bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A PET Imaging Strategy for Interrogating Target Engagement and Oncogene Status in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Henry Kelly E. , Dacek Megan M. , Dilling Thomas R. , Caen Jonathan D. , Fox Ian L. , Evans Michael J. , Lewis Jason S.
Published: September 2018

Purpose:

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most deadly cancers, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. Physicians often rely on biopsy or CT to guide treatment decisions, but these techniques fail to reliably measure the actions of therapeutic agents in PDAC. KRAS mutations are present in >90% of PDAC and are connected to many signaling pathways through its oncogenic cascade, including extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) and MYC. A key downstream event of MYC is transferrin receptor (TfR), which has been identified as a biomarker for cancer therapeutics and imaging.

Experimental Design:

In this study, we aimed to test whether zirconium-89 transferrin ([89Zr]Zr-Tf) could measure changes in MYC depending on KRAS status of PDAC, and assess target engagement of anti-MYC and anti-ERK–targeted therapies.

Results:

Mice bearing iKras*p53* tumors showed significantly higher (P < 0.05) uptake of [89Zr]Zr-Tf in mice withdrawn from inducible oncogenic KRAS. A therapy study with JQ1 showed a statistically significant decrease (P < 0.05) of [89Zr]Zr-Tf uptake in drug versus vehicle-treated mice bearing Capan-2 and Suit-2 xenografts. IHC analysis of resected PDAC tumors reflects the data observed via PET imaging and radiotracer biodistribution.

Conclusions:

Our study demonstrates that [89Zr]Zr-Tf is a valuable tool to noninvasively assess oncogene status and target engagement of small-molecule inhibitors downstream of oncogenic KRAS, allowing a quantitative assessment of drug delivery.
Brief Report on 3-Weekly Paclitaxel Carboplatin Efficacy in Locally Advanced or Metastatic Squamous Vulvar Cancer
Authors: Amant Frédéric , Nooij Linda , Annibali Daniela , van Rompuy Anne-Sophie , Han Sileny , van den Bulck Heidi , Goffin Frédéric
Published: September 2018

In this brief report, we present our experience with 3-weekly paclitaxel-carboplatin chemotherapy for patients with vulvar cancer. Two patients with locally advanced disease had an impressive response allowing standard vulvar cancer surgery. One patient with metastatic disease had local stable disease though it was progressive in the lymph nodes. The available literature is sparse and retrospective. Based on promising results, however, a prospective multicenter study is mandatory in order to obtain full data in a larger series of patients in order to learn the benefits of neoadjuvant paclitaxel-carboplatin and compare the results with chemoradiation.
Impaired Skin Barrier Function and Downregulated Expression of Caspase-14 in Moderate to Severe Chronic Hand Eczema
Authors: Wang Ben , Liu Ling-Ling , Zhao Zuo-Tao , Tu Ping
Published: September 2018

Aim: To investigate whether the skin barrier function is impaired with regard to the pH value, water content, transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and the integrity of the stratum corneum, and whether the expression of caspase-14 is altered in moderate to severe chronic hand eczema (CHE). Methods: Thirty patients with moderate to severe CHE treated at our institute and 30 healthy volunteers were included in this study. The pH value, water content, TEWL, and the integrity of the stratum corneum were measured in all subjects. Results: Significantly increased pH value, decreased water content, elevated TEWL, and impaired integrity of the stratum corneum were observed in the lesional skin of CHE patients compared with the nonlesional skin of CHE patients and the normal skin of healthy volunteers. The expression of caspase-14 decreased in the lesional and nonlesional skin of CHE patients compared with the normal skin of healthy volunteers, especially prominent in the nonlesional skin. The mean optical density (OD) value of immunohistochemical staining for caspase-14 was significantly lower in the nonlesional skin than in the lesional skin and normal skin (p < 0.01 for both). Although the mean OD value was lower in the lesional skin than in the normal skin, the difference was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Skin barrier dysfunction indeed occurs in CHE patients, which may be related to mechanisms associated with a downregulated expression of caspase-14.
Positive Airway Pressure to Enhance Computed Tomography Imaging for Airway Segmentation for Virtual Bronchoscopic Navigation
Authors: Diez-Ferrer Marta , Gil Debora , Tebe Cristian , Sanchez Carles , Cubero Noelia , López-Lisbona Rosa , Dorca Jordi , Rosell Antoni ,   on behalf of the PAP-enhanced CT study group
Published: September 2018

Rationale: Virtual bronchoscopic navigation (VBN) guidance to peripheral pulmonary lesions is often limited by insufficient segmentation of the peripheral airways. Objectives: To test the effect of applying positive airway pressure (PAP) during CT acquisition to improve segmentation, particularly at end-expiration. Methods: CT acquisitions in inspiration and expiration with 4 PAP protocols were recorded prospectively and compared to baseline inspiratory acquisitions in 20 patients. The 4 protocols explored differences between devices (flow vs. turbine), exposures (within seconds vs. 15-min) and pressure levels (10 vs. 14 cmH2O). Segmentation quality was evaluated with the number of airways and number of endpoints reached. A generalized mixed-effects model explored the estimated effect of each protocol. Measurements and Main Results: Patient characteristics and lung function did not significantly differ between protocols. Compared to baseline inspiratory acquisitions, expiratory acquisitions after 15 min of 14 cmH2O PAP segmented 1.63-fold more airways (95% CI 1.07–2.48; p = 0.018) and reached 1.34-fold more endpoints (95% CI 1.08–1.66; p = 0.004). Inspiratory acquisitions performed immediately under 10 cmH2O PAP reached 1.20-fold (95% CI 1.09–1.33; p < 0.001) more endpoints; after 15 min the increase was 1.14-fold (95% CI 1.05–1.24; p < 0.001). Conclusions: CT acquisitions with PAP segment more airways and reach more endpoints than baseline inspiratory acquisitions. The improvement is particularly evident at end-expiration after 15 min of 14 cmH2O PAP. Further studies must confirm that the improvement increases diagnostic yield when using VBN to evaluate peripheral pulmonary lesions.
Pediatric Auditory Brainstem Implantation: Impact on Audiological Rehabilitation and Tonal Language Development
Authors: Sung John Ka Keung , Luk Betty Pui Ki , Wong Terence Ka Cheong , Thong Jiun Fong , Wong Hoi Tung , Tong Michael Chi Fai
Published: September 2018

Objective: This is a retrospective review of the impact of an Auditory Brainstem Implant (ABI) on the audiological rehabilitation and tonal language development of pediatric patients with prelingual profound deafness in Hong Kong. Results: From January 2009 to February 2015, 11 pediatric patients with profound prelingual deafness received an ABI in Hong Kong (age range 1.67–3.75 years). Etiologies included Cochlear Nerve Deficiency in 7, Severe Cochlear Malformations in 2, and Retrocochlear Deafness in 2. All of them were rehabilitated in Cantonese, a dialect of Chinese. Standard pediatric cochlear implant outcome measurements were used in this study that comprised of the 7-Sound Detection, Syllable Identification, Vowel Identification, Consonant Identification, Tone Imitation, Tone Production and Speech Perception Category. Audiological rehabilitation and speech development outcomes were reviewed. Age-matched outcomes of pediatric cochlear implant users were used for comparisons. Conclusion: Encouraging results of speech development were found, especially with continued use of the ABI. There was considerable variation in outcomes. Children with coexisting developmental and nonauditory cognitive disabilities did not perform as well. Auditory brainstem implantation is a safe and beneficial treatment for profound prelingual deafness in Cantonese-speaking pediatric patients.
Breathing Hydrogen-Oxygen Mixture Decreases Inspiratory Effort in Patients with Tracheal Stenosis
Authors: Zhou Zi-Qing , Zhong Chang-Hao , Su Zhu-Quan , Li Xiao-Ying , Chen Yu , Chen Xiao-Bo , Tang Chun-Li , Zhou Lu-Qian , Li Shi-Yue
Published: September 2018

Background: Hydrogen-oxygen mixture (H2-O2) may reduce airway resistance in patients with acute severe tracheal stenosis, yet data supporting the clinical use of H2-O2 are insufficient. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of breathing H2-O2 in acute severe tracheal stenosis. Methods: Thirty-five consecutive patients with severe acute tracheal stenosis were recruited in this prospective self-control study. Air, H2-O2 and O2 inhalation was given in 4 consecutive breathing steps: air for 15 min, H2-O2 (6 L per min, H2:O2 = 2: 1) for 15 min, oxygen (3 L per min) for 15 min, and H2-O2 for 120 min. The primary endpoint was inspiratory effort as assessed by diaphragm electromyography (EMGdi); the secondary endpoints were transdiaphragmatic pressure (Pdi), Borg score, vital signs, and impulse oscillometry (IOS). The concentration of H2 in the ambient environment was obtained with 12 monitors. Adverse reactions during the inhalation were recorded. Results: The mean reduction in the EMGdi under H2-O2 was 10.53 ± 6.83%. The EMGdi significantly decreased during 2 H2-O2 inhalation steps (Steps 2 and 4) compared with air (Step 1) and O2 (Step 3) (52.95 ± 15.00 vs. 42.46 ± 13.90 vs. 53.20 ± 14.74 vs. 42.50 ± 14.12% for Steps 1 through 4, p < 0.05). The mean reduction in the Pdi under H2-O2 was 4.77 ± 3.51 cmH2O. Breathing H2-O2 significantly improved the Borg score and resistance parameters of IOS but not vital signs. No adverse reactions occurred. H2 was undetectable in the environment throughout the procedure. Conclusions: Breathing H2-O2 may reduce the inspiratory effort in patients with acute severe tracheal stenosis and can be used for this purpose safely.
Combined Unilateral Posteroventral Pallidotomy and Ventral Intermediate Nucleus Thalamotomy in Tremor-Dominant Parkinson's Disease versus Posteroventral Pallidotomy Alone: A Prospective Comparative Study
Authors: Fayed Zeiad Y. , Radwan Hesham , Aziz Mohamed , Eid Mohamed , Mansour Alia H. , Nosseir Mohamed , Anwer Hisham , Elserry Tarek , Abdel Ghany Walid A.
Published: September 2018

Background: The optimum target in surgery for Parkinson’s disease (PD) is still controversial, especially in patients with tremor-dominant PD. We aim to compare results in tremor-dominant patients undergoing pallidotomy vs. those undergoing simultaneous posteroventral pallidotomy (PVP) and ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) thalamotomy. Methods: Twenty-four patients with tremor-dominant PD were included in this study. Twelve patients received unilateral PVP contralateral to the most affected side. The other 12 patients received simultaneous unilateral PVP and VIM thalamotomy contralateral to the most affected side. Assessment of results in both groups was achieved using both UPDRS “off” motor scores and UPDRS rest tremor subscores. Results: The mean UPDRS off motor score improved in the pallidotomy group from 61.3 preoperatively to 36.8 at 12 months. In the combined group, it improved from 59.6 to 35.2 at 12 months, with no statistically significant difference between both groups. On the other hand, while the mean tremor subscore in the pallidotomy group improved from a mean of 2.3–0.8, the tremors were abolished in all of the patients in the combined group except for 1 patient who showed slight infrequent tremors at 12 months. Conclusion: Patients with tremor-dominant PD achieve more improvement in tremor control after combined PVP and VIM thalamotomy.
Decision Making Criteria in Oncology
Authors: Glatzer Markus , Panje Cedric Michael , Sirén Charlotta , Cihoric Nikola , Putora Paul Martin
Published: September 2018

Decision making is one of the most complex skills required of an oncologist and is affected by a broad range of parameters. For example, the wide variety of treatment options, with various outcomes, side-effects and costs present challenges in selecting the most appropriate treatment. Many treatment choices are affected by limited scientific evidence, availability of therapies or patient-specific factors. In the decision making process, standardized approaches can be useful, but a multitude of criteria are relevant to this process. Thus, the aim of this review is to summarize common types of decision criteria used in oncology by focusing on 3 main categories: criteria associated with the decision maker (both patient and doctor), decision specific criteria, and the often-overlooked contextual factors. Our review aims to highlight the broad range of decision criteria in use, as well as variations in their interpretation.
Short-Term High-Intensity Interval Training Is Superior to Moderate-Intensity Continuous Training in Improving Cardiac Autonomic Function in Children
Authors: van Biljon Anneke , McKune Andrew J. , DuBose Katrina D. , Kolanisi Unathi , Semple Stuart J.
Published: September 2018

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the impact of 3 isocaloric exercise programs on cardiac autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning in children. Methods: One hundred nine children (39% boys and 61% girls) aged 10–13 years (mean 11.07 ± 0.81) were conveniently assigned to 1 of 4 groups as follows: Moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT; n = 29) at 65–70% of the predicted maximum heart rate (MHR), High-intensity interval training (HIIT; n = 29) at > 80% of the predicted MHR, HIIT and MICT combined on alternate weeks (ALT; n = 27), and a control group (n = 24). Morning ANS activity was assessed via analysis of heart rate variability (HRV), with the patient in supine position for 10 min, before and after the exercise intervention. Data Analysis: A 2-way analysis of variance was used to evaluate the effects of training on all HRV parameters (p < 0.05/4 = 0.0125). Results: After 5 weeks of training, significant improvements were observed for ln of the standard deviation of normal-to-normal intervals (p < 0.0001), ln of the root mean square of successive difference (p < 0.0001), and ln of standard deviation 1 (p < 0.0001), with superior results reported in the HIIT group (effect size [ES] = 2.22, 2.69, and 2.69) compared with the MICT (ES = 1.67, 1.75, and 1.75) and ALT (ES = 0.87, 1.06, and 1.06) groups, respectively. Conclusion: Short-term HIIT seems to induce superior alterations in cardiac ANS activity compared to MICT and ALT in children through enhanced vagal activity.
Melatonin Induces Osteoblastic Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Promotes Fracture Healing in a Rat Model of Femoral Fracture via Neuropeptide Y/Neuropeptide Y Receptor Y1 Signaling
Authors: Dong Penghong , Gu Xiaochuan , Zhu Guiling , Li Ming , Ma Bin , Zi Ying
Published: September 2018

The function of melatonin (MLT) in promoting fracture healing has been demonstrated in previous studies. However, the molecular mechanism underlying therapeutic effects of MLT is not entirely clear. In this study, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were isolated from rat bone marrow and identified by flow cytometry. We found that MLT treatment upregulated the neuropeptide Y (NPY) and NPY receptor Y1 (NPY1R) expression, and promoted the proliferation and migration of MSCs, which was suppressed by BIBP3226, an inhibitor of NPY1R. Moreover, the levels of NPY and NPY1R in MSCs undergoing osteoblastic differentiation were upregulated after MLT administration. MLT-induced osteoblastic differentiation of MSCs was suppressed by BIBP3226 treatment, as evidenced by decreased levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen type I α1 chain, osteocalcin, and runt-related transcription factor 2, downregulated activity of ALP, as well as reduced calcium nodule formation. Furthermore, we demonstrated that MLT could promote fracture healing in a rat model of femoral fracture, which was accompanied by the elevated expression of NPY and NPY1R. The administration of BIBP3226 inhibited fracture healing mediated by MLT. To sum up, our results show that MLT promotes osteoblastic differentiation of MSCs and fracture healing by NPY/NPY1R signaling.
Physical Activity Level Assessed by Accelerometer and PAQ-C in Tunisian Children
Authors: Ben Jemaa Houda , Mankaï Amani , Mahjoub Faten , Kortobi Belhassen , Khlifi Sarra , Draoui Jihene , Minaoui Rim , Karmous Inchirah , Ben Hmad Halima , Ben Slama Fethi , El Hamdouchi Asma , Aguenaou Hassan , El Ati Jalila , Jamoussi Henda , Aouidet Abdallah
Published: September 2018

Background: Physical activity (PA) is an important agent in the prevention of chronic diseases such as obesity. Objectives: To provide preliminary data on PA among school children and to correlate the PA with weight status. Material and Methods: A total of 40 children aged between 8 and 11 years and attending Tunisian schools were recruited. The body composition was determined by using the deuterium oxide dilution technique. PA was determined by the PAQ-C (PA Questionnaire for Older Children). An objective monitoring of PA and sedentary time was achieved by using ActiGraph GT3X + accelerometers. Results: PAQ-C data demonstrate that 20% of the sample had light PA levels and 80% had moderate PA levels. Times spent in sedentary (62.37%) and light (30.80%) activities were higher than that spent in moderate and vigorous (6.83%) activities. Furthermore, almost half of the sample spent more than 60 min per day in moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA). The average MVPA was significantly higher in normal weight than overweight and obese groups (67.68 ± 20.98 vs. 49.07 ± 19.09, p = 0.007). The proportion of overweight children who spent more than 60 min per day in MVPA was significantly higher than that of normal-weight (60.9 vs. 29.4%; p = 0.049). Conclusion: This study indicates that half of school children comply with the health-based guidelines for PA and sedentary behavior. Our findings also suggest that obesity was associated with decrease in PA in Tunisian children.
Fat-to-Lean Mass Ratio Can Predict Cardiac Events and All-Cause Mortality in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis
Authors: Lee Hyung-Seok , Kim Sung Gyun , Kim Jwa-Kyung , Lee Young Ki , Noh Jung Woo , Oh Jieun , Kim Hyung Jik , Song Young Rim
Published: September 2018

Background: Although higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with better survival in patients undergoing dialysis, BMI is not an adequate obesity indicator. We hypothesized that the fat-to-lean (F/L) mass ratio could be a suitable marker of nutritional status and evaluated its prognostic impact on long-term outcomes in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Methods: In total, 131 patients undergoing HD were recruited and monitored prospectively for up to 5 years. Body composition was analyzed, and other nutritional and inflammatory parameters were measured. Results: The mean age of the cohort was 60.7 ± 13.6 years, and 65 patients were diabetic. Age, sex, diabetes, comorbidity, and inflammation were associated significantly with the F/L mass ratio. During the follow-up period, 21 patients experienced cardiac events and 22 patients died. Patients with higher F/L mass ratios had significantly higher risks of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR] 3.61, 95% CI 1.07–12.13; p = 0.038) and cardiac events (HR 3.54, 95% CI 1.05-11.94; p = 0.041) than those with lower F/L mass ratios. Conclusions: The F/L mass ratio was a useful surrogate marker of nutritional and inflammatory status, and an independent predictor of cardiac events and all-cause mortality, in patients undergoing HD.
Sarcasm Analysis Using Conversation Context
Authors: Ghosh Debanjan , Fabbri Alexander R. , Muresan Smaranda
Published: September 2018

Computational models for sarcasm detection have often relied on the content of utterances in isolation. However, the speaker’s sarcastic intent is not always apparent without additional context. Focusing on social media discussions, we investigate three issues: (1) does modeling conversation context help in sarcasm detection? (2) can we identify what part of conversation context triggered the sarcastic reply? and (3) given a sarcastic post that contains multiple sentences, can we identify the specific sentence that is sarcastic? To address the first issue, we investigate several types of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks that can model both the conversation context and the current turn. We show that LSTM networks with sentence-level attention on context and current turn, as well as the conditional LSTM network, outperform the LSTM model that reads only the current turn. As conversation context, we consider the prior turn, the succeeding turn, or both. Our computational models are tested on two types of social media platforms: Twitter and discussion forums. We discuss several differences between these data sets, ranging from their size to the nature of the gold-label annotations. To address the latter two issues, we present a qualitative analysis of the attention weights produced by the LSTM models (with attention) and discuss the results compared with human performance on the two tasks.
Cocreation across Spaces of Uncertainty: Interdisciplinary Research and Collaborative Learning
Authors: Clements Mark , Lange Silke
Published: September 2018

Broad Vision was a program for art/science collaboration that adopted a model of interdisciplinary learning, teaching and research. It brought together students and tutors from art and science subjects to work collaboratively on emergent projects based around a different theme each year. In this case study, the authors discuss the critical success factors and learning gained from an interdisciplinary cocreated curriculum. This includes looking at how collaborative learning and working at the intersections of the disciplines enabled students to develop new knowledge and understanding in both their own and other subject fields.
Shame as a Culture-Specific Emotion Concept
Authors: Kollareth Dolichan , Fernandez-Dols Jose-Miguel , Russell James A.
Published: September 2018

On the assumption that shame is a universal emotion, cross-cultural research on shame relies on translations assumed to be equivalent in meaning. Our studies here questioned that assumption. In three studies (Ns, 108, 120, 117),shamewas compared to its translations in Spanish (vergüenza) and in Malayalam (nanakedu). American English speakers usedshamefor the emotional reaction to moral failures and its use correlated positively withguilt, whereasvergüenzaandnanakeduwere used less for moral stories and their use correlated less with the guilt words. In comparison with Spanish and Malayalam speakers’ ratings of their translations, American English speakers ratedshameandguiltto be more similar to each other.
Irenaeus’s Engagement with Rhetorical Theory in his Exegesis of the Johannine Prologue in Adversus Haereses 1.8.5-1.9.3
Authors: Harris Brendan
Published: September 2018

While scholars have long recognised Irenaeus’s acquaintance with rhetorical theory, the role of rhetorical theory in Irenaeus’s scriptural exegesis has only recently come to light. In the last few years, Lewis Ayres (2015) and Anthony Briggman (2015, 2016) have argued for the central importance of Greco-Roman literary and rhetorical theory to Irenaeus’s approach to scripture. This paper will build on the work of Ayres and Briggman by exploring Irenaeus’s engagement with rhetorical theory in his interpretation of the Johannine prologue in AH 1.8.5-9.3. In this paper, I will argue that Irenaeus’s exegetical strategy in AH 1.8.4-9.3 is best understood in light of the question of authorial intent as formulated in rhetorical handbooks. Specifically, I will argue that Irenaeus presents his argument as a defence of the scriptum of the prologue, and so follows the conventions laid out in rhetorical handbooks for a dispute between scriptum et voluntas.
A Critical Engagement with Craig S. Keener’s Spirit Hermeneutics: Reading Scripture in the Light of Pentecost (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2016)
Authors: Thomas John Christopher
Published: September 2018

Seeking to construct the implied readers of Keener’s volume, the author focuses upon Keener’s rather vague discussion of the role of the Spirit, his view of original meaning as the key to hermeneutics, the book’s rhetorically charged tone, and a certain imprecision that occurs throughout. The second part of this essay concludes with the identification of several areas in which the work missed opportunities for significant engagement within this area of hermeneutics, including the absence of original Pentecostal source materials, the absence of intentional engagement with the origins and development of contemporary Pentecostal hermeneutics, and the absence of specific examination of several NT texts that reveal much about concrete ways in which the Spirit functions in interpretation.
A Review of Craig Keener’s Spirit Hermeneutics: Reading Scripture in the Light of Pentecost
Authors: Green Chris E.W.
Published: September 2018

To its credit, Craig Keener’s Spirit Hermeneutics focuses attention on the presence of the Spirit in the church’s interpretation of Scripture, drawing extensively on the groundbreaking work of Pentecostal and charismatic scholars whose work has long deserved to be highlighted. But questions remain about Keener’s pneumatology, his grammatico-historical method, his doctrine of revelation, and his account of spiritual experience. In this paper, the author asks those questions and seeks to spell out answers to them, showing how Pentecostals can and should receive Keener’s offering as gift.
Pentecostal Oral Liturgy as Primary Theology
Authors: Rice Monte Lee
Published: September 2018

An ongoing task in Pentecostal studies is identifying categories that articulate Pentecostal theology in manners congruent to the intensely embodied liturgical practices that fund Pentecostalism as a theological tradition. In this paper the author suggests as a promising rubric, the patristic era’s monastic and ascetically rooted, Evagrian notion of prayer as theology, which has deeply funded the liturgy as primary theology movement. Together, the author calls these notions the Evagrian-LAPT grammar of prayer/liturgy. Part One explores how Steven Land’s A Passion for the Kingdom monograph was a direct by-product of the LAPT movement, thus describing Pentecostal spirituality through the Evagrian-LAPT grammar. Part Two suggests how this grammar clarifies three pertinent foci within Pentecostal spirituality; Pentecostal primary theology, liturgy, and liturgical ascetics. Part 3 delineates as the liturgical ascetics of Pentecostalism, the shalomic efficacy of its oral liturgy, which generates its primary theology of eschatological hope.
Redescription of Alopecosa albostriata (Araneae: Lycosidae) based on specimens from Siberia
Authors: MARUSIK YURI M.
Published: September 2018

Alopecosa albostriata (Grube, 1861), originally described from Western Yakutia, is redescribed based on specimens from Siberia. Although A. albostriata is known to be distributed in Kazakhstan, Russia, China and Korea, with records attributed to more than 30 taxonomic entries, and is considered as a senior synonym of nine species (all described from China), it is actually restricted to Siberia and was illustrated only in two publications. All synonyms and records from China, Kazakhstan and Korea refer to species related to Mustelicosa dimidiata (Thorell, 1875). Among Palaearctic species, A. albostriata is most similar to A. mutabilis (Kulczyński, 1908). Comparative figures are provided for the latter species. These two species, together with A. exasperans (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1877) form the albostriata species group occurring across Siberia and the northern Nearctic. Male palps in this species group are most similar to those in Mustelicosa Roewer, 1960, and most likely that species group will be transferred to this genus. Distribution records of A. albostriata are shown on map.
Redescription of Lernaeenicus stromatei Gnanamuthu, 1953 (Copepoda: Siphonostomatoida: Pennellidae) infesting the Black Pomfret Parastromateus niger (Bloch) from Indian waters
Authors: ANEESH PANAKKOOL THAMBAN , HELNA AMERI KOTTARATHIL , KUMAR APPUKUTTAN BIJU , MARAN BALU ALAGAR VENMATHI
Published: September 2018

The parasitic copepod Lernaeenicus stromatei Gnanamuthu, 1953 infecting black pomfret, Parastromateus niger (Bloch) (Carangidae) is redescribed based on a neotype and additional fresh material obtained from hosts collected at different fish landing centers on the Chennai Coast (Tamil Nadu), Malabar Coast (Kerala), and from West Bengal, India. A female L. stromatei obtained from the Chennai Coast has been designated as a neotype and deposited in the National Zoological Collections of Zoological Survey of India (NZC-ZSI). Lernaeenicus stromatei can be identified based on the following features: A long and slender body; head anteriorly rounded, dorso-ventrally flattened and slightly longer than broad; presence of three posterior horns on the head, one median and two lateral, all sub-similar and apically rounded; and an anterior neck with an indistinct partition on the dorsal side, indicating thoracic segments, and a three-jointed antennule.
Comparison of Agricultural Stakeholder Survey Results and Drought Monitoring Datasets during the 2016 U.S. Northern Plains Flash Drought
Authors: Otkin Jason A. , Haigh Tonya , Mucia Anthony , Anderson Martha C. , Hain Christopher
Published: September 2018

The evolution of a flash drought event, characterized by a period of rapid drought intensification, is assessed using standard drought monitoring datasets and on-the-ground reports obtained via a written survey of agricultural stakeholders after the flash drought occurred. The flash drought impacted agricultural production across a five-state region centered on the Black Hills of South Dakota during the summer of 2016. The survey asked producers to estimate when certain drought impacts, ranging from decreased soil moisture to plant stress and diminished water resources, first occurred on their land. The geographic distribution and timing of the survey responses were compared to the U.S. Drought Monitor and to datasets depicting anomalies in evapotranspiration, precipitation, and soil moisture. Overall, the survey responses showed that this event was a multifaceted drought that caused a variety of impacts across the region. Comparisons of the survey reports to the drought monitoring datasets revealed that the topsoil moisture dataset provided the earliest warning of drought development, but at the expense of a high false alarm rate. Anomalies in evapotranspiration were closely aligned to the survey reports of plant stress and also provided a more focused depiction of where the worst drought conditions were located. This study provides evidence that qualitative reports of drought impacts obtained via written surveys provide valuable information that can be used to assess the accuracy of high-resolution drought monitoring datasets.
Labour process theory and the gig economy
Authors: Gandini Alessandro
Published: September 2018

What are the distinctive traits that characterize work(ing) through (and for) a digital platform? In the burgeoning debate on the ‘gig economy’, a critical examination that comprehensively addresses this issue beyond specific examples or case studies is currently missing. This article uses labour process theory – an important Marxist approach in the study of relations of production in industrial capitalism – to address this gap. Supported by empirical illustrations from existing research, the article discusses the notions of ‘point of production’, emotional labour and control in the gig economy to argue that labour process theory offers a unique set of tools to expand our understanding of the way in which labour power comes to be transformed into a commodity in a context where the encounter between supply and demand of work is mediated by a digital platform, and where feedback, ranking and rating systems serve purposes of managerialization and monitoring of workers.
Immigrants’ Use of eHealth Services in the United States, National Health Interview Survey, 2011-2015
Authors: Wang Yang , Do D. Phuong , Wilson Fernando A.
Published: September 2018

Objectives:

Little is known about the use of electronic health (eHealth) services supported by information technology in the United States among immigrants, a group that faces barriers in accessing care and, consequently, disparities in health outcomes. We examined differences in the use of eHealth services in the United States by immigration status in a nationally representative sample.

Methods:

We used data from the 2011-2015 National Health Interview Survey to assess use of eHealth services among US natives, naturalized citizens, and noncitizens. Our outcome variable of interest was respondent-reported use of eHealth services, defined as making medical appointments online, refilling prescriptions online, or communicating with health care professionals through email, during the past 12 months. We analyzed use of eHealth services, demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and health status among all 3 groups. We used multivariate logistic regression models to examine the association between immigration status and the likelihood of using eHealth services, adjusting for individual demographic, socioeconomic, and health characteristics.

Results:

Among 126 893 US natives, 18 763 (16.1%) reported using any eHealth services in the past 12 months, compared with 1738 of 15 102 (13.0%) naturalized citizens and 1020 of 14 340 (7.8%) noncitizens. Adjusting for socioeconomic factors reduced initial gaps: naturalized citizens (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75-0.87) and noncitizens (aOR = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.72-0.90) had approximately 20% lower odds of using eHealth services than did US natives. However, the differences varied by type of eHealth service. Immigrants with higher English-language proficiency were more likely to use eHealth services than were immigrants with lower English-language proficiency.

Conclusions:

Targeted interventions that reduce socioeconomic barriers in accessing technology and promote multilingual electronic portals could help mitigate disparities in use of eHealth services.
Identification and quantification of urban space in India: Defining urban macro-structures
Authors: Perez Joan , Fusco Giovanni , Moriconi-Ebrard François
Published: September 2018

Urban–rural differences seem particularly pronounced in India, especially when based on the official figures provided by the Census of India, which are heavily dependent on the administrative status of settlements. India, one of the world’s most dynamic and populous countries, still possesses an official urbanisation rate lagging well behind other developing economies. To investigate the extent of Indian urbanisation, this article develops a multi-step methodology using indicators specifically conceived for identifying urban structures in India. In this article, an emphasis is given to the conception and to the spatial analysis of two indicators: metropolitan ranking and meta-agglomerations. A method combining these indicators then allows identifying urban macro-structures acting as a larger organising framework in the regional space. Our results show a multitude of different functional areas that have developed specific urban morphologies over time. Some are particularly marked by high values of urban macrocephaly, small settlements taking the shape of nebulae, urban sprawl, etc.
Immersion and invariance-based filtered transformation with application to estimator design for a class of DC-DC converters
Authors: Malekzadeh Milad , Khosravi Alireza , Tavan Mehdi
Published: September 2018

This paper addresses the problem of state and parameter estimation for a class of uncertain DC-DC such converters as DC–DC boost, buck and buck-boost converters. Using the advantages of Immersion and Invariance technique with input-output filtered transformation, a proper immersion and auxiliary dynamic filter is constructed in the proposed estimator. Uniform global asymptotic convergence of the estimator is proven for the system with parametric uncertainties. In the presence of both output and state dynamics perturbations, the performance of the proposed estimator has been theoretically analyzed and verified by means of simulation results. In addition, the effectiveness of this scheme is validated via experimental test for DC-DC boost converter.
Heart rate reduction after ivabradine might be associated with reverse electrical remodeling in patients with cardiomyopathy and left bundle branch block
Authors: Kučerová Andrea , Doškář Petr , Dujka Libor , Lekešová Veronika , Volf Petr , Koščová Katarina , Neužil Petr , Málek Filip
Published: September 2018

Left bundle branch block increases the risk of death in patients with chronic heart failure. We herein report four clinical cases of patients with chronic heart failure caused by nonischemic cardiomyopathy with left bundle branch block that occurred when adding ivabradine to optimal medical therapy, resulting in reverse electrical and mechanical remodeling. This phenomenon might be explained by the effect of ivabradine on reverse remodeling of the left ventricle with improvement of intraventricular conduction.
Assessing Highway Travel Time Reliability using Probe Vehicle Data
Authors: Olszewski Piotr , Dybicz Tomasz , Jamroz Kazimierz , Kustra Wojciech , Romanowska Aleksandra
Published: September 2018

Probe vehicle data (also known as “floating car data”) can be used to analyze travel time reliability of an existing road corridor in order to determine where, when, and how often traffic congestion occurs at particular road segments. The aim of the study is to find the best reliability performance measures for assessing congestion frequency and severity based on probe data. Pilot surveys conducted on A2 motorway in Poland confirm the usefulness and reasonable accuracy of probe data for measuring speed variation in both congested and free-flowing traffic. Historical probe vehicle data and traditional traffic counts from Polish S6 expressway were used to analyze travel time reliability on its 24 road sections. Travel time indexes and reliability ratings for the whole year 2016 were calculated to identify segments with lower reliability and higher expected delay. It is concluded that unlike the HCM-6 method, travel times obtained from probe data should be averaged in 1-hour intervals. Delay index is proposed as a new reliability indicator for road segments. Delay map diagrams are recommended for showing how the congestion spots move in space and with time of day.
A Data-Driven Approach to Prioritizing Bus Schedule Revisions at New York City Transit
Authors: Coleman Malik , Tarte Lauren , Chau Steve , Levine Brian , Reddy Alla
Published: September 2018

Over two million trips are taken every weekday across the New York City Transit (NYCT) bus network. Revising the schedules for each of these routes is a labor-intensive process, and because of limited resources, fewer than half of all routes are examined each year. Traditionally, schedules have been revised on a first-in, first-out basis, with most schedules rewritten once every 2 years. This approach leaves no room for reviewing routes that need more frequent changes, meaning service may not catch up to changes in demand or traffic patterns for several years. It also requires staff to spend valuable staff time analyzing routes that may be inactive. To better address rapidly evolving bus corridors, NYCT developed a methodology to pinpoint the routes most in need of schedule revisions. This data-driven approach uses automatic vehicle location data and a ridership algorithm that combines automated fare collection data with other sources to infer stop-by-stop boardings and alightings for individual trips. Each route’s schedule is evaluated on service capacity versus actual ridership, and scheduled versus actual running times. Routes that show the greatest discrepancies are designated for later in-depth review. This methodology was applied to develop the 2018 list of schedule revisions. As this process identifies routes with too much capacity or running time, as well as those with too little, resource-costly schedule adjustments can be offset with resource-saving ones. Using this approach allows scheduling staff to react more quickly to changes in customer demand and new development, thereby providing better service to passengers.
Implication of Replacing the Federal and State Fuel Taxes with a National Vehicle Miles Traveled Tax
Authors: Wang Yiwei , Miao Qing
Published: September 2018

A vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax is often proposed to replace fuel taxes for financing the nation’s highway and road network. In this paper, we investigate households’ driving response to driving cost changes depending on their vehicle choices. Using the empirical estimates, we simulate the vehicle usage, tax burdens, and total tax revenues generated under a possible nationwide revenue-neutral flat VMT tax. Our results confirm that, compared with the current gasoline tax, a revenue-neutral flat VMT tax can be a more stable tax revenue source. We estimate that a 50% increase in average miles per gallon would lead to a 28% decrease in the total revenues raised by the current gasoline tax, while the same amount of increase in fuel economy would increase the VMT tax revenues by 4.4 % (all relative to the 2009 baseline). In the meantime, we find no significant difference between the two types of tax in their total revenues, when the pre-tax gasoline prices fluctuate by different magnitudes. A VMT tax would be slightly more regressive than the gasoline tax, but the difference is negligible. Overall, our simulation shows that VMT tax could serve as a viable alternative to gasoline taxes.
Autonomous Transport: Transforming Logistics through Driverless Intelligent Transportation
Authors: Hjalmarsson-Jordanius Anders , Edvardsson Mikael , Romell Martin , Isacson Johan , Aldén Carl-Johan , Sundin Niklas
Published: September 2018

How can autonomous technology be used beyond end-customer autonomous driving features? This position paper addresses this problem by exploring a novel autonomous transport solution applied in the automotive logistics domain. We propose that factory-complete cars can be transformed to become their own autonomous guided vehicles and thus transport themselves when being moved from the factory for shipment. Cars equipped with such a system are driverless and use an onboard autonomous transport solution combined with the advanced driver assistance systems pre-installed in the car for end-customer use. The solution uses factory-equipped sensors as well as the connectivity infrastructure installed in the car. This means that the solution does not require any extra components to enable the car to transport itself autonomously to complete a transport mission in the logistics chain. The solution also includes an intelligent off-board traffic control system that defines the transport mission and manages the interaction between vehicles during systems operation. A prototype of the system has been developed which was tested successfully in live trials at the Volvo Car Group plant in Gothenburg Sweden in 2017. In the paper, autonomous transport is positioned in between autonomous guided vehicles and autonomous driving technology. A review of the literature on autonomous vehicle technology offers contextual background to this positioning. The paper also presents the solution and displays lessons learned from the live trials. Finally, other use areas are introduced for driverless autonomous transport beyond the automotive logistics domain that is the focus of this paper.
Efficacy of Injury Prevention Training Is Greater for High-Risk vs Low-Risk Elite Female Youth Soccer Players
Authors: De Ste Croix Mark , Hughes Jonathan , Ayala Francisco , Taylor Luke , Datson Naomi
Published: September 2018

Background:

The efficacy of robustness training for high- versus low-risk individuals within high-risk groups is currently unknown.

Purpose:

To explore the efficacy of robustness training on injury risk factors among female youth soccer players and to examine if high-risk athletes are greater responders to such training.

Study Design:

Controlled laboratory study.

Methods:

A total of 125 elite youth female soccer players on the English FA talent pathway were randomly selected into a training group (n = 71) or a control group (n = 54). Relative leg stiffness, 2-dimensional knee valgus and knee flexion range of motion from a single-legged countermovement jump, and probability of high knee abduction moment (pKAM) risk were all determined before and after a 16-week robustness training program. For further analysis, participants in the training group were split into groups based on risk: high risk (pKAM >0.80, n = 33) and low risk (pKAM <0.55, n = 33). Magnitude-based inferences were used to explore differences between the control and intervention groups and the high- and low-risk groups.

Results:

Magnitude-based inferences demonstrated significant beneficial effects in the training group for knee valgus, pKAM, and leg stiffness as compared with the control group. The control group demonstrated possible worthwhile differences in knee flexion range of motion as compared with the intervention group. The high-risk group demonstrated likely/very likely worthwhile differences versus the low-risk group for all parameters.

Conclusion/Clinical Relevance:

Robustness training induces significant beneficial improvements in injury risk factors among female youth soccer players. The beneficial effects of this multidimensional program are greater for those classified as high risk.
What’s “Radical” about [Feminist] Radical Political Economy?
Authors: Cohen Jennifer
Published: September 2018

This article offers an analysis of seven articles from the Review of Radical Political Economics’ series “What ‘Radical’ Means in the 21st Century.” Without reference to feminism, the authors’ definitions of “radical” hinge critically on insight from feminist radical political economy. Instead of feminist radical political economy fitting under a broader body of political economy that coheres around radicalism, it is in feminist insight that radical political economy finds roots: according to the series’ authors, it is what makes radical political economy radical. Yet although the Union for Radical Political Economics hosted the development of the building blocks of feminist theory in economics between 1968 and 1991, feminist contributions remain largely unacknowledged. I offer strategies for repositioning feminism not as a side project but as a critical source of insight for radical political economy.

JEL Classification: B54, B51, B24
The Canadian health system’s “administrative efficiency” is a problem
Authors: Duckett Stephen
Published: September 2018

The Commonwealth Fund’s “administrative efficiency” criterion ranks Canada poorly—sixth of the 11 countries compared. On two of the four patient-sourced measure used in this criterion, Canada was below the international average performance. For two of the three physician-sourced measures, Canada performs well but is significantly behind the best performing country. This suggests that Canada has room to improve, despite being better than average. Two opportunities for health leaders to make improvements are in relation to reducing the time physicians spend negotiating patient access to needed medications and reducing other administrative burdens related to claiming.