bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Central Hypoventilation: A Case Study of Issues Associated with Travel Medicine and Respiratory Infection
Authors: Hon Kam Lun , Leung Alexander K. C. , Li Albert M. C. , Ng Daniel K. K.
Published: July 2015

Aim. We presented the case of a child with central hypoventilation syndrome (CHS) to highlight issues that need to be considered in planning long-haul flight and problems that may arise during the flight.Case. The pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) received a child with central hypoventilation syndrome (Ondine’s curse) on nocturnal ventilatory support who travelled to Hong Kong on a make-a-wish journey. He was diagnosed with central hypoventilation and had been well managed in Canada. During a long-haul aviation travel, he developed respiratory symptoms and desaturations. The child arrived in Hong Kong and his respiratory symptoms persisted. He was taken to a PICU for management. The child remained well and investigations revealed no pathogen to account for his respiratory infection. He went on with his make-a-wish journey.Conclusions. Various issues of travel medicine such as equipment, airline arrangement, in-flight ventilatory support, travel insurance, and respiratory infection are explored and discussed. This case illustrates that long-haul air travel is possible for children with respiratory compromise if anticipatory preparation is timely arranged.
Spatial Variation of the Relationship between PM2.5Concentrations and Meteorological Parameters in China
Authors: Lin Gang , Fu Jingying , Jiang Dong , Wang Jianhua , Wang Qiao , Dong Donglin
Published: July 2015

Epidemiological studies around the world have reported that fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is closely associated with human health. The distribution of PM2.5concentrations is influenced by multiple geographic and socioeconomic factors. Using a remote-sensing-derived PM2.5dataset, this paper explores the relationship between PM2.5concentrations and meteorological parameters and their spatial variance in China for the period 2001–2010. The spatial variations of the relationships between the annual average PM2.5, the annual average precipitation (AAP), and the annual average temperature (AAT) were evaluated using the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model. The results indicated that PM2.5had a strong and stable correlation with meteorological parameters. In particular, PM2.5had a negative correlation with precipitation and a positive correlation with temperature. In addition, the relationship between the variables changed over space, and the strong negative correlation between PM2.5and the AAP mainly appeared in the warm temperate semihumid region and northern subtropical humid region in 2001 and 2010, with some localized differences. The strong positive correlation between the PM2.5and the AAT mainly occurred in the mid-temperate semiarid region, the humid, semihumid, and semiarid warm temperate regions, and the northern subtropical humid region in 2001 and 2010.
Experimental and Numerical Analysis of Hull Girder Vibrations and Bow Impact of a Large Ship Sailing in Waves
Authors: Jiao Jialong , Ren Huilong , Adenya Christiaan Adika
Published: July 2015

It is of great importance to evaluate the hull structural vibrations response of large ships in extreme seas. Studies of hydroelastic response of an ultra large ship have been conducted with comparative verification between experimental and numerical methods in order to estimate the wave loads response considering hull vibration and water impact. A segmented self-propelling model with steel backbone system was elaborately designed and the experiments were performed in a tank. Time domain numerical simulations of the ship were carried out by using three-dimensional nonlinear hydroelasticity theory. The results from the computational analyses have been correlated with those from model tests.
H∞Output-Feedback Tracking Control for Networked Control Systems
Authors: Kim Sung Hyun
Published: July 2015

This paper investigates the observer-basedH∞tracking problem of networked output-feedback control systems with consideration of data transmission delays, data-packet dropouts, and sampling effects. Different from other approaches, this paper offers a single-step procedure to handle nonconvex terms that appear in the process of designing observer-based output-feedback control, and then establishes a set of linear matrix inequality conditions for the solvability of the tracking problem. Finally, two numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness of our result.
Determining the Optimum Exposure and Recovery Periods for Efficient Operation of a QCM Based Elemental Mercury Vapor Sensor
Authors: Kabir K. M. Mohibul , Ippolito Samuel J. , Matthews Glenn I. , Abd Hamid S. Bee , Sabri Ylias M. , Bhargava Suresh K.
Published: July 2015

In recent years, mass based transducers such as quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) have gained huge interest as potential sensors for online detection of elemental mercury (Hg0) vapor from anthropogenic sources due to their high portability and robust nature enabling them to withstand harsh industrial environments. In this study, we determined the optimal Hg0exposure and recovery times of a QCM based sensor for ensuring its efficient operation while monitoring low concentrations of Hg0vapor (<400 ppbv). The developed sensor was based on an AT-cut quartz substrate and utilized two gold (Au) films on either side of the substrate which functions as the electrodes and selective layer simultaneously. Given the temporal response mechanisms associated with mass based mercury sensors, the experiments involved the variation of Hg0vapor exposure periods while keeping the recovery time constant following each exposure and vice versa. The results indicated that an optimum exposure and recovery periods of 30 and 90 minutes, respectively, can be utilized to acquire the highest response magnitudes and recovery rate towards a certain concentration of Hg0vapor whilst keeping the time it takes to report an accurate reading by the sensor to a minimum level as required in real-world applications.
A Child with Lung Hypoplasia, Congenital Heart Disease, Hemifacial Microsomia, and Inguinal Hernia: Ipsilateral Congenital Malformations
Authors: Fan Chengming , Huang Can , Liu Jijia , Yang Jinfu
Published: July 2015

A 3-year-old Chinese boy was diagnosed with ipsilateral congenital malformations: right lung hypoplasia, dextroversion of heart, atrial septal defect, hepatic vein drainage directly into the right atrium, facial asymmetry, right microtia and congenital deafness, and indirect inguinal hernia. He underwent indirect inguinal hernia repair at the age of 2. Although without any facial plastic surgery performed, he underwent a repair of atrial septal defect and recovered uneventfully. At 6-month follow-up, the patient was free from any symptom of dyspnea; his heart function returned to the first grade.
Person Tracking System by Fusing Multicues Based on Patches
Authors: Jia Song Min , Wang Li Jia , Li Xiu Zhi , Wen Lin Feng
Published: July 2015

A person tracking algorithm by fusing multicues based on patches is proposed to solve the problem of distinguishing person, occlusion, and illumination variations. Kinect is mounted on the robot for providing color images and depth maps. A detector representing a person by using the fusion of multicues based on patches is proposed. The detector divides the person into many patches and then represents each patch by using depth-color histograms and depth-texture histograms. The appearance representation, considering depth, color, and texture information, has powerful discrimination ability to handle the problems of occlusion, illumination changes, and pose variations. Considering the motion of the robot and person, a tracker called motion extended Kalman filter (MEKF) is presented to predict the person’s position. The result of the tracker is treated as a candidate sample of the detector, and then the result of the detector is the previous knowledge of the tracker. The detector and tracker supplement each other and improve the tracking performance. To drive the robot towards the given person precisely, a fuzzy based intelligent gear control strategy (FZ-IGS) is implemented. Experiments demonstrate that the proposed approach can track a person in a complex environment and have an optimum performance.
Physical Manipulation of Calcium Oscillation in Shen-Larter Cell System
Authors: Zuo Hongkun
Published: July 2015

Experimental observations show that calcium signals in response to external stimuli encode information via frequency modulation or alternatively via amplitude modulation. Here, by arguments of bifurcation theory and bifurcation control theorem, the amplitude and frequency manipulation of limit cycle in Shen-Larter cell system are investigated. A nonlinear feedback controller is then applied to the system, in order to assign the peak frequency to a prescribed value, such that bifurcation is minimized or eliminated in the closed-loop system. And numerical simulations are presented in order to illustrate the theoretical analysis.
A Comparison of Casual In-Clinic Blood Pressure Measurements to Standardized Guideline-Concordant Measurements in Severely Obese Individuals
Authors: Vahidy Sana , Majumdar Sumit R. , Padwal Raj S.
Published: July 2015

Background/Objectives. The objective of this study was to compare casual BP taken in a bariatric clinic to standardized guideline-concordant BP.Subjects/Methods. A cross sectional analysis was performed using baseline data from a weight management trial. Patients were recruited from a Canadian bariatric care program. Standardized BP was performed using a Watch BP oscillometric device. Casual in-clinic BP single readings, taken using a Welch Allyn oscillometric device, were chart-abstracted. Pairedt-tests, Bland-Altman plots, and Pearson’s correlations were used for analysis.Results. Data from 134 patients were analyzed. Mean age was 41.5 ± 8.9 y, mean BMI was 46.8 ± 6.5 kg/m2, and 40 (30%) had prior hypertension. Mean casual in-clinic BP was 128.8 ± 14.1/81.6 ± 9.9 mmHg and mean standardized BP was 133.2 ± 15.0/82.0 ± 10.3 mmHg (difference of −4.3 ± 12.0 for systolic (p<0.0001) and −0.4 ± 10.0 mmHg for diastolic BP (p=0.6)). Pearson’s coefficients were 0.66 (p<0.0001) for SBP and 0.50 (p<0.0001) for DBP. 28.4% of casual versus 26.9% of standardized measurements were ≥140/90 mmHg (p<0.0001).Conclusion. In this bariatric clinic, casual BP was unexpectedly lower than standardized BP. This could potentially lead to the underdiagnosis of hypertension.
Pressure Sensor: State of the Art, Design, and Application for Robotic Hand
Authors: Almassri Ahmed M. , Wan Hasan W. Z. , Ahmad S. A. , Ishak A. J. , Ghazali A. M. , Talib D. N. , Wada Chikamune
Published: July 2015

We survey the state of the art in a variety of force sensors for designing and application of robotic hand. Most of the force sensors are examined based on tactile sensing. For a decade, many papers have widely discussed various sensor technologies and transducer methods which are based on microelectromechanical system (MEMS) and silicon used for improving the accuracy and performance measurement of tactile sensing capabilities especially for robotic hand applications. We found that transducers and materials such as piezoresistive and polymer, respectively, are used in order to improve the sensing sensitivity for grasping mechanisms in future. This predicted growth in such applications will explode into high risk tasks which requires very precise purposes. It shows considerable potential and significant levels of research attention.
Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Viral Infection
Authors: Thanunchai Maytawan , Hongeng Suradej , Thitithanyanont Arunee
Published: July 2015

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) are a subset of nonhematopoietic adult stem cells, readily isolated from various tissues and easily culture-expandedex vivo. Intensive studies of the immune modulation and tissue regeneration over the past few years have demonstrated the great potential of MSCs for the prevention and treatment of steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), immune-related disorders, and viral diseases. In immunocompromised individuals, the immunomodulatory activities of MSCs have raised safety concerns regarding the greater risk of primary viral infection and viral reactivation, which is a major cause of mortality after allogeneic transplantation. Moreover, high susceptibilities of MSCs to viral infectionsin vitrocould reflect the destructive outcomes that might impair the clinical efficacy of MSCs infusion. However, the interplay between MSCs and virus is like a double-edge sword, and it also provides beneficial effects such as allowing the proliferation and function of antiviral specific effector cells instead of suppressing them, serving as an ideal tool for study of viral pathogenesis, and protecting hosts against viral challenge by using the antimicrobial activity. Here, we therefore review favorable and unfavorable consequences of MSCs and virus interaction with the highlight of safety and efficacy for applying MSCs as cell therapy.
A Control Strategy with Tactile Perception Feedback for EMG Prosthetic Hand
Authors: Wu Changcheng , Song Aiguo , Ling Yun , Wang Nan , Tian Lei
Published: July 2015

To improve the control effectiveness and make the prosthetic hand not only controllable but also perceivable, an EMG prosthetic hand control strategy was proposed in this paper. The control strategy consists of EMG self-learning motion recognition, backstepping controller with stiffness fuzzy observation, and force tactile representation. EMG self-learning motion recognition is used to reduce the influence on EMG signals caused by the uncertainty of the contacting position of the EMG sensors. Backstepping controller with stiffness fuzzy observation is used to realize the position control and grasp force control. Velocity proportional control in free space and grasp force tracking control in restricted space can be realized by the same controller. The force tactile representation helps the user perceive the states of the prosthetic hand. Several experiments were implemented to verify the effect of the proposed control strategy. The results indicate that the proposed strategy has effectiveness. During the experiments, the comments of the participants show that the proposed strategy is a better choice for amputees because of the improved controllability and perceptibility.
Preparation, Characterization, and Photocatalytic Properties of Modified Red Mud
Authors: Ma Mingjie , Wang Guanyu , Yang Zhengpeng , Huang Shanxiu , Guo Weijie , Shen Yuxia
Published: July 2015

Solid waste red mud was modified by HCl leaching. The structure property and composition of modified red mud were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). Under UV irradiation, methyl orange (MO) aqueous solution was photodegraded by modified red mud. The obtained results showed that the specific surface area of modified red mud was 317.14 m2/g, which was about 40 times higher than that of the normal red mud. After UV irradiation for 50 min, the removal percentage of MO reached 94.2%. The study provided a novel way for the application of red mud to the photocatalytic degradation of organic wastes.
Subdivision Error Analysis and Compensation for Photoelectric Angle Encoder in a Telescope Control System
Authors: Su Yanrui , Wang Qiang , Yan Fabao , Liu Xiang , Huang Yongmei
Published: July 2015

As the position sensor, photoelectric angle encoder affects the accuracy and stability of telescope control system (TCS). A TCS-based subdivision error compensation method for encoder is proposed. Six types of subdivision error sources are extracted through mathematical expressions of subdivision signals first. Then the period length relationships between subdivision signals and subdivision errors are deduced. And the error compensation algorithm only utilizing the shaft position of TCS is put forward, along with two control models; Model I is that the algorithm applies only to the speed loop of TCS and Model II is applied to both speed loop and position loop. Combined with actual project, elevation jittering phenomenon of the telescope is discussed to decide the necessity of DC-type subdivision error compensation. Low-speed elevation performance before and after error compensation is compared to help decide that Model II is preferred. In contrast to original performance, the maximum position error of the elevation with DC subdivision error compensation is reduced by approximately 47.9% from 1.42″to 0.74″. The elevation gets a huge decrease in jitters. This method can compensate the encoder subdivision errors effectively and improve the stability of TCS.
Vitamin D and Cancer: Diversity, Complexity, and Still a Ways to Go
Authors: Albanes Demetrius
Published: July 2015

Vitamin D has taken a center-stage role in our basic and population research quest for the panacea for all human maladies, including cancer, yet sufficient evidence for a beneficial role has existed only for bone health. This Commentary discusses and places into a broader context the report of Chandler and colleagues that found a protective association for higher vitamin D status in colorectal cancer in women, consistent with most other cohort studies but not with limited supplementation trial data. Little human evidence exists for the preventive potential in other malignancies, including breast cancer, with the exception of possible benefit in bladder cancer and an adverse serologic association with prostate cancer (pancreatic cancer risk may be similarly influenced) that is supported by vitamin D genetic data. Current vitamin D trials are examining high-dose supplementation (i.e., 1,600–3,333 IU daily) for effects on multiple outcomes, but they may not have sufficient power to test efficacy in colorectal or other specific malignancies and are unlikely to inform any benefit for higher physiologic levels. A more complete understanding of vitamin D and human carcinogenesis will come from multifaceted lines of research, including elucidation of organ site–specific biologic mechanisms, prospective serologic analyses, testing of vitamin D–related genetic variation, and short-term clinical–metabolic biomarker studies of multidose vitamin D supplementation, including metabolomic profiling of controlled supplementation in these and past or ongoing trials. Cancer Prev Res; 8(8); 657–61. ©2015 AACR.

See related article by Chandler et al., p. 675
Endothelin-1 Upregulates the Expression of High Mobility Group Box 1 in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells
Authors: Li Jianmin , Guan Jing , Long Xiaoping , Xiang Xudong
Published: July 2015

Both endothelin-1 (ET-1) and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) reportedly are closely involved in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In this study, we explored the regulatory effects of ET-1 on the expression of HMGB1 in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEpCs). Primary HBEpCs were treated with ET-1 with or without transcription inhibitor actinomycin D, ETA receptor blocker BQ123, ETB receptor blocker BQ788, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) inhibitor or shRNA, or different kinase inhibitors. ET-1 increased the HMGB1 mRNA level in a statistically significant dose- and time-dependent manner within 8 hours of treatment, which was reflected in the dose-dependent induction of the HMGB1 protein level and the FAK activity. BQ123 and FAK inhibitor or shRNA, but not BQ788, completely abolished the promoting effect of ET-1 on the expression of HMGB1. Luciferase reporter assays revealed that neither ET-1 nor ETA nor FAK inhibition had any significant effect on the HMGB1 gene promoter activity. In the presence of the transcription inhibitor actinomycin D, the HMGB1 mRNA level markedly decreased over time, and ET-1 dose-dependently rescued the HMGB1 mRNA level. This effect of ET-1 was completely abolished by BQ123 and FAK inhibitor or shRNA, but not by BQ788. In conclusion, this study provides the first evidence that ET-1 upregulates the expression of HMGB1 in HBEpCs by increasing the stability of HMGB1 mRNA via the ETA receptor by a FAK-dependent mechanism. It adds new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying ALI/ARDS.
Free Radical Threshold Value: A New Universal Body Constant
Authors: Zastrow Leonhard , Doucet Olivier , Ferrero Louis , Groth Norbert , Klein Frank , Kockott Dieter , Lademann Juergen
Published: July 2015

Three evolutionary sources create ‘primary' reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ‘secondary' lipid oxygen species (LOS), forming the human body's ‘free radical ground state'. We present evidence for the existence of a universal free radical threshold value (FRTV), defining the borderline between advantageous and adverse effects of free radicals observed above the free radical ground state. Based on standard vitamin D doses, the calculated amount of ∼3.5 × 1012 rad/mg ROS/LOS tissue represents the tolerated number of free radicals in skin tissue - defined as FRTV. By means of quantitative ESR x-band spectroscopy, the FRTV was experimentally verified using ex vivo human skin irradiated with ultraviolet + visible (UV + VIS), UVB + UVA and VIS light. In addition, we investigated whether this threshold is also existent in internal organs by extending our experiment to fresh porcine liver. Based on the determination of ROS/LOS below and above the FRTV, ROS > LOS was characterized as beneficial and LOS > ROS as deleterious to the organism, respectively. Results of the experiments using porcine liver confirmed the appearance of the FRTV at radical generation ∼3.5 × 1012 rad/mg. The relation ROS/LOS before and after the FRTV was consistent with the results determined for the skin. We conclude that the FRTV, theoretically calculated and experimentally confirmed, should be considered as a new ‘universal body constant'.
Determinants of Postpartum Vitamin D Status in the Caucasian Mother-Offspring Pairs at a Latitude of 52°N: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Czech-Kowalska Justyna , Gruszfeld Dariusz , Jaworski Maciej , Bulsiewicz Dorota , Latka-Grot Julita , Pleskaczynska Agata , Lygas Justyna , Wygledowska Grazyna , Pawlus Beata , Zochowska Anna , Borszewska-Kornacka Maria K. , Dobrzanska Anna
Published: July 2015

Background: High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in pregnancy is recorded. Aim: To establish determinants of postpartum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels on mothers and offspring. Methods: 25(OH)D level was measured in cord blood and maternal blood collected ≤3 weeks postpartum. Maternal socioeconomic status, vitamin D intake, sun exposure during pregnancy and maternal and neonatal fat mass (FM; dual X-ray absorptiometry) were assessed within 3 weeks postpartum. Results: A total of 174 mother-offspring pairs were enrolled. Maternal 25(OH)D <20 ng/ml was seen in 32 (51%) of summer and 82 (74%) of winter deliveries. Women with 25(OH)D <20 ng/ml had a 2-fold lower percentage of vitamin D intake of ≥800 IU/day than women with 25(OH)D ≥20 ng/ml (p = 0.02). FM (%) was comparable between groups (p > 0.05). Multiple regression analysis revealed the delivery season, prenatal vitamin D intake ≥800 IU/day and duration of supplementation to be the determinants of maternal 25(OH)D level (R2 = 0.26, p < 0.001). Maternal 25(OH)D level, season of birth and duration of maternal supplementation explained 83% of the variance in cord blood 25(OH)D level (R2 = 0.83, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The key determinants of higher maternal vitamin D status were the summer-autumn season of delivery and prenatal use of ≥800 IU/day of vitamin D. The cord blood 25(OH)D level was mainly determined by maternal 25(OH)D level and season of birth.
A Modified Technique for Performing Transurethral Resection of the Prostate Combined with Percutaneous Cystolithotripsy
Authors: Deliktas Hasan , Sahin Hayrettin , Cullu Nesat , Erdogan Omer
Published: July 2015

Introduction: This study aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of a modified technique for performing transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) combined with percutaneous cystolithotripsy (PCCL). Methods: Clinical data from 24 patients with benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) and aggregate stone sizes ≥3 cm were assessed retrospectively between June 2011 and January 2014. All stones fragmented via pneumatic lithotripter were removed. An 18-F Foley catheter was inserted into the Amplatz sheath, which was then removed from the bladder. The Foley catheter balloon was inflated with 15 ml of saline, and suprapubic traction was applied to prevent extravasation. Next, TURP was performed while a suprapubic Foley catheter provided continuous drainage. Results: The mean stone size was 46.25 ± 9.51 mm. The surgical duration for stone removal was 31.25 ± 8.46 min. All patients were stone-free at the first month follow-up. None of the patients experienced extravasation or urethral stricture. Conclusions: PCCL is a short-duration, minimally invasive surgery that avoids urethral stricture. In the presented technique, as the drainage catheter is fixed to the dome of bladder, it is not visualized in the surgical field and remains outside of the resection area, which facilitates prostate resection. It seems to be a safe and efficient technique.
Association of 6‐Minute Walk Performance and Physical Activity With Incident Ischemic Heart Disease Events and Stroke in Peripheral Artery Disease
Authors: McDermott Mary M. , Greenland Philip , Tian Lu , Kibbe Melina R. , Green David , Zhao Lihui , Criqui Michael H. , Guralnik Jack M. , Ferrucci Luigi , Liu Kiang , Wilkins John T. , Huffman Mark D. , Shah Sanjiv J. , Liao Yihua , Lloyd‐Jones Donald M.
Published: July 2015

Background

We determined whether poorer 6‐minute walk performance and lower physical activity levels are associated with higher rates of ischemic heart disease (
IHD
) events in people with lower extremity peripheral artery disease (
PAD
).

Methods and Results

Five hundred ten
PAD
participants were identified from Chicago‐area medical centers and followed prospectively for 19.0±9.5 months. At baseline, participants completed the 6‐minute walk and reported number of blocks walked during the past week (physical activity).
IHD
events were systematically adjudicated and consisted of new myocardial infarction, unstable angina, and cardiac death. For 6‐minute walk, IHD event rates were 25/170 (14.7%) for the third (poorest) tertile, 10/171 (5.8%%) for the second tertile, and 6/169 (3.5%) for the first (best) tertile (
P
=0.003). For physical activity, IHD event rates were 21/154 (13.6%) for the third (poorest) tertile, 15/174 (8.6%) for the second tertile, and 5/182 (2.7%) for the first (best) tertile (
P
=0.001). Adjusting for age, sex, race, smoking, body mass index, comorbidities, and physical activity, participants in the poorest 6‐minute walk tertile had a 3.28‐fold (95%
CI
1.17 to 9.17,
P
=0.024) higher hazard for
IHD
events, compared with those in the best tertile. Adjusting for confounders including 6‐minute walk, participants in the poorest physical activity tertile had a 3.72‐fold (95%
CI
1.24 to 11.19,
P
=0.019) higher hazard for
IHD
events, compared with the highest tertile.

Conclusions

Six‐minute walk and physical activity predict
IHD
event rates in
PAD
. Further study is needed to determine whether interventions that improve 6‐minute walk, physical activity, or both can reduce
IHD
events in
PAD
.
Associations of Circulating Growth Differentiation Factor-15 and ST2 Concentrations With Subclinical Vascular Brain Injury and Incident Stroke
Authors: Andersson Charlotte , Preis Sarah R. , Beiser Alexa , DeCarli Charles , Wollert Kai C. , Wang Thomas J. , Januzzi James L. , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Seshadri Sudha
Published: July 2015

Background and Purpose—

Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and soluble (s)ST2 are markers of cardiac and vascular stress. We investigated the associations between circulating concentrations of these biomarkers and incident stroke and subclinical vascular brain injury in a sample from the Framingham Offspring cohort.

Methods—

We followed 3374 stroke- and dementia-free individuals (mean age, 59.0±9.7 years; 53% women) attending the Framingham Offspring sixth examination cycle 11.8±3.0 years for incident stroke. A subsample of 2463 individuals underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychological testing ≈4.0±1.7 years after the sixth examination.

Results—

After adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, B-type natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and urine albumin levels, higher stress biomarker levels were associated cross-sectionally with lower brain volumes (
β
coefficients for intracranial volume comparing fourth [Q4] versus first biomarker [Q1] quartiles: −0.71% for GDF-15;
P
=0.002 and 0.47% for sST2;
P
=0.02) and worse performance on the visual reproduction test (
β
coefficients for Q4 versus Q1: −0.62 for GDF-15;
P
=0.009 and −0.40 for sST2;
P
=0.04). Higher GDF-15 concentrations were also associated with greater log-transformed white-matter hyperintensity volumes (
β
for Q4 versus Q1=0.19;
P
=0.01). Prospectively, a total of 203 (6%) individuals developed incident stroke/transient ischemic attack during follow-up. After multivariable adjustment, sST2 remained significantly associated with stroke/transient ischemic attack, hazard ratio for Q4 versus Q1 of 1.76, 95% confidence interval of 1.06 to 2.92, and
P
=0.03.

Conclusions—

Circulating GDF-15 and sST2 are associated with subclinical brain injury and cognitive impairment. Higher sST2 concentrations are also associated with incident stroke, suggesting potential links between cardiac stress biomarkers and brain injury.
Role of Neurexin-1β and Neuroligin-1 in Cognitive Dysfunction After Subarachnoid Hemorrhage in Rats
Authors: Shen Haitao , Chen Zhouqing , Wang Yang , Gao Anju , Li Haiying , Cui Yonghua , Zhang Li , Xu Xiang , Wang Zhong , Chen Gang
Published: July 2015

Background and Purpose—

Neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1 play an important role in the formation, maintenance, and regulation of synaptic structures. This study is to estimate the potential role of neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1 in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)-induced cognitive dysfunction.

Methods—

In vivo, 228 Sprague–Dawley rats were used. An experimental SAH model was induced by single blood injection to prechiasmatic cistern. Primary cultured hippocampal neurons were exposed to oxyhemoglobin to mimic SAH in vitro. Specific small interfering RNAs and expression plasmids for neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1 were exploited both in vivo and in vitro. Western blot, immunofluorescence, immunoprecipitation, neurological scoring, and Morris water maze were performed to evaluate the mechanism of neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1, as well as neurological outcome.

Results—

Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed SAH-induced decrease in the expressions of neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1 and the interaction between neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1 in neurons. In addition, the interaction between neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1 was reduced by their knockdown and increased by their overexpression. The formation of excitatory synapses was inhibited by oxyhemoglobin treatment, which was significantly ameliorated by overexpression of neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1 and aggravated by the knockdown of neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1. More importantly, neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1 overexpression ameliorated SAH-induced cognitive dysfunction, whereas neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1 knockdown induced an opposite effect.

Conclusions—

Enhancing the expressions of neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1 could promote the interaction between them and the formation of excitatory synapses, which is helpful to improve cognitive dysfunction after SAH. Neurexin-1β and neuroligin-1 might be good targets for improving cognitive function after SAH.
Intravenous Bone Marrow Stem Cell Grafts Preferentially Migrate to Spleen and Abrogate Chronic Inflammation in Stroke
Authors: Acosta Sandra A. , Tajiri Naoki , Hoover Jaclyn , Kaneko Yuji , Borlongan Cesar V.
Published: July 2015

Background and Purpose—

Adult stem cell therapy is an experimental stroke treatment. Here, we assessed homing and anti-inflammatory effects of bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs) in chronic stroke.

Methods—

At 60 days post stroke, adult Sprague–Dawley rats received intravenous hBMSCs (4×10
6
labeled or nonlabeled cells) or vehicle (saline). A sham surgery group served as additional control. In vivo imaging was conducted between 1 hour and 11 days post transplantation, followed by histological examination.

Results—

Labeled hBMSCs migrated to spleen which emitted significantly higher fluorescent signal across all time points, especially during the first hour, and were modestly detected in the head region at the 12 hours and 11 days, compared with nonlabeled hBMSCs and vehicle-infused stroke animals, or sham (
P
<0.05). At 11 days post transplantation, ex vivo imaging confirmed preferential hBMSC migration to the spleen over the brain. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed significant 15% and 30% reductions in striatal infarct and peri-infarct area, and a trend of rescue against neuronal loss in the hippocampus. Unbiased stereology showed significant 75% and 60% decrements in major histocompatibility complex II–activated inflammatory cells in gray and white matter, and a 43% diminution in tumor necrosis factor-α cell density in the spleen of transplanted stroke animals compared with vehicle-infused stroke animals (
P
<0.05). Human antigen immunostaining revealed 0.03% hBMSCs survived in spleen and only 0.0007% in brain. MSC migration to spleen, but not brain, inversely correlated with reduced infarct, peri-infarct, and inflammation.

Conclusions—

hBMSC transplantation is therapeutic in chronic stroke possibly by abrogating the inflammation-plagued secondary cell death.
Vascular Neurologists as Directors of Stroke Centers in the United States
Authors: Ramirez Lucas , Krug Aaron , Nhoung Heng , Kazaryan Suzie , Gasparian Gregory , Perese Joshua , Razmara Ali , Liebeskind David S. , Majersik Jennifer J. , Sanossian Nerses
Published: July 2015

Background and Purpose—

Hospital certification as primary and comprehensive stroke center is associated with improvement in care. We aimed to characterize the leadership at stroke centers nationwide to determine the proportion led by vascular neurologists, a board-recognized subspecialty focusing on stroke care.

Methods—

We identified hospitals in the United States holding primary and comprehensive stroke center designation as of September 2013. We contacted each hospital to identify the medical director and used data from relevant medical boards to determine specialization. Sex and date of medical school graduation were obtained from an online physician database.

Results—

Of the 1167 primary and 50 comprehensive stroke center hospitals certified by the Joint Commission (n=1114), Det Norske Veritas (n=68), and Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (n=35), we identified the director in 940 (77%). Leadership was most often by a neurologist (n=745; 79%) followed by physicians in emergency medicine (n=58; 6%) and internal medicine (n=17; 2%). Vascular neurologists (n=319) led about one-third of stroke centers. Directors were mostly men (n=764; 81%), with a median number of years after medical school graduation of 25 (interquartile range, 18–34). Comprehensive stroke centers were more likely than primary stroke centers to have leadership by vascular neurologist (77%, n=37 versus 32%, n=282;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

Vascular neurologist led about one-third of stroke centers. There is opportunity for vascular neurologists to increase their role in stroke center directorship.
Becoming Poor in Eighteenth-Century Turin
Authors: Allegra Luciano
Published: July 2015

The notion that becoming poor was primarily the result of an economic crisis in the labor market or a rise in the price of food does inadequate justice to the evidence in the records of the Hospital of Charity in eighteenth-century Turin. Although any crisis has the potential to reduce the standard of living in a general population, only certain families become impoverished; others manage to withstand difficult times more or less unscathed. Moreover, individuals and families become poor not only during widespread economic hardships but also under normal conditions. A general crisis may be an aggravating factor, increasing the likelihood of poverty, but it is neither a necessary nor a sufficient cause. The case of Turin suggests a combination of multiple contingencies as the key to how people became poor. Among them, an imbalance in the ratio between workers and mouths to feed in a family was the most important.
The American Public’s Attention to Politics in Conflict and Crisis, 1880–1963
Authors: Urbatsch Robert
Published: July 2015

Parental naming practices in the United States have much to reveal about public attitudes, preoccupations, and reactions to current events. Evidence from the 2011 version of the Social Security Master Death File—a database that includes nearly all of the Americans who were alive between World War II and 2011—reveals that newborns are more likely to acquire the name of a president after elections, assassination attempts, and declarations of war. Regression analysis comparing presidential names to polling data suggests that these trends reflect shifts in public approval of the president, implying that naming can provide important information about historical eras when direct measures are unavailable.
Cyprus Republic v Danail Naydenov: A Cornerstone Decision Over a Human Trafficking Case
Authors: Constantinou Angelo
Published: July 2015

This case note appraises the judicial proceedings in Cyprus Republic v Danail Naydenov, while at the same problematizes precedent for human trafficking offences. The three-member Criminal Court in Nicosia, disentangles itself from dated common law and adopts a fresh approach towards the adjudication on cases of human trafficking for sexual purposes.
A Review of Drought in the Middle East and Southwest Asia
Authors: Barlow Mathew , Zaitchik Benjamin , Paz Shlomit , Black Emily , Evans Jason , Hoell Andrew
Published: July 2015

The Middle East and southwest Asia are a region that is water stressed, societally vulnerable, and prone to severe droughts. Large-scale climate variability, particularly La Niña, appears to play an important role in regionwide droughts, including the two most severe of the last 50 years—1999–2001 and 2007/08—with implications for drought forecasting. Important dynamical factors include orography, thermodynamic influence on vertical motion, storm-track changes, and moisture transport. Vegetation in the region is strongly impacted by drought and may provide an important feedback mechanism. In future projections, drying of the eastern Mediterranean region is a robust feature, as are temperature increases throughout the region, which will affect evaporation and the timing and intensity of snowmelt. Vegetation feedbacks may become more important in a warming climate. There are a wide range of outstanding issues for understanding, monitoring, and predicting drought in the region, including dynamics of the regional storm track, the relative importance of the range of dynamical mechanisms related to drought, the regional coherence of drought, the relationship between synoptic-scale mechanisms and drought, the predictability of vegetation and crop yields, the stability of remote influences, data uncertainty, and the role of temperature. Development of a regional framework for cooperative work and dissemination of information and existing forecasts would speed understanding and make better use of available information.
Intraseasonal Rainfall Variability over Madagascar
Authors: Macron Clémence , Richard Yves , Garot Thomas , Bessafi Miloud , Pohl Benjamin , Ratiarison Adolphe , Razafindrabe Andrianaharimanana
Published: July 2015

Using daily rain gauge records for Madagascar and nearby islands, this paper investigates rainfall intraseasonal variability at local and regional scales during the austral summer season (November–February), as well as the respective influences of recurrent convective regimes over the southwest Indian Ocean (SWIO) and the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). The results show a general consistency between local-scale rainfall variability in Madagascar and regional-scale features of climate variability. The influence of tropical temperate troughs in their mature phase and/or their easternmost locations is first underlined. The development of such systems over southern Africa and the Mozambique Channel can be considered as precursors for Malagasy wet spells, especially over the southern part of the island. Regional and local effects of the MJO are weaker on average, and only concern the northwest of the island and the north of the Mozambique Channel. MJO and convective regimes are finally shown to explain distinct fractions of regional rainfall variability.
Fog Forecasting for Melbourne Airport Using a Bayesian Decision Network
Authors: Boneh Tal , Weymouth Gary T. , Newham Peter , Potts Rodney , Bally John , Nicholson Ann E. , Korb Kevin B.
Published: July 2015

Fog events occur at Melbourne Airport, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, approximately 12 times each year. Unforecast events are costly to the aviation industry, cause disruption, and are a safety risk. Thus, there is a need to improve operational fog forecasting. However, fog events are difficult to forecast because of the complexity of the physical processes and the impact of local geography and weather elements. Bayesian networks (BNs) are a probabilistic reasoning tool widely used for prediction, diagnosis, and risk assessment in a range of application domains. Several BNs for probabilistic weather prediction have been previously reported, but to date none have included an explicit forecast decision component and none have been used for operational weather forecasting. A Bayesian decision network [Bayesian Objective Fog Forecast Information Network (BOFFIN)] has been developed for fog forecasting at Melbourne Airport based on 34 years’ worth of data (1972–2005). Parameters were calibrated to ensure that the network had equivalent or better performance to prior operational forecast methods, which led to its adoption as an operational decision support tool. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the operational use of the network by forecasters over an 8-yr period (2006–13). This evaluation shows significantly improved forecasting accuracy by the forecasters using the network, as compared with previous years. BOFFIN-Melbourne has been accepted by forecasters because of its skill, visualization, and explanation facilities, and because it offers forecasters control over inputs where a predictor is considered unreliable.
Testing the Difference of Correlated Agreement Coefficients for Statistical Significance
Authors: Gwet Kilem L.
Published: July 2015

This article addresses the problem of testing the difference between two correlated agreement coefficients for statistical significance. A number of authors have proposed methods for testing the difference between two correlated kappa coefficients, which require either the use of resampling methods or the use of advanced statistical modeling techniques. In this article, we propose a technique similar to the classical pairwise t test for means, which is based on a large-sample linear approximation of the agreement coefficient. We illustrate the use of this technique with several known agreement coefficients including Cohen’s kappa, Gwet’s AC1, Fleiss’s generalized kappa, Conger’s generalized kappa, Krippendorff’s alpha, and the Brenann–Prediger coefficient. The proposed method is very flexible, can accommodate several types of correlation structures between coefficients, and requires neither advanced statistical modeling skills nor considerable computer programming experience. The validity of this method is tested with a Monte Carlo simulation.
Subsequent pancreatitis and haemothorax in a patient of expanded dengue syndrome
Authors: Anam Ahmad Mursel , Rabbani Raihan , Shumy Farzana , Polash M Mufizul Islam
Published: July 2015

We report a case of expanded dengue syndrome, where two different presentations occurred subsequently. A patient of dengue haemorrhagic fever initially was admitted with acute pancreatitis, complicated with left pancreatic effusion, but later on, during resolution of pancreatitis and effusion, developed spontaneous right haemothorax. Such presentations, besides being rare themselves, have not been reported to occur subsequently, in the same patient, during the same disease process.
The Israeli Public’s Perception of the IDF
Authors: Tiargan-Orr Roni , Eran-Jona Meytal
Published: July 2015

This article attempts to shed light on Israel’s civil–military relations by employing the public’s trust in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) as a key parameter. The study is based on a series of public opinion polls conducted between 2001 and 2010, during periods of military confrontation as well as periods of relative quiet. The findings show that despite increased criticism toward the IDF and claims by researchers, the Jewish-Israeli public’s trust in the IDF generally remains very high and stable and strengthens significantly when the cannons start to roar. We also found a fixed pattern of change in public opinion during low-intensity conflicts. In a comparative perspective, the findings suggest that the “rally ’round the flag” effect is relevant in the Israeli case both in conventional war and in limited conflicts. Moreover, the findings indicate that the public’s trust in the army is not a uniform perception but a complex one that may have different and sometimes conflicting facets.
Clausewitz and Subjective Civilian Control
Authors: Binkley John
Published: July 2015

This article focuses on Carl von Clausewitz’s ideas regarding civil–military relations and in particular how those ideas relate to Samuel Huntington’s models of objective and subjective civilian control. Huntington believed that Clausewitz supplied the foundation for his concept of objective control. Yet an examination of Clausewitz’s own experiences, as well as his theoretical writings, rejects the basic tenants of objective control: a politically neutral military, the separation of political from military considerations during the professional officer’s analytical processes, and the reliance on the professional military as opposed to the citizen soldier. Instead, Clausewitz embraced something similar to Huntington’s concept of subjective control and with it a fusionist model of civil–military relations.
Stabilization of a class of upper-triangular systems without a priori knowledge of control directions under the homogeneous domination
Authors: Liu Wenhui , Xu Shengyuan , Qi Zhidong , Zou Yun
Published: July 2015

This paper studies the global asymptotic stabilization of a class of upper-triangular systems without a priori knowledge of control directions under the homogeneous domination. The homogeneous domination is used in this paper to design state feedback controllers. The Nussbaum-type gain method is also introduced to complete the design of the controller. The controller is not only used to ensure the global boundedness for all signals of the closed-loop system, but also to guarantee that the system state asymptotically converges to zero. Finally, the simulation results are given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.