bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Polarization Fatigue on Harvesting Energy Using Pyroelectric Materials
Authors: Mohammadi Saber
Published: February 2014

The phenomenon of polarization fatigue in ferroelectric materials is defined and the effect of this phenomenon on harvested energy using these materials has been studied. In order to illustrate this effect, the harvested energy using PZN-4.5PT single crystal was compared in two cases of fatigued and nonfatigued samples. The results have been calculated between two temperatures of 100 and 130°C using Ericsson thermodynamic cycle.
The Functional Polymorphisms of miR-146a Are Associated with Susceptibility to Severe Sepsis in the Chinese Population
Authors: Shao Yiming , Li Jia , Cai Yujie , Xie Yuliu , Ma Guoda , Li You , Chen Yanyan , Liu Gen , Zhao Bin , Cui Lili , Li Keshen
Published: February 2014

MicroRNA-146a (miR-146a) acts as a pivotal regulatory molecule in immune response and various diseases, such as carcinoma and autoimmune diseases. Growing evidences have demonstrated the association of miR-146a gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with risk of several diseases, but no genetic relevance studies of miR-146a gene polymorphisms to sepsis have been reported by now. Our study has analyzed the association of sepsis with two functional miR-146a gene SNPs rs2910164 G/C and rs57095329 A/G in a Chinese Han population (226 sepsis cases; 206 healthy controls). Our results indicated a higher prevalence of the miR-146a gene SNP rs2910164 C allele and CC genotype in patients with severe sepsis (rs2910164G versus rs2910164C:P= 0.0029, odds ratio (OR) = 1.664; GG+GC versus CC:P= 0.0045, OR = 1.947). Neither the genotype nor the allele in rs57095329 showed significant differences between the septic cases and the controls (P= 0.5901 and 0.3580, resp.), and no significant difference was observed in the subgroups. In addition, we confirmed that the two SNPs rs2910164 and rs57095329 could functionally affect the miR-146a expression levels and the reduction of miR146a was accompanied with the upregulation of the expression levels of TRAF-6 and IRAK-1 in severe sepsis patients. This present study might provide valuable clinical evidence that miR-146a gene polymorphism rs2910164 is associated with the risk of severe sepsis.
Stability for Functional Equation of Mixed Type in Non-Archimedean Normed Spaces
Authors: Chang Ick-Soon , Lee Yang-Hi
Published: February 2014

We take into account the stability of the following functional equationf(x+ay)+f(x-ay)-2f(x)-a2f(y)-a2f(-y)=0in non-Archimedean normed spaces.
Univalency and Convexity Conditions for a General Integral Operator
Authors: Bulut Serap , Breaz Daniel
Published: February 2014

For analytic functions f and g in the open unit disc 𝕌, a new general integral operator is introduced. The main objective of this paper is to obtain univalence condition and order of convexity for this general integral operator.
A Brief Review of Some Local Approaches for the Failure Assessment of Brittle and Quasi-Brittle Materials
Authors: Berto F.
Published: February 2014

Brittle failure of components weakened by cracks and notches is a topic of active and continuous research. It is a key topic for all researchers who face the problem of fracture of materials under different loading conditions and deals with a large number of applications in different engineering fields. This topic is significant in all the cases where intrinsic defects of materials or geometrical discontinuities give rise to localized stress concentration which, in brittle materials, may generate a crack leading to catastrophic failure or to a shortening of the assessed structural life. Whereas cracks are viewed as unpleasant entities in most engineering materials, U- and V-notches of different acuities are sometimes deliberately introduced in design and manufacturing of structural components. The main aim of the present contribution is to present a short review of some local approaches applicable near stress raisers both sharp and blunt allowing the reader to have an update state of the art for the considered criteria.
Rivaroxaban and Hemostasis in Emergency Care
Authors: Koscielny Jürgen , Rutkauskaite Edita
Published: February 2014

Rivaroxaban is an oral, direct Factor Xa inhibitor, approved for the prevention and treatment of several thromboembolic disorders. Rivaroxaban does not require routine coagulation monitoring and has a short half-life. However, confirmation of rivaroxaban levels may be required in circumstances such as life-threatening bleeding or perioperative management. Here, we explore the management strategies in patients receiving rivaroxaban who have a bleeding emergency or require emergency surgery. Rivaroxaban plasma concentrations can be assessed quantitatively using anti-Factor Xa chromogenic assays, or qualitatively using prothrombin time assays (using rivaroxaban-sensitive reagents). In patients receiving long-term rivaroxaban therapy who require elective surgery, discontinuation of rivaroxaban 20–30 hours beforehand is normally sufficient to minimize bleeding risk. For emergency surgery, we advise against prophylactic use of hemostatic blood products, even with high rivaroxaban concentrations. Temporary rivaroxaban discontinuation is recommended if minor bleeding occurs; for severe bleeding, rivaroxaban withdrawal may be necessary, along with compression or appropriate surgical treatment. Supportive measures such as blood product administration might be beneficial. Life-threatening bleeding demands comprehensive hemostasis management, including potential use of agents such as prothrombin complex concentrate. Patients taking rivaroxaban who require emergency care for bleeding or surgery can be managed using established protocols and individualized assessment.
Robust Finite-TimeH∞Control for Nonlinear Markovian Jump Systems with Time Delay under Partially Known Transition Probabilities
Authors: Yang Dong , Zong Guangdeng
Published: February 2014

This paper is concerned with the problem of robust finite-timeH∞control for a class of nonlinear Markovian jump systems with time delay under partially known transition probabilities. Firstly, for the nominal nonlinear Markovian jump systems, sufficient conditions are proposed to ensure finite-time boundedness,H∞finite-time boundedness, and finite-timeH∞state feedback stabilization, respectively. Then, a robust finite-timeH∞state feedback controller is designed, which, for all admissible uncertainties, guarantees theH∞finite-time boundedness of the corresponding closed-loop system. All the conditions are presented in terms of strict linear matrix inequalities. Finally a numerical example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of all the results.
Numerical Optimal Control for Problems with Random Forced SPDE Constraints
Authors: Naseri R. , Malek A.
Published: February 2014

A numerical algorithm for solving optimization problems with stochastic diffusion equation as a constraint is proposed. First, separation of random and deterministic variables is done via Karhunen-Loeve expansion. Then, the problem is discretized, in spatial part, using the finite element method and the polynomial chaos expansion in the stochastic part of the problem. This process leads to the optimal control problem with a large scale system in its constraint. To overcome these difficulties the adjoint technique for derivative computation to implementation of the optimal control issue in preconditioned Newton’s conjugate gradient method is used. By some numerical simulation, it is shown that this hybrid approach is efficient and simple to implement.
A New Cooperative MIMO Scheme Based on SM for Energy-Efficiency Improvement in Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: Peng Yuyang , Choi Jaeho
Published: February 2014

Improving the energy efficiency in wireless sensor networks (WSN) has attracted considerable attention nowadays. The multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technique has been proved as a good candidate for improving the energy efficiency, but it may not be feasible in WSN which is due to the size limitation of the sensor node. As a solution, the cooperative multiple-input multiple-output (CMIMO) technique overcomes this constraint and shows a dramatically good performance. In this paper, a new CMIMO scheme based on the spatial modulation (SM) technique named CMIMO-SM is proposed for energy-efficiency improvement. We first establish the system model of CMIMO-SM. Based on this model, the transmission approach is introduced graphically. In order to evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme, a detailed analysis in terms of energy consumption per bit of the proposed scheme compared with the conventional CMIMO is presented. Later, under the guide of this new scheme we extend our proposed CMIMO-SM to a multihop clustered WSN for further achieving energy efficiency by finding an optimal hop-length. Equidistant hop as the traditional scheme will be compared in this paper. Results from the simulations and numerical experiments indicate that by the use of the proposed scheme, significant savings in terms of total energy consumption can be achieved. Combining the proposed scheme with monitoring sensor node will provide a good performance in arbitrary deployed WSN such as forest fire detection system.
Insect Diversity of the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar Site: An Important Site for Biodiversity Conservation in Ghana
Authors: Kyerematen Rosina , Acquah-Lamptey Daniel , Owusu Erasmus Henaku , Anderson Roger Sigismund , Ntiamoa-Baidu Yaa
Published: February 2014

An inventory of species diversity of insects of the Muni-Pomadze Ramsar site, with special reference to species of conservation concern, was carried out as part of an evaluation of changes in the ecological character of the site, twenty years after designation. Samples were taken from two protected areas within the Ramsar site, in the wet (July), dry (January), and intermediate (June) seasons. Community diversity was characterized in terms of number of species accumulated, species richness, Shannon-Weiner indices of diversity, Pielou’s evenness, and Bray-Curtis similarity. A total of 134 families from 19 insect orders were recorded during the entire study period. Yenku Block A recorded the highest species richness (98) and the highest diversity index (14.97), corroborated by the highest Margalef index of 3.82 with a relatively even distribution of species (0.834) during the intermediate season, and recorded the lowest diversity (6.957) and species richness (41) during the dry season. On the whole, the Muni-Pomadzi Ramsar site showed a high diversity of insect species. The presence of species such as Junonia oenone and Papilio demodocus which are specialized in degraded habitats at Yenku Block A in large numbers is a clear indication of degradation of the forest, but the presence of forest species such as Salamis anacardii and Euphaedra crokeri is an indication that some parts of this reserve are still in good shape. A comparison of the butterfly species recorded with findings in a 1997 survey showed a marked increase in numbers from 75 to 130; this may be attributed to the habitat changes that have taken place at the site offering more diverse habitat types.
Crash Prediction and Risk Evaluation Based on Traffic Analysis Zones
Authors: Zhang Cuiping , Yan Xuedong , Ma Lu , An Meiwu
Published: February 2014

Traffic safety evaluation for traffic analysis zones (TAZs) plays an important role in transportation safety planning and long‐range transportation plan development. This paper aims to present a comprehensive analysis of zonal safety evaluation. First, several criteria are proposed to measure the crash risk at zonal level. Then these criteria are integrated into one measure‐average hazard index (AHI), which is used to identify unsafe zones. In addition, the study develops a negative binomial regression model to statistically estimate significant factors for the unsafe zones. The model results indicate that the zonal crash frequency can be associated with several social‐economic, demographic, and transportation system factors. The impact of these significant factors on zonal crash is also discussed. The finding of this study suggests that safety evaluation and estimation might benefit engineers and decision makers in identifying high crash locations for potential safety improvements.
Elevated Asymmetric Dimethylarginine is Associated With Oxidant Stress Aggravation in Patients With Early Stage Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease
Authors: Raptis Vassilios , Georgianos Panagiotis I. , Sarafidis Pantelis A. , Sioulis Athanasios , Makedou Kali , Makedou Areti , Grekas Dimitrios M. , Kapoulas Stergios
Published: February 2014

Background/Aims: In experimental models of polycystic kidney disease impaired bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) and elevated mRNA expression of oxidative stress markers at the kidney level was noted. However, clinical studies investigating the potential role of endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are limited. We evaluated asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) as marker of NO synthase inhibitor as well as 15-F2t-Isoprostane and oxidized-low density lipoprotein (oxidized-LDL) as measures of oxidative stress in patients with early stages ADPKD. Methods: We recruited 26 ADPKD patients (Group A) with modestly impaired renal function (eGFR 45-70 ml/min/1.73m2), 26 age- and sex-matched ADPKD patients (Group B) with relatively preserved renal function (eGFR)>70 ml/min/1.73m2), and 26 age- and sex-matched controls (Group C). Determination of circulating levels of ADMA, 15-F2t-Isoprostane, oxidized-LDL and routine biochemistry was performed. Results: Group A and B had significantly higher ADMA levels as compared to controls (1.68±0.7 vs 0.51±0.2 μmol/l, P<0.001 and 1.26±0.7 vs 0.51±0.2 μmol/l, P<0.001, respectively). 15-F2t-IsoP and oxidized-LDL levels were also significantly higher in Group B relative to controls (788.8±185.0 vs 383.1±86.0 pgr/ml, P<0.001 and 11.4±6.6 vs 6.4±2.6 EU/ml, P<0.05 respectively) and were further elevated in Group A. In correlation analysis, ADMA levels exhibited strong associations with levels of 15-F2t-Isoprostane (r=0.811, P<0.001) and oxidized-LDL (r=0.788, P<0.001), whereas an inverse correlation was evident between ADMA and eGFR (r=-0.460, P<0.001). Conclusion: This study shows elevation in circulating levels of ADMA along with aggravation of oxidative stress from the early stages of ADPKD.
Vascular Aphasia Outcome after Intravenous Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator Thrombolysis for Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Jacquin A. , Virat-Brassaud M.-E. , Rouaud O. , Osseby G.-V. , Aboa-Eboulé C. , Hervieu M. , Ménassa M. , Ricolfi F. , Giroud M. , Béjot Y.
Published: February 2014

Introduction: No data about the specific outcome of aphasia after thrombolysis are available. Our aim was to describe the severity and type of aphasia after stroke thrombolysis. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included consecutive aphasic patients hospitalized in the Stroke Unit of Dijon (University Hospital, France) between 2004 and 2009 for a first-ever ischemic stroke of the left middle cerebral artery. Aphasic syndromes and their severity (French version of the Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination) were evaluated during the first week and 3 months after stroke. Results: In multivariate analyses, the severity of aphasia in the 37 thrombolysed patients was milder than in the 38 nonthrombolysed patients during the first week (adjusted OR = 10.13, 95% CI: 2.43-42.28, p = 0.002) and at 3 months (adjusted OR = 8.44, 95% CI: 2.76-25.80, p = 0.001). The frequency of mild aphasia (conduction or atypical) was not significantly higher in thrombolysed patients during the first week after stroke (adjusted OR = 5.80, 95% CI: 0.82-41.16, p = 0.079). Conclusion: The severity of aphasia during the first week and 3 months after stroke is milder in thrombolysed than in nonthrombolysed patients, perhaps because of a greater frequency of conduction and mild atypical aphasia.
Predicting First-Year Mortality in Incident Dialysis Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease - The UREA5 Study
Authors: Chua Horng-Ruey , Lau Titus , Luo Nan , Ma Valerie , Teo Boon-Wee , Haroon Sabrina , Choy Kwan-Loong , Lim Yoke-Ching , Chng Wei-Qiang , Ong Li-Zhen , Wong Tsz-Yeung , Lee Evan J.
Published: February 2014

We aimed to develop a risk prediction model for first-year mortality (FYM) in incident dialysis patients with end-stage renal disease. We retrospectively examined patient comorbidities and biochemistry, prior to dialysis initiation, using a single-center, prospectively maintained database from 2005-2010, and analyzed these variables in relation to FYM. A total of 983 patients were studied. 22% had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <45%. FYM was 17%, and independent predictors included URate <500 or >600 μmol/l, LVEF <45% (higher odds ratio if <30%), Age >70 years, Arteriopathies (cerebrovascular and/or peripheral-vascular diseases), serum Albumin <30 g/l, and Alkaline phosphatase >80 U/l (p < 0.05, C-statistic 0.74), and these constitute the acronym UREA5. Using linear modeling, risk weightage/integer of 3 was assigned to LVEF <30%, 2 to age >70 years, and 1 to each remaining variable. Cumulative UREA5 scores of ≤1, 2, 3, 4, and ≥5 were associated with FYM of 6, 8, 22, 31, and 46%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Increasing UREA5 scores were strongly associated with stepwise worsening of FYM after dialysis initiation.
Prognostic Factors in 401 Elderly Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Follana P. , Barrière J. , Chamorey E. , Largillier R. , Dadone B. , Mari V. , Hannoun-Levi J.M. , Marcy M. , Flipo B. , Ferrero J.-M.
Published: February 2014

Background: Elderly patients with metastatic breast cancer have a prognosis and outcome that may be dependent on a host of factors. Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 401 female breast cancer patients who developed metastatic disease after the age of 70 years in order to define potential prognostic factors for specific survival at the time of first recurrence. Results: With a median follow-up of 60 months from the time of recurrence, the median specific survival was 21.0 months (95% CI 17.0-23.0). In multivariate analysis we demonstrated that negative hormonal receptor status (p = 0.002), presence of positive lymph nodes at initial cancer diagnosis (hazard ratio, HR = 1.37; 95% CI 1.07-1.75; p = 0.01), site of metastasis (p < 10-4) and metastasis-free interval (HR = 0.99; 95% CI 0.95-0.99; p = 0.008) constituted unfavorable independent prognostic factors able to predict specific survival from the time of metastatic occurrence. Age at initial diagnosis, Scarff-Bloom Richardson grade and adjuvant treatments were significant only in univariate analysis. Conclusion: These survival prognostic factors associated with the use of a specific geriatric questionnaire to assess frailty may assist physicians in evaluating the patient's survival potential and choose a tailored treatment to this cancer population.
Preanalysis Storage Conditions Influence the Measurement of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels in Peripheral Blood
Authors: Tsuchimine Shoko , Sugawara Norio , Ishioka Masamichi , Yasui-Furukori Norio
Published: February 2014

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin that plays a pivotal role in regulating neuronal function throughout life, and this factor is regarded as a potential biomarker of mental disorders. However, previous studies have suggested that plasma BDNF levels are more variable than serum BDNF levels. Methods: We determined the influence of time and temperature on the measurement of peripheral blood BDNF levels. Blood samples were aliquoted into four types of tubes, including tubes containing heparin, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and citrate for plasma, and anticoagulant-free tubes for serum. The samples were stored at 4 or 25°C for 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 24 or 48 h, and the plasma and serum BDNF levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: There were interindividual and interanticoagulant compound variability in the plasma BDNF levels. The measured plasma BDNF levels increased over time, whereas the serum BDNF levels remained unchanged. Furthermore, the BDNF levels detected in plasma stored in heparin tubes at 4°C and those for samples stored in EDTA tubes at 25°C were much higher than those of the other samples. Conclusion: This study indicates that measurements of plasma BDNF levels are dependent not only on the anticoagulant compounds but also on the storage time and temperature conditions used after blood sampling.
Das Interpersonelle Aufmerksamkeitsmanagement-Inventar: Ein neues Instrument zur Erfassung unterschiedlicher Selbst- und Fremdwahrnehmungsfähigkeiten
Authors: Blaser Klaus , Zlabinger Milena , Hinterberger Thilo
Published: February 2014

Hintergrund: Das Interpersonelle Aufmerksamkeitsmanagement-Inventar (IAMI) stellt ein neues Instrument zur Erfassung der Kompetenz in Selbst- und Fremdwahrnehmung dar. Ihm liegt ein theoretisches Modell bestehend aus den 3 mentalen Aufmerksamkeitsstandorten (intrapersoneller Raum, extrapersoneller Raum und fremder intrapersoneller Raum) einer anderen Person zugrunde. Methoden: Das IAMI wurde anhand einer größeren Stichprobe (n = 1089) hinsichtlich seiner Faktorenstruktur untersucht und gekürzt, und es wurden testtheoretische Kennwerte sowie erste Vergleichswerte berechnet. Ergebnisse: Eine Faktorenanalyse konnte die Einteilung in die übergeordneten Skalen weitgehend bestätigen. Die gekürzte Version mit 31 Items und 3 übergeordneten Skalen weist eine gute interne Konsistenz des Gesamtwertes (Cronbachs α = 0,81) auf und zeigt hinsichtlich der konvergenten Validität einen mittleren Zusammenhang (r = 0,41) des Gesamtwertes mit Achtsamkeit, gemessen mit dem Freiburger Fragebogen zur Achtsamkeit. Schlussfolgerungen: Weitere Validierungsstudien sind erwünscht, sodass das IAMI als (Verlaufs-)Diagnostikum für die Therapie psychischer Störungen sowie für die Forschung im Bereich der sozialen Neurowissenschaften eingesetzt werden kann, z.B. bei der Erforschung von Achtsamkeit, Mitgefühl, Empathie, der Theory-of-Mind und der Ich-Grenze.
A Summary of the Iodine Supplementation Study Protocol (I2S2): A UK Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial in Preterm Infants
Authors: Williams Fiona , Hume Robert , Ogston Simon , Brocklehurst Peter , Morgan Kayleigh , Juszczak Edmund ,   on behalf of the I2S2 team
Published: February 2014

This paper summarises the study protocol for the randomised controlled trial of iodine supplementation in preterm infants. Iodine is essential for the synthesis of thyroxine, and thyroxine is essential for normal brain development in utero and for the first 2-3 years of life. The recommended iodine intake in parenteral nutrition regimens is 1 μg/kg/day and commercially available parenteral solutions for infants reflect these recommendations. In the absence of other iodine sources, infants are vulnerable to negative iodine balance and insufficiency. As many preterm infants are fed parenterally for prolonged periods with solutions which have been shown to be iodine-deficient, the I2S2 Trial was designed to establish whether iodine supplementation of preterm infants benefits neurodevelopment.
Additive Effect of Combined Application of Magnesium and MK-801 on Analgesic Action of Morphine
Authors: Bujalska-Zadrożny Magdalena , Duda Kamila
Published: February 2014

As previously reported, magnesium ions (Mg2+) administered in relatively low doses markedly potentiated opioid analgesia in neuropathic pain, in which the effectiveness of opioids is limited. Considering that Mg2+ behaves like an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist, the effect of this ion on the analgesic action of morphine was compared with that of MK-801. Acute pain was evoked by mechanical or thermal stimuli, whereas neuropathic hyperalgesia was induced by streptozotocin (STZ) administration. Magnesium sulphate (40 mg/kg i.p.) or MK-801 (0.05 mg/kg s.c.) administered alone did not modify the nociceptive threshold to acute stimuli or the streptozotocin hyperalgesia but significantly augmented the analgesic action of morphine (5 mg/kg i.p.). Furthermore, if these drugs (i.e. magnesium sulphate and MK-801) were applied concomitantly, a clear additive effect on the analgesic action of morphine occurred in both models of pain. Possible explanations of these observations are discussed.
A Novel Fibrillin 1 Gene Mutation Leading to Marfan Syndrome with Minimal Cardiac Features
Authors: Martínez-Quintana E. , Rodríguez-González F. , Garay-Sánchez P. , Tugores A.
Published: February 2014

Marfan syndrome is an autosomal dominant disorder of the connective tissue, characterized by early development of thoracic aortic aneurysms and/or dissections, accompanied by ocular and/or skeletal involvement, and is caused by mutations in the fibrillin 1 (FBN1) gene. We report on a patient with ectopia lentis and a nonprogressive aortic root dilatation who presented with a novel mutation affecting a conserved cysteine residue present in a calcium-binding epidermal growth factor-like domain of FBN1 (ENSP00000325527, p.Cys538Phe; Chr15:48,805,751 G>T), as revealed by complete sequencing of the FBN1 gene exons and flanking sequences. Identification of the mutation led to genetic screening of apparently asymptomatic family members, allowing the detection of characteristic ocular phenotypes in the absence of typical cardiac Marfan features. This finding stresses the importance of genetic screening of asymptomatic relatives for FBN1 gene mutation carriers.
Prognostic Implications of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients With Severe Aortic Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Luçon Adrien , Oger Emmanuel , Bedossa Marc , Boulmier Dominique , Verhoye Jean Philippe , Eltchaninoff Hélène , Iung Bernard , Leguerrier Alain , Laskar Marc , Leprince Pascal , Gilard Martine , Le Breton Hervé
Published: February 2014

Background—

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with poor prognosis in patients with severe aortic stenosis. The aim of this multicenter study was to describe clinical outcome after transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Methods and Results—

The FRANCE 2 Registry included all patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation in France in 2010 and 2011. Patients were divided into 3 groups depending on systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) estimated in transthoracic echocardiography: group I, sPAP <40 mm Hg (no PH); group II, sPAP 40 to 59 mm Hg (mild-to-moderate PH); and group III, sPAP ≥60 mm Hg (severe PH). Patients were followed up for 1 year. A total of 2435 patients whose pre–transcatheter aortic valve implantation sPAP was reported were included. A total of 845 were in group I (34.7%), 1112 in group II (45.7%), and 478 in group III (19.6%). Procedural success, early complications, and 30-day mortality were statistically similar across sPAP groups. One-year mortality was higher in groups II and III (group I, 22%; group II, 28%; and group III, 28%;
P
=0.032). Mild-to-moderate and severe PH were identified as an independent factor of all-cause mortality. The major adverse cardiovascular event rates did not differ according to sPAP. New York Health Association functional class improved significantly in all groups.

Conclusions—

PH (sPAP ≥40 mm Hg) in patients with aortic stenosis undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation was associated with increased 1-year mortality especially when severe (sPAP ≥60 mm Hg) but not with increased 30-day mortality, and functional status was significantly improved regardless of PAP level.
Feasibility and Short-Term Outcomes of Percutaneous Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Small (<30 kg) Children With Dysfunctional Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Conduits
Authors: Berman Darren P. , McElhinney Doff B. , Vincent Julie A. , Hellenbrand William E. , Zahn Evan M.
Published: February 2014

Background—

In 2010, the Melody transcatheter pulmonary valve (TPV) received Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of dysfunctional right ventricular outflow tract conduits in patients ≥30 kg. Limited data are available regarding use of this device in smaller patients.

Methods and Results—

We evaluated technical and short-term clinical outcomes of 25 patients <30 kg (10 patients <20 kg) who underwent TPV replacement for treatment of conduit dysfunction at 3 centers. Median age and weight were 8.0 years (3.4–14.4) and 21.4 kg (13.8–29.0). The median conduit diameter at the time of surgical implant was 17 mm (12–23). Two patients did not undergo TPV implant (risk of coronary compression in 1; inability to advance the delivery sheath beyond the common femoral vein in 1). After successful TPV implant, the peak conduit gradient fell from 29±16 to 9±6 mm Hg (
P
<0.001), and all but 2 patients had no/trivial regurgitation (down from moderate or severe preimplant in 20). TPV implant was via the femoral vein in 17 patients, the right internal jugular vein in 4, and the left subclavian vein in 2 patients. At a median follow-up of 16 months, 1 patient underwent conduit replacement for recurrent conduit stenosis, 2 developed stent fracture requiring a second TPV, and 2 developed bacterial endocarditis treated with antibiotics, 1 of whom then underwent conduit replacement. The average Melody valve mean Doppler gradient and conduit regurgitation were unchanged from early postimplant.

Conclusions—

Percutaneous TPV replacement can be performed in small children with good procedural and early hemodynamic results in the majority of patients.
Increasing Use of Computed Tomographic Perfusion and Computed Tomographic Angiograms in Acute Ischemic Stroke From 2006 to 2010
Authors: Vagal Achala , Meganathan Karthikeyan , Kleindorfer Dawn O. , Adeoye Opeolu , Hornung Richard , Khatri Pooja
Published: February 2014

Background and Purpose—

Our objective was to study nationwide utilization trends of computed tomographic (CT) angiogram (CTA) and CT perfusion (CTP) in acute ischemic stroke and particularly in the context of use of reperfusion therapies.

Methods—

We reviewed the Premier Perspective Database for ischemic stroke–related hospitalizations of adult patients during a 5-year period, 2006 to 2010. Use of multimodal CT-based imaging and reperfusion therapies was determined through the procedure and billing codes. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of utilization of imaging studies and reperfusion treatments.

Results—

An increasing proportion of ischemic strokes received CTA each year: 3.8% in 2006, 5.6% in 2007, 6.5% in 2008, 7.5% in 2009, and 9.1% in 2010 (
P
<0.0001). The proportion of acute strokes that were imaged with CTP imaging also increased each year: 0.05% in 2006, 0.05% in 2007, 0.9% in 2008, 2.2% in 2009, and 2.9% in 2010 (
P
<0.0001). Reperfusion treatment was more common among those who were imaged with CTA (13.0%) and CTP (17.6%) compared with those with CT head alone (4.0%;
P
<0.0001). Specifically, higher rates of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator were observed in CTA (10.2%) and CTP (11.4%) compared with those with CT head alone (3.8%;
P
<0.0001). Similarly, higher rates of mechanical embolectomy were observed in CTA (2.8%) and CTP (6.3%) compared with those with CT head alone (0.2%;
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions—

There was a marked increase in the rate of CTA and CTP studies in setting of acute ischemic stroke from 2006 to 2010, and both modalities were associated with increased reperfusion therapy use.
Plasma Angiopoietin-1 Is Lower After Ischemic Stroke and Associated With Major Disability But Not Stroke Incidence
Authors: Golledge Jonathan , Clancy Paula , Maguire Jane , Lincz Lisa , Koblar Simon , McEvoy Mark , Attia John , Levi Chris , Sturm Jonathan , Almeida Osvaldo P. , Yeap Bu B. , Flicker Leon , Norman Paul E. , Hankey Graeme J.
Published: February 2014

Background and Purpose—

Studies in rodent models suggest that upregulating angiopoietin-1 (Angpt1) improves stroke outcomes. The aims of this study were to assess the association of plasma Angpt1 with stroke occurrence and outcome.

Methods—

Plasma Angpt1 was measured in 336 patients who had experienced a recent stroke and 321 healthy controls with no stroke history. Patients with stroke (n=285) were reassessed at 3 months and plasma Angpt1 concentration on admission compared between those with severe and minor disability as assessed by the modified Rankin scale. In a separate cohort of 4032 community-acquired older men prospectively followed for a minimum of 6 years, the association of plasma Angpt1 with stroke incidence was examined.

Results—

Median plasma Angpt1 was 3-fold lower in patients who had experienced a recent stroke (6.42, interquartile range, 4.26–9.53 compared with 17.36; interquartile range, 14.01–22.46 ng/mL;
P
<0.001) and remained associated with stroke after adjustment for other risk factors. Plasma Angpt1 concentrations on admission were lower in patients who had severe disability or died at 3 months (median, 5.52; interquartile range, 3.81–8.75 ng/mL for modified Rankin scale 3–6; n=91) compared with those with minor disability (median, 7.04; interquartile range, 4.75–9.92 ng/mL for modified Rankin scale 0–2; n=194),
P
=0.012, and remained negatively associated with severe disability or death after adjusting for other risk factors. Plasma Angpt1 was not predictive of stroke incidence in community-dwelling older men.

Conclusions—

Plasma Angpt1 concentrations are low after ischemic stroke particularly in patients with poor stroke outcomes at 3 months. Interventions effective at upregulating Angpt1 could potentially improve stroke outcomes.
World Population Growth: The Force of Recent Historical Trends
Authors: Camps Enriqueta , Engerman Stanley L.
Published: February 2014

The explosion of the world's population at the end of the twentieth century was largely the result of a dramatic rise in life expectancy, attributable to scientific advances, innovations in communications technology, and economic growth. High fertility, however, which might be linked with increases in population, is not always a propitious sign. Despite a global tendency toward convergence in demographic trends, high fertility in parts of Africa and Asia—as driven by such exogenous variables as infant mortality, women's education, and racial identity—militates against the improvement in living standards generally enjoyed in the more economically developed countries.
Did John Davenport's Church Require Conversion Narratives for Church Admission?: A Challenge
Authors: Winship Michael P. , Bremer Francis
Published: February 2014

Two scholars debate whether John Davenport, pastor of the New Haven church (1638–67), required that a prospective church member offer a personal account of the workings of God's saving grace in him/her to be granted church membership, a matter that, in its broader implications, has significant importance for puritan studies.
The Artistic Posterity of Joachim of Fiore in Latin America
Authors: Lara Jaime
Published: February 2014

‭It has long been recognized that Joachim of Fiore (d. 1202), the Calabrian abbot, prophet, and artist, had a profound effect on the mendicant friars, particularly on the Franciscans and Dominicans who recognized their respective founders in his eschatological prophecies. Both orders made use of Joachim’s prognostications in their self-defense and in their world mission, especially when the New World was discovered. Franciscan art in the Andes and Mexico employed Joachimite references, and included the portrait of the Calabrian abbot in paintings depicting a flying Saint Francis of Assisi. There is evidence that native peoples saw and understood this unique New World iconography, with its utopian and apocalyptic messages, within their own cultural constructs and values. The end result suggests that Joachim of Fiore was better known in the Spanish colonial world than in the medieval European world of his own day, and that the visual arts had much to do with this.‬
An Art Historian Encounters a Hybrid Global History at Home: Alfredo Ramos Martinez’s Designs for Sacred Spaces
Authors: Goodwin Mary
Published: February 2014

‭Southern California’s hidden treasures include two church interiors containing elements designed by Alfredo Ramos Martinez (1871–1946). This Mexican-born artist trained in France, returned to take an activist role in Mexican revolutionary culture, and migrated to the United States in 1929. For sixteen years, his talents were in demand among members of the Hollywood elite. In 1934, he produced the fresco murals at the Santa Barbara Cemetery Chapel, a jewel of Spanish Revival architecture. His images crossed over traditional boundaries between the sacred and the profane. He created odes to human rights and suffering humanity, depicting Christ and his mother as indigenous peasants with dark-skinned New World ethnicity. A decade later in 1946, Ramos sketched designs for his final projects at St. John the Evangelist Church in Los Angeles: a series of stained glass windows representing fourteen multiethnic saints as well as incomplete oil painted Stations of the Cross that recall his earlier pictures of suffering humanity. The architectural setting—a modernist church with stripped-down forms and materials of concrete, steel, and neon—announces a radically transformed post-war industrial culture. The contrast of these two aesthetics, the Spanish Revival and the modernist, demonstrates an evolution in liturgical forms as Californians came to grips with global migrations and an evolving modernist identity.‬
Herds and Hierarchies: Class, Nature, and the Social Construction of Horses in Equestrian Culture
Authors: Coulter Kendra
Published: February 2014

Abstract

This study centers on equestrian show culture in Ontario, Canada, and examines how horses are entangled symbolically and materially in socially constructed hierarchies of value. After examining horse-show social relations and practices, the paper traces the connections among equestrian culture, class, and the social constructions of horses. Equestrian relations expose multiple hierarchical intersections of nature and culture within which both human-horse relations and horses are affected by class structures and identities. In equestrian culture, class affects relations within and across species, and how horses are conceptualized and used, as symbols and as living animal bodies.
What Good Is a Bear to Society?
Authors: Harding Lauren
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Arising out of fieldwork in the Canadian Rockies, this paper analyzes the role of bears in the conservation culture of Canadian national parks. Why is the presence of this large predator tolerated and even celebrated by some? And why do others fear and even despise this animal, whom they see as a danger and a menace, and resent its continued preservation? Bears may act as a token charismatic species in conservation mythology; they may be anthropomorphized into a cuddly roadside attraction evoking childhood nostalgia; or they may play the part of wrathful Nature guarding against human incursion into the wilderness. Tourists in Banff National Park take great pains to see bears, while local hikers and campers expend almost equal energy avoiding an ursine encounter. This paper explores what human reactions to bears reveal about social attitudes toward the natural world, particularly in areas like the Canadian Rockies where human and bear territory overlap.
Human Development and Class Struggle in Venezuela’s Popular Economy: The Paradox of ‘Twenty-First Century Socialism’
Authors: Larrabure Manuel
Published: February 2014

Abstract

In this paper, I outline what I take to be the most important theoretical claims and innovations of ‘twenty-first century socialism’ in Venezuela. These, I argue, consist of an emphasis on human development through popular-economy initiatives, and the importance of building popular power through the state, rather than by ignoring or fighting against it. I then present evidence on Venezuela’s Socialist Production Units, one of Venezuela’s newest state-supported popular-economy organisations. I argue that, consistent with the twenty-first-century socialism approach, SPUs are sites of human development in which participants are learning to challenge capitalist social relations, while establishing new values and practices. Therefore, we can think of Venezuela’s popular economy as expressing a sharpened class contradiction.

However, my case study also shows that holding hands with human development is class struggle directed against the state. This reveals a central theoretical and practical paradox in twenty-first century socialism, namely that, while nurturing initiatives that challenge capital, the Venezuelan state also emerges as an important barrier to overcoming the class relation. This, I argue, is not wholly consistent with the views of theorists of twenty-first century socialism that understand Venezuela’s popular economy as forming a new form of dual power or a parallel state, and who therefore downplay the importance of struggles against the state within the popular economy. The strategic implication is that struggles between popular-economy participants and the state cannot be avoided, and indeed will need to be fostered if the project for twenty-first century socialism is to continue.
Putting Theory to Work
Authors: Banaji Jairus
Published: February 2014

Abstract

This reply defends the need for a specifically materialist historiography of modes of production other than capitalism; argues that Marxists should see history as being driven by the state as much as it is by classes; defends the scientific value of the category ‘merchant capitalism’; and explains why Marx came around to seeing the slave plantations as part of ‘total capital’. It concludes by suggesting both that Marx allowed for different levels of determination when thinking about the origins of capitalism, and that Brenner’s account of the transition in English agriculture has now been seriously weakened by Jane Whittle’s critique of it.
Capitalism, Laws of Motion and Social Relations of Production
Authors: Post Charles
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Theory as History brings together twelve essays by Jarius Banaji addressing the nature of modes of production, the forms of historical capitalism and the varieties of pre-capitalist modes of production. Problematic formulations concerning the relationship of social-property relations and the laws of motion of different modes of production and his notion of merchant and slave-holding capitalism undermines Banaji’s project of constructing a non-unilinear, non-Eurocentric Marxism.
Coping with Crisis in the Wake of the Cultural Revolution: Rehistoricising Chinese Postsocialism
Authors: Wu Yiching
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Over three decades after China ventured onto the market path, the Chinese state’s reform programme, which was intended to invigorate socialism, has instead led the country down a capitalist path. This paper situates China’s post-Mao transition in the context of the crisis of the party-state during the Cultural Revolution. Using Gramsci’s idea of ‘passive revolution’, it examines the state’s tactics of crisis management aiming to contain and neutralise emergent opposition and pressure from below. As the combined result of state repression, ideological appropriation and socioeconomic incorporation, a new reform paradigm emerged to rearticulate popular demands and initiatives to an official socialism centring on economic modernisation and market liberalisation.
Globalectics: Theory and Politics of Knowing, Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, New York: Columbia University Press, 2012
Authors: Moran Shane
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o is known for his principled criticism of colonialism, advocacy of the importance of indigenous languages, and concern with the role of culture and literature in forming the foundation of a truly national sensibility.Globalecticsadds interpretations of Fanon, Hegel, and the Marxian legacy. It provides an opportunity to assess Ngũgĩ’s analysis of colonialism and national liberation.
Debating Modes of Production and Forms of Exploitation: Introduction to the Symposium on Jairus Banaji’s Theory as History
Authors: Campling Liam
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Theory as History, which was awarded the Deutscher Memorial Prize in 2011, collects together several of Jairus Banaji’s essays published over the course of 30 years. This symposium comprises four essays engaging with different aspects of the powerful and provocative contributions in Theory as History, as well as an essay in response by Banaji. The Editorial Introduction sketches elements of Banaji’s work and highlights some of the main arguments advanced in the symposium.
José Carlos Mariátegui: An Anthology, edited by Harry E. Vanden and Marc Becker, New York: Monthly Review Press, 2011
Authors: Kingsbury Donald V.
Published: February 2014

Abstract

Described as ‘the most original and innovative Latin American Marxist’ by Michael Löwy – a sentiment repeated by many others – the work of José Carlos Mariátegui remains a largely untapped resource in the Western Marxist tradition outside of specialist circles. This review essay considers the recent publication of a translation and anthology of Mariátegui’s work into English by Harry Vanden and Mark Becker as a first step towards correcting this trend. It highlights Mariátegui’s understanding of race, power, and identity; the combined and uneven development of capital; and the role of myth and voluntarism in revolutionary struggle as key points in which the early-twentieth-century Peruvian contributes to contemporary debates in Marxist praxis in Latin America and beyond.
Recent Developments in EU Environmental Policy and Legislation
Authors: M. Gordeva Yelena
Published: February 2014

This section briefly describes the significant political initiatives and acts of legislation in the environmental field adopted from June 2013 until December 2013.
‫أحمد باشا كمال فقيه الهيروغليفية العربي المصري‬ (Ahmed Kamal Pasha The Philologist of Egyption Hieroglyphs)
Authors: ‫القبيسي‬ ‫بهجت‬
Published: February 2014

Ahmed Kamal Pasha is the clerk who wrote a lexicon which has not seen light because of
the tendentious (unfair) orientalists. Ahmed Kamal Pasha is the first Arabic philologist who
ascribed the Egyptian dialects to the Arabs throughout [Mystification (Slang)] and [philology].
This research displays the efforts of Ahmed Kamal Pasha and his ideology as philologist,
and not as a linguist.
This research explains the effect of [Orientale] on the Arab history; some were fair, others
were tendentious and another group collected the important information for us. However, the
destiny of the clerk, the Egyptian people and Arabs is that Dictionary fell in the unfair hands
of Virth (British), Laco (French), and Reisner (American).
Some rejected to publish and to print this Dictionary over the past 90 years. This Dictionary
has recently returned to meet phenomenal attention by Arabs who know the classical Arabic
language to reveal [Hieroglyphic] writings.
(please note that this article is in Arabic)
‫من المسكوكات الإسلامية النادرة دينار فريد باسم أبي علي أحمد بن محمد بن محتاج ضرب نيسابور سنة 343هـ\954م‬ (From Rare Islamic Coins A unique dinar struck in Nysabour in 343 AH/954 CE, in the name of Ahmed ibn Mohammed)
Authors: ‫حسن‬ ‫علي حسن عبد الله‬
Published: February 2014

Abu Ali Ahmed ibn Mohammed was one of the most powerful figures on the political
scene during the reign of Samanid Prince Nuh ibn Nasr. The research includes a study and
analysis of the sole dinar belonging to him.
The dinar was minted in Nysabour with the name of Abbasid Caliph Al-Muti lillah.
This dinar ensures that Ahmed ibn Mohammed ruled Khorasan during the Year 343 AH, as
independent ruler.
In this research, I will analyze the inscriptions of this dinar in the light of the contemporary
historical resources to reach new outcomes, which will be a valuable addition to Abbasid and
Samanid coins in particular, and Islamic coins in general. (Please note that this article is in Arabic).
‫نقوش جبانة منف في العصر الإهناسي‬ (Necropoles Memphiticae Inscriptions from the Herakleopolitan Period)
Authors: ‫رمضان‬ (Ramadan) ‫شيرين‬ (Sherine)
Published: February 2014

(Please note that this article is in Arabic)