bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cytotoxic Activity and Composition of Petroleum Ether Extract from Magydaris tomentosa (Desf.) W. D. J. Koch (Apiaceae)
Authors: Autore Giuseppina , Marzocco Stefania , Formisano Carmen , Bruno Maurizio , Rosselli Sergio , Jemia Mariem , Senatore Felice
Published: January 2015

The petroleum ether extract of Magydaris tomentosa flowers (Desf.) W. D. J. Koch has been analyzed by GC-MS. It is mainly constituted by furanocoumarins such as xanthotoxin, xanthotoxol, isopimpinellin, and bergaptene. Other coumarins such as 7-methoxy-8-(2-formyl-2-methylpropyl) coumarin and osthole also occurred. The antiproliferative activity of Magydaris tomentosa flower extract has been evaluated in vitro on murine monocye/macrophages (J774A.1), human melanoma (A375) and human breast cancer (MCF-7) tumor cell lines, showing a major activity against the latter.
Phase Behavior of Copolymers Confined in Multi-Walled Nanotubes: Insights from Simulations
Authors: Zuo Yuxin , Wang Guoqiang , Yu Ying , Zuo Chuncheng , Shi Luyou , Shi Fulei , Wei Jie
Published: January 2015

In this paper, the self-assembly process of diblock copolymers confined in multi-walled cylindrical nanotubes is systematically investigated using a molecular dynamics (MD) method. The dependence of resultant morphologies on the degree of confinement and on the interaction strength between nanotubes and copolymers is studied comprehensively. When the wall surfaces are not preferential, results indicate that geometric confinement significantly influences copolymer conformations. In addition, the thickness of the helical lamellar structure increases with interaction strength and confinement size. In cases where the nanotubes are strongly attracted to one copolymer block, the confinement effect weakens as geometric space increases. Findings explain the dependence of chain conformation on the degree of confinement and the strength of surface preferences.
The Concept of Periphery in Pope Francis’ Discourse: A Religious Alternative to Globalization?
Authors: Ferrara Pasquale
Published: January 2015

Since the beginning of his mandate, Pope Francis has used the concept of periphery as a metaphor of social marginality. However, the notion of periphery also seems to target the asymmetries generated by the liberal version of globalization. Pope Francis’ narrative has to be read in the broader context of the relation between religions and globalization. That interaction is usually conceptualized in terms of religions capitalizing on global “vectors”, such as new information and communication technologies, processes of political and institutional integration, shared cultural patterns, transnational phenomena and organizations. An alternative way to analyze the role of religions consists in considering them as agencies defending the perspective of a universal community, putting into question the national political boundaries and contesting the existing global order. Understood in those terms, the concept of periphery reveals to be a powerful rhetoric device, insofar as it suggests that it is possible to get a wider perspective of the current state of the world looking form the edge rather than from the center.
Utilization of the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (NPP) Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band for Arctic Ship Tracking and Fisheries Management
Authors: Straka William , Seaman Curtis , Baugh Kimberly , Cole Kathleen , Stevens Eric , Miller Steven
Published: January 2015

Maritime ships operating on-board illumination at night appear as point sources of light to highly sensitive low-light imagers on-board environmental satellites. Unlike city lights or lights from offshore gas platforms, whose locations remain stationary from one night to the next, lights from ships typically are ephemeral. Fishing boat lights are most prevalent near coastal cities and along the thermal gradients in the open ocean. Maritime commercial ships also operate lights that can be detected from space. Such observations have been made in a limited way via U.S. Department of Defense satellites since the late 1960s. However, the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) satellite, which carries a new Day/Night Band (DNB) radiometer, offers a vastly improved ability for users to observe commercial shipping in remote areas such as the Arctic. Owing to S-NPP’s polar orbit and the DNB’s wide swath (~3040 km), the same location in Polar Regions can be observed for several successive passes via overlapping swaths—offering a limited ability to track ship motion. Here, we demonstrate the DNB’s improved ability to monitor ships from space. Imagery from the DNB is compared with the heritage low-light sensor, the Operational Linescan System (OLS) on board the Defense Meteorological Support Program (DMSP) satellites, and is evaluated in the context of tracking individual ships in the Polar Regions under both moonlit and moonless conditions. In a statistical sense, we show how DNB observations of ship lights in the East China Sea can be correlated with seasonal fishing activity, while also revealing compelling structures related to regional fishery agreements established between various nations.
Mapping Surface Broadband Albedo from Satellite Observations: A Review of Literatures on Algorithms and Products
Authors: Qu Ying , Liang Shunlin , Liu Qiang , He Tao , Liu Suhong , Li Xiaowen
Published: January 2015

Surface albedo is one of the key controlling geophysical parameters in the surface energy budget studies, and its temporal and spatial variation is closely related to the global climate change and regional weather system due to the albedo feedback mechanism. As an efficient tool for monitoring the surfaces of the Earth, remote sensing is widely used for deriving long-term surface broadband albedo with various geostationary and polar-orbit satellite platforms in recent decades. Moreover, the algorithms for estimating surface broadband albedo from satellite observations, including narrow-to-broadband conversions, bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) angular modeling, direct-estimation algorithm and the algorithms for estimating albedo from geostationary satellite data, are developed and improved. In this paper, we present a comprehensive literature review on algorithms and products for mapping surface broadband albedo with satellite observations and provide a discussion of different algorithms and products in a historical perspective based on citation analysis of the published literature. This paper shows that the observation technologies and accuracy requirement of applications are important, and long-term, global fully-covered (including land, ocean, and sea-ice surfaces), gap-free, surface broadband albedo products with higher spatial and temporal resolution are required for climate change, surface energy budget, and hydrological studies.
GRACE Gravity Satellite Observations of Terrestrial Water Storage Changes for Drought Characterization in the Arid Land of Northwestern China
Authors: Cao Yanping , Nan Zhuotong , Cheng Guodong
Published: January 2015

Drought is a complex natural hazard which can have negative effects on agriculture, economy, and human life. In this paper, the primary goal is to explore the application of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) gravity satellite data for the quantitative investigation of the recent drought dynamic over the arid land of northwestern China, a region with scarce hydrological and meteorological observation datasets. The spatiotemporal characteristics of terrestrial water storage changes (TWSC) were first evaluated based on the GRACE satellite data, and then validated against hydrological model simulations and precipitation data. A drought index, the total storage deficit index (TSDI), was derived on the basis of GRACE-recovered TWSC. The spatiotemporal distributions of drought events from 2003 to 2012 in the study region were obtained using the GRACE-derived TSDI. Results derived from TSDI time series indicated that, apart from four short-term (three months) drought events, the study region experienced a severe long-term drought from May 2008 to December 2009. As shown in the spatial distribution of TSDI-derived drought conditions, this long-term drought mainly concentrated in the northwestern area of the entire region, where the terrestrial water storage was in heavy deficit. These drought characteristics, which were detected by TSDI, were consistent with local news reports and other researchers’ results. Furthermore, a comparison between TSDI and Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) implied that GRACE TSDI was a more reliable integrated drought indicator (monitoring agricultural and hydrological drought) in terms of considering total terrestrial water storages for large regions. The GRACE-derived TSDI can therefore be used to characterize and monitor large-scale droughts in the arid regions, being of special value for areas with scarce observations.
Inertial Sensor Self-Calibration in a Visually-Aided Navigation Approach for a Micro-AUV
Authors: Bonin-Font Francisco , Massot-Campos Miquel , Negre-Carrasco Pep , Oliver-Codina Gabriel , Beltran Joan
Published: January 2015

This paper presents a new solution for underwater observation, image recording, mapping and 3D reconstruction in shallow waters. The platform, designed as a research and testing tool, is based on a small underwater robot equipped with a MEMS-based IMU, two stereo cameras and a pressure sensor. The data given by the sensors are fused, adjusted and corrected in a multiplicative error state Kalman filter (MESKF), which returns a single vector with the pose and twist of the vehicle and the biases of the inertial sensors (the accelerometer and the gyroscope). The inclusion of these biases in the state vector permits their self-calibration and stabilization, improving the estimates of the robot orientation. Experiments in controlled underwater scenarios and in the sea have demonstrated a satisfactory performance and the capacity of the vehicle to operate in real environments and in real time.
A Cognitively-Motivated Framework for Partial Face Recognition in Unconstrained Scenarios
Authors: Monteiro João , Cardoso Jaime
Published: January 2015

Humans perform and rely on face recognition routinely and effortlessly throughout their daily lives. Multiple works in recent years have sought to replicate this process in a robust and automatic way. However, it is known that the performance of face recognition algorithms is severely compromised in non-ideal image acquisition scenarios. In an attempt to deal with conditions, such as occlusion and heterogeneous illumination, we propose a new approach motivated by the global precedent hypothesis of the human brain’s cognitive mechanisms of perception. An automatic modeling of SIFT keypoint descriptors using a Gaussian mixture model (GMM)-based universal background model method is proposed. A decision is, then, made in an innovative hierarchical sense, with holistic information gaining precedence over a more detailed local analysis. The algorithm was tested on the ORL, ARand Extended Yale B Face databases and presented state-of-the-art performance for a variety of experimental setups.
A Novel Vibration Mode Testing Method for Cylindrical Resonators Based on Microphones
Authors: Zhang Yongmeng , Wu Yulie , Wu Xuezhong , Xi Xiang , Wang Jianqiu
Published: January 2015

Non-contact testing is an important method for the study of the vibrating characteristic of cylindrical resonators. For the vibratory cylinder gyroscope excited by piezo-electric electrodes, mode testing of the cylindrical resonator is difficult. In this paper, a novel vibration testing method for cylindrical resonators is proposed. This method uses a MEMS microphone, which has the characteristics of small size and accurate directivity, to measure the vibration of the cylindrical resonator. A testing system was established, then the system was used to measure the vibration mode of the resonator. The experimental results show that the orientation resolution of the node of the vibration mode is better than 0.1°. This method also has the advantages of low cost and easy operation. It can be used in vibration testing and provide accurate results, which is important for the study of the vibration mode and thermal stability of vibratory cylindrical gyroscopes.
A Novel Joint Spatial-Code Clustered Interference Alignment Scheme for Large-Scale Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Wu Zhilu , Jiang Lihui , Ren Guanghui , Zhao Nan , Zhao Yaqin
Published: January 2015

Interference alignment (IA) has been put forward as a promising technique which can mitigate interference and effectively increase the throughput of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). However, the number of users is strictly restricted by the IA feasibility condition, and the interference leakage will become so strong that the quality of service will degrade significantly when there are more users than that IA can support. In this paper, a novel joint spatial-code clustered (JSCC)-IA scheme is proposed to solve this problem. In the proposed scheme, the users are clustered into several groups so that feasible IA can be achieved within each group. In addition, each group is assigned a pseudo noise (PN) code in order to suppress the inter-group interference via the code dimension. The analytical bit error rate (BER) expressions of the proposed JSCC-IA scheme are formulated for the systems with identical and different propagation delays, respectively. To further improve the performance of the JSCC-IA scheme in asymmetric networks, a random grouping selection (RGS) algorithm is developed to search for better grouping combinations. Numerical results demonstrate that the proposed JSCC-IA scheme is capable of accommodating many more users to communicate simultaneously in the same frequency band with better performance.
Design and Fabrication of Interdigital Nanocapacitors Coated with HfO2
Authors: González Gabriel , Kolosovas-Machuca Eleazar , López-Luna Edgar , Hernández-Arriaga Heber , González Francisco
Published: January 2015

In this article nickel interdigital capacitors were fabricated on top of silicon substrates. The capacitance of the interdigital capacitor was optimized by coating the electrodes with a 60 nm layer of HfO2. An analytical solution of the capacitance was compared to electromagnetic simulations using COMSOL and with experimental measurements. Results show that modeling interdigital capacitors using Finite Element Method software such as COMSOL is effective in the design and electrical characterization of these transducers.
Development of a Meteorological Risk Map for Disaster Mitigation and Management in the Chishan Basin, Taiwan
Authors: Lee Tai-Li , Chen Ching-Ho , Pai Tzu-Yi , Wu Ray-Shyan
Published: January 2015

This study involved developing a natural disaster risk assessment framework based on the consideration of three phases: a pre-disaster phase, disaster impact phase, and post-disaster recovery phase. The exposure of natural disasters exhibits unique characteristics. The interactions of numerous factors should be considered in risk assessment as well as in monitoring environment to provide natural disaster warnings. In each phase, specific factors indicate the relative status in the area subjected to risk assessment. Three types of natural disaster were assessed, namely debris flows, floods, and droughts. The Chishan basin in Taiwan was used as a case study and the adequacy of the relocation of Xiaolin village was evaluated. Incorporating resilience into the assessment revealed that the higher the exposure is, the higher the resilience becomes. This is because highly populated areas are typically allocated enough resources to respond to disasters. In addition, highly populated areas typically exhibit high resilience. The application of this analysis in the policy of relocation of damaged village after disaster provides valuable information for decision makers to achieve the sustainability of land use planning.
Les Thraces dans l’armée romaine d’après les diplômes militaires. I. Les diplômes de Claude à Domitien
Authors: Mihailescu-Bîrliba Lucreţiu , Dumitrache Iulia
Published: January 2015

The Thracian in the Roman Army from the evidence of military diplomas. I. Diplomas from Claudius' reign up to Domitian.

We present the place of the Thracians in the exercitus romanus from the evidence of military diplomas, up to Domitianus. They are first recruited in the imperial navy, at Misena or Ravenna. The soldiers of the Irst and the IInd legio Adiutrix come out of these fleets. We know of nine soldiers serving in the fleet and five in auxiliary units. The sailors took an active part in the civil war in 68-69 A. D. The legio Ia Adiutrix composed of sailors at the time of Nero, has been consecrated by Galba; Misena and Ravenna fleets fought on the Vespasian side and their soldiers have been amply rewarded by the victorious emperor, discharged in advance of the legal term ; the legio IIa Adiutrix also had former sailors in its ranks. Must also be mentioned, under Vespasian, a constitution given to the Pannonian auxiliary units, which had also fought at his side during the civil war. From Titus’ reign, diplomas bear witness of Thracians in auxiliary units stationed in Noricum, Moesia and Germania. All these references must be replaced in the context of the recruitment. The year 55 and the next ones have been years of Thracian recruitment in the terrestrial units ; in our opinion it is the period when the Thracians fought more and more in these units. It will be still more evident under Domitian, who reorganized the provinces of Moesia and Germania.
STVDIA DACIA ET PARTHICA (II). El Tropaeum Traiani de Caracene. Expresiones del poder romano en los límites del Imperio
Authors: Ramón Carbó García Juan , Rodríguez San Juan Félix Julián
Published: January 2015

A partir del estudio de las fuentes literarias y mediante el análisis comparativo de la iconografía mostrada en monumentos y monedas que constituyen expresiones del poder de Trajano en Roma y en la provincias del Imperio, se trata de defender la hipótesis de la existencia de un tropaeum monumental erigido por Trajano en el reino cliente de Caracene, en las bocas de los ríos Tigris y Éufrates. Dicho trofeo, que habría sostenido una estatua del emperador, habría servido para conmemorar su Victoria sobre los partos, siguiendo el modelo previo del Tropaeum Traiani de Adamklissi, que conmemoraba la victoria sobre los dacios en Mesia Inferior. Ambos trofeos fueron diseñados como formas de mantener en la memoria a lo largo del tiempo la superioridad romana sobre los pueblos bajo el dominio romano, e incluso mostrarla a aquellos localizados más allá de la ecumene romana, de modo que serían erigidos en las nuevas áreas fronterizas alcanzadas, como resultado de la política expansiva de Trajano en estos territorios.
Perception fiscale, patronage rural et genèse d’une société de base paysanne. Le sud de la Gaule vers la fin de l’Empire romain
Authors: Sarachu Pablo
Published: January 2015

Tax collection, rural patronage and the emergence of a peasant-base society. Southern Gaul towards the end of the Roman Empire.

The overall objective of this work is to study the dependence relationships between the aristocracy, the peasantry and the state in fifth-and sixth-century southern Gaul. Current opinion in historiography claims that late antique peasantry should be seen as a class subject to considerable exploitation (either through taxes or through rent). Instead, we propose that the strong crisis of the ancient political order led to the coexistence of divergent processes: the reaffirmation of dependence relationships and even the appearance of new ones (the “patrocinia”, wich will be analyzed in detail), but also the growing indepedence of many peasants. The last one finally prevailed, resulting in the emergence of a “peasant-base society”.
Les techniques vinicoles grecques, des vendanges aux Anthestéries : nouvelles perspectives
Authors: Boulay Thibaut
Published: January 2015

Greek wine making techniques, from harvest time to the Anthesteria: new perspectives.

The present paper examines the winemaking techniques developed by Greek practitioners to control the fermentation process, from crushing the grapes to the casking of pithoi, and the methods of wine maturing under oxidizing atmosphere. The three-day-long Dionysian festival of the Anthesteria could be related with the formation, at the end of the winter, of a voile or film of yeast on the surface of the wine, which the Greeks called the '' flower'' of the wine. Finally, this technical approach enables us to suggest a new commentary of the famous scene of the so-called stamnos of Nocera.
Alimentation et société dans la Rome classique : bilan historiographique (IIe siècle av. J.-C. – IIe siècle apr. J.-C.)
Authors: Badel Christophe
Published: January 2015

Food and society in classical Rome : historiographic stock (2nd century B.c.-2nd century A.D.).

Born in the seventies’ second half, the social history of food get its final face in the nineties’ synthesis (M. Corbier, P. Garnsey). Its field includes : the diet, the social aspect of supply (food crisies and riots) ; the directions for preparation (gastronomy); the sociabilities and commensalities ; the connection with the social and sexual status; the standards and ideological frameworks. The connection with the social hierarchy has represented a central theme for a long time but that hierarchy is actually seen as a “tuilage” and not a rift. The actual debates’ stake on the food standard lead to this question: we must insist on the prohibitions or the moral codes’ plurality?
Objective Evaluation of Physical Functioning after Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitory Therapy in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Selection of 3 Feasible Performance-based Tests
Authors: van Weely Salima F.E. , Dekker Joost , Steultjens Martijn P.M. , van Denderen J. Christiaan , Nurmohamed Michael T. , Dijkmans Ben A.C. , van der Horst-Bruinsma Irene E.
Published: January 2015

Objective.

(1) To select a limited number of performance-based tests that are reliable, show improvement in physical functioning after tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) therapy in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and generate information equivalent to the full set of tests, and (2) are feasible for use in daily clinical practice.

Methods.

Eight performance-based tests were evaluated. To eliminate redundant testing, the tests that showed adequate reliability, the highest standardized response mean (SRM), and the largest proportion of patients with an improved performance-based physical functioning were selected. The selected tests were combined into a new criterion for improvement in physical functioning (AS Performance-based Improvement; ASPI). The number and percentage of improved patients identified with the ASPI and identified with the full set of performance tests were compared.

Results.

Reliability for all tests was adequate to excellent (ICC 0.73–0.96). The tests for bending, putting on socks, and getting up from the floor had the highest SRM (0.52–0.74) and showed the largest proportion of improved patients after TNFi therapy. The combination of these 3 tests was feasible in daily clinical practice and showed improved physical functioning after TNFi therapy in 67% of the patients.

Conclusion.

The 3 selected tests are recommended for use in daily practice because they generate information comparable to the full set. They are reliable and feasible, and the combination of these tests showed improved physical functioning after TNFi therapy in 67% of the patients. Evaluation of physical functioning might be improved by adding these tests to other AS outcome measures.
Isolated Hematuria and Sterile Pyuria May Indicate Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Activity
Authors: Ding Jonathan Y.C. , Ibañez Dominique , Gladman Dafna D. , Urowitz Murray B.
Published: January 2015

Objective.

To identify patients presenting with isolated hematuria and/or pyuria in the absence of other systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity, describe their demographics, and determine whether they present with evidence of SLE flare in a period adjacent to the presentation.

Methods.

We studied patients followed at the University of Toronto Lupus Clinic between 1970 and 2012. An episode of isolated hematuria (> 5 red blood cells per high power field) and/or pyuria (> 5 white blood cells per high power field) was defined as 2 consecutive visits with these findings in the absence of other concurrent SLE manifestations such as proteinuria, casts, or azotemia. We then excluded patients whose findings might be explained by urinary tract infections, menstruation, urolithiasis, and/or anticoagulation. Only patients presenting with no other SLE disease activity were included.

Results.

Isolated hematuria and/or pyuria were identified in 49 patients, of whom 17 were excluded according to the criteria above, leaving 32. Twenty-four patients had another renal manifestation 1 year before and/or after the occurrence; 27 had a non-renal manifestation 1 year before and/or after the occurrence; 3 patients had a biopsy in the same time frame, all with evidence of active lupus nephritis. Therefore the majority of patients with an occurrence of isolated hematuria and/or pyuria had evidence of renal or other non-renal SLE disease activity at a time adjacent to this presentation.

Conclusion.

Although not proven, our results suggest that these manifestations were associated with SLE activity, either before or after the episode, and therefore may represent a phase of active disease.
Takayasu Arteritis-associated Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Wang Xu , Dang Aimin , Chen Bingwei , Lv Naqiang , Liu Qing
Published: January 2015

Objective.

To investigate the probable pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, and therapy of patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH) in Takayasu arteritis (TA).

Methods.

A total of 48 patients with TA who had PH, 20 patients with TA who had pulmonary arterial involvement (PA) without PH, and 30 patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) were enrolled in the study from 2009 to 2013.

Results.

Among the 48 patients with TA who had PH, 36 (75.0%) had PA, and left heart disease (LHD) was present in 12 (25.0%). Serum levels of big endothelin 1 (ET-1) were independently correlated with pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (r = 0.33, p = 0.04). Compared to patients with IPAH, patients with PH because of PA who underwent right heart catheterization had lower average cardiac indexes (2.0 ± 0.5 vs 3.0 ± 1.2 l/min/m2, p = 0.05), and they all developed favorable responses to acute vasodilator testing (100%) in comparison to 10 of the patients with IPAH (33.3%). During a mean followup of 36.0 ± 13.2 months (12.0–65.0 mos), of the patients with PH associated with PA, 3 died of heart failure. Six patients who underwent pulmonary artery revascularization were found to have good prognoses after followup for a mean duration of 6.2 ± 1.9 months. Additionally, 12 patients with PH with LHD were followed for 38.4 ± 15.6 months (12.0–60.0 mos), and 1 patient died of heart failure during the followup period.

Conclusion.

Patients with TA are at increased risk for PH. Early screening of patients with TA with unexplained symptoms related to PH should be applied. PH-specific therapies or revascularization may be effective treatments in the early stages of patients with PA, PH, and severe pulmonary artery stenosis.
Incidence of Malignancy and the Risk of Lymphoma in Japanese Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Compared to the General Population
Authors: Hashimoto Atsushi , Chiba Noriyuki , Tsuno Hirotaka , Komiya Akiko , Furukawa Hiroshi , Matsui Toshihiro , Nishino Jinju , Tohma Shigeto
Published: January 2015

Objective.

Recent advances in the management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) increased the rates of disease remission and patient life expectancy, while malignancy has become a more common cause of death. Here, we report the incidence of malignancy in a nationwide survey of Japanese patients with RA compared to the general population, focusing on the risk of lymphoma, which often arises in patients with RA.

Methods.

Data on the occurrence of malignancy were collected from patients registered in a nationwide Japanese cohort database, the National Database of Rheumatic Diseases by iR-net in Japan, from 2003 to 2012. To adjust for different population composition and to compare the incidence of malignancy with the general population, standardized incidence rates (SIR) were calculated. To identify risk factors for lymphoma, individual patient data were obtained for multivariate analysis for the year before lymphoma diagnosis.

Results.

In 10 years, the cohort composed of 66,953 patient-years yielded 559 malignancies, most frequently lung cancer, followed by gastric cancer, breast cancer, and lymphoma. The overall incidence of malignancies in patients with RA was slightly lower than in the general population (SIR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82–0.97). However, lymphoma risk was significantly higher (SIR 3.43, 95% CI 2.59–4.28), whereas risk of colon, rectal, or liver cancer was lower. Significant risk factors for lymphoma were the use of methotrexate or tacrolimus, and higher age.

Conclusion.

Patients with RA had no higher overall incidence of malignancies, but lymphoma was significantly more frequent than in the general population.
Elevation of Serum Immunoglobulin Free Light Chains During the Preclinical Period of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Deng Xiaoli , Crowson Cynthia S. , Rajkumar S. Vincent , Dispenzieri Angela , Larson Dirk R. , Therneau Terry M. , Matteson Eric L. , Kyle Robert A. , Katzmann Jerry A. , Gabriel Sherine E. , Davis John M.
Published: January 2015

Objective.

Immunoglobulin free light chains (FLC) represent biomarkers of B cell activity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are associated with all-cause mortality in the general population. Our objective was to evaluate the relationships of serum FLC to preclinical disease, RA characteristics, and mortality in RA compared to non-RA subjects.

Methods.

A population-based study in Olmsted County, Minnesota, USA, was performed by crosslinking a large cohort in the general population having available serum FLC measurements with established RA incidence and prevalence cohorts. Serum κ, λ, and total FLC and their trends relative to RA incidence were compared between RA and non-RA subjects. Regression models were used to determine the associations between FLC, disease characteristics, and mortality, testing for differential effects of FLC on mortality in RA.

Results.

Among 16,609 subjects, 270 fulfilled the criteria for RA at the time of FLC measurement. Mean total FLC were significantly higher in RA compared to non-RA subjects (4.2 vs 3.3 mg/dl, p < 0.001). FLC became elevated 3–5 years before the clinical onset of RA and remained elevated during followup. Polyclonal FLC were found to predict higher mortality in persons with RA, though elevation to the highest decile had a relatively lower effect on mortality in RA compared to non-RA subjects.

Conclusion.

Elevation of serum FLC precedes the development of RA and may be useful in monitoring B cell activity and disease progression. FLC are associated with mortality among patients with RA as well as the general population.
Neurocognitive Impairment in Corticosteroid-naive Patients with Active Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Prospective Study
Authors: Nishimura Katsuji , Omori Masako , Katsumata Yasuhiro , Sato Eri , Gono Takahisa , Kawaguchi Yasushi , Harigai Masayoshi , Mimura Masaru , Yamanaka Hisashi , Ishigooka Jun
Published: January 2015

Objective.

Neurocognitive impairment (NCI) has been intensively studied in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, those studies have mostly included patients who were treated with corticosteroids, which may itself induce NCI. We investigated NCI in corticosteroid-naive people with SLE who did not exhibit any overt neuropsychiatric manifestations.

Methods.

Forty-three inpatients with SLE who had no current or past neuropsychiatric history participated in the study. Patients and 30 healthy control subjects with similar demographic characteristics were given a 1-h battery of neuropsychological tests. NCI was defined as scores at least 2 SD below the mean of the healthy control group on at least 2 of the 7 neurocognitive domains. Results of clinical, laboratory, and neurologic tests were compared regarding the presence of NCI.

Results.

NCI was identified in 12 patients (27.9%) with SLE and in 2 control subjects (6.7%). Patients with SLE showed a significant impairment compared with controls on tasks assessing immediate recall, complex attention/executive function, and psychomotor speed. We identified psychomotor speed (Digit Symbol Substitution Test) as the factor that best differentiated the 2 groups. Further, we identified the score of the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 as an independent risk factor for NCI in patients with SLE.

Conclusion.

We conclude that reduced psychomotor speed is an SLE-specific pattern of NCI. Verbal-memory deficits that have been reported in patients with SLE were not evident among patients who were corticosteroid-naive. Our results indicate that impaired psychomotor speed may be added to the symptoms of early SLE.
Association Between Corrected QT Interval and Inflammatory Cytokines in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Adlan Ahmed M. , Panoulas Vasileios F. , Smith Jacqueline P. , Fisher James P. , Kitas George D.
Published: January 2015

Objective.

Corrected QT (QTc) interval predicts all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and may contribute to the increased mortality risk in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Animal experiments have shown that proinflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin 1 (IL-1)] can prolong cardiomyocyte action potential. We sought to determine whether elevations in circulating inflammatory cytokines were independently associated with QTc prolongation in patients with RA.

Methods.

One hundred twelve patients [median age 62 (interquartile range 17) yrs; 80 women (71%)] from a well-characterized RA cohort underwent baseline 12-lead electrocardiograms for QT interval measurement and contemporary blood sampling to assess concentrations of inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein (CRP), TNF-α, and interleukins (IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10). QTc was calculated using the Bazett (QTBAZ= QT ÷ √RR) and Framingham Heart Study (QTFHS= QT + 0.154 × [1 – RR]) heart rate correction formulas.

Results.

Inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10) were positively correlated with QTBAZ(Spearman rank correlation coefficient rho = 0.199, 0.210, 0.222, 0.333; all p < 0.05). In multivariable regression analysis, these associations were all confounded by age except IL-10, where higher tertile groups were independently and positively associated with QTBAZ(β = 0.202, p = 0.023) and QTFHS(β = 0.223, p = 0.009) when compared to the lower tertile. CRP (per unit increase) was independently associated with QTBAZ(β = 0.278, p = 0.001), but not QTFHS.

Conclusion.

To our knowledge, ours is the first study demonstrating a contemporary link between inflammatory cytokines and QT interval in humans. Our results suggest that a lower inflammatory burden may protect against QTc prolongation in patients with RA. However, further studies are required to confirm the effects of pro- and antiinflammatory cytokines on QTc interval.
A Preliminary Study of Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Quantification for the Assessment of Skin in Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Hou Yong , Zhu Qing-li , Liu He , Jiang Yu-xin , Wang Liang , Xu Dong , Li Meng-tao , Zeng Xiao-feng , Zhang Feng-chun
Published: January 2015

Objective.

To investigate skin elasticity using acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) quantification in systemic sclerosis (SSc), and compare the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS) with measured shear wave velocity (SWV) and thickness of the skin.

Methods.

Fifteen patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) and 15 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls were evaluated. The SWV and thickness of skin were measured at 17 sites corresponding to those assessed in the mRSS in each participant. The SWV measurements of skin were compared between patients with dcSSc and healthy controls. The correlations between the mRSS and the skin SWV and thickness were explored using Spearman’s correlation.

Results.

The SWV values were higher in patients with dcSSc compared with healthy controls at right hand dorsum, right forearm, left hand dorsum, left forearm, right foot dorsum, and left foot dorsum (p < 0.05). In patients with dcSSc, the SWV values of uninvolved skin were higher than those of controls (p < 0.001), and the SWV values increased with increasing skin scores except for skin score 3 (p < 0.05). The sum of the SWV values correlated with total clinical skin score (r = 0.841, p < 0.001), and the sum of the skin thickness correlated with total clinical skin score (r = 0.740, p = 0.002).

Conclusion.

ARFI quantification is feasible and reliable for assessing the skin involvement in dcSSc. ARFI quantification could identify early skin change that may precede palpable skin involvement, and may be a valuable adjunct to skin evaluation in patients with SSc.
High Degree of Nonadherence to Disease-modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Rauscher Veronika , Englbrecht Matthias , van der Heijde Désirée , Schett Georg , Hueber Axel J.
Published: January 2015

Objective.

To test medication adherence using the Compliance-Questionnaire-Rheumatology (CQR).

Methods.

Invitation letter and CQR were sent to 240 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Followup CQR was sent 3 months later. Adherence was evaluated using CQR 80% cutoff scores.

Results.

Seventy-eight patients who were being treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs provided full information on the CQR at both points in time. Eleven patients (14.1%) were classified as adherent based on taking compliance (TC), with only 3 patients (3.8%) adherent in regard to correct dosing (CD) [followup: 13 (16.7%) and 3 (3.8%) for TC and CD, respectively]. Nonadherence was not related to disease activity or side effects.

Conclusion.

We demonstrated low adherence, suggesting differences between doctors’ records and patients’ practice of antirheumatic drug therapy.
Entre mobilisations et institutions
Authors: Baudot Pierre-Yves , Revillard Anne
Published: January 2015

À l’interface entre sociologie du droit, sociologie des mouvements sociaux et sociologie de l’action publique, la notion de politiques des droits proposée par Stuart Scheingold dans son ouvrage fondateur The Politics of Rights a été définie et utilisée de différentes façons. L’accent a pu être mis, comme Scheingold lui-même le proposait, sur la dimension mobilisatrice de la référence aux droits, permettant d’activer la citoyenneté des individus et de bousculer les équilibres politiques. Dans une perspective différente, plusieurs travaux ont défini les politiques des droits comme un style de politique publique, favorisant un cadrage spécifique des mobilisations, facilitant l’accès de certaines catégories d’acteurs et de certains enjeux à des arènes de formation des politiques publiques, et produisant des effets ( policy feedback ) spécifiques. Ces deux façons de définir les politiques des droits invitent à s’interroger sur les reconfigurations que le recours aux droits produit, dans les rapports entre institutions gouvernantes, dans les structures de l’État ainsi que dans les relations entre institutions et mouvements sociaux. Ces trois perspectives sont au cœur de ce numéro.
Du golfe aux banlieues ?
Authors: Adraoui Mohamed-Ali
Published: January 2015

Peut-on constater un intérêt particulier de l’Arabie saoudite ou du Qatar à l’égard des Français musulmans ? Que peut-on dire de l’usage de l’islam dans un éventuel sentiment de proximité entre ces pays et certains citoyens français de confession musulmane ? La visibilité de certains courants tels que le salafisme a, ces dernières années, mis en lumière des liens non plus seulement interétatiques mais intersociaux entre une partie des Français musulmans et certains pays du Golfe. Une analyse détaillée de ce phénomène amène néanmoins à considérer la complexité de ces évolutions.
Lettres de correspondants français à la BBC (1940-1943)
Authors: Gildea Robert
Published: January 2015

Cet article exploite un fonds de lettres adressées à la BBC par des correspondants français entre 1940 et 1943 et vise à contribuer au débat sur l’étendue de la résistance en France. Il défend la thèse de l’existence d’une « pénombre », soit d’une mouvance entre l’opinion publique et la résistance organisée des ombres qui chercha à reconstruire symboliquement la communauté nationale et à entamer un dialogue avec Londres sur le comportement des Alliés, la fidélité au maréchal Pétain ou au général de Gaulle et la persécution des juifs. Ces correspondants furent rarement des hommes en âge d’être militarisés, qui pensaient à résister militairement, et davantage des anciens combattants, des femmes et des jeunes.
Le retrait des tirailleurs sénégalais de la Première Armée française en 1944
Authors: Miot Claire
Published: January 2015

À l’automne 1944, plus de quinze mille tirailleurs sénégalais sont progressivement et parfois chaotiquement retirés du front de la Première Armée française dans la région de Belfort, puis transférés dans le Sud de la France. Ni véritable relève, ni tout à fait hivernage, cette opération de « blanchiment », ou « blanchissement » pour reprendre les termes connotés de l’époque, soulève de nombreuses interrogations. Elle apparaît comme le résultat d’un processus de décision complexe qui articule considérations militaires influencées par la « théorie des races martiales », nécessité politique de l’intégration des combattants venus de la Résistance intérieure à l’armée régulière.
Perpetually Perplexing Pediatric Patients: It’s Complicated: Part 2
Authors: Block Stan L.
Published: January 2015

Many pediatric patients that you encounter will challenge your diagnostic and therapeutic skills. As the following cases will illustrate, some will perplex you with their esoteric or convoluted illnesses despite your best attempts. Although their initial presentation may often be mundane, thorough history taking and physical examination, and a keen “clinical intuition” will be invaluable.

[
Pediatr Ann
. 2015;44(1):12–17.]
The Impact of a Telenovela Intervention on Use of Home Health Care Services and Mexican American Older Adult and Caregiver Outcomes
Authors: Crist Janice D. , Pasvogel Alice , Hepworth Joseph T. , Koerner Kari M.
Published: January 2015

A two-group randomized controlled trial tested a telenovela intervention (i.e., a culturally congruent videotaped dramatization with guided dialogue) to increase Mexican American older adults’ and family caregivers’ awareness of and confidence in home health care services (HHCS), thereby increasing use of HHCS and improving older adult and caregiver outcomes. Both groups had significant increases in awareness of and confidence in HHCS. The intervention group used HHCS more than the control group (91.1% versus 71.2% of total visits authorized); however, this was not a statistically significant difference (
p
= 0.18). Use of HHCS was associated with increased older adult and caregiver mutuality (i.e., the quality of the older adult–caregiver relationship) and decreased caregiving burden and depression. The predictive role and measurement of awareness and ways to improve the intervention are discussed. Findings are especially important with today’s focus on transitional care to keep older adults at home and prevent unnecessary readmissions.

[Res Gerontol Nurs. 2015; 8(2):62–76.]
Un caso de influencia virgiliana en el Persiles, la invención de Tile, lugar de origen del héroe
Authors: Alarcos Martínez Miguel
Published: January 2015

Al final del Libro IV del Persiles, Cervantes desvela la identidad y orígenes de los héroes, que hasta entonces han recibido los nombres de Periandro y Auristela. En este contexto, la invención del espacio septentrional de Tile, cuna del protagonista, adquiere una especial relevancia, pues estriba en el imaginario virgiliano de Thule, formulado en los vv. 29-31 de las Geórgicas, I. La clave está en una cita de Virgilio, a la que recurre el ayo Serafido, cuando ilustra su descripción geográfica de Tile. El presente artículo estudia la apropiación cervantina del material citado y su función estética en la novela.
Small-Group vs. Competitive Learning in Computer Science Classrooms
Authors: Kalaian Sema A. , Kasim Rafa M.
Published: January 2015

The focus of this meta-analytic chapter was to quantitatively integrate and synthesize the accumulated pedagogical research that examined the effectiveness of one of the various small-group learning methods in maximizing students' academic achievement in undergraduate computer science classrooms. The results of the meta-analysis show that cooperative, collaborative, problem-based, and pair learning pedagogies were used in college-level computer science classrooms with an overall average effect-size of 0.41. The results of the multilevel analysis reveal that the effect sizes were heterogeneous and the effects were explored further by including the coded predictors in the conditional multilevel model in efforts to explain the variability. The results of the conditional multilevel model reveal that the effect sizes were influenced significantly by both instructional duration and assessment type of the studies. The findings imply that the present evidence-based research supports the effectiveness of active small-group learning methods in promoting students' achievement in computer science classrooms.
ZatLab
Authors: Baltazar André , Martins Luís Gustavo
Published: January 2015

Computer programming is not an easy task, and as with all difficult tasks, it can be faced as tedious, impossible to do, or as a challenge. Therefore, learning to program with a purpose enables that “challenge mindset” and encourages the student to apply himself in overcoming his handicaps and exploring different theories and methods to achieve his goal. This chapter describes the process of programming a framework with the purpose of achieving real time human gesture recognition. Just this is already a good challenge, but the ultimate goal is to enable new ways of Human-Computer Interaction through expressive gestures and to allow a performer the possibility of controlling (with his gestures), in real time, creative artistic events. The chapter starts with a review on human gesture recognition. Then it presents the framework architecture, its main modules, and algorithms. It closes with the description of two artistic applications using the ZatLab framework.