bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hybrid Modeling Approach for Quantifying Maintenance and Rehabilitation Treatment Effectiveness of Asphalt Pavements
Authors: Chang Carlos M. , Saenz Daniel , Li Zheng (Jenny)
Published: August 2016

Analysis tools in pavement management systems are critical to assist transportation agencies in developing the most adequate maintenance and rehabilitation program. A key aspect in the treatment selection process is to evaluate the effectiveness of maintenance and rehabilitation alternative treatments. Treatment effectiveness is related to the time of the application and should be measured in the short term and long term. Short-term treatment effectiveness measures include condition improvement and reduction of the deterioration rate, while long-term treatment effectiveness is related to its ability to extend the pavement remaining life. In this paper, a hybrid modeling approach is presented to integrate expert knowledge with pavement performance data for quantifying short-term and long-term treatment effectiveness. Optimal times to apply asphalt treatments were obtained as a result of the hybrid modeling approach. The Texas Department of Transportation (DOT) has successfully incorporated these results to enhance its pavement management information system, which is used as a tool to assist Texas DOT decision makers to formulate maintenance and rehabilitation programs.
Developing a Correlation Between the Pavement Condition Ratings Used by Five Federal Lands Management Agencies
Authors: Ram Prashant V. , Smith Kelly L. , Zimmerman Kathryn A. , Ratliff Tammy , Amenta James
Published: August 2016

The Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Federal Lands Highway works closely with its federal and tribal transportation partners, collectively called Federal Lands Management Agencies (FLMAs). A review of the various pavement condition assessment methods used by five of the FLMAs showed that each one was different and that there was no uniform basis to compare pavement conditions on a national basis. This paper presents the results of a study performed to develop statistical models to crosswalk the paved road condition ratings of the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Bureau of Land Management. To achieve this objective, two major field studies involving independent condition assessments of several federal lands roads by the FLMA representatives were conducted. The results of the field studies and the subsequent analyses of data demonstrated that the individual rating procedures used by each FLMA could be reasonably crosswalked to the pavement condition index (as specified by the ASTM D6433 standard), allowing for a consistent method of reporting FLMA pavement conditions nationally.
Methodology for Determining Performance Life of Hot-Mix Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Rodriguez Danniel D. , Torres Escobedo Luis A. , Abdallah Imad N. , Haggerty Brett , Nazarian Soheil
Published: August 2016

A critical component of the life-cycle cost analysis for staged design and rehabilitation of flexible pavements is to estimate the service lives of various hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixtures, which in some cases is carried out subjectively. This paper describes a process for using the existing data to develop an objective and data-driven process for estimating the service lives of common HMA mixtures. Spatial information along with construction records and distress and functional condition logs are merged to assess the “cradle-to-grave” service lives and deterioration patterns, statewide or regionally. One of the most challenging steps was linking separate databases to compile a comprehensive pavement performance database. The end result was an online tool that enabled the extraction of HMA service life data and descriptive statistics of several thousand road sections. The probabilistic performance life of each common mix was then estimated through an integrated approach of survivability analysis that considers the historical longevity of mix types, the age of the HMA surface course, distress history–based life predictions, field case study life predictions, and department of transportation personnel perceived service lives. The results as applied to Texas data showed bimodal longevity distributions of service life. In general, the mean service life of the analyzed dense-graded mix met or exceeded the mean perceived service life expressed by two dozen pavement engineers statewide. However, a fraction of the projects exhibited shorter lives because of a number of technical and institutional factors. Overall, the proposed methodology proved to be a consistent process when assessing HMA service life.
Use of Connected Vehicles to Characterize Ride Quality
Authors: Bridgelall Raj , Rahman M. Tahmidur , Tolliver Denver D. , Daleiden Jerome F.
Published: August 2016

The United States relies on the performance of more than 4 million miles of roadways to sustain its economic growth and to support the dynamic mobility needs of its growing population. The funding gap to build and maintain roadways is ever widening. Hence the continuous deterioration of roads from weathering and usage poses significant challenges. Transportation agencies measure ride quality as the primary indicator of roadway performance. The international roughness index is the prevalent measure of ride quality that agencies use to assess and forecast maintenance needs. Most jurisdictions use a laser-based inertial profiler to produce the index. However, technical, practical, and budget constraints preclude that use for some facility types, particularly local and unpaved roads that make up more than 90% of the road network in the United States. This study expands on previous work that developed a method to transform sensor data from many connected vehicles to characterize ride quality continuously, for all facility types and at any speed. The case studies used a certified and calibrated inertial profiler to produce the international roughness index. A smartphone aboard the inertial profiler produced simultaneously the roughness index of the connected vehicle method. The results validate the direct proportionality relationship between the inertial profiler and connected vehicle methods within a margin of error that diminished below 5% and 2% after 30 and 80 traversal samples, respectively.
Don't call it "dolly". The geo-political revolution of fashion dolls
Authors: Stramaglia Massimiliano
Published: August 2016

In an essay first published in 1967, Donald W. Winnicott finds in playing «the location of the cultural experience». Therefore, the toy (or the transitional object) positions itself as expression of the prevailing culture and the social codes that mould the different educational structures each time. According to the historian Maria Rumi, ever since mass production, dolls is overall one of the best selling toys in the male tradition and in the female world. This contribution aims to analyse the present changes within the production of fashion dolls in a three-way visual viewpoint: the revolution of the bodily stereotype of Barbie, which after representing the initial male fetish, becomes the embodiment of female identity; the cultural model of the Islamic dolls, which in opposition to western culture, propose female models which are milder and are subject to the dominant theo-political dictates; finally, we find the strange case of the widelyunknown doll of Hugo Chávez, which became symbol of a popular revolution (for some, populist) to the point of being a great success among adult supporters of the then President of Venezuela. In this way, the doll becomes an instrument of inclusion or exclusion, according to the specific way to approach it. The fashion doll ceases to be an inanimate object and takes shape in the social imaginary and educates, not always intentionally, the consciences of adults and children.Keywordsinclusion; society; education; politics
Inclusion scolaire, travail collaboratif et temporalités dans les relations entre un CMPP et un lycée professionnel en France
Authors: Numa-Bocage Line
Published: August 2016

Debates about inclusive education exist in international organizations since the 90s inspired school integration that requires the student turns to take part in school life, the inclusion requires more restructuring of the education system, with the objective of creating a space open to all students, where the host organization makes an effort to adapt, to change, to meet the individual needs (Piacenza, 2010, p. 1). Requests for charges taken for special needs students are addressed as well as to the educational institution as medico-psycho centers (CMPP). From an action research centered on the activity of a PPC, we can show how the cover demand in the care provided by a vocational school leads to a change of control in high school and in the center. Rearrangements in the activity of professionals (teachers, psychologist, psychomotor,speech) are identified. One of the redevelopment dimensions concerning management of times (to CMPP) and support (in high school). The intersection of these different time questioned the effectiveness of the action with students at short or medium term, and calls to develop new professional skills to meet the needs of such a collaboration.Keywordsinclusive education; collaborative practices; CMPP; high school; support for high school students; notion of temporality
Lytic Lesions of Vertebrae Without Involvement of Intervertebral Disc- An Atypical Presentation of Spinal Tuberculosis
Authors: Hossain Homayra Tahseen , Islam Quazi Tarikul , Adnan Munshi MB Md Shoaib , Mobin Muntasir Ibne , Ahasan HAM Nazmul , Khandaker Md Abul Kashem
Published: August 2016

Tuberculosis is very common in our country. It can involve many organs and have broad spectrum of image presentation. It may resemble malignant diseases, especially in the elderly and thus confuse the judgement of the clinician. We report a case of a 58 year old gentleman presenting with chronic cough, low grade fever, weight loss for 16 months; features of progressive marrow failure for 8 months and severe low back pain without any neurological features for 2 months. The CT scan of spine revealed lytic lesions of vertebrae sparing the intervertebral discs, thus resembling metastatic lesions of bone. We approached this case as malignant disease initially, but found it to be a disseminated tuberculosis infection involving lungs, bone marrow and spine after a series of investigations. Though disseminated TB is not uncommon in our country, the purpose of presenting this case is to give emphasis that, clinicians should consider Potts disease (spinal tuberculosis) in the differential diagnosis of patients with back pain and destructive vertebral lesions. Proper diagnosis and anti-tuberculous treatment with or without surgery will result in cure of the patientBangladesh J Medicine Jul 2016; 27(2) : 81-85
Sustained Military Operations and Cognitive Performance
Authors: Vrijkotte Susan , Roelands Bart , Meeusen Romain , Pattyn Nathalie
Published: August 2016

INTRODUCTION: Cognitive performance is crucial during military operations. It is suggested that impaired cognitive performance accounts for most of the accidents during training courses and actual battle. There is a need to define when soldiers’ operational readiness becomes
impaired. The objective of this systematic review was to investigate the effects of sustained military operations (SUSOPS) on vigilance, reaction time, working memory, and reasoning in order to select good indicators for performance impairment.METHODS: A systematic literature search
was performed using publicly accessible databases (IngentaConnect, PubMed, Science Direct, and Defense Technical Information Center online) that were screened until July 2015. Keywords were military, sustained operations, (cognitive) performance, soldier, and training.RESULTS: Only
7 out of 589 studies met the inclusion criteria. Selected studies were difficult to compare due to different methodologies, cognitive tasks, and military courses. Vigilance, reaction time, and working memory were affected after only a few hours, showing severe impairment. They are linearly
related to military stress up to 80 h of SUSOPS. These three indicators needed little recovery time to return to baseline levels. After more than 80 h of SUSOPS, no significant impairments of those indicators were observed. Reasoning becomes impaired after high stress levels of relatively
short duration and can remain affected after more than 80 h of SUSOPS.DISCUSSION: Vigilance, reaction time, and working memory are affected after only a few hours while little recovery time is needed. For reasoning to return to baseline values, longer recovery is needed than the
time available during SUSOPS.Vrijkotte S, Roelands B, Meeusen R, Pattyn N. Sustained military operations and cognitive performance. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(8):718–727.
Recurrence of Neurological Deficits in an F/A-18D Pilot Following Loss of Cabin Pressure at Altitude
Authors: Robinson Tom , Evangelista Jose S. , Latham Emi , Mukherjee Samir T. , Pilmanis Andrew
Published: August 2016

INTRODUCTION: Supersonic, high altitude aviation places its pilots and aircrew in complex environments, which may lead to injury that is not easily diagnosed or simply treated. Decompression illness (either venous or arterial) and environmental conditions (e.g., abnormal gases
and pressure) are the most likely adverse effects aircrew often face. Though symptomatic aircrew personnel may occasionally require hyperbaric oxygen treatment, it is rare to require more than one treatment before returning to baseline function.CASE REPORT: This challenging aviation
case details the clinical course and discusses the salient physiological factors of an F/A-18D pilot who presented with neurological symptoms following loss of cabin pressure at altitude.DISCUSSION: Most crucial to this discussion was the requirement for multiple hyperbaric oxygen
treatments over several days due to recurrence of symptoms. The likelihood of recurrence during and after future flights cannot be estimated with accuracy. This case illustrates a degree of recurrences for neurological symptoms in aviation (hypobaric exposure to hyperbaric baseline environment)
that has not previously been described.Robinson T, Evangelista JS III, Latham E, Mukherjee ST, Pilmanis A. Recurrence of neurological deficits in an F/A-18D pilot following loss of cabin pressure at altitude. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(8):740–744.
Initial Severity Scoring and Residual Deficit in Scuba Divers with Inner Ear Decompression Sickness
Authors: Gempp Emmanuel , Louge Pierre , de Maistre Sébastien , Morvan Jean-Baptiste , Vallée Nicolas , Blatteau Jean-Eric
Published: August 2016

BACKGROUND: Inner ear decompression sickness (IEDCS) in scuba diving results in residual vestibulocochlear deficits with a potential impact on health-related quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the predictive factors for poor clinical recovery and to try to
establish a prognostic score on initial physical examination.METHODS: The medical records of injured divers with IEDCS treated in our facility between 2009 and 2014 were retrospectively analyzed. The clinical severity of the deficit was evaluated on admission using a numerical scoring
system taking into account the intensity of vestibular symptoms and the presence of cochlear signs. The clinical outcome was assessed at 3 mo by telephone interview. After multivariate analysis of potential risk factors for sequelae, the discriminating value of the score and these prognostic
reliability indices were calculated.RESULTS: Among the 99 patients included in the study, 24% still had residual symptoms. Statistical analysis revealed that only a high clinical score [OR = 1.39 (95% CI 1.13-1.71)] and a delay in hyperbaric recompression >6 h [OR = 1.001 (95%
CI 1-1.003)] were independently associated with incomplete recovery. The advantage of the score lay in its highly specific nature (92%) rather than its sensitivity (48%) for a threshold of 10.CONCLUSION: Results suggest that the severity of IEDCS can be easily determined by a clinical
score during the acute phase. Recompression treatment should not be delayed.Gempp E, Louge P, de Maistre S, Morvan J-B, Vallée N, Blatteau J-E. Initial severity scoring and residual deficit in scuba divers with inner ear decompression sickness. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(8):735–739.
Depression Prevalence and Exposure to Organophosphate Esters in Aircraft Maintenance Workers
Authors: Hardos Jennifer E. , Whitehead Lawrence W. , Han Inkyu , Ott Darrin K. , Waller D. Kim
Published: August 2016

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies found that aircraft maintenance workers may be exposed to organophosphates in hydraulic fluid and engine oil. Studies have also illustrated a link between long-term low-level organophosphate pesticide exposure and depression.METHODS:
A questionnaire containing the Patient Health Questionnaire 8 depression screener was e-mailed to 52,080 aircraft maintenance workers (with N = 4801 complete responses) in a cross-sectional study to determine prevalence and severity of depression and descriptions of their occupational
exposures.RESULTS: There was no significant difference between reported depression prevalence and severity in similar exposure groups in which aircraft maintenance workers were exposed or may have been exposed to organophosphate esters compared to similar exposure groups in which
they were not exposed. However, a dichotomous measure of the prevalence of depression was significantly associated with self-reported exposure levels from low (OR: 1.21) to moderate (OR: 1.68) to high exposure (OR: 2.70) and with each exposure route including contact (OR: 1.68), inhalation
(OR: 2.52), and ingestion (OR: 2.55). A self-reported four-level measure of depression severity was also associated with a self-reported four-level measure of exposure.DISCUSSION: Based on self-reported exposures and outcomes, an association is observed between organophosphate exposure
and depression; however, we cannot assume that the associations we observed are causal because some workers may have been more likely to report exposure to organophosphate esters and also more likely to report depression. Future studies should consider using a larger sample size, better methods
for characterizing crew chief exposures, and bioassays to measure dose rather than exposure.Hardos JE, Whitehead LW, Han I, Ott DK, Waller DK. Depression prevalence and exposure to organophosphate esters in aircraft maintenance workers. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(8):712–717.
Blood Flow Restricted Exercise Compared to High Load Resistance Exercise During Unloading
Authors: Hackney Kyle J. , Downs Meghan E. , Ploutz-Snyder Lori
Published: August 2016

BACKGROUND: Bed rest studies have shown that high load (HL) resistance training can mitigate the loss of muscle size and strength during musculoskeletal unloading; however, not all individuals are able to perform HL resistance exercise. Blood flow restricted (BFR) resistance
exercise may be a novel way to prevent maladaptation to unloading without requiring HL exercise equipment. This study evaluated the muscular training adaptations to HL and BFR resistance training during unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS), a human limb unloading model. ULLS allows for
evaluation of exercise training in both weight-bearing and nonweight-bearing legs within the same individual.METHODS: There were 13 participants who completed 25 d of ULLS and were counterbalanced to: 1) HL, N = 6; or 2) BFR, N = 7, training groups. During ULLS, HL
and BFR performed unilateral leg press and heel raise exercise (3 d/wk).RESULTS: In weight-bearing legs, both HL and BFR increased knee extensor muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and strength. In nonweight-bearing legs, knee extensor CSA and strength increased only in HL and decreased
with BFR.CONCLUSION: HL and BFR resistance exercise were both effective exercise programs for the weight-bearing leg. However, BFR exercise was not as effective as HL resistance exercise in the nonweight-bearing leg. These data show that exercise that improved muscle CSA and strength
in ambulatory weight-bearing conditions was not sufficient to maintain muscle function during unloading. For the preservation of muscle CSA and strength, BFR exercise should be considered an adjunct but not a primary exercise countermeasure for future space missions.Hackney KJ, Downs ME,
Ploutz-Snyder L. Blood flow restricted exercise compared to high load resistance exercise during unloading. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(8):688–696.
Technique for Performing Lumbar Puncture in Microgravity Using Portable Radiography
Authors: Lerner David J. , Parmet Allen J. , Don Steven , Shimony Joshua S. , Goyal Manu S.
Published: August 2016

INTRODUCTION: Visual Impairment and Intracranial Pressure Syndrome (VIIP) has caused symptomatology during and after long duration missions on the International Space Station (ISS). Only indirect measurements of intracranial pressure (ICP), such as ultrasound, have been performed
on ISS. Discussion and interest has happened at NASA about performing lumbar puncture (LP) in microgravity. Only the “blind” palpation approach and the ultrasound-assisted approach have been discussed. This article, as proof of concept, discusses the possibility of portable radiography
to assist lumbar punctures in microgravity.METHOD: An anthropomorphic radiological phantom of an adult lumbar spine was made containing a fluid-filled space in the spinal canal with a latex membrane which simulated the dural sac and cerebrospinal fluid. A portable direct-digital
radiography system with wireless transmitting image receptor and screen was used to perform image-guided lumbar puncture. Using the same equipment and technique, this procedure was then performed on a cadaver for final proof of concept.RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in
all approaches on the first try without needle redirection. There was no difference between the cadaver model and the phantom model in terms of difficulty in reaching the fluid space or visually confirming needle location.DISCUSSION: Portable radiography via proof of concept has
the potential to guide lumbar puncture while minimizing volume and mass of equipment. This could be ideal for assisting in performing lumbar puncture in microgravity, as this is the standard of care on Earth for difficult or failed “blind” lumbar punctures.Lerner DJ, Parmet
AJ, Don S, Shimony JS, Goyal MS. Technique for performing lumbar puncture in microgravity using portable radiography. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(8):745–747.
Recombinant human thyrotropin stimulated 131I treatment for multinodular goiter
Authors: Tang Limin , Ma Tiekun , Wu Fengyu
Published: August 2016

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of rhTSH stimulation before 131I treatment in patients with MNG. Methods: Sources included the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and SCOPUS database (all until January 2016). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the efficacy of rhTSH-stimulated 131I treatment compared to placebo or 131I treatment alone were collected. Two authors performed the data extraction independently. Results: Six RCTs involving 294 patients with MNG were included in this review. Altogether 168 patients were randomized to rhTSH-stimulated 131I therapy, and 126 to either placebo and 131I or 131I alone. rhTSH-stimulated 131I vs placebo and 131I or 131I alone for MNG showed no statistically significant difference in quality of life and all-cause mortality. rhTSH- (at a dose of 0.03 mg and above) stimulated 131I treatment for MNG showed significant benefits in thyroid volume reduction. 131I treatment with rhTSH stimulation at high doses (0.03 mg, 0.1 mg, 0.3 mg and 0.45 mg) for MNG caused significantly higher adverse effects and hypothyroidism. Conclusions: The overall results indicated that using rhTSH at high doses of 0.03–0.45 mg before 131I therapy resulted in a greater TVR than 131I therapy alone for patients with non-toxic MNG. However, an increased incidence of adverse effects and hypothyroidism was observed in patients receiving highdose of rhTSH pretreatment than in patients who received low-dose rhTSH pretreatment. Therefore, a dose of 0.03 mg rhTSH pretreatment before 131I therapy may be more potent than 131I alone in treating patients with non-toxic MNG who either had a contraindication for or declined surgery.
THE OXYGEN FEATURES IN TYPE Ia SUPERNOVAE AND IMPLICATIONS FOR THE NATURE OF THERMONUCLEAR EXPLOSIONS
Authors: Zhao Xulin , Maeda Keiichi , Wang Xiaofeng , Wang Lifan , Sai Hanna , Zhang Jujia , Zhang Tianmeng , Huang Fang , Rui Liming
Published: August 2016

The absorption feature O i
λ7773 is an important spectral indicator for type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) that can be used to trace the unburned material in outer layers of the exploding white dwarf (WD). In this work, we use a large sample of SNe Ia to examine this absorption at early phases (i.e., −13 day ≲ t ≲ −7 day) and make comparisons with the absorption features of Si ii
λ6355 and the Ca ii near-infrared triplet. We show that for a subgroup of spectroscopically normal SNe with normal photospheric velocities (i.e., v
si ≲ 12,500 km s−1 at optical maximum), the line strength of the high velocity feature (HVF) of O i is inversely correlated with that of Si ii (or Ca ii), and this feature also shows a negative correlation with the luminosity of SNe Ia. This finding, together with other features we find for the O i HVF, reveal that for this subgroup of SNe Ia, explosive oxygen burning occurs in the outermost layer of the SN. Differences in the oxygen burning could lead to the observed diversity, which is in remarkable agreement with the popular delayed-detonation model of Chandrasekhar mass WDs.
Ethnic Differences in Autoantibody Diversity and Hierarchy: More Clues from a US Cohort of Patients with Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Nandiwada Sarada L. , Peterson Lisa K. , Mayes Maureen D. , Jaskowski Troy D. , Malmberg Elisabeth , Assassi Shervin , Satoh Minoru , Tebo Anne E.
Published: August 2016

Objective.

To determine the autoantibody repertoire and clinical associations in a multiethnic cohort of American patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods.

There were 1000 patients with SSc (196 Hispanic, 228 African American, 555 white, and 21 other) who were screened for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), including anticentromere antibodies (ACA) by indirect immunofluorescence assay, antitopoisomerase-1 (topo-1/Scl-70) by immunodiffusion, and anti-RNA polymerase III (RNAP III) by ELISA. Sera from 160 patients with mainly nucleolar and/or speckled ANA pattern, but negative for ACA, Scl-70, and RNAP III, were further characterized by immunoprecipitation for SSc-specific antibodies.

Results.

The prevalence of antibodies against RNAP III, Th/To, and PM/Scl did not differ significantly among the ethnic groups. The frequency of anti-Scl-70 was lowest in whites (18.0%) compared with 24.0% and 26.8% in Hispanics and African Americans (p = 0.01), respectively. Compared with African American patients, Hispanic and white subjects had a higher frequency of ACA (p < 0.0001) and lower frequency of U3-RNP (p < 0.0001). U3-RNP antibodies were uniquely higher in African American patients, independent of clinical subset, while Th/To autoantibodies were associated with limited cutaneous SSc in white subjects. Overall, Hispanic and African American patients had an earlier age of onset and a predominance of diffuse cutaneous SSc compared with their white counterparts.

Conclusion.

SSc-specific antibodies may predict disease subset; however, the hierarchy of their prevalence differs across ethnic groups. This study provides the most extensive analysis to date on the relevance of autoantibodies in the diagnosis and clinical manifestations of SSc in Hispanic American patients.
Elevated Serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 in Early Disease Predicts Subsequent Deterioration of Pulmonary Function in Patients with Systemic Sclerosis and Interstitial Lung Disease
Authors: Kuwana Masataka , Shirai Yuichiro , Takeuchi Tsutomu
Published: August 2016

Objective.

To identify predictors of poor prognosis in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD).

Methods.

Fifty patients with early-stage SSc-ILD who had never received disease-modifying drugs and were either observed for ≥ 10 years or died from ILD-related causes were enrolled. The baseline variables of patients who developed endstage lung disease (ESLD) were compared with those of patients who remained ESLD-free, and the Cox proportional hazard model was used to identify initial factors that correlated with ESLD development.

Results.

Sixteen patients (32%) developed ESLD during 173.5 ± 64.7 months of followup. Elevated serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) at initial assessment was highly correlated with ESLD development (p = 0.0002). Receiver-operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that a KL-6 value of 1273 U/ml effectively discriminated patients who developed ESLD from those who did not. Patients with KL-6 > 1273 U/ml were less likely to remain ESLD-free compared with those with lower KL-6 levels (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that KL-6 > 1273 U/ml was the most reliable predictor of ESLD development (OR 51.2, 95% CI 7.6–343, p < 0.0001). Finally, the initial KL-6 level correlated with the forced vital capacity (FVC) decline rate (r = 0.58, p < 0.0001).

Conclusion.

The natural course of SSc-ILD is highly variable. Baseline serum KL-6 is a biomarker potentially useful for predicting FVC decline.
Current Concepts and the Role of Surgery in the Treatment of Jumper's Knee
Authors: Stuhlman Casey R. , Stowers Kris , Stowers Lucas , Smith Jay
Published: August 2016

Jumper's knee is a common cause of anterior knee pain among athletes and active populations. Numerous treatments have been described with variable results. To better delineate this, the authors reviewed all articles from 2000 to 2014 pertaining to the treatment of patellar tendinopathy, focusing namely on treatment of recalcitrant cases. Open and arthroscopic techniques were found to achieve similar satisfactory results in 81% (range, 45%–100%) and 91% (range, 86%–96%) of patients, respectively. Average time to return to play was 5.6 months and 5 months, respectively. A recently described technique, percutaneous ultrasonic tenotomy, potentially represents an attractive alternative option for definitive intervention. [
Orthopedics.
2016; 39(6):e1028–e1035.]
Enhanced Requirement for TNFR2 in Graft Rejection Mediated by Low-Affinity Memory CD8+ T Cells during Heterologous Immunity
Authors: Krummey Scott M. , Chen Ching-Wen , Guasch Sara A. , Liu Danya , Wagener Maylene , Larsen Christian P. , Ford Mandy L.
Published: August 2016

The affinity of a TCR binding to peptide:MHC profoundly impacts the phenotype and function of effector and memory cell differentiation. Little is known about the effect of low-affinity priming on memory cell generation and function, which is particularly important in heterologous immunity, when microbe-specific T cells cross-react with allogeneic Ag and mediate graft rejection. We found that low-affinity–primed memory CD8+ T cells produced high levels of TNF ex vivo in response to heterologous rechallenge compared with high-affinity–primed memory T cells. Low-affinity secondary effectors significantly upregulated TNFR2 on the cell surface and contained a higher frequency of TNFR2hi proliferating cells. Low-affinity–primed secondary effectors concurrently downregulated TNF production. Importantly, blockade of TNFR2 attenuated graft rejection in low- but not high-affinity–primed animals. These data establish a functional connection between TNF signaling and TCR-priming affinity and have implications for the immunomodulation of pathogenic T cell responses during transplantation.
Accelerated Loss of TCR Repertoire Diversity in Common Variable Immunodeficiency
Authors: Wong Gabriel K. , Millar David , Penny Sarah , Heather James M. , Mistry Punam , Buettner Nico , Bryon Jane , Huissoon Aarnoud P. , Cobbold Mark
Published: August 2016

Although common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) has long been considered as a group of primary Ab deficiencies, growing experimental data now suggest a global disruption of the entire adaptive immune response in a segment of patients. Oligoclonality of the TCR repertoire was previously demonstrated; however, the manner in which it relates to other B cell and T cell findings reported in CVID remains unclear. Using a combination approach of high-throughput TCRβ sequencing and multiparametric flow cytometry, we compared the TCR repertoire diversity between various subgroups of CVID patients according to their B cell immunophenotypes. Our data suggest that the reduction in repertoire diversity is predominantly restricted to those patients with severely reduced class-switched memory B cells and an elevated level of CD21lo B cells (Freiburg 1a), and may be driven by a reduced number of naive T cells unmasking underlying memory clonality. Moreover, our data indicate that this loss in repertoire diversity progresses with advancing age far exceeding the expected physiological rate. Radiological evidence supports the loss in thymic volume, correlating with the decrease in repertoire diversity. Evidence now suggests that primary thymic failure along with other well-described B cell abnormalities play an important role in the pathophysiology in Freiburg group 1a patients. Clinically, our findings emphasize the integration of combined B and T cell testing to identify those patients at the greatest risk for infection. Future work should focus on investigating the link between thymic failure and the severe reduction in class-switched memory B cells, while gathering longitudinal laboratory data to examine the progressive nature of the disease.
Repeated sightings of Alexandrine parakeet Psittacula eupatria in Rome (Central Italy) and its likely acclimatization
Authors: Angelici Francesco Maria , Fiorillo Alessandro
Published: August 2016

Alexandrine parakeet sightings have repeatedly occurred in the city of Rome, Italy in the Caffarella valley, within the ‘Regional Park of Appia Antica’ starting from March 2010. Several other sightings have been made since December 2014 onwards. Until now, nesting has not been proven, but it is believed that this may have already occurred.
Gynecological cancers: A summary of published Indian data
Authors: Maheshwari Amita , Kumar Neha , Mahantshetty Umesh
Published: August 2016

Gynecological cancers are among the most common cancers in women and hence an important public health issue. Due to the lack of cancer awareness, variable pathology, and dearth of proper screening facilities in developing countries such as India, most women report at advanced stages, adversely affecting the prognosis and clinical outcomes. Ovarian cancer has emerged as one of the most common malignancies affecting women in India and has shown an increase in the incidence rates over the years. Although cervical cancer is on a declining trend, it remains the second most common cancer in women after breast cancer. Many researchers in India have published important data in the field of gynecologic oncology, covering all domains such as basic sciences, preventive oncology, pathology, radiological imaging, and clinical outcomes. This work has given us an insight into the in-depth understanding of these cancers as well as the demographics and survival rates in the Indian population. This aim of this review is to discuss the important studies done in India for all gynecological cancers.
Genitourinary cancers: Summary of Indian data
Authors: Yuvaraja T. B. , Waigankar Santosh , Bakshi Ganesh , Prakash Gagan
Published: August 2016

Tumors of the genitourinary system are one of the most common tumors encountered in clinical practice. The associated morbidity and mortality and the significant proportion of affected middle-age individuals have a major bearing on the death-adjusted life years compared to other malignancies. Genitourinary system tumors encompass a very broad spectrum with regard to age, location, histology, and clinical outcomes. Advances in diagnostic imaging, surgical techniques, radiotherapy equipment, and generation of newer chemotherapeutic and targeted agents over the past few years have helped improving treatment outcome. Several focused groups within India have been working on a range of topics related to genitourinary system tumors, and a significant body of work from India in the recent years is being increasingly recognized throughout the world. The present article summarizes the key published work related to the epidemiology of genitourinary system tumors in the Indian setting. A PubMed search was made for locating and selecting articles relevant to the topic.
Acute leukemia in children: A review of the current Indian data
Authors: Arora Ramandeep Singh , Arora Brijesh
Published: August 2016

Acute leukemias are the most common diagnostic group of childhood cancer. This review summarizes the published literature on reported current outcomes of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) from India. Overall survival in ALL ranged from 45% to 81% (commonly >60%) and event-free survival ranged from 41% to 70% (commonly >50%). Outcome data for AML was patchy with varying duration of follow-up, but it can be inferred that 50-80% of treated patients had experienced an event (toxic death, refractory disease or relapse). It is imperative that going forward focus should be on collaborative efforts, which promote treatment of patients on risk-stratified adapted protocols based on local infrastructure, improvement in supportive care and encourage prospective multi-center clinical trials.
Embeddings of maximal tori in classical groups over local and global fields
Authors: Bayer-Fluckiger Eva , Lee Ting-Yu , Parimala Raman
Published: August 2016

Embeddings of maximal tori in classical groups over fields
of characteristic not 2 are the subject matter of several recent papers. The
aim of the present paper is to give necessary and sufficient conditions for
such an embedding to exist, when the base field is a local field, or the
field of real numbers. This completes the results of [3], where
a complete criterion is given for the Hasse principle to hold when the base
field is a global field.
On Grothendieck-Serre's conjecture concerning principal $G$-bundles over reductive group schemes: II
Authors: Panin Ivan Alexandrovich
Published: August 2016

A proof of the Grothendieck-Serre conjecture on principal bundles
over a semi-local regular ring containing an infinite field is given in [1].
That proof is heavily based on Theorem 1.0.3 stated below
in the introduction and proved in the present paper.
Theorem 1.0.3 itself is a consequence of two purity theorems 1.0.1
and 1.0.2 which are of completely independent interest and which are proved below.
The purity theorem 1.0.1 covers all the known results of this shape
and looks like a final one.
Molecular Diagnostics for Soil-Transmitted Helminths
Authors: O'Connell Elise M. , Nutman Thomas B.
Published: August 2016

Historically, the diagnosis of soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) (e.g., Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichiura, Ancylostoma duodenale, Necator americanus, and Ascaris lumbricoides) has relied on often-insensitive microscopy techniques. Over the past several years, there has been an effort to use molecular diagnostics, particularly quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), to detect intestinal pathogens. While some platforms have been approved by regulatory bodies (e.g., Food and Drug Administration) to detect intestinal bacteria, viruses, and protozoa, there are no approved tests currently available for STH. Although studies comparing qPCR to microscopy methods for STH are imperfect, due in large part to a lack of a sufficient gold standard, they do show a significant increase in sensitivity and specificity of qPCR compared with microscopic techniques. These studies, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of using qPCR for STH diagnosis, are discussed. Guidelines for those designing future studies utilizing qPCR are proposed for optimizing results, as is the proposition for using standardized molecular diagnostics routinely for STH in clinical laboratories and for field-based studies when possible.
Photosynthesis response by phytoplankton to sunlight variability1
Authors: Marra John , Heinemann Kristina
Published: August 2016

Photosynthetic oxygen evolution and solar irradiance have been measured for phytoplankton cultures kept in a south‐facing window greenhouse. Sunrise‐sunset periods are considered; measurement and analytical techniques allow examination of a frequency range of ≈w0.2–3 cy · h−1, and, in one instance, up to 10 cy · h−1.

On sunny days there are morning maxima and afternoon depressions in photosynthesis. Photosynthesis closely tracks irradiance on cloudy and variable days. Cross‐spectral analysis of data from variable days shows that photosynthesis responds to changes in irradiance (at 1–10 cy · h−1) rather than integrating past irradiance values. A physiological explanation suggested for this behavior concerns the redox characteristics of electron carriers involved in noncyclic photosynthetic electron transport. The ecological significance of the time‐dependent behavior of photosynthesis is that it compensates for the heterogeneous and uncertain light environment experienced by phytoplankton.
Interrater Reliability of the Revised Cognitive Performance Test (CPT): Assessing Cognition in People With Neurocognitive Disorders
Authors: Schaber Patricia , Stallings Emily , Brogan Collette , Ali Fouzia
Published: August 2016

The rigor of occupation-based standardized assessments that rely on observational scoring procedures depends on proven reliability among test administrators. This study measured interrater reliability of the Cognitive Performance Test (CPT), a standardized, occupation-based assessment that measures cognitive–functional capacity in older adults with neurocognitive disorders. To capture a range of experience among test administrators, two sets of raters—four expert and three novice—scored video recordings of 10 patients administered the CPT. Interrater reliability results were strong among all raters (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = .93), with expert raters (ICC = .97) yielding higher coefficients than novice raters (ICC = .93). Spearman’s ρ correlation coefficients were high among all raters (rs = .92–1.00). Practitioners can be confident that results of the CPT give accurate and consistent information to the health care team, family members, and patients when administered with fidelity using standardized protocols.
Effect of ground fenugreek seeds (Trigonella foenum-graecum) on feed consumption and milk performance in Anatolian water buffaloes
Authors: Degirmencioglu Taskin , Unal Halil , Ozbilgin Selda , Kuraloglu Hasan
Published: August 2016

Abstract. In this study, the effects of a diet including fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed on feed consumption and milk performance were examined. A total of 24 buffaloes were randomly divided into two groups (12 animals each). The diet containing ground fenugreek seed (GFS) improved total dry matter (13.17–14.00 kg day−1) (P < 0.05) and daily concentrated feed consumption (2.90–3.81 kg day−1) (P < 0.01) and significantly increased milk production (7.34–8.01 kg day−1) (P < 0.01) in Anatolian water buffaloes (AWBs). In future work, the use of other herbs in AWB may be investigated.
Social media and the transnationalization of mass activism: Twitter and the labour movement
Authors: Dahlberg-Grundberg Michael , Lundström Ragnar , Lindgren Simon
Published: August 2016

This paper explores the labour movement organization LabourStart, a digital initiative that, by various means such as e-mail campaigns and social media use, seeks to promote workers’ rights and to strengthen the labour movement on a global scale. The main aim of this study is to analyse a) how LabourStart employs Twitter for communication and organisation and b) how the Twitter-sphere that LabourStart constitutes — and is constituted by — is geographically structured. Our dataset consisted of all tweets containing the word “labourstart” and all tweets coming from or addressing any LabourStart–related account during the period 2008–2015. As theoretical points of departure, the notions of transnationalization/translocalism were used, in part together with the concept of connective action, to conceptualise the research. In terms of methodology, network analysis was the main approach employed to obtain and visualise the findings. Our results indicate that LabourStart’s Twitter use does not seem to have had any effects in terms of creating a decentralised transnational movement with translocal traits, thus suggesting that LabourStart has failed to fully make use of the connective features of Twitter and to establish a decentralized, transnational union movement. This, we suggest, is to some extent caused by LabourStart’s centralized organizational — and thus communicational — structure. In the concluding section, we interpret our findings in broader terms relating to the context and history of labour movements, and we discuss LabourStart’s work in relation to local and global worker issues.
LatinoTwitter: Discourses of Latino civic Engagement in social medie
Authors: Novak Alison N. , Johnson Kristine , Pontes Manuel
Published: August 2016

Twitter, like other social media platforms, has been identified as a space for cultural groups to debate political ideologies, engage civically, and even form action strategies for social change. Since 2014, the #LatinoTwitter hashtag has been used by Latino users for these purposes. Despite the popularity of the hashtag, few studies have examined it or its users. This study provides the results of a discourse analysis of the 31,000 tweets from 2014–2016 that use the hashtag. The findings indicate Twitter has become a popular platform for Latinos to debate political issues, find parity between ethnic communities, and even promote Latino-centered brands.
Audience constructed genre with Instagram: Street art and graffiti
Authors: Honig Christopher D. F. , MacDowall Lachlan
Published: August 2016

This paper provides an accessible methodology for mapping audience-constructed genres using the online image-sharing platform Instagram. We apply the method to classify artists who utilize public space in relation to the categories ‘street art’ and ‘graffiti bombing’ based on correlations between an artist’s Instagram follower audience and general ‘street art’ and ‘graffiti bombing’ accounts. By measuring the artist’s audience at different times, we can map not only their specific audience composition but also project their demographic trajectory. Finally we provide a methodology to estimate the total online audience for a specific genre: how many total Instagram accounts might follow street art content? This methodology can function as a powerful analytical tool, but is also easy to use, even for a researcher with limited mathematical or programming experience.