bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Affecting mobility: Consuming driving and driving consumption in Southeast Asian emerging markets
Authors: Small Ivan V.
Published: December 2017

This article examines emergent consumption patterns in Vietnam’s shifting transportation market and then considers them within broader design and marketing infrastructures shaping emerging markets in the Southeast Asian region. First, I explore the strategies and histories of Vietnamese buyers and sellers participating in the transportation commodity market starting with the motorcycle and transitioning to the automobile, demonstrating how they are entangled with a range of practical, affective, and symbolic valuations. However, shifts in manufacturing and recent regional and international trade agreements mandating tariff reductions are delinking informal consumption and valuation practices while also reorienting material and temporal relations to the market. Moving from micro examinations of transportation user experiences to macro perspectives on market design, I discuss how a transnational transportation industry is anticipating and engaging new consumer publics in not only Vietnam but the Asia region more broadly through an exploration of affective notions of mobility, and in the process framing and projecting an emerging Asian cultural market infrastructure. I suggest that identifying collaborative opportunities for stakeholders in academia, industry, and policy to explore emergent issues of transportation and mobility preferences and developments in Asia may be a productive arena for further lateral learning and analytic insight.
Subtraction computed tomography imaging to detect endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm sealing with sac anchoring
Authors: Vos Cornelis G , van Veen Ruben , Schuurmann Richte CL , Boersen Johannes T , van den Heuvel Daniel AF , de Vries Jean-Paul PM
Published: December 2017

Background

Early detection of small type I endoleaks after endovascular aneurysm sealing is mandatory because they can rapidly progress and lead to severe complications. Recognition of endoleaks can be challenging due to the appearances on computed tomography unique to endovascular aneurysm sealing. We aimed to validate the accuracy and added value of subtraction computed tomography imaging using a post-processing software algorithm to improve detection of endovascular aneurysm sealing-associated endoleaks on postoperative surveillance imaging.

Methods

The computed tomography scans of 17 patients (16 males; median age: 78, range: 72–84) who underwent a post-endovascular aneurysm sealing computed tomography including both non-contrast and arterial phase series were used to validate the post processing software algorithm. Subtraction images are produced after segmentation and alignment. Initial alignment of the stent segmentations is automatically performed by registering the geometric centers of the 3D coordinates of both computed tomography series. Accurate alignment is then performed by translation with an iterative closest point algorithm. Accuracy of alignment was determined by calculating the root mean square error between matched 3D coordinates of stent segmentations.

Results

The median root mean square error after initial center of gravity alignment was 0.62 mm (IQR: 0.55–0.80 mm), which improved to 0.53 mm (IQR: 0.47–0.69 mm) after the ICP alignment. Visual inspection showed good alignment and no manual adjustment was necessary.

Conclusions

The possible merit of subtraction computed tomography imaging for the detection of small endoleaks during surveillance after endovascular aneurysm sealing was illustrated. Alignment of different computed tomography phases using a software algorithm was very accurate. Further studies are needed to establish the exact role of this technique during surveillance after endovascular aneurysm sealing compared to less invasive techniques like contrast-enhanced ultrasound.
A comparison of early and late treatments on allodynia and its chronification in experimental neuropathic pain
Authors: Salvat Eric , Yalcin Ipek , Muller André , Barrot Michel
Published: December 2017

Background

Surgeries causing nerve injury can result in chronic neuropathic pain, which is clinically managed by using antidepressant or anticonvulsant drugs. Currently, there is a growing interest for investigating preemptive treatments that would prevent this long-term development of neuropathic pain. Our aim was to compare analgesic drugs using two distinct treatment modalities: either treatment onset at surgery time or following a couple of weeks of neuropathic pain.

Methods

In male C57BL/6J mice, neuropathic pain was induced by cuffing the sciatic nerve, and allodynia was assessed using von Frey filaments. We tested the effect of anticonvulsants (gabapentin 10 mg/kg and carbamazepine 40 mg/kg), antidepressants (desipramine 5 mg/kg, duloxetine 10 mg/kg, and fluoxetine 10 mg/kg), dexamethasone (2 mg/kg), and ketamine (15 mg/kg). Drugs were injected daily or twice a day, starting either at surgery time or on day 25 postsurgery (15 days of treatment for antidepressants and 10 days for other drugs).

Results

Ketamine was the only effective treatment during the early postsurgical period. Although early anticonvulsant treatment was not immediately effective, it prevented chronification of allodynia. When treatments started at day 25 postsurgery, desipramine, duloxetine, and anticonvulsants suppressed the mechanical allodynia.

Conclusions

Our data show that allodynia measured in experimental neuropathic pain model likely results from a combination of different processes (early vs. late allodynia) that display different sensitivity to treatments. We also propose that early anticonvulsant treatment with gabapentin or carbamazepine may have a prophylactic effect on the chronification of allodynia following nerve injury.
Production performance analysis during operation phase: A case study
Authors: Qarahasanlou Ali N , Barabadi Abbas , Ayele Yonas Z
Published: December 2017

Production performance analysis plays a significant role in supporting the decision-making process, for managers and engineers dealing with the challenges of the optimization procedure of a system delivery capacity. Operational conditions can influence the production performance of a system drastically, in a short or long term, by affecting the system configuration, reliability, maintainability, maintenance supportability, and functional capacity of its components. Moreover, these impacts can lead to increased business risks and uncertainties. Such a situation demands the successful application of tools and methodologies to minimize the total business risk through an accurate prediction of production performance, addressing the effects of operational conditions. However, there is a lack of practical methodologies, for production performance analysis of systems operating under the time-dependent operational conditions. Hence, the central thrust of this article is to develop a systematic methodology, for the production performance analysis of a system considering the time-dependent operational conditions. In the case study, the results show that the production performance of mining equipment is affected significantly by the operational conditions. These changes occur across the working shifts and due to any changes in the production plan of the mine. The result of the analyses shows that the critical items in the mine is the loader. Hence, in order to increase the production performance of the system, the optimization of the reliability or maintainability of the loader needs to be considered as a priority. Moreover, the wagon drill has a significant excess capacity, which means that, by adding more trucks to the system, the production performance of the system can be improved.
Sleep disturbances in tension-type headache and migraine
Authors: Fernández-de-las-Peñas César , Fernández-Muñoz Juan J. , Palacios-Ceña María , Parás-Bravo Paula , Cigarán-Méndez Margarita , Navarro-Pardo Esperanza
Published: December 2017

Current research into the pathogenesis of tension-type headache (TTH) and migraine is focused on altered nociceptive pain processing. Among the potential factors that influence sensitization mechanisms, emotional stress, depression, or sleep disorders all have an essential role: they increase the excitability of nociceptive firing and trigger hyperalgesic responses. Sleep disturbances and headache disorders share common brain structures and pathogenic mechanisms and TTH, migraine, and sleep disturbances often occur together; for example, 50% of individuals who have either TTH or migraine have insomnia. Moreover, insomnia and poor sleep quality have been associated with a higher frequency and intensity of headache attacks, supporting the notion that severity and prevalence of sleep problems correlate with headache burden. It should be noted that the association between headaches and sleep problems is bidirectional: headache can promote sleep disturbances, and sleep disturbances can also precede or trigger a headache attack. Therefore, a better understanding of the factors that affect sleep quality in TTH and migraine can assist clinicians in determining better and adequate therapeutic programs. In this review, the role of sleep disturbances in headaches, and the association with depression, emotional stress, and pain sensitivity in individuals with TTH or migraine are discussed.
Determinants of Colour Constancy and the Blue Bias
Authors: Weiss David , Witzel Christoph , Gegenfurtner Karl
Published: December 2017

We investigated several sensory and cognitive determinants of colour constancy across 40 illumination hues. In the first experiment, we measured colour naming for the illumination and for the colour induced by the illumination on the colorimetric grey. Results confirmed that the induced colours are approximately complementary to the colour of the illumination. In the second experiment, we measured colour constancy using achromatic adjustments. Average colour constancy was perfect under the blue daylight illumination and decreased in colour directions away from the blue daylight illumination due to undershooting and a strong blue bias. Apart from this blue bias, colour constancy was not related to illumination discrimination and to chromatic detection measured previously with the same setup and stimuli. We also observed a strong negative relationship between the degree of colour constancy and the consensus of naming the illumination colour. Constancy coincided with a low naming consensus, in particular because bluish illumination colours were sometimes seen as achromatic. Blue bias and category consensus alone explained >68%, and all determinants together explained >94% of the variance of achromatic adjustments. These findings suggest that colour constancy is optimised for blue daylight.
The global problem of childhood diarrhoeal diseases: emerging strategies in prevention and management
Authors: Mokomane Margaret , Kasvosve Ishmael , Melo Emilia de , Pernica Jeffrey M. , Goldfarb David M.
Published: December 2017

Acute diarrhoeal diseases remain a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality particularly among young children in resource-limited countries. Recent large studies utilizing case–control design, prospective sampling and more sensitive and broad diagnostic techniques have shed light on particular pathogens of importance and highlighted the previously under recognized impact of these infections on post-acute illness mortality and growth. Vaccination, particularly against rotavirus, has emerged as a key effective means of preventing significant morbidity and mortality from childhood diarrhoeal disease. Other candidate vaccines against leading diarrhoeal pathogens, such as enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Shigella spp., also hold significant promise in further ameliorating the burden of enteric infections in children. Large studies are also currently underway evaluating novel and potential easy-to-implement water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) preventive strategies. Given the ongoing global burden of this illness, the paucity of new advances in case management over the last several decades remains a challenge. The increasing recognition of post-acute illness mortality and growth impairment has highlighted the need for interventions that go beyond management of dehydration and electrolyte disturbances. The few trials of novel promising interventions such as probiotics have mainly been conducted in high-income settings. Trials of antimicrobials have also been primarily conducted in high-income settings or in travellers from high-income settings. Bloody diarrhoea has been shown to be a poor marker of potentially treatable bacterial enteritis, and rising antimicrobial resistance has also made empiric antimicrobial therapy more challenging in many settings. Novel effective and sustainable interventions and diagnostic strategies are clearly needed to help improve case management. Diarrhoeal disease and other enteric infections remain an unmet challenge in global child health. Most promising recent developments have been focused around preventive measures, in particular vaccination. Further advances in prevention and case management including the possible use of targeted antimicrobial treatment are also required to fully address this critical burden on child health and human potential.
Comparison of the Source and Quality of Information on the Internet Between Anterolateral Ligament Reconstruction and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: An Australian Experience
Authors: Devitt Brian M. , Hartwig Taylor , Klemm Haydn , Cosic Filip T. , Green James , Webster Kate E. , Feller Julian A. , Baker Joseph F.
Published: December 2017

Background:

The internet is a valuable tool, but concerns exist regarding the quality and accuracy of medical information available online.

Purpose:

To evaluate the source and quality of information on the internet relating to anterolateral ligament reconstruction (ALLR) compared with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR).

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Methods:

A questionnaire was administered to 50 ACLR patients in Australia to determine their use of the internet to research their operation and their familiarity with the anterolateral ligament (ALL) of the knee. The most common search terms were determined, and the first 70 websites returned by the 5 most popular search engines were used to assess the quality of information about ACLR and ALLR. Each site was categorized by type and was assessed for quality and validity using the DISCERN score, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) benchmark criteria, and a novel specific content score for each procedure. The presence of the Health on the Net Code (HONcode) seal was also recorded.

Results:

The majority (84%) of ACLR patients used the internet to research their operation. The quality of information available for ALLR was significantly inferior to that for ACLR according to the DISCERN score (37.3 ± 3.4 vs 54.4 ± 4.6; P < .0001) and specific content score (5.3 ± 1.3 vs 11.0 ± 1.5; P < .0001). ACLR websites were predominantly physician produced, while the majority of ALLR websites were academic. In contrast to ACLR websites, the majority of ALLR websites did not provide information on the indication for treatment or potential complications. ALLR websites scored better on the JAMA benchmark criteria due to the predominance of academic websites. A greater proportion of ACLR websites (14.6%) versus ALLR websites (2.5%) provided an HONcode seal. Correlation was demonstrated between the DISCERN score and specific content scores for both ACLR and ALLR but not with JAMA benchmark criteria. The specific content score had high reliability for both ACLR and ALLR.

Conclusion:

The majority of patients undergoing ACLR in Australia used the internet to research the procedure. The quality of information on the internet relating to ALLR was significantly inferior to information about ACLR. Most ALLR websites failed to include crucial information about the indication or options for treatment, prognosis, and potential complications. Surgeons should be aware of the information to which their patients are exposed through the internet and should be proactive in directing patients to appropriate websites.
“Her Life Rests on Your Shoulders”: Doing Worry as Emotion Work in the Care of Children With Diabetes
Authors: Watt Lisa
Published: December 2017

Research on parents’ caregiving experiences in the context of diabetes management have consistently shown that parents experience high levels of pediatric parenting stress, anxiety, depression, and general worry. However, how parents understand their worry is largely unexplored and little attention is paid to the work parents are already actively doing to manage their worry. Adopting Arlie Hochschild’s concept of “emotion work” and Dorothy Smith’s concept of “work,” this article examines how parents engage in the emotion work of doing worry. Drawing on the analysis of transcribed data from interviews with seven parents caring for children with diabetes, I show how parents expressed worry as an emotion they experience as well as an embodied way of knowing the presence of potential threats to their child’s health. Thus, doing worry is an essential aspect of work done by parents to ensure the safety and well-being of their children with diabetes.
Proceedings From the Symposium on Kidney Disease in Older People: Royal Society of Medicine, London, January 19, 2017
Authors: Abdulla Aza , Wright Pandora N. , Ross Louise E. , Gallagher Hugh , Iyasere Osasuyi , Ma Nan , Bartholomew Carol , Lowton Karen , Brown Edwina A.
Published: December 2017

People are living longer. On the whole, they have healthier lives and many of the problems previously seen at a younger age now appear in their later years. Kidneys, like other organs, age, and kidney disease in the aged is a prime example. In the United Kingdom, as in other developed countries, the prevalence of end stage kidney disease is highest in the 70- to 79-year-old age group. There are many older people who require renal replacement and are now considered for dialysis. While older patients with end-stage renal disease invariably aspire for a better quality of life, this needs a specialized approach and management. In January 2017, the Royal Society of Medicine held a seminar in London on “Kidney Disease in Older People” with presentations from a multidisciplinary body of experts speaking on various aspects of kidney problems in this age group and its management. The objectives were to increase awareness and improve the understanding of nephrology in the context of geriatric medicine but also geriatrics in its interface with nephrology, especially in the area of chronic kidney disease.
Vitamin D Deficiency and Association With Body Mass Index and Lipid Levels in Hispanic American Adolescents
Authors: Kumaratne Mohan , Early Gayle , Cisneros Jasmine
Published: December 2017

In this retrospective study, vitamin D deficiency was examined with body mass index (BMI) and lipid levels in a sample of Hispanic American adolescents. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among 234 subjects aged 13 to 19 years was 27.8%. Vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with a BMI of 85 kg/m2 or higher (odds ratio = 2.02, 95% confidence interval = 1.11-3.69, χ2 = 5.37, P = .021), and 55.6% of the sample were overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 85%). In the overweight or obese subjects, vitamin D deficiency was significantly associated with higher mean lipid levels compared with those with adequate vitamin D levels: total cholesterol = 165 ± 28.6 mg/dL versus 145.7 ± 27.5 mg/dL, P = .0003; low-density lipoprotein = 92.7 ± 25.7 mg/dL versus 80.8 ± 21.4 mg/dL, P = .007; and triglycerides = 148.9 ± 97.1 mg/dL versus 90.6 ± 40.7 mg/dL, P = .0000. The mean triglyceride level of 148.9 mg/dL in the overweight or obese subjects was in the dyslipidemic range. In the underweight and healthy weight subjects (BMI ≤ 84), there was no statistically different lipid levels between the vitamin D adequate and vitamin D deficient groups. The effect of vitamin D on lipid levels was confirmed by regression analysis. Elevated lipids and dyslipidemic triglyceride levels, associated with vitamin D deficiency in overweight or obese Hispanic American adolescents, indicates a need for clinical monitoring and appropriate intervention.
When the Gospel meets the China Dream: Religious Freedom and the Golden Rule
Authors: Chiaretto Yan Kin Sheung
Published: December 2017

The issue of religious freedom affects Sino-Vatican relations, but the Roman Catholic Church shares values with Confucianism, which provides common ground for dialogue. Pope Francis is focusing the church outward by promoting a culture of encounter and by working unceasingly for a fraternal dialogue of peace. Chinese president Xi Jinping urges his people to fulfill the China dream, emphasizing the core values of harmony, friendship, and civilization. Many have believed that the Gospel can contribute to China’s spiritual civilization; normalization of relations between China and the Holy See would benefit China and the Catholic Church and contribute to world peace and harmony.
Some Observations on William Carey’s Bible Translations
Authors: Richard H. L.
Published: December 2017

William Carey’s historic role in Bible translation is widely recognized. That Carey’s actual translations were of an inadequately low quality is not so widely known. This article, while not undermining Carey’s importance as a pioneer, points out five reasons why Carey’s translations were never widely used. Modern understandings of translation inform this paper, and Carey’s historical context explains many of his weaknesses. Not only is this article historical, but it concludes with the modern repercussions of inadequate Bible translations, calling for new translations in all major India languages that focus on people outside the church.
Exploring practitioners’ perception of ethical issues in planning: The Peruvian case
Authors: Pineda-Zumaran Jessica S
Published: December 2017

Despite the ethics of planning in the Global South is an issue of crucial importance due to the challenging circumstances in which the discipline is practiced in the region, this discussion is still at this initial stage. This article contributes to expanding on the matter through an approach to identify the influence on practitioners’ perception of ethical issues of the planning purposes and values embedded within five frames of reference of practice (i.e. professional training, professionalization bodies, institutional settings, planning systems and policy frameworks). Using the case of professional architects working as planners for municipalities in Arequipa (Peru), the article starts with an exploratory comparison between the purposes and values put forward by professional training in planning and architecture and then contrast these with the planning purposes and values purveyed by professionalization bodies, institutional settings, planning systems, and policy frameworks. These results support the analysis of practitioners’ perception of ethical issues. This shows that the understanding of planning purposes and values of Peruvian architects acting as planners and the views of the country’s architecture professionalization body contributes to strengthening the regulatory, technical, and apolitical orientation of the Peruvian planning system. With the adoption of neoliberal urban policies and within the ethically inconsistent municipal institutional setting, architects’ operationalization of their understanding of planning purposes and values leads to a procedural perception of ethical issues, which is based on the belief that these center on conflicts of personal principles. Their belated realization that ethical issues also concern conflict of interests adds to their questioning of the idea of planning, making the discipline’s practice in the country even more challenging.
The interaction of ENL with PAF1 mitigates polycomb silencing and facilitates murine leukemogenesis
Authors: Hetzner Katrin , Garcia-Cuellar Maria-Paz , Büttner Christian , Slany Robert K.
Published: December 2017

Key Points

The MLL fusion partner ENL engages PAF1 to induce antisilencing H2B ubiquitination. YEATS domain mutations or fusion with MLL increases affinity for PAF1 and transforms hematopoietic cells.
Seismic Vulnerability Assessment of Two Nepalese Rana Palaces
Authors: Shrestha Hima , Dizhur Dmytro , Prajapati Rajani , Giaretton Marta , Giongo Ivan , Guragain Ramesh , Jacquin Paul , Bothara Jitendra , Ingham Jason
Published: December 2017

The Rana dynasty ruled Nepal from 1846 to 1951 and was responsible for the construction of a number of private and government Neoclassical- or Baroque-style palaces in Kathmandu and other parts of the country. Following the 2015 Gorkha (Nepal) earthquake, detailed damage assessments of these buildings were undertaken by local and international teams. Two case study buildings that suffered moderate structural damage are presented herein, the Kaiser Mahal Palace and the Ananda Niketan Palace. Kaiser Mahal was assessed prior to the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in order to develop potential seismic retrofitting options, and the results are compared with the damage observations made following the Gorkha earthquake. Ananda Niketan was only assessed after the Gorkha earthquake with an extensive damage evaluation, in-situ material testing and sample extraction, and the undertaking of a comprehensive detailed seismic assessment. The two case studies are presented herein, followed by a comparison between the two buildings.
Performance of Medium-to-High Rise Reinforced Concrete Frame Buildings with Masonry Infill in the 2015 Gorkha, Nepal, Earthquake
Authors: Barbosa Andre R. , Fahnestock Larry A. , Fick Damon R. , Gautam Dipendra , Soti Rajendra , Wood Richard , Moaveni Babak , Stavridis Andreas , Olsen Michael J. , Rodrigues Hugo
Published: December 2017

Following the 25 April 2015 Mw 7.8 Gorkha, Nepal, earthquake and subsequent aftershocks, field surveys were conducted on medium-to-high rise reinforced concrete (RC) frame buildings with masonry infill located in the Kathmandu Valley. Rapid visual assessment, ambient vibration testing, and ground-based lidar (GBL) showed that these buildings suffered damage ranging from light to severe, where damage occurred in both structural and nonstructural elements, but was most prevalent in nonstructural masonry infills. Finite-element structural analyses of selected buildings corroborate field observations of only modest structural damage. The lack of severe structural damage in this relatively limited class of engineered medium-to-high rise RC infill frame buildings illustrates the impact of modern seismic design standards and stands in stark contrast to the severe damage and collapse observed in low-rise nonengineered RC infill frame buildings. Nonetheless, the nonstructural damage hindered many of these buildings from being occupied for many months following the earthquake and subsequent aftershocks.
Building Damage Assessment in the 2015 Gorkha, Nepal, Earthquake Using Only Post-Event Dual Polarization Synthetic Aperture Radar Imagery
Authors: Bai Yanbing , Adriano Bruno , Mas Erick , Koshimura Shunichi
Published: December 2017

This paper takes the 2015 Nepal earthquake as a case study to explore the use of post-event dual polarimetric synthetic aperture radar images for earthquake damage assessment. The radar scattering characteristics of damaged and undamaged urban areas were compared by using polarimetric features derived from PALSAR-2 and Sentinel-1 images, and the results showed that distinguishing between damaged and undamaged urban areas with a single polarimetric feature is challenging. A split-based image analysis, feature selection, and supervised classification were employed on a PALSAR-2 image. The texture features derived from the intensity of cross-polarization show higher correlations with the damage class. Additionally, feature selection revealed a positive influence on the overall performance. Employing 70% of the data for training and 30% data for testing, the support vector machine classifier achieved an accuracy of 80.5% compared with the reference data generated from the damage map that was provided by the United Nations Operational Satellite Applications Programme.
Results of a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Phase III Trial of Trifluridine/Tipiracil (TAS-102) Monotherapy in Asian Patients With Previously Treated Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: The TERRA Study
Authors: Xu Jianming , Kim Tae Won , Shen Lin , Sriuranpong Virote , Pan Hongming , Xu Ruihua , Guo Weijian , Han Sae-Won , Liu Tianshu , Park Young Suk , Shi Chunmei , Bai Yuxian , Bi Feng , Ahn Joong Bae , Qin Shukui , Li Qi , Wu Changping , Ma Dong , Lin Donghu , Li Jin
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS-102) was effective in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) in a phase II Japanese trial. This regional trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of trifluridine/tipiracil in Asian patients with mCRC with or without exposure to biologic therapy.

Patients and Methods

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase III trial was conducted at 30 sites in China, the Republic of Korea, and Thailand. Patients ≥ 18 years old with histologically or cytologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the colon or rectum and known KRAS status who were refractory or intolerant to two or more prior chemotherapy regimens were enrolled. Eligible patients were randomly assigned (2:1 ratio; minimization method) to receive trifluridine/tipiracil (twice per day orally; 5 days on and 2 days off for 2 weeks, followed by 14 days off per cycle) or placebo. The primary end point was overall survival (intent-to-treat population).

Results

Between October 16, 2013, and June 15, 2015, 406 patients were randomly assigned to receive trifluridine/tipiracil (n = 271) or placebo (n = 135). Risk of death was significantly lower in the trifluridine/tipiracil arm than in the placebo arm (hazard ratio for death, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.99; log-rank P = .035). Median overall survival was significantly longer in the trifluridine/tipiracil than in the placebo arm (7.8 months [95% CI, 7.1 to 8.8 months] v 7.1 months [95% CI, 5.9 to 8.2 months], respectively), for a median survival follow-up time of 13.8 months (95% CI, 13.1 to 15.3 months) compared with 13.4 months (95% CI, 11.6 to 17.3 months), respectively. The incidence of serious adverse events was similar between the arms (trifluridine/tipiracil, n = 63 [23.2%]; placebo, n = 32 [23.7%]). No treatment-related deaths were reported.

Conclusion

Trifluridine/tipiracil has a statistically significant survival benefit compared with placebo in Asian patients with mCRC refractory or intolerant to standard chemotherapies, regardless of exposure to biologic therapy. The safety profile is similar to previous reports.
The GSK3 kinase inhibitor lithium produces unexpected hyperphosphorylation of β-catenin, a GSK3 substrate, in human glioblastoma cells
Authors: Abdul Ata ur Rahman Mohammed , De Silva Bhagya , Gary Ronald K.
Published: December 2017

Lithium salt is a classic glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) inhibitor. Beryllium is a structurally-related inhibitor that is more potent but relatively uncharacterized. This study examined the effects of these inhibitors on the phosphorylation of endogenous GSK3 substrates. In NIH-3T3 cells, both salts caused a decrease in phosphorylated glycogen synthase, as expected. GSK3 inhibitors produce enhanced phosphorylation of Ser9 of GSK3β via a positive feedback mechanism, and both salts elicited this enhancement. Another GSK3 substrate is β-catenin, which has a central role in Wnt signaling. In A172 human glioblastoma cells, lithium treatment caused a surprising increase in phospho-Ser33/Ser37-β-catenin, which was quantified using an antibody-coupled capillary electrophoresis method. The β-catenin hyperphosphorylation was unaffected by p53 RNAi knockdown, indicating that p53 is not involved in the mechanism of this response. Lithium caused a decrease in the abundance of axin, a component of the β-catenin destruction complex that has a role in coordinating β-catenin ubiquitination and protein turnover. The axin and phospho-β-catenin results were reproduced in U251 and U87MG glioblastoma cell lines. These observations run contrary to the conventional view of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, in which a GSK3 inhibitor would be expected to decrease, not increase, phospho-β-catenin levels.
Movements of vastly different performance have similar underlying muscle physiology
Authors: Olberding Jeffrey P. , Scales Jeffrey A. , Deban Stephen M.
Published: December 2017

Many animals use elastic-recoil mechanisms to power extreme movements, achieving levels of performance that would not be possible using muscle power alone. Contractile performance of vertebrate muscle depends strongly on temperature, but the release of energy from elastic structures is far less thermally dependent, thus elastic recoil confers thermal robustness to whole-animal performance. Here we explore the role that muscle contractile properties play in the differences in performance and thermal robustness between elastic and non-elastic systems by examining muscle from two species of plethodontid salamanders that use elastically powered tongue projection to capture prey and one that uses non-elastic tongue projection. In species with elastic mechanisms, tongue projection is characterized by higher mechanical power output and thermal robustness compared with tongue projection of closely related genera with non-elastic mechanisms. In vitro and in situ muscle experiments reveal that species differ in their muscle contractile properties, but these patterns do not predict the performance differences between elastic and non-elastic tongue projection. Overall, salamander tongue muscles are similar to other vertebrate muscles in contractile performance and thermal sensitivity. We conclude that changes in the tongue-projection mechanism, specifically the elaboration of elastic structures, are responsible for high performance and thermal robustness in species with elastic tongue projection. This suggests that the evolution of high-performance and thermally robust elastic-recoil mechanisms can occur via relatively simple changes to morphology, while muscle contractile properties remain relatively unchanged.
Lean, mean, lipolytic machines: lipid mobilization in rainbow trout during graded swimming
Authors: Turenne Eric D. , Weber Jean-Michel
Published: December 2017

The mobilization of mammalian lipid reserves is strongly stimulated during exercise to reach a maximum at moderate intensities, but the effects of swimming speed on fish lipolysis have never been quantified. Continuous infusion of 2-[3H]glycerol was used to measure Ra glycerol (=rate of appearance of glycerol or lipolytic rate) in rainbow trout kept at rest, or during graded exercise in a swim tunnel up to critical swimming speed (Ucrit). Results show that Ra glycerol is 1.67±0.18 µmol kg−1min−1 in control animals, and remains at a steady level of 1.24±0.10 µmol kg−1min−1 in exercising fish at all swimming intensities. Baseline lipolytic rate provides more than enough fatty acids from lipid reserves to accommodate all the oxidative fuel requirements for swimming at up to 2 body lengths per second (BL s−1), and more than 50% of the energy needed at Ucrit (3.4±0.1 BL s−1). Such “excess lipolysis” also means that trout sustain high rates of fatty acid reesterification. Maintaining steady lipolysis at rest and throughout graded swimming is strikingly different from mammals that stimulate Ra glycerol by 2 to 5-fold to support exercise. Instead trout act like “lipolytic machines” that do not modulate Ra glycerol even when their metabolic rate triples: a strategy that eliminates the need to increase lipolytic rate during exercise. This study also supports the notion that maintaining a high rate of reesterification (or triacylglycerol/fatty acid cycling) may be a mechanism widely used by ectotherms to achieve rapid membrane remodelling in variable environments.
Lokale Wundtherapie eines chronischen therapierefraktären Ulcus cruris venosum mit Omega3-Wundmatrix
Authors: Cyrek A. , Bernheim J. , Juntermanns B. , Paul A.
Published: December 2017

Moderne Zusatzbehandlungen zur herkömmlichen Wundtherapie werden häufig notwendig, da ein großer Anteil chronischer Wunden unter der Standardbehandlung nicht vollständig abheilen bzw. auch häufig rezidivieren. Die Omega3-Wundmatrix (Kerecis®) stellt eine alternative Wundauflage dar, die aus der Haut des Kabeljaus durch entsprechende Verfahren wie z.B. die Dezellularisierung gewonnen wird.

Wir berichten über eine 86-jährige Patientin, die über schmerzhafte, chronische und rezidivierende Ulzeration im Bereich des rechten Unterschenkels klagte. Vorausgegangen war eine operative Behandlung der venösen Insuffizienz mit Debridement, Vakuumtherapie und Spalthauttransplantation, wonach es im Verlauf zur deutlichen Vergrößerung und Schmerzhaftigkeit der Wunde kam. Nach anschließender lokaler Wundtherapie mit Omega3- Wundmatrix (Kerecis®) kam es zu einer rasch progredienten Wundheilung mit vollständiger Abheilung der Ulzerationen innerhalb von 14 Wochen.
Evaluation of antibiotic susceptibility in wound infections: A pilot study from Bangladesh
Authors: Roy Sushmita , Ahmed Mejbah Uddin , Uddin Bhuiyan Mohammad Mahtab , Ratan Zubair Ahmed , Rajawat Monali , Mehta Varshil , Zaman Sojib Bin
Published: December 2017

Introduction: Infections due to antibiotic resistant bacteria have increased alarmingly in both developed and developing countries. Unrestrained and rapidly spreading bacterial growth has turned the management of wound infections into a serious challenge. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of different bacterial pathogens and their antibiotic susceptibility in various types of wound infections.

Methods:  A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect 105 wound swabs. All isolated bacteria were identified based on colony characteristics, gram stain and standard biochemical tests, and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) with the disc diffusion method. Descriptive statistics were used to present the study findings, and all analyses were performed using Stata Version 13.

Results:  The rate of isolation of bacteria was 92.3%.Staphylococcus aureuswas found to be the most frequent isolate (55.7%), followed byEscherichia coli(23.7%),Pseudomonasspp. (8.2%), andStreptococcus pyogenes(7.2%). Gram-positive bacteria were mostly (60%) found sensitive to vancomycin, azithromycin, gentamicin, imipenem, cefixime, and ceftriaxone in this study. Among the Gram-negative bacteria,Escherichia coli(>60%) showed sensitivity to cefixime, azithromycin, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, gentamycin, and ceftazidime.

Conclusions: The diversity of isolated bacteria and their susceptibility patterns signify a need to implement a proper infection control strategy, which can be achieved by carrying out antibiotic sensitivity tests of the isolates.
The population structure of the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria in the middle boreal forests depends on the time-since-disturbance
Authors: Ignatenko Roman V. , Tarasova Viktoria N.
Published: December 2017

The population structure of the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) Hoffm. was analyzed in the Vodlozersky National Park (Karelia, Russia), for middle boreal forest stands having a time-since-disturbance spanning 80 to 450 years. To estimate the age of the last disturbance, a method of evaluation for the tree population structure was applied. The forest stand communities belonged to a successional series: middle-aged aspen – mixed aspen-spruce – pre-climax spruce – climax (old-growth) spruce forest. All thalli (1055) of L. pulmonaria from all substrate units (165, separately standing or lying trees and shrubs) were described within 7 sample plots of 1 ha. For each thallus, the area (cm2) and the functional-age group were determined. The number of Lobaria thalli per ha, number of substrate units, number of substrate types (living, standing dead and lying dead trees of different species) colonized by L. pulmonaria, as well as number of substrate types on which the lichen had completed its life cycle increased with time-since-disturbance.
System for Adaptive Control of Emergency Evacuation in Case of Fire in a Building
Authors: Колодкин Владимир , Kolodkin Vladimir , Чирков Борис , Chirkov Boris
Published: December 2017

In this work are discussed the problems of emergency evacuation in case of fire in a building. Has been proposed a model of controlled evacuation based on minimizing the time for evacuation by the routes which are safe for people. The necessity of designing a system for adaptive control that automatically designs evacuation routes for the people in a burning building has been justified. For the route design purposes has been put in a function defining the possibility of safe evacuation on route segments depending on the state of environmental parameters in the building. The presented system of adaptive control supports the possibility for management of people evacuation from the building in case of fire in the real time mode. System operation modes and conditions of transition between them have been considered. Software and hardware implementations for the system have been proposed. A method for system’s relative efficiency estimation has been presented, and the efficiency of the system for adaptive control using the said method has been demonstrated.
An Ergodic Control Problem for Many-Server Multiclass Queueing Systems with Cross-Trained Servers
Authors: Biswas Anup
Published: December 2017

A Markovian queueing network is considered with d independent customer classes and d server pools in Halfin–Whitt regime. Class i customers has priority for service in pool i for i = 1, …, d, and may access some other pool if the pool has an idle server and all the servers in pool i are busy. We formulate an ergodic control problem where the running cost is given by a non-negative convex function with polynomial growth. We show that the limiting controlled diffusion is modelled by an action space which depends on the state variable. We provide a complete analysis for the limiting ergodic control problem and establish asymptotic convergence of the value functions for the queueing model.
Geopolítica como Luta de Classes: Marxismo Político, Relações Internacionais e Sociologia Histórica | Geopolitics as Class Struggle: Political Marxism, International Relations and Historical Sociology
Authors: Salgado Pedro
Published: December 2017

Ao inserir a luta de classes no centro da análise histórica, o Marxismo Político propõe uma reinterpretação da disciplina de Relações Internacionais que pode ser entendida em três passos. O primeiro é uma visão histórica da formação do sistema de estados moderno, a partir de transformações da geopolítica feudal após a origem do capitalismo. O segundo, uma metodologia historicista que parte da forma como a operação de tal sistema pode ser entendida através dos conflitos entre classes com suas respectivas estratégias de espacialização. Por fim, resta justificar a centralidade da luta de classe, e de “classe” enquanto categoria analítica, através do retorno à obra de Marx, resgatando a forma como a noção sociológica de agência é antecipada em sua filosofia da práxis. Assim, reinscrevendo a distinção entre “global” e “(inter)nacional” nas relações sociais que lhe dão origem, a disciplina de Relações Internacionais assume a forma de Sociologia Histórica.ABSTRACTBy bringing class struggle into the core of historical analysis, Political Marxism suggests a reinterpretation of International Relations that can be understood in three steps. Firstly, a historical account of of the rise of the modern states-system through the transformations in feudal geopolitics after the rise of capitalism. Secondly, the development of a radically historicist methodology that is explains this system's operation through the conflict between classes and their respective spatialization strategies. At last, the justification for having class struggle at the core of the analysis, and of "class" as an analytical unit, comes from a return to Marx's work to see how he grounds the sociological notion of agency in his philosophy of praxis. Therefore, by reviving the distinctiong between "global" and "(inter)national" in the social relations that give birth to this very distinction, the discipline of International Relations assumes the form of Historical Sociology.Palavras-chave: Relações Internacionais, Marxismo, GeopolíticaKeywords: International Relations, Marxism, GeopoliticsRecebido em 24 de Abril de 2017 | Aceito em 07 de Agosto de 2017Received on April 24, 2017 | Accepted on August 7, 2017 DOI: 10.12957/rmi.2016.28437
Structuring and implementing a customer service center for telecommunications SMEs in Colombia
Authors: Hernandez Viveros Leydy Johana , Lopez Sarmiento Danilo Alfonso , Vera Nelson Enrique
Published: December 2017

This document proposes the implementation of a care center customer for small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Colombia as a new business plan. The
methodology begins with the study of the current situation of the company,
identifying the problem (customer dissatisfaction with company response in
Colombia). Later, multiple studies were conducted including general environment
analysis and the marketing plan, to finally establish the possibility of consolidating
this expansion opportunity within a company. The results suggest that the business
model developed is viable because it generates economic benefits for businesses.
The main conclusion is that implementing the Contact Center for companies, in
addition to being necessary, is feasible and increases productivity.
ASSESSMENT OF Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd & Hg IN AMBON BAY SURFACE SEDIMENTS
Authors: Manullang Corry Yanti , Lestari - , Tapilatu Yosmina , Arifin Zainal
Published: December 2017

In this study, the concentration of Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Hg were determined in marine surface sediment to assess the impact of pollution sources around the Ambon Bay by application of Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). The metals concentrations found were in the following ranges (in mg kg-1 DW): 27,598 to 51,716 for Fe, 13.7 to 44.8 for Cu, 51.3 to 163 for Zn, 0.1 to 0.66 for Cd, 0.04 to 0.44 for Hg and 14.4 to 24.5 for Pb. The results indicated the strong contribution of heavy metals pollution from the urban waste, residential sources, farming industry, shipping activities and ship repair activity from dockyard around the Ambon Bay. This study provides the most updated information regarding heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Hg) concentrations in Ambon Bay marine sediment.
PRISTINE MANGROVE COMMUNITY IN WONDAMA GULF, WEST PAPUA, INDONESIA
Authors: Dharmawan I Wayan Eka , Widyastuti Andriyani
Published: December 2017

Papua shoreline has the most extensive area of mangrove in Indonesia. Since this area was rarely studied due to various reasons, the scientific data was difficult to be found. Wondama mangrove, part of Cendrawasih National Park – West Papua, had a promising mangrove forest to be discovered. Preliminary study was carried out in this area to identify how pristine the mangrove area is. The objectives of this study was to analyze mangrove community health and structure. Vegetation structure and canopy coverage data were collected from 107 circular plots included three plot areas (radian: 5 m, 2.5 m and 1 m) which were distributed to determine three plant classes i.e. tree, sapling and seedling, respectively. Present study showed that Wondama mangrove is a pristine mangrove community. It had large size of tree trunk diameter by 19.77± 6.55 cm averagely. Its diameter size affected on low tree density which was less than 1000 tree/ha. Those two parameters were strongly negative-correlated each other.  On the other hand, community canopy was highly covered mangrove area by 82.46±6.43%. Rhizophora has mostly dominated in the forest. Mangrove regeneration in Wondama was excellent referring to density and species composition of sapling-seedling levels.