bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of reaction forces on the anterior cruciate and anterolateral ligaments during internal rotation and anterior drawer forces at different flexion angles of the knee joint
Authors: Uğur Levent
Published: March 2017

Background

Having a complicated anatomy, the knee joint has been further detailed and a new formation defined, the anterolateral ligament (ALL), in recent studies. While the importance of this ligament, which previously was associated with Segond fractures, was explained via clinical, radiologic and biomechanical studies, and basically, is thought to be a fixator structures for the tibia against internal rotation stress. Although in recent studies efficient surgical treatment was applied to patients who underwent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) operation, some patients having a positive pivot test highlights the clinical importance of the ALL. The aim of this study is to evaluate reaction forces of different flexion angles on the tibia during internal rotation and anterior drawer tests on both the ALL and ACL, and to examine theimportance of this ligament in knee biomechanics by a finite element analysis method.

Method

In this study, normal anatomy knee joint was modelled using Computed Tomography images from lower extremity length in DICOM format. 0°, 15°,30°,45°,60°,75° and 90° angles of flexion were applied, respectively, to these models and reaction force vectors formed on both ligaments were examined separately and as total vector and size by applying internal rotation and anterior drawer forces on each model. Non‐linear analysis was conducted using ANSYS (version 17) with the same limit conditions applied to all models.

Results

After all models were examined, in general when comparing reaction forces, those on the ACL were found to be higher. However, when vectoral directions were examined, forces on ALL increased with increased flexion ratio and internal rotation momentum. Beyond 30° flexion, the tensile force on the ALL is increased and compressive overload on the ACL occurs.

Conclusion

The ALL plays an important role in stability, especially against internal rotation forces, and an increased knee joint flexion ratio increases the stability contribution ratio. In particular, at 30° and higher angles, ACL reflects an antagonist effect and contributes to knee joint stability for rotational and mediolateral transposition.
Effects of Transendocardial Stem Cell Injection on Ventricular Proarrhythmia in Patients with Ischemic Cardiomyopathy: Results from the POSEIDON and TAC-HFT Trials
Authors: Ramireddy Archana , Brodt Chad R. , Mendizabal Adam M. , DiFede Darcy L. , Healy Chris , Goyal Vishal , Alansari Yahya , Coffey James O. , Viles-Gonzalez Juan F. , Heldman Alan W. , Goldberger Jeffrey J. , Myerburg Robert J. , Hare Joshua M. , Mitrani Raul D.
Published: March 2017

Transendocardial stem cell injection in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) improves left ventricular function and structure but has ill-defined effects on ventricular arrhythmias. We hypothesized that mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) implantation is not proarrhythmic. Post hoc analyses were performed on ambulatory ECGs collected from the POSEIDON and TAC-HFT trials. Eighty-eight subjects (mean age 61 ± 10 years) with ICM (mean EF 32.2% ± 9.8%) received treatment with MSC (n = 48), Placebo (n = 21), or bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMC) (n = 19). Heart rate variability (HRV) and ventricular ectopy (VE) were evaluated over 12 months. VE did not change in any group following MSC implantation. However, in patients with ≥ 1 VE run (defined as ≥ 3 consecutive premature ventricular complexes in 24 hours) at baseline, there was a decrease in VE runs at 12 months in the MSC group (p = .01), but not in the placebo group (p = .07; intergroup comparison: p = .18). In a subset of the MSC group, HRV measures of standard deviation of normal intervals was 75 ± 30 msec at baseline and increased to 87 ± 32 msec (p =.02) at 12 months, and root mean square of intervals between successive complexes was 36 ± 30 msec and increased to 58.2 ± 50 msec (p = .01) at 12 months. In patients receiving MSCs, there was no evidence for ventricular proarrhythmia, manifested by sustained or nonsustained ventricular ectopy or worsened HRV. Signals of improvement in ventricular arrhythmias and HRV in the MSC group suggest a need for further studies of the antiarrhythmic potential of MSCs.
CuO/Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite as Highly Active and Durable Catalyst for Selective Oxidation of Cyclohexane
Authors: Rana Surjyakanta , Jonnalagadda Sreekantha B.
Published: March 2017

Achieving breakage of C−H bond of hydrocarbons performance still remains a significant challenge in oxidation chemistry for heterogeneous catalyst. In this work, we report copper oxide‐ graphene oxide (CuO‐GO) nanocomposites as durable and highly active and selective catalyst for oxidation of cyclohexane. Different wt% of Cu(II) loaded on RGO surface to form a nanocomposite as well as Co(II) and Ni(II) loaded GO composites were prepared by wet impregnation method. The efficacy of catalyst was tested towards selective oxidation of cyclohexane. 5wt%CuO‐GO proved to be superior in terms improved selectivity towards cyclohexanone (82 %) and short reaction times, plus easy recovery and reusability of the catalyst. The presence of functional groups prevent the aggregation of catalytically active CuO species during the reaction progress.
Bounded model checking of C++ programs based on the Qt cross‐platform framework
Authors: Monteiro Felipe R. , Garcia Mário A. P. , Cordeiro Lucas C. , de Lima Filho Eddie B.
Published: March 2017

The software development process for embedded systems is getting faster and faster, which generally incurs an increase in the associated complexity. As a consequence, technology companies tend to invest in fast and automatic verification mechanisms, to create robust systems and reduce product recall rates. In addition, further development‐time reduction and system robustness can be achieved through cross‐platform frameworks, such as Qt, which favor the reliable port of software stacks to different devices. Based on that, the present paper proposes a simplified version of the Qt framework, which is integrated into a checker based on satisfiability modulo theories (SMT), known as the Efficient SMT‐based Context‐Bounded Model Checker, for verifying actual Qt‐based applications, with a success rate of 89%, for the developed benchmark suite. Furthermore, the simplified version of the Qt framework, named as Qt Operational Model, was also evaluated using other state‐of‐the‐art verifiers for C++ programs. In fact, Qt Operational Model was combined with 2 different verification approaches: explicit‐state model checking and also symbolic (bounded) model checking, during the experimental evaluation, which highlights its flexibility. The proposed methodology is the first one to formally verify Qt‐based applications, which has the potential to devise new directions for software verification of portable code.
Teaching the Passive Through Semantically Enhanced Input
Authors: Little Andrea , Fieldsend Terry
Published: March 2017

This article reports on a small, classroom‐based study exploring the use of a task to teach the passive in an English for specific purposes context. The participants were 34 adult Japanese male learners, all security professionals, ranging in proficiency level from elementary to advanced. The task was designed to highlight the form–meaning connection by creating a need for learners to use the passive, and then introducing a focus on form as the students became aware of the gap in their current interlanguage resources. The task input consisted of a miniature apartment and a set of photos that had been semantically enhanced to elicit passives. Piloting the task with three native speakers (NS) confirmed the input was sufficient to induce a naturalistic use of passives. The data indicate the task was effective for increasing the use of the passive across a range of proficiencies both after the focus‐on‐form phase and in the posttask phase.
Development of an aeroelastic code based on three‐dimensional viscous–inviscid method for wind turbine computations
Authors: Sessarego Matias , Ramos‐García Néstor , Sørensen Jens Nørkær , Shen Wen Zhong
Published: March 2017

Aerodynamic and structural dynamic performance analysis of modern wind turbines are routinely estimated in the wind energy field using computational tools known as aeroelastic codes. Most aeroelastic codes use the blade element momentum (BEM) technique to model the rotor aerodynamics and a modal, multi‐body or the finite‐element approach to model the turbine structural dynamics. The present work describes the development of a novel aeroelastic code that combines a three‐dimensional viscous–inviscid interactive method, method for interactive rotor aerodynamic simulations (MIRAS), with the structural dynamics model used in the aeroelastic code FLEX5. The new code, called MIRAS‐FLEX, is an improvement on standard aeroelastic codes because it uses a more advanced aerodynamic model than BEM. With the new aeroelastic code, more physical aerodynamic predictions than BEM can be obtained as BEM uses empirical relations, such as tip loss corrections, to determine the flow around a rotor. Although more costly than BEM, a small cluster is sufficient to run MIRAS‐FLEX in a fast and easy way. MIRAS‐FLEX is compared against the widely used FLEX5 and FAST, as well as the participant codes from the Offshore Code Comparison Collaboration Project. Simulation tests consist of steady wind inflow conditions with different combinations of yaw error, wind shear, tower shadow and turbine‐elastic modeling. Turbulent inflow created by using a Mann box is also considered. MIRAS‐FLEX results, such as blade tip deflections and root‐bending moments, are generally in good agreement with the other codes. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Entropies, Partitionings and Heart Rate Variability
Authors: Palus Milan , Zebrowski Jan J.
Published: March 2017

Several definitions of static entropies and coarse-grained entropy rates (CER’s) were used to analyze 24-hour RR interval sequences of three sex, age and disease matched control pairs. The matching was done with the assessment of the risk of cardiac arrest in mind. Details of estimating probability densities (histograms), used to compute the static entropies, have been found crucial to obtain the proper discrimination between the members of control pairs. The effect of signal variance on the entropy estimation is discussed. In a preliminary result, CER’s have been found to yield additional information which may be helpful in discriminating health and pathology.
On the Antecedents of Palmar Hyperhidrosis
Authors: Kerassidis Stelios
Published: March 2017

In the context of the research on the antecedents of palmar hyperhidrosis, we compared hyperhidrotic in palm and normal individuals on parameters that could be related to excessive sweating. We performed neurological examination, general hematological tests, and measurements of blood levels of thyroid hormones FT3, FT4, TSH, glucose, and electrolytes Na, K, P, Ca, Mg. The participants also filled in the Eysenck Personality, as well as a laboratory constructed Questionnaire. Significantly more hyperhidrotic than normal individuals had a close relative suffering from palmar hyperhidrosis. In addition, hyperhidrotics scored significantly higher in Neuroticism scale of Eysenck Personality Questionnaire. No indi-cation of neurological damage, dysautonomy, hematological abnormality, electrolytic or glucose imbalance, and thyroid gland dysfunction was found for hyperhidrotics. The findings of the present work as well as the ones of previous works suggest that palmar hyperhidrosis cannot be attributed to pathological or anatomical features, it is possibly caused by personality traits, while a genetic predisposition may also contribute.
Mutations in SLC25A22: hyperprolinaemia, vacuolated fibroblasts and presentation with developmental delay
Authors: Reid Emma S. , Williams Hywel , Anderson Glenn , Benatti Malika , Chong Kling , James Chela , Ocaka Louise ,   GOSgene, Hemingway Cheryl , Little Daniel , Brown Richard , Parker Alasdair , Holden Simon , Footitt Emma , Rahman Shamima , Gissen Paul , Mills Philippa B. , Clayton Peter T.
Published: March 2017

Mutations in SLC25A22 are known to cause neonatal epileptic encephalopathy and migrating partial seizures in infancy. Using whole exome sequencing we identified four novel SLC25A22 mutations in six children from three families. Five patients presented clinical features similar to those in the literature including hypotonia, refractory neonatal‐onset seizures and developmental delay. However, the sixth patients presented atypically with isolated developmental delay, developing late‐onset (absence) seizures only at 7 years of age. Abnormal metabolite levels have not been documented in the nine patients described previously. One patient in our series was referred to the metabolic clinic because of persistent hyperprolinaemia and another three had raised plasma proline when tested. Analysis of the post‐prandial plasma amino acid response in one patient showed abnormally high concentrations of several amino acids. This suggested that, in the fed state, when amino acids are the preferred fuel for the liver, trans‐deamination of amino acids requires transportation of glutamate into liver mitochondria by SLC25A22 for deamination by glutamate dehydrogenase; SLC25A22 is an important mitochondrial glutamate transporter in liver as well as in brain. Electron microscopy of patient fibroblasts demonstrated widespread vacuolation containing neutral and phospho‐lipids as demonstrated by Oil Red O and Sudan Black tinctorial staining; this might be explained by impaired activity of the proline/pyrroline‐5‐carboxylate (P5C) shuttle if SLC25A22 transports pyrroline‐5‐carboxylate/glutamate‐γ‐semialdehyde as well as glutamate.
Attitudes Towards Prenatal Genetic Counseling, Prenatal Genetic Testing, and Termination of Pregnancy among Southeast and East Asian Women in the United States
Authors: Tsai Ginger J. , Cameron Carrie A. , Czerwinski Jennifer L. , Mendez‐Figueroa Hector , Peterson Susan K. , Noblin Sarah Jane
Published: March 2017

Recognizing the heterogeneity of the Asian population with regards to acculturation, education, health awareness, and cultural values is vital for tailoring culturally sensitive and appropriate care. Prior studies show that cultural values influence perceptions of genetics within Asian populations. The reputation of the family unit factors into decisions such as pregnancy termination and disclosure of family medical history, and the nondirective model of American genetic counseling may conflict with the historical Asian model of paternalistic health care. Previous studies also provide conflicting evidence regarding correlations between education, acculturation, age, and awareness and perceptions of genetic testing. The aims of this study were to describe attitudes towards prenatal genetics among Southeast and East Asian women living in the United States for varying amounts of time and to explore sociocultural factors influencing those attitudes. Twenty‐three Asian women who were members of Asian cultural organizations in the United States were interviewed via telephone about their attitudes towards prenatal genetic counseling, prenatal genetic testing, and termination of pregnancy. Responses were transcribed and coded for common themes using a thematic analysis approach. Four major themes emerged. In general, participants: (1) had diverse expectations for genetic counselors; (2) tended to weigh risks and benefits with regards to genetic testing decisions; (3) had mixed views on termination for lethal and non‐lethal genetic conditions; and (4) identified cultural factors which influenced testing and termination such as lack of available resources, societal shame and stigma, and family pressure. These findings may allow prenatal genetic counselors to gain a richer, more nuanced understanding of their Asian patients and to offer culturally tailored prenatal genetic counseling.
Modeling information exchange between living and artificial cells
Authors: Heyde Keith C. , Rice MaryJoe K. , Paek Sung‐Ho , Scott Felicia Y. , Zhang Ruihua , Ruder Warren C.
Published: March 2017

Background

The tools of synthetic biology have enabled researchers to explore multiple scientific phenomena by directly engineering signaling pathways within living cells and artificial protocells. Here, we explored the potential for engineered living cells themselves to assemble signaling pathways for non‐living protocells. This analysis serves as a preliminary investigation into a potential origin of processes that may be utilized by complex living systems. Specifically, we suggest that if living cells can be engineered to direct the assembly of genetic signaling pathways from genetic biomaterials in their environment, then insight can be gained into how naturally occurring living systems might behave similarly.

Methods

To this end, we have modeled and simulated a system consisting of engineered cells that control the assembly of DNA monomers on microparticle scaffolds. These DNA monomers encode genetic circuits, and therefore, these microparticles can then be encapsulated with minimal transcription and translation systems to direct protocell phenotype. The modeled system relies on multiple previously established synthetic systems and then links these together to demonstrate system feasibility.

Results

In this specific model, engineered cells are induced to synthesize biotin, which competes with biotinylated, circuit‐encoding DNA monomers for an avidinized‐microparticle scaffold. We demonstrate that multiple synthetic motifs can be controlled in this way and can be tuned by manipulating parameters such as inducer and DNA concentrations.

Conclusions

We expect that this system will provide insight into the origin of living systems as well as serve as a tool for engineering living cells that assemble complex biomaterials in their environment.
Consensus classification of posterior cortical atrophy
Authors: Crutch Sebastian J. , Schott Jonathan M. , Rabinovici Gil D. , Murray Melissa , Snowden Julie S. , van der Flier Wiesje M. , Dickerson Bradford C. , Vandenberghe Rik , Ahmed Samrah , Bak Thomas H. , Boeve Bradley F. , Butler Christopher , Cappa Stefano F. , Ceccaldi Mathieu , de Souza Leonardo Cruz , Dubois Bruno , Felician Olivier , Galasko Douglas , Graff‐Radford Jonathan , Graff‐Radford Neill R. , Hof Patrick R. , Krolak‐Salmon Pierre , Lehmann Manja , Magnin Eloi , Mendez Mario F. , Nestor Peter J. , Onyike Chiadi U. , Pelak Victoria S. , Pijnenburg Yolande , Primativo Silvia , Rossor Martin N. , Ryan Natalie S. , Scheltens Philip , Shakespeare Timothy J. , Suárez González Aida , Tang‐Wai David F. , Yong Keir X.X. , Carrillo Maria , Fox Nick C. ,   Alzheimer's Association ISTAART Atypical Alzheimer's Disease and Associated Syndromes Professional Interest Area
Published: March 2017

Introduction

A classification framework for posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is proposed to improve the uniformity of definition of the syndrome in a variety of research settings.

Methods

Consensus statements about PCA were developed through a detailed literature review, the formation of an international multidisciplinary working party which convened on four occasions, and a Web‐based quantitative survey regarding symptom frequency and the conceptualization of PCA.

Results

A three‐level classification framework for PCA is described comprising both syndrome‐ and disease‐level descriptions. Classification level 1 (PCA) defines the core clinical, cognitive, and neuroimaging features and exclusion criteria of the clinico‐radiological syndrome. Classification level 2 (PCA‐pure, PCA‐plus) establishes whether, in addition to the core PCA syndrome, the core features of any other neurodegenerative syndromes are present. Classification level 3 (PCA attributable to AD [PCA‐AD], Lewy body disease [PCA‐LBD], corticobasal degeneration [PCA‐CBD], prion disease [PCA‐prion]) provides a more formal determination of the underlying cause of the PCA syndrome, based on available pathophysiological biomarker evidence. The issue of additional syndrome‐level descriptors is discussed in relation to the challenges of defining stages of syndrome severity and characterizing phenotypic heterogeneity within the PCA spectrum.

Discussion

There was strong agreement regarding the definition of the core clinico‐radiological syndrome, meaning that the current consensus statement should be regarded as a refinement, development, and extension of previous single‐center PCA criteria rather than any wholesale alteration or redescription of the syndrome. The framework and terminology may facilitate the interpretation of research data across studies, be applicable across a broad range of research scenarios (e.g., behavioral interventions, pharmacological trials), and provide a foundation for future collaborative work.
MudGet: Reproduction of the desired lighting environment using a smart-LED
Authors: Kim Yong Hwi , Lee Yong Yi , Ahmed Bilal , Son Moon Gu , Choi Junho , Lee Jong Hun , Lee Kwan H.
Published: March 2017

With the emergence of smart LEDs, lighting based interior design is becoming popular. However, most of the smart LED-based lighting systems rely on expert-human intervention to create a desired atmosphere. For convenience, commercial lighting systems offer a number of options but their usability is fairly restricted. Therefore, an intuitive interface is required for novice users to generate the desired lighting environment. In this paper, we have developed a software, named MudGet, which automatically extracts the light mood from a digital image and controls the LED lamps to reproduce a desired lighting effect according to the extracted light mood. In our method, the light mood is regarded as a set of the representative colors of the digital image. The representative colors are extracted by utilizing K-means clustering algorithm. The dimming parameters are set for which each of the LED lamps create the lighting environment with the mood extracted by the software. To evaluate the feasibility of mood reproduction qualitatively, the degree of similarity between the light mood in the digital image and the reproduced result using LEDs is evaluated by a user study under a miniaturized experimental set. We observe that users can easily produce a desired atmosphere through the proposed MudGet software.

Highlights An image based lighting design interface is proposed. The interface controls customized LED module wirelessly. Desired lighting effect is generated from the color clustering centers of image.
Stable defects of minimizers of constrained variational principles
Authors: Lin Fang-Hua , Hardt R. , Kinderlehrer D.
Published: March 2017

We prove energy and density bounds for minimizers of certain constrained variational problems, and we deduce limitations for their topological degree.

On démontre des estimations
a priori
sur l’énergie et la densité des solutions de certains problèmes variationnels contraints, et l’on en déduit des bornes pour leur degréma topologique.
Holes and obstacles
Authors: Mancini Giovanni , Musina Roberta
Published: March 2017

In this paper we investigate the effect of a partial obstacle on a semilinear elliptic B.V.P. which has, in general, no solution.

We show that highly unstable solutions arise, a phenomena previously observed for the same equation in presence of holes in the domain.

Dans cet article nous examinerons l’effet d’un obstacle partiel pour un problème semi-linéaire elliptique au bord qui, en général, n’a pas de solution.

Nous montrons que des solutions hautement instables surgissent; il s’agit d’un phénomène précédemment observé pour le même genre d’équation, en présence de trous dams le domaine.
An asymptotic expansion for the solution of the generalized Riemann problem Part I: General theory
Authors: Le Floch Ph. , Raviart P.A.
Published: March 2017

We consider the generalized Riemann problem for nonlinear hyperbolic systems of conservation laws. We show in this paper that we can find the entropy solution of this problem in the form of an asymptotic expansion in time and we give an explicit method of construction of this asymptotic expansion. Finally, we define from this expansion an approximate solution of the generalized Riemann problem and we give error bounds.

On considère le problème de Riemann généralisé pour des systèmes hyperboliques non linéaires de lois de conservation. On trouve la solution entropique de ce problème sous la forme d’un développement asymptotique que l’on construit par une méthode explicite. On en déduit une solution approchée du problème de Riemann généralisé et l’on estime l’erreur.
On a free boundary problem for the stationary Navier-Stokes equations
Authors: Bemelmans Josef
Published: March 2017

We investigate stationary flows in a fluid body together with its free boundary. The fluid is assumed to be viscous and incompressible; the free boundary is governed by continuity of the normal stress. Hence the configuration to be considered here can be regarded as a generalization of a classical equilibrium figure. The main tool in proving existence of a regular solution consists in a hard implicit function theorem.

Nous étudions les flots stationnaires dans un corps fluide à frontière libre. Le liquide est supposé visqueux et incompressible; la frontière libre est régie par la continuité de la contrainte normale. Les configurations que nous examinons ici peuvent être regardées comme une généralisation d’une figure d’équilibre classique. L’outil principal pour démontré l’existence d’une solution régulière est un théorème de fonction implicite à la Nash–Moser.
STABLE CARBON AND NITROGEN ISOTOPE STUDIES IN THE PARANÁ RIVER DELTA (ARGENTINA): AN APPROACH TO PREHISPANIC DIETS
Authors: Bonomo Mariano , Scabuzzo Clara , Politis Gustavo G. , Zucol Alejandro F.
Published: March 2017

We focus on prehispanic paleodiets among the indigenous populations who inhabited the delta of the Paraná River during the Late Holocene. Stable isotope analyses of δ13C—from collagen and apatite fractions— and δ15N were performed on human bones from sites assigned to different archaeological entities (mainly Goya-Malabrigo and Guaraní). We contextualize the isotopic data with results from the study of zooarchaeological and archaeobotanical materials from these sites. The Guaraní case shows a greater reliance on C4plants (maize or wild C4plants). By contrast, for most Goya-Malabrigo individuals, δ13C values indicate a predominant consumption of C3plants that could include both domesticated and wild species. Through the integration of archaeofaunal, archaeobotanical, and isotopic information, we conclude that the Goya-Malabrigo case shows a mixed economy. Furthermore, small-scale horticulture of the maize-squash-bean triad supplemented a diet of wild resources procured through hunting, fishing, and gathering.
TWO PROBLEMS CONCERNING IRREDUCIBLE ELEMENTS IN RINGS OF INTEGERS OF NUMBER FIELDS
Authors: POLLACK PAUL , TROUPE LEE
Published: March 2017

Let $K$ be a number field with ring of integers $\mathbb{Z}_{K}$. We prove two asymptotic formulas connected with the distribution of irreducible elements in $\mathbb{Z}_{K}$. First, we estimate the maximum number of nonassociated irreducibles dividing a nonzero element of $\mathbb{Z}_{K}$ of norm not exceeding $x$ (in absolute value), as $x\rightarrow \infty$. Second, we count the number of irreducible elements of $\mathbb{Z}_{K}$ of norm not exceeding $x$ lying in a given arithmetic progression (again, as $x\rightarrow \infty$). When $K=\mathbb{Q}$, both results are classical; a new feature in the general case is the influence of combinatorial properties of the class group of $K$.
NEW ALGEBRAIC-TRIGONOMETRIC INEQUALITIES OF LAUB–ILANI TYPE
Authors: ÖZBAN AHMET YAŞAR
Published: March 2017

The Laub–Ilani inequality [‘A subtle inequality’, Amer. Math. Monthly97 (1990), 65–67] states that $x^{x}+y^{y}\geqslant x^{y}+y^{x}$ for nonnegative real numbers $x,y$. We introduce and prove new trigonometric and algebraic-trigonometric inequalities of Laub–Ilani type and propose some conjectural algebraic-trigonometric inequalities of similar forms.
On the Arbitrariness Objection to the Threshold View
Authors: LEE MATTHEW
Published: March 2017

Proponents of the ‘Threshold View’ have held that to believe a proposition is to be sufficiently confident of the proposition’s truth, but that there is no sharp cutoff between degrees of confidence that constitute belief and degrees of confidence that do not. Brian Weatherson has objected that no plausible account of vagueness can support this view. In this paper, I reply to Weatherson’s objection. Along the way, I identify a way in which one might hope to maintain the Threshold View without a fuzzy threshold, and I reformulate the Threshold View to accommodate fuzzy thresholds without begging substantive questions about vagueness.
Fatty acid profile and coagulating ability of milk from Jersey and Friesian cows fed whole flaxseed
Authors: Caroprese Mariangela , Mancino Roberta , Ciliberti Maria Giovanna , Di Luccia Aldo , La Gatta Barbara , Albenzio Marzia
Published: March 2017

The experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of a moderate level of flaxseed administration on milk coagulation properties and fatty acid profile of milk from two different breeds. The experiment was performed on 20 Italian Friesian cows and 20 Jersey cows divided into 2 groups of 10 animals each. The experimental diets were (1) a traditional diet (CON) administrated as unifeed and no supplemental fat and (2) a diet supplemented with 0·5 kg/d of whole flaxseed (FS). Cows were milked twice daily and milk yield was recorded. Milk samples were analysed at 1, 15, and 30 d of the experiment for composition, pH, and milk coagulation properties. To verify the effects of flaxseed administration on the coagulation properties of milk from Friesian and Jersey cows, an electrophoresis study on casein fractions was performed. Milk fatty acid profile can be improved by administrating a moderate level of flaxseed in the diet, however, milk fatty acid profile from Friesian and Jersey cows showed different contents of C18 : 1trans-11, SFA and MUFA. The results demonstrated that milk coagulating ability can be increased by flaxseed administration in both breeds as a result of different aggregation of casein micelles.
Adult Co-morbidity Evaluation 27 scores of head and neck cancer patients using touch-screen technology: patient satisfaction and clinical verification
Authors: Brammer C , Dawson D , Joseph M , Tipper J , Jemmet T , Liew L , Spinou C , Grew N , Pigadas N , Rehman K
Published: March 2017

Objectives:

This study aimed to assess head and neck cancer patient satisfaction with the use of a touch-screen computer patient-completed questionnaire for assessing Adult Co-morbidity Evaluation 27 co-morbidity scores prior to treatment, along with its clinical reliability.

Methods:

A total of 96 head and neck cancer patients were included in the audit. An accurate Adult Co-morbidity Evaluation 27 co-morbidity score was achieved via patient-completed questionnaire assessment for 97 per cent of participants.

Results:

In all, 96 per cent of patients found the use of a touch-screen computer acceptable and would be willing to use one again, and 62 per cent would be willing to do so without help. Patients were more likely to be willing to use the computer again without help if they were aged 65 years or younger (χ2test;p= 0.0054) or had a performance status of 0 or 1 (χ2test;p= 0.00034).

Conclusion:

Use of a touch-screen computer is an acceptable approach for assessing Adult Co-morbidity Evaluation 27 scores at pre-treatment assessment in a multidisciplinary joint surgical–oncology clinic.
PATRICK ARNAUD (1939-2016)
Authors: Arnaud Françoise , Hureau Jean-Claude
Published: March 2017

Patrick Arnaud was born in Paris on 27 May 1939. He completed his secondary school education at the Lycée Buffon and undergraduate studies at the Faculty of Sciences of the Sorbonne, before his doctoral studies in Biological oceanography in 1960, a field developed in France, at Marseille, by Professor Jean-Marie Pérès.
Prosodic development in European Portuguese from childhood to adulthood
Authors: FILIPE MARISA G. , PEPPÉ SUE , FROTA SÓNIA , VICENTE SELENE G.
Published: March 2017

We describe the European Portuguese version of a test of prosodic abilities originally developed for English: the Profiling Elements of Prosody in Speech-Communication (Peppé & McCann, 2003). Using this test, we examined the development of several components of European Portuguese prosody between 5 and 20 years of age (N= 131). Results showed prosodic performance improving with age: 5-year-olds reach adultlike performance in the affective prosodic tasks; 7-year-olds mastered the ability to discriminate and produce short prosodic items, as well as the ability to understand question versus declarative intonation; 8-year-olds mastered the ability to discriminate long prosodic items; 9-year-olds mastered the ability to produce question versus declarative intonation, as well as the ability to identify focus; 10- to 11-year-olds mastered the ability to produce long prosodic items; 14- to 15-year-olds mastered the ability to comprehend and produce syntactically ambiguous utterances disambiguated by prosody; and 18- to 20-year-olds mastered the ability to produce focus. Cross-linguistic comparisons showed that linguistic form–meaning relations do not necessarily develop at the same pace across languages. Some prosodic contrasts are hard to achieve for younger Portuguese-speaking children, namely, the production of chunking and focus.
Bounding Sn(t) on the Riemann hypothesis
Authors: CARNEIRO EMANUEL , CHIRRE ANDRÉS
Published: March 2017

Let $S(t) = {1}/{\pi} \arg \zeta \big(\hh + it \big)$ be the argument of the Riemann zeta-function at the point 1/2 + it. For n ⩾ 1 and t > 0 define its iterates

$$\begin{equation*}
S_n(t) = \int_0^t S_{n-1}(\tau) \,\d\tau\, + \delta_n\,,
\end{equation*}$$

where δn is a specific constant depending on n and S0(t) ≔ S(t). In 1924, J. E. Littlewood proved, under the Riemann hypothesis (RH), that Sn(t) = O(log t/(log log t)n + 1). The order of magnitude of this estimate was never improved up to this date. The best bounds for S(t) and S1(t) are currently due to Carneiro, Chandee and Milinovich. In this paper we establish, under RH, an explicit form of this estimate

$$\begin{equation*}
-\left( C^-_n + o(1)\right) \frac{\log t}{(\log \log t)^{n+1}} \ \leq \ S_n(t) \ \leq \ \left( C^+_n + o(1)\right) \frac{\log t}{(\log \log t)^{n+1}}\,,
\end{equation*}$$

for all n ⩾ 2, with the constants C±n decaying exponentially fast as n → ∞. This improves (for all n ⩾ 2) a result of Wakasa, who had previously obtained such bounds with constants tending to a stationary value when n → ∞. Our method uses special extremal functions of exponential type derived from the Gaussian subordination framework of Carneiro, Littmann and Vaaler for the cases when n is odd, and an optimized interpolation argument for the cases when n is even. In the final section we extend these results to a general class of L-functions.
An update of the breeding population status of the critically endangered Mariana Crow Corvus kubaryi on Rota, Northern Mariana Islands 2013–2014
Authors: KRONER ANDRIA , HA RENEE ROBINETTE
Published: March 2017

The critically endangered Mariana Crow now exists in a single population on the island of Rota, Northern Mariana Islands. Targeted management requires an accurate measure of the population status of this species. In Mariana Crows the breeding population is both the easiest cohort to accurately survey and the most important segment of the population in terms of population recovery. The total number of Mariana Crow territorial pairs was estimated on the island of Rota using a direct count method, and total population size was calculated using a Chapman estimate. From September 2013 to April 2014, 46 crow pairs were found and up to an additional eight pairs were estimated in unsearched areas. The total population was estimated to be 178 individuals. This represents a 10–23% decline in pairs in the six years since 2007 and a 46–53% decline since 1998. This number is also considerably lower than the minimum 75 pairs recommended to maintain a viable population on Rota.
Adopting new medical technologies in Russian hospitals: what causes inefficiency? (qualitative study)
Authors: Shishkin Sergey , Zasimova Liudmila
Published: March 2017

The adoption of new medical technologies often generates losses in efficiency associated with the excess or insufficient acquisition of new equipment, an inappropriate choice (in terms of economic and clinical parameters) of medical equipment, and its poor use. Russia is a good example for exploring the problem of the ineffective adoption of new medical technologies due to the massive public investment in new equipment for medical institutions in 2006–2013. This study examines the procurement of new technologies in Russian hospitals to find the main causes of inefficiency. The research strategy was based on in-depth semistructured interviews with representatives of prominent actors (regional health care authorities, hospital executives, senior physicians). The main result is that inefficiencies arise from the contradiction between hospitals’ and authorities’ motivation for acquiring new technologies: hospitals tend to adopt technologies which bring benefits to their department heads and physicians and minimize maintenance and servicing costs, while the authorities’ main concern is the initial cost of the technology.
Creative Pansori
Authors: Kim Hyunju , Mastnak Wolfgang
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung. Pansori ist eine traditionelle Form koreanischen epischen Gesangs, durch den verschiedenste Emotionen, Lebenserfahrungen und kulturelle Identitäten mit Korea zum Ausdruck gebracht werden. Auf der Basis dieses UNESCO Kulturerbes entwickelte die junge koreanische Musiktherapeutin Hyunju Kim eine Methode biografischer Rezitation für den Einsatz in psychiatrischer Musiktherapie. Anhand der Kasuistik einer Depressionspatientin werden typische Pansori-Merkmale interaktiven Trommelns und Rezitierens deutlich und führen zur Analyse therapeutischer Mechanismen. Zudem werden mittels komparatistischer Überlegungen Möglichkeiten kulturübergreifender klinischer Anwendungen diskutiert.
Pantomime mit chronisch kranken Kindern
Authors: Brosig Burkhard , Becker Lena , Kaczmarek-Kolb Anna , Speier Annika , Zimmer Klaus-Peter
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung. Dieser Artikel präsentiert Arbeitskonzept, angenommene Wirkungsweisen und Besonderheiten eines kreativtherapeutischen Ansatzes mit pantomimischem Zugang für Kinder und Jugendliche. Es werden Möglichkeiten erörtert, die Sitzungen mit einem professionellen Pantomimen in den Klinikalltag auf einer allgemeinpädiatrischen Station zu integrieren. Vor dem Hintergrund der bei chronisch kranken Kindern häufig mangelhaft ausgeprägten emotionalen Differenzierungsfähigkeit diskutiert der vorliegende Beitrag Vorteile nonverbaler, pantomimischer Arbeit. Darüber hinaus werden die Ergebnisse einer Patientenbefragung mit n = 94 jungen Patienten und n = 36 Elternteilen zur Zufriedenheit und Akzeptanz des therapeutischen Ansatzes vorgestellt. Die Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, dass die pantomimische Arbeit zur Ergänzung der organmedizinischen Therapie positiv aufgenommen wird.
Impact of Music on Cardiac Patients
Authors: Mastnak Wolfgang
Published: March 2017

Abstract. Controlled studies and clinical observations can elucidate the influence of music on blood pressure and heart rate, but do not explain underlying mechanisms. Clarification of contradictory scientific results requires an understanding of corresponding psycho-neuroendocrinological processes and is also indispensable to patient-centered cardiac music therapy interventions. The paper is intended to complement the thematic issue on music therapy in cardiology (MTK 25 (1), 2014). To identify neural and neuroendocrine modules linking auditory and neurocardiac systems. This should facilitate a diagnosis-specific application of music for cardiac patients. Review of empirical, neuroanatomic, and interdisciplinary medical findings about cerebral music processing. Meta-synthesis and construction of a theoretical framework that explains the impact of music on blood pressure and heart rate. Music-induced cardiac processes can be elucidated by neural and neuroendocrine modules linking auditory processing areas and neurocardiac centers. Efferent projections from the auditory pathway as well as top–down projections arising from the auditory cortex form specific functional circuitries. Overlapping and interacting projections from cortical and subcortical regions to associative processing organs (e. g., the insular cortex) integrate both physiologically and cognitively processed sound factors (i. e., the dualistic model). Via corresponding modules the auditory system is indirectly linked to hypothalamic nuclei, influencing the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis as well as vasopressin- and oxytocin-related processes. Connections with the locus coeruleus refer to noradrenergic sound–heart regulation. Physiological mechanisms interacting with individual musical experiences require the synopsis of evidence-based findings, neuroendocrinological explanations, and differential psychological profiles for reliable treatment planning.
Beliefs Are Not Behavior
Authors: Radtke Theda , Scholz Urte
Published: March 2017

Abstract. Compensatory health beliefs (CHBs), defined as belief that an unhealthy behavior can be compensated by engaging in another healthy behavior, are negatively predictive of health-behavior change intentions and behavior. However, CHBs have to be distinguished from compensatory health behavior (CBs), which is defined as compensatory behavior that an individual engages in. As it has not been investigated to date, the aim of this study was to systematically examine the distinction between CHBs and CBs in the context of alcohol consumption. The baseline sample consisted of 898 participants (mainly students, mean age = 23.57 years). For running exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses on CHBs and CBs, the split-half sample method was used. Moreover, the relationships of CHBs and CBs with health-related variables were assessed by regression analyses. The cross-sectional analyses supported the distinction between CHBs and CBs. In contrast to the CHBs, CBs were positively predictive of the intention to drink less alcohol and alcohol consumption. The consideration of CBs when investigating health behavior is highly relevant.
Porphyromonas gingivalis gingipains cause defective macrophage migration towards apoptotic cells and inhibit phagocytosis of primary apoptotic neutrophils
Authors: Castro Sowmya A , Collighan Russell , Lambert Peter A , Dias Irundika HK , Chauhan Parbata , Bland Charlotte E , Milic Ivana , Milward Michael R , Cooper Paul R , Devitt Andrew
Published: March 2017

Periodontal disease is a prevalent chronic inflammatory condition characterised by an aberrant host response to a pathogenic plaque biofilm resulting in local tissue damage and frustrated healing that can result in tooth loss. Cysteine proteases (gingipains) from the key periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis have been implicated in periodontal disease pathogenesis by inhibiting inflammation resolution and are linked with systemic chronic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. Efficient clearance of apoptotic cells is essential for the resolution of inflammation and tissue restoration. Here we sought to characterise the innate immune clearance of apoptotic cells and its modulation by gingipains. We examined the capacity of gingipain-treated macrophages to migrate towards and phagocytose apoptotic cells. Lysine gingipain treatment of macrophages impaired macrophage migration towards apoptotic neutrophils. Furthermore, lysine gingipain treatment reduced surface expression levels of CD14, a key macrophage receptor for apoptotic cells, which resulted in reduced macrophage interactions with apoptotic cells. Additionally, while apoptotic cells and their derived secretome were shown to inhibit TNF-α-induced expression by P. gingivalis lipopolysaccharide, we demonstrated that gingipain preparations induced a rapid inflammatory response in macrophages that was resistant to the anti-inflammatory effects of apoptotic cells or their secretome. Taken together, these data indicate that P. gingivalis may promote the chronic inflammation seen in periodontal disease patients by multiple mechanisms, including rapid, potent gingipain-mediated inflammation, coupled with receptor cleavage leading to defective clearance of apoptotic cells and reduced anti-inflammatory responses. Thus, gingipains represent a potential therapeutic target for intervention in the management of chronic periodontal disease.
CASC2c as an unfavorable prognosis factor interacts with miR-101 to mediate astrocytoma tumorigenesis
Authors: Liu Changhong , Sun Yingnan , She Xiaoling , Tu Chaofeng , Cheng Xiping , Wang Lin , Yu Zhibin , Li Peiyao , Liu Qing , Yang Honghui , Li Guiyuan , Wu Minghua
Published: March 2017

miR-101 has been suggested as a tumor suppressor, but the promoter methylation and loss of heterozygosity didn’t contribute to its low expression in astrocytoma. We investigated the role of a new long non-coding RNA CASC2c binding with miR-101. High CASC2c was positively correlated with astrocytoma progression, and an unfavorable prognosis factor for patients. Knockdown CASC2c inhibited proliferation and tumorgenesis. Overexpression of CASC2c promotes the malignant characteristic of astrocytoma cells.CASC2c directly bound miR-101 and mediated pre-miR-101 processing into mature miR-101, and functions as a competitor of miR-101 target genes such as CPEB1. Patients who possessed both low CASC2c and high miR-101 had a longer survival than those of low CASC2c alone or high miR-101 alone. In summary, CASC2c plays the onco-RNA role in the tumorgenesis of astrocytoma by acting as a decoy miR-101 sponge. Combination of low expression of CASC2c and high expression of miR-101 has an important referential significance to evaluate the prognosis of patients.
Nuclear Drosha enhances cell invasion via an EGFR-ERK1/2-MMP7 signaling pathway induced by dysregulated miRNA-622/197 and their targets LAMC2 and CD82 in gastric cancer
Authors: Xu Liyun , Hou Yixuan , Tu Gang , Chen Yanlin , Du Yan-e , Zhang Hailong , Wen Siyang , Tang Xi , Yin Jiali , Lang Lei , Sun Kexin , Yang Guanglun , Tang Xiaoli , Liu Manran
Published: March 2017

Drosha is an RNA III-like enzyme that has an aberrant expression in some tumors. Our previous studies showed the aberrant Drosha in gastric tumors. However, the roles of nuclear Drosha, the main regulator of microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis, in gastric cancer (GC) progression remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that nuclear Drosha is significantly associated with cell invasion of GC and that Drosha silence impedes the tumor invasion. Knockdown of Drosha led to a set of dysregulated miRNAs in GC cells. Multiple targets of these miRNAs were the members in cell migration, invasion and metastasis-associated signaling (e.g. ECM-receptor interaction, focal adhesion, p53 signaling and MAPK signaling pathway) revealed by bioinformatics analysis. LAMC2 (a key element of ECM-receptor signaling) and CD82 (a suppressor of p53 signaling) are the targets of miR-622 and miR-197, respectively. High levels of LAMC2 and low levels of CD82 were significantly related to the worse outcome for GC patients. Furthermore, overexpression of LAMC2 and knockdown of CD82 markedly promoted GC cell invasion and activated EGFR/ERK1/2-MMP7 signaling via upregulation of the expression of phosphorylated (p)-EGFR, p-ERK1/2 and MMP7. Our findings suggest that nuclear Drosha potentially has a role in the development of GC.