bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mesoporous Silica‐Supported Sulfonyldiamine Ligand for Microwave‐Assisted Transfer Hydrogenation
Authors: Sarkar Shaheen M. , Ali Md. Eaqub , Islam Md. Shaharul , Rahman Md. Lutfor , Rashid S. S. , Karim M. R. , Mohd Yusoff Mashitah
Published: July 2015

N‐Sulfonyl‐1,2‐diamine ligands, derived from 1,2‐diaminocyclohexane and 1,2‐diaminopropane, were immobilized onto mesoporous SBA‐15 silica. The SBA‐15‐supported sulfonyldiamine‐Ru complex was prepared in situ under microwave heating at 60 W for 3 min. The prepared sulfonyldiamine‐Ru complex was used as an efficient catalyst for the transfer hydrogenation of ketones to the corresponding secondary alcohols. The heterogeneous complex showed extremely high catalytic activity with 99% conversion rate under microwave heating condition. The complexes were regenerated by simple filtration and reused two times without significant loss of activity.
Multihops Fitting Approach for Node Localization in Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Liu Linfeng , Wu Jiagao , Zhu Zhiwen
Published: July 2015

Nodes in underwater wireless sensor networks (UWSNs) keep moving and dispersing due to force of water flow and aquatic creatures touching, and thus some isolated unknown nodes emerge. This type of isolated unknown nodes cannot directly communicate with enough beacons in their neighborhoods, which makes localizations for them disabled or the localization error unbearable. To this end, a multihops fitting localization approach is proposed in this paper. Firstly, some intermediate nodes between beacons and unknown nodes are set as routers to construct paths via a greedy method; then, the multihop paths are approximately fitted into straight lines; finally, the positions of unknown nodes can be estimated by trilateration. The proposed algorithm is analyzed and simulated in terms of localization error and error variance, and the results are proven preferable.
TR-SDTN: Trust Based Efficient and Scalable Routing in Hostile Social DTNs
Authors: Zhang Zhenjing , Ma Maode , Jin Zhigang
Published: July 2015

A delay tolerant network (DTN) presents a new communication model, which uses a store-carry-forward approach to deliver messages due to the nature of the network. With the development of the mobile internet, the research on DTNs becomes a hot topic. One critical issue in the DTNs with social characteristics is that there could exist selfish and malicious nodes which block important data and as a result intentionally disturb the communication. Although there are many research works which address the issue and adopt various trust models to encourage nodes to forward information, most of them have not considered the social characteristics of the mobile nodes and they have not handled the selfish behaviors and attacks in a systematic way. In view of these defects, we propose a novel solution to address the selfish and security issues in social DTNs. Based on nodes’ social characteristics, a dynamic trust model is proposed to prevent bad-mouthing and ballot stuffing attacks and the Shannon entropy function is introduced to avoid blackhole and greyhole attacks. The simulation results show that our proposed scheme can significantly improve the performance of social DTNs. And the simulation is proved to be consistent with the results from theoretical analysis.
Cooperative Transmission for Security Enhancement in Clustered Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Yang Weiwei , Wang Songqing , Xu Xiaoming
Published: July 2015

We study opportunistic decode-and-forward relaying transmission in cooperative cluster-based wireless sensor networks (WSNs) with secrecy constraints, where a passive eavesdropper may overhear the source message. To deal with this problem, we consider the novel opportunistic relay section cooperative transmission for the cluster configuration of WSNs. The system performance in terms of the secrecy outage probability and the probability of nonzero secrecy capacity are analyzed and the exact closed-form expressions are derived over Rayleigh fading channels. Furthermore, we derive the asymptotic secrecy outage probability which accurately reveals the secrecy diversity order. Finally, numerical results are presented to verify the theoretical analysis and depict that node cooperation has a great potential to enhance physical layer security against eavesdropping.
Fractional Heat Conduction Models and Thermal Diffusivity Determination
Authors: Žecová Monika , Terpák Ján
Published: July 2015

The contribution deals with the fractional heat conduction models and their use for determining thermal diffusivity. A brief historical overview of the authors who have dealt with the heat conduction equation is described in the introduction of the paper. The one-dimensional heat conduction models with using integer- and fractional-order derivatives are listed. Analytical and numerical methods of solution of the heat conduction models with using integer- and fractional-order derivatives are described. Individual methods have been implemented in MATLAB and the examples of simulations are listed. The proposal and experimental verification of the methods for determining thermal diffusivity using half-order derivative of temperature by time are listed at the conclusion of the paper.
A Simple Analytical Method for High-Throughput Screening of Major Sugars from Soybean by Normal-Phase HPLC with Evaporative Light Scattering Detection
Authors: Valliyodan Babu , Shi Haiying , Nguyen Henry T.
Published: July 2015

This paper presents a simple analytical method for determining sugars in soybean (Glycine max(L.) Merr.) tissues. Sample preparation was modified from several early published methods. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) equipped with an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD) was used to separate, identify, and quantify seven sugars, including glucose, galactose, fructose, sucrose, melibiose, raffinose, and stachyose. Two mobile phases were programed into a gradient elution. Mobile phase A is pure water and mobile phase B is a mixture of acetonitrile and acetone 75 : 25 (v/v). Total chromatographic retention time is less than 20 minutes. This method has been validated for detection limit, calibration range, and intraday and interday repeatability. This method has been used analyzing more than 5000 soybean samples in the experiments studying natural genetic variation of sugar contents and components in soybean seeds and other tissues.
Suspension Synthesis of Surfactant‐Free Cuprous Oxide Quantum Dots
Authors: Lai Dongzhi , Liu Tao , Gu Xinyun , Chen Ying , Niu Jin , Yi Lingmin , Chen Wenxing
Published: July 2015

Suspension methods were used to synthesize surfactant‐free Cu2O quantum dots (Cu2O‐QDs) in high precursor concentrations using sodium hypophosphite as a reducing agent. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations indicated that a large amount of Cu2O‐QDs were synthesized with diameters ranging from 7 to 10 nm. We propose a mechanism where DMSO acts as a surface passivation agent, explaining the possible formation of Cu2O‐QDs. Noticeably, the Cu2O‐QDs exhibited high and stable catalytic activity for the reduction of rhodamine B.
The Reliability Improvement of Cu Interconnection by the Control of Crystallized α‐Ta/TaNx  Diffusion Barrier
Authors: Wang Wei-Lin , Wang Chia-Ti , Chen Wei-Chun , Peng Kuo-Tzu , Yeh Ming-Hsin , Kuo Hsien-Chang , Chien Hung-Ju , Chuang Jen-Chi , Ying Tzung-Hua
Published: July 2015

Ta/TaN bilayers have been deposited by a commercial self‐ionized plasma (SIP) system. The microstructures of Ta/TaN bilayers have been systematically characterized by X‐ray diffraction patterns and cross‐sectional transmission electron microscopy. TaN films deposited by SIP system are amorphous. The crystalline behavior of Ta film can be controlled by the N concentration of underlying TaN film. On amorphous TaN film with low N concentration, overdeposited Ta film is the mixture of α‐ and β‐phases with amorphous‐like structure. Increasing the N concentration of amorphous TaN underlayer successfully leads upper Ta film to form pure α‐phase. For the practical application, the electrical property and reliability of Cu interconnection structure have been investigated by utilizing various types of Ta/TaN diffusion barrier. The diffusion barrier fabricated by the combination of crystallized α‐Ta and TaN with high N concentration efficiently reduces the KRc and improves the EM resistance of Cu interconnection structure.
Accuracy of Nearly Extinct Cohort Methods for Estimating Very Elderly Subnational Populations
Authors: Terblanche Wilma , Wilson Tom
Published: July 2015

Increasing very elderly populations (ages 85+) have potentially major implications for the cost of income support, aged care, and healthcare. The availability of accurate estimates for this population age group, not only at a national level but also at a state or regional scale, is vital for policy development, budgeting, and planning for services. At the highest ages census-based population estimates are well known to be problematic and previous studies have demonstrated that more accurate estimates can be obtained indirectly from death data. This paper assesses indirect estimation methods for estimating state-level very elderly populations from death counts. A method for incorporating internal migration is also proposed. The results confirm that the accuracy of official estimates deteriorates rapidly with increasing age from 95 and that the survivor ratio method can be successfully applied at subnational level and internal migration is minor. It is shown that the simpler alternative of applying the survivor ratio method at a national level and apportioning the estimates between the states produces very accurate estimates for most states and years. This is the recommended method. While the methods are applied at a state level in Australia, the principles are generic and are applicable to other subnational geographies.
Proteolysis of EphA2 Converts It from a Tumor Suppressor to an Oncoprotein
Authors: Koshikawa Naohiko , Hoshino Daisuke , Taniguchi Hiroaki , Minegishi Tomoko , Tomari Taizo , Nam Sung-Ouk , Aoki Mikiko , Sueta Takayuki , Nakagawa Takashi , Miyamoto Shingo , Nabeshima Kazuki , Weaver Alissa M. , Seiki Motoharu
Published: July 2015

Eph receptor tyrosine kinases are considered candidate therapeutic targets in cancer, but they can exert opposing effects on cell growth. In the presence of its ligands, Eph receptor EphA2 suppresses signaling by other growth factor receptors, including ErbB, whereas ligand-independent activation of EphA2 augments ErbB signaling. To deploy EphA2-targeting drugs effectively in tumors, the anti-oncogenic ligand-dependent activation state of EphA2 must be discriminated from its oncogenic ligand-independent state. Because the molecular basis for the latter is little understood, we investigated how the activation state of EphA2 can be switched in tumor tissue. We found that ligand-binding domain of EphA2 is cleaved frequently by the membrane metalloproteinase MT1-MMP, a powerful modulator of the pericellular environment in tumor cells. EphA2 immunostaining revealed a significant loss of the N-terminal portion of EphA2 in areas of tumor tissue that expressed MT1-MMP. Moreover, EphA2 phosphorylation patterns that signify ligand-independent activation were observed specifically in these areas of tumor tissue. Mechanistic experiments revealed that processing of EphA2 by MT1-MMP promoted ErbB signaling, anchorage-independent growth, and cell migration. Conversely, expression of a proteolysis-resistant mutant of EphA2 prevented tumorigenesis and metastasis of human tumor xenografts in mice. Overall, our results showed how the proteolytic state of EphA2 in tumors determines its effector function and influences its status as a candidate biomarker for targeted therapy. Cancer Res; 75(16); 3327–39. ©2015 AACR.
Stem Cell Transfusion Restores Immune Function in Radiation-Induced Lymphopenic C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Kapoor Vaishali , Khudanyan Arpine , de la Puente Pilar , Campian Jian , Hallahan Dennis E. , Azab Abdel Kareem , Thotala Dinesh
Published: July 2015

Radiation-induced lymphopenia (RIL) is associated with treatment of different tumors (lung, colon, pancreas, breast, sarcomas, and glioblastoma). It is a significant clinical problem affecting the survival of cancer patients. The biologic mechanisms leading to RIL are not clearly understood. In this study, we established a mouse model of RIL representing therapeutic clinical regimen for lung cancer. Flow cytometry was used to analyze circulating levels of T and B cells and bone marrow (BM) stem cells. We found that fractionated radiation to the thorax significantly reduced circulating T and B cells as well as BM stem cells. Ex-vivo irradiation of blood and autologous reinjection to mice also significantly induced lymphopenia. Furthermore, we found that mobilization of stem cells from the BM and autologous stem cell transplant rescued RIL in mice. Overall, our results suggest that RIL has not only direct effect on circulating lymphocytes, but also has indirect effect on circulating lymphocytes as well as stem cells in the nonirradiated BM. These results open a new window for investigating the direct and indirect biologic mechanisms leading to RIL, and provide a preclinical basis to test the effect of stem cell transplantation for treatment of RIL in cancer patients. Cancer Res; 75(17); 3442–5. ©2015 AACR.
Dietary γ-Tocopherol–Rich Mixture Inhibits Estrogen-Induced Mammary Tumorigenesis by Modulating Estrogen Metabolism, Antioxidant Response, and PPARγ
Authors: Das Gupta Soumyasri , Sae-tan Sudathip , Wahler Joseph , So Jae Young , Bak Min Ji , Cheng Larry C. , Lee Mao-Jung , Lin Yong , Shih Weichung Joe , Shull James D. , Safe Stephen , Yang Chung S. , Suh Nanjoo
Published: July 2015

This study evaluated the anticancer activity and mechanism of action of a γ-tocopherol–rich tocopherol mixture, γ-TmT, in two different animal models of estrogen-induced breast cancer. The chemopreventive effect of γ-TmT at early (6 weeks), intermediate (18 weeks), and late (31 weeks) stages of mammary tumorigenesis was determined using the August-Copenhagen Irish rat model. Female rats receiving 17β-estradiol (E2) implants were administered with different doses (0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.3%, and 0.5%) of γ-TmT diet. Treatment with 0.3% and 0.5% γ-TmT decreased tumor volume and multiplicity. At 31 weeks, serum concentrations of E2 were significantly decreased by γ-TmT. γ-TmT preferentially induced expression of the E2-metabolizing enzyme CYP1A1, over CYP1B1 in the rat mammary tissues. Nrf2-dependent antioxidant response was stimulated by γ-TmT, as evident from enhanced expression of its downstream targets, NQO1, GCLM, and HMOX1. Serum concentrations of the oxidative stress marker, 8-isoprostane, were also decreased in the γ-TmT–treated groups. Treatment with γ-TmT increased expression of PPARγ and its downstream genes, PTEN and p27, whereas the cell proliferation marker, PCNA, was significantly reduced in γ-TmT–treated mammary tumors. In an orthotopic model in which human MCF-7 breast cancer cells were injected into the mammary fat pad of immunodeficient mice, γ-TmT inhibited E2-dependent tumor growth at all the doses tested. In conclusion, γ-TmT reduced mammary tumor development, in part through decreased E2 availability and reduced oxidative stress in mammary tissues; γ-TmT could thus be an effective agent for the prevention and treatment of E2-induced breast cancer. Cancer Prev Res; 8(9); 807–16. ©2015 AACR.
Successful Treatment with Ultrasound-Guided Aspiration of Intractable Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Brain Abscess in an Extremely Low Birth Weight Infant
Authors: Park Hyun-kyung , Lee Young-soo , Oh Sung-hee , Lee Hyun Ju
Published: July 2015

Brain abscesses are an uncommon and devastating complication of bacteremia in extremely low birth weight infants (<1 kg). We report a 25-week preterm neonate who developed a brain abscess 4 weeks following methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus aureus (MRSA) sepsis. A huge brain abscess was seen with routine brain sonography on day 19 of life. Despite intravenous vancomycin treatment, the brain abscess increased in size and was associated with increased intracranial pressure on day 49 of life. The brain abscess was accompanied by mild meningeal inflammation with negative blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures. Diagnosis of abscess was confirmed by bedside ultrasound-guided aspiration, and MRSA was isolated from the pus culture. The MRSA brain abscess refractory to vancomycin was successfully treated by surgical ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle aspiration of brain abscess and prolonged courses of antibiotic administration. At the time of this report, the infant was 9 months old (corrected age was 6 months) and had normal neurodevelopment for her corrected age on the Bayley Infant Neurodevelopmental Screener.
Regulation of Na+/H+ Exchanger in Dendritic Cells by Akt1
Authors: Zhou Yuetao , Pasham Venkanna , Chatterjee Soumya , Rotte Anand , Yang Wenting , Bhandaru Madhuri , Singh Yogesh , Lang Florian
Published: July 2015

Background/Aims: Dendritic cells (DCs), antigen-presenting cells critically important for primary immune response and establishment of immunological memory, are activated by bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) resulting in stimulation of Na+/H+ exchanger, ROS formation and migration. The effects are dependent on phosphoinositide 3 (PI3) kinase and paralleled by Akt phosphorylation. The present study explored the contribution of the Akt isoform Akt1. Methods: Cytosolic pH (pHi) (2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5-(and-6)-carboxyfluorescein [BCECF] fluorescence), Na+/H+ exchanger activity (Na+ dependent realkalinization after an ammonium pulse), cell volume (forward scatter in FACS analysis), and ROS production (2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate [DCFDA] fluorescence) were determined in DCs isolated from bone marrow of mice lacking functional Akt1/PKBα (akt1-/-) and their wild type littermates (akt1+/+). Results: Forward scatter was lower in akt1-/- than in akt1+/+ DCs, whereas pHi, Na+/H+ exchanger activity and ROS formation were less in untreated akt1-/- and akt1+/+ DCs. Exposure of DCs to LPS was followed by increase of forward scatter and ROS formation to a similar extent in akt1-/- and in akt1+/+ DCs. A 4 hours treatment with either LPS (1µg/ml) or tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBOOH, 5 µM) significantly stimulated Na+/H+ exchanger activity in both genotypes, effects, however, significantly blunted in akt1-/- DCs. Conclusion: The present observations demonstrate that Akt1 is required for the full stimulation of Na+/H+ exchanger activity by LPS or oxidative stress in dendritic cells.
Clinical, Histological and Trichoscopic Correlations in Scalp Disorders
Authors: Rossi Alfredo , Fortuna Maria Caterina , Pranteda Giulia , Garelli Valentina , Di Nunno Donato , Mari Elena , Calvieri Stefano , Carlesimo Marta
Published: July 2015

Trichoscopy is the term coined for the dermoscopic imaging of scalp and hair. This diagnostic technique, simple and noninvasive, can be used as a handy bedside tool for the diagnosis and follow-up of hair and scalp disorders. It allows the recognition of morphologic structures not visible by the naked eye and provides the clinician with a range of dermoscopic findings necessary for differential diagnosis. Trichoscopy observation can be broadly grouped as interfollicular patterns and follicular patterns. Recently, a third mixed class, called the follicular plus interfollicular pattern, has been introduced. Some of these features are specific to a certain scalp disease, while others can be found in many hair disorders. Although studies suggest that the use of trichoscopy can improve clinical accuracy, further investigation is needed. This review provides update information on the trichoscopic features of the most common scalp disorders, striving to show a histopathological and clinical correlation.
Lung Transplantation after Endoscopic Lung Volume Reduction
Authors: Fuehner Thomas , Clajus Carolina , Fuge Jan , Jonigk Danny , Welte Tobias , Haverich Axel , Greer Mark , Gottlieb Jens
Published: July 2015

Background: Endoscopic lung volume reduction (ELVR) has become an established treatment option in selected patients with end-stage lung emphysema. ELVR, however, does not always prevent disease progression, and patients may inevitably be considered for lung transplantation. Objectives: Currently, limited data exist regarding the impact of preceding ELVR on lung transplantation outcomes. Methods: A retrospective, single-center analysis of lung transplantation (LTx) waiting list candidates, who had previously undergone ELVR for emphysema between 2010 and 2014, was performed. Outcomes were compared to matched (1:2) controls who underwent LTx for emphysema without previous ELVR. The 12-month survival after LTx represented the primary end point. Results: In total 23/693 (3%) patients listed for LTx between January 2010 and May 2014 had undergone ELVR, of whom 20/23 (87%) proceeded to LTx (ELVR group). Forty matched non-ELVR emphysema patients acted as controls. Bronchiectasis on CT prior to LTx was more evident in ELVR patients [11/20 (55%) vs. 12/40 (30%); p = 0.04] as well as airway colonization after LTx [10/20 (50%) vs. 6/40 (15%); p = 0.004]. Among ELVR patients, the most prevalent colonizing organism was Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (4/10 patients, 40%). No significant differences were observed in LTx waiting list time, duration of LTx procedure, ventilatory support, ICU stay after LTx or time to hospital discharge. One ELVR patient (5%) died 189 days after LTx from pneumonia, compared to 1 non-ELVR patient (3%) who died after 269 days (p = 0.61). Conclusions: Previous ELVR treatment was not associated with differing outcomes following LTx. Increased bacterial colonization rates were evident and warrant further investigation.
Trabalho e trabalhadores no segundo governo Vargas: as greves como um "antidireito" (1951-1954)
Authors: Alves Juliana Martins
Published: July 2015

O artigo busca identificar os significados atribuídos às greves dos trabalhadores durante o segundo governo de Getúlio Vargas. Trazendo para reflexão fontes pouco investigadas pela historiografia, o estudo objetiva caracterizar os aspectos da política trabalhista com seus referentes institucionais – atualizada nos anos 1950 – que darão suporte às concepções sobre as greves como um “antidireito”.
A carta Mundus Novus de Vespucci e a lenda do homem natural de Rosseau
Authors: Lindo Luiz Antônio
Published: July 2015

O artigo procura mostrar que, na carta Mundus Novus, de Vespucci, delineia-se um perfil de tipo humano no qual a variabilidade individual e de estágio civilizatório pode ser reduzida, por meio de abstração, à forma geral do “selvagem” voltado para a exploração hedonista do seu meio e como tal imune a todo e qualquer freio que lhe imponha o sacrifício esperado na edificação da vida civilizada. Esse perfil parece casar com a ideia do “selvagem” que habita o interior humano e supostamente alimenta o sentimento de existência como o entendia Rousseau.
IL-4 Is Required for Sex Differences in Vulnerability to Focal Ischemia in Mice
Authors: Xiong Xiaoxing , Xu Lijun , Wei Liang , White Robin E. , Ouyang Yi-Bing , Giffard Rona G.
Published: July 2015

Background and Purpose—

Interleukin (IL)-4 protects from middle cerebral artery occlusion in male mice. Females generally show less injury in response to the same ischemic challenge, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We tested the importance of IL-4 in female protection using IL-4 knockout (KO) mice.

Methods—

IL-4 KO and wild-type (WT) mice of both sexes were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion. Infarct volume was assessed by triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining and neurobehavioral outcome by neuroscore. T cell proliferation was assessed after Concanavalin A exposure. Ischemic brain immune cell populations were analyzed by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and immunostaining.

Results—

Infarction in WT females during estrus and proestrus phases was significantly smaller than in males; neurological score was better. Infarction volume was larger and neurological score worse in IL-4 KO compared with WT in both sexes, with no sex difference. Proliferation of T cells was inhibited in WT females with higher proliferation and no sex difference in IL-4 KO. Macrophage numbers and total T cells in the ischemic hemisphere were lower in WT females, and monocytes increased markedly in IL-4 KOs with no sex difference. The reduced macrophage infiltration in WT-females was predominantly M2. Loss of IL-4 increased CD68+ and iNOS+ cells and reduced YM1+ and Arg1+ cells in both sexes.

Conclusions—

IL-4 is required for female neuroprotection during the estrus phase of the estrus cycle. Protected WT females show a predominance of M2-activated microglia/macrophages and reduced inflammatory infiltration. Increasing macrophage M2 polarization, with or without added inhibition of infiltration, may be a new approach to stroke treatment.
Five-Year Outcome in Stroke Patients Submitted to Thrombolysis
Authors: Machado Célia , Pinho João , Alves José Nuno , Santos Ana Filipa , Ferreira Maria do Céu , Abreu Maria João , Oliveira Liliana , Mota João , Fontes João Ramalho , Ferreira Carla
Published: July 2015

Background and Purpose—

Little is known on long-term follow-up after thrombolysis in ischemic stroke patients because the majority of studies evaluated outcome at 3 to 12 months. We aimed to assess 5-year outcome after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT).

Methods—

Cohort study based on the prospective registry of all consecutive ischemic stroke patients submitted to IVT in our Stroke Unit. Five-year outcome, including living settings, functional outcome, stroke recurrence, and mortality, was ascertained by telephonic interviews and additional review of clinical records. Multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors of outcome and mortality. Excellent outcome was defined as modified Rankin scale 0 to 1.

Results—

Five-year outcome was available for 155/164 patients submitted to IVT. At 5 years, 32.9% of patients had an excellent outcome (95% confidence interval (CI) =25.5–43.3) and mortality was 43.9% (95%CI=36.1–51.7). Increasing age (odds ratio =0.93, 95% CI =0.90–0.97) and increasing National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) 24 h after thrombolysis (odds ratio =0.81, 95% CI =0.74–0.90) were independently associated with a lower likelihood of an excellent 5-year outcome. Age (hazards ratio =1.07, 95% CI =1.03–1.11) and excellent functional outcome 3 months after thrombolysis (hazards ratio =0.28, 95%CI=0.12–0.66) were independently associated with mortality during follow-up.

Conclusions—

One third of ischemic stroke patients have excellent 5-year outcome after IVT. Younger age, lower NIHSS 24 h after IVT, and excellent 3-month functional outcome are independent predictors of excellent 5-year outcome.
Proteinuria, but Not eGFR, Predicts Stroke Risk in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Sandsmark Danielle K. , Messé Steven R. , Zhang Xiaoming , Roy Jason , Nessel Lisa , Lee Hamm Lotuce , He Jiang , Horwitz Edward J. , Jaar Bernard G. , Kallem Radhakrishna R. , Kusek John W. , Mohler Emile R. , Porter Anna , Seliger Stephen L. , Sozio Stephen M. , Townsend Raymond R. , Feldman Harold I. , Kasner Scott E.
Published: July 2015

Background and Purpose—

Chronic kidney disease is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. However, the impact of chronic kidney disease on cerebrovascular disease is less well understood. We hypothesized that renal function severity would be predictive of stroke risk, independent of other vascular risk factors.

Methods—

The study population included 3939 subjects enrolled in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study, a prospective observational cohort. Stroke events were reported by participants and adjudicated by 2 vascular neurologists. Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare measures of baseline renal function with stroke events. Multivariable analysis was performed to adjust for key covariates.

Results—

In 3939 subjects, 143 new stroke events (0.62 events per 100 person-years) occurred over a mean follow-up of 6.4 years. Stroke risk was increased in subjects who had worse baseline measurements of renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate and total proteinuria or albuminuria). When adjusted for variables known to influence stroke risk, total proteinuria or albuminuria, but not estimated glomerular filtration rate, were associated with an increased risk of stroke. Treatment with blockers of the renin–angiotensin system did not decrease stroke risk in individuals with albuminuria.

Conclusions—

Proteinuria and albuminuria are better predictors of stroke risk in patients with chronic kidney disease than estimated glomerular filtration rate. The impact of therapies targeting proteinuria/albuminuria in individuals with chronic kidney disease on stroke prevention warrants further investigation.
New species and notes on Microveliinae from northern South America (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Veliidae)
Authors: ARISTIZÁBAL-GARCÍA HERNÁN , FLORIANO CARLA FERNANDA BURGUEZ , MOREIRA FELIPE FERRAZ FIGUEIREDO , BISPO PITÁGORAS DA CONCEIÇÃO
Published: July 2015

Euvelia mazzucconiae sp. nov., from northern Colombia is described, illustrated, and included in an updated identification key to the species of the genus. A map with the known geographical distribution of the species of Euvelia is presented. Additionally, two species from Colombia previously placed in the genus Paravelia are transferred to Microvelia and a species of the latter genus is synonymized, such that Paravelia acantha Padilla-Gil, 2013 = Microvelia acantha (Padilla-Gil, 2013) comb. nov., Paravelia fanera Padilla-Gil, 2013 = Microvelia fanera (Padilla-Gil, 2013) comb. nov., and Microvelia amrishi Makhan 2014 = Microvelia mimula White 1879 syn. nov.
Toward the Dynamical Convergence on the Jet Stream in Aquaplanet AGCMs
Authors: Lu Jian , Chen Gang , Leung L. Ruby , Burrows D. Alex , Yang Qing , Sakaguchi Koichi , Hagos Samson
Published: July 2015

Systematic sensitivity of the jet position and intensity to horizontal model resolution is identified in several aquaplanet AGCMs, with the coarser resolution producing a more equatorward eddy-driven jet and a stronger upper-tropospheric jet intensity. As the resolution of the models increases to 50 km or finer, the jet position and intensity show signs of convergence within each model group. The mechanism for this convergence behavior is investigated using a hybrid Eulerian–Lagrangian finite-amplitude wave activity budget developed for the upper-tropospheric absolute vorticity. The results suggest that the poleward shift of the eddy-driven jet with higher resolution can be attributed to the smaller effective diffusivity of the model in the midlatitudes that allows more wave activity to survive the dissipation and to reach the subtropical critical latitude for wave breaking. The enhanced subtropical wave breaking and associated irreversible vorticity mixing act to maintain a more poleward peak of the vorticity gradient, and thus a more poleward jet. Being overdissipative, the coarse-resolution AGCMs misrepresent the nuanced nonlinear aspect of the midlatitude eddy–mean flow interaction, giving rise to the equatorward bias of the eddy-driven jet. In accordance with the asymptotic behavior of effective diffusivity of Batchelor turbulence in the large Peclet number limit, the upper-tropospheric effective diffusivity of the aquaplanet AGCMs displays signs of convergence in the midlatitude toward a value of approximately 107 m2 s−1 for the ∇2 diffusion. This provides a dynamical underpinning for the convergence of the jet stream observed in these AGCMs at high resolution.
How Can Decentralized Systems Solve System-Level Problems? An Analysis of Market-Driven New Orleans School Reforms
Authors: Buerger Christian , Harris Douglas
Published: July 2015

One of the biggest changes in New Orleans after Katrina was observed in the public school system. In this article, we describe the massive overhaul of the public school system in New Orleans post-Katrina and examine the types of problems that this type of decentralized market-oriented system will be most likely to solve as well as those it may struggle with. As examples, we use problems facing New Orleans public schools, namely, student discipline, information sharing with parents, and especially the human capital pipeline, to illustrate the challenges a regulated market system presents. We then present and apply to those cases a general framework for thinking about which of these types of problems a decentralized system will be best able to solve.
Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children Referred for Diagnostic Autism Evaluation
Authors: Monteiro Sonia A. , Spinks-Franklin Adiaha , Treadwell-Deering Diane , Berry Leandra , Sellers-Vinson Sherry , Smith Eboni , Proud Monica , Voigt Robert G.
Published: July 2015

Increased public awareness of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and routine screening in primary care have contributed to increased requests for diagnostic ASD evaluations. However, given the scarcity of subspecialty autism diagnostic resources, overreferral of children suspected of having ASD may be contributing to long waiting lists at tertiary care autism centers and delaying diagnosis for those children who truly have ASD. To determine whether children are being excessively referred to ASD-specific diagnostic clinics, our objective was to determine the prevalence of true ASD diagnoses in children referred for diagnostic ASD evaluation. Charts of all patients referred to a regional autism center between April 2011 and August 2012 for suspicion of a possible ASD were retrospectively reviewed and demographic and clinical diagnoses abstracted. Only 214 of 348 patients evaluated (61%) received an ASD diagnosis. Thus, concerns about autism are not confirmed by an ASD diagnosis in a significant number of children.
The Study of Effect for General Movements Assessment in the Diagnosis of Neurological Development Disorders
Authors: Xie Kegong , Zheng Hong , Li Huawei , Zhang Chi , Li Hongbo , Jin Hui , Ma Bingxiang
Published: July 2015

Objective: To discuss the value of general movements assessment in predicting the neurological disorders. Methods: Using PubMed as the search engine, we searched to identify relevant studies in English and Chinese language published up to November 2014 and 19 studies were selected. Standard methods in meta-analyses were used to provide diagnostic accuracy by Meta-DiSc 1.4. Results: For non–cerebral palsy (non-CP) as outcome for writhing period, the results suggested a good sensitivity and a specificity of 0.74, the Q-value was 0.80. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.87. For non-CP as outcome for fidgety period, the results suggested both high level for sensitivity and specificity. And the Q-value was 0.914, the AUC was 0.9664. For CP as outcome for writhing and fidgety periods, good sensitivity and specificity were found in the analysis, and the Q-value was 0.9034 while the AUC was 0.9592. Conclusion: General movements assessment is a good predictor for diagnosing neurological disorders.
“Esaltatrice dell’atto di vita, dell’opera di vita”. Il ruolo della musica nella Carta del Carnaro di Gabriele d’Annunzio
Authors: Ricco Renato
Published: July 2015

Si analizza il ruolo affidato alla musica in quella fondamentale testimonianza del temperamento dannunziano che è la Carta del Carnaro (1920): partendo da suggestioni d’impronta mazziniana, a quest’arte viene infatti riconosciuto un fondamentale ruolo pedagogico e sociale. Queste osservazioni, assolutamente coerenti con la lettura iper-vitalistica data del “fenomeno Wagner”, si inseriscono in una riflessione che comprende anche lo Statuto della Corporazione Delle Nuove Musiche ( Concentus Decimae Nuncius Musae) e il “Preludio” alla Raccolta Nazionale di Musiche Italiane/I Classici della Musica Italiana. Si notano infine importanti tangenze, già rilevate da Mario Carli, tra il pensiero dannunziano e quello di Filippo Tommaso Marinetti.
What happens when you can’t be who you are: Professional identity at the institutional periphery
Authors: Zikic Jelena , Richardson Julia
Published: July 2015

This article examines the impact of large scale, ‘macro’ role transitions on professional identity. Drawing on in-depth interviews with two different groups of immigrant professionals, it theorizes how organizational outsiders with established professional identities respond to the institutional requirements and specifically to professional pre-entry scripts in their new host country. The study demonstrates how identity work evolves among each group as they navigate the permeable and impermeable pre-entry scripts in their respective professions. It identifies both barriers and facilitators to engagement with, and fulfillment of, local pre-entry scripts. These findings demonstrate how different professional domains and power structures create different opportunities for re-entry and as a result give rise to different forms of identity work – involving, for example, identity customization, identity shadowing, struggle and enrichment. Implications for policy makers in the field will be discussed, focusing on how different groups of professionals respond to unique forms of identity threat emerging from their respective professional institutions and structural barriers.
Do Geographical Mobility Requirements for the Unemployed Affect their Exit Rate to Work? Evidence from a Policy Change
Authors: Hofmann Barbara
Published: July 2015

A policy change tightened job search requirements regarding geographical mobility for unemployment insurance–benefit recipients in Germany. Those affected by the policy change were individuals without family ties and whose reemployment prospects were low in their home labor market region. The author finds that after one year the policy change led to a 4.6 percentage point increase in employment among women without children who lived in regions with relatively high unemployment. Women responded to the policy change by taking up jobs in their home labor market region as well as outside of that region. The author does not find any effects of the tightened mobility requirements for men.
Severe craniocerebral trauma with sequelae caused by Flash-Ball® shot, a less-lethal weapon: Report of one case and review of the literature
Authors: Hiquet Jean , Gromb-Monnoyeur Sophie
Published: July 2015

The use of Flash-Ball® as a non-lethal weapon by several special units within the police and police forces started in France in 1995. Little literature is available concerning injuries caused by Flash-Ball® shooting. However, we report the case of a healthy 34-year-old male victim of a Flash-Ball® shooting during a riot following a sports event. This young man presented serious craniocerebral injuries with a left temporal fracture, moderate cerebral oedema, fronto-temporal haemorrhagic contusion along with an extra-dural hematoma and subarachnoid hemorrhage requiring neurological and rehabilitation care for two months leaving important sequelae. Although the risk is obviously lower than with firearms, Flash-Ball® is nonetheless potentially lethal and may cause serious physical injuries, particularly after a shot to the head.
Same as It Ever Was? New Labor, the CIO Organizing Model, and the Future of American Unions
Authors: Voss Kim
Published: July 2015

Jane McAlevey makes a significant contribution in her critique of labor’s growing use of the corporate campaign to stem union decline. But in placing the blame for the strategy’s adoption on the excessive influence of Saul Alinsky’s organizing model, she misses a much more fundamental cause: the changed nature of capital.
Teaching family medicine residents brief interventions for alcohol misuse
Authors: Rule J Chris , Samuel Pearl
Published: July 2015

Across the lifespan, alcohol misuse affects a large percentage of patients seen in primary care clinics. It can lead to alcohol use disorders, ranging from risky use to alcohol dependence. Alcohol use disorders frequently complicate acute and chronic illnesses of patients seen in FM clinics. Screening patients for alcohol and substance use has become a standard of practice in most primary care settings. This report describes how a family medicine residency program solidified a residency curriculum in substance abuse screening, assessment, and brief intervention by merging three presentation-style didactics into a blended approach. The curriculum combines didactic teaching, motivational interviewing, and behavioral rehearsal of clinical practice skills. Qualitative feedback suggests that the curriculum has been successful in exposing residents to a variety of practical assessment methods and, through rehearsal, has improved resident confidence in addressing alcohol use and misuse in a primary care population.
Explaining Citizens’ E-Participation Usage
Authors: Zheng Yueping
Published: July 2015

Information and communications technology (ICT) not only improves public service delivery but also enables governments to better engage citizens, called “e-participation.” Although efforts have been taken to promote citizen participation online, e-participation utilization remains at a low level. To better understand this phenomenon, scholars have explored the factors affecting citizens’ e-participation usage, such as sociodemographic characteristics, Internet usage, political perceptions, off-line political activities, and so forth. However, the role of e-participation applications’ functionality has been overlooked. Using data from the 2012 European Union (EU) eGovernment survey, this study found that functionality is positively associated with citizens’ e-participation usage and high-level functionality motivates citizens to use e-participation more.
Design and simulation of a novel indoor mobile robot localization method using a light-emitting diode positioning system
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc-Tan , Suebsomran Anan , Sripimanwat Keattisak , Nguyen Nam-Hoang
Published: July 2015

A key problem of mobile robots is that of the positioning capability in order to detect their locations in the operating environment. A promising technology used in indoor localization recently is Visible Light Communication (VLC). In this paper, an integrated Angle of Arrival-Received Signal Strength (AOA-RSS) localization method using the VLC, which could get high accuracy with simple hardware, is proposed. In addition, the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) and Particle Filter (PF) algorithms are combined with the proposed AOA-RSS localization method in order to achieve higher accuracy of the mobile robot positioning. By computer simulation, the performance of the proposed AOA-RSS localization method combined with the EKF and PF algorithms are compared. The combination scheme outperforms the individual VLC localization with small error approximation of a few centimetres.
Demystifying the Search Button
Authors: McKeever Liam , Nguyen Van , Peterson Sarah J. , Gomez‐Perez Sandra , Braunschweig Carol
Published: July 2015

A thorough review of the literature is the basis of all research and evidence‐based practice. A gold‐standard efficient and exhaustive search strategy is needed to ensure all relevant citations have been captured and that the search performed is reproducible. The PubMed database comprises both the MEDLINE and non‐MEDLINE databases. MEDLINE‐based search strategies are robust but capture only 89% of the total available citations in PubMed. The remaining 11% include the most recent and possibly relevant citations but are only searchable through less efficient techniques. An effective search strategy must employ both the MEDLINE and the non‐MEDLINE portion of PubMed to ensure all studies have been identified. The robust MEDLINE search strategies are used for the MEDLINE portion of the search. Usage of the less robust strategies is then efficiently confined to search only the remaining 11% of PubMed citations that have not been indexed for MEDLINE. The current article offers step‐by‐step instructions for building such a search exploring methods for the discovery of medical subject heading (MeSH) terms to search MEDLINE, text‐based methods for exploring the non‐MEDLINE database, information on the limitations of convenience algorithms such as the “related citations feature,” the strengths and pitfalls associated with commonly used filters, the proper usage of Boolean operators to organize a master search strategy, and instructions for automating that search through “MyNCBI” to receive search query updates by email as new citations become available.
Placement of a Magnetic Small Bowel Feeding Tube at the Bedside
Authors: Akers Adam S. , Pinsky Michael
Published: July 2015

Background: Current methods of achieving postpyloric enteral access for feeding are fraught with difficulties, which can markedly delay enteral feeding and cause complications. Bedside tube placement has a low success rate, often requires several radiographs to confirm position, and delays feeding by many hours. Although postpyloric enteral tubes can reliably be placed in interventional radiology (IR), this involves greater resource utilization, delays, cost, and inconvenience. We assessed the utility of bedside enteral tube placement using a magnetic feeding tube (Syncro‐BlueTube; Syncro Medical Innovations, Macon, GA, USA) as a means to facilitate initial tube placement. Methods: We recorded the time to insertion, location of tube, success rate, and need for radiographs in a series of patients given magnetic feeding tubes (n = 46) inserted by our hospitalist service over an 8‐month interval. Results: Of the 46 attempted magnetic tube placements, 76% were successfully placed in the postpyloric position, 13% were in the stomach, and 11% could not be placed. In 83% of the magnetic tubes, only 1 radiograph was needed for confirmation. The median time to placement was 12 minutes (range, 4–120 minutes). Conclusion: The use of a magnetic feeding tube can increase the success rate of bedside postpyloric placement, decrease the time to successful placement, and decrease the need for supplemental radiographs and IR.
Broadcasting to reflect ‘life and culture as we know it’: media policy, devolution and the case of Northern Ireland
Authors: Ramsey Phil
Published: July 2015

The possibility that broadcasting powers could be devolved from the UK government to the Northern Ireland (NI) Assembly has been a matter for political discussion in NI. During a 2013 debate in the Assembly on the matter, the dominant Irish nationalist political party called for such devolution to increase the levels of programming that reflect ‘life and culture as we know it’. The subject is discussed in relation to wider debates over the devolution of broadcasting powers that have taken place in Wales and Scotland and in relation to the challenges surrounding the formation of media policy for a divided society such as NI. This article suggests that while it is possible under current legislation to devolve broadcasting powers to NI, it is likely that implementation would lead to major changes to public service media provision in NI.
Semantic community detection using label propagation algorithm
Authors: Kianian Sahar , Khayyambashi Mohammad Reza , Movahhedinia Naser
Published: July 2015

The issue of detecting large communities in online social networks is the subject of a wide range of studies in order to explore the network sub-structure. Most of the existing studies are concerned with network topology with no emphasis on active communities among the large online social networks and social portals, which are not based on network topology like forums. Here, new semantic community detection is proposed by focusing on user attributes instead of network topology. In the proposed approach, a network of user activities is established and weighted through semantic data. Furthermore, consistent extended label propagation algorithm is presented. Doing so, semantic representations of active communities are refined and labelled with user-generated tags that are available in web.2. The results show that the proposed semantic algorithm is able to significantly improve the modularity compared with three previously proposed algorithms.