bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel method for left anterior coronary artery flow velocity assessment by transthoracic echocardiography at the peak of a supine bicycle test
Authors: Zagatina Angela , Zhuravskaya Nadezhda , Egom Emmanuel , Kovacova Gabriela , Kruzliak Peter
Published: December 2015

Background

Assessment of coronary flow is only performed during pharmacological tests. Supine bicycle tests permit the visualization of coronary flow assessments during exercise.

Purpose

To assess the parameters of coronary flow in the left anterior descending artery (LAD) during exercise, which could be a sign of significant LAD narrowing.

Material and Methods

A total of 253 patients were enrolled: Group 1, 186 non-selective participants before undergoing a coronary angiography; and Group 2, 67 controls without coronary artery disease (CAD). All the patients performed a supine bicycle echocardiography test. Coronary flow velocities and coronary flow velocity reserve (CFVR) were measured at the mid-segment of the LAD during exercise. Patients in Group 1 underwent a coronary angiography.

Results

In comparison with participants without significant LAD stenosis, patients with LAD lesions had a lower ΔV (16 ± 21 vs. 27 ± 20 cm/s, P < 0.04) and a lower CFVR (1.5 ± 0.8 vs. 2.0 ± 0.6, P < 0.004). In comparison with patients without significant proximal LAD stenosis, the patients with proximal LAD lesions had a lower flow velocity at the peak of exercise (49 ± 32 vs. 61 ± 19 cm/s, P < 0.02), a lower ΔV (13 ± 19 vs. 26 ± 22 cm/s, P < 0.004), and a lower CFVR (1.4 ± 0.6 vs. 1.9 ± 0.7, P < 0.0001). In comparison with the control group, the patients with LAD stenosis had a lower flow velocity at the peak of exercise, a lower ΔV, and a lower CFVR.

Conclusion

Non-invasive CFVR measurement in the LAD could provide valuable additional information to a conventional echocardiography exercise test. In routine clinical practice, CFVR is sufficient for a diagnosis of severe stenosis.
Enabling participation of students through school-based occupational therapy services: Towards a broader scope of practice
Authors: Bonnard Madeleine , Anaby Dana
Published: December 2015

Both students with disabilities and their typically-developing peers exhibit alarming participation deficits that involve many occupational areas of their school experience. Enabling participation in school-related occupations as the goal of school-based occupational therapy services invokes practice breadth. However, the documented focus of practice appears narrow, and there is an apparent paucity of evidence to describe how school participation is enabled. This paper discusses the complex concept of participation and how it can be applied in the school setting, while drawing upon occupational therapy elements. Redirecting attention towards participation can expand the scope of school-based occupational therapy to its intended broad perspective.
The Efficacy of Injury Prevention Programs in Adolescent Team Sports
Authors: Soomro Najeebullah , Sanders Ross , Hackett Daniel , Hubka Tate , Ebrahimi Saahil , Freeston Jonathan , Cobley Stephen
Published: December 2015

Background:

Intensive sport participation in childhood and adolescence is an established cause of acute and overuse injury. Interventions and programs designed to prevent such injuries are important in reducing individual and societal costs associated with treatment and recovery. Likewise, they help to maintain the accrual of positive outcomes from participation, such as cardiovascular health and skill development. To date, several studies have individually tested the effectiveness of injury prevention programs (IPPs).

Purpose:

To determine the overall efficacy of structured multifaceted IPPs containing a combination of warm-up, neuromuscular strength, or proprioception training, targeting injury reduction rates according to risk exposure time in adolescent team sport contexts.

Study Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods:

With established inclusion criteria, studies were searched in the following databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, EMBASE, CINAHL, and AusSportMed. The keyword search terms (including derivations) included the following: adolescents, sports, athletic injuries, prevention/warm-up programs. Eligible studies were then pooled for meta-analysis with an invariance random-effects model, with injury rate ratio (IRR) as the primary outcome. Heterogeneity among studies and publication bias were tested, and subgroup analysis examined heterogeneity sources.

Results:

Across 10 studies, including 9 randomized controlled trials, a pooled overall point estimate yielded an IRR of 0.60 (95% CI = 0.48-0.75; a 40% reduction) while accounting for hours of risk exposure. Publication bias assessment suggested an 8% reduction in the estimate (IRR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.54-0.84), and the prediction interval intimated that any study estimate could still fall between 0.33 and 1.48. Subgroup analyses identified no significant moderators, although possible influences may have been masked because of data constraints.

Conclusion:

Compared with normative practices or control, IPPs significantly reduced IRRs in adolescent team sport contexts. The underlying explanations for IPP efficacy remain to be accurately identified, although they potentially relate to IPP content and improvements in muscular strength, proprioceptive balance, and flexibility.

Clinical Relevance:

Clinical practitioners (eg, orthopaedics, physical therapists) and sports practitioners (eg, strength and conditioners, coaches) can respectively recommend and implement IPPs similar to those examined to help reduce injury rates in adolescent team sports contexts.
Management’s Perspective on Critical Success Factors Affecting Mobile Learning in Higher Education Institutions—An Empirical Study
Authors: Alrasheedi Muasaad , Capretz Luiz Fernando , Raza Arif
Published: December 2015

Mobile learning (m-Learning) is considered to be one of the fastest growing learning platforms. The immense interest in m-Learning is attributed to the incredible rate of growth of mobile technology and its proliferation into every aspect of modern life. Despite this, m-Learning has not experienced a similar adoption rate in the education sector, chiefly higher education. Researchers have attempted to explain this anomaly by conducting several studies in the area. However, mostly the research in m-Learning is examined from the perspective of the students and educators. In this research, it is contended that there is a third important stakeholder group whose opinion is equally important in determining the success of m-Learning: the university management. Although diversified by nature, heads of departments, deans, and information technology system administrators are nevertheless considered members of any university management. The results of the research show that university commitment to m-Learning, university learning practices, and change management practices were the factors critical to the success of m-Learning, from the university management perspective.
Sport, fiction and sociology: Novels as data sources
Authors: Bairner Alan
Published: December 2015

This paper is primarily concerned with the types of data that are of value to sociologists – in this instance, particularly to sociologists of sport. It is argued here that we can and should add works of fiction to the more commonly accepted data sources. Whilst most academic writers may be cautious about the excessive use of invention, even in personal narratives, others are less diffident. The paper examines representations of sport in fiction with specific reference to three novels, their central characters and the insights provided by their fictional beings into the relationship between sport, individuals and society. The novels selected as evidence are Robert Coover’s (1992) The Universal Baseball Association, Inc. J. Henry Waugh, PROP (London: Minerva), Richard Ford’s (1987) The Sportswriter (London: Flamingo) and Chad Harbach’s (2012) The Art of Fielding (London: Fourth Estate). Based on the identification of emerging themes in the novels, and the application of relevant sociological concepts – anomie, alienation and figurations – it is argued that, although the novels’ authors are not sociologists, they could be, and although the stories which they tell are not true, they too could be. It is these ‘facts’ that makes them valuable sources of data.
Disabling XAuthors, Disordering TextsX
Authors: Blyth C. , Chapman R. , Stronach I.
Published: December 2015

Drawing on Badiou’s writing, we develop new insights on some central notions of the discourse on “disability.” We offer eight agonistic, intersecting trajectories addressing these concepts. Drawing on authorial voices, we criticize the grammatical and rhetorical maneuvers we have previously undertaken as we represent ourselves aiming for forms of participatory engagement, thus offering both critique and self-critique. Previous poststructuralist accounts in this area have drawn on “philosophers of difference,” but mainly Deleuze and Guattari. This piece offers innovation in harnessing aspects of Badiou’s thinking to issues surrounding “discourses of disability” and notions of the research “self” in its various “impersonations.”
Composing Academic Identities
Authors: Badley Graham Francis
Published: December 2015

Qualitative inquirers “should” tell stories that matter. Here, I examine the case that researchers who compose their own academic identities “should” also produce stories that matter. Indeed, developing our identities is a lifelong (even unto death) human quest to decide who we/or others think we are. These identity narratives become journeys without maps that their authors usually believe are tales that matter. Such narratives also re-describe qualitative inquiry as a matter of telling stories that matter. However, one danger is that those searching for some authentic or core identity may wander too far in their mapless journeys.
Past and Present Time in Qualitative Inquiry
Authors: Zapata-Sepúlveda Pamela
Published: December 2015

This essay concerns my reflection, thoughts, and feelings from the foundations and movements between my heartfelt autobiographical experiences and the fieldwork with Colombian women refugees or asking for refugee status in the current Chilean society. Inspired from the Three Words Workshop, as Performative Writing of Healing and Resistance, I wish to connect my I from a humanity way with the international audience to talk about “Otherness” racism, gender, and social injustice in a border place in Northern Chile. Thus, to connect and provoke audiences, wondering about WHERE WE ARE in the fieldwork with people suffering seen as other people far from us vs. close people as us. At the same time, I ask about WHAT IS our position from the academia to the street. To finish, I reflect about HOW Interpretive Autoethnography could be a way to promote social transformation for a better world.
Teaching, Troubling, Transgressing
Authors: Kuby Candace R. , Aguayo Rebecca C. , Holloway Nancy , Mulligan Julia , Shear Sarah B. , Ward Amber
Published: December 2015

The authors (teacher and doctoral students) seek to illuminate the transgressive experiences of teaching ↔ learning in a poststructural (PS) theory and research methods course. They aim to (a) illustrate teaching practices that open spaces for students (and faculty) to rethink, critique, unlearn, and ultimately un-inhabit dominant concepts and principles of qualitative research (QR) and the theory/method divide across research disciplines more broadly and (b) convey how thinking with PS theories become methodologies of post-qualitative inquiry (PQI). They used PS theoretical concepts from Deleuze and Guattari’s scholarship to work with co-produced data (e.g., memories, artifacts from class, notes from meetings, and written responses after the semester) to demonstrate our learning in terms of assemblages of desire, becoming, lines of flight, and smooth and striated spaces. The examples shared demonstrate how they tackled essential, assumptive attributes of QR and attempted to embody discourses and practices against (post)positivist, interpretive, and constructivist sciences.
Blue-Collar Writing for Fruitful Dialogue?
Authors: Badley Graham Francis
Published: December 2015

Norman Denzin has called for a reformed discourse to enable qualitative researchers to achieve a fruitful dialogue about democracy and social justice throughout the world. In this essay, I endorse Denzin’s emancipatory project which uses a critical framework modeled on writers such as Wright Mills, Paulo Freire, bel hookes, and Cornell West. I use material from Freire and Mills especially to suggest that fruitful dialogue also requires us as researchers and writers to become simpler, even “blue-collar,” in our own craft-writing. I do so in the hope that we can learn to speak and write “human” and move away from what Mills called the “academic pose.”
Attention-related changes in short-term cortical plasticity help to explain fatigue in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Conte Antonella , Li Voti Pietro , Pontecorvo Simona , Quartuccio Maria Esmeralda , Baione Viola , Rocchi Lorenzo , Cortese Antonio , Bologna Matteo , Francia Ada , Berardelli Alfredo
Published: December 2015

Background:

In multiple sclerosis (MS), pathophysiology of fatigue is only partially known.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the attention-induced modulation on short- and long-term cortical plasticity mechanisms in primary motor area (M1) is abnormal in patients with MS-related fatigue.

Methods:

All participants underwent 5-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), reflecting short-term plasticity, and paired associative stimulation (PAS), reflecting long-term plasticity, and were asked to focus their attention on the hand contralateral to the M1 stimulated. A group of age-matched healthy subjects acted as control.

Results:

In patients with MS, 5-Hz rTMS and PAS failed to induce the normal increase in motor-evoked potential (MEP). During the attention-demanding condition, 5-Hz rTMS- and PAS-induced responses differed in patients with MS with and without fatigue. Whereas in patients with fatigue neither technique induced the attention-induced MEP increase, in patients without fatigue they both increased the MEP response, although they did so less efficiently than in healthy subjects. Attention-induced changes in short-term cortical plasticity inversely correlated with fatigue severity.

Conclusion:

Short-term and long-term plasticity mechanisms are abnormal in MS possibly owing to widespread changes in ion-channel expression. Fatigue in MS reflects disrupted cortical attentional networks related to movement control.
Ultra-high field MTR and qR2* differentiates subpial cortical lesions from normal-appearing gray matter in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Jonkman Laura E , Fleysher Lazar , Steenwijk Martijn D , Koeleman Jan A , de Snoo Teun-Pieter , Barkhof Frederik , Inglese Matilde , Geurts Jeroen JG
Published: December 2015

Background:

Cortical gray matter (GM) demyelination is frequent and clinically relevant in multiple sclerosis (MS). Quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) sequences such as magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) and quantitative R2* (qR2*) can capture pathological subtleties missed by conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences. Although differences in MTR and qR2* have been reported between lesional and non-lesional tissue, differences between lesion types or lesion types and myelin density matched normal-appearing gray matter (NAGM) have not been found or investigated.

Objective:

Identify quantitative differences in histopathologically verified GM lesion types and matched NAGM at ultra-high field strength.

Methods:

Using 7T post-mortem MRI, MRI lesions were marked on T2 images and co-registered to the calculated MTR and qR2* maps for further evaluation. In all, 15 brain slices were collected, containing a total of 74 cortical GM lesions and 45 areas of NAGM.

Results:

Intracortical lesions had lower MTR and qR2* values compared to NAGM. Type I lesions showed lower MTR than type III lesions. Type III lesions showed lower MTR than matched NAGM, and type I and IV lesions showed lower qR2* than matched NAGM.

Conclusion:

qMRI at 7T can provide additional information on extent of cortical pathology, especially concerning subpial lesions. This may be relevant for monitoring disease progression and potential treatment effects.
Why journalists covered Syria the way they did: On the role of economic, social and cultural capital
Authors: Vandevoordt Robin
Published: December 2015

While recent decades have seen the rise of a vast body of work on war reporting, there have been few sociological explanations of why journalists deal with challenging situations in particular ways. This article contributes to bridging the gap between practice-based studies of war reporting and general sociological studies of journalism as a profession, by providing a systematically sociological account of the factors that influenced how the Syrian conflict was covered by Dutch and Flemish reporters working for a wide range of media. In doing so, this article draws on 13 in-depth interviews with those reporters, which is informed by a content analysis of their work, and Pierre Bourdieu’s concepts of economic, social and cultural capital on both an institutional and an individual level. In addition, it is argued that Bourdieusian analyses may be developed further by distinguishing between endogenous and exogenous forms of cultural capital.
Actualizing children’s participation in the development of outdoor play areas at an early childhood institution
Authors: Nah Kwi-Ok , Lee Sun-Mi
Published: December 2015

This study examined how children’s participation can be actualized, and their perspectives respected, through an action research project that engaged them in the development of an outdoor play area in a child care center in South Korea. An educator devised a broad plan and invited children to participate and take the initiative in leading the project. Young children were capable of expressing their points of view and could contribute directly to issues that mattered to them if they worked in accordance with “child-centered” methods and were appropriately supported by adults. Communication with children was also identified as an important means of clarifying their true perspectives, also allowed for the formation of shared meanings. The children perceived themselves as confident learners, developed the ability to communicate and negotiate with other children and adults, showed initiative and enthusiasm, and acquired democratic attitudes and skills. The educator also changed her perspectives and attitudes toward children’s rights and capacities as well as toward outdoor play and learning and maintained these changes in her pedagogy and management of the classroom. An inclusive context and sustainable implementation of child participation are recommended for the purpose of realizing children’s rights and transforming education and child care practices.
Through a Culturally Competent Lens
Authors: Gill Sarah , Kuwahara Robin , Wilce Maureen
Published: December 2015

Program evaluation is an important tool for all health professionals as it enables us to learn what works, what does not, and how we can make improvements. In this article, we describe how both program staff and evaluators can use the program evaluation standards to ensure their work is culturally competent and stakeholder driven. When public health programs and their evaluations are responsive to culture and context, and they include meaningful—not token—stakeholder engagement, we produce better evaluations that are more likely to yield useful findings and lead to more effective programs. Effective programs are culturally competent programs that benefit communities in meaningful, respectful ways.
Cytokeratin Expression at Different Stages in Sweat Gland Development of C57BL/6J Mice
Authors: Xie Jiangfan , Yao Bin , Han Yutong , Shang Tao , Gao Dongyun , Yang Siming , Ma Kui , Huang Sha , Fu Xiaobing
Published: December 2015

Sweat glands exhibit a documented role in epidermal reepithelialization after wounding. However, the regenerative potential of sweat glands has remained underappreciated due to the absence of useful markers for the analysis of determination and differentiation processes in the developing eccrine sweat gland from epithelium. Although the current knowledge of keratin expression in most of the different origins has been described, it remains widely shared and not unified in eccrine sweat glands of C57BL/6J mice that are commonly used as animal models for sweat gland and wound healing studies, both at the molecular and cellular levels. Aiming to answer this question, we have investigated the changes in cytokeratin expression patterns during the embryonic, neonatal, juvenile, and young adult stages (E12.5, E17.5, P0.5, P5, and P28). In this article, we demonstrate that the morphology of murine sweat gland progenitor cells are similar to epidermal stem cells before birth (E12.5 and E17.5); at postnatal stages, the duct formed gradually and curled to glob. K8 and K19 were expressed in the eccrine sweat gland cells at all times and highly expressed after birth at both gene and protein levels. Also, histological results revealed K8 and K19 positive cells localized in the secretary portion of glands. Meanwhile, K14 strongly expressed both in vivo and in vitro at E12.5, while it weakly expressed at other stages. Moreover, K10 was rarely detected before birth, but it expressed positively in vivo and in vitro only at the protein level after birth. These data indicate the pattern of main cytokeratin expression at different stages during murine sweat gland development and might provide an efficient tool for sweat gland research and exciting potential for developing targeted therapies for wound healing.
Verbally Identical and Infinitely Richer: Quotation in US Supreme Court Opinions
Authors: Levin Benjamin A.
Published: December 2015

Quotation is ubiquitous in American legal discourse, whether in academic scholarship, legal briefs or judicial opinions. And yet, although quotation is a common object of scholarly attention, there is very little scholarship on quotation in legal discourse. This article addresses this lack by exploring the United States Supreme Court’s quotation practices. Applying Herbert Clark’s model of joint activities, I argue that quotation in judicial opinions is one of the most important mechanisms by which the Supreme Court negotiates legal meaning and preserves its moral authority. Judicial quotation both allows the justices to make rhetorical claims that do not match legal substance and provides a site for the justices to negotiate the meaning of existing language and, therefore, the law itself.
Outcomes of release of the entire A4 pulley after flexor tendon repairs in zone 2A followed by early active mobilization
Authors: Moriya K. , Yoshizu T. , Tsubokawa N. , Narisawa H. , Hara K. , Maki Y.
Published: December 2015

We report the outcomes of repair of the flexor digitorum profundus tendon in zone 2a in 22 fingers. The tendon was repaired with a six-strand repair method and the A4 pulley was completely released. Release of the C2 pulley combined with the A4 pulley was necessary in 12 fingers, nine fingers underwent a complete release of the A3, C2, and A4 pulleys, and one finger underwent a release of the C1, A3, C2, and A4 pulleys. The mean total active motion of the three finger joints was 234° at 5 to 12 months of follow-up. No bowstringing was noted in these fingers. The good and excellent recovery of active digital motion was in 20 (91%) out of 22 fingers according to Strickland’s criteria or Tang’s criteria. Our results suggest that release of the A3, C2, and A4 pulleys makes the repair surgery easier and does not cause tendon bowstringing.

Level of Evidence: IV
Exploration of the anti-enterovirus activity of a series of pleconaril/pirodavir-like compounds
Authors: Bernard Angela , Lacroix Céline , Cabiddu Maria G , Neyts Johan , Leyssen Pieter , Pompei Raffaello
Published: December 2015

Background

The Enterovirus genus of the Picornaviridae is represented by several viral pathogens that are associated with human disease, namely Poliovirus 1, Enterovirus 71 and Rhinoviruses. Enterovirus 71 has been associated with encephalitis, while Rhinoviruses are a major cause of asthma exacerbations and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Based on the structure of both pleconaril and pirodavir, we previously synthesized some original compounds as potential inhibitors of Rhinovirus replication.

Methods

These compounds were explored for in vitro antiviral potential on other human pathogenic Enteroviruses, namely Enterovirus 71 on rhabdo-myosarcoma cells, Coxsackievirus B3 on Vero cells, Poliovirus 1 and Echovirus 11 on BGM cells.

Results

Activity was confirmed for compound against Rhinovirus 14. Furthermore, few compounds showed a cell-protective effect on Enterovirus 71, presented a marked improvement as compared to the reference drug pleconaril for inhibitory activity on both Enterovirus 71 and Poliovirus 1. The most striking observation was the clear cell protective effect for the set of analogues in a virus-cell-based assay for Echovirus 11 with an effective concentration (EC50) as low as 0.3 µM (Selectivity index or SI = 483), and selectivity indexes greater than 857 (EC50 = 0.6 µM) and 1524 (EC50 = 0.33 µM).

Conclusion

Some of the evaluated compounds showed potent and selective antiviral activity against several enterovirus species, such as Enterovirus 71 (EV-A), Echovirus 11 (EV-B), and Poliovirus 1 (EV-C). This could be used as a starting point for the development of other pleconaril/pirodavir-like enterovirus inhibitors with broad-spectrum activity and improved effects as compared to the reference drugs.
Perceptions of barriers, facilitators and motivators related to use of prenatal care: A qualitative descriptive study of inner-city women in Winnipeg, Canada
Authors: Heaman Maureen I , Sword Wendy , Elliott Lawrence , Moffatt Michael , Helewa Michael E , Morris Heather , Tjaden Lynda , Gregory Patricia , Cook Catherine
Published: December 2015

Objective:

The objective of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore the perceptions of women living in inner-city Winnipeg, Canada, about barriers, facilitators, and motivators related to their use of prenatal care.

Methods:

Individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted in person with 26 pregnant or postpartum women living in inner-city neighborhoods with high rates of inadequate prenatal care. Interviews averaged 67 min in length. Recruitment of participants continued until data saturation was achieved. Inductive content analysis was used to identify themes and subthemes under four broad topics of interest (barriers, facilitators, motivators, and suggestions). Sword’s socio-ecological model of health services use provided the theoretical framework for the research. This model conceptualizes service use as a product of two interacting systems: the personal and situational attributes of potential users and the characteristics of health services.

Results:

Half of the women in our sample were single and half self-identified as Aboriginal. Participants discussed several personal and system-related barriers affecting use of prenatal care, such as problems with transportation and child care, lack of prenatal care providers, and inaccessible services. Facilitating factors included transportation assistance, convenient location of services, positive care provider qualities, and tangible rewards. Women were motivated to attend prenatal care to gain knowledge and skills and to have a healthy baby.

Conclusion:

Consistent with the theoretical framework, women’s utilization of prenatal care was a product of two interacting systems, with several barriers related to personal and situational factors affecting women’s lives, while other barriers were related to problems with service delivery and the broader healthcare system. Overcoming barriers to prenatal care and capitalizing on factors that motivate women to seek prenatal care despite difficult living circumstances may help improve use of prenatal care by inner-city women.
Converging approaches to understanding early onset familial Alzheimer disease: A First Nation study
Authors: Cabrera Laura Y , Beattie B Lynn , Dwosh Emily , Illes Judy
Published: December 2015

Objectives:

In 2007, a novel pathogenic genetic mutation associated with early onset familial Alzheimer disease was identified in a large First Nation family living in communities across British Columbia, Canada. Building on a community-based participatory study with members of the Nation, we sought to explore the impact and interplay of medicalization with the Nation’s knowledge and approaches to wellness in relation to early onset familial Alzheimer disease.

Methods:

We performed a secondary content analysis of focus group discussions and interviews with 48 members of the Nation between 2012 and 2013. The analysis focused specifically on geneticization, medicalization, and traditional knowledge of early onset familial Alzheimer disease, as these themes were prominent in the primary analysis.

Results:

We found that while biomedical explanations of disease permeate the knowledge and understanding of early onset familial Alzheimer disease, traditional concepts about wellness are upheld simultaneously.

Conclusion:

The analysis brings the theoretical framework of “two-eyed seeing” to the case of early onset familial Alzheimer disease for which the contributions of different ways of knowing are embraced, and in which traditional and western ways complement each other on the path of maintaining wellness in the face of progressive neurologic disease.
Aortic valve reconstruction using pericardium for infective endocarditis
Authors: Takahashi Shinya , Katayama Keijiro , Uchida Naomichi , Sueda Taijiro
Published: December 2015

Background:

Aortic valve endocarditis with annular abscess is a serious disorder, requiring complete debridement of infected tissue and aortic valve repair.

Methods:

68-year-old male presented with infective endocarditis of severe aortic regurgitation with mobile vegetations on the aortic valve and Valsalva sinus aneurysm.

Results:

He underwent emergency surgery that included complete patch and aortic valve reconstruction using autologous pericardium. Antibiotics was strongly administrated. Echocardiography showed trivial aortic regurgitation and computed tomography showed reconstructed aortic valve.

Conclusion:

This unique technique of aortic valve reconstruction was successfully applied to a patient with aortic valve endocarditis.
Whole-exome sequencing in relapsing chronic lymphocytic leukemia: clinical impact of recurrent RPS15 mutations
Authors: Ljungström Viktor , Cortese Diego , Young Emma , Pandzic Tatjana , Mansouri Larry , Plevova Karla , Ntoufa Stavroula , Baliakas Panagiotis , Clifford Ruth , Sutton Lesley-Ann , Blakemore Stuart J. , Stavroyianni Niki , Agathangelidis Andreas , Rossi Davide , Höglund Martin , Kotaskova Jana , Juliusson Gunnar , Belessi Chrysoula , Chiorazzi Nicholas , Panagiotidis Panagiotis , Langerak Anton W. , Smedby Karin E. , Oscier David , Gaidano Gianluca , Schuh Anna , Davi Frederic , Pott Christiane , Strefford Jonathan C. , Trentin Livio , Pospisilova Sarka , Ghia Paolo , Stamatopoulos Kostas , Sjöblom Tobias , Rosenquist Richard
Published: December 2015

Key Points

Whole-exome sequencing of CLL patients who relapsed after FCR treatment revealed frequent mutations in RPS15. RPS15 mutations are likely to be early clonal events and confer poor prognosis.
Degrading permafrost mapped with electrical resistivity tomography, airborne imagery and LiDAR, and seasonal thaw measurements
Authors: Douglas Thomas A. , Jorgenson M. Torre , Brown Dana R. N. , Campbell Seth W. , Hiemstra Christopher A. , Saari Stephanie P. , Bjella Kevin , Liljedahl Anna K.
Published: December 2015

Accurate identification of the relationships between permafrost extent and landscape patterns can help to develop airborne geophysical or remote sensing tools to map permafrost in remote locations or across large areas. These tools will be particularly applicable in discontinuous permafrost where climate warming or disturbances such as human development or fire can lead to rapid permafrost degradation. We have linked field-based geophysical, point-scale, and imagery surveying measurements to map permafrost at five fire scars (1930, 1975, 1988, 2001, and 2010) on the Tanana Flats in central Alaska. Ground-based elevation surveys, seasonal thaw-depth profiles, and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) measurements were combined with airborne imagery and light detection and ranging (LiDAR) to identify relationships between permafrost geomorphology and elapsed time since fire disturbance. ERT proved to be a robust technique for mapping the presence or absence of permafrost because of the marked difference in resistivity values for frozen versus unfrozen material. There was no clear relationship between elapsed time since fire and permafrost extent at our sites. However, we have found that the transition zone boundaries between permafrost soils and unfrozen soils in the collapse-scar bogs at our sites had complex and unpredictable morphologies. This result suggested that attempts to quantify the presence or absence of permafrost using aerial measurements alone could lead to incomplete results. Taken in total, the results from our study indicated that although ground-based ERT measurements were the most rapid means of mapping permafrost, we were still limited in being able to apply airborne surveying measurements at the landscape scale toward accurately estimating permafrost extent.
Adaptive multiple subtraction: Unification and comparison of matching filters based on the ℓq-norm and statistical independence
Authors: Batany Yves-Marie , Duarte Leonardo Tomazeli , Donno Daniela , Romano João Marcos Travassos , Chauris Hervé
Published: December 2015

An adaptive multiple subtraction step is necessary for almost all methods that predict seismic multiple reflected waves. We aim at giving a better understanding of matching filters based on [Formula: see text]-norms and on statistical independence. We found that the formulation of all of these techniques can be gathered in a mutual framework by introducing a space-time operator, called the primary enhancer, acting on the estimated primaries. The differences between the considered matching filters become more intuitive because this operator behaves as a simple amplitude compressor. In this perspective, all the methods tend to uncorrelate the predicted multiples and the enhanced estimated primaries. The study of these matching-filter methods can be narrowed to the study of the primary enhancer operator because it is the only difference. Moreover, we have emphasized the role of using adjacent traces or windowing approaches in terms of statistics, and we show that an adequate windowing strategy may overbear the choice of the objective function. Indeed, our analysis showed that setting a good windowing strategy may be more important than changing the classical least-squares adaptation criterion to other approaches based on [Formula: see text]-norm minimization or independent component analysis.
Evaluation of Clean Coal Technologies in China: Based on Rough Set Theory
Authors: Wang Xingyuan , Jia Fan , Wang Yutao
Published: December 2015

It is undeniable that coal is still the main resource for production and consumption in China and will likely remain so in the coming decades. This paper proposes a new method based on rough set theory to effectively evaluate clean coal technology (CCT). Firstly a rough-set information system is built after the filtration of CCT evaluation indexes, and then we discuss the calculations of the weight of every index and evaluation result for each technology. This new method reduces the correlation among different attributes, which makes the results more precise. This data collection approach improves reliability and rationality of evaluation. The results highlight advantages and defects in each technology. This will guide entrepreneurs and scholars to improve Chinese CCT.
Torsionally Seismic Behavior of Triple Concave Friction Pendulum Bearing
Authors: Fallahian Milad , Khoshnoudian Faramarz , Loghman Vahid
Published: December 2015

In this paper, attempts are made to investigate the responses of torsionally coupling base-isolated structure supported on Triple Concave Friction pendulum bearing (TFP) subjected to near field ground motions. Nonlinear dynamic analyses are conducted to study the effects of essential parameters such as superstructure and isolation system eccentricity, and the uncoupled torsional to lateral frequency ratio of superstructure on seismic responses of TFP isolated structures. Further, the responses of base-isolated structure using TFP are compared with the same base-isolated structure using friction pendulum system (FPS) as well as double concave friction pendulum (DCFP). Results indicate that TFP isolated structure significantly outperforms other types of friction bearings. Moreover, increasing effective period causes TFP isolated structures to behave better than the others in reducing torsional responses of structure. It is concluded that effectiveness of TFP isolators in respect to others bearings is negligible on seismic responses of structures through increasing effective damping.
Systematics of Chasmosaurus - new information from the Peabody Museum skull, and the use of phylogenetic analysis for dinosaur alpha taxonomy
Authors: Longrich Nicholas
Published: December 2015

The horned dinosaur Chasmosaurus from the late Campanian Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta, is known from numerous skulls and skeletons, but over a century after its description, the taxonomy of the genus is controversial. Two species, Chasmosaurus belli and C. russelli, are currently recognized, with a third species, C. irvinensis, recently placed in a new genus, Vagaceratops. Here, the Yale Chasmosaurus skull is described, and implications for Chasmosaurus systematics are explored. The Yale skull is intermediate between typical C. belli and C. irvinensis. C. belli-like features include large, triangular lateral epiparietals, large parietal fenestrae, and an emarginate parietal. Yet the skull also exhibits derived features of C. irvinensis, including a posteriorly inclined narial strut, brow horns replaced by rugose bosses, reduced parietal emargination, five pairs of epiparietals, and epiparietals that fuse at their bases and hook forward over the frill. Specimen-level phylogenetic analysis provides a hypothesis of relationships upon which to base the taxonomy of Chasmosaurus. C. belli is paraphyletic with respect to C. irvinensis, and the Peabody skull is closer to C. irvinensis than to other C. belli. The holotype of C. russelli clusters with C. belli, making C. russelli a junior synonym of C. belli. Accordingly, Chasmosaurus can be divided into three species: C. belli, C. irvinensis, and C. priscus sp. nov, including specimens previously referred to C. russelli. The systematics of Chasmosaurus show how specimen level phylogeny can provide an evolutionary framework upon which to establish taxonomies. However, the resulting phylogenies may lead to paraphyletic species and genera.
Creating the Conditions for Disclosure of Internal Capacity of the Individual Estate Agent Through the Development of Personnel in the Organization
Authors: Леднева  , Ledneva S. , Чумакова  , Chumakova S.
Published: December 2015

The article reveals the problem of creation of a company providing services

in the field of real estate development of an effective system of personnel

focused on the disclosure of internal capacity of the individual employee. This

concept is treated as a set of qualities that underlie their professional, social

and psychological competence. The authors offer a practice-oriented model

of development staff allows to update the internal capacity of the individual

realtors and use it effectively in the implementation of real estate transactions.
Investment Policy As One of the Economic Aspects of Oil and Gas Sector
Authors: Гарнов  , Garnov Andrey , Чайковский  , Chaykovskiy A.
Published: December 2015

Investment policy is part of economic policy of the state and has a direct impact on both the economy in general and on entrepreneurship in particular. The article deals with the investment as one of the economic aspects of the oil and gas sector, examines the main challenges to the sustained development of the oil and gas sector, and suggests measures to address them.
Primary sclerosing cholangitis and the role of the clinical nurse specialist
Authors: Greveson Kay , Ibarra Ana , Walmsley Martine , Thorburn Douglas
Published: December 2015

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic disease of the intra- and extra-hepatic bile ducts of the liver, often leading to hepatobiliary malignancy, cirrhosis, end-stage liver disease and a need for liver transplantation. Between 60% and 80% of PSC patients have associated inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and 4.6% of patients with IBD have PSC. Understanding this disease and its diagnosis, treatment and implications for the patient is essential. This article highlights the gap between the needs of patients with PSC and what medicine can offer them. The aim is to increase awareness of the disease and the issues that health professionals working with PSC patients should be aware of in order to improve the patient experience of living with both these debilitating diseases.
‘Terrific two-year-olds’ – what makes them tick
Authors: White Hilary
Published: December 2015

Hilary White continues her guide to child development with an outline of the key stages which two-year-olds typically go through, and lists the milestones they are expected to reach by the age of three.
Why we love the snow!
Authors: Clarke Jenni
Published: December 2015

In the first of a four-part series exploring different types of weather, Jenni Clarke outlines indoor and outdoor activities that will fuel children's fascination for snow. Don't worry if it is not the real thing – you can fake it!
Coping with panic
Authors: Doyle Phoebe
Published: December 2015

When you have a child suffering with symptoms of severe anxiety, addressing the issue with openness and pragmatism is key says Phoebe Doyle, who shares her first hand experience and strategies.
Potret Representasi Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) Guru dalam Mengajarkan Materi Getaran dan Gelombang pada Siswa Smp
Authors: Purwaningsih Endang
Published: December 2015

Learning materials of vibrations and waves in physics involve abstract mathematical knowledge, not easy to be understood, and frequently generate misconceptions. However, the subject is fundamental prerequisite for mastering more complicated physical concepts. On the other hand, teachers´ materials comprehension itself can affect the way teachers teaching and giving learning experience to the students. Here, we use descriptive research to figure out teacher´s pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) representation during teaching and learning process of vibrations and waves for junior high school grade VIII. Four professional junior high school teachers were chosen as sample. The PCK representation was focused on the content representation (CoRe) which represents teachers´ materials comprehension and their special aspects. Data collections have been done by means documentation study, ongoing classroom activities observation and interviews with the teachers as well as the students. Outcome of this research are: 1) Basic ideas/concepts expected by teachers for students to learn are not yet covering the basic concept needed to understand the concept itself, 2) Teachers are not yet mastering the teaching materials comprehensively, 3) Classroom activities/learning experiences and the method given to the students are not varied.
Uji Kemurnian DNA Melon (Cucumis melo L.) Kultivar “Gama Melon Basket” Menggunakan Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) Berbasis Nanopartikel Perak
Authors: T Thoyibi , Arifin Muhammad , Abraha Kamsul
Published: December 2015

DNA level of purity has been tested by observing the phenomenon of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in silver film + silver (Ag) nanoparticles system as DNA sensor using Kretschmann configuration. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) phenomenon observed in the resonance condition of reflectance spectrum vary with incident angle of laser, beamed toward prism. System is built as a model for DNA purity test instrument that give higher accuracy. DNA purity testing was conducted by placing DNA layer with various ratio on prism in order to get the angle shift value in each sample as a result. Purity level of DNA indicates the DNA quality based on the ratio between the amount of pure DNA compared to the amount of impurity materials (protein). After the deposition of DNA in ratio 1,774, 1,838 and 1,916 SPR angle shifted ,  and  respectively. Characteristic differences of DNA with different purity (ratio) are shown by reflectance value that is getting higher at a smaller ratio, indicates that in the higher DNA ratio the angle shift is getting smaller. SPR angle shift which is occurred before and after DNA deposition shows the sensitivity of SPR as DNA sensor.
Weber’s electrodynamics for the hydrogen atom
Authors: Torres-Silva H. , López-Bonilla J. , López-Vázquez R. , Rivera-Rebolledo J.
Published: December 2015

The original Weber action at a distance theory is valid for slowly varying effects, and it in addition to predicting all of the usual electrodynamical results, leads to crucial effects where the Maxwell theory fails. The Weber’s approach is an alternative to Maxwell electrodynamics, where the Coulomb's law becomes velocity dependent [1-6]. Here we prove that the Weber’s theory gives the fine structure energy level splitting for the hydrogen atom without the assumption of mass change with velocity.
Pengembangan Modul Praktikum Astrofisika Seri Alat Solarscope Berbasis Integrasi Interkoneksi
Authors: Melati Asih
Published: December 2015

The development of laboratory-based lecture materials with integrated and interconnected value is a requirement for study and practical materials and in line with the vision and mission of UIN Sunan Kalijaga. As a result, the optimization of laboratory’s equipment is urgently needed. Although UIN Sunan Kalijaga Laboratory have had Solarscope telescope – which have a guidebook in German language – for six years, it was not optimally used even it can be used to satisfy the desires to observe astronomical objects economically, accurately and easy to operate. Based on above, this research propose to create a lab-work module for Solarscope with integration and interconnection value. This research used 4D methodology (Define, Design, Develop and Disseminate) and have passed the assessment and validation phase from material, media and integrated-interconnected value experts. The data analysis of the module which was mapped by Sukarja into 5 scale mark resulted in good grade in the module assessment by material experts with 80% from the ideal mark with most of the complaint is in the formula typing which is not clear in its derivative. The module assessment by media experts scored very good grade with 88.89% from the ideal mark regarding the content and the figures of the module. Lastly, from the integrated-interconnected value experts marked in good grade with 73.50% from the ideal mark and suggested the addition of supported Al-Qur’an verses and relevant exclamation of the Al-Qur’an’s passages. With all of these assessment results, this module can be used as the material of astrophysics lab-work and for supporting students’ researches with integration-interconnection value and enhance the university’s book collection which will support the vision and mission of UIN Sunan Kalijaga