bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and Characterization of Zinc Oxide and Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Using Sesbania grandiflora Leaf Extract as Reducing Agent
Authors: Rajendran Sorna Prema , Sengodan Kandasamy
Published: January 2017

The objectives of this present study are to synthesize iron oxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles from different concentrations of Sesbania grandiflora leaf extract (5–20%) using zinc nitrate and ferrous chloride as precursor materials and synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectrometer, FTIR, X-ray diffraction, and SEM. The results showed that synthesized zinc oxide and iron oxide nanoparticles exhibited UV-visible absorption peaks at 235 nm and 220 nm, respectively, which indicated that both nanoparticles were photosensitive and the XRD study confirmed that both nanoparticles were crystalline in nature. In addition, FTIR was also used to analyze the various functional groups present in the synthesized nanoparticles. The SEM results reveal that zinc oxide nanoparticles were spherical in shape and having the particle size range of 15 to 35 nm whereas the iron oxide nanoparticles were nonspherical in shape with the size range of 25 to 60 nm. Application of synthesized nanoparticle on seafood effluent treatment was studied.
Mixed Botryoid and Spindle Cell Bladder Rhabdomyosarcoma: An Outstanding Pediatric Case
Authors: Alterio Tommaso , Chimenz Roberto , Arena Salvatore , Conti Giovanni , Cardile Sabrina , Romeo Carmelo , Salpietro Carmelo , Fede Carmelo
Published: January 2017

We report a case of a 3-year-old North African child, initially assessed for nonspecific urinary symptoms such as haematuria and burning urination. The ultrasound evaluation showed a vegetating mass occupying the lumen with weak vascular signs at the Colour-Doppler evaluation. An explorative cystoscopy was performed and it revealed a nonbleeding lesion, white in colour, pedunculated, projecting into the lumen, and associated with a brown satellite formation. Histological examination showed a mixed Botryoid and Spindle Cell Rhabdomyosarcoma. This mixed histology has not been described before and no statistical data are reported in literature so far. Despite the Embryonal Rhabdomyosarcoma variant being the most common, the association characterized by two histological Rhabdomyosarcoma subtypes such as Botryoid and Spindle Cell is rarely observed and it is important to get an accurate histological diagnosis in order to immediately start the correct treatment protocol.
Declining Physical Performance Associates with Serum FasL, miR-21, and miR-146a in Aging Sprinters
Authors: Kangas Reeta , Törmäkangas Timo , Heinonen Ari , Alen Markku , Suominen Harri , Kovanen Vuokko , Laakkonen Eija K. , Korhonen Marko T.
Published: January 2017

Aging is associated with systemic inflammation and cellular apoptosis accelerating physiological dysfunctions. Whether physically active way of life affects these associations is unclear. This study measured the levels of serum inflammatory and apoptotic molecules, their change over 10 years, and their associations with physical performance in sprint-trained male athletes. HsCRP, cell counts, HGB, FasL, miR-21, and miR-146a were measured cross-sectionally (n=67, 18–90 yrs) and serum FasL, miR-21, and miR-146a and their aging-related associations with physical performance were assessed over a 10-year follow-up (n=49, 50–90 yrs). The cross-sectional study showed positive age correlations for neutrophils and negative for lymphocytes, red blood cells, HGB, FasL, and miR-146a. During the 10-year follow-up, FasL decreased (P=0.017) and miR-21 (P<0.001) and miR-146a (P=0.005) levels increased. When combining the molecule levels, aging, and physical performance, FasL associated with countermovement jump and bench press (P<0.001), miR-21 and miR-146a with knee flexion (P=0.023;P<0.001), and bench press (P=0.004;P<0.001) and miR-146a with sprint performance (P<0.001). The studied serum molecules changed in an age-dependent manner and were associated with declining physical performance. They have potential as biomarkers of aging-related processes influencing the development of physiological dysfunctions. Further research is needed focusing on the origins and targets of circulating microRNAs to clarify their function in various tissues with aging.
Successful Management of Refractory Type 1 Renal Tubular Acidosis with Amiloride
Authors: Oguejiofor Patrick , Chow Robert , Yim Kenneth , Jaar Bernard G.
Published: January 2017

A 28-year-old female with history of hypothyroidism, Sjögren’s Syndrome, and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) presented with complaints of severe generalized weakness, muscle pain, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia. Physical examination was unremarkable. Laboratory test showed hypokalemia at 1.6 mmol/l, nonanion metabolic acidosis with HCO3of 11 mmol/l, random urine pH of 7.0, and urine anion gap of 8 mmol/l. CT scan of the abdomen revealed bilateral nephrocalcinosis. A diagnosis of type 1 RTA likely secondary to Sjögren’s Syndrome was made. She was started on citric acid potassium citrate with escalating dosages to a maximum dose of 60 mEq daily and potassium chloride over 5 years without significant improvement in serum K+and HCO3levels. She had multiple emergency room visits for persistent muscle pain, generalized weakness, and cardiac arrhythmias. Citric acid potassium citrate was then replaced with sodium bicarbonate at 15.5 mEq every 6 hours which was continued for 2 years without significant improvement in her symptoms and electrolytes. Amiloride 5 mg daily was added to her regimen as a potassium sparing treatment with dramatic improvement in her symptoms and electrolyte levels (as shown in the figures). Amiloride was increased to 10 mg daily and potassium supplementation was discontinued without affecting her electrolytes. Her sodium bicarbonate was weaned to 7.7 mEq daily.
Star Polymer-Drug Conjugates with pH-Controlled Drug Release and Carrier Degradation
Authors: Kostková H. , Schindler L. , Kotrchová L. , Kovář M. , Šírová M. , Kostka L. , Etrych T.
Published: January 2017

In this study, we describe the design, synthesis, and physicochemical and preliminary biological characteristics of new biodegradable, high-molecular-weight (HMW) drug delivery systems with star-like architectures bearing the cytotoxic drug doxorubicin (DOX) attached by a hydrazone bond-containing spacer. The star polymers were synthesized by grafting semitelechelic N-(2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylamide (HPMA) copolymers on a 2,2-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid- (bis-MPA-) based polyester dendritic core. The molecular weight of the star polymers ranged from 280 to 450 000 g/mol and could be adjusted by proper selection of the bis-MPA dendrimer generation and by considering the polymer to dendrimer molar ratio. The biodegradation of the polymer conjugates is based on the spontaneous slow hydrolysis of the dendritic core in neutral physiological conditions. Hydrazone spacers in the conjugates were fairly stable at neutral pH (7.4) mimicking blood stream conditions, and DOX was released from the conjugates under mild acidic conditions simulating the tumor cell microenvironment in endosomes and lysosomes (pH 5). Finally, we have shown the significant in vitro cytotoxicity of the star polymer-DOX conjugate on selected cancer cell lines with IC50 values almost comparable with that of the free drug and higher than that observed for a linear polymer-DOX conjugate with much lower molecular weight.
Antifungal Activity of Essential Oil ofEucalyptus camaldulensisDehnh. against SelectedFusariumspp.
Authors: Gakuubi Martin Muthee , Maina Angeline W. , Wagacha John M.
Published: January 2017

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of essential oil (EO) ofEucalyptus camaldulensisDehnh. against fiveFusariumspp. commonly associated with maize.The essential oil had been extracted by steam distillation in a modified Clevenger-type apparatus from leaves ofE. camaldulensisand their chemical composition characterized by gas chromatography mass spectrometry. Poisoned food technique was used to determine the percentage inhibition of mycelial growth, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum fungicidal concentration of the EO on the test pathogens. Antifungal activity of different concentrations of the EO was evaluated using disc diffusion method. The most abundant compounds identified in the EO were 1,8-cineole (16.2%),α-pinene (15.6%),α-phellandrene (10.0%), and p-cymene (8.1%). The EO produced complete mycelial growth inhibition in all the test pathogens at a concentration of 7-8 μL/mL after five days of incubation. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration of the EO on the test fungi were in the range of 7-8 μL/mL and 8–10 μL/mL, respectively. These findings confirm the fungicidal properties ofE. camaldulensisessential oils and their potential use in the management of economically importantFusariumspp. and as possible alternatives to synthetic fungicides.
Isolation and Characterization of Synovial Mesenchymal Stem Cell Derived from Hip Joints: A Comparative Analysis with a Matched Control Knee Group
Authors: Hatakeyama Akihisa , Uchida Soshi , Utsunomiya Hajime , Tsukamoto Manabu , Nakashima Hirotaka , Nakamura Eiichiro , Pascual-Garrido Cecilia , Sekiya Ichiro , Sakai Akinori
Published: January 2017

Purpose. To determine the characteristics of MSCs from hip and compare them to MSCs from knee. Methods. Synovial tissues were obtained from both the knee and the hip joints in 8 patients who underwent both hip and knee arthroscopies on the same day. MSCs were isolated from the knee and hip synovial samples. The capacities of MSCs were compared between both groups. Results. The number of cells per unit weight at passage 0 of synovium from the knee was significantly higher than that from the hip (P<0.05). While it was possible to observe the growth of colonies in all the knee synovial fluid samples, it was impossible to culture cells from any of the hip samples. In adipogenesis experiments, the frequency of Oil Red-O-positive colonies and the gene expression of adipsin were significantly higher in knee than in hip. In osteogenesis experiments, the expression of COL1A1 and ALPP was significantly less in the knee synovium than in the hip synovium. Conclusions. MSCs obtained from hip joint have self-renewal and multilineage differentiation potentials. However, in matched donors, adipogenesis and osteogenesis potentials of MSCs from the knees are superior to those from the hips. Knee synovium may be a better source of MSC for potential use in hip diseases.
The Influence of the “Straighten Your Back” Command on the Sagittal Spinal Curvatures in Children with Generalized Joint Hypermobility
Authors: Czaprowski Dariusz , Pawłowska Paulina , Kolwicz-Gańko Aleksandra , Sitarski Dominik , Kędra Agnieszka
Published: January 2017

Objectives. The aim of the study was to assess the change of sagittal spinal curvatures in children with generalized joint hypermobility (GJH) instructed with “straighten your back” command (SYB).Methods. The study included 56 children with GJH. The control group consisted of 193 children. Sacral slope (SS), lumbar lordosis (LL), global thoracic kyphosis (TK), lower thoracic kyphosis (LK), and upper thoracic kyphosis (UK) were assessed with Saunders inclinometer both in spontaneous positions (standing and sitting) and after the SYB.Results. Children with GJH after SYB presented the following: in standing, increase in SS and decrease in TK, LK, and UK (P<0.01), with LL not significantly changed; in sitting: decrease in global thoracic kyphosis (35.5° (SD 20.5) versus 21.0° (SD 15.5),P<0.001) below the standards proposed in the literature (30–40°) and flattening of its lower part (P<0.001). The same changes were observed in the control group.Conclusions. In children with generalized joint hypermobility, the “straighten your back” command leads to excessive reduction of the global thoracic kyphosis and flattening of its lower part. Therefore, the “straighten your back” command should not be used to achieve the optimal standing and sitting positions.
Early Intervention Improves Clinical Responses to House Dust Mite Immunotherapy in Allergic Rhinitis Patients
Authors: Qi Shanshan , Chen Hao , Huang Nan , Li Wenjing , Liu Guanghui , Wang Yin , Hu Lintao , Wang Xiaolong , Zhang Wei , Zhu Rongfei
Published: January 2017

Background: Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the unique causal treatment for respiratory allergy. As AIT is expensive and of long duration, the availability of a marker predicting AIT responders is of crucial relevance. Objective: To investigate clinical parameters correlated with effective AIT in allergic rhinitis (AR) patients. Methods: This is a prospective, nonrandomized open study in which a total of 284 AR patients who had received house dust mite (HDM) subcutaneous AIT were enrolled from January 2011 to December 2015, and then followed up for 3 consecutive years. Demographic data, clinical history, laboratory tests (specific and total IgE levels), symptoms score, concomitant medication, and adverse reactions during AIT were collected. An AIT responder patient was defined when a visual analog score (assessing global symptoms) had decreased by >30% compared to baseline and concomitant medication was equal to or less than before AIT. Results: Thirty-three patients dropped out, so 251 patients were analyzed; 175 (69.7%) patients were responders. This group had a higher baseline symptom score than the AIT nonresponder group (7.5 vs. 6.9). A significant negative correlation was found between AR symptom duration and the clinical response to AIT. Local reactions (LRs) during AIT had a positive correlation. Other variables such as a family history of atopy, combined asthma history, and the levels of specific and total IgE had no correlations with effective AIT. Conclusion: Early intervention with AIT helps to improve the efficacy of AR treatment. LRs might predict successful AIT. Highly symptomatic AR patients may develop increased clinical responses to AIT.
Hypersensitivity Reactions to Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs among Adults: Clinical Features and Risk Factors for Diagnosis Confirmation
Authors: Rebelo Gomes Eva , Geraldes Luísa , Gaspar Ângela , Malheiro Daniela , Cadinha Susana , Abreu Carmo , Chambel Marta , Almeida Eugénia , Faria Emília ,   Portuguese Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SPAIC) Drug Allergy Interest Group
Published: January 2017

Background: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) are among the most common causes of drug hypersensitivity (HS) reactions. The diagnosis is based on a careful clinical history, and provocation tests are considered the gold standard for diagnosis. Skin tests have some value to study reactions to pyrazolones. Laboratory investigations are mostly used for research purposes. Different phenotypes have been described. Objective and Methods: Our aim was to describe the most common clinical manifestations of NSAID HS in a large population of adult patients, the drugs involved, the association with previously described risk factors, and the outcome of diagnostic procedures. The classification of reactions proposed by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) Drug Allergy Interest Group was adopted. Results: Acetylsalicylic acid was the drug most often involved in reactions (34%), isolated cutaneous symptoms were the most reported (60%), and immediate reactions (58%) were the most common. There was an overall female predominance (64%) and 35% of the patients were atopic. HS to NSAIDs was confirmed in 21% of the patients. The most common phenotypes encountered among HS patients were NSAID-induced urticaria/angioedema and single-NSAID-induced urticaria/angioedema or anaphylaxis. Logistic regression analysis showed that gender and atopy were not significant risk factors for HS confirmation, but diagnosis depended on the number of previous reactions, the type of reaction, and the time interval between drug intake and reaction. Conclusion: Only 21% of suspected HS reactions were confirmed after diagnostic workup. Patients describing >1 previous reaction and suffering immediate reactions had a higher probability of a positive investigation.
The Pathogenesis of Alcohol-Induced Airflow Limitation in Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenase 2-Deficient Mice
Authors: Shimoda Terufumi , Obase Yasushi , Matsuse Hiroto , Asai Sadahiro , Iwanaga Tomoaki
Published: January 2017

Background: In Japanese patients, alcohol-induced asthma is attributed to elevated plasma concentrations of acetaldehyde following alcohol consumption because of an acetaldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene (ALDH2) polymorphism. The resulting increase in plasma histamine concentrations seems to trigger the onset of asthma symptoms. However, the specific pathogenic mechanism underlying this response remains unclear. ALDH2-deficient mice were therefore generated to investigate the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced asthma. Methods: ALDH2-deficient mice were generated using embryonic stem cells that were derived from C57BL/6 mice. The resulting mice were backcrossed into the BALB/c mice background. Exon 1 of ALDH2 was replaced with the Neo cassette. Pure ethanol was orally administered to ALDH2-deficient and wild-type mice, and the plasma concentrations of ethanol, acetaldehyde, and histamine, in addition to enhanced pause (Penh) values, were determined and compared between the 2 groups. Results: We established an ALDH2-deficient mouse line to compare responses between wild-type and ALDH2-deficient mice receiving orally administered ethanol. The results showed that the plasma concentrations of acetaldehyde (p < 0.0001) and histamine (p < 0.005) were significantly higher, and the Penh values (p < 0.01) were significantly greater in the ALDH2-deficient mice, although plasma ethanol levels were not different. Conclusions: We studied the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced asthma using ALDH2-deficient mice. The results demonstrated that alcohol intake resulted in an increase in acetaldehyde levels, and a subsequent increase in histamine levels, which induced airway constriction. Alcohol consumption is known to be an important factor that exacerbates bronchial asthma, and studies investigating this factor are useful for the treatment of patients with alcohol-induced asthma.
Adult Food Allergy Prevalence: Reducing Questionnaire Bias
Authors: Silva Letícia A. , Silva Anna Flávia M. , Ribeiro Âmela C. , Silva Augusto O. , Vieira Felipe A. , Segundo Gesmar R. S.
Published: January 2017

Background: Food allergy (FA) prevalence has increased in the last decades, but epidemiologic studies could show overestimated results. The objective of this study is to estimate the prevalence of immediate FA in adults in a region of Central Brazil, using a questionnaire to try to reduce misperceptions about FA reaction. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling an adult population aged 18-65 years comprised of families in a Central Brazilian city. In the first phase, participants answered a self-administered questionnaire for FA screening. In the second phase, the participants who reported an FA in the first questionnaire were visited to complete the second questionnaire applied by trained researchers. Results: Of the 4,916 adults visited, 1,583 returned a completed questionnaire. Reported FA occurred in 171 (10.8%) subjects, and the more frequent citations were cow's milk, pork, fruits, shrimp, and vegetables. One hundred and four of these individuals completed the second questionnaire, and 15 (1.0%) were considered to have an FA diagnosis. The main foods were fruits, followed by cow's milk, shrimp, pork, and vegetables. Conclusion: After use of a specific questionnaire to recognize possible IgE-mediated FAs, a low frequency of FA was considered in this population. Use of a directed questionnaire administered by trained researchers could be an alternative for epidemiological IgE-mediated FA studies to achieve more accurate results.
Immediate Type Hypersensitivity to Heparins: Two Case Reports and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Cesana Philipp , Scherer Kathrin , Bircher Andreas J.
Published: January 2017

Immediate type hypersensitivity reactions due to heparins are rare, and the exact immunologic pathomechanism has not been identified so far. In our 2 case reports, we describe first a 50-year-old female who received dalteparin (Fragmin®) and developed signs of an immediate type hypersensitivity reaction. The personal history revealed a previous application of dalteparin (Fragmin®). Evaluation with a skin prick test showed positive results for dalteparin. The second case deals with a 73-year-old female with a suspected immediate type reaction after the administration of dalteparin (Fragmin®). A skin prick test was negative but intracutaneous tests showed a positive reaction to the causative agent. Both cases indicated cross-reactivity reactions for low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) but not for unfractioned heparin (UFH) or fondaparinux. In conclusion, our case reports including a review of published cases of immediate type hypersensitivity reactions after the application of heparins illustrate this rare complication. Mostly, the causative agent can be identified with a skin test, which is highly suggestive of an IgE-mediated reaction. Therapeutic alternatives for patients with sensitization to an LMWH are UFH and fondaparinux. Both agents have a small risk of cross-reactivity compared to heparins of the same substance class.
The Efficacy of Rituximab Combined with 131I for Ophthalmic Outcomes of Graves' Ophthalmopathy Patients
Authors: Li Jiagen , Xiao Zhangsheng , Hu Xianjie , Li Yun , Zhang Xing , Zhang Songze , Gong Weikun , Zhao Jianqiang , Ye Xuemei
Published: January 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of introducing both rituximab (RTX) and 131I for active Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) with hyperthyroidism. Methods: In total, 217 patients suffering from active GO with hyperthyroidism were included in this research. All subjects were randomly assigned to 3 groups. Patients in group A solely received 131I treatment; group B1 underwent a methylprednisolone treatment in combination with 131I treatment; and group B2 received an RTX in combination with 131I treatment. Hyperthyroidism treatment outcomes, orbital volumetry, ophthalmic assessments, serum cytokine levels, and adverse effects were measured after treatment. Results: The orbital volumetry principle was significantly different from 24 weeks after the start of treatment among all 3 groups, and improvements in most ophthalmic parameters were regarded significantly different among 3 groups (all p < 0.05). The expression levels of miR-146a and most serum cytokines were regarded significantly different from 24 weeks after the start of treatment among 3 groups (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: In comparison with other therapies, RTX treatment in combination with 131I treatment is considered to be more effective for hyperthyroidism with active GO.
Rapid Drug Desensitization with Biologics: A Single-Center Experience with Four Biologics
Authors: Bavbek Sevim , Kendirlinan Reşat , Çerçi Pamir , Altıner Seda , Soyyiğit Şadan , Çelebi Sözener Zeynep , Aydın Ömür , Gümüşburun Reyhan
Published: January 2017

Background: Rapid drug desensitization (RDD) induces a temporary tolerance to biologics which induce hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs). Data are limited regarding the use of RDD outside the USA. Our purpose was to report our data on RDD to rituximab, infliximab, cetuximab, and trastuzumab. Methods: The study was conducted as a retrospective chart review of patients with symptoms of HSRs to biologics. HSRs were classified as grades I, II, and III, based on their severity. Skin-prick tests/intradermal tests (IDTs) were performed with the implicated biologics. The 12-step RDD protocol was used. Results: The study group comprised 11 women and 6 men (mean age: 47 ± 11.7 years). Fourteen patients experienced HSRs to rituximab; 3 had HSRs to cetuximab, infliximab, and trastuzumab, respectively. HSRs to cetuximab, infliximab, and trastuzumab occurred during the first infusion and were all grade III. Twelve of the 14 patients with rituximab hypersensitivity had a reaction during the first infusion; 10 patients had grade II reactions and 4 had grade III reactions. Respiratory symptoms were the most frequent presentation of HSR. Skin tests with rituximab were performed on 10 patients; only 3 resulted in positive IDTs (with 1:100 dilutions) and the other tests were negative as were those performed with the other biologics. Of 96 RDDs, 89 desensitizations were performed with rituximab, 5 with cetuximab, 1 with infliximab, and 1 with trastuzumab. There were 12 (13.5%) breakthrough reactions, all of which were associated with rituximab and were less severe than the initial reactions. Conclusion: RDD was found to be safe and effective in the largest case series of RDDs with biologics in our country, Turkey.
Treatable Leukoencephalopathy in a Patient with Hypophosphatemia
Authors: Okazaki Masahiro , Hirano Makito , Iwatsu Tomoki , Yamana Masaki , Suzuki Hidekazu , Satou Takao , Kusunoki Susumu
Published: January 2017

We report the first patient with pathologically proven leukoencephalopathy associated with hypophosphatemia. A 61-year-old woman had repetitive episodes of decreased consciousness with pontine and pallidal lesions and extensive leukoencephalopathy on MRI, later found to be associated with hypophosphatemia. Although hypophosphatemia has been linked to central pontine and extrapontine myelinolysis (osmotic myelinolysis), lesions in the deep white matter have not been reported. Brain biopsy performed during the first diagnosis process revealed nonspecific demyelination with gliosis, a finding similar to that of chronic osmotic myelinolysis. After normalization of phosphate levels, her consciousness completely improved and MRI abnormalities partly resolved. We should consider that leukoencephalopathy can be associated with hypophosphatemia, which is often treatable.
Systemic Atherosclerosis Relate to Brain Arterial Diameters: The Northern Manhattan Study
Authors: Gutierrez Jose , Rundek Tatjana , Cheung Ken , Bagci Ahmet , Alperin Noam , Sacco Ralph L. , Wright Clinton B. , Elkind Mitchell S.V. , Di Tullio Marco R.
Published: January 2017

Background: Phenotypic expressions of arterial disease vary throughout the body and it is not clear to what extent systemic atherosclerosis influences brain arterial remodeling. We aim to test the hypothesis that systemic atherosclerosis is associated with brain arterial diameters. Methods: Stroke-free participants in the Northern Manhattan Study MRI subcohort in whom carotid ultrasound, transthoracic echocardiogram, and brain MRA (n = 482) were performed were included in this analysis. Brain arterial diameters were measured with semi-automated software as continuous and categorical variables. Ultrasound and echocardiography provided the sum of maximum carotid plaque thickness (sMCPT) and aortic plaque thickness. Associations between brain arterial diameters and aortic and carotid plaque thickness were assessed with semi-parametric generalized additive models. Results: Aortic plaque thickness was inversely and linearly associated with brain arterial diameters (B per mm = -0.073 ± 0.034, p = 0.03), while sMCPT was associated nonlinearly in a u-shaped curve with anterior brain arterial diameters (spline regression χ2 = 9.19, p = 0.02). Coexisting carotid and aortic atherosclerosis were more prevalent in participants with small luminal diameters (40%) compared with participants with average (30%) or with large (13%) luminal diameters, while carotid atherosclerosis without aortic atherosclerosis was more prevalent among participants with large luminal diameters (31%) compared with those with average (12%) or small luminal diameters (2%, p < 0.001 for both trends). Conclusions: We confirmed the hypothesis that systemic arterial disease is associated with brain arterial diameters. Gaining knowledge about the origin of these phenotypic expressions of atherosclerosis in the human body may lead to a better understanding of the cerebrovascular consequences of the systemic arterial disease.
Documentos paulistas do século XIX: a administração geral dos correios
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas, Negro Helena de Oliveira Belleza , Viaro Mário Eduardo ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Filosofia, Letras e Ciências Humanas
Published: January 2017

A edição foi baseada na dissertação de mestrado defendida em 2010 (OLIVEIRA, H, 2010) e apresenta a edição semidiplomática de manuscritos do século XIX, da Administração Geral dos Correios em São Paulo. A análise codicológica, o levantamento paleográfico e a transcrição dos documentos proporcionarão a leitura fiel dos manuscritos, contribuindo assim para a pesquisa nas áreas de Linguística Histórica, Língua Portuguesa e História Social.
Little Sun: An Indicative Framework for the Analysis of Art and Design Objects
Authors: Ebbesen Toke Riis
Published: January 2017

Designs that mix art and design are especially hard to decode because of the hidden complexities of their object. This paper is an attempt to understand the tensions of art and design objects in relation to semiotic concepts of agency, intentionality, and indication. It does this by examining the ideas of Alfred Gell's anthropology of art and the indicative framework derived from Argentinian semiotician Juan Pablo Bonta and Jørn Guldberg. The toy-like solar lamp Little Sun by Olafur Eliasson and Frederik Ottesen is used as a case that blends the registers of social design and art, and as an example of how designers attempt to determine meaning potentials through design in a complex interplay of different strategies. In the final analysis, what characterize objects like Little Sun is seldom that they communicate their meanings in themselves, but instead rely on forceful mediations to gain their interpretative effects.
On the Relation between Gravity Waves and Wind Speed in the Lower Stratosphere over the Southern Ocean
Authors: Plougonven Riwal , Jewtoukoff Valérian , Cámara Alvaro de la , Lott François , Hertzog Albert
Published: January 2017

The relationship between gravity wave momentum fluxes and local wind speed is investigated for oceanic regions at high southern latitudes during austral spring. The motivation is to better describe the gravity wave field by identifying a simple relationship between gravity waves and the large-scale flow. The tools used to describe the gravity waves are probability density functions of the gravity wave momentum fluxes. Three independent datasets covering high latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere springtime are analyzed: simulations with a mesoscale model, analyses from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, and observations from superpressure balloons of the Concordiasi campaign in 2010. A remarkably robust relation is found, with stronger momentum fluxes much more likely in regions of strong winds. The tails of the probability density functions are well described as lognormal. The median momentum flux increases linearly with background wind speed: for winds stronger than 50 m s−1, the median gravity wave momentum fluxes are about 4 times larger than for winds weaker than 10 m s−1. From model output, this relation is found to be relevant from the tropopause to the midstratosphere at least. The flux dependence on wind speed shows a somewhat steeper slope at higher altitude. Several different processes contribute to this relation, involving both the distribution of sources and the effects of propagation and filtering. It is argued that the location of tropospheric sources is the main contributor in the upper troposphere and lowermost stratosphere and that lateral propagation into regions of strong winds becomes increasingly important above.
Meteorological Interpretation of Orographic Precipitation Gradients along an Andes West Slope Basin at 30°S (Elqui Valley, Chile)
Authors: Scaff Lucia , Rutllant Jose A. , Rahn David , Gascoin Simon , Rondanelli Roberto
Published: January 2017

To better forecast streamflow and water resource availability, it is important to have an understanding of the meteorological drivers of the orographic precipitation gradient (OPG), especially critical in semiarid mountainous areas. Although forced ascent over topography typically results in precipitation increasing with altitude (positive OPGs), mean annual OPGs and especially OPGs associated with individual storms can change widely in magnitude and even sign. Precipitation measurements from the Elqui Valley in the semiarid Andes of Chile (30°S) reveal a mean annual OPG of 6.3 mm km−1 (millimeters of precipitation over kilometers in elevation) ranging from −42 to 52 mm km−1 for individual storms over the last 35 years (1979–2013). Reanalysis data and precipitation measurements are used to characterize the observed OPG in this region in relation with their synoptic-scale flow. It is found that the Froude number correlates positively with the OPG, reflecting stronger zonal winds and less static stability during storms that have positive OPGs. Altitude of the Andes barrier jet shows only a weak relationship with the OPG. Significant storms with positive OPGs are typically linked with an austral blocking of the westerlies and an equatorward migration of the midlatitude storm track. For negative OPGs, either a cutoff low or the northern edge of a surface migratory cyclone reaches the Elqui Valley in such a way that significant rainfall only occurs in the near-coastal region without major snowfall accumulation over the Andes.
Interpolation of Operational Radar Data to a Regular Cartesian Grid Exemplified by Munich’s Airport Radar Configuration
Authors: Augst Ayla , Hagen Martin
Published: January 2017

Two methods for avoiding errors in the interpolation of operational radar data to a regular grid are presented. The issue is the interpolation of radial velocity and the subsequent estimation of horizontal wind components. It is shown how a vertical gradient of the horizontal wind in combination with gaps of data between scans with different elevation angles affect the interpolation. Simulated radar data for the radar configuration covering the Munich airport in southern Germany are used for illustration. The origin of the abovementioned errors is explained using simplified wind fields. With wind fields generated by the German nonhydrostatic atmospheric prediction model COSMO-DE, the effectiveness of the methods is presented. Both methods contribute to a reduction in interpolation error—by 44% and 35%, respectively—compared to a standard interpolation scheme used for many operational radar configurations.
Statistical Forecast Model for Ice-Related Events in the Arctic
Authors: April André
Published: January 2017

This paper presents a statistical ice event forecast model for the Arctic based on Fourier transforms and a mathematical filter. The results indicate that this model compares very well with both a multiple regression model and a human-made forecast. There seems to be a direct link between the period associated with the dominant spectral peak of the Fourier transform and the ease with which the date of events, such as fractures, bergy water, or open water, can be forecast. While useful for the normal timing of events, at this time, none of the current forecast models can predict events that occur before or beyond the usual or historical dates, which poses a forecast problem in the Arctic.
Expanding access to parasite-based malaria diagnosis through retail drug shops in Tanzania: evidence from a randomized trial and implications for treatment
Authors: Maloney Kathleen , Ward Abigail , Krenz Bonnie , Petty Nora , Bryson Lindsay , Dolkart Caitlin , Visser Theodoor , Le Menach Arnaud , Scott Valerie K. , Cohen Justin M. , Mtumbuka Esther , Mkude Sigsbert
Published: January 2017

Background

Tanzania has seen a reduction in the fraction of fevers caused by malaria, likely due in part to scale-up of control measures. While national guidelines require parasite-based diagnosis prior to treatment, it is estimated that more than half of suspected malaria treatment-seeking in Tanzania initiates in the private retail sector, where diagnosis by malaria rapid diagnostic test (RDT) or microscopy is illegal. This pilot study investigated whether the introduction of RDTs into Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets (ADDOs) under realistic market conditions would improve case management practices.

Methods

Dispensers from ADDOs in two intervention districts in Tanzania were trained to stock and perform RDTs and monitored quarterly. Each district was assigned a different recommended retail price to evaluate the need for a subsidy. Malaria RDT and artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) uptake and availability were measured pre-intervention and 1 year post-intervention through structured surveys of ADDO owners and exiting customers in both intervention districts and one contiguous control district. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression were used to compare the three districts and identify predictive variables for testing.

Results and discussion

A total of 310 dispensers from 262 ADDOs were trained to stock and perform RDTs. RDT availability in intervention ADDOs increased from 1% (n = 172) to 73% (n = 163) during the study; ACT medicines were available in 75% of 260 pre-intervention and 68% of 254 post-intervention ADDOs. Pre-treatment testing performed within the ADDO increased from 0 to 65% of suspected malaria patients who visited a shop (95% CI 60.8–69.6%) with no difference between intervention districts. Overall parasite-based diagnosis increased from 19 to 74% in intervention districts and from 3 to 18% in the control district. Prior knowledge of RDT availability (aOR = 1.9, p = 0.03) and RDT experience (aOR = 1.9, p = 0.01) were predictors for testing. Adherence data indicated that 75% of malaria positives received ACT, while 3% of negatives received ACT.

Conclusions

Trained and supervised ADDO dispensers in rural Tanzania performed and sold RDTs under real market conditions to two-thirds of suspected malaria patients during this one-year pilot. These results support the hypothesis that introducing RDTs into regulated private retail sector settings can improve malaria testing and treatment practices without an RDT subsidy.

Trial registration ISRCTN ISRCTN14115509
A Cognitive Agent-based Model for Multi-Robot Coverage at a City Scale
Authors: Zia Kashif , Din Ahmad , Shahzad Khurram , Ferscha Alois
Published: January 2017

Background

In this article, we model a behavior-based strategy of autonomous coverage and exploration at the scale of a city with multiple robots. The behavioral components are motivated by Cepeda et al. (Sensors 12 (9): 12772–12797, 2012) and extended to incorporate into a generic cellular-automata based agent model. These agents are representing homogenous robots with reactive control. Deliberative approaches requires large scale map and large memory, which slowdowns the execution. Our approach is reactive and simple, that is, robots have no prior information about the environment and do not generate a route map as they traverse. However, other robots in neighborhood are detected using local sensors.

Findings

A city-scale map-driven simulation is designed and model’s efficiency is evaluated for different deployment possibilities. It is evidenced that even with this simple model, the agents are able to explore a significant percentage of the environment.

Conclusion

For a city-scale multi-robotic exploration, our simple but efficient model does not require explicit communication and data sharing (and hence representation and storage of navigated map) because possibility of encountering and influencing another agent is quite low, due to spatial dynamics of the environment.
Editorial: Masters of fate: the APC cytokine milieu as a key regulator of distinct Tfh cell subsets
Authors: Cox Kelly M , Erickson Loren D
Published: January 2017

Discussion on how DC-derived IL-6 inhibits the differentiation of Tfh cells with a Th2 phenotype.
Problems of the geophysical contractor
Authors: Moore C. M.
Published: January 2017

The basic problem facing the geophysical contractor today is precisely analogous to the one faced by every other businessman. He must run his business in such a way as to achieve an honest and fair return on his investment. Geophysical exploration is not a direct revenue-producing function of an oil company. It is therefore only natural that in times when money is tight and profits are down geophysical exploration has the distinction of being the first activity to be curtailed. This curtailment takes place at a time when exploration is most needed to find more oil to replace fast depleting reserves.
Technical limitations of present geophysical tools
Authors: Born W. T.
Published: January 2017

Perhaps I should begin by defining the word “Tools.” I shall not talk of gadgets but shall consider “Tools” to mean all geophysical methods and associated techniques. My talk, then, will be a discussion of what I believe to be the “Technical Limitations of Geophysical Methods,” particularly those which all methods have in common.
Current research to improve the effectiveness of standard geophysical methods
Authors: Van Melle F. A.
Published: January 2017

A report on current research must of necessity be incomplete because there is always a certain lag between current research and the application of the successful projects in the form of developments which are noticed by the industry in general and released in the form of patents and papers in professional journals. Until then they cannot in general be reported.
How can geophysicists meet the present situation?
Authors: Woods J. P.
Published: January 2017

What is the situation which must be met? Because of economic pressure, the oil industry has made various adjustments. There have been mergers and re-organiza-tions. Exploration plans have been dropped, curtailed, or deferred. This is a simple, direct way to cut expenditures and improve the immediate profit picture. Exploration adds nothing to income for this year or next; perhaps it will be six or seven years before the exploration done this year will result in the profitable production of oil. Decreasing or deferring exploration is thus an obvious method of borrowing from the future.
Bayesian discriminant analysis of lithofacies integrate the Fisher transformation and the kernel function estimation
Authors: Liu Xingye , Li Jingye , Chen Xiaohong , Zhou Lin , Guo Kangkang
Published: January 2017

The accurate identification of lithofacies is indispensable for reservoir parameter prediction. In recent years, the application of multivariate statistical methods has gained more and more attention in petroleum geology. In terms of the identification for lithofacies, the commonly used multivariate statistical methods include discriminant analysis and cluster analysis. Fisher and Bayesian discriminant analyses are two different discriminant analysis methods, which include intrinsic advantages and disadvantages. Given the discriminant efficiency of different methods, calculation cost, difficulty in the degree of determining the parameters, and the ability to analyze statistical characteristics of data, we put forward a new method combined with seismic information to classify reservoir lithologies and pore fluids. This method integrates the advantages of Fisher discrimination, the kernel function, and Bayesian discrimination. First, we analyze training data and search a projection direction. Then, data are transformed through Fisher transformation according to this direction and different kinds of facies can be distinguished more efficiently by exploiting transformed data than by using primitive data. Subsequently, using the kernel function estimates the conditional probability density function of the transformed variable. A classifier is constructed based on Bayesian theory. Then, the pending data are input to the classifier and the solution whose posteriori probability reaches the maximum is extracted as the predicted result at each grid node. An a posteriori probability distribution of predicted lithofacies can be acquired as well, from which interpreters can evaluate the uncertainty of the results. The ultimate goal of this study is to provide a novel and efficient lithofacies discriminant method. Tests on model and field data indicate that our method can obtain more accurate identification results with less uncertainty compared with conventional Fisher approaches and Bayesian methods.
“The Fragments, Scraps, the Bits and Greasy Relics”: Shakespeare and the Eighteenth-Century Poetic Miscellany
Authors: Salamone Christopher
Published: January 2017

This article seeks to add nuance to the story of Shakespeare's canonization in the eighteenth century, a story that has hitherto neglected the part played by the period's poetic miscellanies. Are there patterns in the form, quantity, and selection of Shakespearean texts within this hugely popular literary form over the century? Whilst the article examines a number of texts, it also offers a more focused analysis of one particular collection, The Agreeable Variety (1717), from which we can draw wider conclusions. The miscellany contains eight “Shakespearean” fragments. Some of these extracts are firmly attributed to Shakespeare, others are the consequence of adaptation and revision, and some have no provenance at all. What does this tell us about the cultural consumption and assimilation of Shakespeare at this moment of anthologizing? What cultural needs and attitudes do these textual relics realize? And more generally, how does this fit in the wider pattern of Shakespearean fragments that circulated in the period's other poetic miscellanies, and what does this reveal about the construction of “Shakespeare” as an esteemed textual presence on the literary market?
Reading Milton in Eighteenth-Century Poetic Miscellanies
Authors: Curran Louise
Published: January 2017

Over the course of the eighteenth century, Milton's place in the British poetic canon was both contested and established. The first scholarly editions of Paradise Lost were printed, and the full range of his verse—both in form and content—was frequently imitated as well as discussed. Modern critics, such as Dustin Griffin (1986), have explored how Milton's poetry influenced writers in the succeeding century, yet its appropriation in miscellaneous publications remains largely unexplored. This essay analyzes the history of Milton's reception in the period 1700-1800 through his appearance in miscellanies, in the form of quotation, imitation, and as an exemplar of a distinctly British poetic identity. It traces the way in which Milton's Paradise Lost is quoted from in these collections, and explores how his poetry was read aloud, and for what purpose, by so-called “ordinary” readers, and it also documents the appearance of Milton's shorter poems in the period before Thomas Warton's seminal publication of these works in his Poems upon Several Occasions (1785). By surveying Milton's place in poetic miscellanies, this essay aims to demonstrate the various and changing functions his poetry supplied for eighteenth-century readers.