bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The fallacy of identification by neutralization in the light of cytopathology nonproducing enterovirus strains
Authors: Adewumi Moses Olubusuyi , Faleye Temitope Oluwasegun Cephas , Adeniji Johnson Adekunle
Published: August 2017

We describe the characterization of an enterovirus isolate recovered from untreated raw sewage in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria in 2010. The isolate was neutralized by specific antisera and consequently identified as Echovirus 7 (E7). Subsequent molecular characterization showed the isolate to be a mixture of E7 and Coxsackievirus A24 (CV-A24) thereby suggesting the CV-A24 strain to be non-cytopathology producing. Further molecular analysis suggested that the CV-A24 might have recombined with a Sabin poliovirus 2 (PV2) in its non-structural region. This is the first description of a Nigerian CV-A24 strain.
Partitioning plant genetic and environmental drivers of above and belowground community assembly
Authors: Barbour Matthew , Erlandson Sonya , Peay Kabir , Locke Brendan , Jules Erik S. , Crutsinger Gregory M.
Published: August 2017

Host-plant genetic variation affects the diversity and composition of associated above and belowground communities. Most evidence supporting this view is derived from studies within a single common garden, thereby constraining the range of biotic and abiotic environmental conditions that might directly or indirectly (via phenotypic plasticity) affect communities. If natural variability in the environment renders host-plant genetic effects on associated communities unimportant, then studying the community-level consequences of genetic variation may not be warranted. We addressed this knowledge gap by planting a series of common gardens consisting of 10 different clones (genotypes) of the willow Salix hookeriana in a coastal dune ecosystem and manipulated natural variation in ant-aphid interactions (biotic) and wind exposure (abiotic) in two separate experiments. We then quantified the responses of associated species assemblages both above (foliar arthropods) and belowground (rhizosphere fungi and bacteria). In addition, we quantified plant phenotypic responses (plant growth, leaf quality, and root quality) to tease apart the effects of genetic variation, phenotypic plasticity, and direct environmental effects on associated communities. In the ant-aphid experiment, we found that willow genotype explained more variation in foliar arthropod communities than aphid additions and proximity to aphid-tending ant mounds. However, aphid additions modified willow genetic effects on arthropod community composition by attracting other aphid species to certain willow genotypes. In the wind experiment, wind exposure explained more variation than willow genotype in structuring communities of foliar arthropods and rhizosphere bacteria. Still, willow genotype had strong effect sizes on several community properties of arthropods and fungi, indicating that host-plant genetic variation remains important. Across both experiments, genetic variation in plant traits was more important than phenotypic plasticity in structuring associated communities. The relative importance of genetic variation vs. direct environmental effects though depended on the type of environmental gradient (G > E-aphid, but E-wind > G). Taken together, our results suggest that host-plant genetic variation is an important driver of above and belowground biodiversity, despite natural variation in the biotic and abiotic environment.
Applications of dynamical theory of X-ray diffraction by perfect crystals to reciprocal space mapping
Authors: Punegov Vasily I. , Pavlov Konstantin M. , Karpov Andrey V. , Faleev Nikolai N.
Published: August 2017

The classical dynamical theory of X-ray diffraction is expanded to the special case of transversely restricted wavefronts of the incident and reflected waves. This approach allows one to simulate the two-dimensional coherently scattered intensity distribution centred around a particular reciprocal lattice vector in the so-called triple-crystal diffraction scheme. The effect of the diffractometer's instrumental function on X-ray diffraction data was studied.
The relational activation of resilience model: How leadership activates resilience in an organizational crisis
Authors: Teo Winnie L. , Lee Mary , Lim Wee‐Shiong
Published: August 2017

We proposed the Relational Activation of Resilience model to explain how leaders could utilize relationships to activate resilience during crisis and illustrated it using an abbreviated case study of Tan Tock Seng Hospital during the severe acute respiratory syndrome crisis in Singapore in 2003. Early signs of the crisis were recognized by organizational leaders, who then ushered liminality—a period when routines were disrupted, and new relational connections were made to allow members to adjust psychologically, emotionally, and socially, to activate resilience. Within the liminal period, leaders influenced the formation of new connections through mutual and swift trust and utilized these networks to enable collective meaning‐making and sensemaking. In addition, leaders communicated mindfully via these networks to promote positive emotional connections among members. These leadership tasks resulted in the formation of relational networks that could serve as social, emotional, and cognitive resources for organizational resilience.
Open‐top chambers for temperature manipulation in taller‐stature plant communities
Authors: Welshofer Kileigh B. , Zarnetske Phoebe L. , Lany Nina K. , Thompson Luke A.E.
Published: August 2017

Open‐top chambers simulate global warming by passively increasing air temperatures in field experiments. They are commonly used in low‐stature alpine and arctic ecosystems, but rarely in taller‐stature plant communities because of their limited height.

We present a modified International Tundra Experiment (ITEX) chamber design for year‐round outdoor use in warming taller‐stature plant communities up to 1.5 m tall. We report a full year of results for the chambers' effects on air and soil temperature, relative humidity, and soil moisture in a northern hardwood forest clearing and a southern early successional grassland site located in Michigan, USA. Detailed construction plans are also provided.

The chambers elevated daytime air temperatures at 1 m height by 1.8°C above ambient levels, on average over an entire year, at both the northern and southern site. The chambers did not affect relative humidity at either site. The chambers did not alter average soil temperature or moisture at the northern site and reduced soil temperatures and soil moisture at the southern site. The chambers increased variability in soil freeze/thaw cycles at both sites.

The chambers achieved predicted levels of warming for mid‐century (2046–2065) scenarios consistent with the majority of representative concentration pathways in the International Panel on Climate Change Fifth Assessment Report, with minimal experimental artefact. This design is a valuable tool for examining the effects of in situ warming on understudied taller‐stature plant communities and creates the opportunity to expand future comparisons across a diversity of systems.
Predicting Short‐term Risk of Arrhythmia among Patients With Syncope: The Canadian Syncope Arrhythmia Risk Score
Authors: Thiruganasambandamoorthy Venkatesh , Stiell Ian G. , Sivilotti Marco L. A. , Rowe Brian H. , Mukarram Muhammad , Arcot Kirtana , Kwong Kenneth , McRae Andrew D. , Wells George A. , Taljaard Monica
Published: August 2017

Background

Syncope can be caused by serious occult arrhythmias not evident during initial emergency department (ED) evaluation. We sought to develop a risk tool for predicting 30‐day arrhythmia or death after ED disposition.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter prospective cohort study at six tertiary care EDs and included adults (≥16 years) with syncope. We collected standardized variables from clinical evaluation and investigations including electrocardiogram and troponin at index presentation. Adjudicated outcomes included death or arrhythmias including procedural interventions for arrhythmia within 30 days. We used multivariable logistic regression to derive the prediction model and bootstrapping for interval validation to estimate shrinkage and optimism.

Results

A total of 5,010 patients (mean ± SD age = 53.4 ± 23.0 years, 54.8% females, and 9.5% hospitalized) were enrolled with 106 (2.1%) patients suffering 30‐day arrhythmia/death after ED disposition. We examined 39 variables and eight were included in the final model: lack of vasovagal predisposition, heart disease, any ED systolic blood pressure < 90 or > 180 mm Hg, troponin (>99th percentile), QRS duration > 130 msec, QTc interval > 480 msec, and ED diagnosis of cardiac/vasovagal syncope (optimism corrected C‐statistic 0.90 [95% CI = 0.87–0.93]; Hosmer‐Lemeshow p = 0.08). The Canadian Syncope Arrhythmia Risk Score had a risk ranging from 0.2% to 74.5% for scores of –2 to 8. At a threshold score of ≥0, the sensitivity was 97.1% (95% CI = 91.6%–99.4%) and specificity was 53.4% (95% CI = 52.0%–54.9%).

Conclusions

The Canadian Syncope Arrhythmia Risk Score can improve patient safety by identification of those at risk for arrhythmias and aid in acute management decisions. Once validated, the score can identify low‐risk patients who will require no further investigations.
Electrophysiological properties of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons identified by genetic and optogenetic tagging
Authors: López‐Hernández Gretchen Y. , Ananth Mala , Jiang Li , Ballinger Elizabeth C. , Talmage David A. , Role Lorna W.
Published: August 2017

Recent developments in the generation of neuronal population‐specific, genetically modified mouse lines have allowed precise identification and selective stimulation of cholinergic neurons in vivo. Although considerably less laborious than studies conducted with post hoc identification of cholinergic neurons by immunostaining, it is not known whether the genetically based labeling procedures that permit in vivo identification are electrophysiologically benign. In this study, we use mice carrying a bacterial artificial chromosome transgene that drives expression of a tau‐green fluorescent fusion protein specifically in cholinergic neurons. This allowed us to visualize basal forebrain cholinergic neurons in acute slice preparations. Using whole cell, patch clamp electrophysiological recording in acute brain slices, here we present original data about the basic electrical properties of these genetically tagged cholinergic neurons including firing rate, resting membrane potential, rheobase, and various characteristics of their action potentials and after‐hyperpolarization potentials. The basic electrical properties are compared (i) with non‐cholinergic neurons in the same brain regions; (ii) in cholinergic neurons between immature animals and young adults; and (iii) with cholinergic neurons that are expressing light‐sensitive channels. Our conclusions based on these data are (i) cholinergic neurons are less excitable then their non‐cholinergic neighbors, (ii) the basic properties of cholinergic neurons do not significantly change between adolescence and young adulthood and (iii) these properties are not significantly affected by chronic expression of the excitatory opsin, oChIEF.

This is an article for the special issue XVth International Symposium on Cholinergic Mechanisms.

image
Partial efficacy of a broadly neutralizing antibody against cell-associated SHIV infection
Authors: Parsons Matthew S. , Lloyd Sarah B. , Lee Wen Shi , Kristensen Anne B. , Amarasena Thakshila , Center Rob J. , Keele Brandon F. , Lifson Jeffrey D. , LaBranche Celia C. , Montefiori David , Wines Bruce D. , Hogarth P. Mark , Swiderek Kristine M. , Venturi Vanessa , Davenport Miles P. , Kent Stephen J.
Published: August 2017

Broadly neutralizing antibody confers partial protection from cell-associated SHIV.
A rare cause of early neonatal cyanosis: absent right pulmonary artery
Authors: Joshi Avadhesh , Kumar Manish , Arun Sumitha , Sheshrao Mane Manisha
Published: August 2017

Unilateral absent right pulmonary artery is a rare developmental anomaly that usually presents in late childhood and adolescence as recurrent respiratory tract infections, dyspnoea and haemoptysis. We report a case of a 2-day-old baby with respiratory distress and differential cyanosis. Echocardiogram showed pulmonary hypertension with absent right pulmonary artery. The findings were confirmed by CT angiogram. The baby improved with pulmonary vasodilators and antifailure medications.
ParticiPAte CP: a protocol of a randomised waitlist controlled trial of a motivational and behaviour change therapy intervention to increase physical activity through meaningful participation in children with cerebral palsy
Authors: Reedman Sarah Elizabeth , Boyd Roslyn N , Elliott Catherine , Sakzewski Leanne
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) participate in leisure-time physical activities (PA) less often, with less intensity and reduced diversity than their typically developing peers. Participation in leisure-time physical activities may be an important source of habitual physical activity (HPA) for children with CP, who as a group have lower levels of HPA and increased sedentary time compared with their typically developing peers. The proposed study aims to compare the efficacy of a participation focused therapy (ParticiPAte CP) to usual care in a pragmatic, randomised waitlist controlled trial.

Methods and analysis

Thirty-six children with CP (18 in each group), classified as Gross Motor Function Classification System levels I to III, aged between 8 and 12 years will be recruited across South East Queensland, Australia. Children will be randomised to receive either ParticiPAte CP or waitlist usual care using concealed allocation. ParticiPAte CP is an individually tailored, goal-directed intervention model of pragmatic participation-focused therapy using a toolbox of evidence-based strategies in the treatment of children with CP. This will include goal-setting; identification of barriers and facilitators to participation goals, strategy formation and planning and communication guided by principles of Self-Determination Theory using strategies of Motivational Interviewing. The intervention comprises 8 weekly sessions of 1 hour duration conducted by a physiotherapist in the child's home or community.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12615001064594.
The Role of Liquid Fuels Channel Configuration on the Combustion inside Cylindrical Mesoscale Combustor
Authors: Hery Soegiharto Achmad Fauzan , Wardana I. N. G. , Yuliati Lilis , Nursasongko Mega
Published: August 2017

This research intended to investigate combustion of liquid fuel in 3.5 mm inner diameter quartz glass tube mesocombustor, based on liquid film evaporation by using heat recirculation. The mesocombustor has a copper section for heating and evaporating the liquid fuel. In mesocombustor type A, the fuel was glided through the narrow canal in the copper wall while the air was glided through the axial of combustor. The flame could only be successfully stabilized in high-ratio equivalent ranging from ɸ  =1.1 to ɸ=1.6, due to the gap without combustion reaction caused by high air-fuel mixture over the limits of flame stability. Mesocombustor type B, which has annulus-shaped canal, could shift the flame stability from ɸ  =0.8 to ɸ  =1.2; however, it also narrowed the limits of flame stability due to the wall cooling. In mesocombustor type C, both liquid fuel and air were glided through the annulus-shaped canal in the copper wall to fix the fuel evaporation and air mixture. The flame of type C was successfully stabilized, from ɸ  =0.73 to ɸ  =1.48 wider than types A and B. The flame of type C mesocombustor is circle-shaped and fitted to cross section of mesocombustor, but it still has thin gap without any flames due to thermal quenching by the wall.
A Distributed K-Means Segmentation Algorithm Applied to Lobesia botrana Recognition
Authors: García José , Pope Christopher , Altimiras Francisco
Published: August 2017

Early detection of Lobesia botrana is a primary issue for a proper control of this insect considered as the major pest in grapevine. In this article, we propose a novel method for L. botrana recognition using image data mining based on clustering segmentation with descriptors which consider gray scale values and gradient in each segment. This system allows a 95 percent of L. botrana recognition in non-fully controlled lighting, zoom, and orientation environments. Our image capture application is currently implemented in a mobile application and subsequent segmentation processing is done in the cloud.
A New Natural Antioxidant Mixture Protects against Oxidative and DNA Damage in Endothelial Cell Exposed to Low‐Dose Irradiation
Authors: Cervelli T. , Panetta D. , Navarra T. , Gadhiri S. , Salvadori P. , Galli A. , Caramella D. , Basta G. , Picano E. , Del Turco S.
Published: August 2017

Exposure to ionizing radiation during diagnostic procedures increases systemic oxidative stress and predisposes to higher risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease development. Many studies indicated that antioxidants protect against radiation‐induced damage and have high efficacy and lack of toxicity in preventing radiation exposure damages. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro protective effect of a new antioxidant mixture, named RiduROS, on oxidative stress generation and DNA double‐strand breaks (DSBs) induced by low doses of X‐rays in endothelial cells. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were treated with RiduROS mixture 24 h before a single exposure to X‐rays at an absorbed dose of 0.25 Gy. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was evaluated by fluorescent dye staining and nitric oxide (NO) by the Griess reaction, and DSBs were evaluated as number of γ‐H2AX foci. We demonstrated that antioxidant mixture reduced oxidative stress induced by low dose of X‐ray irradiation and that RiduROS pretreatment is more effective in protecting against radiation‐induced oxidative stress than single antioxidants. Moreover, RiduROS mixture is able to reduce γ‐H2AX foci formation after low‐dose X‐ray exposure. The texted mixture of antioxidants significantly reduced oxidative stress and γ‐H2AX foci formation in endothelial cells exposed to low‐dose irradiation. These results suggest that RiduROS could have a role as an effective radioprotectant against low‐dose damaging effects.
BLIMP1 Induces Transient Metastatic Heterogeneity in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Chiou Shin-Heng , Risca Viviana I. , Wang Gordon X. , Yang Dian , Grüner Barbara M. , Kathiria Arwa S. , Ma Rosanna K. , Vaka Dedeepya , Chu Pauline , Kozak Margaret , Castellini Laura , Graves Edward E. , Kim Grace E. , Mourrain Philippe , Koong Albert C. , Giaccia Amato J. , Winslow Monte M.
Published: August 2017

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most metastatic and deadly cancers. Despite the clinical significance of metastatic spread, our understanding of molecular mechanisms that drive PDAC metastatic ability remains limited. By generating a genetically engineered mouse model of human PDAC, we uncover a transient subpopulation of cancer cells with exceptionally high metastatic ability. Global gene expression profiling and functional analyses uncovered the transcription factor BLIMP1 as a driver of PDAC metastasis. The highly metastatic PDAC subpopulation is enriched for hypoxia-induced genes, and hypoxia-mediated induction of BLIMP1 contributes to the regulation of a subset of hypoxia-associated gene expression programs. These findings support a model in which upregulation of BLIMP1 links microenvironmental cues to a metastatic stem cell character.

Significance: PDAC is an almost uniformly lethal cancer, largely due to its tendency for metastasis. We define a highly metastatic subpopulation of cancer cells, uncover a key transcriptional regulator of metastatic ability, and define hypoxia as an important factor within the tumor microenvironment that increases metastatic proclivity. Cancer Discov; 7(10); 1184–99. ©2017 AACR.

See related commentary by Vakoc and Tuveson, p. 1067.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1047
Resistance of Gerbil Auditory Function to Reversible Decrease in Cochlear Blood Flow
Authors: El Afia Fahd , Giraudet Fabrice , Gilain Laurent , Mom Thierry , Avan Paul
Published: August 2017

The objective was to design in gerbils a model of reversible decrease in cochlear blood flow (CBF) and analyze its influence on cochlear function. In Mongolian gerbils injected with ferromagnetic microbeads, a magnet placed near the porus acusticus allowed CBF to be manipulated. The cochlear microphonic potential (CM) from the basal cochlea was monitored by a round-window electrode. In 13 of the 20 successfully injected gerbils, stable CBF reduction was obtained for 11.5 min on average. The CM was affected only when CBF fell to less than 60% of its baseline, yet remained >40% of its initial level in about 2/3 of such cases. After CBF restoration, CM recovery was fast and usually complete. Reduced CM came with a 35- to 45-dB threshold elevation of neural responses determined by compound action potentials. This method allowing reversible changes of CBF confirms the robustness of cochlear function to decreased CBF. It can be used to study whether a hypovascularized cochlea is abnormally sensitive to stress.
Nail Changes in Early Mycosis Fungoides
Authors: Ehsani Amir Hooshang , Nasimi Maryam , Azizpour Arghavan , Noormohammadpoor Pedram , Kamyab Kambiz , Seirafi Hasan , Noori Mojghan
Published: August 2017

Background: Mycosis fungoides (MF) has a wide range of clinical presentations and it has been reported rarely to involve the nail apparatus. Objective: We intended to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of nail changes in patients with biopsy-proven MF. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 60 patients with MF who were evaluated at our cancer center from 2013 to 2014 was performed to identify patients with nail changes. Histological examinations of the skin around the nail apparatus were obtained from 10 patients with periungual skin erythema and scaling. Results: In 45 patients out of 60 cases, the skin around the nail apparatus was normal, and only in 5 patients of these 45 cases, nail changes were detected. These changes included leukonychia, longitudinal ridging, nail thickening, and opacity. In the remaining 15 patients, erythema and scaling was observed in periungual skin, and 13 of them demonstrated nail changes including longitudinal ridging, nail thickening, fragility of the nail plate, subungual hyperkeratosis, pigmented nail band, Beau's lines, onychomadesis, koilonychia, nail thinning, distal notching, subungual debris, leukonychia, and pitting. In biopsies of periungual skin, none of 10 cases revealed histological findings consistent with MF. Conclusions: Evidence of nail changes was observed in 18 cases (30%). The most common nail changes detected in MF patients included longitudinal ridging, nail thickening, nail fragility, and leukonychia.
Paclitaxel Promotes Cell Apoptosis in Uterine Leiomyomas
Authors: Liu Haiping , Wang Jianye , Sheng Lianbing , Zhang Yan , Tang Ning , Li Yunfei , Hao Tianyu
Published: August 2017

Uterine leiomyomas are common clinical gynecological tumors, which are a major health concern for many women. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the effect of paclitaxel (PTX) on uterine leiomyomas. A mouse model of uterine leiomyomas was established by estradiol benzoate, followed by treatment with increasing doses of PTX. PTX showed no dose-limiting toxicity that affected the survival of mice, and was able to restore the apoptosis level of uterus tissues of the model mice to normal levels. In this study, we discovered that PTX played a critical role in promoting apoptosis in the mouse model of uterine leiomyomas, which provides a new insight into the therapy of uterine leiomyomas.
Targeted Approaches Applied to Uncommon Diseases: A Case of Salivary Duct Carcinoma Metastatic to the Brain Treated with the Multikinase Inhibitor Neratinib
Authors: Sorenson Karl R. , Piovezani Ramos Guilherme , Villasboas Bisneto Jose Caetano , Price Katharine
Published: August 2017

Salivary duct carcinoma is a rare malignancy associated with hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression. Local surgical control is the cornerstone of therapy, but a subset of patients develops metastatic disease portending a poor prognosis and limited management options. Intracranial metastases are an uncommon manifestation and present a therapeutic challenge. We report the case of a 31-year-old male who presented with facial pain and swelling subsequently diagnosed with salivary duct carcinoma. Our patient underwent extensive locoregional resection and analysis of the tumor tissue demonstrated evidence of androgen receptor expression and HER2 overexpression. His course was complicated by metastatic extra- and intracranial recurrence despite combined modality treatment with radiation and chemotherapy followed by anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody therapy and androgen deprivation therapy. After exhausting standard treatment options, he received experimental therapy with a new small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, neratinib, with evidence of a transient clinical response and no significant adverse effects. This case exemplifies the potential and limitations of targeted therapy, particularly when applied to patients with rare diseases and presentations.
High Expression of AHSP, EPB42, GYPC and HEMGN Predicts Favorable Prognosis in FLT3-ITD-Negative Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Zhu Gang-Zhi , Yang Yong-Long , Zhang Yan-Jiao , Liu Wei , Li Mu-Peng , Zeng Wen-Jing , Zhao Xie-Lan , Chen Xiao-Ping
Published: August 2017

Background/Aims: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous clonal disease and patients with AML who harbor an FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) mutation present several dilemmas for the clinician. This study aims to identify novel targets for explaining the dilemmas. Methods: We analyzed four microarray gene expression profiles to investigate changes in whole genome expression associated with FLT3-ITD mutation. Results: We identified 22 differentially expressed genes which are commonly expressed among all four profiles. Kaplan-Meier analysis of the dataset GSE12417 revealed that low expression of AHSP, EPB42, GYPC and HEMGN predicted poor prognosis (AHSP: P=0.0317, HR=1.894; EPB42: P=0.0382, HR=1.859; GYPC: P=0.0015, HR=2.051; HEMGN: P=0.0418, HR=1.838 in GSE12417 test cohort; AHSP: P=0.0279, HR=1.548; EPB42: P=0.0398, HR=1.505; GYPC: P=0.0408, HR=1.501; HEMGN: P=0.0143, HR=1.630 in GSE12417 validation cohort). When patients were FLT3-ITD positive, the expression of FLT3 was significantly increased (all P<0.05 in four profiles), and correleation analysis of four profiles revealed that the expression of the four candidate genes negatively correlated with FLT3 expression. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that AHSP, EPB42, GYPC and HEMGN may be suitable biomarkers for diagnostic or therapeutic strategies for FLT3-ITD-positive AML patients.
Association Between Echocardiography Laboratory Accreditation and the Quality of Imaging and Reporting for Valvular Heart Disease
Authors: Thaden Jeremy J. , Tsang Michael Y. , Ayoub Chadi , Padang Ratnasari , Nkomo Vuyisile T. , Tucker Stephen F. , Cassidy Cynthia S. , Bremer Merri , Kane Garvan C. , Pellikka Patricia A.
Published: August 2017

Background—

It is presumed that echocardiographic laboratory accreditation leads to improved quality, but there are few data. We sought to compare the quality of echocardiographic examinations performed at accredited versus nonaccredited laboratories for the evaluation of valvular heart disease.

Methods and Results—

We enrolled 335 consecutive valvular heart disease subjects who underwent echocardiography at our institution and an external accredited or nonaccredited institution within 6 months. Completeness and quality of echocardiographic reports and images were assessed by investigators blinded to the external laboratory accreditation status and echocardiographic results. Compared with nonaccredited laboratories, accredited sites more frequently reported patient sex (94% versus 78%;
P
<0.001), height and weight (96% versus 63%;
P
<0.001), blood pressure (86% versus 39%;
P
<0.001), left ventricular size (96% versus 83%;
P
<0.001), right ventricular size (94% versus 80%;
P
=0.001), and right ventricular function (87% versus 73%;
P
=0.006). Accredited laboratories had higher rates of complete and diagnostic color (58% versus 35%;
P
=0.002) and spectral Doppler imaging (45% versus 21%;
P
<0.0001). Concordance between external and internal grading of external studies was improved when diagnostic quantification was performed (85% versus 69%;
P
=0.003), and in patients with mitral regurgitation, reproducibility was improved with higher quality color Doppler imaging.

Conclusions—

Accredited echocardiographic laboratories had more complete reporting and better image quality, while echocardiographic quantification and color Doppler image quality were associated with improved concordance in grading valvular heart disease. Future quality improvement initiatives should highlight the importance of high-quality color Doppler imaging and echocardiographic quantification to improve the accuracy, reproducibility, and quality of echocardiographic studies for valvular heart disease.
Transporting Concepts of ‘Native’ Land as Birthright between Fiji and Australia’s North
Authors: Close-Barry Kirstie
Published: August 2017

This article focuses on the experiences at two Methodist communities in the Pacific and their assertions of sovereignty from the 1920s to the 1960s. It explores the connections between two nodes of the Methodist Mission – Fiji and Australia’s Northern Territory – through one missionary, Kolinio Saukuru. While there were moments of great political mobilisation at each site, efforts to assert Indigenous land ownership and autonomy were hampered by persistent racialized views of the ‘native’ amongst missionaries and the colonial state. This article engages with questions emerging from the histories of colonial missions, particularly whether missions aligned with colonial administrations on strategies of governance. However, it also points to the need to think beyond national boundaries when studying mission histories. An examination of the Methodist Overseas Mission using a transnational framework illuminates a network of Indigenous people who worked to protect what some missionaries and anthropologists considered an Indigenous ‘birthright’: the land. This study therefore expands on the existing historiography of colonial missions, of Indigenous labour, and of land rights activism in Fiji and Australia’s north.
Adaptive Capacity to Extreme Heat: Results from a Household Survey in Houston, Texas
Authors: Hayden Mary H. , Wilhelmi Olga V. , Banerjee Deborah , Greasby Tamara , Cavanaugh Jamie L. , Nepal Vishnu , Boehnert Jennifer , Sain Stephan , Burghardt Crystal , Gower Stephanie
Published: August 2017

Extreme heat is the leading cause of weather-related mortality in the United States, suggesting the necessity for better understanding population vulnerability to extreme heat. The work presented here is part of a larger study examining vulnerability to extreme heat in current and future climates [System for Integrated Modeling of Metropolitan Extreme Heat Risk (SIMMER)] and was undertaken to assess Houston, Texas, residents’ adaptive capacity to extreme heat. A comprehensive, semistructured survey was conducted by telephone at 901 households in Houston in 2011. Frequency and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results show that 20% of the survey respondents reported heat-related symptoms in the summer of 2011 despite widespread air conditioning availability throughout Houston. Of those reporting heat-related symptoms experienced in the home (n = 56), the majority could not afford to use air conditioning because of the high cost of electricity. This research highlights the efficacy of community-based surveys to better understand adaptive capacity at the household level; this survey contextualizes population vulnerability and identifies more targeted intervention strategies and adaptation actions.
Assimilating Weather Data into a Digital Event Gazetteer of Airborne Parachute Operations during the French Indochina War
Authors: Kirk Johnathan P. , Cromley Gordon A.
Published: August 2017

Modern datasets cataloging historical events, known as digital event gazetteers, feature spatiotemporal data regarding events that enable analysis through parameters including location and other descriptive information of those events. Weather and climate data represent two dimensions of spatiotemporal information, which can enhance understanding of historical events. A recently published digital event gazetteer of airborne parachute operations [opérations aéroportées (OAPs)] during and prior to the French Indochina War, spanning from 1945 to 1954, represents an opportunity to associate discrete historical events with weather information. This study outlines a methodology for assimilating weather data into the construct of a digital event gazetteer and then demonstrates example analyses of how the weather and climate conditions in Indochina may relate to OAPs during the war.

A synoptic classification, utilizing the self-organizing maps procedure, is performed using daily mean sea level pressure data from 1945 to 2010, from a twentieth-century reanalysis dataset, to characterize weather patterns over the Indochina Peninsula. Since observations are sparse during the years of the conflict, the resulting weather patterns are associated with modern precipitation observations in the area, as a representation of wet and dry patterns during the war. The appropriate daily weather pattern is then assigned to each OAP in order to investigate its relationship with the weather and climate patterns of Indochina, including the influence of monsoon seasons, and how the resulting precipitation patterns affected combat operations across the theater. Additionally, specific OAPs of various missions are analyzed to investigate how weather patterns may have affected operation planning during the French Indochina War.
Factors Related to Parent Attendance at a Follow-Up Meeting With an Intensivist After a Child’s Death in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Suttle Markita L. , Gerhardt Cynthia A. , Fults Marci Z.
Published: August 2017

Parents who experience the death of a child are at high risk for psychopathology. Because a large percentage of pediatric deaths occur in the pediatric intensive care unit each year, a follow-up meeting between bereaved parents and intensivists could provide essential emotional support, although some parents may not attend. The aim of this study was to explore demographic and medical factors that may distinguish between bereaved parents who attend a follow-up meeting with their child’s pediatric intensivist and those who do not. Our analysis revealed that parents of children who died of trauma were less likely to attend a follow-up meeting with an intensivist. It is possible that symptoms of posttraumatic stress play a role in these findings. Enhanced efforts to identify other interventions for this specific subset of bereaved parents may be necessary.
Issues and Challenges for Teaching Successful Online Courses in Higher Education
Authors: Kebritchi Mansureh , Lipschuetz Angie , Santiague Lilia
Published: August 2017

Online education changes all components of teaching and learning in higher education. Many empirical studies have been conducted to examine issues in delivering online courses; however, few have synthesized prior studies and provided an overview on issues in online courses. A review of literature using Cooper’s framework was conducted to identify such issues. Three major categories of findings were identified: issues related to online learners, instructors, and content development. Learners’ issues included learners’ expectations, readiness, identity, and participation in online courses. Instructors’ issues included changing faculty roles, transitioning from face-to-face to online, time management, and teaching styles. Content issues included the role of instructors in content development, integration of multimedia in content, role of instructional strategies in content development, and considerations for content development. To address these challenges in online education, higher education institutions need to provide professional development for instructors, trainings for learners, and technical support for content development.
Determinants of E-Learning Adoption in Universities
Authors: Ansong Eric , Lovia Boateng Sheena , Boateng Richard
Published: August 2017

This study sought to explore the technological, organizational, and environmental determinants of e-learning adoption in University of Ghana using a multistakeholder approach. Another construct (nature of the course) was added to the traditional constructs of the technology-organization-environment framework. Using survey research, e-learning stakeholders in the University of Ghana responded to the questionnaire. The data were analyzed using factor analysis and multiple regression. The findings indicate some disparities in the adoption factors for the three e-learning stakeholders (students, instructors, and administrators). The article concludes with a discussion of future research directions.
Cardiac surgery score (CASUS) improves outcome prediction in patients treated with extracorporal life support (ECLS)
Authors: Hofmann Britt , Gmelin Moriz J. , Metz Dietrich , Raspé Christoph , Wienke Andreas , Treede Hendrik , Simm Andreas
Published: August 2017

Introduction:

The often-unexpected necessity of extracorporeal life support (ECLS) implies that information on patients and end-organ functions at time of implantation is scarce. However, there is a need for early prognostic indicators and a score predicting the outcome. Therefore, we evaluated established laboratory parameters and widely used intensive care scores - cardiac surgery score (CASUS) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) after ECLS implantation.

Methods:

In this retrospective analysis, 90 consecutive adult patients with veno-arterial ECLS were included. Baseline demographic data, laboratory markers, CASUS and SOFA were acquired 12 h after ECLS implantation.

Results:

A total of 61 patients (67.8%) could be weaned from ECLS and 48 patients (53.3%) were discharged from hospital. Four patients were switched to a left ventricular assist device. The outcome did not depend on indication for ECLS. Furthermore, multivariable regression analysis identified lactate (OR=1.08; 95%CI: 1.01-1.26; p=0.03) and urine output (OR=0.99; 95%CI: 0.986-0.998; p=0.01) as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Evaluating intensive care scores, CASUS (AUROC=0.68; 95%CI: 0.57-0.77; p=0.002) had a higher prognostic relevance in comparison with SOFA (AUROC=0.58; 95%CI: 0.47-0.69; p=0.187).

Conclusions:

Our data indicate that lactate and urine output are early independent predictors for in-hospital mortality of ECLS patients. The CASUS proved to be a satisfactory evaluation tool with good prognostic abilities in these special patients.
Management of left renal vein compression in patients presenting left gonadal vein reflux
Authors: Leal Monedero Javier , Zubicoa Ezpeleta Santiago , Perrin Michel
Published: August 2017

Background

Compression of left renal vein is an atypical cause of reflux in pelvic veins resulting in pelvic varices that in turn causes frequently lower limb varices in many cases.

Methods

A monocentric study was undertaken to report the treatment and five-year follow up of patients presenting left renal vein compression. Embolization of refluxive gonadal/pelvic veins was performed generally as the initial procedure. Left renal vein stenting was performed in patients presenting haematuria, severe lumbar pain or persistent pelvic/lower limb varices after embolization.

Results

From 462 cases of left renal vein compression, 40 were treated by stenting as first procedure. Four hundred twenty-two were treated by gonadal/pelvic vein embolization and only 15 needed complementary stenting. After follow-up, all cases with haematuria had improved and lumbar pain was eliminated in 81.5%. Patients with recurrent or persistant varices were all improved.

Conclusion

Left renal vein stenting should be considered an effective and safe procedure, with demonstrated durable efficacy and safety and no evidence of restenosis.
Consuming Revolution
Authors: Gao Zhihong , Guo Xiaoling
Published: August 2017

Studies on the politics of consumption often focus on identity issues and interpret particular consumer choices as political resistance. Applying Althusser’s and Williams’ theory on ideology, this study uses multiple methods of qualitative inquiry to investigate the politics of red tourism in China and to examine whether such a consumption practice can be interpreted as a political act of resistance to capitalism. A close look at red tourism suggests that it is intended to be a hegemonic tool of the government to further subordinate the country’s middle class whose inherent political agency continues to be weak. However, members of the middle class bring their own fresh concepts of consumer sovereignty to their red-tourist experiences. This study concludes that consumption, such as red tourism, reinforces both political agency and political subordination. Such a paradoxical finding suggests researchers of consumption and ideologies, such as socialism or capitalism, need to bring a nuanced approach to understanding the complex relationship between consumption and politics.
Analysis of distribution and antibiotic resistance of pathogens isolated from the paediatric population in Shenmu Hospital from 2011–2015
Authors: Hui-min Yang , Yan-ping Wang , Lin Liu Yong , Shamsi Bilal Haider , Bo He , Xu-chun Meng
Published: August 2017

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology and changes in antibacterial susceptibility of children in Shenmu City, northern Shaanxi, and provide a basis for rational drug use.

Methods

The distribution and drug resistance pattern of pathogenic bacteria isolated from children were retrospectively analysed.

Results

A total of 573 strains of pathogens were cultivated. A total of 201 (35.07%) strains of Gram-positive cocci and 183 (31.93%) strains of Gram-negative cocci were detected. A total of 189 (32.98%) strains of fungi were detected. The resistance rate of Staphylococcus to penicillin was 100% and that to erythromycin was 90.69%. There were varying degrees of resistance to other drugs, but no single strain had vancomycin resistance. Gram-negative bacilli were generally resistant to ampicillin, but had low resistance to the combined preparation of enzyme inhibitors, quinolones, and aminoglycosides, and were highly sensitive to imipenem and meropenem.

Conclusion

Gram-negative bacilli are the main pathogens of bacterial infection in the paediatric ward. Strengthening clinical monitoring of bacterial distribution in paediatric clinical isolates and understanding changes in drug resistance are important for guiding the rational use of antibiotics. These measures could also prevent emergence and spreading of resistant strains.
Target tracking for a correlated multi-sensor system with constant time delay
Authors: Wang Qilong , Li Jianyong
Published: August 2017

We propose a new tracking system, comprising a binocular vision sensor and a laser range finder, which is able to deliver higher precision and real-time performance for spatial multi-sensor tracking applications. In this sort of system, the problem of multi-sensor estimated correlation normally brings about unknown cross-covariance. In the proposed system, a covariance intersection–Kalman fusion algorithm with diagonal matrix weighting is used to solve this problem and to improve fusion accuracy. However, the observed constant time delay caused by the poor performance of the two-dimensional rotary table used in this study still remains. To overcome this problem, we propose the use of a direct-update algorithm that turns the time-delay information into real-time data. Simulation and experimental results showed that the real-time performance of the time-delay information was enhanced, while the mean squared errors produced using the final information fusion algorithm were reduced to about 1.5, signifying an improvement in target tracking accuracy. The experimental data and reference values produced should assist the further study of spatial target tracking and have a positive impact on the development of subsequent engineering applications for this system.
The Role of Positive Affect in Aggression
Authors: Chester David S.
Published: August 2017

Aggressive behavior hurts us all and is studied across psychology’s subdisciplines. Classical theories discuss the causes of aggression in the context of negative affect (e.g., frustration, pain). However, more recent research implicates positive affect as an important correlate and cause of aggression. Such aggressive pleasure likely evolved from ancient predatory tendencies that later yielded reproductive benefits, holds across reactive and proactive forms of aggression, and is used strategically as an item in many people’s emotion-regulation toolkit. Findings from psychological and neural sciences have converged to detail aggression’s hedonically pleasant qualities and the motivational and biological mechanisms through which they occur. This new approach generates novel hypotheses and might lead to effective interventions that mollify mankind’s aggressive tendencies.
A Study of Risk Spillover in the Crude Oil and the Natural Gas Markets
Authors: Kumar Dilip
Published: August 2017

This article examines the upside and downside risk spillover effects among crude oil (WTI and Brent) and Henry Hub natural gas markets. We consider value-at-risk (VaR) as a measure of risk and model both upside and downside 95 per cent, 99 per cent and 99.5 per cent VaR using various VaR approaches. The VaR models are evaluated using Christoffersen’s (1998) conditional coverage test and Lopez’s loss function approach to select the best-performing VaR model. Finally, we apply Hong, Liu and Wang’s (2009) approach to examine the upside and the downside risk spillover among crude oil and Henry Hub natural gas markets. We find significant two-way as well as one-way upside and downside risk spillover between WTI and Brent crude oil. Our results provide weak evidence of upside risk spillover from natural gas market to crude oil markets for 99.5 per cent VaR.