bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EGFR Fusions as Novel Therapeutic Targets in Lung Cancer
Authors: Konduri Kartik , Gallant Jean-Nicolas , Chae Young Kwang , Giles Francis J. , Gitlitz Barbara J. , Gowen Kyle , Ichihara Eiki , Owonikoko Taofeek K. , Peddareddigari Vijay , Ramalingam Suresh S. , Reddy Satyanarayan K. , Eaby-Sandy Beth , Vavalà Tiziana , Whiteley Andrew , Chen Heidi , Yan Yingjun , Sheehan Jonathan H. , Meiler Jens , Morosini Deborah , Ross Jeffrey S. , Stephens Philip J. , Miller Vincent A. , Ali Siraj M. , Lovly Christine M.
Published: April 2016

Here, we report that novel epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene fusions comprising the N-terminal of EGFR linked to various fusion partners, most commonly RAD51, are recurrent in lung cancer. We describe five patients with metastatic lung cancer whose tumors harbored EGFR fusions, four of whom were treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) with documented antitumor responses. In vitro, EGFR–RAD51 fusions are oncogenic and can be therapeutically targeted with available EGFR TKIs and therapeutic antibodies. These results support the dependence of EGFR-rearranged tumors on EGFR-mediated signaling and suggest several therapeutic strategies for patients whose tumors harbor this novel alteration.

Significance: We report for the first time the identification and therapeutic targeting of EGFR C-terminal fusions in patients with lung cancer and document responses to the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib in 4 patients whose tumors harbored EGFR fusions. Findings from these studies will be immediately translatable to the clinic, as there are already several approved EGFR inhibitors. Cancer Discov; 6(6); 601–11. ©2016 AACR.

See related commentary by Paik, p. 574.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 561
Beta-Blocker Use Is Associated with Higher Renal Tissue Oxygenation in Hypertensive Patients Suspected of Renal Artery Stenosis
Authors: Hall Michael E. , Rocco Michael V. , Morgan Timothy M. , Hamilton Craig A. , Jordan Jennifer H. , Edwards Matthew S. , Hall John E. , Hundley William G.
Published: April 2016

Background: Chronic renal hypoxia influences the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) magnetic resonance (MR) is a noninvasive tool for the assessment of renal oxygenation. The impact of beta-blockers on renal hemodynamics and oxygenation is not completely understood. We sought to determine the association between beta-blocker use, renal cortical and medullary oxygenation, and renal blood flow in patients suspected of renal artery stenosis. Methods: We measured renal cortical and medullary oxygenation using BOLD MR and renal artery blood flow using MR phase contrast techniques in 38 participants suspected of renal artery stenosis. Results: Chronic beta-blocker therapy was associated with improved renal cortical (p < 0.001) and medullary (p = 0.03) oxygenation, while the use of calcium channel blockers or diuretics showed no association with either cortical or medullary oxygenation. Receipt of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers was associated with reduced medullary oxygenation (p = 0.01). In a multivariable model, chronic receipt of beta-blockers was the only significant predictor of renal tissue oxygenation (β = 8.4, p = 0.008). Beta-blocker therapy was not associated with significant changes in renal artery blood flow, suggesting that improved renal oxygenation may be related to reduced renal oxygen consumption. Conclusions: In addition to known benefits to reduce cardiovascular mortality in patients with renal disease, beta-blockers may reduce or prevent the progression of renal dysfunction in patients with hypertension, diabetes, and renovascular disease, partly by reducing renal oxygen consumption. These observations may have important implications for the treatment of patients with CKD.
Age-Related Trajectories of Memory Function in Middle-Aged and Older Adults with and without Hearing Impairment
Authors: Wu Shang-Te , Chiu Ching-Ju
Published: April 2016

Background: To examine age-related trajectories of memory function associated with hearing status and to explore potential confounding by sociodemographic, physiological, and behavioral factors in that link. Methods: A national representative sample of Taiwanese adults ≥50 years with and without hearing impairment in 1996 (n = 4,707) were interviewed every 3-4 years until 2007. Cross-sectional and prospective associations between hearing impairment and memory function were determined using multilevel modeling. Results: In bivariate analyses, hearing impairment was associated not only with poor memory function but also with sociodemographic, behavioral and self-rated health status and chronic conditions. These factors, however, did not confound the relationship of hearing impairment with the level or rate of change in the modified Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (m-RAVLT) score - hearing impairment increased the age-related differences in the intercept of the memory function by 25.6%, and that the association was significantly greater in older people than in younger people, but hearing impairment was not associated with the slope of the cognitive trajectory over time. Conclusion: Hearing impairment and the m-RAVLT score at any point in time may have partially combined pathologic mechanisms with age. The vascular risk covariates we considered might also share the etiological pathways and be part of important prevention strategies for guarding against age-related memory decline in the future.
Breast Cancer Risk Factors among Ugandan Women at a Tertiary Hospital: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Galukande Moses , Wabinga Henry , Mirembe Florence , Karamagi Charles , Asea Alexzander
Published: April 2016

Background: Although East Africa, like other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, has a lower incidence of breast cancer than high-income countries, the disease rate is rising steeply in Africa; it has nearly tripled in the past few decades in Uganda. There is a paucity of studies that have examined the relation between reproductive factors and breast cancer risk factors in Ugandan women. Objective: To determine breast cancer risk factors among indigenous Ugandan women. Methods: This is a hospital-based unmatched case-control study. Interviews were conducted between 2011 and 2012 using structured questionnaires. Patients with histology-proven breast cancer were recruited over a 2-year period. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: A total of 350 women were recruited; 113 were cases and 237 were controls. The mean age was 47.5 years (SD 14) for the cases and 45.5 years (SD 14.1) for the controls. The odds of breast cancer risk seemed lower for those who breastfed (adjusted OR = 0.04; 95% CI: 0.01, 0.18). There was no significance for early age at first full-term birth (adjusted OR = 1.96; 95% CI: 0.97, 3.96; p = 0.061), and urban residence carried no increased odds of breast cancer either (p = 0.201). Conclusion: Breastfeeding seems to be associated with reduced odds of breast cancer.
Cardiac Autonomic Function at Baseline and under Stress and Its Relationship to Circulatory Markers of Inflammation in Obese Compared to Nonobese Children: A Pilot Study
Authors: Hursh Brenden E. , Fazeli Mir Sohail , Wang Sarah , Marchant Elizabeth A. , Woo Paula , Elango Rajavel , Lavoie Pascal M. , Chanoine Jean-Pierre , Collet Jean-Paul
Published: April 2016

Background/Aims: The autonomic nervous system (ANS) provides neurogenic control of inflammatory reactions. ANS changes in obesity may result in inflammation. This study sought to gain insight into cardiac autonomic dysfunction and inflammation in childhood obesity, and to gather pilot data on the potential relationship between altered ANS and inflammation. Methods: Fifteen obese children and adolescents without metabolic complications and 15 nonobese controls underwent heart rate variability and impedance cardiography testing during rest, mental stress, and physical stress. Inflammatory cytokines and immune reactivity were measured. Results: There was no statistically significant difference between groups in cardiac ANS testing at rest or in response to stress. Median high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was higher in the obese group [obese 2.6 mg/l (IQR 1.6-11.9); nonobese 0.3 mg/l (IQR 0.2-0.7); p < 0.001]. Interleukin-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α were similar between groups. Immune reactivity testing (in vitro Toll-like receptor stimulation) revealed a strong, but comparable, inflammatory response in both groups. Conclusions: Obese children and adolescents without metabolic complications did not have cardiac ANS dysfunction. While hsCRP was elevated, systemic cytokines were not raised. Compared to prior studies, which often focused on children with obesity and its complications, it is encouraging that obese children without metabolic complications may not yet have autonomic dysfunction.
Comparison of Pantoprazole Concentrations in Simultaneous Cerebrospinal Fluid and Serum Samples
Authors: Sigaroudi Ali , Stelzer Christoph , Braun Tina , Frechen Sebastian , Hüttner Sven , Schröter Michael , Kinzig Martina , Fuhr Uwe , Holzgrabe Ulrike , Sörgel Fritz
Published: April 2016

Background: Pantoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor drug mainly used for treating peptic diseases. Adverse effects of pantoprazole in the occasional central nervous system (CNS) include headache, vertigo and sleep disturbances. Data in rats suggest that proton pumps are expressed in the inner ear and in the epithelium of the choroid plexus, which would be a potential target to mediate such proton pump inhibitor effects. Methods: To assess the distribution of pantoprazole into the human CNS despite its low lipophilicity (log p = 0.5), we quantified pantoprazole concentrations by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry in serum and cerebrospinal fluid retain samples withdrawn simultaneously. Twenty-six sample pairs were obtained from 23 neurological patients with therapeutic administration of pantoprazole prior to sampling. Results: Median (interquartile range) serum concentration of total pantoprazole was 142 ng/ml (30.8-622). Cerebrospinal fluid concentration of total pantoprazole was 2.79 ng/ml (1.59-7.3) and reached 2.0% (1.0-4.5%) of simultaneous serum concentrations. Conclusion: This value corresponds to the unbound fraction of pantoprazole in serum reported previously and indicates that pantoprazole CNS concentrations are high enough to exert some effects on possible CNS targets.
The Incidence of Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hirsch Lauren , Jette Nathalie , Frolkis Alexandra , Steeves Thomas , Pringsheim Tamara
Published: April 2016

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder. Epidemiological studies on the incidence of PD are important to better understand the risk factors for PD and determine the condition's natural history. Objective: This systematic review and meta-analysis examine the incidence of PD and its variation by age and gender. Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for epidemiologic studies of PD from 2001 to 2014, as a previously published systematic review included studies published until 2001. Data were analyzed separately for age group and gender, and meta-regression was used to determine whether a significant difference was present between groups. Results: Twenty-seven studies were included in the analysis. Meta-analysis of international studies showed rising incidence with age in both men and women. Significant heterogeneity was observed in the 80+ group, which may be explained by methodological differences between studies. While males had a higher incidence of PD in all age groups, this difference was only statistically significant for those in the age range 60-69 and 70-79 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: PD incidence generally increases with age, although it may stabilize in those who are 80+.
Pulmonary Tumor Thrombotic Microangiopathy: A New Paraneoplastic Syndrome
Authors: Carter Corey A. , Scicinski Jan J. , Lybeck Harry E. , Oronsky Bryan T.
Published: April 2016

This report, based on data from a clinical case, proposes that pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy, an underdiagnosed cause of pulmonary hypertension and death in patients with adenocarcinoma, is a paraneoplastic syndrome (PNS). Clinicians in general must be alert to the presence or development of PNS that may precede, coincide with, follow, or herald the recurrence or the primary diagnosis of malignancy since early recognition facilitates prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Thrombin-Activatable Fibrinolysis Inhibitor in Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Yaoita Nobuhiro , Satoh Kimio , Satoh Taijyu , Sugimura Koichiro , Tatebe Shunsuke , Yamamoto Saori , Aoki Tatsuo , Miura Masanobu , Miyata Satoshi , Kawamura Takeshi , Horiuchi Hisanori , Fukumoto Yoshihiro , Shimokawa Hiroaki
Published: April 2016

Objective—

The pathogenesis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) remains to be elucidated. Thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) inhibits fibrinolysis. It remains to be elucidated whether TAFI is directly involved in the pathogenesis of CTEPH. We examined potential involvement of TAFI in the pathogenesis of CTEPH in humans.

Approach and Results—

We enrolled 68 consecutive patients undergoing right heart catheterization in our hospital, including those with CTEPH (n=27), those with pulmonary arterial hypertension (n=22), and controls (non–pulmonary hypertension, n=19). Whole blood clot lysis assay showed that the extent of clot remaining after 4 hours was significantly higher in CTEPH compared with pulmonary arterial hypertension or controls (41.9 versus 26.5 and 24.6%, both
P
<0.01). Moreover, plasma levels of TAFI were significantly higher in CTEPH than in pulmonary arterial hypertension or controls (19.4±4.2 versus 16.1±4.5 or 16.3±3.3 μg/mL, both
P
<0.05), which remained unchanged even after hemodynamic improvement by percutaneous transluminal pulmonary angioplasty. Furthermore, the extent of clot remaining after 4 hours was significantly improved with CPI-2KR (an inhibitor of activated TAFI) or prostaglandin E
1
(an inhibitor of activation of platelets). Importantly, plasma levels of TAFI were significantly correlated with the extent of clot remaining after 4 hours. In addition, the extent of clot remaining after 4 hours was improved with an activated TAFI inhibitor.

Conclusions—

These results indicate that plasma levels of TAFI are elevated in patients with CTEPH and are correlated with resistance to clot lysis in those patients.
The Novel Oral Syk Inhibitor, Bl1002494, Protects Mice From Arterial Thrombosis and Thromboinflammatory Brain Infarction
Authors: van Eeuwijk Judith M.M. , Stegner David , Lamb David J. , Kraft Peter , Beck Sarah , Thielmann Ina , Kiefer Friedemann , Walzog Barbara , Stoll Guido , Nieswandt Bernhard
Published: April 2016

Objective—

Ischemic stroke, which is mainly caused by thromboembolic occlusion of brain arteries, is the second leading cause of death and disability worldwide with limited treatment options. The platelet collagen receptor glycoprotein VI (GPVI) is a key player in arterial thrombosis and a critical determinant of stroke outcome, making its signaling pathway an attractive target for pharmacological intervention. The spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is an essential signaling mediator downstream of not only GPVI but also other platelet and immune cell receptors. We sought to assess whether Syk might be an effective antithrombotic target.

Approach and Results—

We demonstrate that mice lacking Syk in platelets specifically are protected from arterial thrombus formation and ischemic stroke but display unaltered hemostasis. Furthermore, we show that mice treated with the novel, selective, and orally bioavailable Syk inhibitor BI1002494 were protected in a model of arterial thrombosis and had smaller infarct sizes and a significantly better neurological outcome 24 hours after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, also when BI1002494 was administered therapeutically, that is, after ischemia.

Conclusions—

These results provide direct evidence that pharmacological Syk inhibition might provide a safe therapeutic strategy to prevent arterial thrombosis and to limit infarct progression in acute stroke.
Direct Proof of Endo-Epicardial Asynchrony of the Atrial Wall During Atrial Fibrillation in Humans
Authors: de Groot Natasja , van der Does Lisette , Yaksh Ameeta , Lanters Eva , Teuwen Christophe , Knops Paul , van de Woestijne Pieter , Bekkers Jos , Kik Charles , Bogers Ad , Allessie Maurits
Published: April 2016

Background—

The presence of focal fibrillation waves during atrial fibrillation (AF) can, besides ectopic activity, also be explained by asynchronous activation of the atrial endo- and epicardial layer and transmurally propagating fibrillation waves. To provide direct proof of endo-epicardial asynchrony, we performed simultaneous high-resolution mapping of the right atrial endo- and epicardial wall during AF in humans.

Method and Results—

Intraoperative mapping of the endo- and epicardial right atrial wall was performed during (induced) AF in 10 patients with AF (paroxysmal: n=3; persistent: n=4; and longstanding persistent: n=3) and 4 patients without a history of AF. A clamp made of 2 rectangular 8×16 electrode arrays (interelectrode distance 2 mm) was inserted into the incision in the right atrial appendage. Recordings of 10 seconds of AF were analyzed to determine the incidence of asynchronous endo-epicardial activation times (≥15 ms) of opposite electrodes. Asynchronous endo-epicardial activation ranged between 0.9 and 55.9% without preference for either side. Focal waves appeared equally frequent at endocardium and epicardium (11% versus 13%;
P
=0.18). Using strict criteria for breakthrough (presence of an opposite wave within 4 mm and ≤14 ms before the origin of the focal wave), the majority (65%) of all focal fibrillation waves could be attributed to endo-epicardial excitation.

Conclusions—

We provided the first evidence for asynchronous activation of the endo-epicardial wall during AF in humans. Endo-epicardial asynchrony may play a major role in the pathophysiology of AF and may offer an explanation why in some patients therapy fails.
Pial Collateral Reactivity During Hypertension and Aging
Authors: Chan Siu-Lung , Sweet Julie G. , Bishop Nicole , Cipolla Marilyn J.
Published: April 2016

Background and Purpose—

We investigated vasoactive properties of leptomeningeal arterioles (LMAs) under normotensive conditions and during hypertension and aging that are known to have poor collateral flow and little salvageable tissue.

Methods—

LMAs, identified as distal anastomotic arterioles connecting middle and anterior cerebral arteries, were studied isolated and pressurized from young (18 weeks) or aged (48 weeks) normotensive Wistar Kyoto (WKY18, n=14; WKY48, n=6) rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR18, n=16; SHR48, n=6). Myogenic tone and vasoactive responses to pressure as well as endothelial function and ion channel activity were measured.

Results—

LMAs from WKY18 had little myogenic tone at 40 mm Hg (8±3%) that increased in aged WKY48 (30±6%). However, LMAs from both WKY groups dilated to increased pressure and demonstrated little myogenic reactivity, a response that would be conducive to collateral flow. In contrast, LMAs from both SHR18 and SHR48 displayed considerable myogenic tone (56±8% and 43±7%;
P
<0.01 versus WKY) and constricted to increased pressure. LMAs from both WKY and SHR groups had similar basal endothelial nitric oxide and IK channel activity that opposed tone. However, dilation to sodium nitroprusside, diltiazem and 15 mmol/L KCl was impaired in LMAs from SHR18.

Conclusions—

This study shows for the first time that LMAs from young and aged SHR are vasoconstricted and have impaired vasodilatory responses that may contribute to greater perfusion deficit and little penumbral tissue. These results also suggest that therapeutic opening of pial collaterals is possible during middle cerebral artery occlusion to create penumbral tissue and prevent infarct expansion.
Additional records of the genus Hylaeus Fabricius, 1793 (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Colletidae) from Siberia, with description of a new species
Authors: PROSHCHALYKIN MAXIM YU. , DATHE HOLGER H.
Published: April 2016

As a supplement to a previously published study on Siberian Hylaeus species, we here report further records of twenty six rarely collected and little known species. Thirty two species are currently known from Siberia, including Hylaeus dorni Dathe, 1986, H. gredleri Förster, 1871, H. hungaricus (Alfken, 1905), H. moricei (Friese, 1898), H. nimbatus Dathe, 1986, H. oehlkei Dathe, 2010 and H. stubbei Dathe, 1986, which are reported from Russia for the first time, and H. brevicornis Nylander, 1852, H. communis Nylander, 1852, H. pfankuchi (Alfken, 1919) and H. styriacus Förster, 1871, which are newly recorded from Siberia. Hylaeus (Hylaeus) pesenkoi Proshchalykin & Dathe, sp. nov. is described as new from Siberia (Altai Republic and Tyva Republic) and neighbouring Mongolia (Khovd and Govi-Altai Aimags). The females of H. dorni Dathe, 1986 and H. oehlkei Dathe, 2010 are described for the first time; H. peregrinus Dathe, 1986 was recognised as the female of H. stubbei Dathe, 1986 and is treated as a new synonym.
Phylogenetic evaluation of taxonomic definition of didelphid mouse opossum of the genus Thylamys from valleys of Coquimbo region, Chile
Authors: BORIC-BARGETTO DUSAN , ZÚÑIGA-REINOSO ÁLVARO , CANCINO RICARDO A. , GONZÁLEZ-ACUÑA DANIEL , RODRÍGUEZ-SERRANO ENRIQUE , PALMA R. EDUARDO , HERNÁNDEZ CRISTIÁN E.
Published: April 2016

Only two species of Didelphidae are currently recognized in Chile, the sister species Thylamys elegans, endemic of Mediterranean ecorregion and Thylamys pallidior, the inhabitant of the Puna and desert canyons. Three subspecies have been described for T. elegans: T. e. elegans, T. e. coquimbensis and T. e. soricinus. However, a recent study based on morphological analyses, synonymized T. elegans coquimbensis from the Coquimbo valleys (30–31° S) with T. pallidior and proposed that T. elegans and T. pallidior could be in sympatry at Coquimbo valleys between Fray Jorge (30°40’S) and Paiguano (30°02’ S). We assess the current definition of T. e. coquimbensis and T. e. elegans, as well as this taxonomical conflict among the mouse opossums from the Coquimbo valleys through phylogenetic analyses of cytochrome b mitochondrial gene sequences. In this study, for the first time, we used specimens from the type localities of T. e. coquimbensis and T. e. elegans. In addition, we analyzed diagnostic cranial structures for this taxonomic revision. The results supported two allopatric clades, allowing us to keep the taxonomic definition of T. e. elegans and T. e. coquimbensis as phylogenetic reciprocal monophyletic clades and polyphyletic with T. pallidior. This result corroborates previous morphological analyses, which support that mouse opossums from the Coquimbo valleys are T. e. coquimbensis, thus extending its geographic distribution to the coast of Coquimbo and Atacama regions. We don´t have evidence for sympatric distribution between T. elegans and T. pallidior in the Coquimbo region.
Pākehā Learners of Māori Language Responding to Racism Directed Toward Māori
Authors: Te Huia Awanui
Published: April 2016

Māori are discriminated against at disproportionate rates to non-Māori. Pākehā who have invested in relationships with Māori through learning te reo Māori (Māori language) and their responses to discrimination are the focus of this research. Interviews with 13 Pākehā (New Zealand Europeans) indicated that they were critically aware of discrimination toward Māori and responded to discrimination in a variety of ways. This research highlights how some Pākehā who are developing relationships with Māori through Māori language learning may become aware of the inequalities that exist between Māori and Pākehā. This study explores how Pākehā language learners of te reo Māori contribute to creating positive change for bicultural relationships in New Zealand.
Case Study Research
Authors: Elman Colin , Gerring John , Mahoney James
Published: April 2016

Case studies are usually considered a qualitative method. However, some aspects of case study research—notably, the selection of cases—may be viewed through a quantitative template. In this symposium, we invite authors to contemplate the ways in which case study research might be conceived, and improved, by applying lessons from large- n cross-case research.
Overpaid? Public Service Delivery and City Manager Compensation in California
Authors: Hyde Albert C. , Zeemering Eric S.
Published: April 2016

City manager compensation has received heightened scrutiny in the media and in public debate. High salaries for city managers are sometimes compared with the salaries of elected officials, but this might not be the best comparison if we consider the nature of their work. If city managers are responsible for municipal corporations, then the scope of the municipal enterprise should explain compensation practices. Because California cities vary in the scope of services provided, we test an enterprise argument. The analysis makes a distinction between the scope of direct service delivery and contract service delivery by cities. Elite interviews with search firms in California provide additional insight into compensation practices. We conclude with paths for future research and discuss normative implications consistent with the enterprise framework for governing bodies to consider as they set city manager compensation.
Intimate Partner Sexual Coercion Mediates the Childhood Sexual Abuse–Suicidal Ideation Link Among African American Women
Authors: Lamis Dorian A. , Cavanaugh Courtenay E. , Anastasiades Maria H. , Garcia-Williams Amanda , Anderson Claudine , Kaslow Nadine J.
Published: April 2016

Suicide is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women. Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and intimate partner violence are significant risk factors for suicidal ideation among women. The purpose of this study was to examine the interrelationships among these three constructs and test if intimate partner sexual coercion may explain the CSA–suicidal ideation link. African American women ( N = 141) completed an assessment of childhood trauma, intimate partner sexual coercion, and suicide ideation. A significant positive correlation was found between CSA and sexual coercion, between CSA and suicidal ideation, and between sexual coercion and suicidal ideation. Also, intimate partner sexual coercion was found to mediate the relationship between CSA and suicidal ideation when controlling for covariates such as spiritual well-being, self-esteem, and barriers to services. The association between CSA and suicidal ideation may be explained by sexual revictimization in the context of an intimate relationship among African American women. Clinically, practitioners should engage in regular screening for suicide ideation among African American women who have experienced CSA and intimate partner sexual coercion.
Robust optimal motion planning approach to cooperative grasping and transporting using multiple UAVs based on SDRE
Authors: Babaie Raziyeh , Ehyaie Amir Farhad
Published: April 2016

In this paper, we consider the problem of controlling a team of Quadrotors that cooperatively grasp and transport a common payload in three dimensions in the presence of external disturbances and parametric uncertainties such as wind field effects. The main contribution of this work is to propose a cooperative control algorithm based on a decentralized strategy. This algorithm consists of two main parts: first calculating the control vectors for each Quadrotor using Moore–Penrose theory and second combining these control vectors with individual control vectors, which are obtained from a closed-loop non-linear robust optimal controller. In this regard, a robust optimal sliding mode controller (ROSMC), which incorporates the state-dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) method with sliding mode control (SMC) technique, is designed. It also has the capability of maximum dynamic load carrying capacity (DLCC) to increase the carrying capacity and the efficiency of the group of Quadrotors. The proposed method inherits the advantages of both approaches including robustness against model uncertainties and high flexibility in designing the control parameters to provide an optimal solution for the non-linear dynamic of the system. The control algorithm is based on the Lyapunov technique, which is able to provide the stability of the end-effecter during tracking of the desired trajectory with acceptable precision. Finally, the simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of the control strategy for the cooperative Quadrotors to grasp and transport a common payload in various manoeuvres.
The effects on stability region of the fractional-order PI controller for one-area time-delayed load–frequency control systems
Authors: Çelik Vedat , Özdemir Mahmut Temel , Bayrak Gökay
Published: April 2016

One of the controllers used in load–frequency control systems is the PI controller, taking account of time delay originating from measurement and communication. In control systems, along with the use of the fractional-order controller, computing parameter space exhibited stable behaviour on the controller parameters and analysing its efficiency have become a significant issue. This study focuses on computing the effects of the fractional integral order ( α) on the stable parameter space for the control of a one-area delayed load–frequency control system in the case of a fractional-order PI controller. The effect of time delay on the stable parameter space is also investigated at different fractional integral orders ( α) in the time-delayed system with fractional-order PI controller. For this purpose, a characteristic equation of the delayed system with the fractional-order PI controller is obtained, and the stable parameter spaces of the controller are computed according to the fractional integral order ( α) and time delay ( τ) values using the stability boundary locus method, which is graphics based. Moreover, the generalized modified Mikhailov criterion is used for testing the stability region on the Kp − Ki plane. The obtained results verified that the stability region on the Kp − Ki plane change depending on the α and τ.
Debating the United Monarchy: Let's See How Far We've Come
Authors: Thomas Zachary
Published: April 2016

This article reviews the two opposing sides of the ongoing debate concerning the historicity of the biblical United Monarchy, the kingdom of David and Solomon. After discussing the scholarly background of archaeological research into the 10th century BCE and Iron IIA period, it discusses the major chronological and historical revision proposed by Israel Finkelstein and the counterarguments deployed by Amihai Mazar. After discussing particular issues highlighted by the archaeology of Jerusalem and Khirbet Qeiyafa, the article closes with a brief reflection on how attitudes towards the Deuteronomistic History have affected this debate, with particular reference to the differing evaluations of Finkelstein and Baruch Halpern regarding its usability in historical reconstruction of the United Monarchy.
David's Wives: Love, Power, and Lust
Authors: Zucker David J. , Reiss Moshe
Published: April 2016

David's rise to the monarchy and the early consolidation of his dynasty connect directly to several of his wives, most notably Michal, Abigail, and Bathsheba. These women were not his only wives; however, they were pivotal figures in establishing and maintaining his place on the throne, and certainly the particular direction of his dynasty. David's relationships – at least initially –with these three women are characterized respectively by the words love, power, and lust.
Revisiting the “Creative” Use of Amos in Acts and What It Tells Us About Luke
Authors: White Aaron W.
Published: April 2016

In 1982, Earl Richard brought to light the unique place that Amos holds in Acts by a pioneering Novum Testamentum article on the use of Amos in Acts. I seek to revisit the investigation of the use of Amos in Acts by giving greater attention to the place of the Lukan appropriation of these two quotations in the narrative of Acts, and why they matter to the overall narrative. I argue that Luke appropriates the two Amos quotations and their interplaying themes in Acts 7 and 15 in order to form a literary inclusio that encloses and emphasizes a portion of Acts that exclusively introduces and develops two principal themes in Acts; the Gentile mission and its missionary, Paul. I conclude that such a “creative” use of Scripture is evidence of a narrative rooted in the exegetical construct of an active reader of Scripture seeking a normative expression for a ministry to an emerging multi-national people under the lordship of Jesus.
Masculinity in the New Testament and Early Christianity
Authors: Stewart Eric C.
Published: April 2016

Building on the work of feminist queries regarding the social construction of gender, scholarship beginning in the 1980s began to interrogate masculinity as a culturally constructed category. Scholars focusing on the New Testament and early Christianity, building upon significant studies in both gender theory and the social construction of masculinity in ancient Greek and Roman contexts have produced a substantial amount of significant research in the last thirty years. Despite the proliferation of scholarship, significant questions remain as to how best to understand Jesus and his early followers in light of Greek and Roman understandings of masculinity. Some scholars see descriptions of Jesus, his disciples, and other key figures in the Jesus movement significantly resistant to key elements of Roman or Greek understandings of what it meant to be a man, while others argue that New Testament authors present these same figures substantially corresponding to hegemonic masculinity in the Roman world.
Factor Structure and Construct Validity of the Worker Role Self-Assessment (WRS) When Used for People With Psychiatric Disabilities in Sweden
Authors: Eklund Mona , Bäckström Martin
Published: April 2016

A self-report instrument assessing work-related factors among people with psychiatric disabilities would be useful when trying to match possible employment or prevocational opportunities with people’s desires and capacities. The aim of this study was to explore the factor structure, internal consistency, and construct and criterion validity of the Worker Role Self-Assessment (WRS) in this group as well as possible floor and ceiling effects. The participants were 283 clients from day centers for people with psychiatric disabilities and from outpatient units for people with psychosis. They completed the WRS and instruments selected to assess construct validity in terms of convergent (motivation for work and current activity level as reference variables) and discriminant validity (quality of life and self-rated health as reference variables). Two factors were identified, one tapping beliefs in a future worker role and one reflecting current capacities and routines. The internal consistency for the scale as a whole was good at 0.84. The factor reflecting a future worker role correlated as expected with the reference variables used to assess convergent and discriminant validity, whereas current capacities and routines showed a moderate association with quality of life and self-rated health, assumed to indicate discriminant validity. Criterion validity was shown in that those who had recent work experiences scored higher than the others on WRS. No floor or ceiling effects were identified. The findings indicate acceptable psychometric properties of the WRS. Further development is still warranted, however; the factor solution needs to be replicated and the construct validity should be further established.
Governance by algorithms: reality construction by algorithmic selection on the Internet
Authors: Just Natascha , Latzer Michael
Published: April 2016

This article explores the governance by algorithms in information societies. Theoretically, it builds on (co-)evolutionary innovation studies in order to adequately grasp the interplay of technological and societal change and combines these with institutional approaches to incorporate governance by technology or rather software as institutions. Methodologically, it draws from an empirical survey of Internet-based services that rely on automated algorithmic selection, a functional typology derived from it, and an analysis of associated potential social risks. It shows how algorithmic selection has become a growing source of social order, of a shared social reality in information societies. It argues that – similar to the construction of realities by traditional mass media – automated algorithmic selection applications shape daily lives and realities, affect the perception of the world, and influence behavior. However, the co-evolutionary perspective on algorithms as institutions, ideologies, intermediaries, and actors highlights differences that are to be found, first, in the growing personalization of constructed realities and, second, in the constellation of involved actors. Altogether, compared to reality construction by traditional mass media, algorithmic reality construction tends to increase individualization, commercialization, inequalities, and deterritorialization and to decrease transparency, controllability, and predictability.
Fandom and coercive empowerment: the commissioned production of Chinese online literature
Authors: Tian Xiaoli , Adorjan Michael
Published: April 2016

This article examines how the relationship between consumers and producers of cultural products is shaped by the proprietary nature of digital platforms. Drawing on 4 years of online observation and analysis, we examine the relationship between the producers of online Chinese fiction, amateur writers, and their consumers, that is, the fan communities of readers who respond to their work. Enabled by Chinese literary websites, readers act like sponsors who provide emotional and financial incentives for writers to produce online fictions by commenting, voting, and sending money. Readers become actively involved not just because of the content of the stories but because they form strong commitments to stories and their writers, and gain reciprocity and a sense of self-determination during the interactional process. We argue that although writers are freer from state control online, they are still beholden to the whims of their fans because of what we call the commissioned production of fictions. We contribute to fan community studies by analyzing how commercialized website settings structure the strategies available to participants, how these settings affect the content of the cultural products, and how the Chinese historical and cultural contexts impact the dynamics of the online community.
Does Technologically Enabled Citizen Participation Lead to Budget Adjustments? An Investigation of Boston, MA, and San Francisco, CA
Authors: Clark Benjamin Y. , Guzman Tatyana S.
Published: April 2016

Citizen participation in government can provide a broad range of benefits to governments and citizens alike. Advances in information technologies have enabled new types of citizen participation with governments. However, we currently lack an understanding of how these new types of participation, particularly those that generate information on community needs, influence resource allocations. This article focuses on one of these new technologies, 311 systems, and how citizen requests might influence departmental budget allocations. We track budget allocation in the cities of Boston and San Francisco for 106 departments or subunits from FY2005 to FY2013. Our findings indicate that there is no significant resource benefit for departments using 311 versus those that do not. While departments using 311 do have larger budget allocations than those that do not, those departments had larger budget allocations prior to the implementation of 311. And while data generated in the 311-enabled citizen participation are increasingly used to measure departmental performance, the findings of this study show that this information has little to no effect on the allocated share of the budget for departments.
The effect of a core exercise program on Cobb angle and back muscle activity in male students with functional scoliosis: a prospective, randomized, parallel-group, comparative study
Authors: Park Yun Hee , Park Young Sook , Lee Yong Taek , Shin Hee Suk , Oh Min-Kyun , Hong Jiyeon , Lee Kyoung Yul
Published: April 2016

Objective

To assess the effect of core strengthening exercises on Cobb angle and muscle activity in male college students with functional scoliosis.

Methods

Static and dynamic back muscle activity were evaluated via surface electromyography (sEMG). A core exercise protocol comprising 18 exercises was performed three times/week for 10 weeks. Patients were randomly allocated to either a home- or community-based exercise programme. Cervical thoracolumbar scans and sEMG were performed after 10 weeks.

Results

A total of 87 students underwent cervical thoracolumbar scans. Of these, 53 were abnormal and were randomised between the home-based ( n = 25) or community-based ( n = 28) groups. After the 10-week exercise programme, Cobb angles were significantly lower and back muscle strength was significantly improved than baseline in both groups, but there were no statistically significant between group differences.

Conclusions

A 10-week core strengthening exercise programme decreases Cobb angle and improves back muscle strength in patients with functional scoliosis.
Spatial Frequency Components of Images Modulate Neuronal Activity in Monkey Amygdala
Authors: Montes-Lourido Pilar , Bermudez M. A. , Romero M. C. , Vicente A. F. , Gonzalez F
Published: April 2016

Processing the spatial frequency components of an image is a crucial feature for visual perception, especially in recognition of faces. Here, we study the correlation between spatial frequency components of images of faces and neuronal activity in monkey amygdala while performing a visual recognition task. The frequency components of the images were analyzed using a fast Fourier transform for 40 spatial frequency ranges. We recorded 65 neurons showing statistically significant responses to at least one of the images used as a stimulus. A total of 37 of these neurons ( n = 37) showed significant responses to at least three images, and in eight of them (8/37, 22%), we found a statistically significant correlation between neuron response and the modulus amplitude of at least one frequency range present in the images. Our results indicate that high spatial frequency and low spatial frequency components of images influence the activity of amygdala neurons.
The Influence of Attention Set, Working Memory Capacity, and Expectations on Inattentional Blindness
Authors: Kreitz Carina , Furley Philip , Memmert Daniel , Simons Daniel J.
Published: April 2016

The probability of inattentional blindness, the failure to notice an unexpected object when attention is engaged on some primary task, is influenced by contextual factors like task demands, features of the unexpected object, and the observer’s attention set. However, predicting who will notice an unexpected object and who will remain inattentionally blind has proven difficult, and the evidence that individual differences in cognition affect noticing remains ambiguous. We hypothesized that greater working memory capacity might modulate the effect of attention sets on noticing because working memory is associated with the ability to focus attention selectively. People with greater working memory capacity might be better able to attend selectively to target items, thereby increasing the chances of noticing unexpected objects that were similar to the attended items while decreasing the odds of noticing unexpected objects that differed from the attended items. Our study ( N = 120 participants) replicated evidence that task-induced attention sets modulate noticing but found no link between noticing and working memory capacity. Our results are largely consistent with the idea that individual differences in working memory capacity do not predict noticing of unexpected objects in an inattentional blindness task.
Binocular Perception of 2D Lateral Motion and Guidance of Coordinated Motor Behavior
Authors: Fath Aaron J. , Snapp-Childs Winona , Kountouriotis Georgios K. , Bingham Geoffrey P.
Published: April 2016

Zannoli, Cass, Alais, and Mamassian (2012) found greater audiovisual lag between a tone and disparity-defined stimuli moving laterally (90–170 ms) than for disparity-defined stimuli moving in depth or luminance-defined stimuli moving laterally or in depth (50–60 ms). We tested if this increased lag presents an impediment to visually guided coordination with laterally moving objects. Participants used a joystick to move a virtual object in several constant relative phases with a laterally oscillating stimulus. Both the participant-controlled object and the target object were presented using a disparity-defined display that yielded information through changes in disparity over time (CDOT) or using a luminance-defined display that additionally provided information through monocular motion and interocular velocity differences (IOVD). Performance was comparable for both disparity-defined and luminance-defined displays in all relative phases. This suggests that, despite lag, perception of lateral motion through CDOT is generally sufficient to guide coordinated motor behavior.
Facial Skin Smoothness as an Indicator of Perceived Trustworthiness and Related Traits
Authors: Tsankova Elena , Kappas Arvid
Published: April 2016

Facial texture has typically been studied as an umbrella phenomenon comprising several properties, such as skin tone and smoothness. Furthermore, texture has normally been addressed within complex models including also structural and dynamic properties and focusing on the extraction of perceptual dimensions from large numbers of physical and personality traits. It is yet unclear how individual facial textural properties affect the perception of individual physical and personality traits. We took a step in this direction by showing that the manipulation of a single facial textural property (skin smoothness) affected explicit evaluations of trustworthiness, competence, attractiveness, and health independently and in combination. Within the context of skin smoothness, our data also suggest a direct perceptual route for physical and an indirect perceptual route for personality traits.
Analysis of the mechanical behaviour of flax and glass fabrics-reinforced thermoplastic and thermoset resins
Authors: Chilali Abderrazak , Zouari Wajdi , Assarar Mustapha , Kebir Hocine , Ayad Rezak
Published: April 2016

This paper aims at comparing the mechanical behaviour of different composite materials constituted of twill flax and glass fabrics-reinforced liquid thermoplastic and thermoset resins. The main objective is to study the possibility of thermoplastic to replace thermoset matrix, and flax fibre to replace glass fibre. For this purpose, the studied composites were fabricated using the vacuum infusion technique. Next, they were subjected to several monotonic and load-unload tensile tests in order to determine their mechanical properties and their evolution with damage. Two elastic damage and elastic-plastic damage models were also considered to predict their behaviour. The obtained results show that the used thermoplastic resin could constitute an interesting alternative to the thermoset resin for the vacuum infusion process. Furthermore, the flax fibre composites, in particular those based on the thermoplastic resin, present specific tensile moduli close to those of glass composites.