bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Body fat of rats of different age groups and nutritional states: assessment by micro-CT and skinfold thickness
Authors: Tekus Eva , Miko Alexandra , Furedi Nora , Rostas Ildiko , Tenk Judit , Kiss Tamas , Szitter Istvan , Balasko Marta , Helyes Zsuzsanna , Wilhelm Marta , Petervari Erika
Published: July 2017

Obesity presents a growing public health problem. Therefore the analysis of body composition is important in clinical practice as well as in animal research models of obesity; hence precise methods for the assessment of body fat would be essential. We aimed to evaluate in vivo abdominal microcomputed tomography scan restricted to the L1–L3 region [micro-CT(L1–L3)], a skinfold thickness-based method (STM), and postmortem body composition analysis (PMA) with regard to whole body micro-CT scan in rats. Male Wistar rats of different age groups (from 3 to 24 mo) and nutritional states (normally fed, high-fat diet-induced obese, and calorie-restricted) were used. The fat percentage was determined with micro-CT(L1–L3) and whole body scan in anesthetized rats. Their skinfold thickness was measured in five locations with a Lange caliper. Wet weights of epididymal and retroperitoneal fat pads were determined via PMA. With regard to fat mass, the strongest correlation was observed between abdominal and whole body micro-CT. The other methods showed weaker associations with whole body micro-CT and with each other. Micro-CT(L1–L3) and PMA showed similar age-associated increase in fat mass between 3 and 18 mo. Micro-CT(L1–L3), STM, and PMA were efficient to detect differences in fat mass values in groups of different nutritional states. Micro-CT(L1–L3) appears to be a useful method for body fat assessment in rats with reduced scanning time. In rats, STM may also be a useful, low priced, noninvasive, and simple in vivo technique to assess obesity.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Body fat of rats assessed by in vivo abdominal microcomputed tomography of the L1–L3 region strongly correlates with values determined by whole body scan. Therefore, it is a useful method for fat assessment with reduced scanning time. Skinfold thickness measurement is an in vivo technique to assess progression of obesity in rats.
Relationship between exercise volume and muscle protein synthesis in a rat model of resistance exercise
Authors: Ogasawara Riki , Arihara Yuki , Takegaki Junya , Nakazato Koichi , Ishii Naokata
Published: July 2017

Resistance exercise (RE) volume is recognized as an important factor that stimulates muscle protein synthesis (MPS) and is considered, at least in part, to be involved in the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1)-associated signaling. However, the effects of relatively high-volume RE on mTORC1 and MPS remain unclear. In the present study, we used an animal model of RE to investigate the relationship between RE volume and MPS. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to RE, and muscle samples were obtained 6 h after performing 1, 3, 5, 10, or 20 sets of RE. Although 1 set of RE did not increase MPS [measured by the surface sensing of translation (SUnSET) method], multiple sets (3, 5, 10, and 20 sets) significantly increased MPS. However, the increase in MPS reached a plateau after 3 or 5 sets of RE, and no further increase in MPS was observed with additional RE sets. In contrast to the MPS response, we observed that p70S6K phosphorylation at Thr389, a marker of mTORC1 activity, and Ser240/244 phosphorylation of rpS6, a downstream target of p70S6K, gradually increased with higher RE volume. The above results suggest that the relationship between RE volume and MPS was not linear. Thus the increase in MPS with increasing RE volume saturates before p70S6K phosphorylation, suggesting a threshold effect for the relationship between p70S6K activation and MPS.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between resistance exercise (RE) volume and muscle protein synthesis. We found that the relationship between RE volume and p70S6K phosphorylation was almost linear, but the increase in muscle protein synthesis began to plateau after approximately five sets of RE.
A Fuzzy Data Fusion Solution to Enhance the QoS and the Energy Consumption in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Collotta Mario , Pau Giovanni , Bobovich Alexander V.
Published: July 2017

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are formed of various nodes that gather parameters in a monitored environment. These nodes interact with each other or can be arranged into clusters controlled by a cluster head that has the task of rerouting the acquired data to a base station. Both the Quality of Service (QoS) and low data quality are common issues in WSNs, mainly prompted by the data fusion mechanism, where a certain amount of low-quality data may affect the overall fusion result negatively. In this paper, a fuzzy-based solution for data fusion in WSNs is presented to provide a better QoS and to reduce the energy consumption. The suggested approach can aggregate only true value rather than process the full data. This purpose is accomplished thanks to a Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) implemented within nodes. Besides, the data, which have been separated, are aggregated by a cluster head which also has the responsibility of determining the probability that an event has happened in the monitored environment. Finally, the base station estimates whether an event has occurred and, eventually, raises an appropriate alarm. The results of a real testbed scenario reveal that the proposed method achieves encouraging performance.
Immune Thrombocytopenia and JAK2V617F Positive Essential Thrombocythemia: Literature Review and Case Report
Authors: Sobas M. A. , Wróbel T. , Zduniak K. , Podolak-Dawidziak M. , Rybka J. , Biedroń M. , Sawicki M. , Dybko J. , Kuliczkowski K.
Published: July 2017

We present the case where immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and essential thrombocythemia (ET) sequentially appeared in the space of twenty-one years of follow-up. Impaired platelet production is present in both diseases, but clinical presentation and treatment are different. On the basis of this case history a possible role of autoimmunity as a predisposing factor to myeloproliferation has been discussed.
Nanoparticulate Tubular Immunostimulating Complexes: Novel Formulation of Effective Adjuvants and Antigen Delivery Systems
Authors: Sanina Nina , Chopenko Natalia , Mazeika Andrey , Kostetsky Eduard
Published: July 2017

New generation vaccines, based on isolated antigens, are safer than traditional ones, comprising the whole pathogen. However, major part of purified antigens has weak immunogenicity. Therefore, elaboration of new adjuvants, more effective and safe, is an urgent problem of vaccinology. Tubular immunostimulating complexes (TI-complexes) are a new type of nanoparticulate antigen delivery systems with adjuvant activity. TI-complexes consist of cholesterol and compounds isolated from marine hydrobionts: cucumarioside A2-2 (CDA) fromCucumaria japonicaand monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) from marine algae or seagrass. These components were selected due to immunomodulatory and other biological activities. Glycolipid MGDG from marine macrophytes comprises a high level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which demonstrate immunomodulatory properties. CDA is a well-characterized individual compound capable of forming stable complex with cholesterol. Such complexes do not possess hemolytic activity. Ultralow doses of cucumariosides stimulate cell as well as humoral immunity. Therefore, TI-complexes comprising biologically active components turned out to be more effective than the strongest adjuvants: immunostimulating complexes (ISCOMs) and complete Freund’s adjuvant. In the present review, we discuss results published in series of our articles on elaboration, qualitative and quantitative composition, ultrastructure, and immunostimulating activity of TI-complexes. The review allows immersion in the history of creating TI-complexes.
The High Security Mechanisms Algorithm of Similarity Metrics for Wireless and Mobile Networking
Authors: Wang Xingwang
Published: July 2017

With the development of human society and the development of Internet of things, wireless and mobile networking have been applied to every field of scientific research and social production. In this scenario, security and privacy have become the decisive factors. The traditional safety mechanisms give criminals an opportunity to exploit. Association rules are an important topic in data mining, and they have a broad application prospect in wireless and mobile networking as they can discover interesting correlations between items hidden in a large number of data. Apriori, the most influential algorithm of association rules mining, needs to scan a database many times, and the efficiency is low when the database is huge. To solve the security mechanisms problem and improve the efficiency, this paper proposes a new algorithm. The new algorithm scans the database only one time and the scale of data to deal with is getting smaller and smaller with the algorithm running. Experiment results show that the new algorithm can efficiently discover useful association rules when applied to data.
Trends and Inequalities in Use of Maternal Health Care Services in Nepal: Strategy in the Search for Improvements
Authors: Mehata Suresh , Paudel Yuba Raj , Dariang Maureen , Aryal Krishna Kumar , Lal Bibek Kumar , Khanal Mukti Nath , Thomas Deborah
Published: July 2017

Background. Nepal has made significant progress against the Millennium Development Goals for maternal and child health over the past two decades. However, disparities in use of maternal health services persist along geographic, economic, and sociocultural lines. Methods. Trends and inequalities in the use of maternal health services in Nepal between 1994 and 2011 were examined using four Nepal Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS), nationally representative cross-sectional surveys conducted by interviewing women who gave birth 3–5 years prior to the survey. Sociodemographic disparities in maternal health service utilization were measured. Rate difference, rate ratios, and concentration index were calculated to measure income inequalities. Findings. The percentage of mothers that received four antenatal care (ANC) consultations increased from 9% to 54%, the institutional delivery rate increased from 6% to 47%, and the cesarean section (C-section) rate increased from 1% in 1994 to 6% in 2011. The ratio of the richest and the poorest quintile mothers for use of four ANC, institutional delivery, and C-section delivery were 5.08 (95% CI: 3.82–6.76), 9.00 (95% CI: 6.55–12.37), and 9.37 (95% CI: 4.22–20.83), respectively. However, inequality is reducing over time; for the use of four ANC services, the concentration index fell from 0.60 (95% CI: 0.56–0.64) in 1994–1996 to 0.31 (95% CI: 0.29–0.33) in 2009–2011. For institutional delivery, the concentration index fell from 0.65 (95% CI: 0.62–0.70) to 0.40 (95% CI: 0.38–0.40) between 1994–1996 and 2009–2011. For C-section deliveries, an increase in concentration index was observed, 0.64 (95% CI: 0.51–0.77); 0.76 (95% CI: 0.64–0.88); 0.77 (95% CI: 0.71–0.84); and 0.66 (95% CI: 0.60–0.72) in the periods 1994–1996, 1999–2001, 2004–2006, and 2009–2011, respectively. All sociodemographic variables were significant predictors of use of maternal health services, out of which maternal education was the most powerful. Conclusion. To increase equitable use of maternal health services in Nepal there is a need to strengthen the health system to increase access to and utilization of services among poorer women, those with less education, and those living in remote areas. Beyond the health sector stronger efforts are needed to tackle the root causes of health inequality, reduce poverty, increase female education, eradicate caste/ethnicity based social discrimination, and invest in the development of remote areas.
Functional Profile Evaluation of Lactobacillus fermentum TCUESC01: A New Potential Probiotic Strain Isolated during Cocoa Fermentation
Authors: Melo Tauá Alves , dos Santos Thalis Ferreira , Pereira Lennon Ramos , Passos Hélic Moreira , Rezende Rachel Passos , Romano Carla Cristina
Published: July 2017

The use of intestinal probiotic bacteria is very common in the food industry and has been the focus of the majority of research in this field. Yet in recent years, research on extraintestinal microorganisms has greatly increased due to their well-known potential as probiotics. Thus, we studied a strain of Lactobacillus fermentum (TCUESC01) extracted from fermenting cocoa. First, we examined the impact of pH on the growth of this strain and studied its survival under conditions similar to those of the human gastrointestinal tract. L. fermentum TCUESC01 demonstrated resistance to conditions mimicking the human stomach and intestines and grew well between pH 5 and pH 7. Next, we subjected L. fermentum TCUESC01 to storage at 4°C in a milk solution and found that it survived well for 28 days. Lastly, we measured the susceptibility of this strain to numerous antibiotics and its tendency to autoaggregate. L. fermentum TCUESC01 showed significant autoaggregation, as well as susceptibility to the majority of antibiotics tested. Overall, our findings support the potential use of this extraintestinal bacterium as a dietary probiotic.
A Case of Superficial Femoral Arteriovenous Fistula and Severe Venous Stasis Ulceration, Managed with an Iliac Extender Prosthesis
Authors: Ilonzo Nicole , Goss Selena , Yang Chun , Dudkiewicz Michael
Published: July 2017

Most femoral artery arteriovenous fistulas occur as a result of percutaneous interventions. However, arteriovenous fistulas can occur in the setting of trauma, with resultant consequences such as heart failure, steal syndrome, or venous insufficiency. Indications for endovascular repair in this setting are limited to patients who are at too high risk for anesthesia, have a hostile groin, or would not survive significant bleeding. We report the case of a traumatic femoral arteriovenous fistula, causing severe venous insufficiency and arteriomegaly, in a 58-year-old male, with history of traumatic gunshot wound complicated by popliteal DVT. Surgical options for arteriovenous fistula include open and endovascular repair but this patient’s fistula was more suitable for endovascular repair for reasons that will be discussed.
Combined Bone Transportation and Lengthening Techniques for the Treatment of Septic Nonunion of the Forearm Followed by Tendon Transfer
Authors: Ditsios Konstantinos , Iosifidou Eirini , Kostretzis Lazaros , Konstantinou Panagiotis , Pinto Iosafat , Theodoroudis Ioannis , Hatzokos Ippokratis
Published: July 2017

Infected nonunion of a forearm fracture complicated by a considerable skin-muscle defect poses a great challenge to orthopaedic surgeons. The treatment strategy comprises eradication of the infection, ensuring bony union and soft tissue coverage along with functional restoration. We report a case of a 23-year-old man with an open Gustilo-Anderson IIIb fracture complicated by infected nonunion after internal fixation. After thorough surgical debridement, a considerable soft tissue defect, extensor muscle loss, and posterior interosseous nerve laceration had to be addressed. He was finally treated with bone transportation and bone lengthening followed by tendon transfers.
PD-L1 Expression and Immune Escape in Melanoma Resistance to MAPK Inhibitors
Authors: Kakavand Hojabr , Rawson Robert V. , Pupo Gulietta M. , Yang Jean Y. H. , Menzies Alexander M. , Carlino Matteo S. , Kefford Richard F. , Howle Julie R. , Saw Robyn P.M. , Thompson John F. , Wilmott James S. , Long Georgina V. , Scolyer Richard A. , Rizos Helen
Published: July 2017

Purpose: To examine the relationship between immune activity, PD-L1 expression, and tumor cell signaling, in metastatic melanomas prior to and during treatment with targeted MAPK inhibitors.

Experimental Design: Thirty-eight tumors from 17 patients treated with BRAF inhibitor (n = 12) or combination BRAF/MEK inhibitors (n = 5) with known PD-L1 expression were analyzed. RNA expression arrays were performed on all pretreatment (PRE, n = 17), early during treatment (EDT, n = 8), and progression (PROG, n = 13) biopsies. HLA-A/HLA-DPB1 expression was assessed by IHC.

Results: Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of PRE, EDT, and PROG melanomas revealed that transcriptome signatures indicative of immune cell activation were strongly positively correlated with PD-L1 staining. In contrast, MAPK signaling and canonical Wnt/-β-catenin activity was negatively associated with PD-L1 melanoma expression. The expression of PD-L1 and immune activation signatures did not simply reflect the degree or type of immune cell infiltration, and was not sufficient for tumor response to MAPK inhibition.

Conclusions: PD-L1 expression correlates with immune cells and immune activity signatures in melanoma, but is not sufficient for tumor response to MAPK inhibition, as many PRE and PROG melanomas displayed both PD-L1 positivity and immune activation signatures. This confirms that immune escape is common in MAPK inhibitor–treated tumors. This has important implications for the selection of second-line immunotherapy because analysis of mechanisms of immune escape will likely be required to identify patients likely to respond to such therapies. Clin Cancer Res; 23(20); 6054–61. ©2017 AACR.
The Role of Cytotoxic Chemotherapy in Advanced Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Krug Sebastian , Gress Thomas M. , Michl Patrick , Rinke Anja
Published: July 2017

Background: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are rare neoplasms accounting for less than 5% of all pancreatic malignancies. These tumors are characterized by clinical and prognostical heterogeneity and are predominantly diagnosed in a metastatic stage. Cytotoxic chemotherapy, along with alkylating agents and antimetabolites as well as molecular targeted agents (everolimus, sunitinib), is used in the treatment of advanced PNETs. After the approval of lanreotide for unresectable PNETs, an additional therapeutic option has become available; however, the best sequence of therapies and patient stratification to different treatments remains challenging. Furthermore, no randomized phase-3 trials or head-to-head comparisons are available to support treatment decisions. Summary: The publication of 3 large single-center retrospective studies on streptozocin-(STZ)-based chemotherapy in advanced PNETs in 2015 confirmed the effectiveness of this treatment as described in previously reported trials. All studies investigated markers for progression-free and overall survival and strongly supported the value of the Ki-67 index as a robust prognostic marker. Interestingly, chemotherapy consistently displayed antitumor efficacy in different therapeutic lines. Moreover, a recent study of dacarbazine (DTIC) in a cohort of patients predominantly with PNETs demonstrated that a once monthly infusional DTIC schedule was well tolerated and yielded similar response rates (RR) as STZ-based schedules. Given the overall good tolerability of a monthly infusion and RR similar to STZ schedules, DTIC thus represents a feasible alternative or additional treatment option for PNETs. In this article, we review the current standard and summarize the most recent advances in the field of cytotoxic chemotherapy for PNET patients. Key Messages: (1) Despite the lack of phase3 trials, cytotoxic chemotherapy offers efficacy for patients with advanced PNETs; (2) the best therapeutic option and sequence remain open since comparable randomized studies are lacking; (3) careful patient selection and treatment stratification may increase overall outcome; and (4) currently, no biomarkers for clinical routine exist to predict response to chemotherapy.
Fisher Discrimination of Metabolic Changes in Rats Treated with Aspirin and Ibuprofen
Authors: Zhang Jing , Song Huanchun , Jiang Shuying , Chen Zhibin , Tong Shuhua , Lin Feiyan , Wen Congcong , Zhang Xiuhua , Hu Lufeng
Published: July 2017

Background: Aspirin and ibuprofen are the most frequently prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the world. However, both are associated with a variety of toxicities. We applied serum metabonomics and Fisher discrimination for the early diagnosis of its toxic reaction in order to help diagnose these toxicities. Methods: A total of 45 rats were randomly divided into Control group, Aspirin group, and Ibuprofen groups. The experiment groups were given intragastric aspirin (15 mg/kg) or ibuprofen (15 mg/kg) for 3 weeks. Liver function tests were performed and blood metabonomics were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results: The most important compounds altered were trihydroxybutyric acid and l-alanine in the aspirin group, and acetoacetic acid, l-alanine, and trihydroxybutyric acid in the ibuprofen group. With respect to metabolic profiles, all 3 groups were completely distinct from one another. Fisher discrimination showed that 91.1% of the original grouped cases were correctly classified by the third week. However, only 55.6% of liver function tests were able to classify grouped cases correctly. Conclusion: Trihydroxybutyric acid, l-alanine, and acetoacetic acid were the most significant indicators of altered serum metabolites following intragastric administration of aspirin and ibuprofen in rates. These metabolomic data may be used for classification of aspirin and ibuprofen toxicity.
Liquid Biopsy: Value for Melanoma Therapy?
Authors: Buder-Bakhaya Kristina , Machiraju Devayani , Hassel Jessica C.
Published: July 2017

Treatment of metastatic melanoma has undergone tremendous changes over the past few years. There are now highly effective systemic therapies available: targeted therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors in BRAF-V600-mutant melanoma and immunotherapies, including PD-1 antibodies with or without CTLA-4 antibody, that can be used regardless of mutational status. However, long-term tumor control is only achieved in a minority of patients. Liquid biopsy using circulating tumor cells, circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating mRNA and micro-RNA might represent valuable biomarkers, e.g. in the setting of systemic treatment for metastatic melanoma. Pre-treatment detection of BRAF V600-mutant ctDNA has been shown to be a prognostic factor in patients receiving BRAF/MEK inhibitor treatment. Furthermore, monitoring of ctDNA of known driver mutations can be used for treatment monitoring and detection of acquired resistance. However, results of the currently available studies need to be interpreted with caution as multiple approaches were used that are hardly comparable. So far, even with advancement of methods, there are only prognostic but no predictive biomarkers available.
Multimodal Regulation of Cardiac Myocyte Proliferation
Authors: Yuan Xuejun , Braun Thomas
Published: July 2017

Efficient cardiac regeneration is closely associated with the ability of cardiac myocytes to proliferate. Fetal or neonatal mouse hearts containing proliferating cardiac myocytes regenerate even extensive injuries, whereas adult hearts containing mostly post-mitotic cardiac myocytes have lost this ability. The same correlation is seen in some homoiotherm species such as teleost fish and urodelian amphibians leading to the hypothesis that cardiac myocyte proliferation is a major driver of heart regeneration. Although cardiomyocyte proliferation might not be the only prerequisite to restore full organ function after cardiac damage, induction of cardiac myocyte proliferation is an attractive therapeutic option to cure the injured heart and prevent heart failure. To (re)initiate cardiac myocyte proliferation in adult mammalian hearts, a thorough understanding of the molecular circuitry governing cardiac myocyte cell cycle regulation is required. Here, we review the current knowledge in the field focusing on the withdrawal of cardiac myocytes from the cell cycle during the transition from neonatal to adult stages.
The Fluid Mechanics of Transcatheter Heart Valve Leaflet Thrombosis in the Neosinus
Authors: Midha Prem A. , Raghav Vrishank , Sharma Rahul , Condado Jose F. , Okafor Ikechukwu U. , Rami Tanya , Kumar Gautam , Thourani Vinod H. , Jilaihawi Hasan , Babaliaros Vasilis , Makkar Raj R. , Yoganathan Ajit P.
Published: July 2017

Background:

Transcatheter heart valve (THV) thrombosis has been increasingly reported. In these studies, thrombus quantification has been based on a 2-dimensional assessment of a 3-dimensional phenomenon.

Methods:

Postprocedural, 4-dimensional, volume-rendered CT data of patients with CoreValve, Evolut R, and SAPIEN 3 transcatheter aortic valve replacement enrolled in the RESOLVE study (Assessment of Transcatheter and Surgical Aortic Bioprosthetic Valve Dysfunction With Multimodality Imaging and Its Treatment with Anticoagulation) were included in this analysis. Patients on anticoagulation were excluded. SAPIEN 3 and CoreValve/Evolut R patients with and without hypoattenuated leaflet thickening were included to study differences between groups. Patients were classified as having THV thrombosis if there was any evidence of hypoattenuated leaflet thickening. Anatomic and THV deployment geometries were analyzed, and thrombus volumes were computed through manual 3-dimensional reconstruction. We aimed to identify and evaluate risk factors that contribute to THV thrombosis through the combination of retrospective clinical data analysis and in vitro imaging in the space between the native and THV leaflets (neosinus).

Results:

SAPIEN 3 valves with leaflet thrombosis were on average 10% further expanded (by diameter) than those without (95.5±5.2% versus 85.4±3.9%;
P
<0.001). However, this relationship was not evident with the CoreValve/Evolut R. In CoreValve/Evolut Rs with thrombosis, the thrombus volume increased linearly with implant depth (
R
2
=0.7,
P
<0.001). This finding was not seen in the SAPIEN 3. The in vitro analysis showed that a supraannular THV deployment resulted in a nearly 7-fold decrease in stagnation zone size (velocities <0.1 m/s) when compared with an intraannular deployment. In addition, the in vitro model indicated that the size of the stagnation zone increased as cardiac output decreased.

Conclusions:

Although transcatheter aortic valve replacement thrombosis is a multifactorial process involving foreign materials, patient-specific blood chemistry, and complex flow patterns, our study indicates that deployed THV geometry may have implications on the occurrence of thrombosis. In addition, a supraannular neosinus may reduce thrombosis risk because of reduced flow stasis. Although additional prospective studies are needed to further develop strategies for minimizing thrombus burden, these results may help identify patients at higher thrombosis risk and aid in the development of next-generation devices with reduced thrombosis risk.
Dynamic Relation of Changes in Weight and Indices of Fat Distribution With Cardiac Structure and Function: The Dallas Heart Study
Authors: Wilner Bryan , Garg Sonia , Ayers Colby R. , Maroules Christopher D. , McColl Roderick , Matulevicius Susan A. , de Lemos James A. , Drazner Mark H. , Peshock Ronald , Neeland Ian J.
Published: July 2017

Background

Obesity may increase heart failure risk through cardiac remodeling. Cross‐sectional associations between adiposity and cardiac structure and function have been elucidated, but the impact of longitudinal changes in adiposity on cardiac remodeling is less well understood.

Methods and Results

Participants in the Dallas Heart Study without cardiovascular disease or left ventricular dysfunction underwent assessment of body weight, anthropometrics, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and 7 years later. Associations between changes in indices of generalized and central adiposity with changes in left ventricular mass, volume, mass/volume ratio (concentricity), wall thickness, and ejection fraction were assessed using multivariable linear regression. The study cohort (n=1262) mean age was 44 years with 57% women, 44% black, and 36% obese participants. At follow‐up, 41% had ≥5% weight gain, and 15% had ≥5% weight loss. Greater weight gain was associated with younger age, lower risk factor burden, and lower body mass index at baseline. In multivariable models adjusting for age, sex, race, comorbid conditions at baseline and follow‐up, baseline adiposity, and cardiac measurement, increasing weight was associated with increases in left ventricular mass (β=0.10,
P
<0.0001), wall thickness (β=0.10,
P
<0.0001), and concentricity (β=0.06,
P
=0.002), with modest effects on end‐diastolic volume (β=0.04,
P
=0.044) and ejection fraction (β=0.05,
P
=0.046). Similar results were seen with other adiposity indices.

Conclusions

Concentric left ventricular remodeling is the predominant phenotype linked to increasing adiposity in middle age. Our findings support the importance of weight management to prevent secular changes in adiposity, concentric remodeling, and eventual heart failure over time.
New species and new records of predaceous midges in the genera, Schizonyxhelea Clastrier and Stilobezzia Kieffer from Mexico (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)
Authors: HUERTA HERÓN , GROGAN WILLIAM L., JR.
Published: July 2017

We describe and illustrate new species and provide new records of predaceous midges in the genera, Schizonyxhelea Clastrier and Stilobezzia Kieffer from Mexico (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae). Two new species are described and illustrated: Schizonyxhelea zoologica n. sp., and, Stilobezzia (Acanthohelea) spinellii n. sp. Included are the first Mexican records of Schizonyxhelea forattinii Wirth & Grogan, Stilobezzia (Acanthohelea) fuscula Wirth, S. (Stilobezzia) hirta Borkent and S. (S.) pallidiventris (Malloch). New distribution records are also provided for several other species that were previously known from Mexico, and a key is provided for all species of Schizonyxhelea and Stilobezzia from Mexico.
Penelope superciliaris pseudonyma Neumann, 1933 (Aves, Cracidae) is the valid name for the blue-faced population of Rusty-margined Guan endemic to the Madeira-Tapajós interfluvium of central Amazonian Brazil
Authors: EVANGELISTA-VARGAS DIEGO , COSTA THIAGO V. V. , WHITNEY BRET M. , SCHUNCK FABIO , SILVEIRA LUÍS FÁBIO
Published: July 2017

As a part of a taxonomic study of the Penelope superciliaris complex, we noticed that two names are available for the population which occurs on the left margin of the Tapajós River, in Amazonian Brazil, which, in life, possesses a bright-blue face. The type locality of Penelope superciliares [sic] cyanosparius Nardelli, 1993, described by Nardelli (1993) based on living specimens, is not far from the type locality of P. s. pseudonyma Neumann, 1933. We collected new specimens across this region and, after a reexamination of the material used by Neumann (1933) to describe P. s. pseudonyma, we conclude that Penelope superciliaris pseudonyma is the oldest available name for the blue-faced guans restricted to the Madeira-Tapajós interfluvium, and P. superciliares [sic] cyanosparius Nardelli, 1993 must be treated as a junior synonym.
Breaking the frame: frame disputes of war and peace
Authors: Ruffa Chiara , Sundberg Ralph
Published: July 2017

Frames guide the way in which organizations and individuals interpret their surrounding contexts and shape avenues for thought, action, and behavior. This paper tests the individual-level effects of experiencing ‘frame disputes’: the state of holding individual-level frames that are at odds with dominant organizational frames. We hypothesize that on the individual level a frame dispute will be associated with negative effects on outcomes important for an organization’s functioning. The hypothesis is tested using a survey of a battalion of Italian soldiers. Our results demonstrate that, on average, soldiers who experienced frame disputes in that they perceived their mission differently from the dominant organizational frame displayed significantly lower levels of perceived cohesion, performance, and legitimacy. Frame disputes are likely to be widespread phenomena among organizations and social movements, and understanding their effects has theoretical, empirical, and policy relevance beyond the military case under study.
Militarizing politics, essentializing identities: Interpretivist process tracing and the power of geopolitics
Authors: Guzzini Stefano
Published: July 2017

This reply to the Symposium on Stefano Guzzini (ed.) The return of geopolitics in Europe?, answers the criticisms by John Agnew, Jeffrey Checkel, Dan Deudney and Jennifer Mitzen. It justifies (1) its specific definition and critique of geopolitics as a theory – and not just a foreign policy strategy; (2) its proposed interpretivist process tracing; (3) the role of mechanisms in constructivist theorizing and foreign policy theory; and (4) its usage of non-Humean causality in the analysis of multiple parallel processes and their interaction. At the same time, it develops the logic of the book’s main mechanism of foreign policy identity crisis reduction.
NATO's Northern Front: Developments and Prospects
Authors: Zakheim Dov S.
Published: July 2017

Beginning in the mid-1970s, a number of observers of the so-called Nordic balance began to draw attention to the growing imbalance in NATO and Warsaw Pact capabilities in the region. The U.S.-Norwegian prestocking arrangement was one NATO response to the limited warning time for a Soviet move to cut off the North Cape area. Whereas Norway, in conjunction with the United States, is currently in the midst of a major effort to restore the credibility of its northernmost defenses, Denmark has been amongst the most reluctant of Alliance members to increase its level of defense spending. Furthermore, Greenland's home rule represents another complication. Given Greenland's clear determination to go its own way in international economic affairs, it is important to assess whether it might do the same on defense matters. Greenland's importance to NATO is often overlooked but cannot be overstated. Finland's neutrality and Sweden's more forceful armed neutrality permit NATO to adopt a posture which does not impose upon Denmark and Norway the burden of hosting foreign troops upon their soil.
Norwegian Security Policy for the 1980s
Authors: Holst Johan JØRgen
Published: July 2017

The key strategic position of Norway in Northern Europe is elaborated in the first part of this article. Norwegian alignment in NATO is based on the proposition that Norwegian (or Scandinavian) means are inadequate to defend the country from attack from a major power. It has become an objective of Norwegian defence policy to block as effectively as possible any option of limited war against North Norway by raising the force requirements for the adversary to a level at which the risks of escalation would appear forbidding. The Norwegian security calculus is predicated on the notion that South Norway has forward defence in the Baltic, Northern Germany and Denmark. Therefore, the defence effort has been concentrated in the north. Public support for Norway's policy of alignment has been rather stable over the last decade. The issue of reinforcement is dealt with in detail, as are the re-emerging nuclear weapons issues. Finally, the evolution of the Norwegian defence effort is analysed. It is concluded that those aspects of alliance policy which relate to nuclear weapons are likely to cause discussion and dissension in the years ahead. The Norwegian Government is likely to support changes in the posture and doctrine of NATO which reduce reliance on nuclear weapons and, particularly, the pressures for early use. The unilateral constraints with respect to the stationing of foreign troops will be maintained.
Danish Security Policy
Authors: Heurlin Bertel
Published: July 2017

Denmark is a small and extremely vulnerable state. It is situated at the intersection of the bipolar global system and the multipolar West European subsystem. Danish security policy has been formulated along the following three principal lines: (1) Cooperation, i.e. practical cooperative relations between states (furthering mutual understanding, confidence, and peace); (2) detente and negotiation; and (3) defense, i.e. the cooperation between the national Danish defense and the Western defense. This article discusses the effects on Denmark of general international trends in the 1970s and 1980s. Three forms of security policy are dealt with: (1) the official declaratory policy; (2) the military policy and the military apparatus; and (3) planning and analyzing activities. Although Danish security policy is characterized by continuity, certain recent changes are identified. Another basic feature of Danish security policy is the remarkably stable political consensus ever since the approval of the Atlantic Treaty in 1949. Recent years, however, have witnessed increased politicization of security matters.
The Politics of Neutrality and Defence: Finnish Security Policy Since the Early 1970s
Authors: Möttölä Kari
Published: July 2017

For Finland, the last decade has been one of implementation in foreign policy and doctrine formation and material expansion in defence policy. After tracing the fundamentals of Finland's security conception, the article notes that the basic argument and strategy for an active foreign policy line, promoting peace and security, and based on acceptability of the line in the East and West, was established as early as the mid-1960s. Finland's Nordic security policy for confirming the ‘disengaged’ position of the area has been tenacious, whereas in European and global fora Finland's activity has been more dependent on the East–West climate. The three parliamentary defence committees formulated a defence doctrine legitimating the national defence system and ensuing armaments programmes dimensioned to respond to a limited conventional attack. The internal debate resulted in a consensus doctrine on how much Finnish–Soviet military cooperation to include in the defence doctrine that corresponds with the basic philosophy of Finland's foreign policy to trust in political regulation as the best security guarantee even in conflict situations. The military provisions of the Finnish–Soviet Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance are to be used actively and reliably to maintain the preventive effect of the defence arrangement. With the onset of the 1980s the debate on the increased danger of limited nuclear war is testing the credibility of the defence doctrine based on a restrictive threat conception and questioning the concept of security policy traditionally used.
Causes and consequences of the rise of populist radical right parties and movements in Europe
Authors: Muis Jasper , Immerzeel Tim
Published: July 2017

This article reviews three strands in the scholarship on the populist radical right (PRR). It covers both political parties and extra-parliamentary mobilization in contemporary European democracies. After definitional issues and case selection, the authors first discuss demand-side approaches to the fortunes of the PRR. Subsequently, supply-side approaches are assessed, namely political opportunity explanations and internal supply-side factors, referring to leadership, organization and ideological positioning. Third, research on the consequences of the emergence and rise of these parties and movements is examined: do they constitute a corrective or a threat to democracy? The authors discuss the growing literature on the impact on established parties’ policies, the policies themselves, and citizens’ behaviour. The review concludes with future directions for theorizing and research.
The Psychology of Recent Nature Visits: (How) Are Motives and Attentional Focus Related to Post-Visit Restorative Experiences, Creativity, and Emotional Well-Being?
Authors: Pasanen Tytti P. , Neuvonen Marjo , Korpela Kalevi M.
Published: July 2017

The health-enhancing benefits of contact with nature have become widely recognized, but empirical studies that consider the motives and attentional focus of nature visits are lacking. These psychological qualities may partly determine why one visits natural environments and why some visits are more restorative than others. This study examined recent nature visits by Finnish survey respondents ( n = 565) via exploratory structural equation modeling. In the estimated models, motives and attentional focus explained 54% to 57% of post-visit restorativeness, 22% of creativity, and 33% to 37% of emotional well-being. Of the assessed motives, stress reduction was most strongly connected to increased restorativeness and emotional well-being. The motive to be alone showed a positive indirect—but negative direct—connection to emotional well-being. In addition, focus on oneself, the activity, and the environment were positively associated with the outcomes. The results indicate that motives and attentional focus are strongly connected to the outcomes of nature visits.
Grip Type Alters Maximal Pinch Forces in Syringe Use
Authors: MacDonald Victoria , Wilson Katherine , Sonne Michael W. L. , Keir Peter J.
Published: July 2017

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to determine maximum forces during syringe use for different grips found in the field.

Background:

Prolonged syringe use in chemotherapy drug delivery is associated with pain and injury in nurses and technicians.

Method:

Twenty healthy female hospital workers generated isometric maximum voluntary force using a 30 cc syringe with four pinch grips (chuck, chuck variation, thenar, two-handed). Both dominant and nondominant hands were used with the syringe plunger fixed in wide (8.3 cm) and narrow (2.5 cm) grip spans. Participants were encouraged to position the apparatus in the most comfortable position and exert a maximal effort for 5 seconds.

Results:

Significant interaction effects were found: Grip Span × Pinch Type, Hand × Pinch Type, and Grip Span × Hand × Pinch Type ( p < .05). The results demonstrated that the thenar (103.6 ± 22.9 N) and two-handed (104.7 ± 17.1 N) pinches produced the highest forces.

Conclusion:

Thenar and two-handed pinch grips may be the preferred pinch type to lower the relative efforts required to use a syringe and may be one strategy to assist with reduction of musculoskeletal disorder risk associated with syringe use.

Application:

Determining maximal syringe press forces allows workers and ergonomists to develop better strategies for managing the cumulative loads during drug delivery and mixing.
Human Factors Which Have Helped Japanese Industrialization
Authors: Oshima Masamitsu , Hayashi Yoshio , Noro Kageyu
Published: July 2017

Human factors research in Japan dates from the 1920s. Japanese human factors research has followed labor science approaches and systems approaches for improving man-machine systems. European influences are recognized in the former approaches, while American influences are noticeable in the latter. Since its foundation in 1964, the Japan Ergonomics Research Society has been working as the base for human factors studies and activities. The professional fields of the society's members are greatly different from those of the American counterparts. Activities related to the automobile and steel industries and to the Shinkansen Line are described as characteristic examples in the Japanese human factors field. The system capabilities and lifetime employment institution peculiar to Japan have made great contributions to these research activities. One of the major problems which faces Japanese human factors specialists is how to assign to humans and machines the jobs which call for intellectual and sensory functions.
Judgment Attitude of Operator Derived from Decision Rule
Authors: Kurabayashi Takeshi
Published: July 2017

The purposes of the study are to build a model for the judgment criterion which corresponds to the probability of change occurring and to evaluate the judgment attitude of operators to this probability. The judgment criterion is defined by the equation which is called real observer. The experiment was conducted to see whether wide-flange beams were bent or warped. From this experiment, it was found that it is possible to derive a real-observer model which is generally applicable to the judgment criterion of operators. The judgment attitude of the operator is evaluated as follows: (1) He tries to look for defects rather than nondefects when the probability of defect occurring is slightly less than 0.5, and (2) he tries to look for nondefects when the probability exceeds 0.5
Determination of Counting Time in Visual Inspection
Authors: Noro Kageyu
Published: July 2017

A series of experiments was conducted to clarify the relationship between the time required and visual process for counting dots projected onto a screen. The eye movement of the subject on each experimental trial was recorded by the electro-oculograph method and eye mark recorder. According to the experimental results, the subject used two information processes depending on the number of dots and symmetry of patterns. Both latency and movement time depend on the configuration of dots in the sample. An excess number of saccades is one of the causes for miscounting. A model for estimating counting time was built on the basis of the findings obtained. The time estimated by the model, if the maximum number of saccades does not exceed the number of dots on each sample, may be taken as optimum counting time.
Searching for Traffic Signals while Engaged in Compensatory Tracking
Authors: Noble Merrill , Sanders Andries F.
Published: July 2017

An experiment is described in which subjects were required to search for familiar traffic signals. Half the time this was done while also engaged in a manual compensatory tracking task. The experimental variables of the visual search task were color, total number of signals exposed, the number of relevant signals, and the density of the signals. The results showed performance degradation for both tasks when the visual search and the tracking tasks were performed concurrently. Examination of the main effects and interactions suggest that, except when color was a perfect cue, visual search was a sequential process. Other theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
The Positioning of Type on Maps: The Effect of Surrounding Material on Word Recognition Time
Authors: Noyes Liza
Published: July 2017

Two visual search experiments, one of which measured eye movements, show that material close to words on a map-like display has a proximity effect which prolongs the word recognition time. This effect is particularly pronounced if the material is a) very close to the first letter of the word, and b) of a similar size to the word, or component letters. Possible causes of the effect are discussed and the practical application for maps and other displays considered.
The Measurement of the Air Traffic Controller
Authors: Hopkin V. David
Published: July 2017

Measures of the air traffic controller are reviewed and critically assessed. There are many reasons for measuring the controller, and no measure can yet be treated as either indispensable or useless. Some of the most successful studies have employed many different measures. There has been a bias toward measuring the controller as part of the system rather than in his or her own right. It has proved difficult to establish adequate measurement criteria because of uncertainty about the relative importance of the factors involved. The development of new measures and the refinement of existing ones may lead to progress. A reinterpretation of the controller's tasks and functions in relation to psychological constructs should be attempted.