bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modular Self-Reconfigurable Robotic Systems: A Survey on Hardware Architectures
Authors: Chennareddy S. Sankhar Reddy , Agrawal Anita , Karuppiah Anupama
Published: March 2017

Modular self-reconfigurable robots present wide and unique solutions for growing demands in the domains of space exploration, automation, consumer products, and so forth. The higher utilization factor and self-healing capabilities are most demanded traits in robotics for real world applications and modular robotics offer better solutions in these perspectives in relation to traditional robotics. The researchers in robotics domain identified various applications and prototyped numerous robotic models while addressing constraints such as homogeneity, reconfigurability, form factor, and power consumption. The diversified nature of various modular robotic solutions proposed for real world applications and utilization of different sensor and actuator interfacing techniques along with physical model optimizations presents implicit challenges to researchers while identifying and visualizing the merits/demerits of various approaches to a solution. This paper attempts to simplify the comparison of various hardware prototypes by providing a brief study on hardware architectures of modular robots capable of self-healing and reconfiguration along with design techniques adopted in modeling robots, interfacing technologies, and so forth over the past 25 years.
A Hepatitis C Educational Needs Assessment of Canadian Healthcare Providers
Authors: Naghdi Reza , Seto Karen , Klassen Carolyn , Emokpare Didi , Conway Brian , Kelley Melissa , Yoshida Eric , Shah Hemant A.
Published: March 2017

Background and Aim. Despite advances in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C infection (CHC), it remains a major public health problem in Canada and globally. The knowledge of healthcare providers (HCPs) is critical to improve the care of CHC in Canada. To assess the current knowledge and educational needs of healthcare providers (HCPs) in the area of CHC management a national online survey was conducted. Method. An interprofessional steering committee designed a 29-question survey distributed through various direct and electronic routes. The survey assessed several domains (e.g., participant and practice demographics, access to resources, knowledge of new treatments, and educational preferences). Results. A total of 163 HCPs responded to the survey. All hepatologists and 8% of primary care providers (PCPs) reported involvement in treatment of CHC. Physicians most frequently screened patients who had abnormal liver enzymes, while nurses tended to screen based on lifestyle factors. More than 70% of PCPs were not aware of new medications and their mechanisms. Conclusion. Overall, the needs assessment demonstrated that there was a need for further education, particularly for primary care physicians, to maximize the role that they can play in screening, testing, and treatment of hepatitis C in Canada.
Bioaccumulation of Some Heavy Metals: Analysis and Comparison of Cyprinus carpio and Labeo rohita from Sardaryab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Authors: Yousafzai Ali Muhammad , Ullah Farhad , Bari Fathul , Raziq Sumayya , Riaz Mehreen , Khan Khalid , Nishan Umar , Sthanadar Iram Alam , Shaheen Baseerat , Shaheen Mussarrat , Ahmad Habib
Published: March 2017

We examined and compared heavy metals bioaccumulation in Cyprinus carpio and Labeo rohita netted from Sardaryab, a tributary of River Kabul. By using atomic absorption spectrometry we assessed different organs including livers, gills, and muscles. Metals studied were chromium, iron, zinc, lead, and copper. Livers of both species showed higher concentrations of metals while muscles showed the least amount. Chromium and iron were the highly concentrated metals in the gills and livers of both species. A quantity of 0.154 ± 0.011, 0.199 ± 0.0079, and 0.024 ± 0.008 μg/g of chromium was found in the gills, livers, and muscles of Cyprinus carpio, respectively. Similarly, the gills, liver, and muscles of Labeo rohita contained 0.133 ± 0.008, 0.165 ± 0.01, and 0.019 ± 0.006 μg/g of Cr, respectively. Iron was highest in carp in the range of 0.086 ± 0.01 in gills and 0.067 ± 0.011 μg/g in muscles, comparatively. All the studied metals were found within the US recommended daily dietary allowances (RDA) limits; hence no immediate risk in their consumption for human was found. The data showed that Cyprinus carpio being omnivorous and bottom feeder stored higher concentrations of metals as compared to Labeo rohita.
Spinning Reserve Requirements Optimization Based on an Improved Multiscenario Risk Analysis Method
Authors: Zhang Liudong , Yuan Yubo , Yuan Xiaodong , Chen Bing , Su Dawei , Li Qiang
Published: March 2017

This paper proposes a novel security‐constrained unit commitment model to calculate the optimal spinning reserve (SR) amount. The model combines cost‐benefit analysis with an improved multiscenario risk analysis method capable of considering various uncertainties, including load and wind power forecast errors as well as forced outages of generators. In this model, cost‐benefit analysis is utilized to simultaneously minimize the operation cost of conventional generators, the expected cost of load shedding, the penalty cost of wind power spillage, and the carbon emission cost. It remedies the defects of the deterministic and probabilistic methods of SR calculation. In cases where load and wind power generation are negatively correlated, this model based on multistep modeling of net demand can consider the wind power curtailment to maximize the overall economic efficiency of system operation so that the optimal economic values of wind power and SR are achieved. In addition, the impact of the nonnormal probability distributions of wind power forecast error on SR optimization can be taken into account. Using mixed integer linear programming method, simulation studies on a modified IEEE 26‐generator reliability test system connected to a wind farm are performed to confirm the effectiveness and advantage of the proposed model.
A Novel Text Clustering Approach Using Deep‐Learning Vocabulary Network
Authors: Yi Junkai , Zhang Yacong , Zhao Xianghui , Wan Jing
Published: March 2017

Text clustering is an effective approach to collect and organize text documents into meaningful groups for mining valuable information on the Internet. However, there exist some issues to tackle such as feature extraction and data dimension reduction. To overcome these problems, we present a novel approach named deep‐learning vocabulary network. The vocabulary network is constructed based on related‐word set, which contains the “cooccurrence” relations of words or terms. We replace term frequency in feature vectors with the “importance” of words in terms of vocabulary network and PageRank, which can generate more precise feature vectors to represent the meaning of text clustering. Furthermore, sparse‐group deep belief network is proposed to reduce the dimensionality of feature vectors, and we introduce coverage rate for similarity measure in Single‐Pass clustering. To verify the effectiveness of our work, we compare the approach to the representative algorithms, and experimental results show that feature vectors in terms of deep‐learning vocabulary network have better clustering performance.
Incidental Paratracheal Air Cysts on Thoracic CT and Their Association with Chronic Inflammatory Lung Disease
Authors: Kim Ha Yeon , Lee Kyung Hee , Kim Yeo Ju , Lee Ha Young , Kim Ga Ram , Jeon Yong Sun , Kim Jung Soo , Kim Young Sam , Kim Jun Ho
Published: March 2017

Purpose. To determine the association between the progression of upper lung fibrosis and paratracheal air cysts (PACs) size.Materials and Methods. The thoracic CT images of 4573 patients were reviewed for the prevalence, size, and location of PACs and their communication with trachea. In addition, the presence of upper lung fibrosis, emphysema, and bronchiectasis was evaluated in patients with PACs and compared with a control group without PACs. Upper lung fibrosis was analyzed using a fibrosis score system.Results. The prevalence of PACs was 6.8%. Communication with tracheal lumen was demonstrated by 31.5% of patients with PACs. The prevalence of fibrosis, emphysema, and bronchiectasis in patients with PACs were 67.5%, 21.9%, and 28.3%, respectively. The prevalence of fibrosis was significantly different in the two groups by univariable and multivariable analysis (odds ratio = 2.077,P<0.001). 140 patients with fibrosis among PAC group underwent a previous or follow-up CT; the prevalence with increase in PAC sizes was higher in patients with increase in fibrosis score than those without it (66.2% versus 17.3%,P<0.001).Conclusions. PACs appear to be highly related to upper lung fibrosis and moderately related to bronchiectasis. In patients with fibrosis, PAC sizes tended to increase with the progression of upper lung fibrosis.
A Study on the Dynamic Interaction between Three-Axle Vehicle and Continuous Girder Bridge with Consideration of Braking Effects
Authors: Nguyen Xuan-Toan , Tran Van-Duc , Hoang Nhat-Duc
Published: March 2017

Continuous girder bridges become increasingly popular because of the rapid development of highway throughout the world. Most of previous researches on vibration analysis of a multispan continuous bridge subject to complex traffic loading and vehicle dynamic interaction focus on the girder displacement not considering braking effects. In current literature, few studies have discussed the effects of braking on continuous girder bridges. In this study, we employ the finite element method (FEM) to investigate the dynamic response of continuous girder bridge due to three-axle vehicle. Vertical reaction forces of axles that change with time make bending vibration of girder increase significantly. The braking in the first span is able to create response in other spans. In addition, the dynamic impact factors are investigated by both FEM and experiments on a real bridge structure. The results of this study extend the current understanding of the bridge dynamic behaviors and can be used as additional references for bridge codes by practicing engineers.
Successful Treatment of Caesarean Scar Pregnancies by Local Treatment Only
Authors: Tanigaki Shinji , Nagata Chie , Ueno Kazunori , Ozawa Nobuaki , Nagaoka Shinichi , Tanaka Kei , Sago Haruhiko , Iwashita Mitsutoshi
Published: March 2017

Background. Caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) is a rare ectopic pregnancy associated with life-threatening complications. To date, no therapeutic protocols have been established. Sono-guided local methotrexate (MTX) injection is a relatively easy and low-invasive treatment. Additional systemic MTX is sometimes needed for CSP cases, especially when β-subunit human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) levels are >20,000 mIU/ml at diagnosis. We report on six cases of CSP treated with local MTX injection, five of which received combined local treatment. Methods. Under intravenous anesthesia, six CSPs including a case with β-hCG levels >20,000 mIU/ml received MTX injection to the gestational sac. Five cases received gestational sac aspiration. Three cases had additional local potassium chloride injection and one case had a saline injection aiming at the fetal heart beat concurrent with MTX injection. MTX was administered weekly if β-hCG levels stayed beyond the expected values. Outcomes. All cases achieved β-hCG normalization without additional systemic MTX, with one case having a successful pregnancy after treatment. Conclusion. Sono-guided local MTX injection with concurrent local treatment might be a potentially effective approach for CSP cases. The accumulation of further cases is necessary to confirm this.
Impact of Treatment Decentration on Higher-Order Aberrations after SMILE
Authors: Yu Ying , Zhang Wenwen , Cheng Xinliang , Cai Jianru , Chen Hui
Published: March 2017

Purpose. To evaluate decentration following femtosecond laser small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and sub-Bowman keratomileusis (SBK) and its impact on higher-order aberrations (HOAs). Methods. Prospective, nonrandom, and comparison study. There were 96 eyes of 52 patients who received SMILE and 96 eyes of 49 patients who received SBK in this study. Decentration was calculated 6 months after surgery with Pentacam. HOAs and visual acuity after the surgery were examined for patients in both groups before and 6 months after surgery. Results. The mean decentration displacement in SMILE group was significantly less than SBK group (P=0.020). 89 eyes were decentered within 0.50 mm after SMILE and SBK. The association between vertical decentration and the induced spherical aberration was insignificant in SMILE group (P=0.035). There was an association between decentration and safety index, efficacy index, vertical coma, spherical aberration, and HOAs in root mean square (RMS, μm) after SBK (all P<0.05). No difference was found in uncorrected and corrected distance visual acuity, safety index, efficacy index, and wavefront aberrations between the two subgroups at any delimited value after SMILE (all P>0.05). Decentration exceeding 0.37 mm affected vertical coma and RMSh of SBK eyes (P=0.002, 0.005). Conclusion. SMILE surgery achieved more accurate centration than SBK surgery. Vertical decentration is associated with the induced spherical aberration in SMILE.
Ventricular Septal Dissection Complicating Inferior Wall Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Kalvin Lindsey , Yousefzai Rayan , Khandheria Bijoy K. , Paterick Timothy E. , Ammar Khawaja Afzal
Published: March 2017

Postmyocardial infarction ventricular septal defect is an increasingly rare mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction. We present a case of acute myocardial infarction from right coronary artery occlusion that developed hypotension and systolic murmur 12 hours after successful percutaneous coronary intervention. Although preoperative imaging suggested a large ventricular septal defect and a pseudoaneurysm, intraoperative findings concluded a serpiginous dissection of the ventricular septum. The imaging technicalities are discussed.
A Fas Ligand (FasL)-Fused Humanized Antibody Against Tumor-Associated Glycoprotein 72 Selectively Exhibits the Cytotoxic Effect Against Oral Cancer Cells with a Low FasL/Fas Ratio
Authors: Chien Ming-Hsien , Chang Wei-Min , Lee Wei-Jiunn , Chang Yu-Chan , Lai Tsung-Ching , Chan Derek V. , Sharma Rahul , Lin Yuan-Feng , Hsiao Michael
Published: March 2017

Altered expression of the Fas ligand (FasL)/Fas ratio exhibits a direct impact on the prognosis of cancer patients, and its impairment in cancer cells may lead to apoptosis resistance. Thus, the development of effective therapies targeting the FasL/Fas system may play an important role in the fight against cancer. In this study, we evaluated whether a fusion protein (hcc49scFv-FasL) comprising of the cytotoxicity domain of the FasL fused to a humanized antibody (CC49) against tumor-associated glycoprotein 72, which is expressed on oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), can selectively kill OSCC cells with different FasL/Fas ratios. In clinical samples, the significantly low FasL and high Fas transcripts were observed in tumors compared with normal tissues. A lower FasL/Fas ratio was correlated with a worse prognosis of OSCC patients and higher proliferative and invasive abilities of OSCC cells. The hcc49scFv-FasL showed a selective cytotoxic effect on OSCC cells (Cal-27 and SAS) but not on normal oral keratinocytes cells (HOK) through apoptosis induction. Moreover, SAS cells harboring a lower FasL/Fas ratio than Cal-27 were more sensitive to the cytotoxic effect of hcc49scFv-FasL. Unlike wild-type FasL, hcc49scFv-FasL was not cleaved by matrix metalloproteinases and did not induce nonapoptotic signaling in SAS cells. In vivo, we found that hcc49scFv-FasL drastically reduced the formation of lymph node metastasis and decreased primary tumor growth in SAS orthotopic and subcutaneous xenograft tumor models. Collectively, our data indicate that a tumor-targeting antibody fused to the FasL can be a powerful tool for OSCC treatment, especially in populations with a low FasL/Fas ratio. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(6); 1102–13. ©2017 AACR.
Disruption of TCF/β-Catenin Binding Impairs Wnt Signaling and Induces Apoptosis in Soft Tissue Sarcoma Cells
Authors: Martinez-Font Esther , Felipe-Abrio Irene , Calabuig-Fariñas Silvia , Ramos Rafael , Terrasa Josefa , Vögler Oliver , Alemany Regina , Martín-Broto Javier , Obrador-Hevia Antònia
Published: March 2017

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin and represent around 1% of adult cancers, being a very heterogeneous group of tumors with more than 50 different subtypes. The Wnt signaling pathway is involved in the development and in the regulation, self-renewal, and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells, and plays a role in sarcomagenesis. In this study, we have tested pharmacologic inhibition of Wnt signaling mediated by disruption of TCF/β-catenin binding and AXIN stabilization, being the first strategy more efficient in reducing cell viability and downstream effects. We have shown that disruption of TCF/β-catenin binding with PKF118-310 produces in vitro antitumor activity in a panel of prevalent representative STS cell lines and primary cultures. At the molecular level, PKF118-310 treatment reduced β-catenin nuclear localization, reporter activity, and target genes, resulting in an increase in apoptosis. Importantly, combination of PKF118-310 with doxorubicin resulted in enhanced reduction of cell viability, suggesting that Wnt inhibition could be a new combination regime in these patients. Our findings support the usefulness of Wnt inhibitors as new therapeutic strategies for the prevalent STS. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(6); 1166–76. ©2017 AACR.
Selective Killing of SMARCA2- and SMARCA4-deficient Small Cell Carcinoma of the Ovary, Hypercalcemic Type Cells by Inhibition of EZH2: In Vitro and In Vivo Preclinical Models
Authors: Chan-Penebre Elayne , Armstrong Kelli , Drew Allison , Grassian Alexandra R. , Feldman Igor , Knutson Sarah K. , Kuplast-Barr Kristy , Roche Maria , Campbell John , Ho Peter , Copeland Robert A. , Chesworth Richard , Smith Jesse J. , Keilhack Heike , Ribich Scott A.
Published: March 2017

The SWI/SNF complex is a major regulator of gene expression and is increasingly thought to play an important role in human cancer, as evidenced by the high frequency of subunit mutations across virtually all cancer types. We previously reported that in preclinical models, malignant rhabdoid tumors, which are deficient in the SWI/SNF core component INI1 (SMARCB1), are selectively killed by inhibitors of the H3K27 histone methyltransferase EZH2. Given the demonstrated antagonistic activities of the SWI/SNF complex and the EZH2-containing PRC2 complex, we investigated whether additional cancers with SWI/SNF mutations are sensitive to selective EZH2 inhibition. It has been recently reported that ovarian cancers with dual loss of the redundant SWI/SNF components SMARCA4 and SMARCA2 are characteristic of a rare rhabdoid-like subtype known as small-cell carcinoma of the ovary hypercalcemic type (SCCOHT). Here, we provide evidence that a subset of commonly used ovarian carcinoma cell lines were misdiagnosed and instead were derived from a SCCOHT tumor. We also demonstrate that tazemetostat, a potent and selective EZH2 inhibitor currently in phase II clinical trials, induces potent antiproliferative and antitumor effects in SCCOHT cell lines and xenografts deficient in both SMARCA2 and SMARCA4. These results exemplify an additional class of rhabdoid-like tumors that are dependent on EZH2 activity for survival. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(5); 850–60. ©2017 AACR.
Matching the Statistical Model to the Research Question for Dental Caries Indices with Many Zero Counts
Authors: Preisser John S. , Long D. Leann , Stamm John W.
Published: March 2017

Marginalized zero-inflated count regression models have recently been introduced for the statistical analysis of dental caries indices and other zero-inflated count data as alternatives to traditional zero-inflated and hurdle models. Unlike the standard approaches, the marginalized models directly estimate overall exposure or treatment effects by relating covariates to the marginal mean count. This article discusses model interpretation and model class choice according to the research question being addressed in caries research. Two data sets, one consisting of fictional dmft counts in 2 groups and the other on DMFS among schoolchildren from a randomized clinical trial comparing 3 toothpaste formulations to prevent incident dental caries, are analyzed with negative binomial hurdle, zero-inflated negative binomial, and marginalized zero-inflated negative binomial models. In the first example, estimates of treatment effects vary according to the type of incidence rate ratio (IRR) estimated by the model. Estimates of IRRs in the analysis of the randomized clinical trial were similar despite their distinctive interpretations. The choice of statistical model class should match the study's purpose, while accounting for the broad decline in children's caries experience, such that dmft and DMFS indices more frequently generate zero counts. Marginalized (marginal mean) models for zero-inflated count data should be considered for direct assessment of exposure effects on the marginal mean dental caries count in the presence of high frequencies of zero counts.
Stability of Genome Composition and Recombination between Homoeologous Chromosomes in Festulolium (Festuca × Lolium) Cultivars
Authors: Kopecký David , Šimoníková Denisa , Ghesquière Marc , Doležel Jaroslav
Published: March 2017

Festulolium are hybrids between fescue (Festuca) and ryegrass (Lolium) species and combine high seed yield of ryegrasses with abiotic stress tolerance of fescues. Chromosomes of Festuca and Lolium present in Festulolium freely pair and recombine, which results in highly variable progeny where every single plant has a unique chromosome constitution. Thus, the stability of the genomic composition in Festulolium cultivars is an important issue. In this work, we used in situ hybridization to examine the genomic composition (understood as the proportion of parental genomes present) over 3 consecutive generations of propagation via outcrossing (the first one being the generation used for cultivar registration) of 3 Festulolium cultivars. Our analysis revealed that the genome composition largely differs among the plants from individual cultivars but appears to be relatively stable over the generations. A gradual shift in the genome composition towards Lolium observed in the early generations of hybrids appears to reach a plateau where the proportions of parental genomes become stabilized. Nevertheless, the proportion remains unbalanced to a certain extent (always in favor of the Lolium genome) in each cultivar. Our observations indicate a possibility to modulate genomic composition in hybrids by breeders' selection without a compromise on stability.
Magnesium Replacement Improves the Metabolic Profile in Obese and Pre-Diabetic Patients with Mild-to-Moderate Chronic Kidney Disease: A 3-Month, Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Authors: Toprak Omer , Kurt Huseyin , Sarı Yasin , Şarkış Cihat , Us Halil , Kırık Ali
Published: March 2017

Background/Aims: Magnesium is an essential mineral for many metabolic functions. There is very little information on the effect of magnesium supplementation on metabolic profiles of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of magnesium supplementation on metabolic profiles of pre-diabetic, obese and mild-to-moderate CKD patients with hypomagnesemia. Methods: A total of 128 hypomagnesemic, pre-diabetic and obese patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate between 90 and 30 ml/min/1.73m2 were enrolled in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Patients in the magnesium group received 365 mg of oral magnesium (n = 57) once daily for 3 months, while patients in the control group received a placebo (n = 61), also once daily for 3 months. Hypomagnesemia is defined by a serum magnesium level <1.8 mg/dl in males and <1.9 mg/dl in females; obesity is defined as a body mass index ≥30 kg/m2; and pre-diabetes is defined as fasting plasma glucose ≥100 but <126 mg/dl. The primary end point of the study was the change in insulin resistance measured by the homeostastic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Results: At the end of follow-up, insulin resistance (-24.5 vs. -8.2%, P = 0.007), HOMA-IR index (-31.9 vs. -3.3%, P < 0.001), hemoglobin A1c (-6.6 vs. -0.16%, P < 0.001), insulin (-29.6 vs. -2.66%, P < 0.001), waist circumference (-4.8 vs. 0.55%, P < 0.001) and uric acid (-0.8 vs. 2.2%, P = 0.004) were significantly decreased in terms of mean changes; albumin (0.91 vs. -2.91%, P = 0.007) and magnesium (0.21 ± 0.18 vs. -0.04 ± 0.05 mg/dl, P < 0.001) were significantly increased in those taking magnesium compared with a placebo. The decrease in metabolic syndrome (-10.5 vs. -4.9%, P = 0.183), obesity (-15.7 vs. -8.2%, P = 0.131), pre-diabetes (-17.5 vs. -9.8%, P = 0.140), and systolic (-5.0 ± 14.8 vs. 0.22 ± 14.9 mm Hg, P = 0.053) and diastolic (-3.07 ± 9.7 vs. 0.07 ± 9.6 mm Hg, P = 0.071) blood pressure did not achieve to a significant level after study. Conclusion: Our data support the argument that magnesium supplementation improves the metabolic status in hypomagnesemic CKD patients with pre-diabetes and obesity.
Lamelibrânquios triássicos de Rio Claro (Estado de São Paulo)
Authors: Mendes Josué Camargo
Published: March 2017

No presente trabalho o autor estuda uma coleção de lamelibrânquios triássicos da série Corumbataí por ele próprio organizada no Município de Rio Claro, Estado de São Paulo. Coleções menores da mesma região foram versadas por K. Holdhaus (1918) e C. Reed (1932). O bom estado geral de conservação dos espécimes da atual coleção tornou possivel a observação de particularidades morfológicas e a discussão dos valores sistemáticos anteriormente conferidos. São propostos dois novos generos, Jacquesia e Pinzonellopis, para formas referidas antes por Reed, respectivamente, aos gêneros Myophoriopis Whõrm anne Pachycardia Hauer e descritas quatro novas espécies: Pseudocorbida camaquensisy P. trianguiaris, Anodontophora intricans e Pinzonella trigona. O total das espécies registradas é de 16 (Reed registrou um total de 9), distribuidas por 2 horizontes faunística e litológicamente distintos. Duas das conchas referidas por Reed, Pachycardia neotropica e Myophoriopis cf. carinata, não foram verificadas pelo autor. Com exceção das 4 entidades novas e duma forma não determinada especificamente, as demais constituem espécies já assinaladas nêsse ou em outros pontos do íriássico do Sul do Brasil. A malacofauna dos dois horizontes fossilíferos estuda­ dos, é idêntica às triássicas conhecidas de outras localidades do Sul do Brasil, bem como do Uruguai e Paraguai. Quanto ao valor cronológico da associação, parece que as 'evidências continuam favorecendo a idade triássica superior, proposta por Reed, apesar das alterações sistemáti­cas aqui introduzidas. Só estudos futuros, entretanto, poderão fornecer elementos mais seguros para uma avaliação sa­tisfatória.
Fascicular Ventricular Tachycardia Originating From Papillary Muscles
Authors: Komatsu Yuki , Nogami Akihiko , Kurosaki Kenji , Morishima Itsuro , Masuda Keita , Ozawa Tomoya , Kaneshiro Takashi , Hanaki Yuichi , Shinoda Yasutoshi , Talib Ahmed Karim , Kowase Shinya , Sekiguchi Yukio , Aonuma Kazutaka
Published: March 2017

Background—

Verapamil-sensitive fascicular ventricular tachycardia (FVT) has been demonstrated to be a reentrant mechanism using the Purkinje network as a part of its reentrant circuit. Although the papillary muscles (PMs) are implicated in arrhythmogenic structure, reentrant FVT originating from the PMs has not been well defined.

Methods and Results—

We studied 13 patients in whom FVT was successfully eliminated by ablation at the posterior PMs (n=8; PPM-FVT) and anterior PMs (n=5; APM-FVT). Although intravenous administration of verapamil (5 mg) terminated ventricular tachycardia (VT) in 6 patients, VT was only slowed in the remaining 7 patients. PPM-FVT exhibited right bundle branch block and superior right axis (extreme right axis) or horizontal axis deviation. APM-FVT exhibited right bundle branch block configuration and right axis deviation with deep S wave in leads I, V
5
, and V
6
. VT was reproducibly induced by programmed atrial or ventricular stimulation. His-ventricular interval during VT was shorter than that during sinus rhythm. Ablation at the left posterior or anterior fascicular regions often changed the QRS morphology but did not completely eliminate it. Mid-diastolic Purkinje potentials were recorded during VT around the PMs, where ablation successfully eliminated the tachycardia. All patients have been free from recurrent VT after ablation.

Conclusions—

Reentrant circuit of verapamil-sensitive FVT can involve the Purkinje network lying around the PMs. PM-FVT is a distinct entity that is characterized by distinctive electrocardiographic characteristics and less sensitivity to verapamil administration compared with common type FVT. Ablation targeting the mid-diastolic Purkinje potentials around the PMs during tachycardia can be effective in suppressing this arrhythmia.
Reimplantation and Repeat Infection After Cardiac-Implantable Electronic Device Infections
Authors: Boyle Thomas A. , Uslan Daniel Z. , Prutkin Jordan M. , Greenspon Arnold J. , Baddour Larry M. , Danik Stephan B. , Tolosana Jose M. , Le Katherine , Miro Jose M. , Peacock James , Sohail Muhammad R. , Vikram Holenarasipur R. , Carrillo Roger G.
Published: March 2017

Background—

Infection is a serious complication of cardiovascular-implantable electronic device implantation and necessitates removal of all hardware for optimal treatment. Strategies for reimplanting hardware after infection vary widely and have not previously been analyzed using a large, multicenter study.

Methods and Results—

The MEDIC (Multicenter Electrophysiologic Device Infection Cohort) prospectively enrolled subjects with cardiovascular-implantable electronic device infections at multiple institutions in the United States and abroad between 2009 and 2012. Reimplantation strategies were evaluated overall, and every patient who relapsed within 6 months was individually examined for clinical information that could help explain the negative outcome. Overall, 434 patients with cardiovascular-implantable electronic device infections were prospectively enrolled at participating centers. During the initial course of therapy, complete device removal was done in 381 patients (87.8%), and 220 of them (57.7%) were ultimately reimplanted with new devices. Overall, the median time between removal and reimplantation was 10 days, with an interquartile range of 6 to 19 days. Eleven of the 434 patients had another infection within 6 months, but only 4 of them were managed with cardiovascular-implantable electronic device removal and reimplantation during the initial infection. Thus, the repeat infection rate was low (1.8%) in those who were reimplanted. Patients who retained original hardware had a 11.3% repeat infection rate.

Conclusions—

Our study findings confirm that a broad range of reimplant strategies are used in clinical practice. They suggest that it is safe to reimplant cardiac devices after extraction of previously infected hardware and that the risk of a second infection is low, regardless of reimplant timing.
Hospice Enrollment in Patients With Advanced Heart Failure Decreases Acute Medical Service Utilization
Authors: Yim Cindi K. , Barrón Yolanda , Moore Stanley , Murtaugh Chris , Lala Anuradha , Aldridge Melissa , Goldstein Nathan , Gelfman Laura P.
Published: March 2017

Background—

Patients with advanced heart failure (HF) enroll in hospice at low rates, and data on their acute medical service utilization after hospice enrollment is limited.

Methods and Results—

We performed a descriptive analysis of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries, with at least one home health claim between July 1, 2009, and June 30, 2010, and at least 2 HF hospitalizations between July 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009, who subsequently enrolled in hospice between July 1, 2009, and December 31, 2009. We estimated panel-negative binomial models on a subset of beneficiaries to compare their acute medical service utilization before and after enrollment. Our sample size included 5073 beneficiaries: 55% were female, 45% were ≥85 years of age, 13% were non-white, and the mean comorbidity count was 2.38 (standard deviation 1.22). The median number of days between the second HF hospital discharge and hospice enrollment was 45. The median number of days enrolled in hospice was 15, and 39% of the beneficiaries died within 7 days of enrollment. During the study period, 11% of the beneficiaries disenrolled from hospice at least once. The adjusted mean number of hospital, intensive care unit, and emergency room admissions decreased from 2.56, 0.87, and 1.17 before hospice enrollment to 0.53, 0.19, and 0.76 after hospice enrollment.

Conclusions—

Home health care Medicare beneficiaries with advanced HF who enrolled in hospice had lower acute medical service utilization after their enrollment. Their pattern of hospice use suggests that earlier referral and improved retention may benefit this population. Further research is necessary to understand hospice referral and palliative care needs of advanced HF patients.
Targeting Different Monocyte/Macrophage Subsets Has No Impact on Outcome in Experimental Stroke
Authors: Schmidt Antje , Strecker Jan-Kolja , Hucke Stephanie , Bruckmann Nils-Martin , Herold Martin , Mack Matthias , Diederich Kai , Schäbitz Wolf-Rüdiger , Wiendl Heinz , Klotz Luisa , Minnerup Jens
Published: March 2017

Background and Purpose—

Peripheral immune cell infiltration contributes to neural injury after ischemic stroke. However, in contrast to lymphocytes and neutrophils, the role of different monocyte/macrophage subsets remains to be clarified. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of selective and unselective monocyte/macrophage depletion and proinflammatory (M1-) and anti-inflammatory (M2-) macrophage transfer on the outcome after experimental cerebral ischemia.

Methods—

To assess short-term effects of monocytes/macrophages in acute ischemic stroke, mice underwent transient middle cerebral artery occlusion and received either clodronate liposomes for unselective macrophage depletion, MC-21-antibody for selective depletion of proinflammatory Ly-6C
high
monocytes, or proinflammatory (M1-) or anti-inflammatory (M2-) macrophage transfer. In addition, the impact of MC-21-antibody administration and M2-macrophage transfer on long-term neural recovery was investigated after photothrombotic stroke. Neurobehavioral tests were used to analyze functional outcomes, infarct volumes were determined, and immunohistochemical analyses were performed to characterize the postischemic inflammatory reaction.

Results—

Selective and unselective monocyte/macrophage depletion and M1- and M2-macrophage transfer did not influence tissue damage and neurobehavioral outcomes in the acute phase after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Beyond, selective depletion of Ly-6C
high
monocytes and M2-macrophage transfer did not have an impact on neural recovery after photothrombotic stroke.

Conclusions—

Targeting different monocyte/macrophage subsets has no impact on outcome after ischemic stroke in mice. Altogether, our study could not identify monocytes/macrophages as relevant therapeutic targets in acute ischemic stroke.
Moving Beyond Attentional Biases: Shifting the Interhemispheric Balance between Left and Right Posterior Parietal Cortex Modulates Attentional Control Processes
Authors: Duecker Felix , Schuhmann Teresa , Bien Nina , Jacobs Christianne , Sack Alexander T.
Published: March 2017

The concept of interhemispheric competition has been very influential in attention research, and the occurrence of biased attention due to an imbalance in posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is well documented. In this context, the vast majority of studies have assessed attentional performance with tasks that did not include an explicit experimental manipulation of attention, and, as a consequence, it remains largely unknown how these findings relate to core attentional constructs such as endogenous and exogenous control and spatial orienting and reorienting. We here addressed this open question by creating an imbalance between left and right PPC with transcranial direct current stimulation, resulting in right-hemispheric dominance, and assessed performance on three experimental paradigms that isolate distinct attentional processes. The comparison between active and sham transcranial direct current stimulations revealed a highly informative pattern of results with differential effects across tasks. Our results demonstrate the functional necessity of PPC for endogenous and exogenous attentional control and, importantly, link the concept of interhemispheric competition to core attentional processes, thus moving beyond the notion of biased attention after noninvasive brain stimulation over PPC.
Frequency and Chunking in Derived Words: A Parametric fMRI Study
Authors: Blumenthal-Dramé Alice , Glauche Volkmar , Bormann Tobias , Weiller Cornelius , Musso Mariacristina , Kortmann Bernd
Published: March 2017

In usage-based linguistic theories, the assumption that high-frequency language strings are mentally represented as unitary chunks has been invoked to account for a wide range of phenomena. However, neurocognitive evidence in support of this assumption is still lacking. In line with Gestalt psychological assumptions, we propose that a language string qualifies as a chunk if the following two conditions are simultaneously satisfied: The perception of the whole string does not involve strong activation of its individual component parts, but the component parts in isolation strongly evoke the whole. Against this background, we explore the relationship between different frequency metrics and the chunk status of derived words (e.g., “government,” “worthless”) in a masked visual priming experiment with two conditions of interest. One condition investigates “whole-to-part” priming (worthless–WORTH), whereas the other one analyzes “part-to-whole” priming (tear–TEARLESS). Both conditions combine mixed-effects regression analyses of lexical decision RTs with a parametric fMRI design. Relative frequency (the frequency of the whole word relative to that of its onset-embedded part) emerges as the only frequency metric to correlate with chunk status in behavioral terms. The fMRI results show that relative frequency modulates activity in regions that have been related to morphological (de)composition or general task performance difficulty (notably left inferior frontal areas) and in regions associated with competition between whole, undecomposed words (right inferior frontal areas). We conclude that relative frequency affects early stages of processing, thereby supporting the usage-based concept of frequency-induced chunks.
Preparatory Encoding of the Fine Scale of Human Spatial Attention
Authors: Voytek Bradley , Samaha Jason , Rolle Camarin E. , Greenberg Zachery , Gill Navdeep , Porat Shai , Kader Tahim , Rahman Sabahat , Malzyner Rick , Gazzaley Adam
Published: March 2017

Our attentional focus is constantly shifting: In one moment, our attention may be intently concentrated on a specific spot, whereas in another moment we might spread our attention more broadly. Although much is known about the mechanisms by which we shift our visual attention from place to place, relatively little is known about how we shift the aperture of attention from more narrowly to more broadly focused. Here we introduce a novel attentional distribution task to examine the neural mechanisms underlying this process. In this task, participants are presented with an informative cue that indicates the location of an upcoming target. This cue can be perfectly predictive of the exact target location, or it can indicate—with varying degrees of certainty—approximately where the target might appear. This cue is followed by a preparatory period in which there is nothing on the screen except a central fixation cross. Using scalp EEG, we examined neural activity during this preparatory period. We find that, with decreasing certainty regarding the precise location of the impending target, participant RTs increased whereas target identification accuracy decreased. Additionally, the multivariate pattern of preparatory period visual cortical alpha (8–12 Hz) activity encoded attentional distribution. This alpha encoding was predictive of behavioral accuracy and RT nearly 1 sec later. These results offer insight into the neural mechanisms underlying how we use information to guide our attentional distribution and how that influences behavior.
Muslim Charity under Russian Rule: Waqf, Sadaqa, and Zakat in Imperial Russia
Authors: Ross Danielle M.
Published: March 2017

This article examines the development of Muslim charitable practices in the Russian Empire (Volga-Ural region, Siberia and the northern Kazakh Steppe) from the Russian conquest of Kazan in 1552 to the 1917 Russian Revolution. Building upon existing research on charity in those regions, it argues that Russian rule from the 1550s to the mid-1800s created the basis for a range of locally-organized charity-based economies for meeting the religious, cultural, and social needs of Muslim communities in a non-Muslim state. Though these economies differed somewhat in organization, all were structured around Muslim modes of charity and all generated and re-enforced hierarchies within their respective communities. The struggles over charitable practices that occurred from the 1860s to 1917 emerged from these well-established but evolving economies as their participants responded to changing circumstances within and around their confessional communities.
Married or not Married? On the Obligatory Registration of Muslim Marriages in Nineteenth-Century Russia
Authors: Garipova Rozaliya
Published: March 2017

The registration and regulation of marriage was one aspect of the Russian empire's modernization policies in the nineteenth century. Efforts by Russian state authorities to establish better control over their subjects through the registration and regulation of marriages created new questions and problems for the Muslim community and its understanding of the legality of marriage. This article focuses on the complications created by modern governance policies in the marriage practices of Russia’s Muslims. Even though the state wanted the Muslim family to be stable so that it might serve as the foundation of an imperial order, new laws introduced by the state caused confusion and disagreement within the Muslim community about the validity of marriages and disrupted the stability of the Muslim family.
Fiscal System and Private Interests in Portuguese Asia under the Habsburgs, 1580-1640
Authors: Miranda Susana Münch
Published: March 2017

By examining the main features of the fiscal system of Portuguese Asia and the private interests that clustered around it, this article contributes to the recent historiography on the pluralistic and negotiated dimensions of the colonial government. It argues that, in the context of the European power struggle that opposed the Dutch and the English against the Spanish Habsburgs, the financial needs of the Portuguese crown deepened pre-existing political and social arrangements, with the result that royal officials and colonial elites increasingly gained a role in imperial governance and in preserving the Portuguese empire in Asia. The alignment of interests here can be observed by looking at the extraordinary taxation introduced between 1617 and 1623, which provided added opportunities to co-opt local elites.
The Use of Charity as a Means of Political Legitimation in Umayyad al-Andalus
Authors: Debasa Ana María Carballeira
Published: March 2017

The principal aim of this study is to examine the use of charity as a factor of political legitimation by the ruling elite of al-Andalus in the Umayyad period. Accordingly, it explores the degree to which charity was an instrument in the hands of the authorities, and the manner in which this strategy was decisive in the process of consolidating power. In a broader sense, this analysis enables us to deepen our knowledge of the political elite in al-Andalus and to elucidate how charitable attitudes reflected a particular conception of power.
The Process of Jesus’ Deification and Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Authors: Bermejo-Rubio Fernando
Published: March 2017

The starting point of this article is the paradox that the first-century Jew, Jesus the Galilean, came to be considered divine by a sect belonging to a religion which is often deemed to be monotheistic, to the extent that many scholars refer to this phenomenon as “striking” and “puzzling.” Although a complete survey of the cultural and religious (Jewish, Greco-Roman) contexts in which the sect of the Nazoreans — the original core group from which Christianity grew — developed its beliefs and practices is of paramount importance for understanding this phenomenon, my contention is that a historical approach should be supplemented by social science theories. In this article, I argue that cognitive dissonance theory, after having been enriched and modified by quite a few criticisms in the last several decades, contributes to making the psychological and social processes which led to Jesus’ exaltation and deification more intelligible.
Dazzling Blue: Color Symbolism, Kabbalistic Myth, and the Evil Eye in Judaism
Authors: Sagiv Gadi
Published: March 2017

The color blue is thought to protect against the evil eye in Mediterranean cultures. This article unfolds the yet-unstudied role played by kabbalistic theology, symbolism, and myth in the construction of the color blue as a protective color for Jews. It traces particularly the development of a medieval kabbalistic myth of a dazzling blue garment of the feminine aspect of the godhead, protecting her from contact with evil forces. The article shows how this myth became the foundation for various practices against the evil eye among Jews in the modern period and contextualizes this myth within theories about the evil eye.
Luke 24 Reconsidered
Authors: Muñoz Gallarte Israel
Published: March 2017

One of the climactic passages of the third Gospel is that in which Jesus probes by his resurrection and bodily presence that his message has been confirmed. Consequently, Luke 24 has been of interest to many researchers, but it seems there remain still some exegetical puzzles such as the literary model of the pericope 24:36-49. This article will deal with some questions regarding the meaning of this issue and will try to formulate a response to some open questions by considering the passage in the context of the stories of apparitions of the Imperial Greek and Roman literatures.
Expatriates Go, Let Us Grow
Authors: Varshney Deepanjana
Published: March 2017

The employment situation in Saudi Arabia and the dynamics of the labor market are the results of a series of decisions to grow the economy fast after the discovery of oil. Since the locals were not equipped and prepared with the required knowledge and expertise, to build up the nascent economy at rapid speed during that phase, there was a massive inflow of expatriates. The current research highlights the changing labor market in Saudi Arabia, unemployment among locals, remedial policies framed by the government, their drawbacks, and effect on the overall economy. The key antecedents are the preference of Saudi youth for the Public sector, unemployment, the role of the Education System, the private sector, the Nitaqat (job localization) system and expatriate factor. Finally, I propose a viable human capital development model that suggests a collaborative role for expatriates and employability enhancement programs for sustainable economic and social development.