bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new service-oriented grid-based method for AIoT application and implementation
Authors: Zou Yiqin , Quan Li
Published: April 2017

The traditional three-layer Internet of things (IoT) model, which includes physical perception layer, information transferring layer and service application layer, cannot express complexity and diversity in agricultural engineering area completely. It is hard to categorize, organize and manage the agricultural things with these three layers. Based on the above requirements, we propose a new service-oriented grid-based method to set up and build the agricultural IoT. Considering the heterogeneous, limitation, transparency and leveling attributes of agricultural things, we propose an abstract model for all agricultural resources. This model is service-oriented and expressed with Open Grid Services Architecture (OGSA). Information and data of agricultural things were described and encapsulated by using XML in this model. Every agricultural engineering application will provide service by enabling one application node in this service-oriented grid. Description of Web Service Resource Framework (WSRF)-based Agricultural Internet of Things (AIoT) and the encapsulation method were also discussed in this paper for resource management in this model.
Empirical Mode Decomposition — Window Fractal (EMDWF) Algorithm in Classification of Fingerprint of Medicinal Herbs
Authors: Du Jianwei , Xu Zhengguang , Mu Zhichun , Wang Patrick Shen-Pei , Tang Yuan Yan , Luo Huiwu
Published: April 2017

This paper presents a new approach called the empirical mode decomposition — window fractal (EMDWF) algorithm in classification of fingerprint of medicinal herbs. In this way, we consider a glycyrrhiza fingerprint of medicinal herb as a signal sequence, and apply empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and Hiaguchis fractal dimension to construct a feature vector. By using EMD, the glycyrrhiza fingerprint of medicinal herb can be decomposed into some intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). As window fractal dimension (WFD) is applied to each IMF and original signal, the features of the glycyrrhiza fingerprint of medicinal herb can be obtained. Thereafter, SVM is applied as a classifier. The results of the experiments state clearly that the feature extracted by EMDWF is better than that of the existing methods including the pure EMD. With the increase of the number of training samples and the increase of the number of layers in EMD, the classification result achieves more stability.
Some remarks on moduli spaces of lattice polarized holomorphic symplectic manifolds
Authors: Camere Chiara
Published: April 2017

We construct quasi-projective moduli spaces of [Formula: see text]-general lattice polarized irreducible holomorphic symplectic manifolds. Moreover, we study their Baily–Borel compactification and investigate a relation between one-dimensional boundary components and equivalence classes of rational Lagrangian fibrations defined on mirror manifolds.
Structural, Magnetic and Mossbauer Studies of Magnesium Ferrite Nanoparticles Prepared by Hydrothermal Method
Authors: Kurian Jessyamma , Mathew M. Jacob
Published: April 2017

Magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O[Formula: see text] being a soft magnetic material with fast frequency response, high a.c. heat power generation and high biocompatibility, is widely used in biomedical fields such as targeted drug delivery, magnetic hyperthermia, etc. This paper reports the synthesis of magnetic MgFe2O4nanoparticles by hydrothermal method using chloride salts of metal ions. The effect of calcination on the structural and magnetic properties is studied by XRD, FTIR, VSM and Mossbauer spectrum analysis. Fine particles in the size range 3–24[Formula: see text]nm are obtained. On calcination, crystallite size increases and lattice parameter decreases. From the magnetic characterization, it is seen that the magnetic properties mainly depend on crystallite size and cation distribution. The mixed spinel states of the prepared materials are confirmed from the FTIR and Mossbauer spectrum analysis. The doublet spectrum obtained in the Mossbauer studies indicates the superparamagnetic relaxation at room temperature.
Hydrothermal Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of CoS2–Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite for Supercapacitor Application
Authors: Venkateshalu Sandhya , Rangappa Dinesh , Grace Andrews Nirmala
Published: April 2017

A Cobalt disulfide–reduced graphene oxide (CoS2-RGO) nanocomposite was prepared by a simple hydrothermal method and the prepared nanocomposite was characterized using various techniques like XRD, SEM and FTIR. The results of these techniques indicated the uniform deposition of CoS2 nanoparticles on Graphene sheets. Further, the prepared nanocomposites were tested for its activity towards energy storage and the test results showed a specific capacitance of 28[Formula: see text]F/g in an aqueous 20% KOH electrolyte at a current density of 0.5[Formula: see text]A/g. All these materials showed highly reversible charge–discharge cycles. The overall electrochemical performance of this composite is shown to be drastically improved when compared to bare CoS2 nanoparticles. Thus with the good electrochemical properties, CoS2–RGO nanocomposites could be effectively used as an electrode material for supercapacitors.
Synthesis of NiS–Graphene Nanocomposites and its Electrochemical Performance for Supercapacitors
Authors: Pandey Chandan Abhishek , Ravuri Syamsai , Ramachandran R. , Santhosh R. , Ghosh Sourav , Sitaraman S. R. , Grace Andrews Nirmala
Published: April 2017

The aim of this work is to synthesize nickel sulfide–graphene (NiS/G) nanocomposites with different compositions and to analyze the structural and electrochemical capacity and compatibility for their application as supercapacitor material with enhanced charge storage capacity and reduced impedance. NiS nanoparticles (NPs) loaded on graphene were synthesized at various concentrations of graphene by a simple hydrothermal route from nickel sulphate and graphene oxide as precursors in the presence of PVP as surfactant and thioacetamide (TAA) as sulfur source. The composites structural, morphological and physical properties were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier Transform-infrared (FT-IR) analysis. SEM measurements showed the presence of surface attachment of the NiS NPs onto the graphene sheets. To assess the properties of the nanocomposites for their applicability in supercapacitors, electrochemical analysis was carried out in 6[Formula: see text]M KOH electrolyte. Three different samples with different graphene contents — GNiS-10 with 10 wt.%, GNiS-20 with 20 wt.% and GNiS-40 with 40 wt.% were prepared. The specific capacitances obtained for the nanocomposites were calculated to be 84.33[Formula: see text]F/g, 129.66[Formula: see text]F/g, 187.53[Formula: see text]F/g at 10[Formula: see text]mV/s scan rate, respectively. The EIS data showed that the loading of NiS NPs on graphene caused the reduction in impedance at high frequency and has a long cycle life (over 1000 cycles).
Assessing Research Productivity in University Environment: Institutional Approach
Authors: Panikarova Svetlana , Vlasov Maxim , Boyko Ivan
Published: April 2017

There is an ongoing discussion among experts concerning the result of university activities. One point of view is that universities should be considered as places of research and measured by their contribution to science. The aim of research is to formulate a methodological approach to assess scholarship and research productivity in universities based on the assumption that the growth transaction costs define higher education institution knowledge generation. The authors present a proposal of a new ratio, called the Knowledge Generation Efficacy Ratio (KGER), which assesses the research productivity in universities. To test this ratio, an empirical survey was carried out based on data collected from four different universities in Russia. The results of this study contribute to the development of scholarly and research productivity method. The KGER can be used as a tool for making decisions concerning the different research activities taking place in the university, the level of funding and return on investment.
An efficient complex event detection model for high proportion disordered RFID event stream
Authors: Wang Jianhua , liu Jun , Wang Tao , Cheng Lianglun
Published: April 2017

With the aim of solving the detection problems for current complex event detection models in detecting a related event for a complex event from the high proportion disordered RFID event stream due to its big uncertainty arrival, an efficient complex event detection model based on Extended Nondeterministic Finite Automaton (ENFA) is proposed in this paper. The achievement of the paper rests on the fact that an efficient complex event detection model based on ENFA is presented to successfully realize the detection of a related event for a complex event from the high proportion disordered RFID event stream. Specially, in our model, we successfully use a new ENFA-based complex event detection model instead of an NFA-based complex event detection model to realize the detection of the related events for a complex event from the high proportion disordered RFID event stream by expanding the traditional NFA-based detection model, which can effectively address the problems above. The experimental results show that the proposed model in this paper outperforms some general models in saving detection time, memory consumption, detection latency and improving detection throughput for detecting a related event of a complex event from the high proportion out-of-order RFID event stream.
Calculation and analysis of assembly clearance based on nonideal surface discrete data
Authors: Li Yue , Qiao Lihong , Khaleeq uz Zaman Uzair , Siadat Ali
Published: April 2017

Calculation of assembly clearance is the basis of analysis on assembly problems, and the real assembly surface is the nonideal surface. In this paper, the concept of assembly clearance on nonideal surface is defined and the calculation algorithm of assembly clearance is designed. Based on the calculation, the concept of clearance surface is put forward to express the distribution of assembly clearance on nonideal surface as it can assist the analysis of assembly problems. Finally, the effectiveness of the algorithm is verified by the calculation of the assembly clearance between the surfaces of piston and cylinder.
Empirical fatality model for Indonesia based on a Bayesian approach
Authors: Sengara I. Wayan , Suarjana Made , Yulman M. Addifa , Gashemi Hadi , Ryu Hyeuk
Published: April 2017

An empirical fatality model for Indonesia has been developed by relating the macroseismic intensity to the fatality rate using compiled sub-district level fatality rate data and the numerically simulated ground-shaking intensity for four recent damaging events. The fatality rate data were compiled by collecting population and fatality statistics of the regions affected by the selected events. The ground-shaking intensity was numerically estimated by incorporating a finite-fault model of each event and local site conditions approximated by topographically based site amplifications. The macroseismic intensity distribution of each event was generated using ShakeMap software, combining a selected pair of ground motion prediction equations and ground motion to intensity conversion equations. The developed fatality model is a Bayesian generalized linear model in which the fatality rate is assumed to follow a mixture of Bernoulli and gamma distributions. The model was validated by calculating the fatalities in past events from the EXPO-CAT catalogue and comparing the estimates with the EXPO-CAT fatality records. Although the model can provide an estimate of the range of fatalities for future events, it needs ongoing refinement by the incorporation of additional fatality rate data from past and future events.
Oxidative Stress
Authors: Sies Helmut , Berndt Carsten , Jones Dean P.
Published: April 2017

Oxidative stress is two sided: Whereas excessive oxidant challenge causes damage to biomolecules, maintenance of a physiological level of oxidant challenge, termed oxidative eustress, is essential for governing life processes through redox signaling. Recent interest has focused on the intricate ways by which redox signaling integrates these converse properties. Redox balance is maintained by prevention, interception, and repair, and concomitantly the regulatory potential of molecular thiol-driven master switches such as Nrf2/Keap1 or NF-κB/IκB is used for system-wide oxidative stress response. Nonradical species such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or singlet molecular oxygen, rather than free-radical species, perform major second messenger functions. Chemokine-controlled NADPH oxidases and metabolically controlled mitochondrial sources of H2O2 as well as glutathione- and thioredoxin-related pathways, with powerful enzymatic back-up systems, are responsible for fine-tuning physiological redox signaling. This makes for a rich research field spanning from biochemistry and cell biology into nutritional sciences, environmental medicine, and molecular knowledge-based redox medicine.
Mechanisms of Hippocampal Aging and the Potential for Rejuvenation
Authors: Fan Xuelai , Wheatley Elizabeth G. , Villeda Saul A.
Published: April 2017

The past two decades have seen remarkable progress in our understanding of the multifactorial drivers of hippocampal aging and cognitive decline. Recent findings have also raised the possibility of functional rejuvenation in the aged hippocampus. In this review, we aim to synthesize the mechanisms that drive hippocampal aging and evaluate critically the potential for rejuvenation. We discuss the functional changes in synaptic plasticity and regenerative potential of the aged hippocampus, followed by mechanisms of microglia aging, and assess the cross talk between these proaging processes. We then examine proyouth interventions that demonstrate significant promise in reversing age-related impairments in the hippocampus and, finally, attempt to look ahead toward novel therapeutics for brain aging.
Neuromodulation of Innate Behaviors in Drosophila
Authors: Kim Susy M. , Su Chih-Ying , Wang Jing W.
Published: April 2017

Animals are born with a rich repertoire of robust behaviors that are critical for their survival. However, innate behaviors are also highly adaptable to an animal's internal state and external environment. Neuromodulators, including biogenic amines, neuropeptides, and hormones, are released to signal changes in animals’ circumstances and serve to reconfigure neural circuits. This circuit flexibility allows animals to modify their behavioral responses according to environmental cues, metabolic demands, and physiological states. Aided by powerful genetic tools, researchers have made remarkable progress in Drosophila melanogaster to address how a myriad of contextual information influences the input-output relationship of hardwired circuits that support a complex behavioral repertoire. Here we highlight recent advances in understanding neuromodulation of Drosophila innate behaviors, with a special focus on feeding, courtship, aggression, and postmating behaviors.
Low-dose leptin infusion in the fourth ventricle of rats enhances the response to third-ventricle leptin injection
Authors: Harris Ruth B. S.
Published: April 2017

We previously reported that low-dose leptin infusions into the third or fourth ventricle that do not affect energy balance when given independently cause rapid weight loss when given simultaneously. Therefore, we tested whether hindbrain leptin enhances the response to forebrain leptin or whether forebrain leptin enhances the response to hindbrain leptin. Rats received fourth-ventricle infusions of saline or 0.01, 0.1, 0.3, or 0.6 μg leptin/day for 13 days. On days 9 and 13, 0.1 μg leptin was injected into the third ventricle. The injection inhibited food intake for 36 h in saline-infused rats but for 60 h in those infused with 0.6 μg leptin/day. Leptin injection increased intrascapular brown fat temperature in leptin-infused, but not saline-infused, rats. In a separate experiment, rats received third-ventricle infusions of saline or 0.005, 0.01, 0.05, or 0.1 μg leptin/day and fourth-ventricle injections of 1.0 μg leptin on days 9 and 13. Leptin injection inhibited food intake, respiratory exchange ratio, and 14-h food intake in rats infused with saline or the two lowest doses of leptin. There was no effect with higher-dose leptin infusions because food intake, body fat, and lean mass were already inhibited. These data suggest that activation of leptin receptors in the hindbrain enhances the response to third-ventricle leptin, whereas activation of forebrain leptin receptors does not enhance the response to fourth-ventricle leptin, consistent with our previous finding that weight loss in rats treated with fourth-ventricle leptin is associated with indirect activation of hypothalamic STAT3.
Ultraviolet A1 Phototherapy in the Treatment of Early Mycosis Fungoides
Authors: Adışen Esra , Tektaş Volkan , Erduran Funda , Erdem Özlem , Gürer Mehmet Ali
Published: April 2017

Background: Phototherapy has been the mainstay of therapies for early mycosis fungoides (MF). The beneficial role of ultraviolet (UV) light on MF is suggested by the observation that lesions occur on non-sun-exposed areas. Therapeutic light sources that are available today are broadband UVB, psoralen and UVA, narrowband UVB, and long-wave UV (UVA1). Current literature provides increasing evidence on the use of UVA1 to treat MF. Aim: To investigate the treatment responses of early MF patients treated with fixed 30 J/cm2 doses of UVA1 phototherapy. Material and Methods: Nineteen patients with early MF, stage IA-IIA of the TNM staging system, received fixed 30 J/cm2 doses of UVA1, given 5 times weekly over 5 weeks. Therapeutic effectiveness was assessed by clinical examination and was confirmed by histological evaluation. Results: Of the 19 patients, complete responses were achieved in 12 (63%) and partial responses were achieved in 7 (37%) patients after UVA1 radiation exposures. During the study, UVA1 therapy was well tolerated. During the follow-up, 7 (58%) of the 12 patients with complete response relapsed within 3 months of the UVA1 therapy. Conclusion: The current study provides clinical and histological evidence for the effectiveness of UVA1 (30 J/cm2 5 times a week for 5 weeks) as a skin-directed therapy in the treatment of early MF; however, such a treatment failed to maintain a long and sustained response. Thus, studies to identify the optimal dosing protocol regarding the therapeutic efficacy, the factors affecting relapse time/rate, and the necessity of maintenance treatment are needed.
Amygdalar Gray Matter Volume and Social Relating in Schizophrenia
Authors: Günther Vivien , Lindner Christian , Dannlowski Udo , Kugel Harald , Suslow Thomas
Published: April 2017

Background: Poor social relating is a prominent feature of schizophrenia. The amygdala has been suggested as an important node in social brain networks. Methods: By using structural magnetic resonance imaging, this study examined, for the first time, the relationship between amygdalar gray matter (GM) volume and social relating in 35 schizophrenia patients. Social anhedonia, interaction anxiety, extraversion, and sociable tendencies were assessed as indices of social relating. Results: A correlation between GM volume in the amygdala and enhanced social relating was revealed. Conclusion: These findings indicate that volumetric decreases in the amygdala are related to impoverished sociability in schizophrenia.
Involvement of the Multidrug and Toxic Compound Extrusion Transporter in Testosterone Release from Cultured Pig Leydig Cells
Authors: Goda Mitsuhiro , Oda Kana , Oda Atsuko , Kobayashi Naoki , Otsuka Masato
Published: April 2017

Testosterone is considered to be released from Leydig cells via passive diffusion because of its hydrophobicity; however, the exact mechanism underlying testosterone secretion and the transporter involved are both unknown. Multidrug and toxic compound extrusion (MATE) transporters are predominantly found in the kidneys and liver and are thought to function in the elimination of metabolic organic cations during the final step of excretion in the kidney. In contrast, mMATE2 has been shown to be predominantly expressed in testicular Leydig cells. Although the physiological function of mMATE2 in Leydig cells is unknown, we hypothesized that mMATE2 acts as a testosterone exporter and is responsible for the secretion of testosterone from Leydig cells. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the involvement of the MATE transporter in testosterone secretion from pig Leydig cells. Immunohistochemical analysis with anti-pig MATE2 antiserum indicated that the MATE transporter is present in pig Leydig cells. Additionally, treatment with the MATE inhibitors cimetidine and pyrimethamine reduced the testosterone secretion from pig Leydig cells but increased the intracellular testosterone levels. Estradiol release and intracellular estradiol level induced by human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) further increased with cimetidine treatment. These results indicated that testosterone produced by hCG treatment is secreted from Leydig cells via the MATE transporter; however, in the presence of cimetidine or pyrimethamine, this MATE transporter-mediated secretion was inhibited, resulting in increased intracellular testosterone levels and estradiol production in Leydig cells. Thus, the MATE transporter may be responsible for testosterone secretion from Leydig cells.
Systolic Blood Pressure and Vascular Disease in Men Aged 65 Years and Over
Authors: Lacey Ben , Golledge Jonathan , Yeap Bu B. , Lewington Sarah , McCaul Kieran A. , Norman Paul E. , Flicker Leon , Almeida Osvaldo P. , Hankey Graeme J.
Published: April 2017

There is uncertainty about the relation between blood pressure and vascular disease at older age. We assessed the association of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and major vascular events in a prospective cohort study of 7564 men aged 65 to 94 years, recruited in 1996–1999 from the general population in Perth, Western Australia. SBP was measured at baseline and again at resurvey in 2001–2004. Participants were monitored for fatal and nonfatal vascular events. To limit the effect of reverse causality, analyses were restricted to men without previous vascular disease at baseline. Hazard ratios were estimated by Cox regression, with adjustment for age and education (further adjustment did not materially change the associations). During a mean follow-up of 11 years, there were 1557 major vascular events. Continuous log-linear associations were found between usual SBP and risk of major vascular events throughout the SBP range examined (145–170 mm Hg). Overall, 10 mm Hg higher usual SBP was associated with ≈20% higher risk of major vascular events (hazard ratio, 19%; 95% confidence interval, 13%–26%; mean age at event 80 years). There was evidence of positive associations with both ischemic heart disease and stroke and effect modification by age, with shallower associations at older ages. Even at 85 to 94 years, however, there was evidence of a positive association: 10 mm Hg higher usual SBP was associated with 14% (95% confidence interval, 1%–30%) higher risk of major vascular events.
Use and Customization of Risk Scores for Predicting Cardiovascular Events Using Electronic Health Record Data
Authors: Wolfson Julian , Vock David M. , Bandyopadhyay Sunayan , Kottke Thomas , Vazquez‐Benitez Gabriela , Johnson Paul , Adomavicius Gediminas , O'Connor Patrick J.
Published: April 2017

Background

Clinicians who are using the Framingham Risk Score (
FRS
) or the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Pooled Cohort Equations (
PCE
) to estimate risk for their patients based on electronic health data (
EHD
) face 4 questions. (1) Do published risk scores applied to
EHD
yield accurate estimates of cardiovascular risk? (2) Are
FRS
risk estimates, which are based on data that are up to 45 years old, valid for a contemporary patient population seeking routine care? (3) Do the
PCE
make the
FRS
obsolete? (4) Does refitting the risk score using
EHD
improve the accuracy of risk estimates?

Methods and Results

Data were extracted from the
EHD
of 84 116 adults aged 40 to 79 years who received care at a large healthcare delivery and insurance organization between 2001 and 2011. We assessed calibration and discrimination for 4 risk scores: published versions of
FRS
and
PCE
and versions obtained by refitting models using a subset of the available
EHD
. The published
FRS
was well calibrated (calibration statistic K=9.1, miscalibration ranging from 0% to 17% across risk groups), but the
PCE
displayed modest evidence of miscalibration (calibration statistic K=43.7, miscalibration from 9% to 31%). Discrimination was similar in both models (C‐index=0.740 for
FRS
, 0.747 for
PCE
). Refitting the published models using
EHD
did not substantially improve calibration or discrimination.

Conclusions

We conclude that published cardiovascular risk models can be successfully applied to
EHD
to estimate cardiovascular risk; the
FRS
remains valid and is not obsolete; and model refitting does not meaningfully improve the accuracy of risk estimates.
Short Length of Stay After Elective Transfemoral Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement is Not Associated With Increased Early or Late Readmission Risk
Authors: Sud Maneesh , Qui Feng , Austin Peter C. , Ko Dennis T. , Wood David , Czarnecki Andrew , Patel Vaidehi , Lee Douglas S. , Wijeysundera Harindra C.
Published: April 2017

Background

Elderly patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve replacement (
TAVR
) are at risk of hospital readmission postprocedure. It is not known whether the index hospital length of stay and, specifically, early discharge post‐
TAVR
is associated with an increased risk of readmission. We hypothesized a nonlinear relationship whereby both short and long lengths of stay were associated with increased readmission risk.

Methods and Results

We performed a retrospective multicenter cohort analysis of patients undergoing elective transfemoral
TAVR
and surviving to discharge between January 2007 and March 2014. The exposure variable was hospital length of stay measured from the procedure date to the date of discharge and modeled as a continuous variable in a multivariable cause‐specific Cox regression. Main outcome measures were 30‐day and 1‐year all‐cause readmissions. The study population consisted of 709 patients with a median length of stay of 6 days (interquartile range, 4–8). At 30‐days and 1‐year, 13.5% and 44.0% of patients were readmitted, respectively. Although post‐
TAVR
length of stay was not associated with 30‐day all‐cause readmissions (
P
=0.925), there existed a significant association with 1‐year readmission (
P
=0.010) after adjustment for baseline clinical variables. The association between post‐
TAVR
length of stay and 1‐year readmission was linear (
P
=0.549 for nonlinearity) with no evidence supporting an increased readmission risk for shorter length of stays.

Conclusions

Among elderly survivors of elective transfemoral
TAVR
, a short postprocedural length of stay was not associated with an increased risk readmission within 30 days or 1 year. However, the risk of 1‐year readmission increased with longer post‐
TAVR
lengths of stay.
Clinical Significance of Postinfarct Fever in ST‐Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Authors: Jang Woo Jin , Yang Jeong Hoon , Song Young Bin , Chun Woo Jung , Oh Ju Hyeon , Park Yong Hwan , Lee Mi Rae , Hwang Jin Kyung , Hwang Ji‐Won , Hahn Joo‐Yong , Choi Seung‐Hyuk , Lee Sang‐Chol , Choe Yeon Hyeon , Gwon Hyeon‐Cheol
Published: April 2017

Background

Little is known about causality and pathological mechanism underlying association of postinfarct fever with myocardial injury in patients with
ST
‐segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Methods and Results

In 276 patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention for
ST
‐segment elevation myocardial infarction, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed a median of 3.4 days after the index procedure. Forty‐five patients had postinfarct fever (peak body temperature within 4 days after primary percutaneous coronary intervention ≥37.7°C; Fever group) whereas 231 did not (no‐Fever group). Primary outcome was myocardial infarct size as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Secondary outcomes were extent of area at risk, myocardial salvage index, and microvascular obstruction area. In cardiac magnetic resonance imaging analysis, myocardial infarct size (25.6% [19.7–32.4] in the Fever group versus 17.2% [11.8–25.4] in the no‐Fever group;
P
<0.01), extent of area at risk (43.7% [31.9–54.9] versus 35.3% [24.0–43.7];
P
<0.01), and microvascular obstruction area (4.4% [0.0–13.2] versus 1.2% [0.0–5.1];
P
=0.02) were greater in the Fever group than in the no‐Fever group. Myocardial salvage index tended to be lower in the Fever group compared to the no‐Fever group (37.7 [28.5–56.1] versus 47.0 [34.1–56.8];
P
=0.13). In multivariate analysis, postinfarct fever was associated with larger myocardial infarct (odds ratio, 3.48; 95%
CI
, 1.71–7.07;
P
<0.01) and lower
MSI
(odds ratio, 2.10; 95%
CI
, 1.01–4.08;
P
=0.03).

Conclusions

Postinfarct fever could predict advanced myocardial injury and less salvaged myocardium in
ST
‐segment elevation myocardial infarction patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.
“Good Outcome” Isn’t Good Enough
Authors: Kapoor Arunima , Lanctôt Krista L. , Bayley Mark , Kiss Alex , Herrmann Nathan , Murray Brian J. , Swartz Richard H.
Published: April 2017

Background and Purpose—

Functional outcome after stroke is often only evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale, which primarily assesses activities of daily living. Stroke patients may experience difficulties with social reintegration and mental functions, feel isolated, and experience poor quality of life, even after physical recovery is complete. Functional assessments based solely on activity limitations may not be able to capture the full range of problems experienced by stroke survivors.

Methods—

Telephone interviews were conducted 2 to 3 years poststroke to assess outcome on multiple levels of functioning as stated in the WHO International Classification of Functioning: body function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Patient Health Questionnaire-2), activity (modified Rankin Scale), and participation (Reintegration to Normal Living Index).

Results—

Ninety-six (68%) patients had a favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale <2). Of these, 79, 91, and 93 patients completed the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Reintegration to Normal Living Index, and Patient Health Questionnaire-2, respectively. Forty-three (54%) patients were cognitively impaired, 47 (52%) had restrictions in reintegration, and 30 (32%) endorsed symptoms of depression. There was no difference in Montreal Cognitive Assessment or Patient Health Questionnaire-2 scores between those who had activity limitations and those who had not.

Conclusions—

More than half of stroke patients with excellent functional recovery measured by the modified Rankin Scale continue to have cognitive impairment and participation restrictions, and one third of patients continue to have depression 2 to 3 years later. Current definitions of good functional outcome used in the majority of stroke acute trials focus on activity limitations, but greater attention to multiple levels of recovery is required.
Comparison of Associations of Reduced Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate With Stroke Outcomes Between Hypertension and No Hypertension
Authors: Wang Xianwei , Wang Yilong , Patel Uptal D. , Barnhart Huiman Xie , Li Zixiao , Li Hao , Wang Chunxue , Zhao Xingquan , Liu Liping , Wang Yongjun , Laskowitz Daniel T.
Published: April 2017

Background and Purpose—

We compared the association of low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with stroke outcomes among patients with hypertension and without hypertension.

Methods—

We used the China stroke registry to identify patients on discharge with the diagnosis of stroke in 2012 and 2013. Low eGFR was defined as <60 mL/min/1.73 m
2
. Multivariable analysis was used to evaluate the association of low eGFR with 1-year all-cause mortality, recurrent stroke, poor functional outcome defined as 3 to 6 in modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and ordinal mRS, where the interaction of eGFR category and hypertension status was investigated.

Results—

Of 5082 patients without hypertension, 221 patients (4.4%) had low eGFR, as compared with 1378 patients (8.6%) previously diagnosed with hypertension. In patients without hypertension, the adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence interval of low eGFR was 1.88 (1.23–2.88) for all-cause mortality, 1.36 (0.66–2.83) for recurrent stroke, 2.14 (1.45–3.16) for poor functional outcome, and 2.07 (1.58–2.70) for ordinal mRS. In patients with hypertension, low eGFR was associated with all stroke outcomes: 1.80 (1.50–2.16) for all-cause mortality, 1.52 (1.20–1.91) for recurrent stroke, 1.30 (1.11–1.52) for poor functional outcome, and 1.31 (1.18–1.46) for ordinal mRS. The significant interaction between eGFR categories and hypertension was only found for poor functional outcome (
P
=0.046) and ordinal mRS (
P
=0.002).

Conclusions—

Effect of low eGFR on all-cause mortality and recurrent stroke in patients without hypertension was not significantly different from that in patients with hypertension, but low-eGFR patients without hypertension had a higher risk of stroke-related disability than those with hypertension.
Ethnic Cleansing and Its Alternatives in Wartime: A Comparison of the Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, and Russian Empires
Authors: Bulutgil H. Zeynep
Published: April 2017

According to the extant literature, state leaders pursue mass ethnic violence against minority groups in wartime if they believe that those groups are collaborating with an enemy. Treating the wartime leadership of a combatant state as a coherent unit, however, is misleading. Even in war, leaders differ in the degree to which they prioritize goals such as maintaining or expanding the territory of the state, and on whether they believe that minority collaboration with the enemy influences their ability to achieve those goals. Also, how leaders react to wartime threats from minority groups depends largely on the role that political organizations based on non-ethnic cleavages play in society. Depending on those cleavages, wartime minority collaboration may result in limited deportations and killings, ethnic cleansing, or minimal violence. A comparison of the policies of three multinational empires toward ethnic minority collaborators during World War I—the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Italians, the Ottoman Empire and Armenians, and the Russian Empire and Muslims in the South Caucasus—illustrates this finding.
Mirror-Sensory Synaesthesia and the Practice of Manual Therapy
Authors: Hart Carolyn
Published: April 2017

Mirror-touch synaesthesia can provide a distinct advantage for the healthcare worker who experiences this form of cross-modal perception. While several studies and presentations have focused on synaesthesia as a tool for augmenting artistic endeavours and cultivating creative opportunity, a massage therapist with mirror touch may have an edge over her non-synaesthete peers.
Cognitive Styles Differentiate Crossmodal Correspondences Between Pitch Glide and Visual Apparent Motion
Authors: Guo Lu , Bao Ming , Guan Luyang , Chen Lihan
Published: April 2017

Crossmodal correspondences are the automatic associations that most people have between different basic sensory stimulus attributes, dimensions, or features. For instance, people often show a systematic tendency to associate moving objects with changing pitches. Cognitive styles are defined as an individual’s consistent approach to think, perceive, and remember information, and they reflect qualitative rather than quantitative differences between individuals in their thinking processes. Here we asked whether cognitive styles played a role in modulating the crossmodal interaction. We used the visual Ternus display in our study, since it elicits two distinct apparent motion percepts: element motion (with a shorter interval between the two Ternus frames) and group motion (with a longer interval between the two frames). We examined the audiovisual correspondences between the visual Ternus movement directions (upward or downward) and the changes of pitches of concurrent glides (ascending frequency or descending frequency). Moreover, we measured the cognitive styles (with the Embedded Figure Test) for each participant. The results showed that congruent correspondence between pitch-ascending (decreasing) glides and moving upward (downward) visual directions led to a more dominant percept of ‘element motion’, and such an effect was typically observed in the field-independent group. Importantly, field-independent participants demonstrated a high efficiency for identifying the properties of audiovisual events and applying the crossmodal correspondence in crossmodal interaction. The results suggest cognitive styles could differentiate crossmodal correspondences in crossmodal interaction.
Ignoring Irrelevant Information: Enhanced Intermodal Attention in Synaesthetes
Authors: Mas-Casadesús Anna , Gherri Elena
Published: April 2017

Despite the fact that synaesthetes experience additional percepts during their inducer-concurrent associations that are often unrelated or irrelevant to their daily activities, they appear to be relatively unaffected by this potentially distracting information. This might suggest that synaesthetes are particularly good at ignoring irrelevant perceptual information coming from different sensory modalities. To investigate this hypothesis, the performance of a group of synaesthetes was compared to that of a matched non-synaesthete group in two different conflict tasks aimed at assessing participants’ abilities to ignore irrelevant information. In order to match the sensory modality of the task-irrelevant distractors (vision) with participants’ synaesthetic attentional filtering experience, we tested only synaesthetes experiencing at least one synaesthesia subtype triggering visual concurrents (e.g., grapheme–colour synaesthesia or sequence–space synaesthesia). Synaesthetes and controls performed a classic flanker task (FT) and a visuo-tactile cross-modal congruency task (CCT) in which they had to attend to tactile targets while ignoring visual distractors. While no differences were observed between synaesthetes and controls in the FT, synaesthetes showed reduced interference by the irrelevant distractors of the CCT. These findings provide the first direct evidence that synaesthetes might be more efficient than non-synaesthetes at dissociating conflicting information from different sensory modalities when the irrelevant modality correlates with their synaesthetic concurrent modality (here vision).
Distributed Visual–Vestibular Processing in the Cerebral Cortex of Man and Macaque
Authors: Smith Andrew T. , Greenlee Mark W. , DeAngelis Gregory C. , Angelaki Dora E.
Published: April 2017

Recent advances in understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of visual–vestibular interactions underlying self-motion perception are reviewed with an emphasis on comparisons between the macaque and human brains. In both species, several distinct cortical regions have been identified that are active during both visual and vestibular stimulation and in some of these there is clear evidence for sensory integration. Several possible cross-species homologies between cortical regions are identified. A key feature of cortical organization is that the same information is apparently represented in multiple, anatomically diverse cortical regions, suggesting that information about self-motion is used for different purposes in different brain regions.
Killing in the name of …? Types of ethnic groups and armed conflict
Authors: Rørbæk Lasse Lykke
Published: April 2017

This paper asks whether certain types of ethnic groups are particularly likely to take part in armed conflict. Several theoretical arguments indicate that this should be the case, often highlighting religious and racial boundaries as being more conflict-prone than, for instance, linguistic boundaries. However, the potential effects of groups being mobilized around these different boundary markers remain largely untested. The paper helps to fill this gap by analyzing conflict propensity across types of ethnic groups in a global sample for the period 1946–2009. At odds with common perceptions, the results show that the probability of armed conflict onset is not affected by whether ethnic groups are mobilized around religious, linguistic, racial, or regional markers. The effect of political discrimination on armed conflict is also not conditioned by these different boundary markers. The paper thus lends support to an inclusive conception of ethnicity and suggests that we need to focus on the social and political context rather than the specific cultural content of ethnic boundaries if we want to identify the conflicts that are most likely to escalate and turn violent.
The ATHENA equation – balancing the efficacy of citizens’ response with the reality of citizens’ rights around data protection
Authors: Sampson Fraser
Published: April 2017

The ways and extent to which LEAs and other crisis responders might possibly harness new communication media – particularly web-based social media such as Twitter and Facebook, and the prolific use of high-tech mobile devices to provide efficient and effective communication and enhanced situational awareness during a crisis is being explored by Sheffield Hallam University’s EC-funded ATHENA project, which comes to an end in December 2016. This article is the first of a two-part analysis of that seminal project funded by the European Commission and considers the legal issues arising from utilising citizen responders’ data in civil emergencies.
Students’ Response to Feedback: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Song Geraldine , Hoon Lee Hwee , Alvin Leong Ping
Published: April 2017

Much research work on teacher feedback has concentrated on the perceptions of students and teachers on feedback, but few studies have addressed the extent to which students respond to their teachers’ written feedback, particularly at the tertiary level. This study analysed the extent to which students made appropriate revisions based on the feedback they received. Forty-one sets of drafts and final papers written by first-year undergraduates were compared. The analysis focused on the main components of the grading criteria for the assignment: language and style, rhetorical structure, and format. The findings showed that the students paid more attention to feedback on the rhetorical structure of their writing. There was no statistically significant difference in the students’ revisions of language/style and format. The results suggest that the students were more concerned with macro issues concerning the clarity of their thesis/topic statements and the logical development of ideas, than with the mechanical aspects of writing. This study serves as a useful guide to teachers when providing feedback, and also serves to encourage further research involving different groups of students in different contexts.
The Continuing Debate on the ‘Annihilation of Caste’: Understanding Tensions Between Ambedkarites and Communists
Authors: Bajpai Vikas
Published: April 2017

‘Annihilating Caste’ is perhaps the most eminent and desirable social and political objective that has confronted progressive forces in Indian society, especially since the country’s independence in 1947.1 Among all political forces, Ambedkarites and communists have played a prominent role in seeking an end to caste-based oppression in the country and yet these two forces have failed to see eye to eye on most issues that fall in their political trajectories. The author uses a recent conversation that he had with an Ambedkarite friend on identity politics as a pretext to tease out tensions that exist between Ambedkarites and communists. Issues thrown up by the conversation have been elaborated upon in order to attain some understanding of the path that can be used to achieve the unfulfilled task of ‘annihilating caste’ to paraphrase Amedkar’s immortal phrase.
Shedding New Light on Strategic Human Resource Management: The Impact of Human Resource Management Practices and Human Resources on the Perception of Federal Agency Mission Accomplishment
Authors: Lim Seunghoo , Wang Tae Kyu , Lee Soo-Young
Published: April 2017

We assess the resource-based view in the study of strategic human resource management in public agencies. We mainly examine the impact of both human resource management (HRM) practices and actual human resources on the perception of federal agency mission accomplishment. We show that all types of goal-aligned and performance-based HRM practices (including rewards, training, appraisal, and recruitment) positively affect perceived agency mission accomplishment. In addition, certain types of human resources (including the percentage of career senior executive service members and organizational size) contribute to perceived agency mission accomplishment although others (including the percentage of professionals and noncareer senior executive service members) make negative contributions. Strategic knowledge, regarding an organization’s valuable, rare, inimitable, and nontradable resources—in both HRM practices and human resources—can help improve perceived federal agency mission accomplishment.
Who Represents Our Group? The Effects of Prototype Content on Perceived Status Dispersion and Social Undermining
Authors: Kim Hee Young , Wiesenfeld Batia M.
Published: April 2017

Group identity may be embodied in more typical or extreme member attributes. The present research suggests that individuals’ perceptions of the group identity prototype predict their beliefs about the status hierarchy and, in turn, the prevalence of social undermining behavior. Across four studies using both experimental and field data, we find that perceiving that the group prototype is focused on the ideal rather than the central tendency is associated with greater levels of perceived status dispersion and social undermining, and that perceived status dispersion mediates the relationship between members’ perception of the group prototype and social undermining behavior. We also find that social context—specifically, salient group achievement goals elicited by intergroup competition and common ingroup identity—attenuates the effect of ideal prototypes on perceived social undermining. Theoretical implications for the social identity, status, and social undermining literatures are discussed.
“Foreign Locals”: Transnationalism, Expatriates, and Surfer Identity in Costa Rica
Authors: Usher Lindsay E.
Published: April 2017

Surfer identity construction has been linked to a number of factors, including a strong attachment to place. Surfers have always been a mobile population, and the search for waves in new places is a central aspect of the sport. The movement of surfers has led to the development of transnational communities in surf destinations. This ethnographic study examined the ways in which expatriates in Costa Rica construct their identities as local surfers. Many expatriates considered themselves local surfers as a result of the time they had lived and surfed in Pavones and their knowledge of the wave. Many Ticos did not think of expatriates as local surfers. Some expatriates’ assertions of local identity and resultant aggression were sources of frustration for Ticos, tourists, and other expatriates.