bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Self-replacement after small-scale partial crown dieback in austral Nothofagus dombeyi forests affected by an extreme drought
Authors: Suarez María Laura , Lloret Francisco
Published: January 2018

The spectrum of structural response in drought-induced mortality (degree of partial crown mortality) could play a key role in pervasive changes in plant composition, as individual openings could reset self-replacement dynamics or trigger shifts in vegetation. Here we capture the community pattern 17 years after a drought episode over a range of canopy responses in Nothofagus dombeyi forests. We applied a widespread demographic approach to address evidence of species shifts vs. self-replacement and to relate partial dieback to understory structure and composition. Assuming that the outcome of growth release of the understory components can be observed 17 years after canopy loss, this study reveals evidence of self-replacement in N. dombeyi forests heavily affected by drought. Alternatively, when the co-dominant species A. chilensis is widely present in the understory and large gaps are opened, a compositional shift may be possible, with a potential change in forest functionality. Individual partial openings do not favor more shrubby communities or a shift toward a new community. Thus, partial crown dieback contributes to self-replacement mechanisms by hampering strong growth release in understory shrubs, as evident in plots with high mortality, and by facilitating the growth of dominant tree species.
Anomalous leptonic U(1) symmetry: Syndetic origin of the QCD axion, weak-scale dark matter, and radiative neutrino mass
Authors: Ma Ernest , Restrepo Diego , Zapata Óscar
Published: January 2018

The well-known leptonic U(1) symmetry of the Standard Model (SM) of quarks and leptons is extended to include a number of new fermions and scalars. The resulting theory has an invisible QCD axion (thereby solving the strong CP problem), a candidate for weak-scale dark matter (DM), as well as radiative neutrino masses. A possible key connection is a color-triplet scalar, which may be produced and detected at the Large Hadron Collider.
Barriers Expatriates Encounter During Cross-Cultural Interactions
Authors: Lai Wen-Hsiang , Yang Ching-Wen
Published: January 2018

In the era of globalization, cross-cultural issues have been widely discussed. However, research concerning cultural barriers expatriates face in foreign subsidiaries are relatively rare. Hence, the aim of this study is to investigate and prioritize barriers that expatriates encounter during cross-cultural interactions. This study integrates a review of the literatures and experts’ experiences to construct an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model. AHP questionnaires were distributed to multinational corporations (MNCs) and were analyzed using Expert Choice software. This study finds that national culture bonded barriers are the most critical factors that hinder expatriates’ cross-cultural interactions with the host country. In addition, the sub-factors of ethnocentrism, headquarter strategy and cross-cultural communication are the most important factors within the categories of national culture bonded barriers, organizational barriers and individual rooted barriers, respectively. Finally, this study concludes that because cultural barriers are the main factors causing the failures of expatriates, it is crucial for MNCs to provide their employees with cross-cultural trainings that prepare expatriates’ language and cultural abilities for cross-cultural interactions with the host country and non-work social networks to facilitate the cross-cultural adjustment in MNCs.
On the Semiprimitivity and Semiprimality Problems for Partial Smash Products
Authors: Cavalheiro Rafael , Sant’Ana Alveri
Published: January 2018

In this paper we discuss about the semiprimitivity and the semiprimality of partial smash products. Let H be a semisimple Hopf algebra over a field 𝕜 and let A be a left partial H-module algebra. We study the H-prime and the H-Jacobson radicals of A and their relations with the prime and the Jacobson radicals of A#H, respectively. In particular, we prove that if A is H-semiprimitive, then A#H is semiprimitive provided that all irreducible representations of A are finite-dimensional, or A is an affine PI-algebra over 𝕜 and 𝕜 is a perfect field, or A is locally finite. Moreover, we prove that A#H is semiprime provided that A is an H-semiprime PI-algebra, generalizing to the setting of partial actions the known results for global actions of Hopf algebras.
LEISURE ACTIVITIES AND SOCIAL CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT BY IMMIGRANT SERIAL/PORTFOLIO AND LIFESTYLE ENTREPRENEURS
Authors: KERR GERRY , SCHLOSSER FRANCINE , GOLOB MATIAS
Published: January 2018

We examine the creation of social capital by serial/portfolio and lifestyle immigrant entrepreneurs through ethnic and sports associations. Interviews with 24 self-employed immigrants to Canada form the basis of a grounded model. Serial/portfolio and lifestyle immigrant entrepreneurs appear to harness ethnic and sports associations through similar means, but it is the speed and intensity with which they combine their activities — and the goals they pursue — that mark their differences. Serial/portfolio entrepreneurs intertwine a denser set of activities more actively to support business generation, resulting in a more diverse matrix of social capital.
De-anonymizing Clustered Social Networks by Percolation Graph Matching
Authors: Chiasserini Carla-Fabiana , Garetto Michel , Leonardi Emili
Published: January 2018

Online social networks offer the opportunity to collect a huge amount of valuable information about billions of users. The analysis of this data by service providers and unintended third parties are posing serious treats to user privacy. In particular, recent work has shown that users participating in more than one online social network can be identified based only on the structure of their links to other users. An effective tool to de-anonymize social network users is represented by graph matching algorithms. Indeed, by exploiting a sufficiently large set of seed nodes, a percolation process can correctly match almost all nodes across the different social networks. In this article, we show the crucial role of clustering, which is a relevant feature of social network graphs (and many other systems). Clustering has both the effect of making matching algorithms more prone to errors, and the potential to greatly reduce the number of seeds needed to trigger percolation. We show these facts by considering a fairly general class of random geometric graphs with variable clustering level. We assume that seeds can be identified in particular sub-regions of the network graph, while no
a
priori
knowledge about the location of the other nodes is required. Under these conditions, we show how clever algorithms can achieve surprisingly good performance while limiting the number of matching errors.
Research for practice
Authors: Kwon Albert , Wilcox James R. , Bailis Peter
Published: January 2018

Expert-curated guides to the best of CS research.
Welcome to the singularity
Authors: Batchelor David Allen
Published: January 2018

Who can say no to the hive mind's promise of cybernetic immortality, for free?
Impact of weight loss achieved through a multidisciplinary intervention on appetite in patients with severe obesity
Authors: Coutinho S. R. , Rehfeld J. F. , Holst J. J. , Kulseng B. , Martins C.
Published: January 2018

The impact of lifestyle-induced weight loss (WL) on appetite in patients with obesity remains controversial. This study aimed to assess the short- and long-term impact of WL achieved by diet and exercise on appetite in patients with obesity. Thirty-five (22 females) adults with severe obesity (body mass index: 42.5 ± 5.0 kg/m2) underwent a 2-yr WL program focusing on diet and exercise. Body weight (BW), cardiovascular fitness (V̇o2max), appetite feelings, and plasma concentrations of insulin, active ghrelin (AG), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), and cholecystokinin (CCK), in the fasting and postprandial states, were measured at baseline (B), week 4 (W4), and 1 and 2 yr (and average values for all fasting and postprandial time points computed). BW was significantly reduced and V̇o2max(ml·kg−1·min−1) increased at all time points compared with B (3.5, 8.1, and 8.4% WL and 7, 11, and 8% increase at W4 and 1 and 2 yr, respectively). Basal hunger and average hunger and desire to eat were significantly increased at 1 and 2 yr. Basal fullness was significantly increased at W4, and average ratings were reduced at 1 yr. Average AG and PYY were significantly increased, and insulin was reduced, at all time points compared with B. Average GLP-1 was reduced at W4, and CCK was increased at 2 yr. After lifestyle-induced WL, patients with severe obesity will, therefore, have to deal with increased hunger in the long term. In conclusion, sustained WL at 2 yr achieved with diet and exercise is associated with increased hunger feelings and ghrelin concentration but also increased postprandial concentrations of satiety hormones.
Hybridized Symbiotic Organism Search Algorithm for the Optimal Operation of Directional Overcurrent Relays
Authors: Sulaiman Muhammad , Ahmad Ashfaq , Khan Asfandyar , Muhammad Shakoor
Published: January 2018

This paper presents the solution of directional overcurrent relay (DOCR) problems using Simulated Annealing based Symbiotic Organism Search (SASOS). The objective function of the problem is to minimize the sum of the operating times of all primary relays. The DOCR problem is nonlinear and highly constrained with two types of decision variables, namely, the time dial settings (TDS) and plug setting (PS). In this paper, three models of the problem are considered, the IEEE 3‐bus, 4‐bus, and 6‐bus, respectively. We have applied SASOS to solve the problem and the obtained results are compared with other algorithms available in the literature.
Multifractal‐Multiscale Analysis of Cardiovascular Signals: A DFA‐Based Characterization of Blood Pressure and Heart‐Rate Complexity by Gender
Authors: Castiglioni Paolo , Lazzeroni Davide , Coruzzi Paolo , Faini Andrea
Published: January 2018

Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) is a popular method for assessing the fractal characteristics of biosignals, recently adapted for evaluating the heart‐rate multifractal and/or multiscale characteristics. However, the existing methods do not consider the beat‐by‐beat sampling of heart rate and have relatively low scale resolutions and were not applied to cardiovascular signals other than heart rate. Therefore, aim of this work is to present a DFA‐based method for joint multifractal/multiscale analysis designed to address the above critical points and to provide the first description of the multifractal/multiscale structure of interbeat intervals (IBI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in male and female volunteers separately. The method optimizes data splitting in blocks to reduce the DFA estimation variance and to evaluate scale coefficients with Taylor’s expansion formulas and maps the scales from beat domains to temporal domains. Applied to cardiovascular signals recorded in 42 female and 42 male volunteers, it showed that scale coefficients and degree of multifractality depend on the temporal scale, with marked differences between IBI, SBP, and DBP and with significant sex differences. Results may be interpreted considering the distinct physiological mechanisms regulating heart‐rate and blood‐pressure dynamics and the different autonomic profile of males and females.
Generalized Asymptotically Almost Periodic and Generalized Asymptotically Almost Automorphic Solutions of Abstract Multiterm Fractional Differential Inclusions
Authors: N’Guérékata G. M. , Kostić Marko
Published: January 2018

The main aim of this paper is to investigate generalized asymptotical almost periodicity and generalized asymptotical almost automorphy of solutions to a class of abstract (semilinear) multiterm fractional differential inclusions with Caputo derivatives. We illustrate our abstract results with several examples and possible applications.
Clinical Efficacy and Safety of the EX-PRESS Filtration Device in Patients with Advanced Neovascular Glaucoma and Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Hanna Rana , Tiosano Beatrice , Graffi Shmuel , Gaton Dan
Published: January 2018

Background: The prognosis of conventional filtration surgery in eyes with neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is limited due to increased fibrovascular proliferation or bleeding. This study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the EX-PRESS filtration device in the management of NVG associated with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). Methods: In this retrospective case series, we reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed as having NVG associated with PDR who underwent EX-PRESS filtration surgery. The main outcome measures were: postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP), the percent of IOP drop, the number of glaucoma medications, visual acuity, and complications of surgery. Successful surgery was defined as an IOP <22 mm Hg and >5 mm Hg with or without additional glaucoma surgery, and no loss of light perception or less than a 2-line decrease on the Snellen chart of the best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). Results: Five patients (5 eyes) were included in this study. The mean preoperative IOP was 33.4 ± 5.9 mm Hg compared to an IOP of 17.0 ± 3.0 mm Hg at the last follow-up (p = 0.003). The mean number of preoperative anti-glaucoma medications was 3.8 ± 0.4 compared to 2.2 ± 1.5 (p = 0.06) at the last follow-up visit. Final visual acuity improved or stabilized within 1 Snellen line in all 5 patients. Three patients had a “hypertensive phase” (defined as an IOP >21 mm Hg during the first 6 postoperative months) which resolved within 2 months. Two patients developed a hyphema that resolved spontaneously. None of the patients experienced any serious complications. Conclusion: EX-PRESS filtration device has a good IOP-lowering effect and a low rate of complications in patients with advanced NVG associated with PDR. In addition, there was no loss of light perception or no line decrease of the BCVA.
Prognostic Value of miR-375 for Survival Outcomes in Various Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Dan Bing , Luo Jie , Li Kaichun , Chen Shiyu
Published: January 2018

Background: miR-375 plays a role in tumor progression; however, its potential as a prognostic factor in cancer remains unclear. This meta-analysis assessed the value of miR-375 as a global prognostic biomarker in human cancer. Methods: A systematic literature review was performed to retrieve publications with relevant survival data. Pooled hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated for low miR-375 expression. Publication bias was examined. Results: Data were extracted from 11 studies of 1,797 patients (low expression in 769 cases; high in 1,028 cases). The pooled HR for overall/cumulative survival (OS/CS) was 1.90 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.57-2.29) and the pooled HR for disease-free, recurrence-free or progression-free survival (DFS/RFS/PFS) was 1.93 (95% CI 1.39-2.67), indicating low miR-375 expression was associated with significantly poorer outcomes compared to normal/high miR-375 expression. Subgroup analysis revealed miR-375 might be a good prognostic factor in cancer, regardless of population, sample type, and cancer type. The prognostic value of miR-375 in non-Chinese patients was particularly high (pooled HR > 2). Conclusion: Low miR-375 expression could represent a valuable prognostic marker in various cancers. Circulating miR-375 levels may provide a useful non-invasive, practical prognostic biomarker. However, the prognostic value of miR-375 in specific cancer types remains unclear; further studies are warranted.
Pazopanib-Induced Hepatotoxicity in an Experimental Rat Model
Authors: Cetin Bulent , Yılmaz Guldal Esendagli , Armagan Berkan , Afsar Baris , Demirci Umut , Gulbahar Ozlem , Gumusay Ozge , Bilgetekin Irem , Ozet Ahmet , Uner Aytug
Published: January 2018

Pazopanib is an effective treatment for advanced renal cell carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma. Besides classical adverse events of this drug class, hepatotoxicity has been described as a frequent side effect. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of pazopanib on the liver in an experimental rat model. Sixteen Wistar albino rats were divided into 3 groups: experimental toxicity was induced with pazopanib (10 mg/kg) administered for 28 days (group 2) or 56 days (group 3) orally by gavage. Group 1 (control group) received only distilled water. Rats in groups 2 and 3 were sacrificed after the collection of blood and tissue samples on the 28th and 56th days, respectively. We found significant differences in bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, glucose, triglyceride, very-low-density lipoprotein, and iron values (p < 0.050 for all) but none in any other parameter (p > 0.050). All rats in the control group had normal histological features; however, none of the rats in groups 2 and 3 showed normal histology. In group 2, we observed mild sinusoidal dilatation, congestion, enlarged Kupffer cells, accumulation of yellow-brown-black pigment in the Kupffer cells and the accumulation of hemosiderin with Prussian blue reaction in the hepatocytes. In group 3, the findings mentioned above were more prominent, and besides these findings focal acinar transformation and macrovesicular steatosis were also observed. In group 3, mild inflammation within the portal areas was observed consisting of lymphocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils. This study is the first that reports the biochemical and histopathological evaluation of pazopanib-related hepatic toxicity.
Focus on the Involvement of the Nose and Paranasal Sinuses in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss Syndrome): Nasal Cytology Reveals Infiltration of Eosinophils as a Very Common Feature
Authors: Seccia Veronica , Baldini Chiara , Latorre Manuela , Gelardi Matteo , Dallan Iacopo , Cristofani-Mencacci Lodovica , Sellari-Franceschini Stefano , Bartoli Maria Laura , Bacci Elena , Paggiaro Pierluigi
Published: January 2018

Background: Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a necrotizing vasculitis that predominantly affects small- to medium-sized vessels. It is characterized by a wide spectrum of extrapulmonary symptoms, including sinonasal and paranasal sinus abnormalities. These are the most common features of this disease, constituting diagnostic criteria for EGPA. However, the actual clinical features, cellular mechanisms and impact on patients’ quality of life (QoL) are still a matter of study. Methods: Thirty-nine EGPA patients underwent multidimensional rhinological evaluations, including rhinofibroscopy, nasal cytology, and QoL questionnaires. This was coupled with respiratory and rheumatological assessments. Results: Twenty-eight patients were diagnosed with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Of these, 18 had nasal polyposis (NP). Chronic rhinitis was diagnosed in 10 patients. Of these, 3 had allergic rhinitis (AR) and seven had non-AR (NAR). Overall, only 1 patient (2.6%) was normal. Nasal cytology showed that hypereosinophilia was present in 17/28 patients with CRS, 4/7 patients with NAR and all patients with AR. SNOT-22 and SF-36 showed a severe impact of nasal symptoms on QoL. No differences in asthma control or rheumatological patterns for EGPA were observed among patients with or without NP. Conclusions: Even when the rheumatological assessment scored EGPA “under control” according to the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score and Vasculitis Damage Index, sinonasal diseases and related nasal inflammatory processes were not controlled. Therefore, there is a need for clinical monitoring and targeted treatment to control the inflammatory processes and improve the QoL of EGPA patients.
Nail Disorders in Children
Authors: Starace Michela , Alessandrini Aurora , Piraccini Bianca Maria
Published: January 2018

Nail diseases in children do not account for a significant proportion of pediatric consultations, and most of the time the nails are not observed by the clinician, overlooking their importance. Specific examination of the nails is neglected, while localization to the nails could be an initial sign of a syndrome or a systemic disorder. Nail diseases in the pediatric population differ from those in adults in terms of diagnostic approach and management; some of them even are manifested mainly or exclusively in children. Pediatric patients with underlying systemic disorders are more likely to manifest acquired disorders of the nails. Although rare, nail diseases in children are a source of anxiety for the parents. Examination of the nails is an essential part of pediatric physical examination. A correct clinical history and careful examination help the clinician to distinguish the different conditions and to decide on the correct management of nail diseases in young patients. A classification of nail dystrophies according to age is somewhat arbitrary and a unique classification does not exist. Nail diseases in the pediatric population can be divided according to age groups where a predilection appears in most of the cases. Moreover, certain abnormalities may be lifelong once acquired, but their presentation may be modified by age, worsening or improving during life. This review describes many of the nail conditions that are seen in the pediatric population aging from newborn to toddler, starting with physiological aspects to better recognize the pathological conditions.
Quantification of Adipose Tissue and Muscle Mass Based on Computed Tomography Scans: Comparison of Eight Planimetric and Diametric Techniques Including a Step-By-Step Guide
Authors: Irlbeck Thomas , Janitza Silke , Poros Balázs , Golebiewski Monika , Frey Lorenz , Paprottka Philipp M. , da Silva Teresa , Irlbeck Michael , Böcker Wolfgang , Weig Thomas
Published: January 2018

Background: Recent scientific work proved that knowledge about body composition beyond the body mass index is essential. Both adipose tissue and muscular status are determining risk factors of morbidity and mortality. Analysis of single cross-sectional computed tomography (CT) images, acquired during routine care only to prevent additional radiation exposure, provide a detailed insight into the body composition of chronically and critically ill patients. Methods: This retrospective study included 490 trauma patients of whom a whole-body multiple detector CT scan was acquired at admission. From a single cross-sectional CT, we compared eight diametric and planimetric techniques for the assessment of core muscle mass as well as visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Furthermore, we derived formulas for converting the measurement results of various techniques into each other. Results: For intra- and interobserver reliability, we obtained intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) ranging from 0.947 to 0.997 (intraobserver reliability) and from 0.850 to 0.998 (interobserver reliability) for planimetric measurements. Diametric techniques conferred lower ICCs with 0.851–0.995 and 0.833–0.971, respectively. Overall, area-based measurements of abdominal adipose tissue yielded highly correlated results with diametric measures of obesity. For example, the Pearson correlation of visceral adipose tissue and sagittal abdominal diameter was 0.87 for male and 0.82 for female patients. Planimetric and diametric muscle measurements correlated best for lean psoas area and bilateral diametric measurement of the psoas with a Pearson correlation of 0.90 and 0.93 for male and female patients, respectively. Conclusion: Planimetric measurements should remain the gold standard to describe fat and muscle compartments. Diametric measurements could however serve as a surrogate if planimetric techniques are not readily available or feasible as for example in large registries.
Impact of Recurrent Acute Kidney Injury on Patient Outcomes
Authors: Rodríguez Eva , Arias-Cabrales Carlos , Bermejo Sheila , Sierra Adriana , Burballa Carla , Soler María José , Barrios Clara , Pascual Julio
Published: January 2018

Background/Aims: Recurrent acute kidney injury (AKI) is common among patients after a first hospitalized AKI. However, little is known about the prognosis of recurrent AKI episodes in chronic kidney disease (CKD) development, cardiovascular events and mortality. Methods: A retrospective study included patients admitted to our Hospital from 2000 to 2010. AKI was defined according to the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative criteria. In the follow-up period after the first AKI episode, clinical, laboratory data and the number of repeated AKI episodes, etiology and severity were recorded. Results: Among the 359 AKI survivor patients included, 250 new AKI episodes were observed in 122 patients (34%). Variables independently associated to new episodes were: type 2 DM [OR 1.2, 95%CI 1.2-3.8, p=0.001], ischemic heart disease [OR 1.9; 95%CI 1.1-3.6, p=0.012], and SCr at the first AKI event>2,6 mg/dl [OR 1.2; 95%CI 1.03-1.42, p=0.02]. Development of CKD during four years follow-up was more frequent in patients with recurrent AKI, HR [2.2 (95% CI: 1.09-4.3, p=0.003)] and 44% of recurrent AKI patients who developed CKD occurred during the first 6 months after the initial event. Cardiovascular events were more frequent among patients with recurrent AKI patients than in those with one AKI episode (47.2% vs 24%, p=0.001). Mortality at 4 years was higher in the patient subgroup with several episodes of AKI as compared with those with a single episode [HR: 4.5 (95% CI 2.7-7.5) p<0.001]. Conclusion: Episodes of recurrent AKI have a high potential to be associated with relevant complications such as cardiovascular events, mortality and CKD development.
A colecionadora de fantasmas: apontamentos sobre sobrevivência e teor testemunhal na poesia de Conceição Lima
Authors: Moura Fabio Fadul de , Braule Pinto Adriano de Carvalho
Published: January 2018

A discussão acerca dos mecanismos de funcionamento da memória existe há milhares de anos e sobrevive às mais diferentes configurações sociais. A teoria aristotélica de que a dinâmica entre sentidos externos e sentidos internos estrutura a memória partiu da Antiguidade, ecoando mais recentemente. A investigação da relação dos mais diversos povos e culturas da era contemporânea com a memória dá a dimensão do vigor do pensamento do filósofo grego. O presente artigo tem por objetivo analisar de que modo esse intercâmbio de sentidos dá-se na poesia em contexto pós-colonial de Conceição Lima, poetisa de São Tomé e Príncipe, a fim de projetar sobre ela o campo conceitual do testemunho e da sobrevivência, os quais são encarados como fundamentos da sua poesia em A dolorosa raiz do mincondó (2012).
Les formes de la separation dans les Lettres persanes
Authors: Chauvel Thaïs
Published: January 2018

Cet article aborde la thématique de la séparation dans le dispositif romanesque des Lettres persanes, de Montesquieu, à savoir, le roman du sérail. De ce fait, cette étude entend analyser les formes de la séparation qui aparaissent dans les lettres des trois personnages membres du sérail: les femmes, leur mari Usbek, ainsi que les gardiens eunuques. En premier lieu, il importe de comprendre dans quelle mesure la forme épistolaire des Lettres persanes implique la séparation. Par la suite, on analysera premièrement la réaction des épouses face au départ de leur mari dans les lettres III et VII. Ensuite, on verra en quoi l’exil d’Usbek, contraint à quitter la Perse, constitue une séparation et comment celle-ci finit par le rapprocher de ses eunuques. Enfin, on se penchera de façon plus approfondie sur la figure de l’eunuque, esclave dont on a amputé le sexe et qui semble ainsi incarner le mieux l’aliénation.
Hospitalization Rates, Prevalence of Cardiovascular Manifestations, and Outcomes Associated With Sarcoidosis in the United States
Authors: Patel Nirav , Kalra Rajat , Doshi Rajkumar , Arora Harpreet , Bajaj Navkaranbir S. , Arora Garima , Arora Pankaj
Published: January 2018

Background

Recent trends of hospitalizations and in‐hospital mortality are not well defined in sarcoidosis. We examined aforementioned trends and prevalence of cardiovascular manifestations and explored rates of implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator implantation in hospitalizations with sarcoidosis.

Methods and Results

Using data from the National Inpatient Sample, a retrospective population cohort from 2005 to 2014 was studied. To identify sarcoidosis, an
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification
(
ICD‐9‐CM
) diagnosis code was used. We excluded hospitalizations with myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, and ischemic cardiomyopathy. Cardiovascular manifestations were defined by the presence of diagnosis codes for conduction disorders, arrhythmias, heart failure, nonischemic cardiomyopathy, and pulmonary hypertension. A total of 609 051 sarcoidosis hospitalizations were identified, with an age of 55±14 years, 67% women, and 50% black. The number of sarcoidosis hospitalizations increased from 2005 through 2014 (138 versus 175 per 100 000,
P
trend
<0.001). We observed declining trends of unadjusted in‐hospital mortality (6.5 to 4.9 per 100 sarcoidosis hospitalizations,
P
trend
<0.001). Overall ≈31% (n=188 438) of sarcoidosis hospitalizations had coexistent cardiovascular manifestations of one or more type. Heart failure (≈16%) and arrhythmias (≈15%) were the most prevalent cardiovascular manifestations. Rates of implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator placement were ≈7.5 per 1000 sarcoidosis hospitalizations (
P
trend
=0.95) during the study period. Black race was associated with 21% increased risk of in‐hospital mortality (odds ratio, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.16–1.27 [
P
<0.001]).

Conclusions

Sarcoidosis hospitalizations have increased over the past decade with a myriad of coexistent cardiovascular manifestations. Black race is a significant predictor of in‐hospital mortality, which is declining. Further efforts are needed to improve care in view of low implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator rates in sarcoidosis.
The Effect of Emotional Spoken Words on Time Perception Depends on the Gender of the Speaker
Authors: Mioni Giovanna , Laflamme Vincent , Grassi Massimo , Grondin Simon
Published: January 2018

The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of the emotional content of words marking brief intervals on the perceived duration of these intervals. Three independent variables were of interest: the gender of the person pronouncing the words, the gender of participants, and the valence (positive or negative) of the words in conjunction with their arousing properties. A bisection task was used and the tests, involving four different combinations of valence and arousing conditions (plus a neutral condition), were randomized within trials. The main results revealed that when the valence is negative, participants responded ‘short’ more often when words were pronounced by women rather than by men, and this effect occurred independently of the arousal condition. The results also revealed that overall, males responded ‘longer’more often than females. Finally, in the negative and low arousal condition, the Weber ratio was higher (lower sensitivity) when a male voice was used than when a female voice was used. This study shows that the gender of the person producing the stimuli whose duration is to be judged should be taken into account when analyzing the effect of emotion on time perception.
An annotated type catalogue of the camel spiders (Arachnida: Solifugae) held in the Zoological Museum Hamburg
Authors: HARMS DANILO , DUPÉRRÉ NADINE
Published: January 2018

Solifuges are an enigmatic and poorly studied group of arachnids. Commonly referred to as camel spiders or sun spiders, these animals are voracious predators of small animals and found in arid biomes of the Old World and the Americas. In this paper, we provide a catalogue for the solifuges (Arachnida: Solifugae) that are held at the Center of Natural History in Hamburg. The collections in Hamburg are predominantly historical and were accumulated by Karl Kraepelin between 1889 and 1914 with the help of other famous arachnologists such as Ferdinant Karsch and Eugène Simon. The re-study of these collections indicates that there are 38 type species and 65 type specimens from 10 families. We provide a detailed account of this material, including collection data, taxonomic updates, measurements and high-resolution images for species that are either poorly or not at all illustrated. Most specimens (70%) were collected in Africa as part of colonial expeditions or field surveys but there are also types from Western Asia (11%), and North and South America (19%). We provide an overview of the history of this collection, including a summary of the field surveys during which the specimens were collected and the arachnologists who described the material. Overall, this is the third-largest collection of solifuges in Germany with a distinct biogeographical focus and one of the largest collections of camel spiders in Europe.
Diurnal Evolution and Structure of Long-Lived Mesoscale Convective Vortices along the Mei-Yu Front over the East China Plains
Authors: Zhang Yuanchun , Zhang Fuqing , Davis Christopher A. , Sun Jianhua
Published: January 2018

The structure and diurnal evolution of long-lived, eastward-propagating mesoscale convective vortices (MCVs) along typical summertime mei-yu fronts over the east China plains are investigated through composite analysis of a 30-day semi-idealized simulation. The simulation uses lateral boundary conditions that vary only diurnally in time using analyses of recurring MCV events during 1–10 July 2007. Hence, the behavior of convection and vorticity follows a closely repeating diurnal cycle for each day during the simulation. Assisted by the eastward extension of enhanced vorticity anomalies from the Sichuan basin, the incipient MCV forms in the morning hours over the immediate lee (east) of the central China mountain ranges (stage 1). From local afternoon to early evening, as the MCV moves over the plains, convection weakens in the daytime downward branch of the mountain–plains solenoid. This allows the upper-level and lower-level portions of the vortex to partially decouple, and for convection to shift to the east-southeast side of the surface vortex (stage 2). Immediately after sunset, convection reinvigorates above the low-level MCV center as a result of moistening and destabilization from a combination of radiative forcing and an intensified low-level jet. This intensifies the MCV to maturity (stage 3). The mature MCV eventually evolves into an occluding subsynoptic cyclone with strong convection across all sectors of the low-level vorticity center during the subsequent day’s morning hours along the east China coastal plains before it moves offshore (stage 4).
Quantifying Isentropic Mixing Linked to Rossby Wave Breaking in a Modified Lagrangian Coordinate
Authors: Liu Chengji , Barnes Elizabeth A.
Published: January 2018

Isentropic mixing is an important process for the distribution of chemical constituents in the mid- to high latitudes. A modified Lagrangian framework is applied to quantify the mixing associated with two distinct types of Rossby wave breaking (i.e., cyclonic and anticyclonic). In idealized numerical simulations, cyclonic wave breaking (CWB) exhibits either comparable or stronger mixing than anticyclonic wave breaking (AWB). Although the frequencies of AWB and CWB both have robust relationships with the jet position, this asymmetry leads to CWB dominating mixing variability related to the jet shifting. In particular, when the jet shifts poleward the mixing strength decreases in areas of the midlatitude troposphere and also decreases on the poleward side of the jet. This is due to decreasing CWB occurrence with a poleward shift of the jet. Across the tropopause, equatorward of the jet, where AWB mostly occurs and CWB rarely occurs, the mixing strength increases as AWB occurs more frequently with a poleward shift of the jet. The dynamical relationship above is expected to be relevant both for internal climate variability, such as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the annular modes, and for future climate change that may drive changes in the jet position.
Observations of Nonlinear Internal Wave Run-Up to the Surfzone
Authors: Sinnett Gregory , Feddersen Falk , Lucas Andrew J. , Pawlak Geno , Terrill Eric
Published: January 2018

The cross-shore evolution of nonlinear internal waves (NLIWs) from 8-m depth to shore was observed by a dense thermistor array and ADCP. Isotherm oscillations spanned much of the water column at a variety of periods. At times, NLIWs propagated into the surfzone, decreasing temperature by ≈1°C in 5 min. When stratification was strong, temperature variability was strong and coherent from 18- to 6-m depth at semidiurnal and harmonic periods. When stratification weakened, temperature variability decreased and was incoherent between 18- and 6-m depth at all frequencies. At 8-m depth, onshore coherently propagating NLIW events had associated rapid temperature drops (ΔT) up to 1.7°C, front velocity between 1.4 and 7.4 cm s−1, and incidence angles between −5° and 23°. Front position, ΔT, and two-layer equivalent height zIW of four events were tracked upslope until propagation terminated. Front position was quadratic in time, and normalized ΔT and zIW both decreased, collapsing as a linearly decaying function of normalized cross-shore distance. Front speed and deceleration are consistent with two-layer upslope gravity current scalings. During NLIW rundown, near-surface cooling and near-bottom warming at 8-m depth coincide with a critical gradient Richardson number, indicating shear-driven mixing.
Examining the Link Between Religion and Corporate Governance: Insights From Nigeria
Authors: Nakpodia Franklin , Shrives Philip J. , Sorour M. Karim
Published: January 2018

This article examines whether the degree of religiosity in an institutional environment can stimulate the emergence of a robust corporate governance system. This study utilizes the Nigerian business environment as its context and embraces a qualitative interpretivist research approach. This approach permitted the engagement of a qualitative content analysis (QCA) methodology to generate insights from interviewees. Findings from the study indicate that despite the high religiosity among Nigerians, religion has not stimulated the desired corporate governance system in Nigeria. The primary explanation for this outcome is the presence of rational ordering over religious preferences thus highlighting the fact that religion, as presently understood and practiced by stakeholders, is inconsistent with the principles underpinning good corporate governance.
Christian Anthropology in an Age of Science: Between Anthropocentrism and Non-Anthropocentrism
Authors: Kim Junghyung
Published: January 2018

Is Christianity so incurably anthropocentric that the demise of anthropocentrism would be tantamount to the falsification of the Christian faith? Would Christianity be able to survive modern scientific challenges to the long-held anthropocentric world picture? Responding to these questions, I claim that the Christian doctrine of incarnation strongly supports the Christian belief in humanity’s special position in God’s created world, whereas it is not only possible but also mandatory to reconstruct a non-anthropocentric Christian doctrine of creation and humanity. First, as regards the non-anthropocentric idea of creation, I propose that creation, instead of redemption, should the overarching framework of Christian theology, the goal of creation is much greater than human redemption, and our human species is a companion to other creatures on the way to the eschatological consummation. With this non-anthropocentric Christian doctrine of creation in mind, however, I even more strongly maintain that humanity has a special position in God’s created world. Even if the traditional doctrine of imago Dei may not successfully convince us of the idea of human uniqueness in the face of scientific challenges, I argue, the authentic Christian affirmation of the incarnation of God in the specifically human form lays a firm foundation for the Christian belief in God’s special concern with our human species.
Health-focused course content is associated with altered health behaviours in undergraduate university students
Authors: Guelfi Kym J , Ong Ming Jing , Peeling Peter
Published: January 2018

Objective:

To examine whether the completion of a course of study relating to preventive health and lifestyle risk factors was associated with alterations in health behaviours.

Design:

Within-group intervention, repeated-measures design.

Setting:

Health behaviours of university students studying a course focused on health and well-being.

Method:

Undergraduate university students ( n = 56) completed a questionnaire assessing health behaviours at the start and end of a course which was oriented towards a healthy lifestyle, concentrating on preventive health and lifestyle risk factors. Beliefs about the importance of various health behaviours addressed within the course content were also assessed.

Results:

Physical activity was unaltered across the duration of the course, while a number of dietary behaviours were improved, including an increase in the weekly frequency of eating breakfast, reduced frequency of adding salt to meals, increased frequency of choosing reduced fat dairy options, reduced frequency of consuming drinks with added sugar, and consuming alcohol ( p ≤ .05).

Conclusion:

Health-focused course content may benefit students through the knowledge gained that can be applied in future professional settings and also via positive alterations in their own health behaviours. These positive influences on health behaviour in early adulthood may have implications for lifelong health and well-being.
Attitudes Toward Euthanasia for Patients Who Suffer From Physical or Mental Illness
Authors: Levin Kfir , Bradley Graham L. , Duffy Amanda
Published: January 2018

This study examined whether attitudes toward euthanasia vary with type of illness and with the source of the desire to end the patient’s life. The study used a 3 (illness type: cancer, schizophrenia, depression) × 2 (euthanasia type: patient-initiated, family-initiated) between-groups experimental design. An online questionnaire was administered to 324 employees and students from a Australian public university following random assignment of participants to one of the six vignette-based conditions. Attitudes toward euthanasia were more positive for patients with a physical illness than a mental illness. For a patient with cancer or depression, but not schizophrenia, approval was greater for patient-, than, family-, initiated euthanasia. Relationships between illness type and attitudes were mediated by perceptions of patient autonomy and illness controllability. Findings have implications for debate, practices, and legislation regarding euthanasia.
Living without God in a religious country: Polish nonbelievers as a cultural minority
Authors: Tyrała Radosław
Published: January 2018

This article focuses on the community of Polish nonbelievers; according to different surveys, they constitute approximately 8% of the overall population. In this research-grounded opinion they should be treated as a minority, not only strictly numerically but also culturally, with all the consequences of this fact. This research conducted on the members of this group showed there are some important levels of such consequences. The first is the level of identity. The vast majority of my respondents were raised Catholic and therefore one may call them converts to non-religiousness. The second is the level of (non)religious consciousness. Less than one fifth of my respondents clearly expressed certain forms of religious belief, such as faith in an impersonal form of deity or in an afterlife. The third is the level of subjectively perceived discrimination. Polish nonbelievers rarely meet with direct expressions of prejudice against them during face-to-face encounters. However, they feel a strong social pressure to cultivate some elements of the ritual dimension of religiosity. At the end the author considers to what extent their minority status has a relative character.
The knowledge economy city: Gentrification, studentification and youthification, and their connections to universities
Authors: Moos Markus , Revington Nick , Wilkin Tristan , Andrey Jean
Published: January 2018

We investigate the spatial relationships among three prominent facets of contemporary urbanism – gentrification, studentification, and youthification – in the context of Canadian post-secondary educational institutions (universities and colleges). We conduct the analysis in three major Canadian cities with substantial knowledge economy sectors using confidential Statistics Canada census files, which include information on individuals and their geographies, and the location of universities and colleges, by enrolment size. We document ‘spillover’ effects of expansions in student enrolment and the building of campuses by analysing the geographic correlations among universities and gentrification and youthification. Studentification and youthification are to some extent coincident but not entirely, whereas the connection to gentrification is more complex. Our work provides novel insight into the ways the three different facets of contemporary urbanism overlap and contribute to our understanding of how universities and colleges, as hallmarks of the knowledge economy, influence the social geography of cities.
The Role of Change Content, Context, Process, and Leadership in Understanding Employees’ Commitment to Change: The Case of Public Organizations in Kurdistan Region of Iraq
Authors: Ahmad Ahmad Bayiz , Cheng Zhichao
Published: January 2018

In times of financial austerity, public organizations are forced, either by internally motivated goals or externally mandated policies, to implement reforms and changes to cut back on expenses. While organizational change happens with increasing magnitude and frequency in public sector organizations, much of public management research concerning organizational change has mainly focused on change at the sector or national level. This study, on the contrary, focuses on a more micro-level and individual perspective by investigating the simultaneous influence of content, context, process, and leadership on employees’ affective commitment to change (ACC) in a non-Western, Islamic setting. To test the study’s hypotheses, data were collected from a sample of 147 employees in five public sector organizations that recently witnessed major structural changes in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Regression results reveal that process-related variables and transformational leadership behavior of direct supervisors enhance commitment to change while employees’ negative perception of his or her change history (a context-related factor) impedes commitment to change. The findings support the external validity of previous findings in Western, non-Islamic settings, and, thus, would increase our understanding of organizational change theories in non-Western settings.
A method for arranging a network of surface boreholes for abandoned gob methane extraction
Authors: Qin Wei , Xu Jialin , Hu Guozhong , Gao Jie , Xu Guang
Published: January 2018

To optimize the arrangement of a network of surface boreholes for abandoned gob methane extraction, a method for regional division of abandoned gobs based on their connectivity is proposed. Based on vertical and horizontal connectivity criteria, the abandoned gobs in Yangquan Coal Mine No. 3 are divided into 28 regions. Based on the abandoned gob methane sources, a calculation model for abandoned gob methane reserves is established. The abandoned gob methane reserves of connected regions in Yangquan Coal Mine No. 3 are predicted by using the developed estimation model. An abandoned gob methane extraction field test was conducted, and the results showed that the methane flow rate of vertical borehole #1 reached 3.6 m3/min. Based on the test results of vertical borehole #1 and the abandoned gob methane reserve calculation in the connected region, surface boreholes in a connected region were arranged in Yangquan Coal Mine No. 3.