bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Amplification of Long Noncoding RNA ZFAS1 Promotes Metastasis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Li Tao , Xie Junjie , Shen Chuan , Cheng Dongfeng , Shi Yuan , Wu Zhichong , Deng Xiaxing , Chen Hao , Shen Baiyong , Peng Chenghong , Li Hongwei , Zhan Qian , Zhu Zhecheng
Published: June 2015

Despite progress in the diagnostics and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), its prognosis remains poor. In this study, we globally assessed long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) for contributions to HCC using publicly available microarray data, in vitro and in vivo assays. Here, we report that ZFAS1, encoding a lncRNA that is frequently amplified in HCC, is associated with intrahepatic and extrahepatic metastasis and poor prognosis of HCC. ZFAS1 functions as an oncogene in HCC progression by binding miR-150 and abrogating its tumor-suppressive function in this setting. miR-150 repressed HCC cell invasion by inhibiting ZEB1 and the matrix metalloproteinases MMP14 and MMP16. Conversely, ZFAS1 activated ZEB1, MMP14, and MMP16 expression, inhibiting these effects of miR-150. Our results establish a function for ZFAS1 in metastatic progression and suggest its candidacy as a new prognostic biomarker and target for clinical management of HCC. Cancer Res; 75(15); 3181–91. ©2015 AACR.
Comorbidity and Survival in Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Islam K.M. Monirul , Jiang Xiaqing , Anggondowati Trisari , Lin Ge , Ganti Apar Kishor
Published: June 2015

Background: As the population of the United States ages, there will be increasing numbers of lung cancer patients with comorbidities at diagnosis. Comorbid conditions are important factors in both the choice of the lung cancer treatment and outcomes. However, the impact of individual comorbid conditions on patient survival remains unclear.

Methods: A population-based cohort study of 5,683 first-time diagnosed lung cancer patients was captured using the Nebraska Cancer Registry (NCR) linked with the Nebraska Hospital Discharge Data (NHDD) between 2005 and 2009. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the effect of comorbidities on the overall survival of patients stratified by stage and adjusting for age, race, sex, and histologic type.

Results: Of these patients, 36.8% of them survived their first year after lung cancer diagnosis, with a median survival of 9.3 months for all stages combined. In this cohort, 26.7% of the patients did not have any comorbidity at diagnosis. The most common comorbid conditions were chronic pulmonary disease (52.5%), diabetes (15.7%), and congestive heart failure (12.9%). The adjusted overall survival of lung cancer patients was negatively associated with the existence of different comorbid conditions such as congestive heart failure, diabetes with complications, moderate or severe liver disease, dementia, renal disease, and cerebrovascular disease, depending on the stage.

Conclusions: The presence of comorbid conditions was associated with worse survival. Different comorbid conditions were associated with worse outcomes at different stages.

Impact: Future models for predicting lung cancer survival should take individual comorbid conditions into consideration. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(7); 1079–85. ©2015 AACR.
St. John's Wort Attenuates Colorectal Carcinogenesis in Mice through Suppression of Inflammatory Signaling
Authors: Manna Soumen K. , Golla Srujana , Golla Jaya Prakash , Tanaka Naoki , Cai Yan , Takahashi Shogo , Krausz Kristopher W. , Matsubara Tsutomu , Korboukh Ilia , Gonzalez Frank J.
Published: June 2015

Despite widespread use as well as epidemiologic indications, there have been no investigations into the effect of St. John's wort (SJW) extract on colorectal carcinogenesis in vivo. This study reports a systematic evaluation of the impact of dietary supplementation of SJW extract on azoxymethane-induced colorectal carcinogenesis in mice. Mice were fed with either AIN-93G (control) diet or SJW extract–supplemented diet (SJW diet) prior to azoxymethane treatment. SJW diet was found to significantly improve the overall survival of azoxymethane-treated mice. Pretreatment with the SJW diet significantly reduced body weight loss as well as decrease of serum albumin and cholesterol levels associated with azoxymethane-induced colorectal tumorigenesis. SJW diet–fed mice showed a significant decrease in tumor multiplicity along with a decrease in incidence of large tumors and a trend toward decreased total tumor volume in a dose-dependent manner. A short-term study, which examined the effect of SJW prior to rectal bleeding, also showed decrease in colorectal polyps in SJW diet–fed mice. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK1/2) pathways were attenuated by SJW administration. SJW extract resulted in early and continuous attenuation of these pathways in the colon epithelium of SJW diet–fed mice under both short-term and long-term treatment regimens. In conclusion, this study demonstrated the chemopreventive potential of SJW extract against colorectal cancer through attenuation of proinflammatory processes. Cancer Prev Res; 8(9); 786–95. ©2015 AACR.
DNA Repair Gene XRCC1 and XRCC4 Variations and Risk of Endometriosis: An Association Study
Authors: Saliminejad Kioomars , Saket Mitra , Kamali Koorosh , Memariani Toktam , Khorram Khorshid Hamid Reza
Published: June 2015

Background: Endometriosis is a polygenic and multifactorial disease. DNA damage plays a major role in mutagenesis, carcinogenesis and aging and is usually repaired by the action of several DNA repair enzymes. We investigated the association of the common variations of the DNA repair genes XRCC1 and XRCC4 with susceptibility to endometriosis in an Iranian population. Methods: In total, 160 patients with endometriosis (stages I-IV) and 174 healthy women were included in this case-control study. Genotyping of XRCC1 codon 399 as well as of XRCC4 -1394T/G, codon 247 and intron 3 insertion/deletion variations was performed using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR-amplified fragments. Results: The XRCC4 -1394TG genotype frequency was significantly lower (p = 0.005) in the patients (9.4%) than in the controls (21.1%). The frequency of the -1394G allele was significantly lower (p < 0.0001) in the patients (6.6%) than in the controls (19.0%). There were no statistically significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of the XRCC1 codon 399, XRCC4 codon 247 and XRCC4 intron 3 insertion/deletion polymorphisms between the cases and controls. Conclusions: The XRCC4 -1394T/G polymorphism was associated with susceptibility to endometriosis in an Iranian population.
Efficacy and Safety of Topical Atorvastatin for the Treatment of Dry Eye Associated with Blepharitis: A Pilot Study
Authors: Ooi Kenneth G.-J. , Wakefield Denis , Billson Frank A. , Watson Stephanie L.
Published: June 2015

Aims: To elucidate if topically applied atorvastatin safely decreases corneal fluorescein staining in dry eyes associated with blepharitis. Methods: Ten dry eye and blepharitis (DEB) patients were enroled in a prospective pilot study. All patients were treated with topical atorvastatin (50 μM) 8 times a day for 4 weeks and allowed to continue with their existing dry eye treatment. The patients were examined weekly for 4 weeks. The primary outcome measure was corneal fluorescein staining. Secondary outcome measures were tear film break-up time (BUT), Schirmer I testing, blepharitis score and bulbar conjunctival injection. The subjective efficacy was evaluated with global symptom and facial analogue scores. Results: An improvement in corneal fluorescein staining in the treated eye by >1 point from baseline to completion of the trial at week 4 was found in 9 of 10 patients (p < 0.01). Topical atorvastatin significantly improved the tear film BUT (p < 0.01), blepharitis score (p < 0.05) and bulbar conjunctival injection (p < 0.05). The global symptom score and facial analogue score also improved (p < 0.05). There were no side effects. Conclusion: Topical atorvastatin is a potential therapy for DEB patients. Larger comparative clinical studies are required to establish the efficacy and safety of topical atorvastatin.
Optimal Treatment of Retinal Vein Occlusion: Canadian Expert Consensus
Authors: Berger Alan R. , Cruess Alan F. , Altomare Filiberto , Chaudhary Varun , Colleaux Kevin , Greve Mark , Kherani Amin , Mandelcorn Efrem D. , Parsons Hugh , Rhéaume Marc-André , Tourville Eric
Published: June 2015

Background: The availability of new therapeutic approaches, particularly intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies, has prompted significant changes to the established treatment paradigms for retinal vein occlusion (RVO). Better visual outcomes and significantly lower rates of adverse events have been noted in multiple large randomized clinical trials and have led to a new standard of care for this sight-threatening condition. Objective: To develop an expert consensus for the management of RVO and associated complications in the context of recent clinical evidence. Methods: The development of a Canadian expert consensus for optimal treatment began with a review of clinical evidence, daily practice, and existing treatment guidelines and algorithms. The expert clinicians (11 Canadian retina specialists) met on February 1, 2014, in Toronto to discuss their findings and to propose strategies for consensus. Results: The result of this expert panel is a consensus proposal for Canadian ophthalmologists and retina specialists treating patients presenting with RVO. Treatment algorithms specific to branch and central RVO (BRVO and CRVO) were also developed. Conclusions: The consensus provides guidelines to aid clinicians in managing RVO and associated complications in their daily practice. In summary, laser remains the therapy of choice when neovascularization secondary to RVO is detected. Adjunctive anti-VEGF could be considered in managing neovascularization secondary to RVO in cases of vitreous hemorrhage. Intravitreal anti-VEGF should be considered for symptomatic visual loss associated with center-involving macular edema on optical coherence tomography. Patients with BRVO and a suboptimal response to anti-VEGF could be treated with grid laser, and those with CRVO and an inadequate response to anti-VEGF may be candidates for intravitreal steroids.
Comparability of Icare Pro Rebound Tonometer with Goldmann Applanation and Noncontact Tonometer in a Wide Range of Intraocular Pressure and Central Corneal Thickness
Authors: Tamçelik Nevbahar , Atalay Eray , Cicik Erdogan , Özkök Ahmet
Published: June 2015

Purpose: To evaluate the agreement between the reading values of the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT), Icare Pro rebound tonometer (IRT) and noncontact tonometer (NCT) in glaucoma patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study comprised 292 eyes of 292 patients selected from a glaucoma outpatient clinic. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured sequentially, at a 10-min interval each, in the following order: NCT, IRT and GAT. The central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured using Pentacam HR before the IOP measurements. Results: The mean IOPs measured by the GAT, NCT and IRT were 20.17 ± 6.73 mm Hg (range: 4-48), 19.77 ± 6.88 mm Hg (range: 3-46) and 19.30 ± 5.15 mm Hg (range: 7.30-44.5), respectively. The correlation coefficients of the GAT and IRT, NCT and IRT, and GAT and NCT measurements were r2 = 0.673, r2 = 0.663 and r2 = 0.938 (all p < 0.001), respectively. The IRT tends to overestimate in the low GAT-measured IOPs, whereas it underestimates in high GAT-measured IOPs. The measurements of all 3 devices were also correlated with the CCT at a statistically significant level (GAT: r2 = 0.063, NCT: r2 = 0.063, IRT: r2 = 0.058). Conclusion: The agreement between the IRT and GAT measurements is higher in the IOP range of 9-22 mm Hg, whereas significant discrepancies occur as the IOP deviates from normal values. The variability of the IRT and GAT measurements over a wide range of CCT is minimal.
Techniques to Reduce the Placebo Effect in Glaucoma Clinical Trials
Authors: Sharpe R. Allan , Davidson Jami , Nelson Lindsay A. , Stewart Jeanette A. , Stewart William C.
Published: June 2015

Aim: To evaluate techniques used to reduce the placebo effect in prior well-controlled, single or double-masked placebo-controlled glaucoma trials. Methods: This study was a retrospective, non-patient-based, observational review of phase I-III trials with a placebo arm for glaucoma medicines available after 1977. Results: This study included 20 articles with 20 placebo control arms consisting of 458 patients evaluating 10 different glaucoma medications with 58 treatment arms. There was no statistical difference across the evaluated types of study designs to limit the placebo effect either for the morning trough or diurnal curve. The average reduction of the intraocular pressure in the placebo groups was 1.6 ± 1.5 mm Hg for the morning trough and 1.3 ± 1.3 mm Hg for the diurnal curve across all studies. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that current design techniques described in the literature to limit the placebo effect appear ineffective compared to no additional techniques.
Placental Growth Factor Promotes Cardiac Muscle Repair via Enhanced Neovascularization
Authors: Zhang Jianfeng , Chen Anqing , Wu Yicheng , Zhao Qiang
Published: June 2015

Background/Aims: Transplantation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) improves post-injury cardiac muscle repair using ill-defined mechanisms. Recently, we have shown that production and secretion of placental growth factor (PLGF) by MSCs play a critical role in the MSCs-mediated post-injury cardiac muscle repair. In this study, we addressed the underlying molecular mechanisms, focusing specifically on the interactions between MSCs, macrophages and endothelial cells. Methods: We isolated macrophages (BM-MΦ) from mouse bone-marrow derived cells based on F4/80 expression by flow cytometry. BM-MΦ were treated with different doses of PLGF. Cell number was analyzed by a MTT assay. Macrophage polarization was examined based on CD206 expression by flow cytometry. PLGF levels in macrophage subpopulations were analyzed by RT-qPCR and ELISA. Effects of macrophages on vascularization were evaluated by a collagen gel assay using Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) co-cultured with PLGF-treated macrophages. Results: PLGF did not increase macrophage number, but dose-dependently polarized macrophages into a M2 subpopulation. M2 macrophages expressed high levels of PLGF. PLGF-polarized M2 macrophages significantly increased tubular structures in the collagen gel assay. Conclusion: Our data suggest that MSCs-derived PLGF may induce macrophage polarization into a M2 subpopulation, which in turn releases more PLGF to promote local neovascularization for augmenting post-injury cardiac muscle repair. This study thus sheds novel light on the role of PLGF in cardiac muscle regeneration.
New Reference Values for Energy Intake
Authors:   German Nutrition Society (DGE)
Published: June 2015

The reference values for energy intake of the German, Austrian and Swiss nutrition societies for children, adolescents and adults are derived using the factorial method. For adults, a mean BMI of 22 kg/m2 is taken as a basis given the current mean body size for adults residing in Germany (taken from the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults, DEGS1). The determination of the energy expenditure for infants is based on data obtained using the doubly labelled water (DLW) method. The energy storage in growing tissue will be added for the purpose of deriving reference values for this age group. For pregnant women, given an increase in body weight of 12 kg during pregnancy, guiding values for additional energy intake in the second trimester of 250 kcal/day and in the third trimester of 500 kcal/day are indicated using DLW data sets and taking energy storage in growing tissue into account. In case of overweight prior to pregnancy as well as in the case of reduced physical activity during pregnancy, the additional requirement is lower. For women exclusively breastfeeding during the first 4-6 months, the guiding value for additional energy intake is quoted as 500 kcal/day.
OLIVAR, José Miguel Nieto. Devir puta: políticas da prostituição nas experiências de quatro mulheres militantes.
Authors: Sales Ana Paula Luna
Published: June 2015

OLIVAR, José Miguel Nieto. Devir puta: políticas da prostituição nas experiências de quatro mulheres militantes. Rio de Janeiro: EdUERJ, 2013. 358p.
Visão e o cheiro dos mortos: uma experiência etnográfica no Instituto Médico-Legal
Authors: Medeiros Flavia
Published: June 2015

Neste artigo irei apresentar e analisar duas circunstâncias diferentes da “experiência etnográfica” que obtive ao realizar trabalho de campo no Instituto Médico-Legal do Rio de Janeiro (IML). A “primeira impressão” ao estar em contato com o campo e ver corpos mortos; e a “experiência revela- dora”, que ocorreu quando a pesquisa já estava em andamento, e me demonstrou como o cheiro é um elemento constitutivo das relações dos que circulam cotidianamente entres os corredores e salas do IML. Para tanto, acionando a percepção de dois sentidos humanos — a visão e o olfato —, analiso como no contexto pesquisado estes são ferramentas daqueles cuja principal atividade é a manipulação de corpos mortos (médicos legistas, papiloscopistas legistas e técnicos de necrópsia). Discuto ainda como, ao realizar trabalho de campo entre mortos, identifiquei as percepções visuais e olfativas como ferramentas metodológicas centrais para a reflexão da “experiên- cia etnográfica.”
Proteome Analysis of Human Arterial Tissue Discloses Associations Between the Vascular Content of Small Leucine-Rich Repeat Proteoglycans and Pulse Wave Velocity
Authors: Lyck Hansen Maria , Beck Hans Christian , Irmukhamedov Akhmadjon , Jensen Pia Søndergaard , Olsen Michael Hecht , Rasmussen Lars Melholt
Published: June 2015

Objectives—

We hypothesized that arterial stiffness is associated with changes in the arterial protein profile, particularly of extracellular matrix components. We aimed at determining differentially expressed proteins by quantitative proteome analysis in arterial tissue from patients with different degrees of arterial stiffness.

Approach and Results—

Arterial stiffness, assessed by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), central blood pressure and augmentation index by pulse wave analysis were measured the day before surgery in a group of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Protein extracts of well-defined, homogenous, nonatherosclerotic individual samples of the left mammary artery from 10 of these patients with high PWV and 9 with low PWV were compared by quantitative proteome analysis, using tandem mass tag labeling and nano–liquid chromatography mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry. Of 418 quantified proteins, 28 were differentially expressed between the groups with high and low PWV (
P
<0.05). Three of 7 members of the extracellular matrix family of small leucine-rich repeat proteoglycans displayed significant differences between the 2 groups (
P
=0.0079; Fisher exact test). Three other ECM proteins were differentially regulated, that is, collagen, type VIII, α-1 and α-2 and collagen, type IV, α-1. Several proteins related to smooth muscle cell function and structure were also found in different amounts between the 2 groups.

Conclusions—

Changes in the arterial amounts of small leucine-rich proteoglycans, known to be involved in collagen fibrillogenesis, and of some nonfibrillar collagens in combination with alterations in proteins related to functions of the human arterial smooth muscle are associated with arterial stiffness, as determined by PWV.
Regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor Function in Angiogenesis by Numb and Numb-Like
Authors: van Lessen Max , Nakayama Masanori , Kato Katsuhiro , Kim Jung Mo , Kaibuchi Kozo , Adams Ralf H.
Published: June 2015

Objective—

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling is a major regulator of physiological and pathological angiogenesis. VEGF receptor activity is strongly controlled by endocytosis, which can terminate or enhance signal transduction in the angiogenic endothelium, but the exact molecular regulation of these processes remains incompletely understood. We have therefore examined the function of Numb family clathrin-associated sorting proteins in angiogenesis.

Approach and Results—

We show that Numb proteins are expressed by endothelial cells during retinal angiogenesis in mice. Inducible inactivation of the
Numb
/
Numbl
genes in the postnatal endothelium led to impaired vessel growth, reduced endothelial proliferation and sprouting, and decreased VEGF receptor activation. Biochemistry and cell biology experiments established that Numb can interact with VEGFR2 and VEGFR3 and controls VEGF receptor activation in response to ligand stimulation. Experiments in cultured endothelial cells showed that Numb proteins counteract VEGF receptor degradation and promote VEGFR2 recycling back to the plasma membrane.

Conclusions—

Numb proteins control VEGF receptor endocytosis, signaling, and recycling in endothelial cells, which promotes the angiogenic growth of blood vessels.
Genetic Ablation of Ca
V
3.2 Channels Enhances the Arterial Myogenic Response by Modulating the RyR-BK
Ca
Axis
Authors: Harraz Osama F. , Brett Suzanne E. , Zechariah Anil , Romero Monica , Puglisi Jose L. , Wilson Sean M. , Welsh Donald G.
Published: June 2015

Objective—

In resistance arteries, there is an emerging view that smooth muscle Ca
V
3.2 channels restrain arterial constriction through a feedback response involving the large-conductance Ca
2+
-activated K
+
channel (BK
Ca
). Here, we used wild-type and Ca
V
3.2 knockout (Ca
V
3.2
−/−
) mice to definitively test whether Ca
V
3.2 moderates myogenic tone in mesenteric arteries via the Ca
V
3.2-ryanodine receptor-BK
Ca
axis and whether this regulatory mechanism influences blood pressure regulation.

Approach and Results—

Using pressurized vessel myography, Ca
V
3.2
−/−
mesenteric arteries displayed enhanced myogenic constriction to pressure but similar K
+
-induced vasoconstriction compared with wild-type C57BL/6 arteries. Electrophysiological and myography experiments subsequently confirmed the inability of micromolar Ni
2+
, a Ca
V
3.2 blocker, to either constrict arteries or suppress T-type currents in Ca
V
3.2
−/−
smooth muscle cells. The frequency of BK
Ca
-induced spontaneous transient outward K
+
currents dropped in wild-type but not in knockout arterial smooth muscle cells upon the pharmacological suppression of Ca
V
3.2 channel. Line scan analysis performed on en face arteries loaded with Fluo-4 revealed the presence of Ca
2+
sparks in all arteries, with the subsequent application of Ni
2+
only affecting wild-type arteries. Although Ca
V
3.2 channel moderated myogenic constriction of resistance arteries, the blood pressure measurements of Ca
V
3.2
−/−
and wild-type animals were similar.

Conclusions—

Overall, our findings establish a negative feedback mechanism of the myogenic response in which Ca
V
3.2 channel modulates downstream ryanodine receptor-BK
Ca
to hyperpolarize and relax arteries.
Evaluation of the Necessity for Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation in Elderly Patients With Brugada Syndrome
Authors: Kamakura Tsukasa , Wada Mitsuru , Nakajima Ikutaro , Ishibashi Kohei , Miyamoto Koji , Okamura Hideo , Noda Takashi , Aiba Takeshi , Takaki Hiroshi , Yasuda Satoshi , Ogawa Hisao , Shimizu Wataru , Makiyama Takeru , Kimura Takeshi , Kamakura Shiro , Kusano Kengo
Published: June 2015

Background—

The clinical characteristics and prognosis of elderly patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS) are largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risks and benefits of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) in elderly patients with BrS based on a long follow-up.

Methods and Results—

A total of 120 BrS patients with ICD (90 for aborted sudden cardiac arrest or syncope, mean age, 46.6±12.2 years; 50 with age ≥60 years at the last follow-up) were included in this study. During 102±68 months of follow-up, 31 patients (26%) experienced appropriate shocks. Age at the first attack of ventricular fibrillation (VF) was <70 years in all patients (mean, 45.0±12.1 years), the incidence of VF decreased with age, and VF did not recur after 70 years of age except in 2 patients with ischemic heart disease. Eleven of 28 patients with supraventricular tachycardia experienced inappropriate shocks. These inappropriate shocks increased with age and reached a peak in patients who were in their sixties. Lead failures occurred in later stages after implantation in 10 of 120 patients (8%).

Conclusions—

Long-term follow-up of high-risk BrS patients with ICD showed a low incidence of VF in those aged >70 years. Considering the increasing risk of inappropriate shocks because of the relatively late onset of supraventricular tachycardia and lead failures, avoidance of ICD implantation, or replacement may be considered in elderly BrS patients who remain free from VF until 70 years of age.
Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Coronary Artery Disease and Angina
Authors: Badar Athar A. , Perez-Moreno Ana Cristina , Hawkins Nathaniel M. , Jhund Pardeep S. , Brunton Alan P.T. , Anand Inder S. , McKelvie Robert S. , Komajda Michel , Zile Michael R. , Carson Peter E. , Gardner Roy S. , Petrie Mark C. , McMurray John J.V.
Published: June 2015

Background—

The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between coronary artery disease (CAD), angina, and clinical outcomes in patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction enrolled in the irbesartan in patients with heart failure and preserved systolic function (I-Preserve) trial.

Methods and Results—

The mean follow-up period for the 4128 patients enrolled in I-Preserve was 49.5 months. Patients were divided into 4 mutually exclusive groups according to history of CAD and angina: patients with no history of CAD or angina (n=2008), patients with no history of CAD but a history of angina (n=649), patients with a history of CAD but no angina (n=468), and patients with a history of CAD and angina (n=1003); patients with no known CAD or angina were the reference group. After adjustment for other prognostic variables using Cox proportional-hazard models, patients with CAD but no angina were found to be at higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.58 [1.22–2.04];
P
<0.01) and sudden death (HR, 2.12 [1.33–3.39];
P
<0.01), compared with patients with no CAD or angina. Patients with CAD and angina were also at higher risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 1.29 [1.05–1.59];
P
=0.02) and sudden death (HR, 1.83 [1.24–2.69];
P
<0.01) compared with the same reference group and had the highest risk of unstable angina or myocardial infarction (HR, 5.84 [3.43–9.95];
P
<0.01).

Conclusions—

Patients with heart failure and preserved ejection fraction and CAD are at higher risk of all-cause mortality and sudden death when compared with those without CAD.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00095238.
Childhood Psychosocial Adversity and Adult Neighborhood Disadvantage as Predictors of Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Halonen Jaana I. , Stenholm Sari , Pentti Jaana , Kawachi Ichiro , Subramanian S.V. , Kivimäki Mika , Vahtera Jussi
Published: June 2015

Background—

Childhood adverse psychosocial factors (eg, parental divorce, long-term financial difficulties) and adult neighborhood disadvantage have both been linked to increased cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, their combined effects on disease risk are not known.

Methods and Results—

Participants were 37 699 adults from the Finnish Public Sector study whose data were linked to a national neighborhood disadvantage grid with the use of residential addresses between the years 2000 and 2008 and who responded to a survey on childhood psychosocial adversities and adult CVD risk behaviors in 2008 to 2009. Survey data were also linked to national registers on hospitalization, mortality, and prescriptions to assess CVD risk factors in 2008 to 2009 and to ascertain incident CVD (coronary heart disease or cerebrovascular disease) between the survey and the end of December 2011 (mean follow-up, 2.94 years; SD=0.44 years). Combined exposure to high childhood adversity and high adult disadvantage was associated with CVD risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, obesity, smoking, heavy alcohol use, and physical inactivity) and with a 2.25-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.39–3.63) hazard of incident CVD compared with a low childhood adversity and low adult disadvantage. This hazard ratio was attenuated by 16.6% but remained statistically significant after adjustment for the CVD risk factors (1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.22–3.16). Exposure to high childhood adversity or high adult neighborhood disadvantage alone was not significantly associated with CVD in fully adjusted models.

Conclusions—

These findings suggest that individuals with both childhood psychosocial adversity and adult neighborhood disadvantage are at an increased risk of CVD. In contrast, those with only 1 of these exposures have little or no excess risk after controlling for conventional risk factors.
Comparison of Acute Stroke Preparedness Strategies to Decrease Emergency Department Arrival Time in a Multiethnic Cohort
Authors: Boden-Albala Bernadette , Stillman Joshua , Roberts Eric T. , Quarles Leigh W. , Glymour M. Maria , Chong Ji , Moats Harmon , Torrico Veronica , Parides Michael C.
Published: June 2015

Background and Purpose—

Less than 25% of stroke patients arrive to an emergency department within the 3-hour treatment window. Stroke Warning Information and Faster Treatment (SWIFT) compared an interactive intervention (II) with enhanced educational (EE) materials on recurrent stroke arrival times in a prospective cohort of multiethnic stroke/transient ischemic attack survivors.

Methods—

A single-center randomized controlled trial (2005–2011) randomized participants to EE (bilingual stroke preparedness materials) or II (EE plus in-hospital sessions). We assessed differences by randomization in the proportion arriving to emergency department <3 hours, prepost intervention arrival <3 hours, incidence rate ratio for total events, and stroke knowledge and preparedness capacity.

Results—

SWIFT randomized 1193 participants (592 EE, 601 II): mean age 63 years; 50% female, 17% black, 51% Hispanic, 26% white. At baseline, 28% arrived to emergency department <3 hours. Over 5 years, first recurrent stroke (n=133), transient ischemic attacks (n=54), or stroke mimics (n=37) were documented in 224 participants. Incidence rate ratio=1.31 (95% confidence interval=1.05–1.63; II to EE). Among II, 40% arrived <3 hours versus 46% EE (
P
=0.33). In prepost analysis, there was a 49% increase in the proportion arriving <3 hours (
P
=0.001), greatest among Hispanics (63%,
P
<0.003). II had greater stroke knowledge at 1 month (odds ratio=1.63; 1.23–2.15). II had higher preparedness capacity at 1 month (odds ratio=3.36; 1.86, 6.10) and 12 months (odds ratio=7.64; 2.49, 23.49).

Conclusions—

There was no difference in arrival <3 hours overall between II and EE; the proportion arriving <3 hours increased in both groups and in race-ethnic minorities.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00415389.
Design and Analysis of Schemes for Adapting Migration Intervals in Parallel Evolutionary Algorithms
Authors: Mambrini Andrea , Sudholt Dirk
Published: June 2015

The migration interval is one of the fundamental parameters governing the dynamic behaviour of island models. Yet, there is little understanding on how this parameter affects performance, and how to optimally set it given a problem in hand. We propose schemes for adapting the migration interval according to whether fitness improvements have been found. As long as no improvement is found, the migration interval is increased to minimise communication. Once the best fitness has improved, the migration interval is decreased to spread new best solutions more quickly. We provide a method for obtaining upper bounds on the expected running time and the communication effort, defined as the expected number of migrants sent. Example applications of this method to common example functions show that our adaptive schemes are able to compete with, or even outperform, the optimal fixed choice of the migration interval, with regard to running time and communication effort.
Improving the Interpretability of Classification Rules Discovered by an Ant Colony Algorithm: Extended Results
Authors: Otero Fernando E. B. , Freitas Alex A.
Published: June 2015

Most ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithms for inducing classification rules use a ACO-based procedure to create a rule in a one-at-a-time fashion. An improved search strategy has been proposed in the cAnt-Miner[Formula: see text] algorithm, where an ACO-based procedure is used to create a complete list of rules (ordered rules), i.e., the ACO search is guided by the quality of a list of rules instead of an individual rule. In this paper we propose an extension of the cAnt-Miner[Formula: see text] algorithm to discover a set of rules (unordered rules). The main motivations for this work are to improve the interpretation of individual rules by discovering a set of rules and to evaluate the impact on the predictive accuracy of the algorithm. We also propose a new measure to evaluate the interpretability of the discovered rules to mitigate the fact that the commonly used model size measure ignores how the rules are used to make a class prediction. Comparisons with state-of-the-art rule induction algorithms, support vector machines, and the cAnt-Miner[Formula: see text] producing ordered rules are also presented.
Deterministic Agent-Based Path Optimization by Mimicking the Spreading of
Ripples
Authors: Hu Xiao-Bing , Wang Ming , Leeson Mark S. , Di Paolo Ezequiel A. , Liu Hao
Published: June 2015

Inspirations from nature have contributed fundamentally to the development of evolutionary computation. Learning from the natural ripple-spreading phenomenon, this article proposes a novel ripple-spreading algorithm (RSA) for the path optimization problem (POP). In nature, a ripple spreads at a constant speed in all directions, and the node closest to the source is the first to be reached. This very simple principle forms the foundation of the proposed RSA. In contrast to most deterministic top-down centralized path optimization methods, such as Dijkstra’s algorithm, the RSA is a bottom-up decentralized agent-based simulation model. Moreover, it is distinguished from other agent-based algorithms, such as genetic algorithms and ant colony optimization, by being a deterministic method that can always guarantee the global optimal solution with very good scalability. Here, the RSA is specifically applied to four different POPs. The comparative simulation results illustrate the advantages of the RSA in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. Thanks to the agent-based and deterministic features, the RSA opens new opportunities to attack some problems, such as calculating the exact complete Pareto front in multiobjective optimization and determining the kth shortest project time in project management, which are very difficult, if not impossible, for existing methods to resolve. The ripple-spreading optimization principle and the new distinguishing features and capacities of the RSA enrich the theoretical foundations of evolutionary computation.
The Distinctive Features of Public Sector in Europe: A Comparative Study Based on the Social Morphology of Wage Earners
Authors: Hugrée Cédric , Penissat Étienne , Spire Alexis
Published: June 2015

This article aims to point out that there are still substantial differences between public and private workers. Using the Eurostat Statistical classification of economic activities in the European Community, we define the public workers as those who are employed in Administration, Health and Education. The measure of targeted jobs is provided by the Labour Force Survey (lfs) which is a large sample survey among private households. By following this approach, we can present several significant results. In every European country, public workers have an average aggregate employment tenure higher than private workers, a higher proportion of women and a higher proportion of high skilled workers. Beyond these global differences, we point out that the divide between public and private sector is differently shaped, according to the country and to the social status.
What Does it Mean to be Part of the Elite?
Authors: Mangset Marte
Published: June 2015

Whether top bureaucrats are part of the elite or not, and to what degree their possible elite status is legitimate, will depend on how the elite concept is defined. Analyzing 81 British, French and Norwegian top bureaucrats’ arguments for belonging to the elite or not, this paper unpacks the elite concept and explores its meaning along a range of dimensions (organizational, prestige, education, social status, power, wage). These dimensions can be analyzed as indicating either an elite status delimited to the profession or exceeding it, as a societal elite. Rather than what might be expected, a clear contrast between anti-elitist Norwegian and elitist British and French bureaucrats, the comparative analysis of the interviews shows a variation between two different understandings of the elite concept: Norwegians interpret their elite status as delimited to the profession, and British and French bureaucrats define themselves as societal elites.
Determinants of Income Inequality in the Early Twenty-First Century: A Cross-National Study
Authors: Marsh Robert M.
Published: June 2015

This paper uses Solt’s Standardized World Income Inequality Database and attempts to explain variations in Gini coefficients for net household income across 142 developing, transitional and developed societies. The causal model contains three sets of explanatory variables: (1) economic dualism, (2) educational attainment and educational inequality, and (3) political and state influences on income inequality. The most important cause of inequality is still the Kuznets effect: societies at low and high levels of development have less inequality than those at intermediate levels. Population growth increases inequality. Rising labor productivity in the agricultural relative to that in the non-agricultural sector, and being a former Soviet society reduce inequality. Educational attainment has less effect than educational inequality on income inequality. Government income transfers sometimes reduce inequality, but have no effect when all variables are in the model. Finally, liberal democracy has no net effect on inequality
Mystical Experiences in Nature
Authors: Snell Tristan L. , Simmonds Janette G.
Published: June 2015

Although research in ecopsychology commonly identifies the value of spiritual experiences in nature for psychological well-being and environmental behaviour, previous research has not compared the outcomes of these experiences in natural and human-built settings. In the present study, the relationship between self-reported mystical experiences in natural and human-built environments for psychological well-being and environmental behaviour was investigated. A sample of 305 participants completed an amended version of Hood's Mysticism Scale, a measure of psychological well-being, and brief environmental behaviour scale. Correlations indicated that mystical experiences in natural and in human-built environments both significantly predicted psychological well-being, but only mystical experiences in natural settings predicted environmental behaviour. This study suggests that mystical experiences in natural and human-built environments may be related to different outcomes.
Religious Pluralism as an Imaginative Practice
Authors: Alma Hans A.
Published: June 2015

To understand the complex religious dynamics in a globalizing world, Arjun Appadurai's view on imagination as a social practice, Charles Taylor's view on social imaginaries, and John Dewey's view on moral imagination are discussed. Their views enable us to understand religious dynamics as a “space of contestation” in which secular and religious images and voices (sometimes embodied in the same person) interact, argue, and clash. Imagination can be used in violent ways in service of extremist world images that spread over the world by the intensive use of social media. This raises an urgent question for psychology of religion: what enables people psychologically to engage in religious pluralism, understood as negotiating and perhaps stimulating diversity in non-violent, constructive ways? It is argued that dialogical psychology helps us to understand the self as the anchor point and navigational system of the social imaginaries that are at play in religious dynamics.
Towards a Theory of Spiritual and Religious Experiences
Authors: Hermans Chris A. M.
Published: June 2015

How do we define religious experiences? And what would be the relationship with spiritual experiences? The author claims that the cognitive turn in science gives us new opportunities to map the territory of religion and spirituality. In line with other authors (Taves, Wildman), he proposes a building block approach of cognitive mechanisms that can deal with questions regarding the specificity, origin, and complexity of religious experiences. Two concepts are presented that bridge the great divide which is presumed to exist between sciences that study the brain and humanities, namely the encultured brain and predictive minds. In section three, six building blocks of the structure of religious experience are formulated. New in his approach is the unexpected possible as distinctive ground between normal experiences and what we consider spiritual and religious experiences. Finally, the author presents a critical reflection on his proposal and challenges for the road ahead.
The impact of library information literacy classes on first year students’ searching behaviour
Authors: Skofsrud Boger Torunn , Dybvik Hanne , Eng Anne-Lise , Norheim Else Helene
Published: June 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not the library courses in information literacy (IL) taught at Østfold University College had an impact on the students’ search behaviour. To find out, 19 students were interviewed and observed about this topic. The results showed that there were only slight differences in search behaviour between those who had attended the IL sessions and those who had not. Many students used Google as their starting point for searching for information. In this paper, we discuss how these findings can be implemented when developing future library courses on information searching.
Refining the definition of information literacy:
Authors: Forster Marc
Published: June 2015

A recently-conducted phenomenographic research study described six ways of experiencing information literacy (IL) in nursing practice. These findings and a re-interpretation of those of several other studies into IL experience, appear to show that such experience is always focused on context-specific knowledge creation. This suggests that those definitions of IL which focus on information gathering processes but not on their outcomes could be refined in a way which shows its role and value in a more explicit manner. Such a refinement might yield greater understanding and prominence for IL outside the information professions.
On the new Afrotropical genus Suffrica with discovery of an abdominal gland and a dual femoral organ (Araneae, Zodariidae)
Authors: HENRARD ARNAUD , JOCQUÉ RUDY
Published: June 2015

A new genus, Suffrica, is described from Tanzania and Kenya. It contains three new species occurring in the Eastern Arc Mountains and the adjacent Mkomazi Game Reserve: S. exotica, S. chawia and S. gus. They are characterized by a remarkable combination of features which has not been documented in spiders so far: a pair of femoral organs on each leg, a gland on the dorsal side of the abdomen in both sexes and a dorsal abdominal groove in males. A dual femoral organ appears to occur in species of the genus Suffasia Jocqué, 1991 and Asceua Thorell, 1887. The discovery of a new African genus close to Suffasia is remarkable since the latter genus is known only from Asia.
The tribe Dysoniini part IV: New species of Quiva Hebard, 1927 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) from Brazilian rainforest and some clarifications
Authors: CADENA-CASTAÑEDA OSCAR J. , MENDES DIEGO MATHEUS DE MELLO , SOVANO RAFAEL S. DA SILVA
Published: June 2015

Two new species of the genus Quiva: Quiva buhrnheimi n. sp. and Quiva gutjahrae n. sp. from Brazilian Amazon are described. Determinations for distributional data previously published by Sovano & Mendes (2013) are clarified and the synonymy of Ituana dorisae under Q. abacata is confirmed. In this paper, an updated key to subgenus Quiva is provided.
The Holarctic genus Aeolothrips (Thysanoptera: Aeolothripidae) from Iran, with description of two new species
Authors: ALAVI JALIL , AWAL MEHDI MODARRES , FEKRAT LIDA , MINAEI KAMBIZ , MANZARI SHAHAB
Published: June 2015

Two new species of the genus Aeolothrips are described from northeast of Iran. A. bhattii sp.n. from flowering Caroxylon dendroides is remarkable for its strikingly bicolored body with brown head and last three abdominal segments. A. laurencei sp.n. from flowers of Elaeagnus angustifolia is characterized by its large and dark brown body, all yellow tarsi and fore wings with two brown transverse bands connected posteriorly.
Two new species and two detailed chaetotaxy descriptions of Seira (Collembola: Entomobryidae) from Brazil
Authors: GODEIRO NERIVÂNIA N. , BELLINI BRUNO C.
Published: June 2015

Two new species, Seira coroatensis sp. nov. and Seira diamantinae sp. nov., from different areas of Caatinga Biome, Northeastern Brazil, are described and illustrated in this paper. Seira coroatensis sp. nov. share some similarities with Seira mendoncae Bellini & Zeppelini and Seira ritae Bellini & Zeppelini, but presents a very distinct pattern of setae on dorsal head and mesothorax. In the other hand, Seira diamantinae sp. nov. is the fifth neotropical species described bearing modified blunt macrosetae on distal manubrium and proximal dens. The detailed dorsal chaetotaxy of S. paraibensis Bellini & Zeppelini and S. glabra Godeiro & Bellini are presented with some notes regarding the original descriptions of the species.
Descriptions of three new species of the genus Cheilosia Meigen from China (Diptera, Syrphidae)
Authors: BARKALOV ANATOLIJ V. , STÅHLS GUNILLA
Published: June 2015

Three species of genus Cheilosia (Diptera, Syrphidae: Eristalinae) from China are described as new to science, Cheilosia bullabucca Barkalov & Ståhls sp. n., C. lamproptera Barkalov & Ståhls sp. n. and C. yunnanensis Barkalov & Ståhls sp. n. We provide species descriptions and keys for their identification. The phylogenetic placements of the taxa was estimated based on their morphological characteristics and by analysing the taxa under parsimony using a mtDNA COI sequence dataset including a comprehensive set of Palaearctic previously generated Cheilosia spp. sequences representing all major subgenera. Based on both their morphological affinities and the molecular data. The Chinese taxa were placed in the subgenera Eucartosyrphus (C. bullabucca), Cheilosia s. str. (C. oblonga), Floccocheila (C. versicolor) while C. yunnanensis was not resolved as member of Cheilosia s. str. based on DNA despite sharing morphological characteristics with the subgenus. As the name Cheilosia (Nephocheila) prima Barkalov & Cheng from China is a junior homonym of Cheilosia (Cartosyrphus) prima Hunter, 1896 from the Nearctic region, for the Chinese species the new name Cheilosia (Nephocheila) primaria Barkalov & Ståhls nomen nov. is proposed.