bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conditional depletion of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 in astrocytes depresses the hypercapnic ventilatory response in mice
Authors: Garg Saurabh K. , Lioy Daniel T. , Knopp Sharon J. , Bissonnette John M.
Published: July 2015

Mice that are deficient in the transcription factor methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2) have a depressed hypercapnic ventilatory response (HCVR). The expression of MeCP2 can be selectively removed from astrocytes or neurons, thus offering a tool to dissect the role of this transcription factor in astrocytes from that in neurons. Studies were carried out in the progeny of mice that were a cross between those harboring a tamoxifen (TAM)-inducible Cre recombinase transgene driven by the human astrocytic glial fibrillary acidic protein (hGFAP) promoter, or Cre recombinase under control of the synapsin promoter, with mice containing a Cre-excisable exon III in the Mecp2 gene. The TAM-conditional excision of the Mecp2 exon allowed the respiratory CO2response to be studied in the same animals before and after selective depletion of MeCP2 in astrocytes. Immunohistochemistry showed that following TAM treatment only ∼20% of GFAP-labeled cells in the retrotrapazoid nucleus and in the raphé magnus were positive for MeCP2. The slope of the relative increase in minute ventilation as a function of 1, 3, and 5% inspired CO2was depressed in mice with depleted astrocyte MeCP2 compared with wild-type littermates. In contrast, selective depletion of MeCP2 in neurons did not significantly affect slope. While neurons which constitute the respiratory network ultimately determine the ventilatory response to CO2, this study demonstrates that loss of MeCP2 in astrocytes alone is sufficient to result in a dramatic attenuation of the HCVR. We propose that the glial contribution to HCVR is under the control of the MeCP2 gene.
Influences of Deqi on Immediate Analgesia Effect of Needling SP6 (Sanyinjiao) in Patients with Primary Dysmenorrhea in Cold and Dampness Stagnation Pattern: Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Liu Yu-qi , Zhang Peng , Xie Jie-ping , Ma Liang-xiao , Yuan Hong-wen , Li Jing , Lin Chi , Wang Pei , Yang Guo-yan , Zhu Jiang
Published: July 2015

Deqi, according to traditional Chinese medicine, is a specific needle sensation during the retention of needles at certain acupoints and is considered to be necessary to produce therapeutic effects from acupuncture. Although some modern researches have showed that Deqi is essential for producing acupuncture analgesia and anesthesia, the data are not enough. It is a paper of a multicenter, randomized controlled study protocol, to evaluate the influences of Deqi on acupuncture SP6 in Cold and Dampness Stagnation pattern primary dysmenorrhea patients, in terms of reducing pain and anxiety, and to find out the relationship between Deqi and the temperature changes at SP6 (Sanyinjiao) and CV4 (Guanyuan). The results of this trial will be helpful to explain the role of Deqi in acupuncture analgesia and may provide a new objective index for measuring Deqi in the future study. This trial is registered withChiCTR-TRC-13003086.
Deep Convolutional Neural Networks for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Hu Wei , Huang Yangyu , Wei Li , Zhang Fan , Li Hengchao
Published: July 2015

Recently, convolutional neural networks have demonstrated excellent performance on various visual tasks, including the classification of common two-dimensional images. In this paper, deep convolutional neural networks are employed to classify hyperspectral images directly in spectral domain. More specifically, the architecture of the proposed classifier contains five layers with weights which are the input layer, the convolutional layer, the max pooling layer, the full connection layer, and the output layer. These five layers are implemented on each spectral signature to discriminate against others. Experimental results based on several hyperspectral image data sets demonstrate that the proposed method can achieve better classification performance than some traditional methods, such as support vector machines and the conventional deep learning-based methods.
Discovery of Acupoints and Combinations with Potential to Treat Vascular Dementia: A Data Mining Analysis
Authors: Feng Shuwei , Ren Yulan , Fan Shilin , Wang Minyu , Sun Tianxiao , Zeng Fang , Li Ping , Liang Fanrong
Published: July 2015

The prevalence of vascular dementia (VaD) is high among the elderly. Acupuncture, a popular therapeutic method in China, can improve memory, orientation, calculation, and self-managing ability in VaD patients. However, in clinical acupuncture and acupuncture research, the selection of acupoints to treat VaD remains challenging. This study aimed to discover acupoints and acupoint combinations with potential for VaD based on data mining. After database searching and screening for articles on clinical trials evaluating the effects of acupuncture on VaD, 238 acupuncture prescriptions were included for further analysis. Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Fengchi (GB 20), Shuigou (GV 26), and Shenting (GV 24) appeared most frequently in the modern literature and are potential acupoints for VaD. Combinations between Baihui (GV 20), Sishencong (EX-HN 1), Fengchi (GB 20), Shenting (GV 24), Shuigou (GV 26), and Zusanli (ST 36) were most frequent and represent potential combinations for VaD treatment. These results provide a reference for the selection and combination of acupoints to treat VaD in clinical acupuncture and acupuncture research.
ASM Based Synthesis of Handwritten Arabic Text Pages
Authors: Dinges Laslo , Al-Hamadi Ayoub , Elzobi Moftah , El-etriby Sherif , Ghoneim Ahmed
Published: July 2015

Document analysis tasks, as text recognition, word spotting, or segmentation, are highly dependent on comprehensive and suitable databases for training and validation. However their generation is expensive in sense of labor and time. As a matter of fact, there is a lack of such databases, which complicates research and development. This is especially true for the case of Arabic handwriting recognition, that involves different preprocessing, segmentation, and recognition methods, which have individual demands on samples and ground truth. To bypass this problem, we present an efficient system that automatically turns Arabic Unicode text into synthetic images of handwritten documents and detailed ground truth. Active Shape Models (ASMs) based on 28046 online samples were used for character synthesis and statistical properties were extracted from the IESK‐arDB database to simulate baselines and word slant or skew. In the synthesis step ASM based representations are composed to words and text pages, smoothed by B‐Spline interpolation and rendered considering writing speed and pen characteristics. Finally, we use the synthetic data to validate a segmentation method. An experimental comparison with the IESK‐arDB database encourages to train and test document analysis related methods on synthetic samples, whenever no sufficient natural ground truthed data is available.
Coagulation and Fibrinolysis Indicators and Placental Malaria Infection in an Area Characterized by Unstable Malaria Transmission in Central Sudan
Authors: Mostafa Amged G. , Bilal Naser E. , Abass Awad-Elkareem , Elhassan Elhassan M. , Mohmmed Ahmed A. , Adam Ishag
Published: July 2015

This study aimed to investigate coagulation, fibrinolysis indicators, and malaria during pregnancy. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Medani, Sudan. Sociodemographic characteristics were gathered from each parturient woman (163) and malaria was investigated by blood film and placental histology. Protein C, protein S, antithrombin-III, tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 levels (PAI-1) were measured using ELISA. Results. One (0.6%), three (1.8), and 19 (11.7%) of the placentae showed active, chronic, and past infection on a histopathological examination, respectively, while 140 (85.9%) of them showed no signs of malaria infection. While the mean [SD] of the protein C, antithrombin-III, and TFPI was significantly lower, there was no significant difference in protein S and PAI-1 levels in women with placental malaria infection (n=23) compared to those without placental malaria infection (140). In linear regression, placental malaria infection was associated with antithrombin-III. There was no association between placental malaria infections and protein C, protein S, TFPI, and PAI-1 levels. There was no association between hemoglobin, birth weight, and the investigated coagulation and fibrinolysis indicators. Conclusion. This study showed significantly lower levels of protein C, antithrombin-III, and TFPI in women with placental malaria infections.
Influence of Melatonin on the Proliferative and Apoptotic Responses of the Prostate under Normal and Hyperglycemic Conditions
Authors: Gobbo Marina G. , Dizeyi Nishtman , Abrahamsson Per-Anders , Bertilsson Per-Anders , Masitéli Viviane Sanches , Pytlowanciv Eloisa Zanin , Taboga Sebastião R. , Góes Rejane M.
Published: July 2015

The antitumor properties of melatonin (MLT) are known for prostate cancer cells. This study investigated whether MLT affects prostate maturation and interferes with tissue injuries induced by diabetes. MLT was administered to Wistar rats from 5 weeks of age in the drinking water (10 μg/kg b.w.), and diabetes was induced at the 13th week by streptozotocin (4.5 mg/100g b.w., i.p.). The animals were euthanized in the 14th and 21st weeks. MLT reduced the immunostained cells for androgen receptor (AR) by 10% in younger rats. Diabetes decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. MLT treatment impeded apoptosisp=0.02and augmented proliferationp=0.0008and PCNA content in prostate following long-term diabetes due to restoration of testosterone levels and expression of melatonin receptor type 1B. The effect of MLT (500 µM, 5 mM, and 10 mM) on androgen-dependent (22Rv1) and androgen-independent (PC3) cancer cells and human prostate epithelial cells (PNTA1) under normal and hyperglycemic conditions (HG, 450 mg/dL) was analyzed. Contrary to PNTA1 and 22Rv1 cells, MLT improved the proliferation of PC3 cells in hyperglycemic medium. The combined data indicated that MLT had proliferative and antiapoptotic effects in prostate cells subjected to HG levels and it seems to involve specific MLT pathways rather than AR.
Mmu-miR-27a-5p-Dependent Upregulation of MCPIP1 Inhibits the Inflammatory Response in LPS-Induced RAW264.7 Macrophage Cells
Authors: Cheng Ying , Du Li , Jiao Hanwei , Zhu Huapei , Xu Kailian , Guo Shiyu , Shi Qiaoyun , Zhao Tianjing , Pang Feng , Jia Xiaoxiao , Wang Fengyang
Published: July 2015

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates macrophages to release proinflammatory cytokines. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that are involved in inflammatory reaction. Our previously study identified the downregulated expression of mmu-miR-27a-5p in RAW267.4 cells treated with LPS. To dissect the mechanism that mmu-miR-27a-5p regulates target genes and affects proinflammatory cytokine secretion more clearly, based on previous bioinformatics prediction data, one of the potential target genes, MCPIP1 was observed to be upregulated with qRT-PCR and western blot. Luciferase reporter assays were performed to further confirmin silicoprediction and determine that MCPIP1 is the target of mmu-miR-27-5p. The results suggested that mmu-miR-27a-5p directly targeted the 3′-UTR of MCPIP1 and the interaction between mmu-miR-27-5p and the 3′-UTR of MCPIP1 is sequence-specific. MCPIP1 overexpression decreased the secretion of IL-6, IL-1β, and IL-10 in macrophage cells stimulated with LPS. Our findings may provide the important information for the precise roles of mmu-miR-27a-5p in the macrophage inflammatory response to LPS stimulation in the future.
Nonsurgical Corrective Union of Osteoporotic Vertebral Fracture with Once-Weekly Teriparatide
Authors: Miyakoshi Naohisa , Horikawa Akira , Shimada Yoichi
Published: July 2015

Osteoporotic vertebral fractures usually heal with kyphotic deformities with subsidence of the vertebral body when treated conservatively. Corrective vertebral union using only antiosteoporotic pharmacotherapy without surgical intervention has not been reported previously. An 81-year-old female with osteoporosis presented with symptomatic fresh L1 vertebral fracture with intravertebral cleft. Segmental vertebral kyphosis angle (VKA) at L1 was 20° at diagnosis. Once-weekly teriparatide administration, hospitalized rest, and application of a thoracolumbosacral orthosis alleviated symptoms within 2 months. Corrective union of the affected vertebra was obtained with these treatments. VKA at 2 months after injury was 8° (correction, 12°) and was maintained as of the latest follow-up at 7 months. Teriparatide has potent bone-forming effects and has thus been expected to enhance fracture healing. Based on the clinical experience of this case, teriparatide may have the potential to allow correction of unstable vertebral fractures without surgical intervention.
Dopaminergic Modulation of Striatal Inhibitory Transmission and Long-Term Plasticity
Authors: Nieto Mendoza Elizabeth , Hernández Echeagaray Elizabeth
Published: July 2015

Dopamine (DA) modulates glutamatergic synaptic transmission and its plasticity in the striatum; however it is not well known how DA modulates long-term plasticity of striatal GABAergic inhibitory synapses. This work focused on the analysis of both dopaminergic modulation of inhibitory synapses and the synaptic plasticity established between GABAergic afferents to medium spiny neurons (MSNs). Our results showed that low and high DA concentrations mainly reduced the amplitude of inhibitory synaptic response; however detailed analysis of the D1 and D2 participation in this modulation displayed a wide variability in synaptic response. Analyzing DA participation in striatal GABAergic plasticity we observed that high frequency stimulation (HFS) of GABAergic interneurons in the presence of DA at a low concentration (200 nM) favored the expression of inhibitory striatal LTD, whereas higher concentration of DA (20 μM) primarily induced LTP. Interestingly, the plasticity induced in an animal model of striatal degeneration mimicked that induced in the presence of DA at a high concentration, which was not abolished with D2 antagonist but was prevented by PKA blocker.
Epithelioid Myofibroblastoma in an Old-Male Breast: A Case Report with MRI Findings
Authors: Yildiz Seyma , Gucin Zuhal , Erdogan Ezgi Basak
Published: July 2015

Myofibroblastoma of the breast (MFB) is a very rare benign stromal tumor. In recent years, increase in mammographic screenings has resulted in increased diagnosis of MFB. Most cases are old males and postmenopausal women. MFB may be confused as malignant, clinically, morphologically, or by imaging. Immunohistochemistry is essential for final diagnosis in these cases. We report a case of a pathologically diagnosed MFB in an 80-year-old male patient who had coexisting prostate cancer and describe its imaging characteristics, especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In this paper, histopathological and MRI findings of the MFB were discussed.
Influence of WS2 Nanopowder Addition on Friction Characteristics of ta‐C Coating by FCVA Method
Authors: Choi Si-Geun , Lee Yong-Joong , Jang Young-Jun , Zenebe Segu Dawit , Kim Seock-Sam , Sung Ji-Hyun , Lee Jae-Wook , Kim Jong-Hyoung
Published: July 2015

The influence of nano‐size WS2 powders on the tribological behavior of ta‐C coatings by the filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) method under boundary lubrication conditions has been investigated. In order to characterize and understand tribological behaviors of nano‐size WS2 powders added to the synthetic oil (poly‐alpha‐olefin 6), lubricants with different mixture ratios, ranging from 2 to 8 wt%, have been prepared. ta‐C coatings fabricated by FCVA method showed that the G‐peak in the obtained Raman spectrum was shifted from 1520 to 1586 cm−1, indicating the sp3 content increased for samples with the thickness of 156 nm. The average friction coefficient decreased proportionally as the nano‐size WS2 compositions increased up to 4 wt% in PAO6. After the friction test, structures and particle sizes of WS2 phases were also precisely characterized by using XRD and SEM.
Nintedanib Is a Highly Effective Therapeutic for Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Pancreas (PNET) in the Rip1Tag2 Transgenic Mouse Model
Authors: Bill Ruben , Fagiani Ernesta , Zumsteg Adrian , Antoniadis Helena , Johansson David , Haefliger Simon , Albrecht Imke , Hilberg Frank , Christofori Gerhard
Published: July 2015

Purpose: Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNET) represent a rare but challenging heterogeneous group of cancers with an increasing incidence over the last number of decades. Herein, we report an in-depth evaluation of the new antiangiogenic small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) nintedanib in the preclinical Rip1Tag2 transgenic mouse model of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the pancreas (insulinoma).

Experimental Design: We have assessed the antiangiogenic and antitumor activity of nintedanib, in comparison with other antiangiogenic TKI, by treating Rip1Tag2 transgenic mice with different treatment schedules complemented with histopathologic, cell biologic, and biochemical analyses.

Results: Prolonged nintedanib treatment of Rip1Tag2 mice has led to a strong suppression of angiogenesis, accompanied by a reduced tumor burden, which translated into a significant prolongation of survival. Despite nintedanib's inhibitory action on perivascular cells, the blood vessels remaining after therapy displayed a considerably mature phenotype with tight perivascular cell coverage and preserved perfusion. Nintedanib treatment did not increase local tumor invasiveness or metastasis to the liver and pancreatic lymph nodes—a phenomenon that has been observed with antiangiogenic treatments of Rip1Tag2 transgenic mice in other laboratories. In contrast with the strong reduction in blood microvessel densities, nintedanib did not have any impact on tumor lymphangiogenesis.

Conclusions: Based on our findings, we propose the clinical evaluation of the antiangiogenic drug nintedanib as a new treatment modality for PNET patients, notably in a direct comparison with already established therapeutic regimens, such as sunitinib. Clin Cancer Res; 21(21); 4856–67. ©2015 AACR.
R-Ketorolac Targets Cdc42 and Rac1 and Alters Ovarian Cancer Cell Behaviors Critical for Invasion and Metastasis
Authors: Guo Yuna , Kenney S. Ray , Muller Carolyn Y. , Adams Sarah , Rutledge Teresa , Romero Elsa , Murray-Krezan Cristina , Prekeris Rytis , Sklar Larry A. , Hudson Laurie G. , Wandinger-Ness Angela
Published: July 2015

Cdc42 (cell division control protein 42) and Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) are attractive therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer based on established importance in tumor cell migration, adhesion, and invasion. Despite a predicted benefit, targeting GTPases has not yet been translated to clinical practice. We previously established that Cdc42 and constitutively active Rac1b are overexpressed in primary ovarian tumor tissues. Through high-throughput screening and computational shape homology approaches, we identified R-ketorolac as a Cdc42 and Rac1 inhibitor, distinct from the anti-inflammatory, cyclooxygenase inhibitory activity of S-ketorolac. In the present study, we establish R-ketorolac as an allosteric inhibitor of Cdc42 and Rac1. Cell-based assays validate R-ketorolac activity against Cdc42 and Rac1. Studies on immortalized human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells (SKOV3ip) and primary patient-derived ovarian cancer cells show that R-ketorolac is a robust inhibitor of growth factor or serum-dependent Cdc42 and Rac1 activation with a potency and cellular efficacy similar to small-molecule inhibitors of Cdc42 (CID2950007/ML141) and Rac1 (NSC23766). Furthermore, GTPase inhibition by R-ketorolac reduces downstream p21-activated kinases (PAK1/PAK2) effector activation by >80%. Multiple assays of cell behavior using SKOV3ip and primary patient-derived ovarian cancer cells show that R-ketorolac significantly inhibits cell adhesion, migration, and invasion. In summary, we provide evidence for R-ketorolac as a direct inhibitor of Cdc42 and Rac1 that is capable of modulating downstream GTPase-dependent, physiologic responses, which are critical to tumor metastasis. Our findings demonstrate the selective inhibition of Cdc42 and Rac1 GTPases by an FDA-approved drug, racemic ketorolac, that can be used in humans. Mol Cancer Ther; 14(10); 2215–27. ©2015 AACR.
A Case of Gastric Cancer with Residual Tumor Only in the Para-Aortic Lymph Nodes after Systemic Chemotherapy followed by Conversion Surgery
Authors: Tsutsuyama Masayuki , Ito Seiji , Ito Yuichi , Misawa Kazunari , Kawakami Jiro , Natsume Seiji , Uemura Norihisa , Kinoshita Takashi , Kimura Kenya , Senda Yoshiki , Abe Tetsuya , Komori Koji , Yatabe Yasushi , Niwa Yasumasa , Shimizu Yasuhiro , Kinoshita Taira
Published: July 2015

We report the case of a 60-year-old male who was diagnosed with gastric cancer. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy indicated advanced cancer in the posterior wall of the gastric body. Biopsy revealed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Abdominal computed tomography demonstrated thickening of the gastric wall and enlargement of the regional lymph nodes and of the para-aortic lymph nodes (PAN). The involvement of the PAN extended from the celiac axis to the caudal area of the inferior mesenteric artery [cT3N3aH0P0M1(LYM), stage IV]. Systemic chemotherapy was initiated. After 3 courses of S-1 plus cisplatin combination chemotherapy, the primary lesion and the enlarged lymph nodes revealed marked regression except for a minute residual lesion in the lymph nodes. Upon obtaining informed consent, open distal gastrectomy, D2 lymphadenectomy with PAN dissection, and Roux-en-Y reconstruction were performed. The patient was discharged from the hospital 35 days after the operation. Histopathological examination of the resected samples revealed malignant cells only in the PAN, not in the stomach or in the regional lymph nodes [ypT0N0M1(LYM), stage IV]. Currently, the patient is undergoing postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 and has remained well without any recurrence after 6 months following surgery.
Two Cases of Severe Ulcerative Colitis with Colonic Dilatation Resolved with Tacrolimus Therapy
Authors: Hayashi Ryohei , Ueno Yoshitaka , Tanaka Shinji , Sagami Shintaro , Nagai Kenta , Shigemoto Norifumi , Uegami Shinnosuke , Shimizu Wataru , Watadani Yusuke , Ohge Hiroki , Chayama Kazuaki
Published: July 2015

We report 2 cases of ulcerative colitis (UC) with intestinal tract dilatation treated with tacrolimus. They were 53- and 64-year-old males, who had been admitted to local hospitals for increasing severity of their UC symptoms. Treatment for severe UC was immediately started, but both cases were refractory to corticosteroid therapy; they were then transferred to our hospital. When they were referred to our hospital, they had frequent bloody diarrhea, fever, severe abdominal pain, and even dilatation of the transverse colon on abdominal X-ray test. They were treated with oral tacrolimus medication, and their symptoms improved immediately. Dilatation of the transverse colon was improved on plain X-ray at 2 weeks after starting therapy, and emergency colectomy could be avoided. These 2 cases may suggest that tacrolimus is effective for UC with colonic dilatation as a rescue therapy.
Polarity Protein Scrib Facilitates Endothelial Inflammatory Signaling
Authors: Kruse Christoph , Kurz Angela R.M. , Pálfi Katalin , Humbert Patrick O. , Sperandio Markus , Brandes Ralf P. , Fork Christian , Michaelis U. Ruth
Published: July 2015

Objective—

The polarity protein Scrib is highly expressed in endothelial cells and is required for planar cell polarity. Scrib also facilitates recycling of integrin α5 to the plasma membrane. Because integrin α5 signals the presence of the inflammatory matrix protein fibronectin, we hypothesized that Scrib contributes to endothelial inflammatory signaling.

Approach and Results—

Cytokine treatment of human umbilical vein endothelial cells induced an inflammatory response as evident by the induction of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Downregulation of Scrib greatly attenuated this effect. In endothelial-specific conditional Scrib knockout mice, in vivo lipopolysaccharide treatment resulted in an impaired VCAM-1 induction. These effects were functionally relevant because Scrib small interfering RNAs in human umbilical vein endothelial cells attenuated the VCAM-1–mediated leukocyte adhesion in response to tumor necrosis factor-α. In vivo, tamoxifen-induced endothelial-specific deletion of Scrib resulted in a reduced VCAM-1–mediated leukocyte adhesion in response to tumor necrosis factor-α in the mouse cremaster model. This effect was specific for Scrib and not mediated by other polarity proteins. Moreover, it did not involve integrin α5 or classic pathways supporting inflammatory signaling, such as nuclear factor κ light chain enhancer of activated B-cells or MAP kinases. Co-immunoprecipitation/mass spectrometry identified the zinc finger transcription factor GATA-like protein-1 as a novel Scrib interacting protein. Small interfering RNA depletion of GATA-like protein-1 decreased the tumor necrosis factor-α–stimulated VCAM-1 induction to a similar extent as loss of Scrib did. Silencing of Scrib reduced GATA-like protein-1 protein, but not mRNA abundance.

Conclusions—

Scrib is a novel proinflammatory regulator in endothelial cells, which maintains the protein expression of GATA-like protein-1.
Extracranial Systemic Embolic Events in Patients With Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Bekwelem Wobo , Connolly Stuart J. , Halperin Jonathan L. , Adabag Selcuk , Duval Sue , Chrolavicius Susan , Pogue Janice , Ezekowitz Michael D. , Eikelboom John W. , Wallentin Lars G. , Yusuf Salim , Hirsch Alan T.
Published: July 2015

Background—

Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is a major cause of thromboembolic events. In comparison with atrial fibrillation–related stroke, extracranial systemic embolic events (SEEs) remain poorly defined.

Methods and Results—

All suspected SEEs reported among 37 973 participants of 4 large contemporary randomized clinical trials of anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation were independently readjudicated for clinical and objective evidence of sudden loss of perfusion of a limb or organ. Over 91 746 patient-years of follow-up, 221 SEEs occurred in 219 subjects. The SEE incidence was 0.24 of 100 and stroke incidence was 1.92 of 100 patient-years. In comparison with patients with stroke, those with SEE were more often female (56% versus 47%;
P
=0.01) and had comparable mean age (73.1±8.5 versus 73.5±8.8 years;
P
=0.57) and mean CHADS
2
scores (2.4±1.3 versus 2.5±1.2;
P
=0.33). SEEs more frequently involved the lower extremity (58%) than visceral-mesenteric (31%) or upper extremity (10%). SEE-related care involved clinic assessment alone in 5%, 30% were hospitalized without procedures, 60% underwent endovascular or surgical intervention, and 5% underwent amputation. Within 30 days, 54% of patients recovered fully, 20% survived with deficits, and 25% died. Thirty-day mortality was greater after visceral-mesenteric than lower- or upper-extremity SEE (55%, 17%, and 9%, respectively,
P
≤0.0001). The relative risk of death throughout follow-up was 4.33 (95% confidence interval, 3.29–5.70) after SEE versus 6.79 (95% confidence interval, 6.22–7.41) after stroke in comparison with patients without either event.

Conclusions—

SEE constituted 11.5% of clinically recognized thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation and was associated with high morbidity and mortality. SEE mortality was comparable to that of ischemic stroke and varied by anatomic site.
An Annotated Portfolio of Research through Design in Acoustic Sonification
Authors: Barrass Stephen
Published: July 2015

The Hypertension Singing Bowl was shaped from a year of the author’s blood pressure readings, and 3D printed in stainless steel so it would ring. This digitally fabricated singing bowl is an “ultimate particular” that establishes the design space of Acoustic Sonifications. This paper presents early experiments with Acoustic Sonification and analyses them using an Annotated Portfolio to identify interaction, perception, aesthetics and contemplation as important axes of the domain. This illustrates how Annotated Portfolios could also be used to analyse New Interfaces for Musical Expression.
The Future eu pnr System: Will Passenger Data be Protected?
Authors: Casagran Cristina Blasi
Published: July 2015

After the terrorist attacks occurred in Paris and Copenhagen in the beginning of 2015, numerous Member States announced their plans to establish several new counter-terrorism measures, among which they would create national databases that would store information on travellers flying to their countries. This article examines the negative consequences that could result from the establishment of a fragmented scheme for the processing of passenger name records (pnr) in the eu. The proposed eu pnr Directive is also an object of this study. It assesses the past and current claims from the ep for the inclusion of adequate data protection safeguards in the proposal. It also compares the proposed directive with the current eu-us pnr Agreement and the existing national pnr regimes. This paper demonstrates that a multiplicity of pnr systems in the eu would clearly jeopardise the efficiency of such programmes. Moreover, a divided framework would offer low data protection standards for passengers. Therefore, this article is in favour of the adoption of an eu pnr Directive, as the only way to ensure consistency and adequacy for the processing of passenger data within the eu.
Implementation of European Arrest Warrant in Croatia: A Risk for the Functioning of Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters in the eu?
Authors: Sokol Tomislav
Published: July 2015

Croatian accession to the eu included the implementation of the Council Framework Decision of 13 June 2002 on the European arrest warrant and the surrender procedures between Member States. The way Croatia implemented the eaw Framework Decision, however, has resulted in controversies and public attention, both in Croatia and other Member States, revealing many problems within the system of judicial cooperation in criminal matters within the eu. The aim of the paper is to investigate the implementation of the eaw Framework Decision within Croatia; to determine whether the manner in which the said Member State has carried out the implementation has highlighted a risk for the functioning of judicial cooperation in criminal matters within the eu; and which legal measures should be used in order to prevent disintegration of the cooperation from happening. Several legal measures are proposed, both on the national and the European level, to prevent the risk of further undermining the system of judicial cooperation within the eu. These measures are presented within the context of several overarching legal principles like (providing clearer definition of the notion of) non-verification of double criminality and protection of legal interests of the Member States issuing the European Arrest Warrant.
A Tale of Two Cities: Whole of Life Prison Sentences in Strasbourg and Westminster
Authors: Pettigrew Mark
Published: July 2015

The recent decision of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Hutchinson v United Kingdom (2015) is the latest twist in the political legal struggle between Westminster and Strasbourg. Whilst the British government has made several successions to the ECtHR regarding the role of the executive in the imprisonment of lifers, the thorny issue of the whole of life tariff, and prospect of prisoner release under that tariff, has been an ongoing debate. Whilst the ECtHR appeared to directly challenge domestic policy in the preceding decision in Vinter and Others v United Kingdom this latest decision, the seeming retreat from Vinter, by the Fourth Section of the court, appears to be more of a response to hard line domestic politics than a continuation of holistic legal principle which the ECtHR has outwardly supported in the past.
Temperature and Precipitation Variability and Its Effects on Streamflow in the Upstream Regions of the Lancang–Mekong and Nu–Salween Rivers
Authors: Fan Hui , He Daming
Published: July 2015

Hydrological regimes of alpine rivers are highly sensitive to climate variability/change. Temperature and precipitation variability and its effects on streamflow in the upstream regions of the Lancang–Mekong River (LMR) and Nu–Salween River (NSR) are examined in this study based on long-term observational data from 16 meteorological stations and 2 hydrological stations between the 1950s and 2010. This study employs the Mann–Kendall nonparametric test, together with the trend-free prewhitening (TFPW) approach to test trends and the Breaks For Additive Season and Trend (BFAST) method to detect abrupt changes in the hydrometeorological time series. The relations between air temperature, precipitation, and streamflow trends are assessed using random forest regression. The results show significant climate warming and related prevalent positive precipitation trends both at the annual and seasonal scale. A substantial precipitation increase paralleling climate warming, especially in spring, was also observed. However, no consistent abrupt change in meteorological time series was found. The increasing trends of streamflow with climate warming are seen both for the outlets of the LMR and NSR upstream regions, with the abrupt changes occurring in the mid-1960s and the late 1990s, respectively. The relation of streamflow to annual and wet season precipitation is pronounced, especially for the upstream region of the LMR with a percent variance explained of more than 65%. However, the relatively minor linkage of streamflow to air temperature and dry season precipitation may be confounded by the climate warming–driven changes in snowpack, permafrost, glacier, and evapotranspiration. These results could provide further a reference for the regional water resources management under climate change scenarios.
Origin and Impact of Initialization Shocks in Coupled Atmosphere–Ocean Forecasts*
Authors: Mulholland David P. , Laloyaux Patrick , Haines Keith , Balmaseda Magdalena Alonso
Published: July 2015

Current methods for initializing coupled atmosphere–ocean forecasts often rely on the use of separate atmosphere and ocean analyses, the combination of which can leave the coupled system imbalanced at the beginning of the forecast, potentially accelerating the development of errors. Using a series of experiments with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts coupled system, the magnitude and extent of these so-called initialization shocks is quantified, and their impact on forecast skill measured. It is found that forecasts initialized by separate oceanic and atmospheric analyses do exhibit initialization shocks in lower atmospheric temperature, when compared to forecasts initialized using a coupled data assimilation method. These shocks result in as much as a doubling of root-mean-square error on the first day of the forecast in some regions, and in increases that are sustained for the duration of the 10-day forecasts performed here. However, the impacts of this choice of initialization on forecast skill, assessed using independent datasets, were found to be negligible, at least over the limited period studied. Larger initialization shocks are found to follow a change in either the atmosphere or ocean model component between the analysis and forecast phases: changes in the ocean component can lead to sea surface temperature shocks of more than 0.5 K in some equatorial regions during the first day of the forecast. Implications for the development of coupled forecast systems, particularly with respect to coupled data assimilation methods, are discussed.
Toward a New Macro-Segregation? Decomposing Segregation within and between Metropolitan Cities and Suburbs
Authors: Lichter Daniel T. , Parisi Domenico , Taquino Michael C.
Published: July 2015

This article documents a new macro-segregation, where the locus of racial differentiation resides increasingly in socio-spatial processes at the community or place level. The goal is to broaden the spatial lens for studying segregation, using decennial Census data on 222 metropolitan areas. Unlike previous neighborhood studies of racial change, we decompose metropolitan segregation into its within- and between-place components from 1990 to 2010. This is accomplished with the Theil index ( H). Our decomposition of H reveals large post-1990 declines in metropolitan segregation. But, significantly, macro-segregation—the between-place component—has increased since 1990, offsetting declines in the within-place component. The macro component of segregation is also most pronounced and increasing most rapidly among blacks, accounting for roughly one-half of all metro segregation in the most segregated metropolitan areas of the United States. Macro-segregation is least evident among Asians, which suggests other members of these communities (i.e., middle-class or affluent ethnoburbs) have less resistance to Asians relocating there. These results on emerging patterns of macro-segregation are confirmed in fixed-effects models that control for unobserved heterogeneity across metropolitan areas. Unlike most previous studies focused on the uneven distribution of racial and ethnic groups across metropolitan neighborhoods, we show that racial residential segregation is increasingly shaped by the cities and suburban communities in which neighborhoods are embedded.
Lifetime Socioeconomic Status, Historical Context, and Genetic Inheritance in Shaping Body Mass in Middle and Late Adulthood
Authors: Liu Hexuan , Guo Guang
Published: July 2015

This study demonstrates that body mass in middle and late adulthood is a consequence of the complex interplay among individuals’ genes, lifetime socioeconomic experiences, and the historical context in which they live. Drawing on approximately 9,000 genetic samples from the Health and Retirement Study, we first investigate how socioeconomic status (SES) over the life course moderates the impact of 32 established obesity-related genetic variants on body mass index (BMI) in middle and late adulthood. We then consider differences across birth cohorts in the genetic influence on BMI, and cohort variations in the moderating effects of life-course SES on the genetic influence. Our analyses suggest that persistently low SES over the life course or downward mobility (e.g., high SES in childhood but low SES in adulthood) amplify the genetic influence on BMI, and persistently high SES or upward mobility (e.g., low SES in childhood but high SES in adulthood) compensate for such influence. For more recent birth cohorts, the genetic influence on BMI becomes stronger, but the moderating effects of lifetime SES on the genetic influence are weaker compared to earlier cohorts. We discuss these findings in light of social changes during the obesity epidemic in the United States.
Effects of Bone Vibrator Position on Auditory Spatial Perception Tasks
Authors: McBride Maranda , Tran Phuong , Pollard Kimberly A. , Letowski Tomasz , McMillan Garnett P.
Published: July 2015

Objective:

This study assessed listeners’ ability to localize spatially differentiated virtual audio signals delivered by bone conduction (BC) vibrators and circumaural air conduction (AC) headphones.

Background:

Although the skull offers little intracranial sound wave attenuation, previous studies have demonstrated listeners’ ability to localize auditory signals delivered by a pair of BC vibrators coupled to the mandibular condyle bones. The current study extended this research to other BC vibrator locations on the skull.

Method:

Each participant listened to virtual audio signals originating from 16 different horizontal locations using circumaural headphones or BC vibrators placed in front of, above, or behind the listener’s ears. The listener’s task was to indicate the signal’s perceived direction of origin.

Results:

Localization accuracy with the BC front and BC top positions was comparable to that with the headphones, but responses for the BC back position were less accurate than both the headphones and BC front position.

Conclusion:

This study supports the conclusion of previous studies that listeners can localize virtual 3D signals equally well using AC and BC transducers. Based on these results, it is apparent that BC devices could be substituted for AC headphones with little to no localization performance degradation.

Application:

BC headphones can be used when spatial auditory information needs to be delivered without occluding the ears. Although vibrator placement in front of the ears appears optimal from the localization standpoint, the top or back position may be acceptable from an operational standpoint or if the BC system is integrated into headgear.
What determines women’s political representation at the local level? A fine-grained analysis of the European regions
Authors: Sundström Aksel , Stockemer Daniel
Published: July 2015

Mainly investigating the share of women in national parliaments, the vast cross-national literature on women’s descriptive (numerical) representation frequently overlooks women’s local representation. Yet, local councils are important political arenas. To what extent are women underrepresented there? What are the determinants of the variation of women’s local representation within and across countries? We investigate these questions through a subnational-level study, covering 272 regions in 29 European countries. Using multilevel modeling, we find that regions with high female labor force participation support for leftist rather than radical right parties and high degrees of urbanization tend to elect more women. Our results also indicate that high women’s representation levels at the national level trickle down to the local level.
Should We Talk about the Pain? Personalizing Sociology in the Medical Sociology Classroom
Authors: Nowakowski Alexandra C. H. , Sumerau J. E.
Published: July 2015

This article discusses the potential of personalizing sociology curriculum, specifically in Medical Sociology courses, to increase student engagement and sociological awareness. Based on our experiences offering separate Medical Sociology courses at a large public research university and a small private teaching university, respectively, we outline emotional techniques we have each employed—separately and together—in our classes to facilitate student engagement, critical awareness, and medical coming out processes in our classrooms. In so doing, we have both built highly successful and popular Medical Sociology courses where students learn about and engage with the interpersonal and emotional effects of health care systems, structures, and patterned disparities. Throughout this article, we use our experiences as a case for facilitating debate concerning the incorporation of personal and emotional biography into sociological teaching and provide questions that may facilitate such conversation. In closing, we encourage sociologists to reflect upon, consider, and debate the usefulness of incorporating personal and emotional biographies into the curriculum.
Developing the Vectorial Glance
Authors: Pelizza Annalisa
Published: July 2015

Integrating information systems (IS) has become a key goal for governments worldwide. Systems of “authentic registers,” for instance, provide government agencies with information from databases acknowledged as the only legitimate sources of data. Concerns are thus arising about the risks for democratic accountability constituted by more and more integrated governmental IS. Studies call for a new research agenda that investigates the redistribution of authority and accountability entailed by interoperable IS. This article contributes to this endeavor by suggesting the “vectorial glance” as a research framework that works along two lines. First, by recovering the science and technology studies notion of “infrastructural inversion,” it looks at the technical minutiae of interoperability projects as strategic sites where institutional shifts—and eventually state transformation—can become visible. Second, by defining interoperability as a performative process of boundary reordering, it opens research to the possibility that institutional identities be reconstituted along different lines. Just as vector graphics are based on paths that lead through control points without being bound to underlying pixels, so the vectorial glance runs across boundaries without implicitly assuming that they are immutable and/or a priori relevant for the analysis. This article draws on a case study observed while working at a major project of civil registers integration in Italy.
Adolescent Intergenerational Cohesiveness and Young Adult Proximity to Mothers
Authors: Gillespie Brian Joseph , Treas Judith
Published: July 2015

We consider how mother–child cohesion in adolescence relates to geographic proximity in young adulthood. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 ( N = 3,985), ordered probit models the association between adolescents’ emotional closeness to mother and subsequent residential distance, controlling for key factors. Young people “at risk” of living at a distance (i.e., who have left the parental home) may be characterized by poorer relationships with parents. To take account of potential selection bias, two-stage Heckit models address spatial proximity as it relates to the choice to live with parents. The results suggest that emotional closeness to mother is robustly associated with later spatial proximity. The finding holds controlling for family structure, which is often taken as proxy for relationship quality. Although emotional closeness figures in the decision to leave home and move away, we do not find that selection out of coresidence biases the results for geographic proximity.
Reentrainment Impairs Spatial Working Memory until Both Activity Onset and Offset Reentrain
Authors: Ruby Norman F. , Patton Danica F. , Bane Shalmali , Looi David , Heller H. Craig
Published: July 2015

Compression of the active phase (α) during reentrainment to phase-shifted light-dark (LD) cycles is a common feature of circadian systems, but its functional consequences have not been investigated. This study tested whether α compression in Siberian hamsters ( Phodopus sungorus) impaired their spatial working memory as assessed by spontaneous alternation (SA) behavior in a T-maze. Animals were exposed to a 1- or 3-h phase delay of the LD cycle (16 h light/8 h dark). SA behavior was tested at 4 multiday intervals after the phase shift, and α was quantified for those days. All animals failed at the SA task while α was decompressing but recovered spatial memory ability once α returned to baseline levels. A second experiment exposed hamsters to a 2-h light pulse either early or late at night to compress α without phase-shifting the LD cycle. SA behavior was impaired until α decompressed to baseline levels. In a third experiment, α was compressed by changing photoperiod (LD 16:8, 18:6, 20:4) to see if absolute differences in α were related to spatial memory ability. Animals performed the SA task successfully in all 3 photoperiods. These data show that the dynamic process of α compression and decompression impairs spatial working memory and suggests that α modulation is a potential biomarker for assessing the impact of transmeridian flight or shift work on memory.
Introduction of a new health technology into a provincial health system
Authors: Menon Devidas , Stafinski Tania , Nardelli Alexa , Edwards Alun
Published: July 2015

Decisions on the introduction of new non-drug health technologies into healthcare are challenging. This article describes the introduction of insulin pump therapy for type 1 diabetes in Alberta, using an Access with Evidence Development (AED) approach. The organization and implementation of the AED, its current status, and lessons learned are described.