethodsCT scans of 20 patients with the diagnosis of aortitis, endorsed by the abnormally thickened aortic wall, as a single imaging finding, and 250 patients without known aortitis were reviewed and AWT manually measured at the levels of thoracic descending aorta, upper abdominal aorta and infrarenal aorta, as well as the level of maximal AWT in patients with diagnosed aortitis. Patients' charts were analyzed and demographic data and data on co‐morbidities extracted. Correlations of measured AWT with patients' demographic data and co‐morbidities were calculated for the control patients. Age‐dependent upper 97.5 percentile points for AWT were calculated for different age groups as a reference. AWT of patients, diagnosed with aortitis, was compared with these reference values.ResultsAWT had significant positive correlation with patient age (P < 0.001), gender (P < 0.03) and presence of aortic wall calcifications (P < 0.001). In nine of 20 patients, with diagnosed aortitis confirmed by the increased CT‐measured AWT, the revised values of AWT were lower than the calculated upper 97.5 percentile points for the relevant age group. In four of these patients, the values of the measured AWT were in the range of mean + SD for AWT for the same age.ConclusionsThe confirmation of suspected aortitis by the increased CT‐measured AWT only may be equivocal and necessitate more specific imaging, particularly in elderly patients.
Genome‐wide differential expression reveals candidate genes involved in the pathogenesis of lupus and lupus nephritis
Authors: AlFadhli Suad , Ghanem Aqeel A. M. , Nizam Rasheeba 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBackgroundSystemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) is an autoimmune disease characterized by multiorgan pathology, accelerated apoptosis and hyper‐autoantibody production against self‐components. The root cause of lupus remains unknown, although multiple susceptibility factors have been reported in different ethnic group.ObjectiveWe aimed to explore the genome‐wide differential expression spectrum of lupus and its severe form lupus nephritis (LN) in Arab females.MethodsA total of 98 subjects: 40 lupus, 18 LN and 40 age/gender/ethnically matched healthy controls (HC) were recruited. Carefully chosen subjects (n = 11) were employed for whole human‐genome expression profiling using high‐density Human Exon 1.0.ST arrays (Affymetrix) and statistical analysis was carried out using appropriate software. Validation cohorts (n = 98) were investigated to quantify the expression of the nine selected candidate genes relative to GAPDH as endogenous control.ResultsGenome‐wide differential analysis revealed seven candidate genes in lupus and 36 in LN, when individually compared to HC (anova Welch t‐test, P ≤ 0.005, Tukey's honestly post hoc analysis). Analysis of differentially expressed genes with a fold change of 2, revealed 16 Gene Ontology terms satisfying a P ≤ 0.05. We further detected five distinct inflammatory and metabolic pathways such as TWEAK, osteopontin, endochondral ossification, fluropyrimidine activity and urea cycle and metabolism of amino groups that significantly contribute to the pathogenesis of lupus (P < 0.05). Validation of selected candidate genes (IRF9, ABCA1, APOBEC3, CEACAM3, OSCAR, TNFA1P6, MMP9, SLC4A1) revealed significant differences in expression, indicating their promissory role in the pathogenesis of lupus.ConclusionOur study provides central gene regulators of therapeutic potential, indicating the future prospects of the study.
Atypical central retinal artery occlusion: an uncommon cause of retinopathy and visual loss in dermatomyositis
Authors: Sharma Mukta , Prashar Aditi , Tuli Rajiv , Sharma Rattan K. , Mahajan Vikram K. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractSeveral ophthalmic manifestations in patients with dermatomyositis have been described but involvement of the retina is rare. A 39‐year‐old man diagnosed with dermatomysitis had developed sudden painless visual loss in the left eye. He was non‐diabetic and non‐hypertensive. He was on treatment with systemic prednisolone (50 mg/day) and methotrexate (7.5 mg/day) for dermatomyositis. His visual acuity was finger counting at 2 feet in the left eye and 6/6 in the right eye. Left fundus showed slight blurring of the optic disc margins, large peripapillary flame‐shaped haemorrhages and extensive area of opacification suggestive of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) with sparing of the area supplied by the cilioretinal artery. The exact pathomechanism of CRAO in dermatomyositis remains poorly elucidated. The infarctive events following endothelial damage and platelet thrombi occurring in arterioles and capillaries of retina, optic disc and choriocapillaries causing ischemia/infarction have been suggested as possible reasons. However, central artery occlusion from high intraocular pressure from marked (heliotrope) orbital edema appears more plausible in our case. The degree of retinal damage is variable when CRAO lasts between 105 and 240 min and irreversible profound visual loss may occur from its occlusion lasting for more than 240 min. A prompt ophthalmological opinion/management is recommended to limit its progression.
Hypovitaminosis D in a Young Lebanese Population: Effect of GC Gene Polymorphisms on Vitamin D and Vitamin D Binding Protein Levels
Authors: Medlej‐Hashim Myrna , Jounblat Rania , Hamade Aline , Ibrahim Jose Noel , Rizk Francine , Azzi Georges , Abdallah Marwa , Nakib Layane , Lahoud May , Nabout Rita 
Published: September 2015

SummaryBioactive vitamin D is a steroid hormone transported in blood via the vitamin D binding protein (DBP). Our study aimed to investigate the vitamin D status in a young Lebanese population and study the association of hypovitaminosis with levels of DBP. Polymorphisms in the GC gene that encodes DBP were also screened.Blood samples were collected from 179 university students. Vitamin D status and DBP levels were assayed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). DNA was extracted from 128 participants, and genotyping of the two GC gene SNPs, rs7041, and rs4588, was carried out by restriction fragment length polymorphism.Forty‐seven percent of participants had hypovitaminosis D (<20 ng/ml). A significant positive correlation was observed between vitamin D status and DBP. Genotyping data showed that participants carrying the rs7041 GG and rs4588 AA genotypes had higher concentrations of DBP than those carrying other genotypes. Four allelic versions of the GC gene were observed, one of which, GC*3, was encountered for the first time in this study, and was found to be associated with both normal vitamin D and high DBP levels. Modifying genes such as GC could therefore affect DBP levels, and contribute, along with environmental factors, to the hypovitaminosis D observed in sunny countries.
Cities, villages, and suburbs: What sets them apart when it comes to giving blood?
Authors: Carrier Élianne , Cloutier Marie‐Soleil , Charbonneau Johanne 
Published: September 2015

Key MessagesBlood donation in rural areas is highly affected by local culture.Accessibility to blood drives greatly affects blood donation, regardless of place of residence.Donors from suburban environments put their family and children at the centre of their motivation for giving blood.
The geography of skier adaptation to adverse conditions in the Ontario ski market
Authors: Rutty Michelle , Scott Daniel , Johnson Peter , Jover Eric , Pons Marc , Steiger Robert 
Published: September 2015

Key Messages

Spatial patterns of skiers may vary as a result of snow conditions.
This study examined where and how far skiers in Ontario (Canada) are willing to travel in response to local lack of snow.
Majority of respondents (59–60%) would travel to five key resorts in Ontario; an additional 11–15% of respondents opted to travel to Quebec or the state of New York.
Targeted complement inhibition and microvasculature in transplants: a therapeutic perspective
Authors: Khan M A , Hsu J L , Assiri A M , Broering D C 
Published: September 2015

SummaryActive complement mediators play a key role in graft-versus-host diseases, but little attention has been given to the angiogenic balance and complement modulation during allograft acceptance. The complement cascade releases the powerful proinflammatory mediators C3a and C5a anaphylatoxins, C3b, C5b opsonins and terminal membrane attack complex into tissues, which are deleterious if unchecked. Blocking complement mediators has been considered to be a promising approach in the modern drug discovery plan, and a significant number of therapeutic alternatives have been developed to dampen complement activation and protect host cells. Numerous immune cells, especially macrophages, develop both anaphylatoxin and opsonin receptors on their cell surface and their binding affects the macrophage phenotype and their angiogenic properties. This review discusses the mechanism that complement contributes to angiogenic injury, and the development of future therapeutic targets by antagonizing activated complement mediators to preserve microvasculature in rejecting the transplanted organ.
Lower serum osteocalcin concentrations are associated with brain microstructural changes and worse cognitive performance
Authors: Puig Josep , Blasco Gerard , Daunis‐i‐Estadella Josep , Moreno María , Molina Xavier , Alberich‐Bayarri Angel , Xifra Gemma , Pedraza Salvador , Ricart Wifredo , Fernández‐Aranda Fernando , Fernández‐Real José Manuel 
Published: September 2015

SummaryObjectiveRodent models have found that osteocalcin crosses the blood–brain barrier and regulates behaviour. No data are available on osteocalcin's effects on brain microstructure and cognitive performance in humans. We evaluated the association between serum osteocalcin concentrations and (i) brain microstructural changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and (ii) neuropsychological performance.Design, Patients and MeasurementsWe studied 24 consecutive obese subjects (13 women; age, 49·8 ± 8·1 years; body mass index [BMI], 43·9 ± 4·54 kg/m2) and 20 healthy volunteers (10 women; age, 48·8 ± 9·5 years; BMI, 24·3 ± 3·54 kg/m2) in a cross‐sectional study within the multicentre FLORINASH Project. FLAIR signal intensity and DTI‐metrics (primary (λ1), secondary (λ2) and tertiary (λ3) eigenvalues; fractional anisotropy (FA); and mean diffusivity) in the caudate, hypothalamus, thalamus and putamen, and in subcortical white matter were assessed. Cognitive performance evaluated by neuropsychological test battery.ResultsLower osteocalcin concentrations were associated with BMI, higher λ1, λ2 and λ3 values at the caudate and lower FLAIR signal intensity at the caudate and putamen. Obese patients with lower osteocalcin concentrations had higher FA at putamen and thalamus. Lower osteocalcin concentrations were associated with higher Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) scores. FLAIR signal intensity at the caudate <601·832 yielded 85·7% sensitivity, 64·3% specificity, 70·6% negative predictive value and 81·8% positive predictive value for IGT score. Lower osteocalcin was an independent predictor of worse cognitive performance on multivariate analysis (F = 3·551, P = 0·01343; R2 = 0·103). Bayesian information criterion demonstrated that osteocalcin had the predominant role in predicting IGT score.ConclusionsLower serum osteocalcin concentrations are associated with brain microstructural changes and worse cognitive performance.