bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What Goes Around Comes Around: From the Coloniality of Power to the Crisis of Civilization
Authors: Figueroa Helland Leonardo E. , Lindgren Tim
Published: August 2016

This article combines world-systems, decolonial, eco-feminist and post-human ecological approaches to deconstruct the planetary crisis of the hegemonic civilization. Underpinned by anthropocentric, androcentric, hetero-patriarchal, Euro/Western-centric, modern/colonial and capitalist systems of power, this civilization causes devastating socioecological effects. Globalized through (neo)colonialism/(neo)imperialism, it has subjugated the rural under the urban and the Global South under the North, becoming globally hegemonic. Through the coloniality of power hegemonic conceptions of progress, growth, development and modernity have been spread, procuring the loyalty of semi-peripheral and peripheral regimes into a civilizational obsession with endless accumulation based on the “mastery of nature.” Most “postcolonial” elites, especially across “emerging economies,” have not broken with this coloniality. They often reproduce govern-mentalities aimed at “catching-up” with, cloning, emulating, imitating or conforming to hegemonic models enacted in the North’s metropolitan cores. Overcoming this crisis requires not only a critique of neoliberal capitalist modernity, but a world-systemic transformation towards ecosufficient lifeways based on indigenous, eco-feminist, and post-human alternatives.
Special Issue Introduction: Coloniality of Power and Hegemonic Shifts in the World-System
Authors: Komlosy Andrea , Boatca Manuela , Nolte Hans-Heinrich
Published: August 2016

Introduction to Special Issue on Coloniality of Power and Hegemonic Shifts in the World-System
Terapia nutricional na reabilitação das doenças crônicas osteoarticulares em idosos
Authors: Mazocco Letícia , Chagas Patrícia
Published: August 2016

A osteoporose é a doença óssea mais comum em humanos, considerada um dos maiores problemas de saúde pública do mundo, devido a um aumento na expectativa de vida da população. É uma doença que, assim como a artrite reumatoide, a osteoartrite e a gota, tem relação com diversos fatores, entre eles, a nutrição. Este artigo é uma revisão que aborda a importância da dieta na prevenção e no tratamento das doenças crônicas osteoarticulares, em que destacamos as recomendações nutricionais em relação aos macronutrientes, bem como abordamos o importante papel dos alimentos antioxidantes, do cálcio e da Vitamina D, na saúde dos ossos. Uma dieta balanceada e adequada, com ênfase diária em frutas e vegetais frescos, produtos lácteos na forma desnatada, que inclua o azeite de oliva e oleaginosas, poderá auxiliar na manutenção adequada do peso e trazer benefícios antioxidantes e anti-inflamatórios para a prevenção e o tratamento das doenças osteoarticulares.
A levedura como modelo para estudar as bases moleculares da doença de Parkinson
Authors: Tenreiro Sandra , Outeiro Tiago Fleming
Published: August 2016

A doença de Parkinson (DP) é uma doença neurodegenerativa sem cura, está associada ao envelhecimento e caracteriza-se pela acumulação de inclusões proteicas intraneuronais conhecidas como corpos de Lewy (CL) no cérebro. Os CL são inclusões maioritariamente compostas pela proteína alfa-sinucleína (aSyn), pensando-se estarem associados à neurodegeneração característica na DP. A aSyn está sujeita a várias modificações pós-tradução (MPT) sendo a mais estudada a fosforilação da serina S129, uma vez que esta modificação ocorre em mais de 90% da proteína agregada nos CL. Atualmente há indícios que esta e eventualmente outras MPT poderão ter um papel patológico na doença, mas não está totalmente esclarecido como poderão influenciar a agregação e a toxicidade da aSyn. A levedura Saccharomyces cerevisiae é um organismo eucariota simples e muito bem caracterizado a nível celular e genético. Para além disso, a levedura apresenta vários mecanismos celulares que são conservados até às células eucarióticas superiores. Estas características fazem da levedura um modelo celular poderoso no estudo os mecanismos básicos de várias doenças, entre as quais as que envolvem a agregação de proteínas como a DP. Na nossa investigação temos usado o modelo da levedura da DP em paralelo com outros modelos celulares e animais para responder a várias questões, entre as quais esclarecer o trinómio fosforilação S129- -agregação-toxicidade. Estes estudos têm contribuído para obter novos dados que reforçam a ideia que as MPT podem ser modeladores importantes da agregação, toxicidade e degradação da aSyn nas sinucleinopatias, abrindo perspetivas para o desenvolvimento de novas estratégias terapêuticas para estas doenças.
A disfunção cognitiva nas doenças neurodegenerativas
Authors: Gonçalves Susana , Outeiro Tiago Fleming
Published: August 2016

As doenças neurodegenerativas são neuropatias que incluem as doenças de Parkinson (DP), de Alzheimer (DA) e de Hungtington, assim como a esclerose lateral amiotrófica e demências fronto-temporais. Podendo variar na sua patofisiologia, estas doenças estão associadas ao envelhecimento geral da população, e à presença comum de formas proteicas misfolded e agregadas no cérebro dos indivíduos afectados. A relação entre o misfolding de determinadas proteínas e a evolução para uma patologia cerebral não é totalmente compreendida. Em alguns casos, a deposição de agregados proteicos parece perturbar fisicamente o funcionamento de alguns grupos de células específicos e estender-se posteriormente para os respectivos tecidos e orgãos onde estão localizadas. Em outros casos, a ausência de proteína funcional, devido ao seu recrutamento para os agregados acumulados, resulta na falha de processos celulares cruciais. A médio e longo prazo e dependendo da zona cerebral que é primeiramente afectada, défices cognitivos podem evoluir em demência, que pode incluir perdas de memória pontuais ou até perda de identidade. Aqui, revemos os mecanismos celulares que despoletam DP e DA, relacionando os mesmos com estados de disfunção cognitiva típicos que progressivamente podem acompanhar estas doenças do envelhecimento.
A comparative study of radical prostatectomy and permanent seed brachytherapy for low- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer
Authors: Taussky Daniel , Ouellet Véronique , Delouya Guila , Saad Fred
Published: August 2016

Introduction: We sought to compare the outcomes between radical prostatectomy (RP) and permanent seed prostate brachytherapy (PB) in patients with low- and low-intermediate-risk prostate cancer from a single tertiary care centre.

Methods: Patients were selected from our institute’s internal database based on preoperative selection criteria from the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines (2015) for low- and intermediate-risk patients. No patient had received any neo-adjuvant androgen-deprivation therapy. The endpoint was biochemical recurrence (BCR) or any salvage treatment for both RP and PB at 48 ± 4 months after treatment. The biochemical relapse threshold was set at prostate-specific antigen (PSA) ≥0.5 ng/mL for PB and two PSA values of ≥0.2 ng/mL for RP. Patients from both treatment groups were compared using non-parametric tests. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to determine an association of treatment and pretreatment factors with a BCR at 48 months.

Results: A total of 575 patients were included in this study; 254 were treated with RP and 321 with PB. BCR was not different between both groups (p=0.84, Chi-square test), and occurred in 21.2% of patients treated with RP and in 20.6% with PB. Based on univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, younger age, higher percentage of positive biopsies, and initial PSA were predictive of BCR. Treatment modality was not predictive in either univariate (odds ratio [OR] 0.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.64‒1.44; p=0.84) or multivariate (OR 1.43, 95% CI 0.89‒2.30; p=0.14) analyses.

Conclusions: Using closely related cutoff values for BCR, both RP and PB did not have significantly different outcomes at four years post-treatment. A longer followup may be necessary to detect a difference between treatments.
Validation of a prediction model for avoiding post-chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in patients with metastatic nonseminomatous germ cell cancer
Authors: Punjani Nahid , Power Nicholas , Vanhie James J. , Winquist Eric
Published: August 2016

Introduction: Post-chemotherapy residual masses (PCRMs) may contain persistent cancer or teratoma in more than 50% of patients with metastatic non-seminomatous germ cell tumours (mNSGCTs). Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) is curative, but controversy exists about selection criteria for surgery. A validated prediction model by Vergouwe et al (2007) based on over 1000 patients was evaluated at our centre.

Methods: mNSGCT patients treated with RPLND for PCRMs were identified from an electronic database. Typographical errors in the model were identified and corrected using their 2003 publication, but retaining the 2007 coefficients. Six clinical variables were included in the model and the calculated probability of benign tissue was compared with pathology. “Benign tissue only” was considered a positive test outcome in patients with a predicted probability of “benign tissue only” greater than 70%.

Results: Fifty-two (52) mNSGCT patients between 1980 and 2014 were evaluable. Median age was 32 years (range 17‒52) and International Germ Cell Consensus Classification (IGCCC) prognostic stages were: good 46.2%, intermediate 32.7%, and poor 21.2%. Most patients received bleomycin/etoposide/cisplatin (BEP) chemotherapy and full bilateral RPLND. Pathology showed residual cancer or teratoma in 31 patients (59.6%) and benign findings in 21 patients (40.6%). Positive and negative predictive values and accuracy were 100%, 69%, and 73%, respectively.

Conclusions: “Benign tissue only” was found in 100% of patients in whom this was predicted using our pre-determined criteria. This study involved a limited number of patients, but confirms the potential value of the Vergouwe et al model. Routine use of this prediction model in clinical practice should be tested for mNSGCT patients with PCRMs.
Missing the mark: Current practices in teaching the male urogenital examination to Canadian undergraduate medical students
Authors: McAlpine Kristen , Steele Stephen
Published: August 2016

Introduction: The urogenital physical examination is an important aspect of patient encounters in various clinical settings. Introductory clinical skills sessions are intended to provide support and alleviate students’ anxiety when learning this sensitive exam. The techniques each Canadian medical school uses to guide their students through the initial urogenital examination has not been previously reported.

Methods: This study surveyed pre-clerkship clinical skills program directors at the main campus of English-speaking Canadian medical schools regarding the curriculum they use to teach the urogenital examination.

Results: A response rate of 100% was achieved, providing information on resources and faculty available to students, as well as the manner in which students were evaluated. Surprisingly, over onethird of the Canadian medical schools surveyed failed to provide a setting in which students perform a urogenital examination on a patient in their pre-clinical years. Additionally, there was no formal evaluation of this skill set reported by almost 50% of Canadian medical schools prior to clinical training years.

Conclusions: To ensure medical students are confident and accurate in performing a urogenital examination, it is vital they be provided the proper resources, teaching, and training. As we progress towards a competency-based curriculum, it is essential that increased focus be placed on patient encounters in undergraduate training. Further research to quantify students’ exposure to the urogenital examination during clinical years would be of interest. Without this commitment by Canadian medical schools, we are doing a disservice not only to the medical students, but also to our patient population.
Back-to-back comparison of mini-open vs. laparoscopic technique for living kidney donation
Authors: Rampersad Christie , Patel Premal , Koulack Joshua , McGregor Thomas
Published: August 2016

Introduction: Laparoscopic living donor nephrectomy is the standard of care at high-volume renal transplant centres, with benefits over the open approach well-documented in the literature. Herein, we present a retrospective analysis of our single-institution donor nephrectomy series comparing the mini-open donor nephrectomy (mini-ODN) to the laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) with regards to operative, donor, and recipient outcomes.

Methods: From 2007‒2011, there were 89 cases of mini-ODN, at which point our centre transitioned to LDN; 94 cases were performed from 2011‒2014. In total, 366 patients were reviewed, including donor and recipient pairs. Donor and recipient demographics, intraoperative data, postoperative donor recovery, recipient graft outcomes, and financial cost were assessed comparing the surgical approaches.

Results: We demonstrate a reduced estimated blood loss (347.83 vs. 90.3 cc), lower intraoperative complication rate (4 vs. 11) and shorter length of hospital stay (2.4 vs. 3.3 days) for patients in the LDN group. Operative time was significantly longer for the LDN group (108.4 vs. 165.9 minutes), although this did not translate to a longer warm ischemia time (mean 2.0 minutes for each group). The rate of delayed graft function and recipient 12-month creatinine were comparable for ODN and LND. Overall cost of LDN was $684 higher for an uncomplicated admission.

Conclusions: Despite a longer surgical time and higher upfront cost, our study supports that LDN yields several advantages over the mini-ODN, with a lower estimated blood loss, fewer intraoperative complications, and shorter length of hospital stay, all while maintaining excellent renal allograft outcomes.
Effect of contrast media on urinary cytopathology specimens
Authors: Frees Sebastian , Bidnur Samir , Metcalfe Michael , Raven Peter , Chavez-Munoz Claudia , Moskalev Igor , Fazli Ladan , So Alan
Published: August 2016

Introduction: Urological dogma dictates that washings collected from the urinary tract for cytological assessment must be performed without interference from contrast agents that may alter cellular integrity and diagnostic interpretation. In practice, the initial contrast used to outline the upper tracts is commonly discarded with subsequent saline washings sent for cytology. We hypothesize that contrast washings do not affect the morphology of urothelial carcinoma cells or the integrity of cytology interpretation.

Methods: Samples obtained from (1) human bladder cell lines; (2) urine from a human xenograft bladder cancer model using UC-3 cells; and (3) patients with urothelial carcinoma were subjected to various experimental solutions (water, saline, urine, and dilutions of contrast media) for different exposure times. After exposure to various different solutions, samples underwent cytological analysis to assess morphologic and degenerative changes.

Results: No cytological differences were seen when cells were exposed to ionic, hyperosmolar, or non-ionic low-osmolar contrast agents for any exposures up to five minutes. Cells exposed to mixtures of contrast agents and urine also demonstrated no evidence of degenerative change. Cells exposed to water for greater than one minute demonstrated significant hydropic degeneration impacting cytological interpretation. At 40 minutes or later, all reagents caused severe degeneration when evaluating urine samples from the mouse bladder cancer model and from patients undergoing urothelial carcinoma.

Conclusions: Commonly used contrast agents have no effect on urinary cytology up to five minutes. Contrast washings of the urinary tract should not be discarded and can be sent for cytological diagnosis if fixed within this time period.
Nieuwe Richtlijn Pakketreizen – Versterkte bescherming voor de reiziger?
Authors: Boon M.J. , Mout-Vos E.L.M.
Published: August 2016

Nieuwe Richtlijn Pakketreizen – Versterkte bescherming voor de reiziger?

Eind 2015 is de nieuwe Richtlijn pakketreizen aangenomen, die de uit 1990 stammende oude richtlijn vervangt. De nieuwe richtlijn springt in op de wijze waarop de reiziger mede onder invloed van het internet zijn vakantie boekt. De reizigersbescherming wordt uitgebreid en de nieuwe richtlijn introduceert een aantal regimes van reizigersbescherming. De nieuwe richtlijn moet uiterlijk 1 januari 2018 zijn geïmplementeerd: dit zal leiden tot aanpassing van titel 7.7a BW (art. 7:500-7:513 BW).

Richtlijn (EU) 2015/2302 van het Europees Parlement en de Raad van 25 november 2015 betreffende pakketreizen en gekoppelde reisarrangementen, houdende wijziging van Verordening (EG) nr. 2006/2004 en van Richtlijn 2011/83/EU van het Europees Parlement en de Raad en tot intrekking van Richtlijn 90/314/EEG van de Raad, PbEU 2015, L 326/1
Conhecimentos, atitudes e prática de médicos e enfermeiros da Estratégia Saúde da Família em relação à incontinência urinária feminina
Authors: Rocha Ana Carolinne Portela , Feliciano Adriana Barbieri , Carbol Maristela , Candolo Cecilia , Callegari Fernanda Vieira Rodovalho
Published: August 2016

Objetivo: Analisar conhecimentos, atitudes e prática de médicos e enfermeiros da Estratégia Saúde da Família (ESF) em relação à incontinência urinária (IU) feminina. Métodos: O estudo foi realizado nas 19 equipes da ESF de um município no interior paulista, as quais possuíam 41 profissionais elegíveis (22 médicos e 19 enfermeiros). Foi desenvolvido e utilizado um questionário autoaplicável com questões sobre conhecimentos, atitudes e prática dos profissionais na atenção às mulheres com IU. Resultados: Responderam ao questionário 33 profissionais (80% da população alvo), sendo 15 médicos e 18 enfermeiros. A maioria dos participantes possuía um nível de conhecimento adequado em relação à propedêutica clínica da IU e considerou que suas atribuições englobam a investigação diagnóstica e o tratamento da IU não complicada. Entretanto, uma parcela significativa desconhecia os exames complementares e a conduta terapêutica para a abordagem inicial das mulheres com IU, principalmente naquelas com IU de Urgência. Quanto à prática, um número expressivo desses profissionais não prescrevia exercícios de fortalecimento do assoalho pélvico, não realizava ações de educação em saúde com as mulheres ou promovia atividades de educação permanente com a equipe de trabalho. Conclusão: Os déficits de investigação diagnóstica e tratamento da IU feminina identificados sugerem a necessidade de educação permanente e integração de equipes de apoio matricial à ESF, a fim de promover um cuidado mais integral à população. Tais equipes podem ser provenientes dos Núcleos de Apoio à Saúde da Família (NASF) e/ou de parcerias com as universidades locais.
O uso de larvicidas em água potável é seguro?
Authors: Bastos Cynthia Molina , D'Avila Otávio Pereira , Umpierre Roberto Nunes , Gonçalves Marcelo Rodrigues , Faccini Lavínia Schuler , Harzheim Erno
Published: August 2016

Provavelmente sim. Não existem evidências que comprovem a segurança do uso de larvicidas em água potável. Entretanto, os poucos estudos que existem avaliando o efeito em população de mamíferos, assim como as avaliações de biodisponibilidades e citotoxicidade, demonstram que em baixa concentração são seguros e não há efeitos carcinogênicos ou genotóxico. Os larvicidas avaliados e autorizados para uso em água potável pela Organização Mundial de Saúde, destinada para consumo humano são: DIFLUBENZUROM, METOPRENO, NOVALUROM, Pirimifós/, PIRIPROXIFEM, ESPINOSADE, TEMEFÓS, além do Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (BTI). Recomenda-se sempre usar a dose correta dos larvicidas. O temephós é utilizado para tratamento de focos, mas não deve ser utilizado em aquários com peixes. Aprovado para uso em água de consumo humano. O pyriproxyfen é um éter e não há evidências que comprovem que cause dano em fetos de mamíferos. BTI é recomendado como larvicida para uso em saúde pública, é uma bactéria que em contato com a água libera substâncias tóxicas para as larvas de alguns insetos. A aplicação deverá ser realizada por profissional treinado. O BTI não apresenta ingesta diária aceitável, entretanto a orientação de uso deve ser de 1-5mg/litro. A avaliação de substâncias químicas de qualquer natureza sempre deve salientar a possibilidade de bioacumulação. As substâncias que não são biodegradadas, são biopersistentes e mantêm-se em altas quantidades nos tecidos dos seres vivos. Portanto, mesmo que as substâncias não sejam para consumo humano direto a avaliação do seu uso na agricultura, leito de rio e pastos deve ser avaliada criteriosamente.
A redescription of Harpactea dufouri (Thorell, 1873) (Araneae, Dysderidae), its occurrence outside the Balearic Islands, and some notes on the corticalis group of the genus
Authors: Bosselaers Jan , Van Keer Johan
Published: August 2016

Harpactea dufouri (Thorell, 1873) was collected in the Gavarres protected natural area in Catalonia, Spain. The specimens were compared with specimens from Mallorca, Balearic Islands, and found to be conspecific. The female of the species is described here for the first time. The new finding proves that Harpactea dufouri occurs outside the Balearic Islands. The species, however, may be endemic to Catalonia.
Pruning Trees
Authors: Cady Jo Ann , Wells Pamela J.
Published: August 2016

Solutions to a previous Solve It problem are discussed, and the procedures used with problem solving are explored.
August 2016 Problems
Authors: Pelikan Stephan , DeJarnette Anna F. , Phelps Stephen
Published: August 2016

A monthly set of problems is aimed at a variety of ability levels.
Quilt Block Symmetries
Authors: Roscoe Matt B. , Zephyrs Joe
Published: August 2016

Pull on the threads of congruence and similarity in a series of lessons that explores transformational geometry.
What's In A Name?
Authors: Bush Sarah B. , Albanese Judith , Karp Karen S.
Published: August 2016

Students engage in an activity of predicting, collecting, organizing, analyzing, and interpreting data by exploring the frequency of names that occur over three generations.
Mystery Fractions
Authors: Bhattacharyya Sonalee , Namakshi Nama , Zunker Christina , Warshauer Hiroko K. , Warshauer Max
Published: August 2016

This activity engages students in problem solving while exploring key concepts of number theory, such as divisibility and divisibility tests, place value, fractions, and scale factors.
Trees to Pods to Beans to Chocolate
Authors: Moss Diana L. , Poling Lisa
Published: August 2016

Students explore the mathematics found in chocolate production.
The Cycling Shop
Authors: Flynn Michael
Published: August 2016

This article introduces a task designed around SMP 2: Reason abstractly and quantitatively and encourages students to move between decontextualizing and contextualizing as they work toward solutions. Each month, elementary school teachers are presented with a problem along with suggested instructional notes and asked to use the problem in their own classrooms and report solutions, strategies, reflections, and misconceptions to the journal audience.
The Power of Pets
Authors: Jamil Faiza
Published: August 2016

Math by the Month features collections of short activities focused on a monthly theme. These articles aim for an inquiry or problem-solving orientation that includes four activities each for grade bands K–2, 3–4, and 5–6. This month's article presents mathematics word problems for students focused around the theme of pets. Solving these problems can help students apply mathematical thinking to authentic problems related to an interesting topic.
A Repeat Look at Repeating Patterns
Authors: Markworth Kimberly A.
Published: August 2016

Working with repeating patterns is important for K–grade 2 students because of the connections they will make in later grades with related mathematical ideas.
When the Answer Is the Question
Authors: Battreal Vanessa M. , Brewster Vanessa , Dixon Juli K.
Published: August 2016

Using donuts to contextualize and enrich mathematical discourse can sweeten students' understanding of how to interpret the remainder in a division problem.
Constrained Bayesian Method of Composite Hypotheses Testing: Singularities and Capabilities
Authors: Kachiashvili K.J.
Published: August 2016

The paper deals with the constrained Bayesian Method (CBM) for testing composite hypotheses. It is shown that, similarly to the cases when CBM is optimal for testing simple and multiple hypotheses in parallel and sequential experiments, it keeps the optimal properties at testing composite hypotheses. In particular, it easily, without special efforts, overcomes the Lindley’s paradox arising when testing a simple hypothesis versus a composite one. The CBM is compared with Bayesian test in the classical case and when the a priori probabilities are chosen in a special manner for overcoming the Lindley’s paradox. Superiority of CBM against these tests is demonstrated by simulation. The justice of the theoretical judgment is supported by many computation results of different characteristics of the considered methods.
A Method to Assess Neurological Effectiveness of a Spinal Adjustment for an Individual Patient: A Descriptive Study
Authors: Hart John
Published: August 2016

Introduction: A hallmark in health care research is comparison, typically done by comparing groups of patients, e.g., intervention group versus no intervention group. The clinician may be interested in bringing these research methods to the level of the individual patient in practice. Such is done in the present study, where the neurological indicator of resting pulse rate (RPR) is compared pre versus post spinal adjustment, and also compared to instances of no adjustment – for one individual patient. Research indicates that a lower RPR is healthier than a higher RPR.
Methods: Neurological disturbance was operationally defined in the present study as at least two increases in RPR on consecutive visits. Based on this criterion, the patient, over hundreds of RPR measures observed over approximately 2 years, had 16 instances of neurological disturbance; in one of these instances a chiropractic spinal adjustment was given. The 15 other instances were used to estimate a predicted post RPR, which was compared to the observed post-adjustment RPR.
Results: Post-adjustment RPR was 67.5 beats per minute (BPM) which was only slightly lower than the average predicted post RPR of 68.1 BPM.
Conclusion: The method described may help clinicians determine if their intervention was neurologically effective. The method also provides normative RPR data for future comparisons of adjustment versus no adjustment. In the present case, the chiropractic adjustment post RPR was better (lower) than the predicted post RPR, but only slightly so.
Non Invasive Cardiac Output Evaluation with CO2 Rebreathing Method for CRT Patients
Authors: Occhetta Eraldo , Devecchi Chiara , Devecchi Paolo , Facchini Emanuela , Di Ruocco Virginia , Plebani Laura , Nicola Marino Paolo
Published: August 2016

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy with ICD (CRT-D) or pacemaker (CRT-P) is useful to reverse the deleterious effects of ventricular dyssynchronia in heart failure (HF) patients. To determinate the responders patients, hemodynamic parameters are difficult to evaluate during follow-up, due to the invasivity of the procedures. We compare hemodynamic response to CRT with cardiac output, not invasively detected (CO2 rebreathing method, Innocor system), with conventional clinical, functional and echocardiographic parameters.
Methods: We enrolled 29 patients affected by end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy treated with CRT-P/CRT-D according to the latest guidelines (NYHA class II-IV, left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] ≤ 35%, QRS ≥ 120 ms, sinus rhythm, optimal medical therapy). Patients were evaluated before and after CRT (3 months), considering: NYHA class, Quality of Life score (Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire), QRS width, echocardiographic parameters (diastolic and systolic left ventricular volumes and related LVEF), six minutes walking test (6MWT) and cardiac output (detected with Innocor system).
Results: Our data showed a significant improvement in Innocor cardiac output 3 months after CRT implant compared to baseline (4.01±0.72 vs 4.48±0.59 l/min, p=0.001). The percentage improvement in cardiac output correlates with the percentage increase in LVEF (25±6% vs 30±7%; r=0.541). The correlation is not statistically significant with NYHA class (from 2.52±0.73 to 1.78±0.60; r=0.098), QoL (from 22.57±15.37 to 9.91±9.14 score; r=0.231) and exercise tolerance (from 390±50 to 437±54 meters; r=0.144).
Conclusions: The Innocor system is a promising non-invasive method to assess the cardiac output at baseline and during follow up in HF patients treated with CRT.
Statistical Analyses of Mutually Exclusive Competing Risks in Neonatal Studies
Authors: Engel C. , Franz A.R.
Published: August 2016

Following the well-established approach on how to deal with competing risks in the situation of time-to-event endpoints, cumulative incidences have to be used to analyse each single category of an outcome in the situation of competing risks without a time-to-event structure as well. This can be easily done by applying a simple chi-square test.
Nevertheless, these categorial outcomes are usually combined to get a composed dichotomous outcome to face the problem on how to deal with a significant chi-square omnibus test in the situation of more than 1 df, i.e. > 2x2 tables.
The aim of this report is to question the practice of combined, i.e. composed dichotomized, endpoints because important information is lost and the real effect of interest in confirmatory phase III studies may only become apparent in explorative secondary analyses.
It is shown – by using hypothetical data and by recalculation of published phase III studies’ results – how the use of a chi-square omnibus test and the scarcely known post-hoc testing answers the real question of interest within one primary confirmatory analysis. This method reveals insight into the actual effect of a new treatment or therapy on the event of interest in the presence of a mutually exclusive competing risk
Addressing the Challenge of P-Value and Sample Size when the Significance is Borderline: The Test of Random Duplication of Participants as a New Approach
Authors: Tshikuka Jose-Gaby , G.M.D. Magafu Mgaywa , Molefi Mooketsi , Masupe Tiny , Matchaba-Hove Reginald B. , Mbongwe Bontle , Tapera Roy
Published: August 2016

The issue of borderline p-value seems to divide health scientists into two schools of thought. One school of thought argues that when the p-value is greater than or equal to the statistical significance cut-off level of 0.05, it should not be considered statistically significant and the null hypothesis should be accepted no matter how close the p-value is to the 0.05. The other school of thought believes that by doing so one might be committing a Type 2 error and possibly missing valuable information. In this paper, we discuss an approach to address this issue and suggest the test of random duplication of participants as a way to interpret study outcomes when the statistical significance is borderline. This discussion shows the irrefutability of the concept of borderline statistical significance, however, it is important that one demonstrates whether a borderline statistical significance is truly borderline or not. Since the absence of statistical significance is not necessarily evidence of absence of effect, one needs to double check if a borderline statistical significance is indeed borderline or not. The p-value should not be looked at as a rule of thumb for accepting or rejecting the null hypothesis but rather as a guide for further action or analysis that leads to correct conclusions.
Measuring Modified Mass Energy Equivalence in Nutritional Epidemiology: A Proposal to Adapt the Biophysical Modelling Approach
Authors: Rahman Azizur , Abdul Hakim Md.
Published: August 2016

The calculation of net dietary energy is in great triumph on the helm of designing an apt dieting for both the therapeutic and normal diet. There are some procedures in this connection in nutritional science which is relatively time consuming, laboratory tests induced and often the misleading data contributors in view of assuring balanced dieting. The dietician is often at bay to approve an exact dieting to sustain health and nutritional soundness adhering to the existing dietary energy measuring methods because the frequently using methods are not informing the net dietary energy level required at all in correct amount for the sample at a population in a community. The aim of the current study is to make a dot over these ongoing panics exploring an easy and accurate way in prescribing a confounding free diet. The study can divulge an open secret in measuring net dietary energy which is mandatory for dieting practices worldwide to resist the possible health horrors in nutritional epidemiology. The study finding is the Modified Mass Energy Equivalence [equation (xi)] can be an outstanding biophysical model in measuring net dietary energy as a dieting tool in health pedagogy of health science.
Statistical Performance Effect of Feature Selection Techniques on Eye State Prediction Using EEG
Authors: Uwisengeyimana Jean de Dieu , Khalid Al_Salihy Nusaibah , Ibrikci Turgay
Published: August 2016

Several recent studies have demonstrated that electrical waves recorded by electroencephalogram (EEG) can be used to Predict eye state (Open or Closed) and all the studies in the literatures used 14 electrodes for data recording. To reduce the number of electrodes without affecting the statistical performance of an EEG device, it is not an easy task. Hence, the focus of this paper is on reducing the number of EEG electrodes by means of feature selection techniques without any consequences on the statistical performance measures of the earlier EEG devices. In this study, we compared different attribute evaluators and classifiers. The results of the experiments have shown that ReliefF attribute evaluator was the best to identify the two least important features (P7, P8) with 96.3% accuracy. The overall results show that two data-recording electrodes could be removed from the EEG devices and still perform well for eye state prediction. The accuracy achieved was equal to 96.3% with KStar (K*) classifier which was also the best classifier among the 21 tested classifiers in this study.
A Theory of Quantitative Easing Policy and Negative Interest Policy Based on the Japanese Experience
Authors: Otaki Masayuki
Published: August 2016

Using a two-period overlapping-generations model, I elucidate how quantitative easing policy and negative interest policy affect an economy based on the Japanese experience under the Abe cabinet. Quantitative easing policy forces a huge amount of money hoarding. Accordingly, the rate of return for money is required to rise. This implies that disinflation and/or deflation are accelerated in Japan, which is in line with reality. On the other hand, quantitative easing policy stimulates the aggregate demand, which brings about a mild recovery in business. The business upturn tightens the foreign market because of an increase in imports and causes the home currency to depreciate.Negative interest policy implies there is a tax levied on money hoarding. Hence, as longas the government expenditure is kept constant, money circulating in an economy decreases, thereby discouraging business. Such a downturn reduces aggregate income and imports. This induces excess supply of foreign exchange. Consequently, the exchange rate appreciates to equilibrate the market.These characteristics of the business cycle in conjunction with changes in the attitude of the monetary authority are entirely consistent with the current Japanese experience under Abenomics.
A Note on Intrinsic Inflation Persistence and the Optimal Inflation Rate
Authors: Pontiggia Dario
Published: August 2016

This paper examines the implications of intrinsic inflation persistence, namely inertia that inflation inherits from its own past, on the conduct of optimal monetary policy. We study the optimal long-run rate of inflation in a basic New Keynesian model, which is augmented for intrinsic inflation persistence. We show that the commitment solution for the monetary authority leads to steady-state outcomes in which inflation is positive.
Herbert W. Basser and Marsha Cohen. The Gospel of Matthew and Judaic Traditions: A Relevance-based Commentary
Authors: Zaas Peter
Published: August 2016

No abstract is available.
A Cryptochrome 2 mutation yields advanced sleep phase in humans
Authors: Hirano Arisa , Shi Guangsen , Jones Christopher R , Lipzen Anna , Pennacchio Len A , Xu Ying , Hallows William C , McMahon Thomas , Yamazaki Maya , Ptáček Louis J , Fu Ying-Hui
Published: August 2016

Familial Advanced Sleep Phase (FASP) is a heritable human sleep phenotype characterized by very early sleep and wake times. We identified a missense mutation in the human Cryptochrome 2 (CRY2) gene that co-segregates with FASP in one family. The mutation leads to replacement of an alanine residue at position 260 with a threonine (A260T). In mice, the CRY2 mutation causes a shortened circadian period and reduced phase-shift to early-night light pulse associated with phase-advanced behavioral rhythms in the light-dark cycle. The A260T mutation is located in the phosphate loop of the flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) binding domain of CRY2. The mutation alters the conformation of CRY2, increasing its accessibility and affinity for FBXL3 (an E3 ubiquitin ligase), thus promoting its degradation. These results demonstrate that CRY2 stability controlled by FBXL3 plays a key role in the regulation of human sleep wake behavior.
Physical limits to magnetogenetics
Authors: Meister Markus
Published: August 2016

This is an analysis of how magnetic fields affect biological molecules and cells. It was prompted by a series of prominent reports regarding magnetism in biological systems. The first claims to have identified a protein complex that acts like a compass needle to guide magnetic orientation in animals (Qin et al., 2016). Two other articles report magnetic control of membrane conductance by attaching ferritin to an ion channel protein and then tugging the ferritin or heating it with a magnetic field (Stanley et al., 2015; Wheeler et al., 2016). Here I argue that these claims conflict with basic laws of physics. The discrepancies are large: from 5 to 10 log units. If the reported phenomena do in fact occur, they must have causes entirely different from the ones proposed by the authors. The paramagnetic nature of protein complexes is found to seriously limit their utility for engineering magnetically sensitive cells.
Structural characterization of encapsulated ferritin provides insight into iron storage in bacterial nanocompartments
Authors: He Didi , Hughes Sam , Vanden-Hehir Sally , Georgiev Atanas , Altenbach Kirsten , Tarrant Emma , Mackay C Logan , Waldron Kevin J , Clarke David J , Marles-Wright Jon
Published: August 2016

Ferritins are ubiquitous proteins that oxidise and store iron within a protein shell to protect cells from oxidative damage. We have characterized the structure and function of a new member of the ferritin superfamily that is sequestered within an encapsulin capsid. We show that this encapsulated ferritin (EncFtn) has two main alpha helices, which assemble in a metal dependent manner to form a ferroxidase center at a dimer interface. EncFtn adopts an open decameric structure that is topologically distinct from other ferritins. While EncFtn acts as a ferroxidase, it cannot mineralize iron. Conversely, the encapsulin shell associates with iron, but is not enzymatically active, and we demonstrate that EncFtn must be housed within the encapsulin for iron storage. This encapsulin nanocompartment is widely distributed in bacteria and archaea and represents a distinct class of iron storage system, where the oxidation and mineralization of iron are distributed between two proteins.
Defining key roles for auxiliary proteins in an ABC transporter that maintains bacterial outer membrane lipid asymmetry
Authors: Thong Shuhua , Ercan Bilge , Torta Federico , Fong Zhen Yang , Wong Hui Yi Alvina , Wenk Markus R , Chng Shu-Sin
Published: August 2016

In Gram-negative bacteria, lipid asymmetry is critical for the function of the outer membrane (OM) as a selective permeability barrier, but how it is established and maintained is poorly understood. Here, we characterize a non-canonical ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter in Escherichia coli that provides energy for maintaining OM lipid asymmetry via the transport of aberrantly localized phospholipids (PLs) from the OM to the inner membrane (IM). We establish that the transporter comprises canonical components, MlaF and MlaE, and auxiliary proteins, MlaD and MlaB, of previously unknown functions. We further demonstrate that MlaD forms extremely stable hexamers within the complex, functions in substrate binding with strong affinity for PLs, and modulates ATP hydrolytic activity. In addition, MlaB plays critical roles in both the assembly and activity of the transporter. Our work provides mechanistic insights into how the MlaFEDB complex participates in ensuring active retrograde PL transport to maintain OM lipid asymmetry.
Effect of wetland management: are lentic wetlands refuges of plant-species diversity in the Andean–Orinoco Piedmont of Colombia?
Authors: Murillo-Pacheco Johanna I. , Rös Matthias , Escobar Federico , Castro-Lima Francisco , Verdú José R. , López-Iborra Germán M.
Published: August 2016

Accelerated degradation of the wetlands and fragmentation of surrounding vegetation in the Andean–Orinoco Piedmont are the main threats to diversity and ecological integrity of these ecosystems; however, information on this topic is of limited availability. In this region, we evaluated the value of 37 lentic wetlands as reservoirs of woody and aquatic plants and analyzed diversity and changes in species composition within and among groups defined according to management given by: (1) type (swamps, heronries, rice fields, semi-natural lakes, constructed lakes and fish farms) and (2) origins (natural, mixed and artificial). A total of 506 plant species were recorded: 80% woody and 20% aquatic. Of these, 411 species (81%) were considered species typical of the area (Meta Piedmont distribution). Diversity patterns seem to be driven by high landscape heterogeneity and wetland management. The fish farms presented the highest diversity of woody plants, while swamps ranked highest for aquatic plant diversity. Regarding wetland origin, the artificial systems were the most diverse, but natural wetlands presented the highest diversity of typical species and can therefore be considered representative ecosystems at the regional scale. Our results suggest that lentic wetlands act as refuges for native vegetation of Meta Piedmont forest, hosting 55% of the woody of Piedmont species and 29% of the aquatic species of Orinoco basin. The wetlands showed a high species turnover and the results indicated that small wetlands (mean ± SD: size = 11 ± 18.7 ha), with a small area of surrounding forest (10 ± 8.6 ha) supported high local and regional plant diversity. To ensure long-term conservation of lentic wetlands, it is necessary to develop management and conservation strategies that take both natural and created wetlands into account.
Remote Sensing Geometric Corrections
Authors: Moreno Jose
Published: August 2016

This article reviews the different aspects of geometrical processing of remote sensing data, discussing error sources and methods to determine the transformation from the image acquisition geometry to the output cartographic product. Resampling methods are discussed to transform the input image to the output geometry. Several practical examples of remote sensing platforms are discussed, including satellite cases and airborne sensors. Validation of the resulting geometrical processed products is also discussed. Spatial mosaicking techniques and multitemporal composites used to produce multisource integrated products and advanced applications are finally considered, keeping a perspective on the coming data sources and processing methods to handle the large amounts of data currently provided by operational satellites.
An Overview of Cooperative and Consensus Control of Multiagent Systems
Authors: Reza Davoodi Mohammad , Gallehdari Zahra , Saboori Iman , Rezaee Hamed , Semsar‐kazerooni Elham , Meskin Nader , Abdollahi Farzaneh , Khorasani Khashayar
Published: August 2016

There has been a growing interest toward the development of networked unmanned autonomous systems that can operate without an extensive involvement of humans. The motivation for this focus can be traced to the emergence of applications where direct human intervention is not possible due to the environmental hazards, complexity of the tasks, or other restrictions. These networks can consist of a large number of dynamical systems (agents), such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), and unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs). These systems commonly include a number of sensors, actuators, and decisionmakers. Therefore, the network of these systems is a network of a large number of sensors and actuators or, as is known in the literature, a system of systems (SoS).

In this work, we provide a brief overview of controlling these networks, their applications, and the solutions that are proposed for these problems in the literature. Specifically, this article overviews recent results and progress made on multiagent consensus by focusing on cooperative control and consensus (formation) control in the presence of communication, control implementation, and saturation constraints. In addition, we review the active areas of event‐triggered consensus control, network security and attacks on the agents, and networks and resilient consensus control strategies that are proposed to handle these challenges.
Loopβ3αC plays an important role in the structure and function of isocitrate dehydrogenase kinase/phosphatase
Authors: Yin Yanxia , Li Shanze , Gao Yadan , Tong Li , Zheng Jimin , Jia Zongchao , Jiang Guohua , Wei Qun
Published: August 2016

This work aims to investigate the role of the loopβ3αC amino acids in the structure and function of isocitrate dehydrogenase kinase/phosphatase (AceK). The results demonstrate that the precise configuration of loopβ3αC is very important for AceK structure and function: structural changes alter the affinity of the enzyme for the isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH), which modifies enzyme activity. Intriguingly, D340 is significant for the retention of kinase and phosphatase activities, for the conformational stability of AceK and for binding ICDH. The deletion Δ341–345 increases enzyme activity by increasing the maximum velocity and affinity for ICDH. The β3αC loop is thus critical for the structure and function of AceK.
Three‐dimensional development of front region of plasma jets generated by magnetic reconnection
Authors: Nakamura T. K. M. , Nakamura R. , Baumjohann W. , Umeda T. , Shinohara I.
Published: August 2016

A three‐dimensional fully kinetic particle‐in‐cell simulation of antiparallel magnetic reconnection is performed to investigate the three‐dimensional development of reconnection jet fronts treating three instabilities: the lower hybrid drift instability (LHDI), the ballooning/interchange instability (BICI), and the ion‐ion kink instability. Sufficiently large system size and high ion‐to‐electron mass ratio of the simulation allow us to see the coupling among the three instabilities in the fully kinetic regime for the first time. As the jet fronts develop, the LHDI and BICI become dominant over the ion‐ion kink instability. The rapid growth of the LHDI enhances the BICI growth and the resulting formation of finger‐like structures. The small‐scale front structures produced by these instabilities are similar to recent high‐resolution field observations of the dipolarization fronts in the near‐Earth magnetotail using Time History of Events and Macroscale Interactions during Substorms (THEMIS) and Cluster spacecraft and pose important questions for a future full high‐resolution observation by the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission.