bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indications and Efficacy of Gamma Knife Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Recurrent Glioblastoma: 2 Decades of Institutional Experience
Authors: Imber Brandon S. , Kanungo Ishan , Braunstein Steve , Barani Igor J. , Fogh Shannon E. , Nakamura Jean L. , Berger Mitchel S. , Chang Edward F. , Molinaro Annette M. , Cabrera Juan R. , McDermott Michael W. , Sneed Penny K. , Aghi Manish K.
Published: July 2016

BACKGROUND: The role of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) for recurrent glioblastoma and the radionecrosis risk in this setting remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a large retrospective study to help inform proper indications, efficacy, and anticipated complications of SRS for recurrent glioblastoma.

METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent Gamma Knife SRS between 1991 and 2013. We used the partitioning deletion/substitution/addition algorithm to identify potential predictor covariate cut points and Kaplan-Meier and proportional hazards modeling to identify factors associated with post-SRS and postdiagnosis survival.

RESULTS: One hundred seventy-four glioblastoma patients (median age, 54.1 years) underwent SRS a median of 8.7 months after initial diagnosis. Seventy-five percent had 1 treatment target (range, 1-6), and median target volume and prescriptions were 7.0 cm3 (range, 0.3-39.0 cm3) and 16.0 Gy (range, 10-22 Gy), respectively. Median overall survival was 10.6 months after SRS and 19.1 months after diagnosis. Kaplan-Meier and multivariable modeling revealed that younger age at SRS, higher prescription dose, and longer interval between original surgery and SRS are significantly associated with improved post-SRS survival. Forty-six patients (26%) underwent salvage craniotomy after SRS, with 63% showing radionecrosis or mixed tumor/necrosis vs 35% showing purely recurrent tumor. The necrosis/mixed group had lower mean isodose prescription compared with the tumor group (16.2 vs 17.8 Gy; P = .003) and larger mean treatment volume (10.0 vs 5.4 cm3; P = .009).

CONCLUSION: Gamma Knife may benefit a subset of focally recurrent patients, particularly those who are younger with smaller recurrences. Higher prescriptions are associated with improved post-SRS survival and do not seem to have greater risk of symptomatic treatment effect.
The microtubule-severing protein fidgetin acts after dendrite injury to promote their degeneration
Authors: Tao Juan , Feng Chengye , Rolls Melissa M.
Published: July 2016

After being severed from the cell body, axons initiate an active degeneration program known as Wallerian degeneration. Although dendrites also seem to have an active injury-induced degeneration program, no endogenous regulators of this process are known. Because microtubule disassembly has been proposed to play a role in both pruning and injury-induced degeneration, we used a Drosophila model to identify microtubule regulators involved in dendrite degeneration. We found that, when levels of fidgetin were reduced using mutant or RNA interference (RNAi) strategies, dendrite degeneration was delayed, but axon degeneration and dendrite pruning proceeded with normal timing. We explored two possible ways in which fidgetin could promote dendrite degeneration: (1) by acting constitutively to moderate microtubule stability in dendrites, or (2) by acting specifically after injury to disassemble microtubules. When comparing microtubule dynamics and stability in uninjured neurons with and without fidgetin, we could not find evidence that fidgetin regulated microtubule stability constitutively. However, we identified a fidgetin-dependent increase in microtubule dynamics in severed dendrites. We conclude that fidgetin acts after injury to promote disassembly of microtubules in dendrites severed from the cell body.
Interplays of knowledge and non-contingency
Authors: Costa-Leite Alexandre
Published: July 2016

This paper combines a non-contingency logic with an epistemic logic by means of fusions and products of modal systems. Some consequences of these interplays are pointed out.
Investigating Purchase Conversion by Uncovering Online Visit Patterns
Authors: Park Chang Hee , Park Young-Hoon
Published: July 2016

This research aims to understand and predict online customers’ store visit and purchase behaviors. To this end, we develop a model that accounts for different patterns of online store visits at the individual level. Given the latency of visit patterns, we employ a changepoint modeling framework and statistically infer them using a Bayesian approach. The inferences obtained are then used to examine the effects of visit patterns on purchase dynamics across store visits. Using Internet clickstream data at an online retailer, we find that online store visit patterns tend to be clustered with significant variation across customers in terms of the number and size of visit clusters as well as the visit frequencies, both within and between clusters. Furthermore, the conversion rates vary significantly, depending on store visit patterns, such that they tend to be higher at later visits within a visit cluster, compared with earlier visits. The proposed model thereby offers superior fit and predictive performance than benchmark models that ignore clustered visit patterns and their impact on purchase behavior. We demonstrate the model’s ability to better identify prospective customers by utilizing their visit patterns, which can assist marketers in scoring customers and making targeting decisions across individuals for marketing activity.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mksc.2016.0990 .
Do Stock Options Overcome Managerial Risk Aversion? Evidence from Exercises of Executive Stock Options
Authors: Heron Randall A. , Lie Erik
Published: July 2016

We report that the probability that executives exercise options early decreases with the volatility of the underlying stock return. We interpret this to mean that executives’ subjective option value increases with volatility and that option grants increase executives’ risk appetite. Further decomposition reveals that the results are most pronounced for idiosyncratic volatility, consistent with our conjecture that executives believe they can better predict or influence the resolution of idiosyncratic uncertainty than systematic uncertainty and, thus, favor the former.

Data are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2016.2495 .

This paper was accepted by Wei Jiang, finance.
Innovations to support hydration care across health and social care
Authors: Campbell Naomi
Published: July 2016

It is known that the primary cause of dehydration in elderly care is caused by a person not regularly drinking enough. Dehydration is a much-publicised national concern, associated with poor outcomes of care and acute hospital admissions. However, in November last year, NHS England stated that the scale of dehydration is not known; in comparison, it confirmed at least three million people are at risk of malnutrition. The stark comparison in information occurs because there is no nationally recognised screening tool to identify who is at risk of dehydration. An innovative nursing role, focused on finding solutions to reduce the risk of dehydration in the care of older and vulnerable persons, has led to the development of a simple dehydration screening tool called ‘ROC to drink’ (ROC stands for ‘reliance on a carer’), which focuses on the level of support needed to drink. An innovative tea cup has been designed to help raise standards for monitoring drinks and raise awareness about intake.
A single-centre, retrospective study of cryopreserved umbilical cord/amniotic membrane tissue for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers
Authors: Raphael A.
Published: July 2016

Objective:

Histopathological studies have shown a prolonged inflammatory phase in wounds of patients with diabetes, delaying formation of mature granulation tissue and reducing wound tensile strength, making these wounds difficult for physicians to heal. Cryopreserved human umbilical cord (cUC) tissues possess unique anti-inflammatory and anti-scarring properties and have been found to help improve closure of these chronic wounds.

Method:

A retrospective chart review was performed to assess the efficacy of cUC as an advanced treatment modality to help promote the closure of chronic DFUs. Overall healing rate, duration to wound closure, and number of cUC applications used to achieve closure were used to assess cUC treatment efficacy.

Results:

A total of 32 wounds in 29 patients treated at a single health-care centre were included in the study population The average initial wound area for all wounds was 10.6 ± 2.15cm2. Of the 32 wounds 28 achieved complete epithelialisation for an overall healing rate of 87.5%. Average time to wound closure was 13.8 ± 1.95 weeks with a median of 9 weeks and an average of 1.68 ± 0.18 cUC applications.

Conclusion:

The results suggest cUC allograft may be effective in improving the healing of DFUs ulcers as well as potentially reducing the medical costs associated with chronic DFUs due to the low number of applications needed to achieve complete wound closure. Prospective, randomised controlled trials are suggested to better understand the efficacy of cUC in chronic wound healing.

Declaration of interest:

Dr Raphael is a paid speaker for Amniox Medical, Inc.
Ottonostalgias and Urban Apartheid
Authors: De Cesari Chiara
Published: July 2016

A widespread nostalgia for the Ottoman period is visible in numerous urban regeneration projects proliferating across the Middle East. This article explores how Ottoman heritage in Palestine and Istanbul both propels oppressive sociospatial schemes and forms the basis for social movements formed to contest these schemes. In Istanbul, the banner of urban regeneration has been used to expropriate and displace local populations in a context marked by rapidly escalating real estate values and huge profits realized by developers allied with an entrepreneurial political class. The politically-driven heritagization occurring in Istanbul uncannily resembles the efforts aggressively pushed forward by an alliance between Israeli settlers and the government in Israel/Palestine – a form of class cleansing as opposed to a predominantly ethnic one targeting Palestinians. In response, Palestinian heritage organizations are endeavouring to rehabilitate old cities in towns and villages of the West Bank, in an attempt to improve the economic and social livelihoods of Palestinians and help them resist colonization.
Responses to the Destruction of Syrian Cultural Heritage: A Critical Review of Current Efforts
Authors: Al Quntar Salam , Daniels Brian I.
Published: July 2016

The Syrian civil war has resulted in over 250,000 deaths and several million displaced refugees within Syria and abroad. In addition to this human toll, the conflict has resulted in the devastation of the country’s acclaimed cultural heritage sites and the historical fabric that composed the country’s social landscape and the identity of its population. In this article, we consider the reaction of the international heritage community to this moment of crisis. To date, the international heritage community has developed three kinds of projects: site documentation projects; public-awareness-raising projects; and emergency training and mitigation projects. Most of these undertakings have prioritized the collection and dissemination of information about heritage loss. Less attention has been given to emergency interventions to support Syrians inside the country and the at-risk heritage. A significant gap exists between international knowledge about heritage in this crisis and the immediate needs of Syrian heritage professionals. Here, we consider some of the reasons for the divergence between on-the-ground-need and international response, along with the intended and unintended outcomes resulting from the documentation and public-awareness-raising projects. In terms of tangible results, there is no substitute for efforts conducted within a humanitarian framework. The challenge is in encouraging the international heritage community to embrace such an approach.
Précis
Authors: Roberson Jennifer , Michelsen Leslee
Published: July 2016

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ART HISTORIANS ‘OLD SPACES, NEW NARRATIVES: ISLAMIC ARCHITECTURE IN THE 20TH AND 21ST CENTURIES’, COLLEGE ART ASSOCIATION 103RD ANNUAL CONFERENCE, NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 11–14, 2015

BAMIYAN CULTURAL CENTRE DESIGN COMPETITION ANNOUNCEMENT, UNESCO OFFICE, KABUL, AFGHANISTAN, FEBRUARY 18, 2015
Functional activity of intestinal microbiota with metabolic syndrome
Authors: Kurmangulov Al'bert A. , Dorodneva Elena F. , Isakova Dilara N.
Published: July 2016

Actuality: The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a multifactorial disease involved in the pathogenesis of many systems and organs, including the digestive system. Accumulating evidence signify the role of microorganisms in many metabolic processes and suggest human microbiota involvement in the development of different pathologic conditions, including the MS.The aim: To evaluate the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the functional activity of intestinal microbiota in individuals with MS.Materials and methods: The study involved 85 subjects with MS divided into 4 groups according to BMI. Determination of the short chain fatty acids in the feces was carried out by gas-liquid chromatographic studies.Results: Chromatographic examination of feces revealed changes in both qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the functional activity of the intestinal microbiota in people with MS. The severity of disturbances in microbiota correlated with BMI. In all groups with excess body weight the overall metabolic activity of microorganisms was decreased. In grade 2 obesity there was an increases in the activity of aerobic microorganisms populations, mostly of optional and residual strains. The grade 3 obesity is accompanied by the most significant changes in coprologic profile with the activation of proteolytic microorganisms.Conclusions: These data suggest the presence of pathogenic correlations between obesity, MS, and intestinal microbiota. In this regard, it is necessary to search for causal relationships oin onset and progression of metabolic disorders involving the bowel microbiota in MS..
Relationship of body mass index and abdominal obesity in rural population of Krasnodarsky kray taken
Authors: Bolotova Elena V. , Samorodskaya Irina V. , Komissarova Irina M.
Published: July 2016

The aim was to study the relationship of body mass index (BMI) and abdominal obesity with the frequency of comorbid pathology in rural population of Krasnodarsky kray.Materials and methods. The study included 700 rural workers (18 years of age and older) who underwent a preventive medical examination (57,2% of women and 42,8% of men, mean age 49,11±16,57 years).Results. In rural population of Krasnodarsky kray the proportion of the individuals with BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m2 was 34.7% (statistically more significant in men than in women, р0.0001), the proportion of the individuals with BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 was 39.7% (statistically more significant in women than in men, р0.0001). Abdominal obesity was found in 70.1% of individuals (77.3% of women and 60.5% of men, p=0.0001). In the group of patients with increased BMI, abdominal obesity was more common in women than in men (p=0.0001). In the group of patients with BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 abdominal obesity was revealed in 100% of cases. Risk factors for chronic non-infectious diseases such as hypercholesterolemia (26.7%), hyperglycemia (16.4%), and arterial hypertension (26.1%) were statistically more frequent in the individuals with BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 than in those with normal and increased BMI. The diseases that can be enhanced by the presence of abdominal obesity were registered more often in patients with BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2 (97.8%) in comparison with patients with elevated BMI (23.5%; р0,0001) and with normal BMI (4%; р0,0001).Conclusions. Elevated BMI, abdominal obesity and high frequency of comorbid pathology is prevalent in Krasnodarsky kray.
Inequalities for casorati curvatures of submanifolds in real space forms
Authors: Zhang Pan , Zhang Liang
Published: July 2016

Using Oprea’s optimization methods on submanifolds, we give another proof of the inequalities relating the normalized δ-Casoraticurvature

δ
^

$\hat \delta $

c(n−1) for submanifolds in real space forms. Also, inequalities relating the normalized δ-Casorati curvature δC(n − 1) for submanifolds in real space forms are obtained. Besides, we characterize a kind of Casorati ideal hypersurface of Euclidean 4-space. We also show that this kind of Casorati ideal hypersurface is rigid.
Migration measurement of the cemented Lubinus SP II hip stem – a 10-year follow-up using radiostereometric analysis
Authors: Sesselmann Stefan , Hong Yutong , Schlemmer Frank , Wiendieck Kurt , Söder Stephan , Hussnaetter Isabell , Müller Lutz Arne , Forst Raimund , Wierer Thomas
Published: July 2016

In a previous radiostereometric analysis (RSA) of the Lubinus SP II (Link, Hamburg, Germany), which is one of the most often used cemented hip stems worldwide, our research group detected a very small but statistically significant distal migration of -0.03±0.17 mm 2 years after surgery compared to the postoperative radiograph. Maximum subsidence occurred between 6 and 12 months. The implant appeared to have stabilized after 2 years. The mean value of maximum total point motion (MTPM) was 0.99±0.69 mm, which was detected 2 years after surgery. The purpose of this study was to analyze the migration pattern and to verify the predictive value of short-term RSA of the Lubinus SP II stem after 10 years. After a follow-up of 5 and 10 years, 38 and 27 out of 100 patients remained available for further assessment, respectively. No statistically significant implant translation or rotation was found along or about the axes of the global coordinate system 5 and 10 years after surgery with respect to the postoperative radiograph. Furthermore, the MTPM was stable in both follow-up periods. The results suggest that the Lubinus SP II hip stem is still stable 10 years after surgery, supporting that determining prognosis by short-term RSA follow-up of 2 years could be an appropriate tool for appraisal of implant behavior 10 years after surgery.
Territorial Self-Governing Units of the Czech Republic as Entities Possessing Ownership and Other Proprietary Rights (the Basic Conceptual Issues)
Authors: Havlan Petr , Janeček Jan
Published: July 2016

The property owned by self-governing units represents an important socioeconomic factor with the potential to affect a wide range of aspects of life, considering the scope of self-governing units.

The aim of this paper is to present an overview of the recent legal regulations regarding the proprietary position of Czech self-governing units (municipalities and regions) as well as comments on their development (considering wider circumstances) from 1990 to the present day. It focuses on the nature of legal entities sui generis (in Czech called “příspěvková organizace”), which perform ownership and other proprietary rights of the municipalities and regions on the basis of specific public law relations. Appropriate attention is also dedicated to other legal subjects operating in the sphere of territorial self-government considering their proprietary position. The sub-objectives of the article are the identification and explanation of solutions to the identified problems concerning the analyzed questions.

The methodological part of the article is based on the analysis and critical evaluation of the current state of the discussed legal issues. The authors use the methods of legal hermeneutics to obtain correct interpretations of the analyzed legal regulations.

The entities sui generis in question are found to be a relic of the transition period in Czech legal development after the 1990s and should be replaced with up-to-date forms of a public legal entity.
Evaluation of the possibility of the sewage sludge gasification gas use as a fuel
Authors: Werle Sebastian , Dudziak Mariusz
Published: July 2016

Biomass is one of the major sources of energy that is estimated to contribute between 10% and 14% of the world’s energy supply. Over the past several years, many societies have established policy targets to increase their production of renewable energy from biomass. The thermo-chemical utilization of biomass includes 4 technologies: the most popular combustion and co-firing, and unconventional: pyrolysis and gasification. Gasification is considered to be the perspective technology because has many advantages in comparison to traditional process of combustion: (1) limited emission of the SO2, NOx, oxides of the heavy metals and no risk of the dioxins and furans emission due to reducing atmosphere in the gasification reactor, (2) volume of the gasification gas is smaller in comparison to flue gases from combustion due to the reducing atmosphere, (3) gasification process produce gas which is potential gaseous fuel in power engineering (engines, gas turbines and boilers) and chemistry. Unfortunately, composition of the gasification gas is always described as a variable. Moreover, it depends on the conditions of the process and quality of the base fuel. For this reason, the use of gasification gas can’t be very easy. For this reason, the knowledge of the basic properties of the gas is very important. Laminar burning velocity is assumed as an important quantity for in the process of the design equipment for the gas utilization. The numerical and experimental results of the laminar burning velocity of sewage sludge gasification gases were presented. Experimental Bunsen burner method was used. Cosilab 3© software for numerical analysis was used. GRI-Mech 3.0 mechanism of gas oxidation was implemented. As a result of the work, the set of the parameters where the sewage sludge gasification gas combustion process is stable with effective heat release, were presented.
Statistical analysis of the associations between phenolic monoterpenes and molecular markers, AFLPs and SAMPLs in the spice plant Oregano
Authors: Azizi Ali , Ardalani Hamidreza , Honermeier Bernd
Published: July 2016

Introduction: Molecular markers are the examples of the contribution of genome technology to medicinal plant breeding through marker-assisted selection (MAS) for pharmaceutical quality.

Objective: Forty-two accessions of Origanum vulgare L. originating from Europe were evaluated to detect genomic and chemotypic polymorphisms and to discover possible associations between them.

Methods: A total of 477 molecular polymorphisms including 214 AFLP (Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism) and 263 SAMPL (Selectively Amplified Microsatellite Polymorphic Loci) were used for genotyping. Components in the essential oils were identified and quantified by gas chromatography (GC) and two major compounds (two economically important monoterpenes: carvacrol and thymol) were investigated.

Results: Based on results, a relatively high correlation between chemotypic patterns and genetic markers was identified. Associations between traits of interest for essential oils (carvacrol and thymol content) and genetic markers were tested using five statistical methods including three General Linear Model (GLM) and two unified Mixed Linear Model (MLM) approaches. Significant associations were found for 3 AFLP and 20 SAMPL with three key traits including essential oil yield, carvacrol and thymol content.

Conclusion: These associations can constitute a useful starting point for marker-assisted selection. Therefore, the results provide the basis for molecular breeding of O. vulgare for pharmaceutical purposes.
An update on the occurrence of resistance-breaking populations of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) on resistant tomato in Greece with six new records from Crete
Authors: Tzortzakakis E.A. , Vieira dos Santos M.-C. , Conceição I.
Published: July 2016

The available published information on the occurrence of resistance-breaking populations of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) on resistant tomato in Greece is updated. Within the period 1994-2013, 13 populations (11 M. javanica and 2 M. incognita) able to reproduce on resistant tomato had been recorded in the regions of Crete, Epirus, Thrace, Peloponissos and Macedonia. In the present study six more resistance-breaking populations, four M. javanica and two M. incognita, were detected in the period 2013-2014, all originating from greenhouse vegetables in Crete. Four of these populations, two M. javanica and two M. incognita, originated from the region of Ierapetra. This is the first time that such populations are found in this major area of greenhouse vegetable production of Crete.
Insecticidal effect of Fusarium subglutinans on Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
Authors: Demirözer O. , Uzun A. , Arici Ş.-E. , Gep İ. , Bakay R.
Published: July 2016

Fusarium subglutinans (Ascomycota: Nectriaceae) is known to have lethal effects on aphid species, while there are limited studies associated with other arthropods. In this study, the effect of different spore concentrations (1×104, 1×106 and 1×108 spores/ml) of F. subglutinans 12A, isolated from Aphis gossypii in Adana-Karataş (Turkey), was investigated on Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) females and on 2nd instar nymphs (only 1×106 spores/ml). The application method was by dipping and observations on mortality of females were conducted 24, 48, 72, 96 hours and 7 and 9 days after application. Mycosis was also observed on dead individulas. Mortality of nymphs was recorded during 8 days after application. Higher average dead females were found in the treatments compared to the control, but there was not significant difference between the tested concentrations (Mycosis rate recorded in 1×106 spores/ml was higher than those in 1×104 and 1×108 spores/ml). The highest and lowest mycosis rates were observed on the 7th and 3rd day, respectively. Average number of dead 2nd instar nymphs recorded in 1×106 spores/ml did not differ from control.
The Transfiguration of the Real in Abstract Painting
Authors: Wunenburger Jean-Jacques
Published: July 2016

This article challenges a series of assumptions associated with abstract painting, arguing that this type of art makes one understand a visual manifestation which does no longer refer to the visible world only, but also to an intelligible world, accessible to the senses. Non-figurative painting abandons the reproduction of the visible, in order to present us with the invisible, and in order to account for this phenomenon the author elaborates three types of philosophical decision to interpret the mode of being of the image. The comprehension of this original experience of abstract art is then compared to the relations between the visible and the invisible, as Christian theology delineates them. Christianity is defined first by the experience of the figuration of God, by His embodiment, which actually enables one to conceive of certain images, such as the icon of the Orthodox liturgy, but at the same time it also bestows, for the first time, an incredible status to the disappearance of the visible divine body, when it returns to the invisible, while remaining present in the visible.
The Measure of the Soul
Authors: Lovișteanul Emilian Nica
Published: July 2016

Starting from the assumption that everything is measured in this world, the author sets out to ask some questions about the value and the measure of the human soul and postulates that we should distinguish between an earthly measure and a divine measure of the soul. He concludes that the “positive” measure of the soul is acquired according to its redemption and salvation for the eternal life, because a saved soul is worthier than the whole world (acc. Luke 9,25).
Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation of Parahisian Accessory Pathway
Authors: Korodi Szilamér , Kovács István , Benedek Edvin , Mester András , Jani Laura , Stănescu Alexandra , Benedek Imre
Published: July 2016

Radiofrequency catheter ablation of parahisian accessory pathways in pre-excitation syndrome is a challenging task, due to the extremely high risk of complete atrioventricular block. In this brief report we describe the case of a 32 year-old man presenting a parahisian accessory pathway, who has been successfully treated by radiofrequency ablation. Radiofrequency catheter ablation using low-power radiofrequency current is considered to be the most appropiate method of ablation in adult patients.
Limited Cutaneous Scleroderma-Related Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension — a Case Report
Authors: Ţilea Ioan , Bocicor Elena Andreea , Gal Codruţa Maria , Varga Andreea
Published: July 2016

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined by mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAPm) ≥25 mm Hg, can lead to increasing pulmonary vascular resistance, which eventually results in right ventricle failure. Scleroderma, as an autoimmune connective tissue disease, is associated with PH as a sub-group according to the 2015 ESC/ERS PH classification. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) associated with scleroderma (SSc-PAH) can often result in poor prognosis with increased mortality. Early diagnosis and specific treatment of PH can significantly improve the prognosis of these patients.

Case report: We present the case of a 50 year-old male, with no relevant family history, with a 2-year history of echocardiography-based diagnosis of PH (PAPm 78 mmHg). Physical examination revealed limited hand and forearm areas of non-folding thick skin, vital signs in the normal range and peripheral oxygen saturation of 96%. Severity and risk assessment were performed based on clinical and imaging tests, and hemodynamics. 12-lead rest ECG revealed sinus tachycardia and right bundle branch block, the six-minute walk test confirmed limited exertion capacity, Borg scale 9. Transthoracic echocardiography pointed to dilated right heart cavities and moderate pericardial effusion. Right heart catheterization confirmed the PAH (PAPm: 36 mmHg), and pulmonary CT angiography excluded massive pulmonary embolism. Rheumatologic examination and immune serology identified a scleroderma subset, limited cutaneous sclerosis form (lcSSc) with early onset PH. Combined specific PH drug therapy was initiated, followed by clinical and functional improvement in clinical status, prognosis and life quality.

Conclusions: In clinical group 1 of PH, the subgroup etiology of PAH associated with connective tissue disease (1.4.1) often goes undiagnosed, mainly due to the diminish of lung involvement symptoms in early CTD stages. Multidisciplinary approach is essential in order to refine the diagnosis and set out the treatment algorithm.
Effect of Pointing Error on the BER Performance of an Optical CDMA FSO Link with SIK Receiver
Authors: Nazrul Islam A. K. M. , Majumder S. P.
Published: July 2016

An analytical approach is presented for an optical code division multiple access (OCDMA) system over free space optical (FSO) channel considering the effect of pointing error between the transmitter and the receiver. Analysis is carried out with an optical sequence inverse keying (SIK) correlator receiver with intensity modulation and direct detection (IM/DD) to find the bit error rate (BER) with pointing error. The results are evaluated numerically in terms of signal-to-noise plus multi-access interference (MAI) ratio, BER and power penalty due to pointing error. It is noticed that the OCDMA FSO system is highly affected by pointing error with significant power penalty at a BER of 10
Applying profile- and catchment-based mathematical models for evaluating the run-off from a Nordic catchment
Authors: Farkas Csilla , Kværnø Sigrun H. , Engebretsen Alexander , Barneveld Robert , Deelstra Johannes
Published: July 2016

Knowledge of hydrological processes and water balance elements are important for climate adaptive water management as well as for introducing mitigation measures aiming to improve surface water quality. Mathematical models have the potential to estimate changes in hydrological processes under changing climatic or land use conditions. These models, indeed, need careful calibration and testing before being applied in decision making. The aim of this study was to compare the capability of five different hydrological models to predict the runoff and the soil water balance elements of a small catchment in Norway. The models were harmonised and calibrated against the same data set. In overall, a good agreement between the measured and simulated runoff was obtained for the different models when integrating the results over a week or longer periods. Model simulations indicate that forest appears to be very important for the water balance in the catchment, and that there is a lack of information on land use specific water balance elements. We concluded that joint application of hydrological models serves as a good background for ensemble modelling of water transport processes within a catchment and can highlight the uncertainty of models forecast.
A study on controlling Setaria viridis and Corchorus olitorius associated with Phaseolus vulgaris growth using natural extracts of Chenopodium album
Authors: El-Rokiek Kowthar Gad , El-Din Samia Amin Saad , Shehata Abeer Nasr , El-Sawi Salma Ahmed Mahmoud
Published: July 2016

The effects of water extracts of Chenopodium album leaves and roots on the growth of grass weed (Setaria viridis) and broad leaf weed (Corchorus olitorius) grown with beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) in greenhouse pots were studied in the National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt. In this experiment fresh leaf and root extracts and their corresponding dry leaf and root extracts at different concentrations were used. There were significant inhibitions in the dry weights of S. viridis and C. olitorius by all extracts at the flowering stage of beans and at harvest. The inhibition effect of all C. album extracts on both weeds (dry weight/pot) depended on the extracted plant organ (leaf or root), its fresh or dry form as well as its concentrations. The inhibition caused by the leaf extract was much higher on weed growth than that of root extract. A higher concentration of fresh leaf extract (25%) had the highest significant inhibition effect. The results also indicated that C. olitorius was more sensitive to the extracts than S. viridis. On the other hand, the inhibition effect of the extracts on the growth of both weeds was accompanied by increased bean growth and yield/plant. The analysis of both leaf and root extracts of C. album revealed that the total content of polyphenols and flavonoids in the leaf extract was more than triple that of the root extract. The results suggested that the fresh leaf extract of C. album may be a possible tool for the development of weed control using natural herbicides.
Compositional analysis of silicon oxide/silicon nitride thin films
Authors: Meziani Samir , Moussi Abderrahmane , Mahiou Linda , Outemzabet Ratiba
Published: July 2016

Hydrogen, amorphous silicon nitride (SiNx:H abbreviated SiNx) films were grown on multicrystalline silicon (mc-Si) substrate by plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) in parallel configuration using NH3/SiH4gas mixtures. The mc-Si wafers were taken from the same column of Si cast ingot. After the deposition process, the layers were oxidized (thermal oxidation) in dry oxygen ambient environment at 950 °C to get oxide/nitride (ON) structure. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS), Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) were employed for analyzing quantitatively the chemical composition and stoichiometry in the oxide-nitride stacked films. The effect of annealing temperature on the chemical composition of ON structure has been investigated. Some species, O, N, Si were redistributed in this structure during the thermal oxidation of SiNx. Indeed, oxygen diffused to the nitride layer into Si2O2N during dry oxidation.
Full Range of Motion Induces Greater Muscle Damage Than Partial Range of Motion in Elbow Flexion Exercise With Free Weights
Authors: Baroni Bruno M. , Pompermayer Marcelo G. , Cini Anelize , Peruzzolo Amanda S. , Radaelli Régis , Brusco Clarissa M. , Pinto Ronei S.
Published: July 2016

Baroni, BM, Pompermayer, MG, Cini, A, Peruzzolo, AS, Radaelli, R, Brusco, CM, and Pinto, RS. Full range of motion induces greater muscle damage than partial range of motion in elbow flexion exercise with free weights. J Strength Cond Res 31(8): 2223–2230, 2017—Load and range of motion (ROM) applied in resistance training (RT) affect the muscle damage magnitude and the recovery time-course. Because exercises performed with partial ROM allow a higher load compared with those with full ROM, this study investigated the acute effect of a traditional RT exercise using full ROM or partial ROM on muscle damage markers. Fourteen healthy men performed 4 sets of 10 concentric-eccentric repetitions of unilateral elbow flexion on the Scott bench. Arms were randomly assigned to partial-ROM (50–100°) and full-ROM (0–130°) conditions, and load was determined as 80% of 1 repetition maximum (1RM) in the full- and partial-ROM tests. Muscle damage markers were assessed preexercise, immediately, and 24, 48, and 72 hours after exercise. Primary outcomes were peak torque, muscle soreness during palpation and elbow extension, arm circumference, and joint ROM. The load lifted in the partial-ROM condition (1RM = 19.1 ± 3.0 kg) was 40 ± 18% higher compared with the full-ROM condition (1RM = 13.7 ± 2.2 kg). Seventy-two hours after exercise, the full-ROM condition led to significant higher soreness sensation during elbow extension (1.3–4.1 cm vs. 1.0–1.9 cm) and smaller ROM values (97.5–106.1° vs. 103.6–115.7°). Peak torque, soreness from palpation, and arm circumference were statistically similar between conditions, although mean values in all time points of these outcomes have suggested more expressive muscle damage for the full-ROM condition. In conclusion, elbow flexion exercise with full ROM seems to induce greater muscle damage than partial-ROM exercises, even though higher absolute load was achieved with partial ROM.
Comparison of Three Timing Systems: Reliability and Best Practice Recommendations in Timing Short-Duration Sprints
Authors: Bond Colin W. , Willaert Emily M. , Noonan Benjamin C.
Published: July 2016

Bond, CW, Willaert, EM, and Noonan, BC. Comparison of three timing systems: reliability and best practice recommendations in timing short-duration sprints. J Strength Cond Res 31(4): 1062–1071, 2017—With the importance placed on athletic speed, it is important to use a valid and reliable timing system, particularly in sprints of short duration. Unfortunately, many of the commonly used timing systems have not been rigorously evaluated. This study aimed to compare results from a single-beam infrared photocell (PC), single-beam laser with a microprocessor (LA), and a previously validated video camera (VC) sacrum-based timing system; and in doing so, determine these systems' reliabilities, and establish best practices for increasing reliability. It was hypothesized that PC and LA times would be different from VC times and show reduced reliability compared with VC. Fifteen athletes performed 5 repetitions of a 60-foot maximal effort sprint with split times recorded for the first and second half. Photocell and LA full-time and first-half split times were significantly slower than VC (p < 0.001), but almost identical for the second half split (p = 0.08). Repeated sprint analysis showed that VC tended to have smaller SD compared with PC and LA for first-half split (0.05 vs. 0.08 vs. 0.09 seconds, respectively) and total time (0.09 vs. 0.10 vs. 0.11 seconds, respectively). Time differences were more dependent on initial forward lean and varying body segments triggering the beam, than on a systematic instrument error. The increased variability of PC and LA systems dampen the ability to determine whether meaningful change has occurred. The VC system allows for very valid and reliable measurements of an athlete's sprint time, especially in distances <30 feet.
Modeling Long-Term Deformations of Unbound Pavement Materials Using the Miniaturized Pressuremeter Creep Data
Authors: Shaban Alaa M. , Cosentino Paul J.
Published: July 2016

This research was undertaken to study the predictive capability of the pressuremeter test for characterizing in situ creep behavior of unbound pavement layers. Although the creep potential of granular pavement materials is less pronounced than fine-grained soils, consideration of actual creep deformations in the pavement evaluation process will improve long-term pavement performance. In this investigation, the long-term deformations determined from laboratory one-dimensional creep tests were compared with those investigated by field pressuremeter tests. The pressuremeter test consisted of inflating a cylindrical probe incrementally up to a given stress level, and then maintaining the pressure constant for a 5-min single stage. During this stage, radial deformations of the soil cavity were recorded at each 30-s interval. The one-dimensional creep test was performed on remolded soil specimens through applying a constant stress level for 7 days. Comparison of creep parameters deduced from pressuremeter and creep tests data was based on the Singh–Mitchell creep model. The results showed that the average strain rates derived from in situ pressuremeter data are valid, and compare well with those predicted from the laboratory creep test. Thus, the pressuremeter device can be employed to assess field strain–time behavior of pavement systems in a fast and reliable approach.
High Performance Ultrasonic Buffer Rods With Novel Structure for Polymer Process Monitoring
Authors: Zhang D. -L. , Wu M. , Chen Z. , Li Y.
Published: July 2016

To reduce trailing noises mixed in ultrasonic echoes during ultrasonic wave propagation in a buffer rod, the influence of the rod’s boundary shape and dimension on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) was analyzed using a simulation method. Novel buffer rods with complex structures and shapes based on a cylinder or cone reference surface were proposed. The novel rods were found to be more effective in obtaining signals with high SNR than the cylinder or cone rods currently in use. Simulation results showed that the rod proposed in this paper exhibited better performance in a given installation space compared with the cylinder or cone rods.
Production of Aluminide Layers on Copper and Copper Alloy
Authors: Rêgo G. C. , Takeya G. S. , Neto A. L. , Totten G. E. , Casteletti L. C.
Published: July 2016

Intermetallic coatings were produced on pure copper and aluminum-bronze substrates using the powder aluminizing process. The treatments were carried out at 550°C and 600°C during 30, 60, 120, and 180 min. The layers were characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) associated with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and wear and hardness testing. The treatments performed at 600°C resulted in larger layer thicknesses compared to those produced at 550°C for both copper and bronze substrates. XRD analysis indicated the presence of intermetallic phases FeAl, FeAl3, and CuAl on aluminum-bronze. The layers produced on the Cu and aluminum-bronze substrates exhibited maximum hardness of approximately 750 HV and 870 HV, respectively. The adhesive wear resistance of all formed layers was higher than those of low-hardness substrates (100 HV in the case of copper and 300 HV for the aluminum-bronze). There were no significant differences in the wear resistances of the layers produced on the same substrate. The abrasion resistance of the aluminum-bronze layers were higher than those of the copper layers, because of the greater hardness of the layers formed on the aluminum-bronze.
A Statistical Guide to the Design of Deep Mutational Scanning Experiments
Authors: Matuszewski Sebastian , Hildebrandt Marcel E , Ghenu Ana-Hermina , Jensen Jeffrey D , Bank Claudia
Published: July 2016

The characterization of the distribution of mutational effects is a key goal in evolutionary biology. Recently developed deep-sequencing approaches allow for accurate and simultaneous estimation of the fitness effects of hundreds of engineered mutations by monitoring their relative abundance across time points in a single bulk competition. Naturally, the achievable resolution of the estimated fitness effects depends on the specific experimental setup, the organism and type of mutations studied, and the sequencing technology utilized, among other factors. By means of analytical approximations and simulations, we provide guidelines for optimizing time-sampled deep-sequencing bulk competition experiments, focusing on the number of mutants, the sequencing depth, and the number of sampled time points. Our analytical results show that sampling more time points together with extending the duration of the experiment improves the achievable precision disproportionately compared with increasing the sequencing depth or reducing the number of competing mutants. Even if the duration of the experiment is fixed, sampling more time points and clustering these at the beginning and the end of the experiment increase experimental power and allow for efficient and precise assessment of the entire range of selection coefficients. Finally, we provide a formula for calculating the 95%-confidence interval for the measurement error estimate, which we implement as an interactive web tool. This allows for quantification of the maximum expected a priori precision of the experimental setup, as well as for a statistical threshold for determining deviations from neutrality for specific selection coefficient estimates.
Bayesian Inference of the Evolution of a Phenotype Distribution on a Phylogenetic Tree
Authors: Ansari M Azim , Didelot Xavier
Published: July 2016

The distribution of a phenotype on a phylogenetic tree is often a quantity of interest. Many phenotypes have imperfect heritability, so that a measurement of the phenotype for an individual can be thought of as a single realization from the phenotype distribution of that individual. If all individuals in a phylogeny had the same phenotype distribution, measured phenotypes would be randomly distributed on the tree leaves. This is, however, often not the case, implying that the phenotype distribution evolves over time. Here we propose a new model based on this principle of evolving phenotype distribution on the branches of a phylogeny, which is different from ancestral state reconstruction where the phenotype itself is assumed to evolve. We develop an efficient Bayesian inference method to estimate the parameters of our model and to test the evidence for changes in the phenotype distribution. We use multiple simulated data sets to show that our algorithm has good sensitivity and specificity properties. Since our method identifies branches on the tree on which the phenotype distribution has changed, it is able to break down a tree into components for which this distribution is unique and constant. We present two applications of our method, one investigating the association between HIV genetic variation and human leukocyte antigen and the other studying host range distribution in a lineage of Salmonella enterica, and we discuss many other potential applications.