bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Dapagliflozin on Heart Failure and Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Kato Eri T. , Silverman Michael G. , Mosenzon Ofri , Zelniker Thomas A. , Cahn Avivit , Furtado Remo H.M. , Kuder Julia , Murphy Sabina A. , Bhatt Deepak L. , Leiter Lawrence A. , McGuire Darren K. , Wilding John P.H. , Bonaca Marc P. , Ruff Christian T. , Desai Akshay S. , Goto Shinya , Johansson Peter A. , Gause-Nilsson Ingrid , Johanson Per , Langkilde Anna Maria , Raz Itamar , Sabatine Marc S. , Wiviott Stephen D.
Published: March 2019

Background:

In DECLARE-TIMI 58 (Dapagliflozin Effect on Cardiovascular Events–Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 58), the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor dapagliflozin reduced the composite end point of cardiovascular death/hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) in a broad population of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, the impact of baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) on the clinical benefit of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibition is unknown.

Methods:

In the DECLARE-TIMI 58 trial, baseline heart failure (HF) status was collected from all patients, and EF was collected when available. HF with reduced EF (HFrEF) was defined as EF <45%. Outcomes of interest were the composite of cardiovascular death/HHF, its components, and all-cause mortality.

Results:

Of 17 160 patients, 671 (3.9%) had HFrEF, 1316 (7.7%) had HF without known reduced EF, and 15 173 (88.4%) had no history of HF at baseline. Dapagliflozin reduced cardiovascular death/HHF more in patients with HFrEF (hazard ratio [HR], 0.62 [95% CI, 0.45–0.86]) than in those without HFrEF (HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.76–1.02];
P
for interaction=0.046), in whom the treatment effect of dapagliflozin was similar in those with HF without known reduced EF (HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.66–1.17]) and those without HF (HR, 0.88 [95% CI, 0.74–1.03]). Whereas dapagliflozin reduced HHF both in those with (HR, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.43–0.95]) and in those without HFrEF (HR, 0.76 [95% CI, 0.62–0.92]), it reduced cardiovascular death only in patients with HFrEF (HR, 0.55 [95% CI, 0.34–0.90]) but not in those without HFrEF (HR, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.89–1.31];
P
for interaction=0.012). Likewise, dapagliflozin reduced all-cause mortality in patients with HFrEF (HR, 0.59 [95% CI, 0.40–0.88;) but not in those without HFrEF (HR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.86–1.10];
P
for interaction=0.016).

Conclusions:

In the first sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor cardiovascular outcome trial to evaluate patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus stratified by EF, we found that dapagliflozin reduced HHF in patients with and without HFrEF and reduced cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality in patients with HFrEF.

Clinical Trial Registration:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01730534.
Telemedicine in Prehospital Acute Stroke Care: An Expanding Infrastructure for Treatment and Research
Authors: Derry Paul J. , Mandava Pitchaiah , Kent Thomas A.
Published: March 2019

See Article by
Geisler et al
FİNANSAL SEKTÖR GELİŞİMİ, TİCARİ AÇIKLIK VE EKONOMİK BÜYÜME İLİŞKİSİ: YÜKSELEN PİYASA VE GELİŞMEKTE OLAN EKONOMİLER PANEL-VAR ÖRNEĞİ
Authors: CANBALOĞLU Bilge , GÜRGÜN Gözde
Published: March 2019

Bu çalışmada, yükselen piyasa ve gelişmekte olan ekonomilerde finansal sektör gelişimi, ticari açıklık ve ekonomik büyüme arasındaki nedensellik ilişkisi incelenmiştir. Abrigo ve Love (2015)’in Panel Vektör Otoregresif yaklaşımı 86 ülkeden oluşan bir örnekleme, 1998-2016 dönemi için uygulanmıştır. Çalışmaya dahil edilen ülkeler gelir seviyelerine göre düşük ve alt-orta gelir ile üst-orta ve yüksek gelirli olmak üzere iki gruba ayrılmıştır. Böylelikle gelir seviyesindeki farklılaşmanın değişkenler arasındaki nedensellik ilişkilerini nasıl etkilediği araştırılmıştır. Çalışmanın ampirik bulguları, düşük ve alt-orta gelir ülke grubunda ekonomik büyümeden ticari açıklığa ve ticari açıklıktan finansal sektör gelişimine doğru nedensellik ilişkileri olduğunu göstermektedir. Ayrıca, düşük ve alt-orta gelir ülke grubu için finansal sektör gelişimi ekonomik büyümenin önemli bir belirleyicisi olarak bulunmuştur. Sonuçlar, üst-orta ve yüksek ülke grubu için de ekonomik büyümeden ticari açıklığa ve ticari açıklıktan finansal sektör gelişimine doğru Granger-nedensellik ilişkisinin olduğuna dair kanıt sunmaktadır
HAVAYOLU ŞİRKETLERİNİN LOJİSTİK PERFORMANSLARININ ENTROPİ VE TOPSİS YÖNTEMLERİ KULLANILARAK KARŞILAŞTIRILMASI
Authors: DESTE Mustafa , ŞİMŞEK Ahmed İhsan
Published: March 2019

Bu çalışmada, havayolu şirketlerinin birbirleri arasındaki göreceli lojistik performans düzeylerinin belirlenmesine yönelik bir araştırma gerçekleştirilmiştir. Şirketlerin lojistik performans düzeylerini belirlemek amacıyla, maliyet, verimlilik, servis kalitesi, fiyat ve yönetim boyutları baz alınmış ve bu boyutları temsil eden birim işletme maliyeti, işgücü verimliliği, filo verimliliği, yolcu yük faktörü, zamanında performans, emniyet, uçuş frekansı, ortalama ücret, gelir artışı, net kar marjı, pazar payı alt verileri incelemeye dahil edilmiştir. Veriler, şirketlerin yayınladıkları yıllık finansal tablolardan, Skytrax raporlarından ve açık kaynaklarda yer alan çalışmalardan elde edilmiştir. Kriterlerin ağırlıkları havacılık sektöründe çalışan uzmanlardan alınan görüşler, Shannon Entropi yöntemi ve basit ağırlıklandırma ile belirlenmiştir. Kriterler üç farklı ağırlık oranına göre TOPSIS yöntemi kullanılarak analiz edilmiştir. Araştırma sonucunda, 1. ve 2. sıradaki şirketlerin sadece 0,01 puanlık bir fark ile değişiklik gösterdiği bunun dışında ise uzman görüşü ve entropi yöntemi ile elde edilen sıralamanın aynı olduğu görülmüştür. Ancak her bir kriterin ağırlığı eşit olarak alındığında alternatiflerin sıralamasının değiştiği gözlemlenmiştir.
Intracranial Recordings and Computational Modeling of Music Reveal the Time Course of Prediction Error Signaling in Frontal and Temporal Cortices
Authors: Omigie Diana , Pearce Marcus , Lehongre Katia , Hasboun Dominique , Navarro Vincent , Adam Claude , Samson Severine
Published: March 2019

Prediction is held to be a fundamental process underpinning perception, action, and cognition. To examine the time course of prediction error signaling, we recorded intracranial EEG activity from nine presurgical epileptic patients while they listened to melodies whose information theoretical predictability had been characterized using a computational model. We examined oscillatory activity in the superior temporal gyrus (STG), the middle temporal gyrus (MTG), and the pars orbitalis of the inferior frontal gyrus, lateral cortical areas previously implicated in auditory predictive processing. We also examined activity in anterior cingulate gyrus (ACG), insula, and amygdala to determine whether signatures of prediction error signaling may also be observable in these subcortical areas. Our results demonstrate that the information content (a measure of unexpectedness) of musical notes modulates the amplitude of low-frequency oscillatory activity (theta to beta power) in bilateral STG and right MTG from within 100 and 200 msec of note onset, respectively. Our results also show this cortical activity to be accompanied by low-frequency oscillatory modulation in ACG and insula—areas previously associated with mediating physiological arousal. Finally, we showed that modulation of low-frequency activity is followed by that of high-frequency (gamma) power from approximately 200 msec in the STG, between 300 and 400 msec in the left insula, and between 400 and 500 msec in the ACG. We discuss these results with respect to models of neural processing that emphasize gamma activity as an index of prediction error signaling and highlight the usefulness of musical stimuli in revealing the wide-reaching neural consequences of predictive processing.
The Time Course of Motoneuronal Excitability during the Preparation of Complex Movements
Authors: Kennefick Michael , Burma Joel S. , van Donkelaar Paul , McNeil Chris J.
Published: March 2019

For a simple RT task, movement complexity increases RT and also corticospinal excitability, as measured by the motor evoked potential (MEP) elicited by TMS of the motor cortex. However, it is unknown if complexity-related increases in corticospinal excitability during the preparation of movement are mediated at the cortical or spinal level. The purposes of this study were to establish a time course of motoneuronal excitability before prime mover activation and to assess task-dependent effects of complex movements on motoneuronal and cortical excitability in a simple RT paradigm. It was hypothesized that motoneuronal and cortical excitability would increase before prime mover activation and in response to movement complexity. In a seated position, participants completed ballistic elbow extension/flexion movements with their dominant arm to one, two, or three targets. TMS and transmastoid stimulation (TS) were delivered at 0%, 70%, 80% or 90% of mean premotor RT for each complexity level. Stimulus intensities were set to elicit MEPs and cervicomedullary MEPs (CMEPs) of ∼10% of the maximal M-wave in the triceps brachii. Compared with 0% RT, motoneuronal excitability (CMEP amplitude) was already 10% greater at 70% RT. CMEP amplitude also increased with movement complexity as both the two- and three-movement conditions had greater motoneuronal excitability than the one-movement condition ( p < .038). Importantly, when normalized to the CMEP, there was no increase in MEP amplitude. This suggests that complexity-related increases in corticospinal excitability are likely to be mediated more by increased excitability at a motoneuronal than cortical level.
Sparse Associative Memory
Authors: Hoffmann Heiko
Published: March 2019

It is still unknown how associative biological memories operate. Hopfield networks are popular models of associative memory, but they suffer from spurious memories and low efficiency. Here, we present a new model of an associative memory that overcomes these deficiencies. We call this model sparse associative memory (SAM) because it is based on sparse projections from neural patterns to pattern-specific neurons. These sparse projections have been shown to be sufficient to uniquely encode a neural pattern. Based on this principle, we investigate theoretically and in simulation our SAM model, which turns out to have high memory efficiency and a vanishingly small probability of spurious memories. This model may serve as a basic building block of brain functions involving associative memory.
Sub-brachypterous Ricaniidae (Hemiptera: Fulgoromorpha) of Madagascar with morphological notes for these taxa
Authors: STROIŃSKI ADAM , GNEZDILOV VLADIMIR M. , BOURGOIN THIERRY
Published: March 2019

Four new genera of sub-brachypterous Ricaniidae are described from Madagascar. Globularica gen. nov. is established for a single species, Globularica diversicolorata sp. nov. Coniunctivena gen. nov. is established for four species: Coniunctivena antsignyensis sp. nov., C. epaulettea sp. nov. (type species), C. montuosa sp. nov., C. synavei sp. nov. Nasatus gen. nov. is established for two species: Nasatus sparsus sp. nov. (type species) and N. davidouvrardi sp. nov. Cyamosa gen. nov. is established for four species: Cyamosa adelinae sp. nov., C. camelouca sp. nov. (type species), C. pauliani sp. nov., C. splendens sp. nov. Isobium gibbosum Melichar, 1906 is redescribed and transferred from the Issidae to the Ricaniidae. Photographs, drawings and maps of distribution for all mentioned species are presented. Discussion is provided on antennal plate organs, tegminal sub-brachypterism, and female bursa copulatrix structure, for these sub-brachypterous Ricaniidae.
Taxonomic status of the barbastelles (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae: Barbastella) from the Japanese archipelago and Kunashir Island
Authors: KRUSKOP SERGEI V. , KAWAI KUNIKO , TIUNOV MIKHAIL P.
Published: March 2019

Until recently, almost all barbastelle populations inhabiting Asia, from Iran to Japan and Taiwan, were recognized as a single species, Barbastella darjelingensis. However, in recent years, it was shown that the taxonomic diversity within the genus Barbastella was underestimated, and B. darjelingensis sensu lato is highly variable, both morphologically and genetically. Transcaucasian and Central Asian populations were already raised to the species level as B. caspica. Populations from eastern and south-eastern Asia are still understudied and likely encompass undescribed species. Comparing results from mtDNA sequences, skull morphometry and baculum shape, we concluded that one of these putative species is represented by populations inhabiting Honshu, Hokkaido and Kunashir Islands, and provide a scientific description of this new species. Populations from Taiwan, southern China and Indochina represent a sister mitochondrial clade to this new species. However, available morphological material from these areas did not demonstrate a significant difference from the Himalayan B. darjelingensis. Therefore, we refuse to give this form any taxonomic status until further studies of more vast material are done.
First description of sound emission of Rhaphiptera affinis Thomson, 1868 (Cerambycidae: Lamiinae: Pteropliini)
Authors: HEPP FÁBIO , BEZERRA ANDRESSA M. , BOTERO JUAN P.
Published: March 2019

Cerambycidae is one of the largest families of beetles, containing about 38,000 described species (Tavakilian & Chevillotte 2018). In most species of this family, adults possess a stridulatory device that allows them to produce squeaking sounds (Wang 2017). In the subfamilies Prioninae and Parandrinae, individuals stridulate by rubbing their ridged hind femora against elytral margins (Švácha & Lawrence 2014). In the other subfamilies, including Lamiinae, the stridulation is produced by friction between the ventral face of the posterior pronotal margin (plectrum) and a striated plate on the mesoscutum (pars stridens) (Švácha & Lawrence 2014). Although some adults produce sounds during courtship and copulation, this sound production occurs mainly when individuals are disturbed, being considered a defensive mechanism that might act as a startle response against predators (Dumortier 1963; Švácha & Lawrence 2014; Wang 2017).
Forecasting High-Impact Weather in Landfalling Tropical Cyclones Using a Warn-on-Forecast System
Authors: Jones Thomas , Skinner Patrick , Yussouf Nusrat , Knopfmeier Kent , Reinhart Anthony , Dowell David
Published: March 2019

Landfalling tropical cyclones (TCs) are among the greatest natural threats to life and property in the United States, since they can produce multiple hazards associated with convective storms over a wide region. Of these hazards, tornadoes within TC rainbands pose a particularly difficult forecast problem owing to their rapid evolution and their frequent occurrence coincident with additional hazards, such as flash flooding and damaging winds. During the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, Hurricanes Harvey and Irma impacted the continental United States, causing significant loss of life and billions of dollars in property damage. Application of the Warn-on-Forecast (WoF) concept of short-term, probabilistic guidance of convective hazards (Stensrud et al. 2009, 2013), including the potential for tornadoes within TCs, offers the ability to provide forecasters with valuable tools for prioritizing the relative risk from multiple convective threats and effectively communicating them to the public.
The Role of the Divergent Circulation for Large-Scale Eddy Momentum Transport in the Tropics. Part II: Dynamical Determinants of the Momentum Flux
Authors: Zurita-Gotor Pablo
Published: March 2019

This paper investigates the coupling between the rotational and divergent circulations aiming to explain the observations that show that the tropical eddy momentum flux is due to correlations between divergent eddy meridional velocities and rotational eddy zonal velocities. A simple linear model in which the observed eddy divergence field is used to force the vorticity equation can reproduce quite well the observed tropical eddy momentum flux. The eddy momentum flux in the model shows little sensitivity to the basic-state winds and is mainly determined by the characteristics of the divergent forcing. Vortex stretching and divergent advection of planetary vorticity produce eddy momentum flux contributions with the same sign but the former forcing dominates. It is shown that the main factor affecting the direction of the eddy momentum flux response to both forcings is the meridional tilt of the divergence phase lines, albeit with an opposite sign to the classical relation between rotational momentum flux and streamfunction phase tilt. How this divergent structure is determined remains an open question.
Mechanisms of Eddy-Driven Variability of the Florida Current
Authors: Domingues Ricardo M. , Johns William E. , Meinen Christopher S.
Published: March 2019

In this study, mechanisms causing year-to-year changes in the Florida Current seasonality are investigated using controlled realistic numerical experiments designed to isolate the western boundary responses to westward-propagating open ocean signals. The experiments reveal two distinct processes by which westward-propagating signals can modulate the phase of the Florida Current variability, which we refer to as the “direct” and “indirect” response mechanisms. The direct response mechanism involves a two-stage response to open ocean anticyclonic eddies characterized by the direct influence of Rossby wave barotropic anomalies and baroclinic wall jets that propagate through Northwest Providence Channel. In the indirect response mechanism, open ocean signals act as small perturbations to the stochastic Gulf Stream variability downstream, which are then transmitted upstream to the Florida Straits through baroclinic coastally trapped signals that can rapidly travel along the U.S. East Coast. Experiments indicate that westward-propagating eddies play a key role in modulating the phase of the Florida Current variability, but not the amplitude, which is determined by its intrinsic variability in our simulations. Results from this study further suggest that the Antilles Current may act as a semipermeable barrier to incoming signals, favoring the interaction through the indirect response mechanism. The mechanisms reported here can be potentially linked to year-to-year changes in the seasonality of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation and may also be present in other western boundary current systems.
Economic Geography, Political Inequality, and Public Goods in the Original 13 U.S. States
Authors: Beramendi Pablo , Jensen Jeffrey
Published: March 2019

A large and fruitful literature has focused on the impact of colonial legacies on long-term development. Yet the mechanisms through which these legacies get transmitted over time remain ambiguous. This article analyzes the choice and effects of legislative representation as one such mechanism, driven by elites interested in maximizing jointly economic prospects and political influence over time. We focus on malapportionment in the legislatures of the original 13 British North-American colonies. Their joint independence created a unique juncture in which postcolonial elites simultaneously chose the legislative and electoral institutions under which they would operate. We show that the initial choice of apportionment in the state legislatures is largely a function of economic geography, that such a choice generated persistent differences in representation patterns within states (political inequality), and that the latter shaped public goods provision in the long run.
Analysis of vibration isolation performance of parallel air spring system for precision equipment transportation
Authors: Qu Di , Liu Xiandong , Liu Guangtong , Bai Yifan , He Tian
Published: March 2019

Precision equipment is usually accompanied with vibrations during road or railway transportation. Sometimes the vibration exceeds the given limit, leading to the damage of the equipment. It is necessary to control the vibration during the transportation. However, it is still difficult to adjust the parameters of a designed vibration isolation system for the transportation of different precision equipment under various road conditions. Aiming at satisfying the vibration isolation requirements of different precision equipment, this paper proposes a parallel air spring vibration isolation system based on the principle of limiting lateral deflection. According to the measured parameters, a rigid-body dynamics simulation model of parallel air spring vibration isolation system is established. Then its feasibility is verified, and the optimal parameters of the vibration isolation system are obtained by a simulation. Finally, the vibration isolation system is built and installed in the equipment to carry out the real vehicle transportation test. The test results show that the transportation vibration isolation system based on the parallel air spring structure has not only excellent vibration isolation efficiency but also acceptable lateral stability. The research results in this paper can provide a reference for the design of the vibration isolation system for the large precision equipment transportation.
Deconstructing Digital Currency and Its Risks: Why ASIC Must Rise to the Regulatory Challenge
Authors: Latimer Paul , Duffy Michael
Published: March 2019

Digital currency is a ‘disrupter’ of financial services and currency markets, and as such presents new regulatory challenges. International regulatory responses to digital currency range from being largely ignored in some jurisdictions to being banned in others, with most jurisdictions charting a middle course of ‘wait and see’ while attempting to deal with pressing issues (such as taxation liability and potential money laundering and terrorism financing issues). This article explains digital currency, its benefits, its problems, its risks and the regulatory response so far. It analyses the extent to which the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC, the national securities regulator) may or may not have regulatory power and jurisdiction under existing Australian law, and the role of other relevant regulators and institutions. It concludes that digital currency may well be a ‘financial product’ under Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) s 763A (though many suppliers/issuers of that product will be website operators located outside Australia). If it is a financial product, ASIC would also have jurisdiction over issuers and markets that trade in that product. This conclusion could easily be fortified by legislative confirmation; however, it is suggested that ASIC should in all events test its powers to determine whether any legislative change is needed. Regulation by ASIC would add to recent moves to deal with digital currency by the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). In all cases, this article argues that the time has come for Commonwealth regulation of digital currencies by ASIC as the relevant regulator. This would then trigger the obligations set out in the Corporations Act and the ASIC Act, including Australian Financial Services Licensing, Australian Market Licensing, standards of efficiency, honesty and fairness, disclosure provisions, possible market offences and corporate regulation generally. The suggested jurisdiction of ASIC would build on its existing role as well as the roles of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the ATO and AUSTRAC.
Hybrid modular multilevel converter with cascaded full bridges for medium-voltage motor drives
Authors: Jiali Yu , Chaoying Xia
Published: March 2019

Modular multilevel converter (MMC) is especially appropriate in high-voltage constant-frequency systems due to its modularity and scalability. But, so far MMC has not been widely used in motor drives applications. Since the capacitor voltage fluctuation is proportional to the output current amplitude and inversely proportional to the output frequency under constant torque load, at the low-speed, the excessive sub-module (SM) capacitor voltage fluctuation is one of the major obstacles for MMC applied in motor drives. To suppress the SM capacitor voltage fluctuation, an effective solution is to inject a high frequency zero sequence voltage to the three-phase output voltages of MMC and control the circulating current per phase reasonably. However, the introduced high frequency and high amplitude common voltage at the motor side is harmful. In this paper, a hybrid MMC with cascaded full-bridge SMs (HMMC-CFB) topology is used in the medium-voltage motor drives. The high frequency and high amplitude common mode voltage is absorbed by the cascaded full-bridge SMs. Besides, the capacitor voltage fluctuations of each arm and the cascaded full-bridge SMs is easily limited within a reasonable range. Finally, the state space model of HMMC-CFB system is established and a stable state-error feedback control law is given. By the passive theory, the necessary and sufficient condition for the globally uniformly asymptotical stability of the HMMC-CFB closed-loop system is deduced. Simulation results confirm the superiority of this novel topology and the validity of the proposed control strategy.
Decentralized adaptive tracking control for high-order interconnected stochastic nonlinear time-varying delay systems with stochastic input-to-state stable inverse dynamics by neural networks
Authors: Qian Wang , Qiangde Wang , Chunling Wei , Zhengqiang Zhang
Published: March 2019

The paper solves the problem of a decentralized adaptive state-feedback neural tracking control for a class of stochastic nonlinear high-order interconnected systems. Under the assumptions that the inverse dynamics of the subsystems are stochastic input-to-state stable (SISS) and for the controller design, Radial basis function (RBF) neural networks (NN) are used to cope with the packaged unknown system dynamics and stochastic uncertainties. Besides, the appropriate Lyapunov-Krosovskii functions and parameters are constructed for a class of large-scale high-order stochastic nonlinear strong interconnected systems with inverse dynamics. It has been proved that the actual controller can be designed so as to guarantee that all the signals in the closed-loop systems remain semi-globally uniformly ultimately bounded, and the tracking errors eventually converge in the small neighborhood of origin. Simulation example has been proposed to show the effectiveness of our results.
Use of a iPhone Task Analysis Application to Increase Employment-Related Chores for Individuals With Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Randall Kristina N. , Johnson Friggita , Adams Simone E. , Kiss Christopher W. , Ryan Joseph B.
Published: March 2019

Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) often experience a combination of both intellectual and adaptive functioning deficits that impact conceptual, social, and practical domains. These deficits can negatively impact an individual’s ability to achieve independence and sustained employment. Fortunately, research has shown assistive technology can help support employment skills for individuals with ID. This multiple baseline design study investigated the use of a Task Analysis smartphone application, which utilized video and audio prompting, with four young adults with ID on the completion of work-related office tasks. Findings indicate that all four young adults with ID showed large effect size gains for completing several common office-related tasks including shredding, copying, and scanning. Implications and future research are discussed.
A case of varicella zoster encephalitis with glossopharyngeal and vagus nerve injury as primary manifestation combined with medulla lesion
Authors: Cao Duan-Hua , Xie Ya-Nan , Ji Ye , Han Jing-Zhe , Zhu Jian-Guo
Published: March 2019

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) can invade the brainstem or brain via the glossopharyngeal, vagus , or facial nerve, resulting in brainstem inflammation or encephalitis. We report the case of a 66-year-old male patient with a primary manifestation of medulla injury of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves, combined with a medulla lesion, who was misdiagnosed with lateral medullary syndrome. Facial nerve injury and earache subsequently occurred and human herpes virus 3 (VZV) was detected by second-generation sequencing of the cerebrospinal fluid. The final diagnosis was varicella zoster encephalitis, which improved after antiviral therapy.
Application of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone–ferrosoferric oxide nanoparticles in targeted imaging of breast tumors
Authors: Nian Di , Shi Peng , Sun Junjie , Ren Li , Hao Xiaona , Han Junwei
Published: March 2019

Background

Ferrosoferric oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles are a commonly used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reagent. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) is highly expressed on the surfaces of tumors, but its expression is low or absent in the corresponding normal tissues, allowing it to be used for targeted imaging and treatment.

Methods

We prepared Fe3O4 nanoparticles using a chemical co-precipitation method, performed coupling with chitosan to prepare LHRH-Fe3O4 nanoparticles, and explored the application value of LHRH-Fe3O4 nanoparticles in targeted imaging and treatment of breast tumors through in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Results

The particle size of the LHRH-Fe3O4 nanoparticles was 10 nm, and they could be taken in by human MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The nanomaterial had low cytotoxicity. In vivo MRI experiments showed that LHRH-Fe3O4 could effectively concentrate on the tumor under the action of a magnetic field. It also had a good negative enhancement effect that significantly reduced the signal intensity of the T2 field, allowing it to be used as a contrast agent of the T2 field.

Conclusion

LHRH-Fe3O4 nanoparticles serve the purpose of targeting contrast agents to target sites and are expected to be used for targeted imaging and treatment of cancers with high LHRH expression.
A case of multilevel percutaneous vertebroplasty for vertebral metastases resulting in temporary paraparesis
Authors: Shi Guan , Feng Fei , Hao Chen , Pu Jia , Li Bao , Tang Hai
Published: March 2019

Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is a minimally invasive treatment that has been widely used for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and vertebral tumors. However, the maximum number of vertebral segments treated in a single PVP remains controversial. Furthermore, PVP may cause complications, including cement leakage, pulmonary embolism, bone cement toxicity, and spinal nerve-puncture injury. We report the rare case of a patient who underwent multilevel PVP for vertebral metastases, with no bone cement leakage or spinal cord injury, but who developed temporary paraparesis.
Fictions and frictions: Promises, transaction costs and the innovation of network technologies
Authors: Pesch Udo , Ishmaev Georgy
Published: March 2019

New network technologies are framed as eliminating ‘transaction costs’, a notion first developed in economic theory that now drives the design of market systems. However, the actual promise of the elimination of transaction costs seems unfeasible, because of a cyclical pattern in which network technologies that make that promise create processes of institutionalization that create new forms transaction costs. Nonetheless, the promises legitimize the exemption of innovations of network technologies from critical scrutiny.
Keeping secrets: how children in foster care manage stigma
Authors: Dansey Diane , Shbero Danielle , John Mary
Published: March 2019

This article follows on from ‘How children in foster care engage with loyalty conflict: presenting a model of processes informing loyalty’ ( Dansey, John and Shbero, 2018 ), published in the previous edition of this journal. This model highlighted the themes of stigma and secrecy for children in care, which it was felt warranted further consideration in their own right. The current article shares further quotations from the children in relation to these themes, which add to the evidence of what children are saying in relation to stigma and bullying. Most importantly, it presents this topic in a manner that stimulates thought around the implications of what children are saying for their broader mental health and resilience and what might therefore be most supportive.

 Children in foster care are subject to stigma in relation to being in care and not living with their birth parents. The impact of this is important to explore, especially for those who already experience higher levels of disadvantage than other children. Themes of stigma and secrecy emerged from a recent grounded theory study that was conducted with 15 children and young people in foster care ( Dansey, John and Shbero, 2018 ). These quotations highlighted how stigma was being internalised by children, how they had experienced, or believed that their care status would lead to, bullying and how some of them described keeping their foster care status a secret as a result. This article seeks to share the voices of these children, look at the existing literature in this area and consider the possible impact that stigma and secrecy may have on them. Implications for practice are discussed and the need for more targeted research is highlighted.
The Politics of Prioritizing Transit on City Streets
Authors: Ray Rosalie Singerman
Published: March 2019

Transportation planning has become increasingly interested in the institutional changes needed to implement sustainable transportation measures. This research looks at six U.S. metropolitan areas that are implementing or have recently implemented transit priority projects—Seattle, Portland, Denver, Chicago, New York, and Boston—using interviews with local planners, media accounts, and analyses of project documents. It explores what policy statements and arguments were used to support transit priority, the leadership needed to support implementation, innovative funding arrangements, and the institutional changes within agencies that led to a virtuous cycle of transit improvement. The research found that cities that talked about their transit priority as a way to accommodate growth without cars or to manage street space efficiently were more effective than those who put forth transit priority, and particularly bus rapid transit, as a cheap solution to improve transit. It also found that leadership within city transportation agencies was more important than elected official champions, and that transit agencies can use the promise of increased frequency to leverage city funding for street improvements. Lastly, it found that city streets agencies that are serious about prioritizing transit develop transit planning programs, staffing capabilities, and set regular meetings with transit agencies that they view as partners in improving transit.
Selection versus Socialization? Interrogating the Sources of Secularity in Global Science
Authors: Bolger Daniel , Thomson Robert A. , Ecklund Elaine Howard
Published: March 2019

Science and secularization have been linked in scholarship and the public imagination. Some suggest that scientific training leads to loss of religion. Yet there is only speculation about the processes by which scientists might become less religious and whether such processes are confined to the west or hold across national contexts. Using original survey data ( N = 5,006) of biologists and physicists in India, Italy, and the United States, as well as 215 in-depth interviews, we examine the religious transitions of academic scientists and the factors that they say prompted their religious shifts. We find some support for work suggesting that scientific training is secularizing. Yet we also show that, across national contexts, the nonreligious disproportionately select into scientific careers. Furthermore, we find that scientists tend not to identify science as the primary factor in their own religious transitions. These results challenge long-held assumptions about the relationship between science and secularization.
Development of the Molecular Circadian Clock and Its Light Sensitivity in Drosophila Melanogaster
Authors: Zhao Jia , Warman Guy Robert , Stanewsky Ralf , Cheeseman James Frederick
Published: March 2019

The importance of the circadian clock for the control of behavior and physiology is well established but how and when it develops is not fully understood. Here the initial expression pattern of the key clock gene period was recorded in Drosophila from embryos in vivo, using transgenic luciferase reporters. PERIOD expression in the presumptive central-clock dorsal neurons started to oscillate in the embryo in constant darkness. In behavioral experiments, a single 12-h light pulse given during the embryonic stage synchronized adult activity rhythms, implying the early development of entrainment mechanisms. These findings suggest that the central clock is functional already during embryogenesis. In contrast to central brain expression, PERIOD in the peripheral cells or their precursors increased during the embryonic stage and peaked during the pupal stage without showing circadian oscillations. Its rhythmic expression only initiated in the adult. We conclude that cyclic expression of PERIOD in the central-clock neurons starts in the embryo, presumably in the dorsal neurons or their precursors. It is not until shortly after eclosion when cyclic and synchronized expression of PERIOD in peripheral tissues commences throughout the animal.
The Associations of Constructive and Destructive Interparental Conflict to Child Well-Being Among Low-Income Families
Authors: Lee Joyce Y. , Pace Garrett T. , Lee Shawna J. , Altschul Inna
Published: March 2019

Interparental conflict is a well-established precursor to child maladjustment. However, little is understood of the role of different interparental conflict in shaping the developmental outcomes of young children, especially those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. This study uses data from a large and racially diverse sample of low-income, unmarried mothers with young children ( n = 1,297) to examine the processes linking parental constructive conflict, destructive conflict, intimate partner violence (IPV) to child behavior problems, and child emotional insecurity as a mediator of these processes. Path analyses were conducted to estimate structural paths between (a) conflict constructs and child behavior problems, (b) conflict constructs and child emotional insecurity, and (c) child emotional insecurity and child behavior problems. Results demonstrated that constructive conflict was associated with decreased levels of both child emotional insecurity and child behavior problems, whereas destructive conflict was associated with increased levels of both child outcomes. IPV was associated with increased levels of child emotional insecurity only. Child emotional insecurity mediated the links between all three conflict constructs and child behavior problems. Such findings suggest the need for clinicians to help raise awareness regarding the consequences of children’s exposure to different interparental conflict and educate parents about children’s sense of emotional security in the family.
Intimate Partner Violence and Psychological Maladjustment: Examining the Role of Institutional Betrayal Among Survivors
Authors: Lee Jenny Y. , Micol Rachel L. , Davis Joanne L.
Published: March 2019

Research has found that a majority of individuals, irrespective of gender, experienced their first intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization between the ages of 18 and 24 years. Indeed, researchers have found that college students’ experiences of IPV are comparable if not higher than that of the general population. IPV victimization also places individuals at a higher risk for developing psychological conditions. In addition, when IPV experiences occur on college campuses, there are a variety of institutional factors that may impact the outcome of the traumatic event for the survivor. The present study seeks to examine whether institutional betrayal moderates the relationship between IPV and different psychological outcomes (i.e., depression, posttraumatic stress, anxiety). The study analyzed survey responses from a sample of 316 undergraduate students attending a Midwestern University. Three separate hierarchical regression analyses were conducted for each of the maladaptive psychological outcomes. Results showed that institutional betrayal was positively correlated with depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and anxiety symptoms. Interestingly, institutional betrayal was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and anxiety symptoms when controlling for the effects of physical violence, sexual violence, and psychological aggression. The present study highlights the significance of the impact of institutional betrayal, independent of interpersonal betrayal, on mental health.
Improving Retention Among Certified Nursing Assistants Through Compassion Fatigue Awareness and Self-Care Skills Education
Authors: Dreher Michele M. , Hughes Ronda G. , Handley Patricia A. , Tavakoli Abbas S.
Published: March 2019

Background: Retention of certified nursing assistants (CNAs) is an ongoing challenge for nursing homes. Purpose: To combat the effects of providing complex care needs to residents, this quality improvement project explored a 90-minute evidence-based education program on compassion fatigue awareness and multiple self-care skill strategies for CNA retention. Design: A single-group pre- and posttest design, mixed-methods approach. Method: A preintervention demographic survey, a postexperience survey, and the ProQOL (Professional Quality of Life; Version 5) tool measured the CNAs’ level of compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress at three time points: preintervention, 1 month postintervention, and 3 months postintervention. Results: Forty-five CNAs participated. After 1 month, CNA retention increased by 43%, and at the end of the fourth month, the facility’s retention rate was 100%. Forty-four percent of the full-time supplemental agency CNAs became full-time facility employees. The use of supplemental agency staff decreased to less than 5% of the total CNA hours worked. CNAs improved their compassion satisfaction, burnout, and secondary traumatic stress scores. Conclusion: This education program proved to be an effective, low-cost intervention. The quality improvement project highlighted the need for additional study on holistic interventions such as workplace education programs addressing compassion fatigue awareness and self-care skill strategies in this understudied group of formal caregivers.
Cloud Computing Adoption Intention by MSMEs in the Philippines
Authors: Matias Junrie B. , Hernandez Alexander A.
Published: March 2019

A paradigm shift in computing has been created and it has changed the way IT services development provision and implementation take place with the advent of cloud computing. However, cloud computing is not widely adopted especially in third world countries like the Philippines. As a result, the goal of the study is to evaluate the factors that affect micro, small and medium enterprises’ intention to adopt cloud computing using technology organization environment framework. Findings suggest that competitive pressure and regulatory support influences firms to adopt cloud computing. The study contributes to technology adoption literature by providing a different perspective to cloud adoption.
Determinants of Excess and Deficit Cash Holdings of Firms: Evidence from Emerging Market
Authors: Das Santanu , Goel Utkarsh
Published: March 2019

Using a sample of Indian firms, we study the determinants of corporate cash holdings in an emerging economy. We study the excess and deficit cash holdings and assess the impact of leverage, accrual quality and working capital accruals on cash holdings. We find that after controlling for growth and size, leverage depends upon whether the firm holds excess or deficit cash. Levered firms with high profitability (measured via return on equity—ROE) hold less cash as compared to firms holding less than desired cash even if the profitability is high, and ample growth opportunities are available. We also find that while operating profit has no significant impact on cash holdings, volatility of sales does have a positive and significant impact. Firms having ready access to capital market (proxied by size and amount of leverage) are less likely to hold cash. Therefore, we argue that such firms can focus on value-generating activities without having to worry about liquidity. At the same time, smaller firms with good profitability (measured as return to equity) may also hold less cash as presented in this study.
Anticoagulation Management With Coumarinic Drugs in Chilean Patients
Authors: Nieto Elena , Suarez Marcelo , Roco Ángela , Rubilar Juan Carlos , Tamayo Francisca , Rojo Mario , Verón Gabriel , Sepúlveda Juliana , Mejías Fanny , Salas Patricio , Góngora María , Andrade Patricio , Canales Alicia , Carabantes Jorge , Cruz Daniela , Contreras Emma , Pavez Daniela , Charo Paulina , Bravo Gabriela , Calderón Juan , Gallardo Carlos , Vega Patricia , Quiñones Luis A.
Published: March 2019

Warfarin and acenocoumarol are used in various cardiovascular disorders to improve the prognosis of patients with thromboembolic disease. However, there is a lack of substantial efficacy and safety data on antithrombotic prophylaxis in several countries, particularly in Latin America. The aim of this study was to provide information about the efficacy of anticoagulants in Chilean patients. Data were collected from databases of the Western Metropolitan Health Service, Santiago, Chile. We identified 6280 records of patients receiving anticoagulant treatment. The three most common diagnoses were rhythm disorder (43.7%), venous thrombosis (22%), and valvular prosthesis (10.7%). The majority of patients (98.5%) received acenocoumarol while 1.5% of patients received warfarin, at weekly therapeutic doses of 13.6 mg and 30.4 mg, respectively. For total diagnoses, the median time in the therapeutic range was 50%. However, better results, 66.7%, were observed when a telemedicine strategy was used only in Santiago Province. Our findings emphasize that in Chile, where the number of patients receiving anticoagulant treatment increases every year, telemedicine, by committed teams, improves the use of oral anticoagulants and is able to increase quality indicators of anticoagulant treatment care.
Evaluation of Global Hemostatic Assays in Response to Factor VIII Inhibitors
Authors: Chen Ping , Jani Jayesh , Streiff Michael B. , Zheng Gang , Kickler Thomas S.
Published: March 2019

Global hemostatic assays including thromboelastography (TEG), Innovance ETP (endogenous thrombin potential), and Thrombinoscope could measure thrombin generation potential and be useful to guide management of patients with factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitors. However, the performance characteristics of these global assays in the presence of FVIII inhibitors are incompletely characterized. In this study, the normal range of thrombin generation potential was measured in 20 healthy individuals by all 3 assays. In 5 commercial and 7 clinical samples with FVIII inhibitors, it was shown that PPP-reagent thrombinoscope shows a dose-dependent response to different levels of FVIII inhibitors from the same patients, while Innovance ETP shows virtually no response to FVIII inhibitors. The TEG is more sensitive to FVIII inhibitors than thrombinoscope. Importantly, we show the same levels of FVIII inhibitor from different patients results in different levels of inhibition for thrombin generation potential by thrombinoscope, which potentially explains the phenotypic heterogeneity of patients with FVIII inhibitors. Global assays such as thrombinoscope, but not Innovance ETP, show appropriate sensitivity to FVIII inhibitors that could offer an objective and clinically relevant marker to guide patient management.