bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fatigue Life Estimation of Modified Railroad Bearing Adapters for Onboard Monitoring Applications
Authors: Trevino Alexis , Fuentes Arturo A. , Tarawneh Constantine M. , Montalvo Joseph
Published: June 2015

This paper presents a study of the fatigue life (i.e. number of stress cycles before failure) of Class K cast iron conventional and modified railroad bearing adapters for onboard monitoring applications under different operational conditions based on experimentally validated Finite Element Analysis (FEA) stress results. Currently, freight railcars rely heavily on wayside hot-box detectors (HBDs) at strategic intervals to record bearing cup temperatures as the train passes at specified velocities. Hence, most temperature measurements are limited to certain physical railroad locations. This limitation gave way for an optimized sensor that could potentially deliver significant insight on continuous bearing temperature conditions. Bearing adapter modifications (i.e. cut-outs) were required to house the developed temperature sensor which will be used for onboard monitoring applications. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the reliability of the modified railroad bearing adapter. Previous work done at the University Transportation Center for Railway Safety (UTCRS) led to the development of finite element model with experimentally validated boundary conditions which was utilized to obtain stress distribution maps of conventional and modified railroad bearing adapters under different service conditions. These maps were useful for identifying areas of interest for an eventual inspection of railroad bearing adapters in the field. Upon further examination of the previously acquired results, it was determined that one possible mode of adapter failure would be by fatigue due to the cyclic loading and the range of stresses in the railroad bearing adapters. In this study, the authors experimentally validate the FEA stress results and investigate the fatigue life of the adapters under different extreme case scenarios for the bearing adapters including the effect of a railroad flat wheel. In this case, the flat wheel translates into a periodic impact load on the bearing adapter. The Stress-Life approach is used to calculate the life of the railroad bearing adapters made out of cast iron and subjected to cyclic loading. From the known material properties of the adapter (cast iron), the operational life is estimated with a mathematical relationship. The Goodman correction factor is used in these life prediction calculations in order to take into account the mean stresses experienced by these adapters. The work shows that the adapters have infinite life in all studied cases.
Exploitation of temporal redundancy in compressed sensing reconstruction of fMRI studies with a prior‐based algorithm (PICCS)
Authors: Chavarrías C. , Abascal J. F. P. J. , Montesinos P. , Desco M.
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

Compressed sensing is a technique used to accelerate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition without compromising image quality. While it has proven particularly useful in dynamic imaging procedures such as cardiac cine, very few authors have applied it to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The purpose of the present study was to check whether the prior image constrained compressed sensing (PICCS) algorithm, which is based on an available prior image, can improve the statistical maps in fMRI better than other strategies that also exploit temporal redundancy.

Methods:

PICCS was compared to spatiotemporal total variation (TTV) and k‐t FASTER, since they have already demonstrated high performance and robustness in other MRI applications, such as cardiac cine MRI and resting state fMRI, respectively. The prior image for PICCS was the average of all undersampled data. Both PICCS and TTV were solved using the split Bregman formulation. K‐t FASTER algorithm relies on matrix completion to reconstruct the undersampled k‐spaces. The three algorithms were evaluated using two datasets with high and low signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR)—BOLD contrast—acquired in a 7 T preclinical MRI scanner and retrospectively undersampled at various rates (i.e., acceleration factors). The authors evaluated their performance in terms of the sensitivity/specificity of BOLD detection through receiver operating characteristic curves and by visual inspection of the statistical maps.

Results:

With high SNR studies, PICCS performed similarly to the state‐of‐the‐art algorithms TTV and k‐t FASTER and provided consistent BOLD signal at the ROI. In scenarios with low SNR and high acceleration factors, PICCS still provided consistent maps and higher sensitivity/specificity than TTV, whereas k‐t FASTER failed to provide significant maps.

Conclusions:

The authors performed a comparison between three reconstructions (PICCS, TTV, and k‐t FASTER) that exploit temporal redundancy in fMRI. The prior‐based algorithm, PICCS, preserved BOLD activation and sensitivity/specificity better than TTV and k‐t FASTER in noisy scenarios. The PICCS algorithm can potentially reach an acceleration factor of ×8 and still provide BOLD contrast in the ROI with an area under the curve over 0.99.
Multiatlas whole heart segmentation of CT data using conditional entropy for atlas ranking and selection
Authors: Zhuang Xiahai , Bai Wenjia , Song Jingjing , Zhan Songhua , Qian Xiaohua , Shi Wenzhe , Lian Yanyun , Rueckert Daniel
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) is widely used in clinical diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Whole heart segmentation (WHS) plays a vital role in developing new clinical applications of cardiac CT. However, the shape and appearance of the heart can vary greatly across different scans, making the automatic segmentation particularly challenging. The objective of this work is to develop and evaluate a multiatlas segmentation (MAS) scheme using a new atlas ranking and selection algorithm for automatic WHS of CT data. Research on different MAS strategies and their influence on WHS performance are limited. This work provides a detailed comparison study evaluating the impacts of label fusion, atlas ranking, and sizes of the atlas database on the segmentation performance.

Methods:

Atlases in a database were registered to the target image using a hierarchical registration scheme specifically designed for cardiac images. A subset of the atlases were selected for label fusion, according to the authors’ proposed atlas ranking criterion which evaluated the performance of each atlas by computing the conditional entropy of the target image given the propagated atlas labeling. Joint label fusion was used to combine multiple label estimates to obtain the final segmentation. The authors used 30 clinical cardiac CT angiography (CTA) images to evaluate the proposed MAS scheme and to investigate different segmentation strategies.

Results:

The mean WHS Dice score of the proposed MAS method was 0.918 ± 0.021, and the mean runtime for one case was 13.2 min on a workstation. This MAS scheme using joint label fusion generated significantly better Dice scores than the other label fusion strategies, including majority voting (0.901 ± 0.276, p < 0.01), locally weighted voting (0.905 ± 0.0247, p < 0.01), and probabilistic patch‐based fusion (0.909 ± 0.0249, p < 0.01). In the atlas ranking study, the proposed criterion based on conditional entropy yielded a performance curve with higher WHS Dice scores compared to the conventional schemes (p < 0.03). In the atlas database study, the authors showed that the MAS using larger atlas databases generated better performance curves than the MAS using smaller ones, indicating larger atlas databases could produce more accurate segmentation.

Conclusions:

The authors have developed a new MAS framework for automatic WHS of CTA and investigated alternative implementations of MAS. With the proposed atlas ranking algorithm and joint label fusion, the MAS scheme is able to generate accurate segmentation within practically acceptable computation time. This method can be useful for the development of new clinical applications of cardiac CT.
Dosimetric results in treatments of neuroblastoma and neuroendocrine tumors with 131I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine with implications for the activity to administer
Authors: Mínguez Pablo , Flux Glenn , Genollá José , Guayambuco Sonía , Delgado Alejandro , Fombellida José Cruz , Sjögreen Gleisner Katarina
Published: June 2015

Purpose:

The aim was to investigate whole‐body and red marrow absorbed doses in treatments of neuroblastoma (NB) and adult neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) with 131I‐metaiodobenzylguanidine and to propose a simple method for determining the activity to administer when dosimetric data for the individual patient are not available.

Methods:

Nine NB patients and six NET patients were included, giving in total 19 treatments as four patients were treated twice. Whole‐body absorbed doses were determined from dose‐rate measurements and planar gamma‐camera imaging. For six NB and five NET treatments, red marrow absorbed doses were also determined using the blood‐based method.

Results:

Dosimetric data from repeated administrations in the same patient were consistent. In groups of NB and NET patients, similar whole‐body residence times were obtained, implying that whole‐body absorbed dose per unit of administered activity could be reasonably well described as a power function of the patient mass. For NB, this functional form was found to be consistent with dosimetric data from previously published studies. The whole‐body to red marrow absorbed dose ratio was similar among patients, with values of 1.4 ± 0.6–1.7 ± 0.7 (1 standard deviation) in NB treatments and between 1.5 ± 0.6 and 1.7 ± 0.7 (1 standard deviation) in NET treatments.

Conclusions:

The consistency of dosimetric results between administrations for the same patient supports prescription of the activity based on dosimetry performed in pretreatment studies, or during the first administration in a fractionated schedule. The expressions obtained for whole‐body absorbed doses per unit of administered activity as a function of patient mass for NB and NET treatments are believed to be a useful tool to estimate the activity to administer at the stage when the individual patient biokinetics has not yet been measured.
Effectiveness of Corticosteroid Injections in the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis
Authors: Karls Shanna L. , Snyder Kelli R. , Neibert Peter J.
Published: June 2015

Clinical Scenario:

For active individuals, plantar fasciitis (PF) is one of the most clinically diagnosed causes of heel pain. When conservative treatment fails, one of the next most commonly used treatments includes corticosteroid injections. Although PF has been identified as a degenerative condition, rather than inflammatory, corticosteroid injection is still commonly prescribed. However, the literature has not been examined to determine the effect of corticosteroid injection on PF.

Focused Clinical Question:

Are corticosteroid injections more effective than other interventions (placebo, platelet-rich plasma, and tenoxicam injections) in the short- and long-term treatment of PF?

Summary of Key Findings:

Corticosteroid injections are not more effective in the long-term treatment of PF pain than other treatments (platelet-rich plasma, tenoxicam).

Clinical Bottom Line:

The level 2 and 3 evidence shows that corticosteroids are more effective than placebo injections but are no more effective than tenoxicam injections and perhaps less effective than platelet-rich plasma treatment.

Strength of Recommendation:

Level 2 and 3 evidence suggests that corticosteroid injections are not more effective in the long-term treatment of PF than platelet-rich plasma or tenoxicam.
In Contrast to Chlamydia trachomatis, Waddlia chondrophila Grows in Human Cells without Inhibiting Apoptosis, Fragmenting the Golgi Apparatus, or Diverting Post-Golgi Sphingomyelin Transport
Authors: Dille Stephanie , Kleinschnitz Eva-Maria , Kontchou Collins Waguia , Nölke Thilo , Häcker Georg
Published: June 2015

The
Chlamydiales
are an order of obligate intracellular bacteria sharing a developmental cycle inside a cytosolic vacuole, with very diverse natural hosts, from amoebae to mammals. The clinically most important species is
Chlamydia trachomatis
. Many uncertainties remain as to how
Chlamydia
organizes its intracellular development and replication. The discovery of new
Chlamydiales
species from other families permits the comparative analysis of cell-biological events and may indicate events that are common to all or peculiar to some species and more or less tightly linked to “chlamydial” development. We used this approach in the infection of human cells with
Waddlia chondrophila
, a species from the family
Waddliaceae
whose natural host is uncertain. Compared to
C. trachomatis
,
W. chondrophila
had slightly different growth characteristics, including faster cytotoxicity. The embedding in cytoskeletal structures was not as pronounced as for the
C. trachomatis
inclusion.
C. trachomatis
infection generates proteolytic activity by the protease
Chlamydia
protease-like activity factor (CPAF), which degrades host substrates upon extraction; these substrates were not cleaved in the case of
W. chondrophila
. Unlike
Chlamydia
,
W. chondrophila
did not protect against staurosporine-induced apoptosis.
C. trachomatis
infection causes Golgi apparatus fragmentation and redirects post-Golgi sphingomyelin transport to the inclusion; both were absent from
W. chondrophila
-infected cells. When host cells were infected with both species, growth of both species was reduced. This study highlights differences between bacterial species that both depend on obligate intracellular replication inside an inclusion. Some features seem principally dispensable for intracellular development of
Chlamydiales
in vitro
but may be linked to host adaptation of
Chlamydia
and the higher virulence of
C. trachomatis
.
Interacting F(R, T) gravity with modified Chaplygin gas
Authors: Amani Ali R. , Dehneshin S.L.
Published: June 2015

In this paper, we have studied F(R, T) gravity as an arbitrary function of curvature and torsion scalars in Friedmann–Lemaître–Robertson–Walker background. Then, we have considered interacting model between F(R, T) gravity and modified Chaplygin gas. The novelty of this model is that the Universe includes both curvature and torsion cases, and one dominated by a Chaplygin gas. To calculate cosmological solutions, we obtained the Friedmann equations and also equation of state parameter of dark energy. By employing the interacting model we considered the total energy density and the total pressure of the Universe as the combination of components of dark energy and Chaplygin gas. Subsequently, we reconstructed the model by an origin of a scalar field entitled quintessence model with a field potential. The field potential has been calculated in terms of free parameters of F(R, T) gravity and modified Chaplygin gas. In what follows, we used a parametrization, and the cosmological parameters have been written in terms of redshift z. Next, we plotted cosmological parameters with respect to three variables: cosmic time, redshift z, and e-folding number N = ln(a), and the figures showed us an accelerated expansion of the Universe. Also, we have described the scenario in three statuses: early time, late time, and future time, by e-folding number. Finally, the stability of the scenario has been investigated using sound speed, and the graph of sound speed versus e-folding number has shown us that there is stability in late time.
Dual actions of a novel bifunctional compound to lower glucose in mice with diet-induced insulin resistance
Authors: Chen Katherine , Jih Alice , Kavaler Sarah T. , Lagakos William S. , Oh Dayoung , Watkins Steven M. , Kim Jane J.
Published: June 2015

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA 22:6n-3) and salicylate are both known to exert anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigated the effects of a novel bifunctional drug compound consisting of DHA and salicylate linked together by a small molecule that is stable in plasma but hydrolyzed in the cytoplasm. The components of the bifunctional compound acted synergistically to reduce inflammation mediated via nuclear factor κB in cultured macrophages. Notably, oral administration of the bifunctional compound acted in two distinct ways to mitigate hyperglycemia in high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance. In mice with diet-induced obesity, the compound lowered blood glucose by reducing hepatic insulin resistance. It also had an immediate glucose-lowering effect that was secondary to enhanced glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion and abrogated by the administration of exendin(9–39), a GLP-1 receptor antagonist. These results suggest that the bifunctional compound could be an effective treatment for individuals with type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance. This strategy could also be employed in other disease conditions characterized by chronic inflammation.
Theoretical Study on Cyclopeptides as the Nanocarriers for Li+, Na+, K+ and F−, Cl−, Br−
Authors: Liu Lili , Chen Shimou
Published: June 2015

The interaction process between a series of cyclopeptide compounds cyclo(Gly)n  (n = 4,6, 8) and monovalent ions (Li+, Na+, K+, F−, Cl−, and Br−) was studied using theoretical calculation. The mechanism of combination between the cyclo(Gly)n and ions was discussed through binding energy, Mulliken electron population, and hydrogen bond. It was found that for the same cyclopeptide the binding energy has the order of cyclo(Gly)n–Li+ > cyclo(Gly)n–Na+ > cyclo(Gly)n–K+ and cyclo(Gly)n–F− > cyclo(Gly)n–Br− > cyclo(Gly)n–Cl−. The binding energy manifests the stable complex of cyclo(Gly)n and ions can be formed, and the different energy shows the potential use of cyclo(Gly)n as nanocarriers for metal ions or the extractant for ions separation.
In VitroAntileukemic Activity ofXanthosoma sagittifolium(Taioba) Leaf Extract
Authors: Caxito Marina L. C. , Correia Rachell R. , Gomes Anne Caroline C. , Justo Graça , Coelho Marsen G. P. , Sakuragui Cássia M. , Kuster Ricardo M. , Sabino Katia C. C.
Published: June 2015

Xanthosoma sagittifoliumSchott is a herb of the Araceae family, popularly known as taioba, which is consumed as food in some regions of Brazil, Africa, and Asia. This species has already been evaluated for the antifungal activities. However, based on its potential antitumor activity, the present study further aimed to examine the antitumor, as well as chelation, activity ofX. sagittifoliumleaf extract. Results showed that hydroethanolic extract ofX. sagittifoliumleaves (HEXs-L) exhibits cytotoxic effects against the immortalized line of human T-lymphocytic (Jurkat) and myelogenous (K562) leukemia cells, but not nontumor RAW 264.7 macrophages or NIH/3T3 fibroblasts. HEXs-L inhibited 50.3% of Jurkat cell proliferation, reducing by 20% cells in G2/M phase, but increasing cells in sub-G1 phase, thereby inducing apoptosis by 54%. In addition, HEXs-L inhibited NO production by 59%, as determined by Griess reaction, and chelated 93.8% of free Fe(II), as demonstrated by ferrozine assay. Phytochemical studies were carried out by ESI-MS, identifying apigenin di-C-glycosides as major compounds. Overall, this work revealed that leaf extract ofXanthosoma sagittifoliumpresented chelating activity andin vitroantitumor activity, arresting cell cycle and inducing apoptosis of leukemia cells, thus providing evidence that taioba leaves may have practical application in cancer therapy.
A Robust H∞ Controller for an UAV Flight Control System
Authors: López J. , Dormido R. , Dormido S. , Gómez J. P.
Published: June 2015

The objective of this paper is the implementation and validation of a robust H∞ controller for an UAV to track all types of manoeuvres in the presence of noisy environment. A robust inner‐outer loop strategy is implemented. To design the H∞ robust controller in the inner loop, H∞ control methodology is used. The two controllers that conform the outer loop are designed using the H∞ Loop Shaping technique. The reference vector used in the control architecture formed by vertical velocity, true airspeed, and heading angle, suggests a nontraditional way to pilot the aircraft. The simulation results show that the proposed control scheme works well despite the presence of noise and uncertainties, so the control system satisfies the requirements.
Free‐Energy‐Based Design Policy for Robust Network Control against Environmental Fluctuation
Authors: Iwai Takuya , Kominami Daichi , Murata Masayuki , Yomo Tetsuya
Published: June 2015

Bioinspired network control is a promising approach for realizing robust network controls. It relies on a probabilistic mechanism composed of positive and negative feedback that allows the system to eventually stabilize on the best solution. When the best solution fails due to environmental fluctuation, the system cannot keep its function until the system finds another solution again. To prevent the temporal loss of the function, the system should prepare some solution candidates and stochastically select available one from them. However, most bioinspired network controls are not designed with this issue in mind. In this paper, we propose a thermodynamics‐based design policy that allows systems to retain an appropriate degree of randomness depending on the degree of environmental fluctuation, which prepares the system for the occurrence of environmental fluctuation. Furthermore, we verify the design policy by using an attractor selection model‐based multipath routing to run simulation experiments.
A Green and Facile Synthesis of Carbon‐Incorporated Co3O4 Nanoparticles and Their Photocatalytic Activity for Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Gao Libo , Diwu Jiangtao , Zhang Qiang , Xu Hongyan , Chou Xiujian , Tang Jun , Xue Chenyang
Published: June 2015

Carbon‐incorporated Co3O4 nanoparticles with an average diameter of 50 nm were prepared via a facile and environmentally friendly one‐pot carbon‐assisted method using degreasing cotton as a template as well as a reactant. The elemental analysis indicates the incorporation of carbon species into the Co3O4 nanoparticles and the XPS measurements demonstrate the presence of carbon species which comes from the incomplete combustion of the degreasing cotton. Interestingly, the resultant sample was able to split pure water into hydrogen under visible light irradiation without any cocatalyst, which is mainly due to the enhanced light absorption behavior confirmed by the UV‐Vis absorption spectra. This facile method provided a potential strategy for applying narrow bandgap semiconductors in pure water splitting.
A Novel Biobjective Risk‐Based Model for Stochastic Air Traffic Network Flow Optimization Problem
Authors: Cai Kaiquan , Jia Yaoguang , Zhu Yanbo , Xiao Mingming
Published: June 2015

Network‐wide air traffic flow management (ATFM) is an effective way to alleviate demand‐capacity imbalances globally and thereafter reduce airspace congestion and flight delays. The conventional ATFM models assume the capacities of airports or airspace sectors are all predetermined. However, the capacity uncertainties due to the dynamics of convective weather may make the deterministic ATFM measures impractical. This paper investigates the stochastic air traffic network flow optimization (SATNFO) problem, which is formulated as a weighted biobjective 0‐1 integer programming model. In order to evaluate the effect of capacity uncertainties on ATFM, the operational risk is modeled via probabilistic risk assessment and introduced as an extra objective in SATNFO problem. Computation experiments using real‐world air traffic network data associated with simulated weather data show that presented model has far less constraints compared to stochastic model with nonanticipative constraints, which means our proposed model reduces the computation complexity.
Evidence of Mild Liver Dysfunction Identifies Stable Heart Failure Outpatients with Reversible Renal Dysfunction
Authors: Brisco Meredith A. , Cheng Susan J. , Laur Olga , Kula Alexander J. , Testani Jeffrey M.
Published: June 2015

Background: In decompensated heart failure (HF), reversible renal dysfunction (RD) is more frequently observed in patients with mild liver dysfunction likely due to the shared pathophysiologic factors involved. The objective of this study was to determine if these findings also apply to stable HF outpatients. Methods: Patients in the Beta-Blocker Evaluation of Survival Trial (BEST) were studied. Improvement in renal function (IRF) was defined as a 20% improvement in the estimated glomerular filtration rate from baseline to 3 months. Results: Elevated bilirubin (BIL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly associated with signs of congestion or poor perfusion. IRF occurred in 12.0% of all patients and was more common in those with elevated BIL (OR = 1.5, p = 0.003), ALT (OR = 1.4, p = 0.01), and AST (OR = 1.4, p = 0.01). In a model containing all 3 liver parameters and baseline characteristics, including markers of congestion/poor perfusion, BIL (OR = 1.6, p = 0.001) and ALT (OR = 1.7, p < 0.001) were independently associated with IRF. Conclusions: Biochemical evidence of mild liver dysfunction is significantly associated with IRF in stable HF outpatients. Given the widespread availability and low cost of these markers, additional research is necessary to determine the utility of these parameters in identifying patients with reversible RD who may benefit from cardiorenal interventions.
TIR-Domain-Containing Adaptor-Inducing Interferon-β (TRIF) Mediates Antibacterial Defense during Gram-Negative Pneumonia by Inducing Interferon-γ
Authors: van Lieshout Miriam H.P. , Florquin Sandrine , vanʼt Veer Cornelis , de Vos Alex F. , van der Poll Tom
Published: June 2015

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important cause of Gram-negative pneumonia and sepsis. Mice deficient for TIR-domain-containing adaptor-inducing interferon-β (TRIF) demonstrate enhanced bacterial growth and dissemination during Klebsiella pneumonia. We show here that the impaired antibacterial defense of TRIF mutant mice is associated with absent interferon (IFN)-γ production in the lungs. IFN-γ production by splenocytes in response to K. pneumoniae in vitro was critically dependent on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), the common TLR adaptor myeloid differentiation primary response gene (MyD88) and TRIF. Reconstitution of TRIF mutant mice with recombinant IFN-γ via the airways reduced bacterial loads in lungs and distant body sites to levels measured in wild-type mice, and partially restored pulmonary cytokine levels. The IFN-γ-induced, improved, enhanced antibacterial response in TRIF mutant mice occurred at the expense of increased hepatocellular injury. These data indicate that TRIF mediates antibacterial defense during Gram-negative pneumonia, at least in part, by inducing IFN-γ at the primary site of infection.
LIPOGENESIS IN ADIPOSE TISSUE OF THE LABORATORY ANIMALS AFTER LOADING WITH CHOLESTEROL
Authors: Pokotylo О. S. , Kuhtyn M. D. , Pokotylo O. A. , Yaroshenko T. Ya. , Koval M. I.
Published: June 2015

The intensity of synthesis of different lipids classes was studied in vitro (fatty acids, cholesterol, phospholipids and acylglycerols) in the homogenates of the adipose tissue after a single daily loading of rats and guinea pigs with the cholesterol (300 mg/kg body weight) during 30 days period. For this purpose, the radioactivity of lipid fractions in the homogenates of adipose tissue of the rats and guinea pigs was measured, while homogenates were incubated separately with [6-14C] glucose, [2-14C] lysine or [1-14C] palmitic acid. The inhibitory effect of cholesterol was established by increasing its level in the diet of rats and guinea pigs on all classes of lipid synthesis in adipose tissue in vitro when [6- 14C] glucose and [2- 14C] lysine were used as precursors, and on the synthesis of cholesterol when [1-14C] palmitic acid was used as precursor.
СТАН ПРОТЕЇНАЗО-ІНГІБІТОРНОЇ СИСТЕМИ В ЛЕГЕНЯХ У ДИНАМІЦІ РОЗВИТКУ ЕКСПЕРИМЕНТАЛЬНОЇ ПНЕВМОНІЇ
Authors: Ковалишин О. А.
Published: June 2015

У роботі показано порушення рівноваги протеолізу (збільшення вмісту азоальбуміну азоказеїну азоколагену) й інгібіторної системи (зниження рівня альфа-2-макроглобупіну та альфа-1-інгібітора протеїназ у легенях), особливо на 14-ту добу розвитку експериментальної пневмонії.
HIERARCHIC STRUCTURE OF NASOPHARYNX MICROBIOTIC COMMUNITY IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE RESPIRATORY INFECTION
Authors: Klymniuk S.I. , Romaniuk L.B. , Pokryshko O.V. , Savchuk M.M. , Tkachuk N.I. , Tvorko M.S. , Borak V.P.
Published: June 2015

The results of the study of microbiota of nasal mucosa of patients with acute respiratory infections and acute upper respiratory tract pathology are presented. It is revealed that the microbe variety of the nose and nasopharynx forms associations of staphylococci, streptococci, Neisseria, Moraxella, hemophilic bacteria, sometimes Enterobacteriacea and Pseudomonadaceae, mostly of streptococci and staphylococci. Populations of organisms differ in their levels of colonization. The highest values were characteristic for streptococcal community – 7,88 lg CFU/ml. 
Рецензія на монографію "Некротизирующий фасциит” / М. В. Гринев, Кир. М. Гринев. – СПб. : Гиппократ, 2008. – 120 с..
Authors: . Рецензія
Published: June 2015

Рецензія на монографію "Некротизирующий фасциит” / М. В. Гринев, Кир. М. Гринев. – СПб. : Гиппократ, 2008. – 120 с.
ПРОГНОСТИЧНА ОЦІНКА ЗАХВОРЮВАНОСТІ ТА ПОШИРЕНОСТІ ХВОРОБ СИСТЕМИ КРОВООБІГУ
Authors: ТЕРЕНДА Н.О.
Published: June 2015

Мета: вивчити динаміку показників поширеності та захворюваності населення України внаслідок хвороб системи кровообігу (ХСК) у регіональному аспекті протягом 1996–2013 років та спрогнозувати їх зміни до 2020 року.

Матеріали і методи. Матеріалом дослідження слугували дані Центру медичної статистики МОЗ України про рівень первинної захворюваності та поширеності ХСК серед населення України. У роботі використано епідеміологічний, демографічний, статистичний методи дослідження.

Результати дослідження та їх обговорення. Використовуючи метод демографічного районування, проведено оцінку змін поширеності та захворюваності ХСК в Україні та окремих її районах протягом 1996–2013 років. Спрогнозовано тенденцію подальшого зростання ХСК, як в Україні, так і в деяких її районах.

Висновки. Протягом останніх 17 років в Україні істотно зросла поширеність (у 2,7 разу) та захворюваність (у 1,7 разу) ХСК. Найбільше ці показники змінилися у Південному районі України. Прогнозні показники щодо поширеності та захворюваності ХСК свідчать про тенденцію їх зростання, особливо у Південно-Східному та Південному районах.

КЛЮЧОВІ СЛОВА: хвороби системи кровообігу, поширеність, первинна захворюваність, прогноз.
СИСТЕМНИЙ ТА ЛОКАЛЬНИЙ ІМУНІТЕТ ПРИ УРОГЕНІТАЛЬНІЙ ІНФЕКЦІЇ У ЖІНОК З ПОРУШЕННЯМ РЕПРОДУКТИВНОЇ ФУНКЦІЇ
Authors: Гнатко О. П. , Скурятіна Н. Г.
Published: June 2015

Обстежено 120 жінок з урогенітальною інфекцією віком від 18 до 40 років, які мали порушення репродуктивної функції. Проведена оцінка стану загального і містцевого гуморального імунітету у жінок із запальними захворюваннями геніталій залежно від наявності моно-інфекції(чистий хламідіоз) чи мікст-інфекції (хламідіоз в поєднанні з бактеріальними мікрооганізмами і вірусами). Показано, що найбільш виражені зміни в системі загального і місцевого імунітету мали місце при хламідійній інфекції в поєднанні з бактеріальними асоціаціями мікроорганізмів та вірусами. Це призводить до хронічних рецидивуючиш запальних процесів в статевих органах і до порушення репродуктивної функції жінок.
АКУШЕРСЬКА ТАКТИКА І ПРОГНОЗ У ВАГІТНИХ ІЗ НАБУТИМИ ВАДАМИ СЕРЦЯ
Authors: Рибалка А. М. , Заболотнов В. О. , Романець В. М. , Заболотнова В. В.
Published: June 2015

У статті проаналізовано 127 пологів у жінок із набутими вадами серця. Хворі поділені на дві групи. Першу групу склали хворі з недостатністю мітрального клапана, другу- з комбінованими вадами серця. Ускладнення під час вагітності і в пологах частіше виникли у хворого другої групи. У них частіше застосовувалося оперативне розродження.
ЗМІНИ ПОКАЗНИКІВ БІОЕНЕРГЕТИЧНИХ ПРОЦЕСІВ ЗА УМОВ ОДНОЧАСНОГО УРАЖЕННЯ ЩУРІВ ТОКСИЧНИМИ ДОЗАМИ АДРЕНАЛІНУ ТА ТЕТРАХЛОРМЕТАНУ
Authors: Алексевич К. О. , Фіра Л. С. , Грималюк О. І.
Published: June 2015

РЕЗЮМЕ. Встановлено, що одночасне ураження щурів тетрахлорметаном та адреналіном викликає посилення
процесу глікогенолізу, на що вказує підвищення вмісту глюкози та зниження вмісту глікогену в органах тварин.
Протягом експерименту нами відмічено зниження активностей сукцинатдегідрогенази та цитохромоксидази, що
свідчить про пригнічення біоенергетитчних процесів в організмі щурів після ураження.
КЛЮЧОВІ СЛОВА: тетрахлорметан, адреналін, глюкоза, глікоген, сукцинатдегідрогеназа, цитохромоксидаза.
КОНТРОЛЬ АНЕМІЇ ПРИ РЕВМАТИЧНИХ ЗАХВОРЮВАННЯХ
Authors: Кузьміна Г. П. , Князєва О. В. , Азаренко В. Є.
Published: June 2015

Анемія - один з частих коморбідних проявів
ревматичних хвороб (РХ), який пов’язаний з хронічним
запаленням та спостерігається в активній
фазі хвороби у більшо частини пацієнтів. Досліджень,
що вивчають анемію, асоційовану з системними
захворюваннями сполучно тканини (СЗСТ),
невелика кількість, навіть рандомізован і дослідження
критерієм виключення вважають анемію
(за зниженим рівнем гемоглобіну) (Jo і nt Bone
Sp іпе., 2011).
Impact of Arterial Access Site on Outcomes After Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Hamon Martial , Coste Pierre , van’t Hof Arnoud , Ten Berg Jurrien , Clemmensen Peter , Tabone Xavier , Benamer Hakim , Kristensen Steen D. , Cavallini Claudio , Marzocchi Antonio , Hamm Christian , Kanic Vojko , Bernstein Debra , Anthopoulos Prodromos , Deliargyris Efthymios N. , Steg Philippe Gabriel
Published: June 2015

Background—

In European Ambulance Acute Coronary Syndrome Angiography (EUROMAX), bivalirudin improved 30-day clinical outcomes with reduced major bleeding compared with heparins plus optional glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors. We assessed whether choice of access site (radial or femoral) had an impact on 30-day outcomes and whether it interacted with the benefit of bivalirudin.

Methods and Results—

In EUROMAX, choice of arterial access was left to operator discretion. Overall, 47% of patients underwent radial and 53% femoral access. Baseline risk was higher in the femoral access group. Unadjusted proportions for the primary outcome (death or noncoronary artery bypass graft protocol major bleeding at 30 days) were lower with radial access, however, without differences in major or major plus minor bleeding proportions. After multivariable adjustment, ischemic outcomes were no longer different between access site groups, except for a lower risk of stroke in radial patients. Bivalirudin was associated with lower proportions of the primary outcome in both the radial (odds ratio, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.33–1.03;
P
=0.058) and the femoral groups (odds ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.37–0.93;
P
=0.022; interaction
P
=0.97). Bleeding was significantly lower in the bivalirudin group both in the radial- and femoral-treated patients but no significant difference was observed in ischemic outcomes. In multivariable analysis, bivalirudin emerged as the only independent predictor of reduced major bleeding (odds ratio, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.27–0.74;
P
=0.002).

Conclusions—

In this prespecified analysis from EUROMAX, radial access was preferred in lower risk patients and did not improve clinical outcomes. Bivalirudin was associated with less bleeding irrespective of access site.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT01087723.
Adiposity, Obesity, and Arterial Aging
Authors: Brunner Eric J. , Shipley Martin J. , Ahmadi-Abhari Sara , Tabak Adam G. , McEniery Carmel M. , Wilkinson Ian B. , Marmot Michael G. , Singh-Manoux Archana , Kivimaki Mika
Published: June 2015

We sought to determine whether adiposity in later midlife is an independent predictor of accelerated stiffening of the aorta. Whitehall II study participants (3789 men; 1383 women) underwent carotid-femoral applanation tonometry at the mean age of 66 and again 4 years later. General adiposity by body mass index, central adiposity by waist circumference and waist:hip ratio, and fat mass percent by body impedance were assessed 5 years before and at baseline. In linear mixed models adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, and mean arterial pressure, all adiposity measures were associated with aortic stiffening measured as increase in pulse wave velocity (PWV) between baseline and follow-up. The associations were similar in the metabolically healthy and unhealthy, according to Adult Treatment Panel-III criteria excluding waist circumference. C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 levels accounted for part of the longitudinal association between adiposity and PWV change. Adjusting for chronic disease, antihypertensive medication and risk factors, standardized effects of general and central adiposity and fat mass percent on PWV increase (m/s) were similar (0.14, 95% confidence interval: 0.05–0.24,
P
=0.003; 0.17, 0.08–0.27,
P
<0.001; 0.14, 0.05–0.22,
P
=0.002, respectively). Previous adiposity was associated with aortic stiffening independent of change in adiposity, glycaemia, and lipid levels across PWV assessments. We estimated that the body mass index–linked PWV increase will account for 12% of the projected increase in cardiovascular risk because of high body mass index. General and central adiposity in later midlife were strong independent predictors of aortic stiffening. Our findings suggest that adiposity is an important and potentially modifiable determinant of arterial aging.
Economic Impacts of Reunifications in Germany and in Korea
Authors: Choi Seung Mo , Brown Max St.
Published: June 2015

We measure the evolution of population, investment rates, and total factor productivity (TFP) for East Germany and West Germany around their 1990 reunification to create a model that allows us to consider the economic ramifications of a hypothetical reunification between South Korea and North Korea. The scenarios that we consider suggest that worker migration from the North, a decrease in investment, and a slowdown in TFP growth could exert a substantial negative and persistent effect on South Korea's economy although the North is predicted to benefit from more rapid income growth. We also summarize the economic and policy questions that our quantified model illuminates.
Flexible Coding of Task Rules in Frontoparietal Cortex: An Adaptive System for Flexible Cognitive Control
Authors: Woolgar Alexandra , Afshar Soheil , Williams Mark A. , Rich Anina N.
Published: June 2015

How do our brains achieve the cognitive control that is required for flexible behavior? Several models of cognitive control propose a role for frontoparietal cortex in the structure and representation of task sets or rules. For behavior to be flexible, however, the system must also rapidly reorganize as mental focus changes. Here we used multivoxel pattern analysis of fMRI data to demonstrate adaptive reorganization of frontoparietal activity patterns following a change in the complexity of the task rules. When task rules were relatively simple, frontoparietal cortex did not hold detectable information about these rules. In contrast, when the rules were more complex, frontoparietal cortex showed clear and decodable rule discrimination. Our data demonstrate that frontoparietal activity adjusts to task complexity, with better discrimination of rules that are behaviorally more confusable. The change in coding was specific to the rule element of the task and was not mirrored in more specialized cortex (early visual cortex) where coding was independent of difficulty. In line with an adaptive view of frontoparietal function, the data suggest a system that rapidly reconfigures in accordance with the difficulty of a behavioral task. This system may provide a neural basis for the flexible control of human behavior.
Calvin’s Concept of the Church as mater fidelium (Mother of Believers), Viewed through His Concept of Accommodation
Authors: Cha Jaeseung
Published: June 2015

Is the church distinctive from us or are we ourselves the church? Unlike many protestant believers who understand the church as assembly of believers, Calvin defines the church as mater fidelium (mother of believers), just as the Catechism of Catholic Church describes, following Cyprian. To review in what ways Calvin’s view is similar to—and differentiated from—that of Catholicism, this article discusses the concept of the church as ‘Mother’ in the early church, focusing on Tertullian, Cyprian, and Augustine. Then, it deals with Calvin’s concept of mater fidelium and move on to Calvin’s concept of accommodation in his ecclesiology. It concludes that Calvin’s use of the concept in four different ways is similar to Augustine’s rather than to Cyprian’s, and that Calvin’s concept of accommodation as God’s relationship to the church can overcome the tension between the church as ‘mother of believers’ and the church as ‘believers themselves.’
Church Growth and Appealing Sermons: A Case Study of a Dutch Megachurch
Authors: Vermeer Paul
Published: June 2015

Contrary to the ongoing trend of secularisation in the Netherlands, some religious congregations have instead experienced exceptional growth, and are currently reaching megachurch proportions. This paper focuses on one such thriving Dutch congregation, calledDoorbrekers(‘those who break through’), and sets out to account for its appeal and attractiveness by analysing sermons delivered by the pastors ofDoorbrekers; with the help of a topic list based on cultural-market and church-sect theory explanations for the emergence of megachurches. The intention is to answer the question of whether elements of both lines of explanation are present in the sermons delivered in this Dutch megachurch. Findings show that this is indeed partly the case. As it turns out, the sermons delivered inDoorbrekersoffer a unique blend of theological conservatism and a more modern emphasis on the individual. Thus, the conclusion is drawn thatDoorbrekersrepresents a new form of privatised and strict Protestantism, which seems to go rather well with certain developments in the Dutch religious landscape.
Young and unaffected by road policing strategies: Using deterrence theory to explain provisional drivers’ (non)compliance
Authors: Bates Lyndel , Darvell Millie J , Watson Barry
Published: June 2015

Newly licenced drivers are disproportionately represented in traffic injuries and crash statistics. Despite the implementation of countermeasures designed to improve safety, such as graduated driver licencing (GDL) schemes, many young drivers do not comply with road rules. This study used a reconceptualised deterrence theory framework to investigate young drivers’ perceptions of the enforcement of road rules in general and those more specifically related to GDL. A total of 236 drivers aged 17–24 completed a questionnaire assessing their perceptions of various deterrence mechanisms (personal and vicarious) and their compliance with both GDL-specific and general road rules. Hierarchical multiple regressions conducted to explore noncompliant behaviour revealed that, contrary to theoretical expectations, neither personal nor vicarious punishment experiences affected compliance in the expected direction. Instead, the most influential factors contributing to noncompliance were licence type (P2) and, counterintuitively, having previously been exposed to enforcement. Parental enforcement was also significant in the prediction of transient rule violations, but not fixed rule violations or overall noncompliance. Findings are discussed in light of several possibilities, including an increase in violations due to more time spent on the road, an ‘emboldening effect’ noted in prior studies and possible conceptual constraints regarding the deterrence variables examined in this study.
Partially Compensatory Multidimensional Item Response Theory Models
Authors: DeMars Christine E.
Published: June 2015

Partially compensatory models may capture the cognitive skills needed to answer test items more realistically than compensatory models, but estimating the model parameters may be a challenge. Data were simulated to follow two different partially compensatory models, a model with an interaction term and a product model. The model parameters were then estimated for both models and for the compensatory model. Either the model used to simulate the data or the compensatory model generally had the best fit, as indexed by information criteria. Interfactor correlations were estimated well by both the correct model and the compensatory model. The predicted response probabilities were most accurate from the model used to simulate the data. Regarding item parameters, root mean square errors seemed reasonable for the interaction model but were quite large for some items for the product model. Thetas were recovered similarly by all models, regardless of the model used to simulate the data.
Effects of Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain on Pregnancy Outcomes
Authors: Zhang Cui Hong , Liu Xiang Yu , Zhan Yi Wei , Zhang Long , Huang Yan Jie , Zhou Hong
Published: June 2015

To investigate the single and joint effects of prepregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain (GWG) on pregnancy outcomes, electronic medical records of 14 196 women who delivered singleton live infant at a maternal and child health hospital in Beijing, China, in 2012 were reviewed. Logistic regression was used to assess the associations, adjusting for maternal age, height, education, parity, and offspring sex. Women of high prepregnancy BMI or excessive GWG had higher risks of gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, postpartum hemorrhage, caesarean delivery, macrosomia, and large for gestational age infant, while women of inadequate GWG had higher risks of preterm delivery, low birth weight, and small for gestational age infant. Findings suggest that antenatal care providers should help pregnant women control their GWG to normal.
Toxicokinetic Model Development for the Insensitive Munitions Component 3-Nitro-1,2,4-Triazol-5-One
Authors: Sweeney Lisa M. , Phillips Elizabeth A. , Goodwin Michelle R. , Bannon Desmond I.
Published: June 2015

3-Nitro-1,2,4-triazol-5-one (NTO) is a component of insensitive munitions that are potential replacements for conventional explosives. Toxicokinetic data can aid in the interpretation of toxicity studies and interspecies extrapolation, but only limited data on the toxicokinetics and metabolism of NTO are available. To supplement these limited data, further in vivo studies of NTO in rats were conducted and blood concentrations were measured, tissue distribution of NTO was estimated using an in silico method, and physiologically based pharmacokinetic models of the disposition of NTO in rats and macaques were developed and extrapolated to humans. The model predictions can be used to extrapolate from designated points of departure identified from rat toxicology studies to provide a scientific basis for estimates of acceptable human exposure levels for NTO.
Tweeting public affairs or personal affairs? Journalists’ tweets, interactivity, and ideology
Authors: Lee Na Yeon , Kim Yonghwan , Kim Jiwon
Published: June 2015

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether journalists in South Korea use Twitter as a public sphere and what factors may be associated with journalists’ Twitter use. Combining a content analysis and an additional survey of Korean journalists, this study examines to what extent journalists talk about public affairs on Twitter and interact with others, and what factors influence their Twitter use. A content analysis of journalists’ tweets shows that more than half of the tweets (62%) were topics related to public affairs and more than half (56%) were related to journalists’ interaction with the public. However, journalists’ Twitter use differed depending on the political ideology of the news outlets where the journalists worked: journalists from liberal newspapers were more likely to interact with the general public on Twitter, talking about public affairs. An additional analysis of survey of Korean journalists reconfirmed that journalists’ political ideology is one factor associated with journalists’ Twitter use. This study demonstrates the possibility that Twitter can be used as an online public sphere but also that possibility can be limited by political ideology.