bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extracellular CADM1 interactions influence insulin secretion by rat and human islet β-cells and promote clustering of syntaxin-1
Authors: Zhang Charles , Caldwell Thomas A. , Mirbolooki M. Reza , Duong Diana , Park Eun Jee , Chi Nai-Wen , Chessler Steven D.
Published: April 2016

Contact between β-cells is necessary for their normal function. Identification of the proteins mediating the effects of β-cell-to-β-cell contact is a necessary step toward gaining a full understanding of the determinants of β-cell function and insulin secretion. The secretory machinery of the β-cells is nearly identical to that of central nervous system (CNS) synapses, and we hypothesize that the transcellular protein interactions that drive maturation of the two secretory machineries upon contact of one cell (or neural process) with another are also highly similar. Two such transcellular interactions, important for both synaptic and β-cell function, have been identified: EphA/ephrin-A and neuroligin/neurexin. Here, we tested the role of another synaptic cleft protein, CADM1, in insulinoma cells and in rat and human islet β-cells. We found that CADM1 is a predominant CADM isoform in β-cells. In INS-1 cells and primary β-cells, CADM1 constrains insulin secretion, and its expression decreases after prolonged glucose stimulation. Using a coculture model, we found that CADM1 also influences insulin secretion in a transcellular manner. We asked whether extracellular CADM1 interactions exert their influence via the same mechanisms by which they influence neurotransmitter exocytosis. Our results suggest that, as in the CNS, CADM1 interactions drive exocytic site assembly and promote actin network formation. These results support the broader hypothesis that the effects of cell-cell contact on β-cell maturation and function are mediated by the same extracellular protein interactions that drive the formation of the presynaptic exocytic machinery. These interactions may be therapeutic targets for reversing β-cell dysfunction in diabetes.
Prostaglandin E Receptor Subtype 4 Signaling in the Heart: Role in Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury and Cardiac Hypertrophy
Authors: Pang Lei , Cai Yin , Tang Eva Hoi Ching , Irwin Michael G. , Ma Haichun , Xia Zhengyuan
Published: April 2016

Prostaglandin E2(PGE2) is an endogenous lipid mediator, produced from the metabolism of arachidonic acids, upon the sequential actions of phospholipase A2, cyclooxygenases, and prostaglandin E synthases. The various biological functions governed by PGE2are mediated through its four distinct prostaglandin E receptors (EPs), designated as EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4, among which the EP4 receptor is the one most widely distributed in the heart. The availability of global or cardiac-specific EP4 knockout mice and the development of selective EP4 agonists/antagonists have provided substantial evidence to support the role of EP4 receptor in the heart. However, like any good drama, activation of PGE2-EP4 signaling exerts both protective and detrimental effects in the ischemic heart disease. Thus, the primary object of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current progress of the PGE2-EP4 signaling in ischemic heart diseases, including cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. A better understanding of PGE2-EP4 signaling should promote the development of more effective therapeutic approaches to treat the ischemic heart diseases without triggering unwanted side effects.
Liquefaction Incidents of Mineral Cargoes on Board Bulk Carriers
Authors: Munro Michael C. , Mohajerani Abbas
Published: April 2016

Liquefaction is a frequently occurring problem taking place when transporting wet granular solid bulk cargoes on board bulk carriers. Liquefaction of a solid bulk cargo can occur when excessive dynamic loading, induced by rough seas and vessel vibrations, is transmitted to the cargo. From 1988 to 2015, there have been 24 suspected liquefaction incidents reported, which resulted in 164 casualties and the loss of 18 vessels. The objective of this study is to investigate the collective causes of liquefaction of solid bulk cargoes on board bulk carriers in order to make recommendations to prevent future incidents from occurring. This was achieved by analysing the seven available investigative reports relating to the incidents, focusing on the key findings and exploring the effect of excess moisture within the cargo. This study has placed significant emphasis on the importance of preventing ingress of water into the cargo during transportation, loading, and storage. Recommendations have been given, based on the key findings from the reports, to reduce the potential for liquefaction incidents to occur.
Lymphoid Tissue Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Development and Tissue Remodeling
Authors: Genovese Luca , Brendolan Andrea
Published: April 2016

Secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) are sites that facilitate cell‐cell interactions required for generating adaptive immune responses. Nonhematopoietic mesenchymal stromal cells have been shown to play a critical role in SLO function, organization, and tissue homeostasis. The stromal microenvironment undergoes profound remodeling to support immune responses. However, chronic inflammatory conditions can promote uncontrolled stromal cell activation and aberrant tissue remodeling including fibrosis, thus leading to tissue damage. Despite recent advancements, the origin and role of mesenchymal stromal cells involved in SLO development and remodeling remain unclear.
Acupuncture for Chronic Urinary Retention due to Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review
Authors: Wang Jia , Zhai Yanbing , Wu Jiani , Zhao Shitong , Zhou Jing , Liu Zhishun
Published: April 2016

No systematic review has been published on the use of acupuncture for the treatment of chronic urinary retention (CUR) due to spinal cord injury (SCI). The aim of this review was to assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for CUR due to SCI. Three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 334 patients with CUR due to SCI were included. Meta‐analysis showed that acupuncture plus rehabilitation training was much better than rehabilitation training alone in decreasing postvoid residual (PVR) urine volume (MD −109.44, 95% CI −156.53 to −62.35). Likewise, a combination of acupuncture and aseptic intermittent catheterization was better than aseptic intermittent catheterization alone in improving response rates (RR 1.23, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.38). No severe adverse events were reported. In conclusion, acupuncture as a complementary therapy may have a potential effect in CUR due to SCI in decreasing PVR and improving bladder voiding. Additionally, acupuncture may be safe in treating CUR caused by SCI. However, due to the lack of high quality RCTs, we could not draw any definitive conclusions. More well‐designed RCTs are needed to provide strong evidence.
Successful Concomitant Therapy with Pirfenidone and Nintedanib in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Case Report
Authors: Hagmeyer Lars , Treml Marcel , Priegnitz Christina , Randerath Winfried J.
Published: April 2016

Pirfenidone and nintedanib are both pleiotropic anti-fibrotic agents approved for the treatment of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) as monotherapy. To date, evidence supporting their efficacy as concomitant therapy has not been reported. Here, we present the first case of a Caucasian male patient with IPF treated with both pirfenidone and nintedanib following 2 years of treatment with pirfenidone monotherapy. Over a 24-month period, there was a clear decline in the patient's forced vital capacity from 3.5 liter before initiation of treatment to 2.5 liter after 24 months. Concomitant nintedanib treatment was initiated in March 2015. Lung function stabilized, and the two treatments were well tolerated. Treatment with pirfenidone and nintedanib has currently been ongoing for nearly 12 months. This is the first report of a successful long-term treatment with pirfenidone and nintedanib and suggests that in selected cases, concomitant anti-fibrotic therapy may represent a safe and therapeutically valuable escalation option after pirfenidone monotherapy.
Matching the Market for Heart Transplantation
Authors: Hsich Eileen M.
Published: April 2016

Heart transplantation is the most effective therapy for patients with Stage D heart failure with a median life expectancy of ≈10 to 15 years. Unfortunately, many patients die on the waiting list hoping for a chance of survival. The life boat cannot rescue everyone. Over a decade, the donor pool has remained relatively stable, whereas the number of heart transplant candidates has risen. Potential recipients often have many comorbidities and are older because the criteria for heart transplantation has few absolute contraindications. Women, Hispanics, and patients with restrictive heart disease and congenital heart disease are more likely to die while awaiting heart transplantation than men, white patients, and those with either ischemic or dilated cardiomyopathy. To better match the market, we need to (1) increase the donor pool, (2) reduce the waitlist, and (3) improve the allocation system. This review article addresses all 3 options and compares strategies in the United States to those in other countries.
Healthy Lifestyle and Risk of Heart Failure
Authors: Larsson Susanna C. , Tektonidis Thanasis G. , Gigante Bruna , Åkesson Agneta , Wolk Alicja
Published: April 2016

Background—

The joint impact of multiple healthy lifestyle factors on heart failure (HF) risk is unclear. We investigated the separate and collective associations of healthy lifestyle factors with HF incidence in 2 population-based prospective cohort studies.

Methods and Results—

This study consisted of 33 966 men (Cohort of Swedish Men) and 30 713 women (Swedish Mammography Cohort) who were 45 to 83 years of age and free of HF and ischemic heart disease at baseline. A healthy lifestyle was defined as being a nonsmoker and physically active (≥150 min/wk), and having body mass index between 18.5 and 25 kg/m
2
and a healthy diet (defined as adherence to a modified Mediterranean diet). Incident HF cases were ascertained by linkage with the Swedish National Patient Register and the Swedish Cause of Death Register. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to analyze the data. During13 years of follow-up, HF was diagnosed in 1488 men and 1096 women. Each healthy lifestyle factor was associated with a statistically significant lower risk of HF in both men and women, and the risk decreased with increasing number of healthy behaviors. The greatest reduction in HF risk was observed for combinations that included nonsmoking. Compared with men and women with none of the healthy lifestyle factors, the multivariable relative risks (95% confidence interval) of HF for those with all 4 healthy behaviors were 0.38 (0.28–0.53) in men and 0.28 (0.19–0.41) in women.

Conclusions—

Adhering to a healthy lifestyle is associated with a substantially lower HF risk.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifiers: NCT01127698 and NCT01127711.
Glucocorticoids Induce Nondipping Blood Pressure by Activating the Thiazide-Sensitive Cotransporter
Authors: Ivy Jessica R. , Oosthuyzen Wilna , Peltz Theresa S. , Howarth Amelia R. , Hunter Robert W. , Dhaun Neeraj , Al-Dujaili Emad A.S. , Webb David J. , Dear James W. , Flatman Peter W. , Bailey Matthew A.
Published: April 2016

Blood pressure (BP) normally dips during sleep, and nondipping increases cardiovascular risk. Hydrochlorothiazide restores the dipping BP profile in nondipping patients, suggesting that the NaCl cotransporter, NCC, is an important determinant of daily BP variation. NCC activity in cells is regulated by the circadian transcription factor per1. In vivo, circadian genes are entrained via the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Here, we test whether abnormalities in the day:night variation of circulating glucocorticoid influence NCC activity and BP control. C57BL6/J mice were culled at the peak (1:00 AM) and trough (1:00 PM) of BP. We found no day:night variation in NCC mRNA or protein but NCC phosphorylation on threonine
53
(pNCC), required for NCC activation, was higher when mice were awake, as was excretion of NCC in urinary exosomes. Peak NCC activity correlated with peak expression of per2 and bmal1 (clock genes) and sgk1 and tsc22d3 (glucocorticoid-responsive kinases). Adrenalectomy reduced NCC abundance and blunted the daily variation in pNCC levels without affecting variation in clock gene transcription. Chronic corticosterone infusion increased bmal1, per1, sgk1, and tsc22d3 expression during the inactive phase. Inactive phase pNCC was also elevated by corticosterone, and a nondipping BP profile was induced. Hydrochlorothiazide restored rhythmicity of BP in corticosterone-treated mice without affecting BP in controls. Glucocorticoids influence the day:night variation in NCC activity via kinases that control phosphorylation. Abnormal glucocorticoid rhythms impair NCC and induce nondipping. Night-time dosing of thiazides may be particularly beneficial in patients with modest glucocorticoid excess.
Acute Stroke Imaging Research Roadmap III Imaging Selection and Outcomes in Acute Stroke Reperfusion Clinical Trials
Authors: Warach Steven J. , Luby Marie , Albers Gregory W. , Bammer Roland , Bivard Andrew , Campbell Bruce C.V. , Derdeyn Colin , Heit Jeremy J. , Khatri Pooja , Lansberg Maarten G. , Liebeskind David S. , Majoie Charles B.L.M. , Marks Michael P. , Menon Bijoy K. , Muir Keith W. , Parsons Mark W. , Vagal Achala , Yoo Albert J. , Alexandrov Andrei V. , Baron Jean-Claude , Fiorella David J. , Furlan Anthony J. , Puig Josep , Schellinger Peter D. , Wintermark Max , Ansari Sameer A. , Aviv Richard I. , Barreto Andrew D. , Broderick Joseph P. , Christensen Søren , Davis Stephen M. , Demchuk Andrew M. , Dippel Diederik W. , Donnan Geoffrey A. , Fiebach Jochen B. , Fiehler Jens , Houser Gary , Grotta James C. , Hacke Werner , Hill Michael D. , Hsia Amie W. , Jovin Tudor G. , Köhrmann Martin , Latour Lawrence L. , Leigh Richard , Lees Kennedy R. , Lev Michael D. , Marshall Randolph S. , Mocco J , Nadareishvili Zurab , Nogueira Raul G. , Olivot Jean Marc , Palesch Yuko , Pedraza Salvador , Sasaki Makoto , Saver Jeffrey L. , Savitz Sean I. , Schwamm Lee H. , Simpkins Alexis , Smith Wade S. , Thijs Vincent , Thomalla Götz , Wechsler Lawrence R. , Wu Ona , Zaharchuk Greg , Zaidat Osama O.
Published: April 2016

Background and Purpose—

The Stroke Imaging Research (STIR) group, the Imaging Working Group of StrokeNet, the American Society of Neuroradiology, and the Foundation of the American Society of Neuroradiology sponsored an imaging session and workshop during the Stroke Treatment Academy Industry Roundtable (STAIR) IX on October 5 to 6, 2015 in Washington, DC. The purpose of this roadmap was to focus on the role of imaging in future research and clinical trials.

Methods—

This forum brought together stroke neurologists, neuroradiologists, neuroimaging research scientists, members of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), industry representatives, and members of the US Food and Drug Administration to discuss STIR priorities in the light of an unprecedented series of positive acute stroke endovascular therapy clinical trials.

Results—

The imaging session summarized and compared the imaging components of the recent positive endovascular trials and proposed opportunities for pooled analyses. The imaging workshop developed consensus recommendations for optimal imaging methods for the acquisition and analysis of core, mismatch, and collaterals across multiple modalities, and also a standardized approach for measuring the final infarct volume in prospective clinical trials.

Conclusions—

Recent positive acute stroke endovascular clinical trials have demonstrated the added value of neurovascular imaging. The optimal imaging profile for endovascular treatment includes large vessel occlusion, smaller core, good collaterals, and large penumbra. However, equivalent definitions for the imaging profile parameters across modalities are needed, and a standardization effort is warranted, potentially leveraging the pooled data resulting from the recent positive endovascular trials.
Prognosis of Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Occlusion
Authors: Hackam Daniel G.
Published: April 2016

Background and Purpose—

The aim of this systematic review was to quantify the risk of ipsilateral stroke in patients with asymptomatic carotid artery occlusion (ACAO).

Methods—

Studies reporting ipsilateral stroke risk in ACAO were identified by a search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and study bibliographies. Study estimates were pooled using a random effects model, and heterogeneity was quantified using the
I
2
statistic. The primary outcome was the annual rate of ipsilateral stroke.

Results—

Thirteen studies were identified, encompassing 718 patients with ACAO who were followed up for a median of 2.8 years. The annual rate of ipsilateral stroke was 1.3% (95% confidence interval, 0.4–2.1;
I
2
=53%). The annual rate of ipsilateral transient ischemic attack was 1.0% (95% confidence interval, 0.3–1.8;
I
2
=40%). The annual rate of death was substantially higher at 7.7% (95% confidence interval, 4.3–11.2;
I
2
=83%). Correction for possible publication bias for the primary outcome suggested a lower risk of ipsilateral stroke (0.3% per year; 95% confidence interval, –0.4 to 1.1).

Conclusions—

Stroke in ACAO is relatively infrequent, but patients face high mortality rates. This suggests the need for intensified medical therapy in ACAO.
Description of Myolepta pazukii Gilasian & Reemer sp. nov. (Diptera: Syrphidae) with notes on the Iranian species of Myolepta Newman
Authors: GILASIAN EBRAHIM , REEMER MENNO , PARCHAMI-ARAGHI MEHRDAD
Published: April 2016

Myolepta pazukii Gilasian & Reemer sp. nov. is described from Iran based on a single male specimen. Photographs of the male holotype and illustrations of its abdomen and hypandrium are provided. The new species is incorporated into the key to the west Palaearctic Myolepta species provided by Reemer et al. (2004). Taxonomic notes and distribution data on two recorded Iranian Myolepta species are presented.
Recognition of the genus Habrocampulum Gauld, 1976 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Anomaloninae) from Japan, with a new combination and a key to the species
Authors: SHIMIZU SO
Published: April 2016

Recognition of the genus Habrocampulum Gauld, 1976 (Hymenoptera:Ichneumonidae: Anomaloninae) from Japan, with a new combination and a key to the species
First record of the genus Pion Schiødte, 1839 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Ctenopelmatinae), from Japan, with description of a new species
Authors: WATANABE KYOHEI
Published: April 2016

The genus Pion Schiødte, 1839, is newly recorded from Japan based on a new species, P. japonicum sp. nov. This species closely resembles the Chinese species P. qinyuanensis Chen, Sheng & Mao, 1998, but it can be distinguished from the following combination of character states (male of P. qinyuanensis is unknown): lateromedian longitudinal carina of propodeum completely parallel, not convergent anteriorly (almost parallel but slightly convergent anteriorly in P. qinyuanensis); malar space 0.6 times as long as basal width of mandible (0.5 times in P. qinyuanensis); antenna with 28–29 flagellomeres (30–34 in P. qinyuanensis); hind femur black, rarely tinged with red (largely red in P. qinyuanensis); and hind tibia yellowish-brown basally, black apically (entirely black in P. qinyuanensis). A key to world species of Pion is also provided.
Bolboceras bilaspuricans (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Bolboceratinae), a new species from Chhattisgarh, India
Authors: GUPTA DEVANSHU , CHANDRA KAILASH
Published: April 2016

Bolboceras bilaspuricans Gupta & Chandra, new species (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae: Bolboceratinae), from the Chhattisgarh state, India is described, diagnosed, and illustrated. The new species is classified in the B. nigricans species group of the genus Bolboceras Kirby, 1819. The new species is morphological similar to Bolboceras malabaricum Krikken, 2013 from southwestern India.
All-Season Climatology and Variability of Atmospheric River Frequencies over the North Pacific
Authors: Mundhenk Bryan D. , Barnes Elizabeth A. , Maloney Eric D.
Published: April 2016

Recent work on atmospheric rivers (ARs) has led to a characterization of these impactful features as primarily cold-season phenomena. Here, an all-season analysis of AR incidence in the North Pacific basin is performed for the period spanning 1979–2014 using the NASA Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications (MERRA) reanalysis dataset. An occurrence-based detection algorithm is developed and employed to identify and characterize ARs in instantaneous fields of anomalous vertically integrated water vapor transport. The all-season climatology and variability of AR frequencies due to the seasonal cycle, the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO), and their interactions are presented based on composites of the detected features. The results highlight that ARs exist throughout the year over the North Pacific, although their preferred locations shift substantially throughout the year. This seasonal cycle manifests itself as northward and westward displacement of ARs during the Northern Hemisphere warm seasons, rather than an absolute change in the number of ARs within the domain. It is also shown that changes to the North Pacific mean-state due to ENSO and the MJO may enhance or completely offset the seasonal cycle of AR activity, but that such influences on AR frequencies vary greatly based on location.
Response of closed Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer sections under combined bending and torsion
Authors: Qureshi Muhammad AM , GangaRao Hota V , Hayat Nasir , Majjigapu Praveen
Published: April 2016

Structural response under combined bending (M) and torsion (T) of pultruded Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer composite hollow circular and square sections has been investigated, using unique experimental facility for combined loads. Prior to determining combined response, bending and torsional strengths at failure were found separately for all test sections. To evaluate structural response, strain gages were attached at 6 to 12 critical locations of each specimen. For each cross-section, three samples were tested under combined load combinations, i.e. (0.25 Mmax, TFailure), (0.50 Mmax, TFailure) and (0.75 Mmax, TFailure). The results have been presented as M vs ɛ, T vs θ, and [Formula: see text]. Local bending effect are found to be significant under point loads, even though they are distributed over a small area. The interactive plots exhibited three distinct zones, i.e. bending moment dominated zone, torque dominated zone, and transition zone. The failure modes revealed a distinct pattern with crack initiation sites and propagation directions. The potential energy method of bent and twisted specimens of isotropic thin-walled sections has been extended to thin-walled orthotropic members. Finite element analyses using ANSYS-SHELL181 was carried out to develop torsion-bending interaction response and compare with experimental data. Principal strain to failure predictions under combined loads, except under pure bending, resulted in a constant strain to failure for a given fiber architecture.
From Incapacitation to Criminal Careers
Authors: Blumstein Alfred
Published: April 2016

Thinking about reducing crime through incarceration inevitably leads to deterrence and incapacitation, and incapacitation inevitably leads to measuring individual offending frequency or lambda, since the high-lambda offenders would be priority candidates for incarceration. A second major issue involves estimating the duration of a criminal career, and especially the residual career after a particular intervention, since longer sentences would waste prison capacity. That immersion in criminal careers inevitably leads to questions of sequences of crime types over the course of a career, their seriousness, and specialization. And that raises questions about the distribution of all these parameters and their determinants. With all these questions on the table, it was natural for the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to create a panel to start sorting them out and pointing directions for the future.
Robust discrete-time sliding mode control for systems with time-varying state delay and uncertainties on state and control input
Authors: Ghrab Sonia , Benamor Anouar , Messaoud Hassani
Published: April 2016

This paper proposes a discrete-time sliding mode control (DT-SMC) algorithm for uncertain linear systems with time-varying delay on the state. The parameter uncertainties and the external disturbances are assumed to be unknown but norm-bounded. The sliding mode existence depends on that of the stable linear sliding surface, which is ensured by a sufficient condition that depends on the delay bounds and is derived using LMI. A numerical example as well as an application to the Two-Area Four-Machine power system has been presented to illustrate and confirm the usefulness and the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
Gas content derivative data versus diffusion coefficient
Authors: Rodrigues Cristina Fernanda Alves , Dinis Maria Alzira Pimenta , Lemos de Sousa Manuel João
Published: April 2016

The study of the gas diffusion process has a main role in both coalbed methane (CBM) production and CO2 injection in geological sequestration projects. The accurate determination of gas diffusion coefficients in unconventional reservoirs such as coal seams requires a consistent mathematical approach. The study of the gas diffusion process in coal seams was carried out using sorption isotherms. The Langmuir model for individual gases and the extended Langmuir model for multicomponent gas mixtures were applied to fit sorption isotherm data. “Gas content derivative data” and “gas content changes” emerged as crucial mathematical parameters to accurately study the gas diffusion process. The main goal of this paper is to define the degree of interaction between the gas content derivative data and the gas diffusion process. Experiments were performed on three samples selected from two different coals, which were submitted to three different gas compositions, viz 99.999% CH4; 99.999% CO2; and a gas mixture containing 74.99% CH4 + 19.99% CO2 + 5.02% N2, at 35℃, and at pressures ranging from 0 up to 50 bar. Experimental results obtained from the three samples indicate that during adsorption/desorption processes, the diffusion coefficients increase and the gas content changes decrease when the pressure decreases, due to the sample saturation degrees and to the kinetic mechanisms increase. Additionally, the “gas content derivative data” scattering is slightly lower during the desorption process than during the adsorption process. These behaviours are clearly identified when using methane, but are even more evident when using CO2 and the gas mixture, due to the CO2 interaction with coal porous structure, which induces a considerable resistance to CO2 release. The results show that sample B (CH4 + CO2 + N2) displays higher diffusion coefficient values (this behaviour is mainly related to the presence of N2) than sample C (CH4) and than sample A (CO2).
Infrastructures of empire: towards a critical geopolitics of media and information studies
Authors: Aouragh Miriyam , Chakravartty Paula
Published: April 2016

The Arab Uprisings of 2011 can be seen as a turning point for media and information studies scholars, many of whom newly discovered the region as a site for theories of digital media and social transformation. This work has argued that digital media technologies fuel or transform political change through new networked publics, new forms of connective action cultivating liberal democratic values. These works have, surprisingly, little to say about the United States and other Western colonial powers’ legacy of occupation, ongoing violence and strategic interests in the region. It is as if the Arab Spring was a vindication for the universal appeal of Western liberal democracy delivered through the gift of the Internet, social media as manifestation of the ‘technologies of freedom’ long promised by Cold War. We propose an alternate trajectory in terms of reorienting discussions of media and information infrastructures as embedded within the resurgence of idealized liberal democratic norms in the wake of the end of the Cold War. We look at the demise of the media and empire debates and ‘the rise of the BRICS’ (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) as modes of intra-imperial competition that complicate earlier Eurocentric narratives media and empire. We then outline the individual contributions for the special collection of essays.
Social media on the picket line
Authors: Qiu Jack
Published: April 2016

This article provides an overview of Chinese working-class social media, which has been used on the picket line for an entire decade since 2004. A variety of social media tools such as QQ, Weblog, online forum, vlog, Weibo, and WeChat have been added to the toolkit of working-class politics, creating an enlarged media ecology of resistance. Using Raymond Williams’ tripartite framework of the dominant, the residual, and the emergent, I submit that social media on the picket line is not a revolution in itself, but a tactical evolution of the residual and, more crucially, the emergent, within a much longer revolutionary tradition of the Chinese working class. Such a framework can and still needs to be further developed through the examination of labor movements in China as well as developing regions of the Global South, probably using worker-generated content (WGC) as one of its most promising analytical foci.
The Miniature Swine as a Model in Experimental and Translational Medicine
Authors: Stricker-Krongrad Alain , Shoemake Catherine R. , Bouchard Guy F.
Published: April 2016

The use of the miniature swine as a nonrodent species in research has continued to expand for over a decade, and they are becoming routinely used both in experimental pharmacology and as a therapeutic model for human diseases. Miniature swine models are regularly used for studies designed to assess efficacy and safety of new therapeutic compounds given through different routes of exposure and are used as an alternative model to rodents, canines, or nonhuman primates. Translational preclinical swine study data presented here support the current understanding that miniature swine are the animal model of choice for the assessment of drugs targeting endocrine, dermal, and ocular disorders. Because research investigators need to be familiar with some of the important features of the models developed in the miniature swine in order to place clinical and experimental findings in their proper perspective, relevant references and data from these models will be presented, compared, and partially illustrated.
Cutaneous Phototoxicity
Authors: Learn Douglas B. , Elliott Michelle W.
Published: April 2016

Determination of test material-induced cutaneous phototoxicity for risk assessment has traditionally been based on visually observed skin reactions such as erythema, edema, and flaking. Because of its role in determining a toxic effect, the use of histopathological evaluation in this determination arises from time to time. However, there is little published information regarding the time course and types of histopathologic changes in the skin after test material-induced phototoxic insult nor any regulatory requirement or precedent for its use. This work evaluated both the visual and histopathological time course of the phototoxic response of the skin of the Long-Evans rat after oral administration of the phototoxins sparfloxacin and 8-methoxypsoralen (MOP) followed by a single exposure to solar-simulated ultraviolet radiation. Both sparfloxacin and 8-MOP elicited visual cutaneous reactions and microscopic changes consistent with a phototoxic response. The visually observed cutaneous time course and elicited histopathologic changes differed in response and extent for each phototoxin, but in both instances, microscopic evaluation did not alter the determination of a phototoxic response based on visual observations. These results indicate that, though histopathologic evaluations may have value for investigating mechanisms of phototoxicity, histopathologic evaluation of the skin is not warranted for determination of phototoxic potential in safety assessment intended for regulatory submission.
Fabricated bronchial artery embolization for hemoptysis using a coil
Authors: Miyano Yutaka , Kanzaki Masato , Obara Tetsuya , Onuki Takamasa
Published: April 2016

Background

Bronchial artery embolization is considered a conservative form of therapy for hemoptysis. This study aimed to examine the short- and long-term effects of bronchial artery embolization, as well as the performance of the coils used in our hospital.

Methods

We reviewed the background, symptoms, findings, and prognosis of 27 cases of bronchial artery embolization for hemoptysis between April 2003 and October 2011. For embolization materials, short coils combined with a long interlocking detachable coil were mainly used from March 2008.

Results

Aspergillosis and chronic empyema comprised the majority of cases. In terms of short-term results, there were 25 successful cases of bronchial artery embolization and 2 unsuccessful cases. Regarding the long-term outcome of the successful cases, during an average observation period of 17 months, one patient required repeat bronchial artery embolization, and one was admitted to another hospital with recurrent hemoptysis.

Conclusions

Bronchial artery embolization for hemoptysis was preformed in a safe and minimally invasive manner with positive results over both the short- and long-term, thus underscoring its utility as a form of treatment. Furthermore, by combining the use of long and short coils, we were able to reduce the number of coils necessary for the procedure, and thus reduce the time and cost involved.
Dual time-point imaging for post-dose binding potential estimation applied to a [11C]raclopride PET dose occupancy study
Authors: Alves Isadora L , Willemsen Antoon TM , Dierckx Rudi A , da Silva Ana Maria M , Koole Michel
Published: April 2016

Receptor occupancy studies performed with PET often require time-consuming dynamic imaging for baseline and post-dose scans. Shorter protocol approximations based on standard uptake value ratios have been proposed. However, such methods depend on the time-point chosen for the quantification and often lead to overestimation and bias. The aim of this study was to develop a shorter protocol for the quantification of post-dose scans using a dual time-point approximation, which employs kinetic parameters from the baseline scan. Dual time-point was evaluated for a [11C]raclopride PET dose occupancy study with the D2 antagonist JNJ-37822681, obtaining estimates for binding potential and receptor occupancy. Results were compared to standard simplified reference tissue model and standard uptake value ratios-based estimates. Linear regression and Bland–Altman analysis demonstrated excellent correlation and agreement between dual time-point and the standard simplified reference tissue model approach. Moreover, the stability of dual time-point-based estimates is shown to be independent of the time-point chosen for quantification. Therefore, a dual time-point imaging protocol can be applied to post-dose [11C]raclopride PET scans, resulting in a significant reduction in total acquisition time while maintaining accuracy in the quantification of both the binding potential and the receptor occupancy.
The Tactile Dimensions of Abstract Paintings: A Cross-Modal Study
Authors: Albertazzi Liliana , Bacci Francesca , Canal Luisa , Micciolo Rocco
Published: April 2016

In our research, we tested for the existence of cross-modal visual and tactile associations in the experience of abstract art. Specifically, we measured the association of 60 abstract paintings with four couples of antonyms related to texture, such as warm or cold, smooth or rough, lightweight or heavy, soft or hard, investigating if the different modality of presentation on a computer screen (color versions: natural colors, inverted colors, black and white) gave rise to different associations relative to the four couples of opponent qualities. Second, we tested whether there might be differences between the ratings of the paintings when they were presented as images on a computer screen versus in real life at the museum. The results confirmed that associations between visual and tactile experience with such complex stimuli exist. In the case of the couple warm or cold, a significant inversion of associated qualities occurs when the images are presented in inverted colors as opposed to natural colors; furthermore, when presented in black and white, warm evaluations are “cooled down,” but cold evaluations remain the same. The degree of smoothness could be considered not associated with the color versions. When seen in black and white, both the mean softness and the mean lightweight-ness of the paintings were reduced; however, in the last case, this effect was more evident for the most lightweight pictures. There is only a slight difference between the two presentations of the paintings as images presented on a computer screen and seen in real life, relative to the warm or cold and soft or hard dimensions. Of the four opponent qualities, the three pairs warm or cold, lightweight or heavy, and soft or hard showed the most interesting results in relation to the cross-modal associations.
Lost in the ‘churn’? Locating neighbourliness in a transient neighbourhood
Authors: Burrell Kathy
Published: April 2016

This article considers the importance of everyday encounters in underpinning sociality, focusing especially on the located and material aspects of social relations. Bringing together debates about social relations, place attachment and population turnover (or ‘churn’), and using research carried out in the UK city of Leicester, in an inner city neighbourhood with high population turnover, the article investigates incidences of neighbourliness, probing what happens to social relations between neighbours in a place which could be considered to be unstable in terms of population, and where conviviality could be deemed to be under threat by wider structural economic forces. Three overlapping questions are addressed: how does neighbourliness manifest itself in such conditions, where is it practiced, and how do people relate to the material environment around them when the social landscape is apparently so unstable? Drawing on in-depth interviews with inner-city Leicester residents this article considers not only the narrated practice of social and neighbourly relations in a particular setting, but also how important place is to this practice.
State-feedback and observer-based control design of a hybrid system consisting of a steam power plant in cooperation with a doubly fed wind turbine
Authors: Schinas Nick , Papazafeiropoulos Charalampos
Published: April 2016

This article presents a control strategy for a variable speed pitch-controlled wind turbine which supplies an autonomous system in cooperation with a small steam power unit. The wind turbine consists of a doubly fed induction generator and operates in variable speed mode in order to maximize the power absorbed from the wind and minimize the amount of steam consumed by the steam power unit. Many reliable control methods concerning doubly fed induction generator–based wind generation systems connected to the grid can be found in the literature. The proposed control schemes concern both of the generating units of the hybrid system and so there are two main controllers. The objectives of the control design are to deliver the total power from the wind turbine to the isolated load under constant voltage and frequency and suitably adjust the power from the steam unit at the same time. The pitch controller of the wind turbine drives the wind turbine at such value of mechanical velocity that the proper amount of power from the wind is absorbed according to the existing load so that the requirements of the voltage and the frequency are realized. The second controller is responsible for the regulation of the corresponding amount of flow of steam mass into the steam turbine. First, the whole system has been linearized according to the two-machine theory. In this model, there is also the electrical power of the load which is regarded as a disturbance in the linear model. In the first case, the controllers have been designed according to the state-feedback theory without taking the disturbance into consideration for the control design, and simple proportional–integral controllers have been developed. In the second case, an observer that estimates both the states of the disturbance and the system has been designed, in order for a better response of the power frequency to be achieved. The system has been tested with the real nonlinear model using SIMULINK software under two severe inputs: the first is a step (and almost unreal) change of the wind speed which brings about a huge alteration of the wind turbine output under constant load. The second is a step decrease of 40% of the load under constant wind speed. Under both tests, the controllers seem to cooperate very well and the variations of the voltage and the frequency are within acceptable limits.
Stability of Pediatric Migraine Subtype After a 5-year Follow-Up
Authors: Cuvellier Jean-Christophe , Tourte Mathilde , Lucas Christian , Vallée Louis
Published: April 2016

The study assessed the 5-year follow-up outcome and possible prognostic factors of migraine subtypes with onset in childhood or adolescence. A total of 343 patients meeting the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD)-II criteria for migraine without aura (MO), migraine with aura (MA), or both MO+MA (ie, 1.1, 1.2) were contacted by phone and underwent structured follow-up headache interviews. Of the original sample patients, 22.7% were headache-free at follow-up, 14.1% had a transformed headache diagnosis (tension-type headache: 8.2%, chronic daily headache: 5.8%), and 63.3% still had migraine fulfilling the criteria for ICHD-II 1.1. or 1.2, but those who were still migraineurs at follow-up were older at baseline (respectively 12.93, 9.99, and 11.02 years for MO, MA and MO+MA, P = .0005). The probability of having the same migraine subtype diagnosis at baseline and at 5-year follow-up was 55.2%, 95.1%, and 31.1% for ICHD-II 1.1, 1.2, and both 1.1 and 1.2, respectively.
Practical Application of the Revised Guidelines for the Provision and Assessment of Nutrition Support Therapy in the Adult Critically Ill Patient
Authors: Warren Malissa , McCarthy Mary S. , Roberts Pamela R.
Published: April 2016

Background: Nutrition therapy is an essential component of the care plan for critically ill and injured patients. There is consensus that critically ill patients are at risk for malnutrition, and the associated consequences of increased infectious morbidity, multiorgan dysfunction, prolonged hospitalization, and disproportionate mortality can be minimized with specialized enteral and/or parenteral nutrition therapy. Methods: In this article, we describe 2 case studies that are intended to introduce the nutrition support clinician to key updates in the recently released Guidelines for Provision and Assessment of Nutrition Support Therapy in the Adult Critically Ill Patient: Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (A.S.P.E.N.). Results: The case studies demonstrate a pragmatic approach to nutrition therapy in the intensive care unit (ICU) and are intended to elicit dialogue for timely, appropriate nutrition care at policy meetings, professional conferences, and ICU daily rounds. Conclusions: While explicitly stated in the formal document, it is worth repeating that the guidelines are directed toward generalized patient populations, but as with any therapeutic intervention in the ICU, nutrition therapy should be tailored to the individual patient. In addition, protocols and procedures should reflect the local institutional culture and meet with approval of critical care clinicians.
Successful Doxycycline Therapy in a Patient With Escherichia coli and Multidrug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Urinary Tract Infection
Authors: White Cassandra R. , Jodlowski Tomasz Z. , Atkins Dylan T. , Holland Nicole G.
Published: April 2016

Objective:

To report on a patient with a symptomatic, polymicrobial Escherichia coli and multidrug-resistant (MDR), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-positive Klebsiella pneumoniae urinary tract infection (UTI) who was successfully treated with oral doxycycline hyclate.

Case Summary:

A 70-year-old white male inpatient with a history of recurrent UTI, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and diverticular disease was diagnosed with UTI and empirically treated with oral ciprofloxacin. Symptoms persisted 2 days later, and the patient was transitioned to amoxicillin/clavulanate by a different provider. The next day, upon receipt of the urine culture and susceptibility panel revealing E coli and MDR, ESBL-positive K pneumoniae infection, treatment was switched to doxycycline hyclate, which resulted in clinical improvement.

Discussion:

Complicated UTI involving multiple pathogens requires careful clinical judgment to select the appropriate antimicrobial agent, improve clinical outcomes, and prevent resistance. Treatment with doxycycline was based on the susceptibility panel and local resistance patterns. Advantages of doxycycline for UTI include its oral formulation, wide spectrum of activity, ability to achieve high concentration in the urine, and low toxicity.

Conclusion:

Doxycycline hyclate may be an effective treatment option for patients with susceptible MDR UTI.
Flight control clearance of the Cessna Citation X using evolutionary algorithms
Authors: Boughari Yamina , Botez Ruxandra Mihaela , Ghazi Georges , Theel Florian
Published: April 2016

In this paper, an Aircraft Research Flight Simulator equipped with Flight Dynamics Level D (highest level) was used to collect flight test data and develop new controller methodologies. The changes in the aircraft’s mass and center of gravity position are affected by the fuel burn, leading to uncertainties in the aircraft dynamics. A robust controller was designed and optimized using the H∞ method and two different metaheuristic algorithms; in order to ensure acceptable flying qualities within the specified flight envelope despite the presence of uncertainties. The H∞ weighting functions were optimized by using both the genetic algorithm, and the differential evolution algorithm. The differential evolution algorithm revealed high efficiency and gave excellent results in a short time with respect to the genetic algorithm. Good dynamic characteristics for the longitudinal and lateral stability control augmentation systems with a good level of flying qualities were achieved. The optimal controller was used on the Cessna Citation X aircraft linear model for several flight conditions that covered the whole aircraft’s flight envelope. The novelty of the new objective function used in this research is that it combined both time-domain performance criteria and frequency-domain robustness criterion, which led to good level aircraft flying qualities specifications. The use of this new objective function helps to reduce considerably the calculation time of both algorithms, and avoided the use of other computationally more complicated methods. The same fitness function was used in both evolutionary algorithms (differential evolution and genetic algorithm), then their results for the validation of the linear model in the flight points were compared. Finally, robustness analysis was performed to the nonlinear model by varying mass and gravity center position. New tools were developed to validate the results obtained for both linear and nonlinear aircraft models. It was concluded that very good performance of the business Cessna Citation X aircraft was achieved in this research.