Laminated ultrathin chemical vapor deposition graphene films based stretchable and transparent high-rate supercapacitor

Due to their exceptional flexibility and transparency, CVD graphene films have been regarded as an ideal replacement of indium tin oxide for transparent electrodes, especially in applications where electronic devices may be subjected to large tensile strain. However, the search for a desirable combination of stretchability and electrochemical performance of such devices remains a huge challenge. Here, we demonstrate the implementation of a laminated ultrathin CVD graphene film as a stretchable and transparent electrode for supercapacitors. Transferred and buckled on PDMS substrates by a prestraininig-then-buckling strategy, the four-layer graphene film maintained its outstanding quality, as evidenced by Raman spectra. Optical transmittance of up to 72.9% at a wavelength of 550 nm and stretchability of 40% were achieved. As the tensile strain increased up to 40%, the specific capacitance showed no degradation and even increased slightly. Furthermore, the supercapacitor demonstrated excellent frequency capability with small time constants under stretching.

Text recycling: acceptable or misconduct?

Text recycling, also referred to as self-plagiarism, is the reproduction of an author's own text from a previous publication in a new publication. Opinions on the acceptability of this practice vary, with some viewing it as acceptable and efficient, and others as misleading and unacceptable. In light of the lack of consensus, journal editors often have difficulty deciding how to act upon the discovery of text recycling. In response to these difficulties, we have created a set of guidelines for journal editors on how to deal with text recycling. In this editorial, we discuss some of the challenges of developing these guidelines, and how authors can avoid undisclosed text recycling.

CRIS Guidelines (Checklist for Reporting In-vitro Studies): A concept note on the need for standardized guidelines for improving quality and transparency in reporting in-vitro studies in experimental dental research

In vitro studies form a pivotal role in dental research contribution to a substantial evidence base. The reporting standards of these studies are not uniform thus resulting in lacunae in evidence reported. The effort of this concept note is to propose a Checklist for Reporting in vitro Studies (CRIS guidelines) that would promote quality and transparency in reporting in vitro studies.

Organ transplantation for nonresidents of the United States: a policy for transparency

A policy proposal relating to transplantation of deceased donor organs into nonresidents of the United States was jointly sponsored by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN)/United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) International Relations and Ethics Committees and approved by the OPTN/UNOS Board in June 2012. The proposal followed prior acceptance by the Board of the definitions of "travel for transplantation" and "transplant tourism" and the introduction in March 2012 of revised data collection categories for transplant candidates who are neither citizens nor residents. The most important aspect of the new policy concerns replacement of the previous so-called "5% rule" with the review of all residency and citizenship data and the preparation of a public annual report. The new policy does not prohibit organ transplantation in nonresidents. However, the policy and public data report will ensure transparency and support transplant center responsibility to account for their practices. Since the adoption of the policy, the first 19 months of data show that less than 1% of new deceased donor waitlist additions and less than 1% of transplantation recipients were non-US citizen/nonresidents candidates who traveled to the United States for purposes of transplantation. By adopting this policy, the US transplant community promotes public trust and serves as an example to the international transplant community.

Transparent, low-power pressure sensor matrix based on coplanar-gate graphene transistors

A novel device architecture for preparing a transparent and low-voltage graphene pressure-sensor matrix on plastic and rubber substrates is demonstrated. The coplanar gate configuration of the graphene transistor enables a simplified procedure. The resulting devices exhibit excellent device performance, including a high transparency of ca. 80% in the visible range, a low operating voltage less than 2 V, a high pressure sensitivity of 0.12 kPa(-1) , and excellent mechanical durability over 2500 cycles.

Improving transparency and reproducibility of medical research

Increasing numbers of research reporting guidelines are being published. These guidelines facilitate rigorous and complete reporting, and presentation of published studies. However, current reporting guidelines do not address issues related to costs of research methods. We propose to publish costs of research in order to increase transparency, efficiency, quality and ultimately reproducibility of scientific studies.

Public reporting of provider performance at a crossroads in the United States: summary of current barriers and recommendations on how to move forward

Twenty-seven years after the first public release by the U.S. government of data on the quality of hospital care, public reporting for consumers has expanded substantially. Despite the growth in public reporting activities, there is limited evidence of their use by consumers in ways that significantly affect health care delivery. Support for public reporting continues, in part, because of the face value of transparency. The limited impact of reporting efforts is plausibly due to flaws in the content, design, and implementation of existing public reports rather than inherent limitations of reporting. Substantial work is still needed for public reports to achieve their potential for engaging and informing consumers. We present a vision statement and 10 recommendations to achieve this potential.

Postscript: research agenda to guide the next generation of public reports for consumers

There is significant interest in building the next generation of public reporting tools that will more effectively engage consumers and better enable them to make use of comparative performance information when selecting a provider. Demand for public reporting tools that make health care cost and quality information transparent is fueled by a variety of market forces underway. A host of public reporting efforts and studies have identified a number of challenges, highlighting that we still do not understand how best to design public reports to meet the needs of the consumer. We identify five areas for additional research that, if addressed, could foster better design and delivery of quality and cost information to consumers.

England's Experience incorporating "anecdotal" reports from consumers into their national reporting system: lessons for the United States of what to do or not to do?

The English National Health Service's public reporting website--known as NHS Choices--has been incorporating anecdotal comments from patients about primary and hospital care since 2007. Publicly reporting patients' narrative comments along with numerical ratings of their experience and clinical quality metrics presents opportunities as well as challenges for reporting systems. This article reviews the lessons learned in England that could be useful to other health systems that are considering a similar approach. We explore five key design considerations for publicly reporting anecdotal comments--including how to collect, moderate, and display comments and how to encourage the public and the health care providers use them. While anecdotal comments might represent an untapped seam of valuable information about service quality and a potential hook for engaging patients to use comparative performance data, the jury is still out on where narrative comments fit in the complex landscape of quality measurement and reporting.

Ethics of sponsored research

The combined effort of private sponsors and academic researchers will undoubtedly bring in the forms of clinical trials is expected to usher in tremendous progress in science. Unfortunately, if not monitored, such trials can deviate from the humanitarian goals. Hence, registration in a common platform of such trials is mandatory and monitoring of such platforms is also necessary. Furthermore, caution should be exercised at all levels during the conduct of a trial.

Internists' attitudes about assessing and maintaining clinical competence

BACKGROUND

Important changes are occurring in how the medical profession approaches assessing and maintaining competence. Physician support for such changes will be essential for their success.

OBJECTIVE

To describe physician attitudes towards assessing and maintaining competence.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional internet survey.

PARTICIPANTS

Random sample of 1,000 American College of Physicians members who were eligible to participate in the American Board of Internal Medicine Maintenance of Certification program.

MAIN MEASURES

Questions assessed physicians' attitudes and experiences regarding: 1) self-regulation, 2) feedback on knowledge and clinical care, 3) demonstrating knowledge and clinical competence, 4) frequency of use and effectiveness of methods to assess or improve clinical care, and 5) transparency.

KEY RESULTS

Surveys were completed by 446 of 943 eligible respondents (47%). Eighty percent reported it was important (somewhat/very) to receive feedback on their knowledge, and 94% considered it important (somewhat/very) to get feedback on their quality of care. However, only 24% reported that they receive useful feedback on their knowledge most/all of the time, and 27% reported receiving useful feedback on their clinical care most/all of the time. Seventy-five percent agreed that participating in programs to assess their knowledge is important to staying up-to-date, yet only 52% reported participating in such programs within the last 3 years. The majority (58%) believed physicians should be required to demonstrate their knowledge via a secure examination every 9-10 years. Support was low for Specialty Certification Boards making information about physician competence publically available, with respondents expressing concern about patients misinterpreting information about their Board Certification activities.

CONCLUSIONS

A gap exists between physicians' interest in feedback on their competence and existing programs' ability to provide such feedback. Educating physicians about the importance of regularly assessing their knowledge and quality of care, coupled with enhanced systems to provide such feedback, is needed to close this gap.

Preparing individual patient data from clinical trials for sharing: the GlaxoSmithKline approach

In May 2013, GlaxoSmithKline (980 Great West Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9GS, UK) established a new online system to enable scientific researchers to request access to anonymised patient level clinical trial data. Providing access to individual patient data collected in clinical trials enables conduct of further research that may help advance medical science or improve patient care. In turn, this helps ensure that the data provided by research participants are used to maximum effect in the creation of new knowledge and understanding. However, when providing access to individual patient data, maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of research participants is critical. This article describes the approach we have taken to prepare data for sharing with other researchers in a way that minimises risk with respect to the privacy and confidentiality of research participants, ensures compliance with current data privacy legal requirements and yet retains utility of the anonymised datasets for research purposes. We recognise that there are different possible approaches and that broad consensus is needed.

Simulating component-to-pattern dynamic effects with a computer model of middle temporal pattern neurons

Some primate motion-sensitive middle temporal (MT) neurons respond best to motion orthogonal to a contour's orientation (component types) whereas another class (pattern type) responds maximally to the overall pattern motion. We have previously developed a model of the pattern-type neurons using integration of the activity generated in speed- and direction-tuned subunits. However, a number of other models have also been able to replicate MT neuron pattern-like behavior using a diverse range of mechanisms. This basic property does not really challenge or help discriminate between the different model types. There exist two sets of findings that we believe provide a better yardstick against which to assess MT pattern models. Some MT neurons have been shown to change from component to pattern behavior over brief time intervals. MT neurons have also been observed to switch from component- to pattern-like behavior when the intensity of the intersections in a plaid pattern stimulus changes. These properties suggest more complex time- and contrast-sensitive internal mechanisms underlying pattern motion extraction, which provide a real challenge for modelers. We have now replicated these two component-to-pattern effects using our MT pattern model. It incorporates two types of V1 neurons (sustained and transient), and these have slightly different time delays; this initially favors the component response, thus mimicking the temporal effects. We also discovered that some plaid stimuli contain a contrast asymmetry that depends on the plaid direction and the intensity of the intersections. This causes the model MT pattern units to act as component units.

Editorial input for the right price: tobacco industry support for a sheet metal indoor air quality manual

Following legal action in the 1990s, internal tobacco industry documents became public, allowing unprecedented insight into the industry's relationships with outside organizations. During the 1980s and 1990s, the National Energy Management Institute (NEMI), established by the Sheet Metal Workers International Association and the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association, (SMACNA) received tobacco industry funding to establish an indoor air quality services program. But the arrangement also required NEMI to serve as an advocate for industry efforts to defeat indoor smoking bans by arguing that ventilation was a more appropriate solution to environmental tobacco smoke. Drawing on tobacco industry documents, this paper describes a striking example of the ethical compromises that accompanied NEMI's collaboration with the tobacco industry, highlighting the solicitation of tobacco industry financial support for a SMACNA indoor air quality manual in exchange for sanitizing references to the health impact of environmental tobacco smoke prior to publication.

PROSPERO's progress and activities 2012/13

PROSPERO is an international database of prospectively registered systematic reviews in health and social care. Between July 2012 and June 2013, 1,106 registrations were added, bringing the total since launch in February 2011 to 1,704. The value of the growing number of records is reflected in a 117% increase in page views in the first half of 2013 compared with the first half of 2012. Developments over the year included expansion of scope, improvement of the registration form and easier access to information on how to register.

Funding of medical education: the need for transparency

Medical education is vital to the future of healthcare provision. It is also expensive. We should ensure that the funding spent on medical education is spent in the most cost-effective way possible and delivers the best possible returns on our investment. Budgets that have been allocated to medical education should be spent on this and not on research or clinical care. Educational budgets should be transparent - so that their use and misuse are clear. We should develop a culture of lifelong learning and continually make explicit that future healthcare professionals need investment in their education to maintain the quality and safety of healthcare delivery.

Fabrication of graphene films with high transparent conducting characteristics

We present a study on the transparent conducting characteristics of graphene-based films prepared by means of rapid chemical vapor deposition. The graphene films were grown on quartz slides with a CH4/Ar mixed gas under a constant flow at 950°C and then annealed at 1,000°C. It was found that the graphene films present excellent electrical conductivity with high transparency. The conductivity is up to 1,240 S/cm, the sheet resistance is lower than 1 kΩ/sq, and the transparency is well over 85% in the visible wavelength range of 400 to 800 nm, showing that the graphene films have very low resistivity and superior transparency and completely satisfy the need for transparent conductors. These properties can be used in many applications, such as transparent conductor films for touch panels. PACS: 61.48.+c, 78.67.Pt, 68.37.Hk, 68.65.Ac.

European Federation of Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry's position on access to clinical trial data

The European Federation of Statisticians in the Pharmaceutical Industry (EFSPI) believes access to clinical trial data should be implemented in a way that supports good research, avoids misuse of such data, lies within the scope of the original informed consent and fully protects patient confidentiality. In principle, EFSPI supports responsible data sharing. EFSPI acknowledges it is in the interest of patients that their data are handled in a strictly confidential manner to avoid misuse under all possible circumstances. It is also in the interest of the altruistic nature of patients participating in trials that such data will be used for further development of science as much as possible applying good statistical principles. This paper summarises EFSPI's position on access to clinical trial data. The position was developed during the European Medicines Agency (EMA) advisory process and before the draft EMA policy on publication and access to clinical trial data was released for consultation; however, the EFSPI's position remains unchanged following the release of the draft policy. Finally, EFSPI supports a need for further guidance to be provided on important technical aspects relating to re-analyses and additional analyses of clinical trial data, for example, multiplicity, meta-analysis, subgroup analyses and publication bias.

Advantages of embedment-free section transmission electron microscopy

The usefulness of embedment-free section transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is stressed for present and future morphological analyses, and several examples are demonstrated which are revealed in sections for the first time by this method: en-face views of slit diaphragm of renal glomerulus and fenestrated diaphragm of capillary endothelium, transparency of neural myelin, attenuated endothelium and some basement laminae, labyrinth architecture of vacuoles within lipid droplets, and enhanced 3D effect of ultrastructures, the latter of which is the case in electron tomography. In addition, the biological significance of structured appearance (microtrabecular lattices) of the cytoplasmic matrix, which is disclosed by this method, are briefly reviewed in relation to the sol-gel transition of cytoplasmic heterogenous proteins. Since the ultrastructures of various cells and tissues in this method are confirmed to be well correspondent to those in conventional epoxy section TEM except for isotropic dimensional changes, and because there is no necessity for any special expensive equipments other than those for the conventional TEM, the embedment-free section TEM method with these advantages, deserves much more wide application to the morphological research including electron tomography.

Mechanisms of self-organization for the collagen fibril lattice in the human cornea

The transparency of the human cornea depends on the regular lattice arrangement of the collagen fibrils and on the maintenance of an optimal hydration--the achievement of both depends on the presence of stromal proteoglycans (PGs) and their linear sidechains of negatively charged glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Although the GAGs produce osmotic pressure by the Donnan effect, the means by which they exert positional control of the lattice is less clear. In this study, a theoretical model based on equilibrium thermodynamics is used to describe restoring force mechanisms that may control and maintain the fibril lattice and underlie corneal transparency. Electrostatic-based restoring forces that result from local charge density changes induced by fibril motion, and entropic elastic restoring forces that arise from duplexed GAG structures that bridge neighbouring fibrils, are described. The model allows for the possibility that fibrils have a GAG-dense coating that adds an additional fibril force mechanism preventing fibril aggregation. Swelling pressure predictions are used to validate the model with results showing excellent agreement with experimental data over a range of hydration from 30 to 200% of normal. The model suggests that the electrostatic restoring force is dominant, with the entropic forces from GAG duplexes being an order or more smaller. The effect of a random GAG organization, as observed in recent imaging, is considered in a dynamic model of the lattice that incorporates randomness in both the spatial distribution of GAG charge and the topology of the GAG duplexes. A striking result is that the electrostatic restoring forces alone are able to reproduce the image-based lattice distribution function for the human cornea, and thus dynamically maintain the short-range order of the lattice.

Brightness and transparency in the early visual cortex

Several psychophysical studies have shown that transparency can have drastic effects on brightness and lightness. However, the neural processes generating these effects have remained unresolved. Several lines of evidence suggest that the early visual cortex is important for brightness perception. While single cell recordings suggest that surface brightness is represented in the primary visual cortex, the results of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have been discrepant. In addition, the location of the neural representation of transparency is not yet known. We investigated whether the fMRI responses in areas V1, V2, and V3 correlate with brightness and transparency. To dissociate the blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) response to brightness from the response to local border contrast and mean luminance, we used variants of White's brightness illusion, both opaque and transparent, in which luminance increments and decrements cancel each other out. The stimuli consisted of a target surface and a surround. The surround luminance was always sinusoidally modulated at 0.5 Hz to induce brightness modulation to the target. The target luminance was constant or modulated in counterphase to null brightness modulation. The mean signal changes were calculated from the voxels in V1, V2, and V3 corresponding to the retinotopic location of the target surface. The BOLD responses were significantly stronger for modulating brightness than for stimuli with constant brightness. In addition, the responses were stronger for transparent than for opaque stimuli, but there was more individual variation. No interaction between brightness and transparency was found. The results show that the early visual areas V1-V3 are sensitive to surface brightness and transparency and suggest that brightness and transparency are represented separately.

Continuing education module transforming maternity care: implementing the blueprint for action

In January 2010, Women's Health Issues published two direction-setting reports from the Transforming Maternity Care (TMC) Project: "2020 Vision for a High-Quality, High-Value Maternity Care System" and "Blueprint for Action: Steps Toward a High-Quality, High-Value Maternity Care System." This guest editorial summarizes highlights of the implementation phase of what is now known as the TMC Partnership. Major progress has been made in elevating maternity care quality to a national policy priority, increasing the availability and use of maternity care performance measures, and developing shared decision making tools for childbearing women.

Wavelength optimization in femtosecond laser corneal surgery

PURPOSE

To evaluate the influence of wavelength on penetration depth and quality of femtosecond laser corneal incisions in view of optimizing procedures in corneal surgery assisted by ultrashort pulse lasers.

METHODS

We performed penetrating and lamellar incisions on eye bank corneas using several ultrashort pulse laser sources. Several wavelengths within the near-infrared and shortwave-infrared wavelength range were used and the pulse energy was varied. The corneas were subsequently analyzed using light microscopy as well as transmission and scanning electron microscopy.

RESULTS

We found higher penetration depths and improved incision quality when using wavelengths close to λ = 1650 nm rather than the wavelength of λ = 1030 nm typical in current clinical systems. Optical micrographs show an improvement of the penetration depth by a factor of 2 to 3 while maintaining a good incision quality when using the longer wavelength. These results were confirmed with micrographs obtained with transmission and scanning electron microscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

A wavelength change from the standard 1030 nm to 1650 nm in corneal surgery assisted by ultrashort pulse laser considerably reduces light scattering within the tissue. This results in a better preservation of the laser beam quality in the volume of the tissue, particularly when working at depths required for deep lamellar or penetrating keratoplasty. Using this wavelength yields improved penetration depths into the tissue; it permits use of lower energies for any given depth and thus reduces unwanted side effects as thermal effects.

A fish scale-derived collagen matrix as artificial cornea in rats: properties and potential

PURPOSE

A fish scale-derived collagen matrix (FSCM) is proposed as an alternative for human donor corneal tissue. Light scatter and light transmission of the FSCM were measured and compared with human cornea, and its short-term biocompatibility was tested in a rat model.

METHODS

light scatter was determined with a straylight measuring device, whereas light transmission was measured using a broadband absorption spectrometer. for evaluation of the biocompatibiliy, three approaches were used: the FSCM was implanted as an anterior lamellar keratoplasty (ALK), placed in an interlamellar corneal pocket (IL), and placed subconjunctivally (SC). Transparency, neovascularization, and epithelial damage were followed for 21 days. Morphology and cellular infiltration were assessed histologically.

RESULTS

The amount of scattered light was comparable to that seen in early cataract and the percentage of light transmission was similar to the transmission through the human cornea. Implantation of the FSCM as an ALK led to mild haziness only, not obscuring the pupil, despite the development of neovascularization around the sutures; IL placement led to a moderate haze, partly obscuring the pupil, and to (partial) melting of the anterior corneal lamella. The SC group exhibited local swelling and induration, which decreased over time. Histology showed a chronic inflammation varying from mild and moderate in the ALK and IL group, to severe in the SC group.

CONCLUSIONS

In spite of technical difficulties, it was feasible to use the FSCM for ALK, whereas IL placement led to melting of the anterior lamella. Further studies are necessary for better understanding of its immunogenicity. The light scatter and transmission data show that the first version of this FSCM is comparable to human cornea tissue in this respect.

Triangulation in Youth Sport: Healthy Partnerships among Parents, Coaches, and Practitioners

Youth sport is unique because it involves communication, coordination, and maintenance of relationships among multiple adults, all of whom are vested stakeholders in a child-athlete's sport experience. This dynamic becomes even more complex when a sport psychology practitioner is added; therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide guidelines and considerations to assist sport psychology practitioners in managing the triangulation of adults who are involved in the consultation process with youth athletes. We first discuss specific dyads and considerations for the practitioner and then highlight recommendations for practitioners regarding transparency and confidentiality issues specific to youth athletes.

Dispersion and surface functionalization of oxide nanoparticles for transparent photocatalytic and UV-protecting coatings and sunscreens

This review describes recent efforts on the synthesis, dispersion and surface functionalization of the three dominating oxide nanoparticles used for photocatalytic, UV-blocking and sunscreen applications: titania, zinc oxide, and ceria. The gas phase and liquid phase synthesis is described briefly and examples are given of how weakly aggregated photocatalytic or UV-absorbing oxide nanoparticles with different composition, morphology and size can be generated. The principles of deagglomeration are reviewed and the specific challenges for nanoparticles highlighted. The stabilization of oxide nanoparticles in both aqueous and non-aqueous media requires a good understanding of the magnitude of the interparticle forces and the surface chemistry of the materials. Quantitative estimates of the Hamaker constants in various media and measurements of the isoelectric points for the different oxide nanoparticles are presented together with an overview of different additives used to prepare stable dispersions. The structural and chemical requirements and the various routes to produce transparent photocatalytic and nanoparticle-based UV-protecting coatings, and UV-blocking sunscreens are described and discussed.

Living Donor Liver Transplant is not a Transparent Activity in India

Living donor liver transplant has gained rapid popularity in India as a life saving procedure for end stage liver disease. The undoubted benefit for the recipient is clouded by a few unfavorable outcomes in donors which have led to allegations of lack of transparency. These factors are easily remediable with an attitude of self audit and self disclosure by transplant centers, enabling a truly informed consenting procedure.

Investigation of the properties of nanostructured Li-doped NiO films using the modified spray pyrolysis method

The lithium-doped nickel oxide (L-NiO) films were synthetized using the modified spray pyrolysis method with a two-step grown process. By observing the spectra of X-ray photoemission spectroscopy of L-NiO films, the intensity of Ni 2p3/2 peak of Ni3+ bonding state increases with increasing Li concentration that causes the decrease of transparency and resistivity. The L-NiO films with optimum characteristics were obtained at Li = 8 at%, where a p-type resistivity of 4.1 × 10-1 Ω cm and optical transparency above 76% in the visible region are achieved.

Good governance and budget reform in Lesotho Public Hospitals: performance, root causes and reality

Lesotho has been implementing financial management reforms, including performance-based budgeting (PBB) since 2005 in an effort to increase accountability, transparency and effectiveness in governance, yet little is known about how these efforts are affecting the health sector. Supported by several development partners and $24 million in external resources, the PBB reform is intended to strengthen government capacity to manage aid funds directly and to target assistance to pressing social priorities. This study designed and tested a methodology for measuring implementation progress for PBB reform in the hospital sector in Lesotho. We found that despite some efforts on the national level to promote and support reform implementation, staff at the hospital level were largely unaware of the purpose of the reform and had made almost no progress in transforming institutions and systems to fully realize reform goals. Problems can be traced to a complex reform design, inadequate personnel and capacity to implement, professional boundaries between financial and clinical personnel and weak leadership. The Lesotho reform experience suggests that less complex designs for budget reform, better adapted to the context and realities of health sectors in developing countries, may be needed to improve governance. It also highlights the importance of measuring reform implementation at the sectoral level.

Local computation of lightness on articulated surrounds

Lightness of a grey target on a uniform light (or dark) surround changes by articulating the surround (articulation effect). To elucidate the processing of lightness underlying the articulation effect, the present study introduced transparency over a dark surround and investigated its effects on lightness of the target. The transparency was produced by adding a contiguous external field to the dark surround while keeping local stimulus configuration constant. Results showed that the target lightness did not change on the articulated surround when a dark transparent filter was perceived over the target, although it did on the uniform surround. These results suggest that image decomposition into a transparent filter and an underlying surface does not necessarily change lightness of the surface if the surface is articulated. Moreover, the present study revealed that articulating the surround does not always enhance lightness contrast; it can reduce the contrast effect when the target luminance is not the highest within the surround. These findings are consistent with the theoretical view that lightness perception on articulated surfaces is determined locally within a spatially limited region, and they also place a constraint on how the luminance distribution within the limited region is scaled.

How transparent is behavioral intervention research on pathological gambling and other gambling-related disorders? A systematic literature review

AIMS

To review the transparency of reports of behavioral interventions for pathological gambling and other gambling-related disorders.

METHODS

We used the Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomized Designs (TREND) Statement to develop the 59-question adapted TREND questionnaire (ATQ). Each ATQ question corresponds to a transparency guideline and asks how clearly a study reports its objectives, research design, analytical methods and conclusions. A subset of 23 ATQ questions is considered particularly important. We searched PubMed, PsychINFO and Web of Science to identify experimental evaluations published between 2000 and 2011 aiming to reduce problem gambling behaviors or decrease problems caused by gambling. Twenty-six English-language reports met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed by three abstractors using the ATQ.

RESULTS

The average report adhered to 38.4 (65.1%) of the 59 ATQ transparency guidelines. Each of the 59 ATQ questions received positive responses from an average of 16.9 (63.8%) of the reports. The subset of 23 particularly relevant questions received an average of 15.3 (66.5%) positive responses. Thirty-two of 59 (54%) ATQ questions were answered positively by 75% or more of the study reports, while 12 (20.3%) received positive responses by 25% or fewer. Publication year did not affect these findings.

CONCLUSIONS

Gambling intervention reports need to improve their transparency by adhering to currently neglected and particularly relevant guidelines. Among them are recommendations for comparing study participants who are lost to follow-up and those who are retained, comparing study participants with the target population, describing methods used to minimize potential bias due to group assignment, and reporting adverse events or unintended effects.

The role of amodal surface completion in stereoscopic transparency

Previous work has shown that the visual system can decompose stereoscopic textures into percepts of inhomogeneous transparency. We investigate whether this form of layered image decomposition is shaped by constraints on amodal surface completion. We report a series of experiments that demonstrate that stereoscopic depth differences are easier to discriminate when the stereo images generate a coherent percept of surface color, than when images require amodally integrating a series of color changes into a coherent surface. Our results provide further evidence for the intimate link between the segmentation processes that occur in conditions of transparency and occlusion, and the interpolation processes involved in the formation of amodally completed surfaces.

Multi-stage open peer review: scientific evaluation integrating the strengths of traditional peer review with the virtues of transparency and self-regulation

The traditional forms of scientific publishing and peer review do not live up to all demands of efficient communication and quality assurance in today's highly diverse and rapidly evolving world of science. They need to be advanced and complemented by interactive and transparent forms of review, publication, and discussion that are open to the scientific community and to the public. The advantages of open access, public peer review, and interactive discussion can be efficiently and flexibly combined with the strengths of traditional scientific peer review. Since 2001 the benefits and viability of this approach are clearly demonstrated by the highly successful interactive open access journal Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics (ACP, www.atmos-chem-phys.net) and a growing number of sister journals launched and operated by the European Geosciences Union (EGU, www.egu.eu) and the open access publisher Copernicus (www.copernicus.org). The interactive open access journals are practicing an integrative multi-stage process of publication and peer review combined with interactive public discussion, which effectively resolves the dilemma between rapid scientific exchange and thorough quality assurance. Key features and achievements of this approach are: top quality and impact, efficient self-regulation and low rejection rates, high attractivity and rapid growth, low costs, and financial sustainability. In fact, ACP and the EGU interactive open access sister journals are by most if not all standards more successful than comparable scientific journals with traditional or alternative forms of peer review (editorial statistics, publication statistics, citation statistics, economic costs, and sustainability). The high efficiency and predictive validity of multi-stage open peer review have been confirmed in a series of dedicated studies by evaluation experts from the social sciences, and the same or similar concepts have recently also been adopted in other disciplines, including the life sciences and economics. Multi-stage open peer review can be flexibly adjusted to the needs and peculiarities of different scientific communities. Due to the flexibility and compatibility with traditional structures of scientific publishing and peer review, the multi-stage open peer review concept enables efficient evolution in scientific communication and quality assurance. It has the potential for swift replacement of hidden peer review as the standard of scientific quality assurance, and it provides a basis for open evaluation in science.

Synthesis and characterization of a novel carboxyl group containing (co)polyimide with sulfur in the polymer backbone

Soluble functional (co)polyimides are of great interest in the area of separation processes or optical applications, due to their excellent mechanical-, thermal- and optical properties, their superior processability and the ability to adapt their properties to a wide range of special applications. Therefore, two series of novel (co)polyimides containing fluorinated sulfur- and carboxylic acid groups consisting of 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)di(phthalic anhydride) (6FDA), 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid (DABA), 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfide (4,4′-SDA) and 3,3′-diaminodiphenylsulfone (3,3′-DDS) were synthesized in a two-step polycondensation reaction. The synthesized copolymers were characterized by using NMR, FTIR, GPC, and DSC. Furthermore, with regard to processing and potential applications, the thermal stability, solubility in common organic solvents, moisture uptake, and transparency were investigated. Compared to commercially available transparent polymers, i.e., polymethylmethacrylate and cycloolefin polymers, the sulfur (co)polyimides containing carboxyl groups showed much higher glass-transition temperatures, comparably low moisture uptake and high transmission at the sodium D-line. Furthermore, good solubility in commonly used organic solvents makes them very attractive as high-performance coating materials.

One of a kind--the Pan African Clinical Trials Registry, a regional registry for Africa

The 2004 Ministerial Summit on Health Research called on the World Health Organization to to establish a registry network with the intention of providing a single access point to identify trials. In 2007 the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors amended their support of this initiative stating that only trials registered prospectively on a member registry of the WHO's Network of Primary Registers would be published. The Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (www.pactr.org), was established in early 2007 as the AIDS, TB and Malaria (ATM) Clinical Trials Registry with the aim of piloting the concept of a registry that would cater to the specific needs of African trialists. In 2009 the ATM Registry expanded its remit to include all diseases for all regions of Africa; The Pan African Clinical Trials Registry became the first and is presently the only African member of the World Health Organization's Network of Primary Registers.

Debunking myths of protocol registration

Developing and registering protocols may seem like an added burden to systematic review investigators. This paper discusses benefits of protocol registration and debunks common misperceptions on the barriers of protocol registration. Protocol registration is easy to do, reduces duplication of effort and benefits the review team by preventing later confusion.

Mapping adaptation opportunities and activities in an interactive atlas

The need for transparency is taking more prominence in international climate negotiations as developed countries pledge large sums of money to foster adaptation efforts in developing countries. Tools that provide accurate and up-to-date spatial information that can be easily used and vetted by local practitioners may provide effective and affordable ways to improve transparency. The Global Adaptation Atlas is such a tool, combining vetted, publicly available climate impact data with timely maps of on the ground adaptation projects to highlight confluences of effects of climate change with actions taken to address those effects. Here, we describe the structure and general functions of the Global Adaptation Atlas and explain how it may be utilized to track short-term investments in adaptation. Over longer time scales, it may also help gauge the effectiveness of specific adaptation investments as well as reveal how different climate impacts affect long-term investment in differing regions.

Erosion of trust in humanitarian agencies: what strategies might help?

Aid agencies (AAs) provide a range of humanitarian and health related assistance globally. However, the trust placed on them is eroding. Evidence for this includes accusations of a decline in their humanitarianism, and the increasing number of conflicts with host states. An analysis of the concerns expressed yields two possible reasons: a relative lack of transparency of their work and weak accountability mechanisms. This is further supported by the existing milieu: an absence of internationally accepted instrument or mechanism to check the credentials of INGOs and an opaque system of close links between some of the INGOs and their donors. The article suggests two global strategies to tackle these issues: (a) Increase transparency by establishing a global register of aid agencies. This should have basic information: their main goals and activities, countries they are active in, number of employees, annual turnover of funds (updated regularly), principal financing sources and nature of links with donors. This could also be available as printed manual that should be freely available to client countries. (b) Ensure accountability by developing templates of fair legal instruments (to facilitate and regulate work), and a set of generic rules and procedures of engagement for the interactions between agencies and client states. These should be institutionalized within the regulatory frameworks of countries and included in the Codes of Conduct of NGOs.

The art of transparency

Artists throughout the ages have discovered a number of techniques to depict transparency. With only a few exceptions, these techniques follow closely the properties of physical transparency. The two best known properties are X-junctions and the luminance relations described by Metelli. X-junctions are seen where the contours of a transparent material cross contours of the surface behind; Metelli's constraints on the luminance relations between the direct and filtered portions of the surface specify a range of luminance values that are consistent with transparency. These principles have been used by artists since the time of ancient Egypt. However, artists also discovered that stimuli can be seen as transparent even when these physical constraints are not met. Ancient Greek artists, for example, were able to depict transparent materials in simple black-and-white line drawings. Artists also learned how to represent transparency in cases where neither X-junctions nor Metelli's constraints could apply: for example, where no portions of the objects behind the transparent material extend beyond it. Many painters convincingly portrayed transparency in these cases by depicting the effects the transparent medium would have on material or object properties. Here, we show how artists employed these and other techniques revealing their anticipation of current formalizations of perceived transparency, and we suggest new, as-yet-untested principles.

Therapeutic efficiency of tissue-engineered human corneal endothelium transplants on rabbit primary corneal endotheliopathy

To evaluate the therapeutic efficiency of tissue-engineered human corneal endothelia (TE-HCEs) on rabbit primary corneal endotheliopathy (PCEP), TE-HCEs reconstructed with monoclonal human corneal endothelial cells (mcHCECs) and modified denuded amniotic membranes (mdAMs) were transplanted into PCEP models of New Zealand white rabbits using penetrating keratoplasty. The TE-HCEs were examined using diverse techniques including slit-lamp biomicroscopy observation and pachymeter and tonometer measurements in vivo, and fluorescent microscopy, alizarin red staining, paraffin sectioning, scanning and transmission electron microscopy observations in vitro. The corneas of transplanted eyes maintained transparency for as long as 200 d without obvious edema or immune rejection. The corneal thickness of transplanted eyes decreased gradually after transplanting, reaching almost the thickness of normal eyes after 156 d, while the TE-HCE non-transplanted eyes were turbid and showed obvious corneal edema. The polygonal corneal endothelial cells in the transplanted area originated from the TE-HCE transplant. An intact monolayer corneal endothelium had been reconstructed with the morphology, cell density and structure similar to those of normal rabbit corneal endothelium. In conclusion, the transplanted TE-HCE can reconstruct the integrality of corneal endothelium and restore corneal transparency and thickness in PCEP rabbits. The TE-HCE functions normally as an endothelial barrier and pump and promises to be an equivalent of HCE for clinical therapy of human PCEP.

Perception and Action in Teleoperated Needle Insertion

We studied the effect of delay on perception and action in contact with a force field that emulates elastic soft tissue with a rigid nonlinear boundary. Such a field is similar to forces exerted on a needle during teleoperated needle insertion. We found that delay causes motor underestimation of the stiffness of this nonlinear soft tissue, without perceptual change. These experimental results are supported by simulation of a simplified mechanical model of the arm and neural controller, and a model for perception of stiffness, which is based on regression in the force-position space. In addition, we show that changing the gain of the teleoperation channel cancels the motor effect of delay without adding perceptual distortion. We conclude that it is possible to achieve perceptual and motor transparency in virtual one-dimensional remote needle insertion task.

Biological glass: structural determinants of eye lens transparency

The purpose of the lens is to project a sharply focused, undistorted image of the visual surround onto the neural retina. The first pre-requisite, therefore, is that the tissue should be transparent. Despite the presence of remarkably high levels of protein, the lens cytosol remains transparent as a result of short-range-order interactions between the proteins. At a cellular level, the programmed elimination of nuclei and other light-scattering organelles from cells located within the pupillary space contributes directly to tissue transparency. Scattering at the cell borders is minimized by the close apposition of lens fibre cells facilitated by a plethora of adhesive proteins, some expressed only in the lens. Similarly, refractive index matching between lens membranes and cytosol is believed to minimize scatter. Refractive index matching between the cytoplasm of adjacent cells is achieved through the formation of cellular fusions that allow the intermingling of proteins. Together, these structural adaptations serve to minimize light scatter and enable this living, cellular structure to function as 'biological glass'.

Twenty years of human research ethics committees in the Baltic States

Two decades have passed since the first attempts were made to establish systematic ethical review of human research in the Baltic States. Legally and institutionally much has changed. In this paper we provide an historical and structural overview of ethical review of human research and identify some problems related to the role of ethical review in establishing quality research environment in these countries. Problems connected to (a) public availability of information, (b) management of conflicts of interest, (c) REC composition and motivation of REC members, and (d) differing levels of stringency of ethical review for different types of studies, are identified. Recommendations are made to strengthen cooperation among the Baltic RECs.

MAC-bridging for multi-PHYs communication in BAN

Body Area Network (BAN) is a collection of low-power, miniaturised, and intelligent sensor nodes that are used for unobtrusive and ambulatory health monitoring of a patient without any additional constraints. These nodes operate on different frequency bands or Multiple Physical Layers (Multi-PHYs). Additionally, some BAN applications demand a logical connection between different nodes working on different Multi-PHYs. In this paper, the idea of controlling Multi-PHYs using one MAC protocol is introduced. Unlike existing procedures where different nodes working on different channels are connected at the link layer bridging/switching, the proposed procedure called bridging logically connects them at the MAC layer. In other words, the bridge is used to relay or filter packets between different PHYs in the same BAN. Numerical approximations are presented to analyze the stochastic behaviour of the bridges, all of them having Multi-PHYs interfaces. The MICS and the ISM bands are regarded as PHY1 and PHY2, respectively. The performance results are presented for PHY2 (given that data is already received from PHY1) in terms of probability of successful transmission, number of failed requests, power consumption, and delay. Simulations are conducted to validate the analytical results. It can be seen that the deployment of multiple bridges along with the corresponding nodes allows Multi-PHYs communication with high transmission probability, low power consumption, and tolerable delay.

Continuous production of flexible carbon nanotube-based transparent conductive films

This work shows a simple, single-stage, scalable method for the continuous production of high-quality carbon nanotube-polymer transparent conductive films from carbon feedstock. Besides the ease of scalability, a particular advantage of this process is that the concentration of nanotubes in the films, and thus transparency and conductivity, can be adjusted by changing simple process parameters. Therefore, films can be readily prepared for any application desired, ranging from solar cells to flat panel displays. Our best results show a surface resistivity of the order of 300 Ω square^-1 for a film with 80% transparency, which is promising at this early stage of process development.

Value-by-alpha maps: An alternative technique to the cartogram

The cartogram, or value-by-area map, is a popular technique for cartographically representing social data. Such maps visually equalize a basemap prior to mapping a social variable by adjusting the size of each enumeration unit by a second, related variable. However, to scale the basemap units according to an equalizing variable, cartograms must distort the shape and/or topology of the original geography. Such compromises reduce the effectiveness of the visualization for elemental and general map-reading tasks. Here we describe a new kind of representation, termed a value-by-alpha map, which visually equalizes the basemap by adjusting the alpha channel, rather than the size, of each enumeration unit. Although not without its own limitations, the value-by-alpha map is able to circumvent the compromise inherent to the cartogram form, perfectly equalizing the basemap while preserving both shape and topology.

The value of using top-down and bottom-up approaches for building trust and transparency in biobanking

With the domestic and international proliferation of biobanks and their associated connections to health information databases, scholarly attention has been turning from the ethical issues arising from the construction of biobanks to the ethical issues that emerge in their operation and management. Calls for greater transparency in governance structures, coupled with stern reminders of the value of maintaining public trust, are seen as critical components in the success of these resources. Two different approaches have been adopted for addressing these types of ethical issues: the first is a 'top-down' approach which focuses on developing policy, procedures, regulations and guidelines to aid decision-makers. The second is a 'bottom-up' approach, which begins with those who are most affected by the issues and attempts to inductively develop consensus recommendations and policy. While both approaches have merit, I argue that more work needs to be done on 'bottom-up' strategies if trust and transparency are to be more than mere slogans. Using 2 case examples from Indiana, the paper summarizes data from a set of surveys we recently conducted that address issues arising from biobanks that provide some insight into issues associated with trust and transparency.

Does price transparency legislation allow the uninsured to shop for care?

BACKGROUND

The majority of states have enacted price transparency laws to allow patients to shop for care and to prevent price discrimination of the uninsured. In California, hospitals must provide a price estimate to a requesting uninsured patient and cannot bill for an amount greater than the reimbursement the hospital would receive from a government payer.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the response rate of California hospitals to a patient price request and to compare the price estimates received to Medicare reimbursement.

DESIGN

We sent letters to California acute-care hospitals from a fictional uninsured patient requesting an estimate for one of three common elective procedures: a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a hysterectomy, or routine screening colonoscopy.

PARTICIPANTS

Three hundred and fifty-three hospitals in California.

MEASUREMENTS

Hospital response rates, difference between price estimates received, and Medicare reimbursement for equivalent procedures.

RESULTS

Only 28% (98/353) of hospitals responded and their response varied in content. Of the 98 responses, 15 (15%) did not provide a quote and instead asked for more information such as the billing code, 55 (56%) provided a price estimate for hospital services only, 10 (10%) included both physician and hospital services, and 18 (18%) did not specify what was covered. The median discounted price estimate was higher than Medicare reimbursement rates for all procedures: hysterectomy ($17,403 vs. $5,569; p<0.001), cholecystectomy ($14,014 vs. $7,196; p<0.001) and colonoscopy ($2,017 vs. $216; p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Current California legislation fails to meet its objective of enabling uninsured patients to compare prices for hospital-based health care services.