bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pilot study: Comparing efficacy of 14-day triple therapy Clarithromycin versus levofloxacin on eradication of Helicobacter Pylori infection in Syrian population single-center experience
Authors: Cheha Khaled Mohammad , Dib Sawsan Omar Ali , Alhalabi Marouf Mohammad
Published: March 2018

Context: Goals: To compare the efficacy of standard triple therapy with clarithromycin versus triple therapy with levofloxacin for treatment of Helicobacter pylori-positive infection in a referral hospital in Damascus, Syria. Design: pilot prospective open-label randomized controlled trial. Subjects and Methods: Eighty treatment-naive patients who tested positive for H. pylori gastric infection were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups with randomization ratio of 50/50. Group (A) was treated with clarithromycin (500 mg), amoxicillin (1000 mg), and esomeprazole (20 mg), each twice/day for 14 days, while Group (B) was treated with levofloxacin (500 mg), amoxicillin (1000 mg), and esomeprazole (20 mg), each twice/day for 14 days.[1] After 6 weeks of treatment, all patients underwent endoscopy and biopsy to evaluate H. pylori infection eradication. Results: Forty patients were allocated in each group; 37 patients completed the follow-up in each group. Thirteen patients in Group (A) were cured, with an eradication rate of 35.1% according to per-protocol analysis (PPA) and 32.5% according to intention-to-treat analysis (ITT), while in Group (B), 11 patients were cured, with an eradication rate of 29.7% according to PPA and 27.5% according to ITT with P = 0.80. No serious adverse events reported in both the groups. Conclusions: Clarithromycin is slightly better than levofloxacin in treatment of H. pylori gastric infection, but both regimens show low effectiveness with suboptimal eradication rates in our selected population.
Isolated Primary non‑Hodgkin’s Lymphoma of the Esophagus
Authors: Sugoor Pavan Thulasi , Jiwnani Sabita , Rekhi Bharat , Karimundackal George , Purandare Nilendu , Pramesh C S
Published: March 2018

Isolated primary esophageal lymphoma, defined as a lymphoma developing in the esophageal wall, is a distinctly rare presentation and accounts for <1% of all gastrointestinal lymphomas and <0.1% of all malignant lymphomas. The clinical and biological characteristics of the disease are not well known due to its rarity, compounded with a low index of suspicion during diagnosis. We report a rare case of an immunocompetent patient diagnosed with an isolated primary esophageal non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of diffuse large B-cell type. Clinicoradiological and histopathological features, treatment, and outcome, along with a brief review of the literature, are discussed herewith.
Blueberry Muffin Baby: An Unusual Presentation of Infantile
Neuroblastoma
Authors: Kumar Mritunjay , Batra Gaurav , Saun Aditya , Singh Ragini
Published: March 2018

Neuroblastoma is the most common solid tumor of infancy presenting clinically in a plethora of different and sometimes unpredictable ways with a wide range of symptoms. Young children can present with bluish skin metastases that may resemble bruising secondary to child abuse. Blueberry muffin baby had been reported to be a manifestation of either dermal erythropoiesis secondary to some congenital viral infections or neoplastic infiltrations. Among the neoplastic diseases, neuroblastoma has been the most common association with these subcutaneous skin metastases. Here, we report 2 months infant with neuroblastoma who presented with abdominal distension and multiple blueberry muffin nodules.
Study of Clinicopathological Spectrum and Pattern of Expression of Cyclooxygenase‑2 in Urothelial Carcinomas of Bladder
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Ranjana , Bandyopadhyay Ujjwal , Chatterjee Uttara , Naskar Sukla , Nandy Sumit , Basu Keya
Published: March 2018

Introduction: Overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) in urothelial carcinoma of bladder (UCB) had been studied in the past by different workers and the results were contradictory. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prognostic implication of COX2 expression in primary urothelial carcinomas of the urinary bladder and its correlation with clinical parameters, tumor stage, grade, and recurrence. Materials and methods: A total of 68 cases who underwent surgery for urothelial carcinoma in our medical college from January 2013 to December 2015 were evaluated in our study. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides were examined by two faculties applying standard reporting protocol. Tumor staging and grading was performed as per the WHO guidelines. Immunohistochemistry for expression of COX2 was performed to study any correlation of tumor grade with COX2 expression. The distribution of COX2 positivity was studied in tumors stratified according to established bladder cancer prognostic factor, for example, tumor size, grade, invasion, and spread. Results: Out of 68 cases, 42 cases showed COX2 positivity (61%). In low-grade cases of bladder carcinoma, COX2 positivity was 16 out of 24 cases (60%), and in high-grade cases, COX2 positivity was 10 out of 18 cases (64.28%).Conclusion: In the present study, the association of COX2 overexpression with advanced tumor invasion and tumor grade has been substantiated. Hence, COX2 expression can be taken as a prognostic factor along with other usual prognostic factors in patients of UCB.
Recurrent Atypical Meningioma with Pleural Metastases
Authors: Premraj Sarah , Muniraj Femela , Riaz Juhi , Senthilnayagam Balamurugan
Published: March 2018

Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumors in adults. Although Grade I meningiomas are considered benign, Grade II/III (atypical and anaplastic) meningiomas are known to be locally aggressive, recurrent, and rarely present with distant metastases. We report a 40-year-old female with recurrent atypical meningioma (WHO Grade II) who presented with features suggestive of a massive right-sided pleural effusion. Imaging showed bilateral large pleural-based lesions, and histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry of the mass were consistent with metastatic atypical meningioma. A high index of suspicion is warranted to detect extracranial metastases, especially in patients with recurrent meningiomas and higher WHO grade of tumor.
Long-term monitoring of atmospheric TGM at a remote high altitude site (Nam Co, 4730 m a.s.l.) in the inland Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Yin Xiufeng , Kang Shichang , de Foy Benjamin , Ma Yaoming , Tong Yindong , Zhang Wei , Wang Xuejun , Zhang Guoshuai , Zhang Qianggong
Published: March 2018

Abstract. Total gaseous mercury (TGM) concentrations were continuously measured at the Nam Co Station, a remote high altitude site (4730 m a.s.l.), in the inland Tibetan Plateau, China from January 2012 to October 2014 using a Tekran 2537B instrument. The mean concentration of TGM during the entire monitoring period was 1.33 ± 0.24 ng m−3 (mean ± standard deviation (SD)), ranking the lowest value among all continuous TGM measurements reported all over China, and was lower than most of sites in the Northern Hemisphere. This indicated the pristine atmospheric environment in the inland Tibetan Plateau. Long-term TGM at the Nam Co Station exhibited a slight decreasing trend especially for summer seasons. The seasonal variation of TGM was characterized by high levels during warm seasons and low levels during cold seasons. Diurnal variations of TGM exhibited uniform patterns in different seasons: the daily maximum was reached in the morning (around 2–4 hours after sunrise), followed by a decrease until sunset and a subsequent build-up at night, especially in the summer and the spring. Regional surface re-emission and vertical mixing were two major contributors to the temporal variations of TGM while long-range transported atmospheric mercury promoted elevated TGM during warm seasons. Results of multiple linear regression (MLR) revealed that humidity and temperature were the principal covariates of TGM. Potential source contribution function (PSCF) and FLEXible PARTicle dispersion model (WRF-FLEXPART) results indicated that the likely high potential source regions of TGM to the Nam Co are central and eastern Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) during the measurement period with high biomass burning and anthropogenic emissions. The seasonality of TGM at Nam Co was in phase with the Indian Monsoon Index, implying Indian Summer Monsoon as an important driver for transboundary transport of air pollution into the inland Tibetan Plateau. Our results provided atmospheric mercury baseline in the remote inland Tibetan Plateau and serve as new constraint for assessment of Asian mercury emission and pollution.
Risk and the Point of No Return for Climate Action
Authors: Aengenheyster Matthias , Feng Qing Yi , van der Ploeg Frederik , Dijkstra Henk A.
Published: March 2018

Abstract. If the Paris targets are to be met, there may be very few years left for policy makers to start cutting emissions. Here, we ask by what year at the latest one has to take action to keep global warming below the 2 K target (relative to preindustrial levels) at the year 2100 with a 67 % probability; we call this the Point of No Return (PNR). Using a novel, stochastic model of CO2 concentration and global mean surface temperature derived from the CMIP5 ensemble simulations, we find that cumulative CO2 emissions from 2015 onwards may not exceed 424 GtC and that the PNR is 2035 for the policy scenario where the share of renewable energy rises by 2 % per year. Pushing this increase to 5 % per year delays the PNR until 2045. For the 1.5 K target, the carbon budget is only 198 GtC and there is no time left before starting to increase the renewable share by 2 % per year. If the risk tolerance is tightened to 5 %, the PNR is brought forward to 2022 for the 2 K target and has been passed already for the 1.5 K target. Including substantial negative emissions towards the end of the century delays the PNR from 2035 to 2042 for the 2 K and to 2026 for the 1.5 K target, respectively. We thus show the impact on the PNR not only of the temperature target and the speed by which emissions are cut, but also of risk tolerance, climate uncertainties and the potential for negative emissions.
Biophysics and vegetation cover change: a process-based evaluation framework for confronting land surface models with satellite observations
Authors: Duveiller Gregory , Forzieri Giovanni , Robertson Eddy , Li Wei , Georgievski Goran , Lawrence Peter , Wiltshire Andy , Ciais Philippe , Pongratz Julia , Sitch Stephen , Arneth Almut , Cescatti Alessandro
Published: March 2018

Abstract. Land use and land cover change (LULCC) alter the biophysical properties of the Earth's surface. The associated changes in vegetation cover can perturb the local surface energy balance, which in turn can affect the local climate. The sign and magnitude of this change in climate depends on the specific vegetation transition, its timing and location, as well as on the background climate. Land surface models (LSMs) can be used to simulate such land-climate interactions and study their impact in past and future climates, but their capacity to model biophysical effects accurately across the globe remain unclear due to the complexity of the phenomena. Here we present a framework to evaluate the performance of such models with respect to a dedicated dataset derived from satellite remote sensing observations. Idealized simulations from four LSMs (JULES, ORCHIDEE, JSBACH and CLM) are combined with satellite observations to analyse the changes in radiative and turbulent fluxes caused by 15 specific vegetation cover transitions across geographic, seasonal and climatic gradients. The seasonal variation in net radiation associated with land cover change is the process that models capture best, whereas LSMs perform poorly when simulating spatial and climatic gradients of variation in latent, sensible and ground heat fluxes induced by land cover transitions. We expect that this analysis will help identify model limitations and prioritize efforts in model development as well as to inform where consensus between model and observations is already met, ultimately helping to improve the robustness and consistency of model simulations to better inform land-based mitigation and adaptation policies. The dataset is available at: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1182145.
Towards a standard typology of endogenous landslide seismic sources
Authors: Provost Floriane , Malet Jean-Philippe , Hibert Clément , Helmstetter Agnès , Radiguet Mathilde , Amitrano David , Langet Nadège , Larose Eric , Abancó Clàudia , Hürlimann Marcel , Lebourg Thomas , Levy Clara , Le Roy Gaëlle , Ulrich Patrice , Vidal Maurin , Vial Benjamin
Published: March 2018

Abstract. In the last decade, numerous studies focused on the analysis of seismic waves generated by Earth surface processes such as landslides. The installation of seismometers on unstable slopes revealed a variety of seismic signals suspected to be generated by slope deformation, weathering of the slope material or fluid circulation. A standard classification for seismic sources generated by unstable slopes needs to be proposed in order to compare the seismic activity of several unstable slopes and identify possible correlation of the seismic activity rate with triggering factors. The objective of this work is to discuss the typology and source mechanisms of seismic events detected at close distances (
Western Faculty Profile: Dr. Susanne Schmid
Authors: Li Anthony
Published: March 2018

Dr. Susanne Schmid is the Associate Dean Research, Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies at the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and an Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology at Western University. Dr. Schmid has a background in biology and psychology and obtained a doctorate at the University Eye Hospital in Germany. Her research looks at early stages of sensory information processing and filtering, in particular habituation and prepulse inhibition. Anthony Li, a member of the Academic Affairs Committee for WURJHNS, had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Schmid to learn more about her career path and her research.
Western Faculty Profile: Dr. Robert Cumming
Authors: Kassam Amina Inaara
Published: March 2018

Dr. Robert Cumming is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Western University. He completed his BSc and Ph.D. at the University of Toronto and now teaches several undergraduate Biology courses. His research focuses on the changes in brain metabolism and antioxidant defenses that occur with age. Amina Kassam, a first-year representative of the Academic Affairs Committee for WURJHNS, interviewed Dr. Cumming to learn more about his career path and relay his advice for students who wish to pursue research.
Vitamin D Deficiency in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Leads to Vascular Complications
Authors: Navaz Gangji Salimah
Published: March 2018

The presence of hyperglycemia in individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is associated with systemic complications within multiple organ systems. Specifically, patients with T2DM have an increased risk of developing vascular endothelial damage. Interestingly, patients with T2DM are often found to be deficient in vitamin D, a fat-soluble vitamin that not only plays a role in bone growth and gastrointestinal nutrient absorption, but insulin resistance as well. Thus, the purpose of this review is to summarize the literature that associates vitamin D deficiencies with vascular complications in both human and animal models with T2DM. This review will also summarize developments in genetic testing for VDR mutations and their potential role in diabetes progression, as well as the effects of vitamin D supplementation in patients with T2DM. Since T2DM is an increasingly prevalent disease, it is important to continue evaluating current research that investigates not only genetic causal factors for the disease, but also preventative options (such as vitamin D supplementation) that could potentially be used alongside pharmacological treatments.
The Effects of Footwear on Squat Movements
Authors: Cohen Joshua W. , Lee Philip , Buchman-Pearle Jessa
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of different footwear (bare feet, flat-soled shoes, and weightlifting shoes) on balance during a barbell back squat in novice and advanced participants. It was hypothesized that i) weightlifting shoes would increase balance performance in the anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) directions, and ii) advanced participants would demonstrate increased balance performance in the AP and ML direction compared to novice participants. 17 participants (9 novice and 8 advanced) performed 3 trials of a single squat repetition, using a 45lb Olympic standard barbell on a force plate, with bare feet, flat shoes, and weightlifting shoes. Squat 1 and 2 were used as warm-up repetitions and data was collected during squat 3 of each condition. Participants were characterized as either novice or advanced based on the number of training sessions they performed squats each week. Novice participants squatted with a barbell less than once per week, and advanced squatted with a barbell more than once per week. Balance performance was quantified by the percentage of time the centre of pressure (CoP) had the smallest displacement from the average CoP location. A chi-square test was performed to determine the statistically significant changes in CoP displacement between the 3 footwear conditions; accordingly, the post hoc significance interval was calculated to P0.0167). Using a 2-way ANOVA, no significant differences were found between novice and advanced participants’ root mean square values for normalized CoP in the AP or ML directions (P>0.05). Participants during the weightlifting shoe condition were found to have better regulation of balance compared to bare feet or flat shoes conditions. Additionally, it was found that novice and advanced participants did not regulate balance differently from each other during the squat movement.
From “Sabotage” to “Sledgehammer”: Trailers, Songs, and the Musical Marketing of Star Trek Beyond (2016)
Authors: Summers Tim
Published: March 2018

This article examines the three main trailers for Star Trek Beyond (2016), each of which uses music differently. By analyzing the audiovisual content of the trailers and their popular reception, conclusions are drawn about the structures, processes, and commercial considerations of music and sound in contemporary Hollywood action-film trailers.
Effects of antioxidant activity of black maize in corn borer larval survival and growth
Authors: Revilla Pedro , Soengas Pilar , Malvar Rosa A.
Published: March 2018

Antioxidant activity (AA) of black maize kernels attributed mainly to polyphenols has potential effects on health and possible defense functions against pests. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of maize polyphenols and AA in survival and growth of larvae of the corn borer Sesamia nonagrioides. We carried out two bioassays with S. nonagrioides larvae grown in artificial diet with white and black maize flour and control. AA was tested spectrophotometrically on each of the diets using four methods. The different measurements of AA were strongly correlated, indicating that these measurements were highly reliable. The control diet, the white-maize-diet and black-maize-diet with vitamin C and without H2O2 had the highest antioxidant activity. The processing of the maize flour altered the AA of the polyphenols. The control treatment had the highest AA, and vitamin C had stronger AA than polyphenols. AA of vitamin C hides that of polyphenols probably due to environmental effects, dilution of polyphenols, or interactions with other substances. Larvae grew more in the control diet and the addition of H2O2 had not significant effects on weight. There was a weak rank correlation between AA and larval weight. Mortality was lowest for the control diet with or without H2O2 followed by white maize with or without H2O2 and black maize without H2O2. Effects of polyphenols depend on other substances that might interact with them. The results indicate that antioxidant activity has insecticide effects on young larvae and, as the larvae grow, antioxidants have positive effects on larvae.
Esophageal neuroendocrine carcinoma presenting as a rare cause of dysphagia
Authors: Luu Sylvester , Benson Brian C. , Haeusler Kelly A. , Brady Robert O. , Cebe Katherine M. , Paredes Angelo H.
Published: March 2018

A 60-year-old male with prior history of laryngeal carcinoma and active smoking presented with six months of solid food dysphagia. Endoscopy showed a large, friable gastroesophageal junction mass. Biopsies revealed a high-grade, poorlydifferentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma. He was subsequently started on platinum based chemotherapy and radiation therapy and his tumor decreased dramatically in size. This case is unique as neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are rarely found in the esophagus and usually have a poor prognosis at time of diagnosis.
Properties of Quantum Beams and Their Applications
Authors: Fukuda Naoaki , Takiya Toshio , Han Min
Published: March 2018

A conceptual formulation of quantum beams and their basic properties are presented. The present status and outlook of their industrial applications are also discussed. Quantum beams are highly directional energy beams consisting of quantum-mechanical particles characterized by wave-particle duality. They are a concept developed out of need in industry, and, together with quantum mechanics developed during the turn of the century, have been applied to semiconductor and medical industries. The quantum beams can be classified by penetrating or ionizing power. X-rays and neutron beams are classified into those with high penetrating power, and the beams of alpha particles are classified into those with high ionizing power. Electron beams fall in between, giving rise to their unique intermediate property. Their chemical and biological effects are used in modifying the properties of materials or sterilizing food and beverage containers. Finally, we discuss the importance of developing further advanced accelerator technologies which can produce high-energy quantum beams, which will be necessary to chart our future research in yet unknown areas of science. In doing so, profit should not be the only goal; contribution to a sustainable society should be considered as well.
The Faulhaber Problem on Sums of Powers on Arithmetic Progressions Resolved
Authors: Tan Si Do
Published: March 2018

We prove that all the Faulhaber coefficients of a sum of odd power of elements of an arithmetic progression may simply be calculated from only one of them which is easily calculable from two Bernoulli polynomials as so as from power sums of integers. This gives two simple formulae for calculating them. As for sums related to even powers, they may be calculated simply from those related to the nearest odd one’s.
Corporate Governance and the Great Recession
Authors: Masouros Pavlos E.
Published: March 2018

Corporate Governance and the Great Recession: An Alternative Explanation for Germany's Success in the Post-2008 World

The ability of a nation to resist a crisis depends on the institutional or spatio-temporal fixes it possesses, which can buffer the effects of the crisis, switch the crisis to other nations or defer its effects to the future. Corporate governance configurations in a given country can function as institutional or spatio-temporal fixes provided they are positioned within an appropriate institutional environment that can give rise to beneficial complementarities.

Germany seems to resist most effectively compared with other nations (be it nations of the insider or the outsider model of corporate governance) the effects of the post-2008 crisis. This article posits that this is due to an institutional complementarity between Germany's corporate governance system, its system of industrial relations and the monetary institutions of the European Monetary Union. The advent of shareholder value has blended in a beneficial way with an established system of cooperative collective bargaining, with traditional stakeholderist institutions, but also with the asymmetrical design of the EMU that benefits trade surplus countries, and this institutional complementarity has endowed Germany with a comparative advantage over other nations (particularly EU Member States) to pursue its export-led growth strategy and emerge as a champion economy amidst the crisis.
Geen vereenzelviging van moeder- en dochtermaatschappij ten aanzien van aanbestedingsplicht
Authors: Zeelenberg E.E.
Published: March 2018

Geen vereenzelviging van moeder- en dochtermaatschappij ten aanzien van aanbestedingsplicht

De zaak heeft betrekking op een dochtermaatschappij van de Litouwse (staats)Spoorwegen. Deze dochtermaatschappij draait 90 procent van haar omzet op opdrachten van de Litouwse Spoorwegen. De vraag rijst of deze dochtermaatschappij een aanbestedende dienst is. Het Hof van Justitie oordeelt dat daartoe moet worden getoetst aan de criteria voor kwalificatie als publiekrechtelijke instelling. De advocaat-generaal was overigens een andere mening toegedaan.

HvJ 5 oktober 2017, zaak C-567/15, LitSpecMet UAB/Vilniaus lokomotyvų remonto depas UAB, ECLI:EU:C:2017:736 en Conclusie A-G Campos Sánchez-Bordona 27 april 2017, zaak C-567/15, LitSpecMet UAB/Vilniaus lokomotyvų remonto depas UAB, ECLI:EU:C:2017:319
Conflictmanagement binnen bedrijven in zwaar weer
Authors: Vissers Janneke , Adriaanse Jan , van der Rest Jean-Pierre
Published: March 2018

Conflict management within companies in financial distress: a turnaround manager’s perspective on motivating employees during a reorganisation under pressure

Employee resistance to change is a key factor to turnaround failure. Interim managers who support companies in financial distress, mediate between employees, management, shareholders, bank, and other stakeholders in order to solve organisational conflicts. This article explores the internal social dynamic aspects of a turnaround. It develops a theoretical framework on the role of trust, emotion and communication, and its affect on reducing internal resistance, and describes the outcomes of an exploratory research study. Findings confirm that employee motivation to make a reorganisation a success significantly impacts upon turnaround success. Resistance can be reduced by an open communication climate, offering a new perspective, attention to emotions, managing by walking around, and ‘practicing what you preach’. More research is necessary to generalize the findings and to better understand success and failure factors.
Het weigeren van bloedtransfusies en vaccinaties op grond van godsdienstige motieven
Authors: Nieuwenhuis Aernout
Published: March 2018

Refusal of blood transfusions and vaccinations on religious grounds: A fundamental rights perspective

Some religious persons refuse to undergo certain medical treatments such as vaccinations or blood transfusions. They refuse treatment not only for themselves but for their children as well. Many fundamental rights may be at stake here: freedom of religion, the right to physical integrity and respect for family life on the one hand, and the duty of public authorities to provide for health care and defend children’s rights on the other. The main topic of this contribution is the extent to which the government is allowed to make certain treatments compulsory.
Intervención psicológica para el control de la ansiedad en un deportista español de lucha grecorromana
Authors: Zamora Martínez Eduardo Alberto , Rubio Franco Víctor , Hernández López José Manuel
Published: March 2018

ResumenEste trabajo describe la intervención de caso único con un luchador de la selección española de lucha grecorromana. El objetivo de esta intervención fue disminuir la ansiedad precompetitiva para incrementar el rendimiento deportivo mediante un programa de habilidades psicológicas basado en técnicas de visualización, parada de pensamiento, reestructuración cognitiva y establecimiento de rutinas precompetitivas. Se utilizó el CSAI-2R antes, durante y después de la intervención como medida de la ansiedad. También se utilizaron registros para la visualización, parada de pensamiento, reestructuración cognitiva y rutinas precompetitivos específicamente diseñados para el caso. Los resultados muestran que, tras la intervención,  los niveles de ansiedad precompetitiva disminuyeron notablemente  y el rendimiento deportivo aumentó con buenos resultados durante las competiciones. AbstractThis paper describes a single-case psychological intervention with a Spanish National Greco-Roman Wrestling Team wrestler. The aim of the intervention was to reduce pre-competitive anxiety in order to increase his athletic performance through a psychological skills program based on mental imagery, thought stopping, cognitive restructuring and pre-competitive routines. The CSAI-2R was used before, during and after the intervention for assessing anxiety. Self-monitoring registers for mental imagery, thought stopping, cognitive restructuration and precompetitive routines specifically designed for this case were also used. Results showed the athlete highly reduced precompetitive anxiety and increase athletic performance.
El consumo de sustancias como factor de riesgo para la conducta delictiva: Una revisión sistemática
Authors: Pérez Esther , Ruiz Sergio
Published: March 2018

ResumenLa delincuencia es un problema social que merece el es­tudio de sus causas para su prevención. A lo largo de la historia, se ha estudiado la asociación entre el consumo de sustancias y el crimen, aunque esta relación no está clara. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo conocer los últi­mos hallazgos relativos a la consideración del consumo como factor de riesgo para el delito. Se trata de una Revi­sión Sistemática de trabajos empíricos concernientes al estudio del consumo como posible factor de riesgo de desarrollo de conductas delictivas, publicados entre 2010 y 2015, en español, inglés y portugués. Se realizó una búsqueda sistemática en Scopus, PsycINFO, Medline y Psicodoc, se incluyeron treinta y dos estudios que se re­visaron con una lista de comprobación de calidad de ar­tículos epidemiológicos. Como resultados se indica que la mayoría de los trabajos incluidos se centraban en el consumo de alcohol, de cannabis o el policonsumo, y casi un 80 % coinciden en que el consumo representa un factor de riesgo en el desarrollo de ciertas tipologías de­lictivas. Como conclusión, conocer este factor de riesgo, podría utilizarse como medio de prevención. Finalmente, se destaca la posibilidad de sesgo de información.AbstractDelinquency is a social problem that deserves study to be prevented. Throughout history, the association between substance abuse and crime has been studied, although this relationship is unclear. The main aim of this paper is to present the latest findings concerning the consideration of substance use as a risk factor for crime. This paper is a systematic review of empirical studies regarding the study of substance as a possible risk factor for the devel­opment of criminal conduct, published between 2010 and 2015, in Spanish, English and Portuguese. A systematic search at Scopus, PsycINFO, Medline and Psicodoc was carried out, including a total of thirty-two studies re­viewed with a checklist of the quality of epidemiological papers. The majority of papers focused on alcohol, can­nabis or poly-drug use, and almost 80% agree that con­sumption is a risk factor for the development of criminal behavior and some types of crimes. This review con­cludes that the knowledge that consumption represents a risk factor could be used as a means of prevention. The possibility of information bias limitation is highlighted.
Ajuste psicológico y habilidades para la resolución de problemas en condenados por homicidio o tentativa de homicidio
Authors: Vilariño Manuel , Amado Bárbara G. , Fernandes Elsa , Arce Ramón
Published: March 2018

ResumenCon el objetivo de conocer el ajuste psicológico (sinto­matología y diagnóstico clínico) y las destrezas para la resolución de problemas (afrontamiento) en una pobla­ción de homicidas, se ha llevado a cabo un estudio en el que se contrastaron ambos factores entre una muestra de condenados por homicidio o tentativa de homicidio, con la población normativa. Participaron en el estudio 27 hombres internos en el Centro Penitenciario de Oporto (Portugal), con una edad promedio de 38.63 años. Para la medida del ajuste psicológico se acudió al SCL-90-R, mientras que el afrontamiento fue evaluado mediante el CRI-A. Los resultados revelaron que los reclusos mos­traban una probabilidad superior de ser clasificados como casos clínicos en las dimensiones clínicas del SCL-90-R, a excepción de Hostilidad, así como puntuaciones significativamente más elevadas en las dimensiones clí­nicas a excepción de Hostilidad y Ansiedad Fóbica, y en los tres índices globales (i.e., GSI, PST, PSDI). Además, la muestra de condenados se caracterizaba por acudir a estrategias de afrontamiento evitativas, que son recono­cidas como formas desadaptativas o improductivas. Asi­mismo, del estudio de las características delictivas se ve­rificó que la mayoría de los acusados guardaban algún tipo de relación previa con la víctima, y que la muestra homicida se caracterizaba por versatilidad delictiva y tendencia a la reincidencia. Se discuten las implicaciones de estos resultados para la práctica profesional en el contexto penitenciario. AbstractWith the aim of knowing about psychological adjustment (clinical symptomatology and diagnosis) and problem-solving skills (coping) in a homicide prison inmate pop­ulation, a study to contrast sentenced murderers or at­tempted murderers with the normative population was conducted. Participated in the research, 27 male prison inmates at the Prison of Oporto (Portugal) with an age average of 38.63. Psychological adjustment and coping strategies were measured with the SCL-90-R checklist and the CRI-A questionnaire, respectively. The results exhibited that prison inmates showed a higher probability of being classified as clinical cases in most of the SCL-90-R dimensions (except in Hostility), as well as signifi­cantly higher scores in almost all of them (with the ex­ception of Hostility and Phobic Anxiety), an in the global indexes (i.e., GSI, PST, PSDI). Furthermore, prison in­mates were characterized by using avoidance coping strategies, which are considered such as maladaptive or unproductive. Likewise, the results from the crimino­logical characteristics of the inmates have revealed that homicides had a previous relationship with the victim, criminal versatility and a recidivism trend. Implications of the results for professional practice in penitentiary setting are discussed.
Diseño y validación de un instrumento para evaluar la participación de las familias en los centros educativos//Design and validation of an instrument for assessment the involvement of families in schools
Authors: León Carrascosa Victor , Fernández Díaz María José
Published: March 2018

RESUMENEl objetivo de este estudio ha sido diseñar y validar un instrumento para evaluar la participación de las familias en los centros educativos. El estudio se ha realizado con una muestra de 271 representantes legales de estudiantes en edad escolar de las distintas Direcciones de Área territorial de la Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (CAM) (padres, madres y tutores). Se propuso un modelo teórico compuesto por cuatro dimensiones donde se analizó la fiabilidad, la validez de contenido y de constructo.La validez de contenido fue sustentada a través de la fundamentación teórica y la validez de expertos. Se realizó un Análisis Factorial Confirmatorio (AFC) mediante la aplicación de metodología S.E.M. (Structural Equation Modeling) para la validación del constructo del instrumento obteniendo un ajuste adecuado (CMIN/DF=2.066, CFI=0.900, RMSEA=0.063, PRATIO=0.916). Por todo ello, se puede afirmar que el instrumento reúne las características técnicas exigidas para ser considerado un recurso de evaluación válido y fiable para el estudio de la participación de las familias en los centros educativos y su aplicación en investigación y evaluación.ABSTRACT  The aim of this study is to design and validate an instrument to evaluate family involvement in schools. The study was conducted with a sample of 271 legal guardians of school-age students of the different Territorial Area Directions of the Autonomous Community of Madrid (parents and custodians). We set up a theoretical model consisting of four dimensions where it the reliability, the validity of content and the construct is analyzed.The overall reliability of the instrument is very satisfactory scoring 0.928 (Cronbach's alpha) and quite acceptable giving the ratio of 0.896, Learning Support of 0.855, Participation of 0.913 and Training of 0.910. The validity of the content is supported by the theoretical foundation and the validity of experts. One Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) is performed by applying S.E.M. (Structural Equation Modeling) methodology for validation of the instrument constructed obtaining an appropriate adjustment (CMIN / DF = 2.066, CFI = 0.900, RMSEA = 0.063, PRATIO = 0.916).Therefore, we can say that the instrument gets the technical characteristics required to be considered a valid and reliable approach for the study of family involvement in schools and its application in research and evaluation assessment.
Atlantic Forest fragmentation affects the genetic variation distribution pattern in blue manakins, Chiroxiphia caudata (Aves, Pipridae)
Authors: Niero Leonardo P. , Francisco Mercival R. , Saranholi Bruno H. , Silveira Luis F. , Galetti Jr Pedro M.
Published: March 2018

Habitat fragmentation is one of the main threats to the biodiversity and one of the main challenges faced by conservation biology. This study assessed the effects of habitat fragmentation on the genetic variability of the blue manakin Chiroxiphia caudata, an endemic bird of Atlantic Forest biome. Nine microsatellite loci were used to analyze individuals from five Atlantic Forest areas. Private alleles were found in all areas. Fst, Dest, Bayesian and Discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) indicated that populations are genetically structured, but the distance could not explain the differentiation between areas. The fragmentation and the reduction of gene flow may be acting in order to increase the differentiation between areas. Thus, even a generalist species may be affected by habitat fragmentation. Despite this, the whole complex of fragmented areas in Atlantic Forest appears to play an important role for the blue manakin by sheltering its genetic diversity as a whole.
Local and relaxed clocks, the best of both worlds
Authors: Fourment Mathieu , Darling Aaron E
Published: March 2018

Time-resolved phylogenetic methods use information about the time of sample collection to estimate the rate of evolution. Originally, the models used to estimate evolutionary rates were quite simple, assuming that all lineages evolve at the same rate, an assumption commonly known as the molecular clock. Richer and more complex models have since been introduced to capture the phenomenon of substitution rate variation among lineages. Two well known model extensions are the local clock, wherein all lineages in a clade share a common substitution rate, and the uncorrelated relaxed clock, wherein the substitution rate on each lineage is independent from other lineages while being constrained to fit some parametric distribution. We introduce a further model extension, called the flexible local clock (FLC), which provides a flexible framework to combine relaxed clock models with local clock models. We evaluate the flexible local clock on simulated and real datasets and show that it provides substantially improved fit to an influenza dataset. An implementation of the model is available for download from https://www.github.com/4ment/flc.
Changes in a benthic system exposed to multiple stressors: a 40-year time-series in the English Channel
Authors: Thiébaut Eric , Dauvin Jean-Claude , Gentil Franck , Houbin Céline , Broudin Caroline , Somerfield Paul J.
Published: March 2018

Long-term series are an essential resource to assess temporal changes in biodiversity and disentangle the relative role of external and internal factors on community dynamics. In the Bay of Morlaix, benthic samples were collected at one station in a sandy community over a forty-year period (1977-2016) using the same design. During this period, the community was exposed to a major oil spill but also to gradual changes in sediment grain size and temperature. Q-mode and r-mode analyses were performed to describe the trajectory of the community and identify taxa contributing to variation in faunal composition among years. A type 3 Similarities Profiles analysis was carried out to assess which species groups covary coherently. Over time, different periods were reported included the effect of the oil spill, the following recovery period, and a large shift in the community structure in the absence of specific events. The species groups identified by the SIMPER analysis showed very different temporal variations according to the expected species sensitivity to different stressors and to biotic interactions. Our results highlight that benthic community may exhibit highly complex dynamics which cannot be easily assigned to one cause of change, raising the question of a reference status for managers.
Analyses of the links between species and functional diversity: the effects of methodological choices to assess functional diversity
Authors: Houbin Céline , Bacouillard Lise , Baux Noemie , Dauvin Jean Claude , Desroy Nicolas , Geiger Katja , Gentil Franck , Thiébaut Eric
Published: March 2018

While coastal ecosystems experience increasing pressures due to human activities and climate change, measurement of functional diversity based on the biological traits analysis (BTA) is increasingly used as a tool to assess ecosystem functioning and its responses to disturbance. A review of more than 80 papers published since 2003 highlights large differences in the methodology used to measure functional diversity, for instance in terms of the number of traits used, ranging from 3 to 25, the identity of the traits, the nature of the raw data (abundance vs. biomass). Using two different datasets on benthic macrofauna in the English Channel (i.e. a time-series of samples collected yearly from 1977 to 2016, and a spatial survey of 72 stations sampled once in 2016), we analysed how some methodological choices affect the measures of functional diversity, its spatial or temporal changes, and the links with species diversity. The local diversity was calculated from different diversity indices while multivariate methods were applied to describe β-diversity. A peculiar attention is given on the effects of two methodological choices: (1) the selection of biomass data rather than more commonly used abundance data, and (2) the differentiation between response traits and effect traits.
HIV-1 Env trimer opens through an asymmetric intermediate in which individual protomers adopt distinct conformations
Authors: Ma Xiaochu , Lu Maolin , Gorman Jason , Terry Daniel S , Hong Xinyu , Zhou Zhou , Zhao Hong , Altman Roger B , Arthos James , Blanchard Scott C , Kwong Peter D , Munro James B , Mothes Walther
Published: March 2018

HIV-1 entry into cells requires binding of the viral envelope glycoprotein (Env) to receptor CD4 and coreceptor. Imaging of individual Env molecules on native virions shows Env trimers to be dynamic, spontaneously transitioning between three distinct well-populated conformational states: a pre-triggered Env (State 1), a default intermediate (State 2) and a three-CD4-bound conformation (State 3), which can be stabilized by binding of CD4 and coreceptor-surrogate antibody 17b. Here, using single-molecule Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (smFRET), we show the default intermediate configuration to be asymmetric, with individual protomers adopting distinct conformations. During entry, this asymmetric intermediate forms when a single CD4 molecule engages the trimer. The trimer can then transition to State 3 by binding additional CD4 molecules and coreceptor.
Can aspirin help?
Authors: Kalantri Ashwini , Kalantri Shriprakash
Published: March 2018

Using a combination of aspirin, anti-tuberculosis drugs and steroids may help to reduce the number of strokes and deaths in patients with tuberculous meningitis.
Stable isotopes of Hawaiian spiders reflect substrate properties along a chronosequence
Authors: Kennedy Susan R. , Dawson Todd E. , Gillespie Rosemary G.
Published: March 2018

The Hawaiian Islands offer a unique opportunity to test how changes in the properties of an isolated ecosystem are propagated through the organisms that occur within that ecosystem. The age-structured arrangement of volcanic-derived substrates follows a regular progression over space and, by inference, time. We test how well documented successional changes in soil chemistry and associated vegetation are reflected in organisms at higher trophic levels—specifically, predatory arthropods (spiders)—across a range of functional groups. We focus on three separate spider lineages: one that builds capture webs, one that hunts actively, and one that specializes on eating other spiders. We analyze spiders from three sites across the Hawaiian chronosequence with substrate ages ranging from 200 to 20,000 years. To measure the extent to which chemical signatures of terrestrial substrates are propagated through higher trophic levels, we use standard stable isotope analyses of nitrogen and carbon, with plant leaves included as a baseline. The target taxa show the expected shift in isotope ratios ofδ15N with trophic level, from plants to cursorial spiders to web-builders to spider eaters. Remarkably, organisms at all trophic levels also precisely reflect the successional changes in the soil stoichiometry of the island chronosequence, demonstrating how the biogeochemistry of the entire food web is determined by ecosystem succession of the substrates on which the organisms have evolved.
The molecular mechanism of anticancer action of novel octahydropyrazino[2,1-a:5,4-a′]diisoquinoline derivatives in human gastric cancer cells
Authors: Pawłowska Natalia , Gornowicz Agnieszka , Bielawska Anna , Surażyński Arkadiusz , Szymanowska Anna , Czarnomysy Robert , Bielawski Krzysztof
Published: March 2018

Objective The aim of the current study was to examine the anticancer activity and the detailed mechanism of novel diisoquinoline derivatives in human gastric cancer cells (AGS). Methods The viability of AGS cells was measured by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Cell cycle analysis and apoptosis assay were performed by standard flow cytometric method. Confocal microscopy bioimaging was used to demonstrate the expression of pivotal proteins engaged in apoptosis (caspase-8, caspase-3, p53) and cell signaling (AKT, ERK1/2). Results All compounds decreased the number of viable cells in a dose-dependent manner after 24 and 48 h of incubation, although compound 2 was a more cytotoxic agent, with IC50 values of 21 ± 2 and 6 ± 2 μM, compared to 80 ± 2 and 45 ± 2 μM for etoposide. The cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of novel compounds were associated with the induction of apoptosis. The highest percentage of early and late apoptotic cells was observed after 48 h of incubation with compound 2 (89.9%). The value was higher compared to compound 1 (20.4%) and etoposide (24.1%). The novel diisoquinoline derivatives decreased the expression of AKT and ERK1/2. Their mechanism was associated with p53-mediated apoptosis, accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase of cell cycle and inhibition of topoisomerase II. Conclusion These data strongly support compound 2 as a promising molecule for treatment of gastric cancer.