bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcome of nutritional screening in the acute paediatric setting
Authors: Thomas P C , Marino L V , Williams S A , Beattie R M
Published: September 2016

Introduction

Multiple nutritional risk assessment tools are available, but there are limited data on their application in the acute setting. We explored the validity of two tools in a tertiary Children's Hospital's acute unit and the cohort's nutritional status using WHO definitions.

Methods

Prospective study n=300 (median 38 months; 44.6% female; 25.7% ≤12 months). Participants had standard anthropometry measured, all were screened using the Screening Tool for the Assessment of Malnutrition in Paediatrics (STAMP), the Paediatric Malnutrition Screening Tool (PMST) (modified STAMP) and 125 were additionally screened using the Paediatric Yorkhill Malnutrition Screening (PYMS) tool.

Results

The percentages with medium/high nutritional risk were as follows: STAMP 73.1%, PMST 79.3% and PYMS 30%. Height/weight were normally distributed with: 3.4% stunted (height-for-age z-score <−2); aged ≤ 5 years, 6.8% wasted (weight-for-height z-score (WHZ) <−2), 17.9% overweight (WHZ 1–2) and 6.2% obese (WHZ >2); aged >5 years, 5.8% thin (body mass index (BMI)-z-score (BAZ) <−2), 17.3% overweight (BAZ 1–2) and 5.8% obese (BAZ >2). The tools showed poor specificity and variable sensitivities when compared with WHO malnutrition criteria, with positive predictive values of <50%. κ-Analysis also showed poor agreement between the tools and the WHO cut-offs.

Conclusion

These results suggest that nutritional screening tools have poor sensitivity and are difficult to interpret in the acute setting. It may be more effective to include the assessment of weight and height and nutritional intake in the context of the acute presentation as part of routine clinical assessment rather than relying on screening tools to identify those at risk.
‘Myxoedema madness’ with Capgras syndrome and catatonic features responsive to combination olanzapine and levothyroxine
Authors: Shlykov Maksim A , Rath Swapnil , Badger Alison , Winder Gerald Scott
Published: September 2016

We present the case of an elderly woman with hypothyroidism and no psychiatric history who presented with new onset of psychosis, paranoia, catatonic features and Capgras syndrome (CS). This case illustrates the spectrum of neuropsychiatric symptoms that may accompany hypothyroidism and the importance of considering thyroid dysfunction as a primary contributor to severe psychiatric symptoms, especially in previously stable patients. We demonstrate the effectiveness of combination levothyroxine and olanzapine, with its favourable cardiac profile, in the treatment of myxoedema madness. Antipsychotics can be weaned once psychiatric symptoms resolve and hormone levels are stabilised.
Scedosporium apiospermum: a rare cause of malignant otitis externa
Authors: McLaren Oliver , Potter Christian
Published: September 2016

A 79-year-old man, with a history of well-controlled diabetes mellitus, presented with left-sided otalgia. With an initial diagnosis of simple otitis externa, he was discharged on topical drops. He represented 2 months later with worsening otalgia and discharge. A diagnosis of malignant otitis externa was made based on clinical and radiological findings. Intravenous Tazocin and Gentamicin were given based on previous bacterial culture from ear swabs. The patient failed to improve and developed left-sided facial nerve palsy. His condition stabilised following a change in antimicrobial therapy and his management continued in the community on intravenous Meropenem with twice weekly aural toilet. Repeated nuclear medicine imaging failed to demonstrate resolution. A bony sequestration was removed from the external auditory canal in the outpatient clinic, which following extended culture grewScedosporium apiospermum; his management was subsequently changed to oral Voriconazole. This led to rapid clinical improvement and disease resolution over a 6 -week period.
Systemic inflammatory responses in patients with type 2 diabetes with chronic periodontitis
Authors: Mesia Ruben , Gholami Fatemeh , Huang Hong , Clare-Salzler Michael , Aukhil Ikramuddin , Wallet Shannon M , Shaddox Luciana M
Published: September 2016

Objective

The objective of this case–control study was to quantify the immune responsiveness in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) as compared with patients without diabetes (NT2D) diagnosed with periodontitis.

Research Design and Methods

Peripheral blood was collected from 20 patients with moderate-to-severe chronic periodontitis (10 T2D, 10 NT2D). Blood samples were stimulated with ultrapurePorphyromonas gingivalisandEscherichia colilipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 hours. 14 cytokines/chemokines were quantified in culture supernatants using multiplex technology.

Results

T2D individuals demonstrated higher unstimulated levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor α, interferon γ, IL-10, IL-8, macrophage inflammatory protein 1α (MIP1α), and 1β (MIP1β), and higher stimulated levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, MIP1α and MIP1β, along with lower unstimulated and stimulated levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) when compared with NT2D (p<0.05). Importantly, the LPS-induced levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and MIP1α strongly correlated with severity of disease, measured by pocket depths (PD), within the T2D group (r2≥0.7, p<0.05), but not within NT2D.

Conclusions

Among patients with chronic periodontitis, patients with T2D seem to have an enhanced LPS-induced immune responsiveness than individuals without diabetes, which correlates with periodontal disease severity, concomitant with a less robust GM-CSF response. This data may in part explain the higher predisposition to periodontitis in this population.
Self-reported knowledge on diabetes and its related factors among Chinese college students: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Xu Ying , Zhang Dongdong , Liu Kaiqian , Guo Yanfang , Yang Yi
Published: September 2016

Objectives

An increasing trend in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has been observed among youths; however, little is known about how informed young people are of its existence and dangers. This study is to assess the level of knowledge on type 2 diabetes among Chinese college students and to explore related factors influencing the knowledge.

Setting

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among college students in Guangzhou, China, from September to November 2013.

Participants

A total of 658 students were randomly recruited using a multistage sampling method and were invited to participate in the confidential interviews.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Self-reported knowledge on diabetes and its main sources were measured by a self-designed questionnaire.

Results

A total of 521 students participated in this study. The mean total score of knowledge was 13.3±3.44 of 22. Less than 50% of participants could correctly answer the questions about the onset of type 2 diabetes, the adverse effects of sedentary lifestyles, the complications, the therapeutic methods and the monitoring index of diabetes. The factors associated with higher levels of knowledge about type 2 diabetes in stepwise regression models were: being in a high grade, having a better academic performance, having a medical specialty and having relatives or friends with diabetes. Newspapers and books (61.4%), television and the Internet (46.3%) were the major sources of knowledge about type 2 diabetes, and more than half of the participants (55.9%) considered that medical staff was the most reliable source.

Conclusions

The college students had limited knowledge about type 2 diabetes. Public education, especially among individuals with non-medical specialties, a low-level grade, poor academic performance or no relatives and friends with diabetes, would be extremely beneficial.
What is the role of a specialist regional mesothelioma multidisciplinary team meeting? A service evaluation of one tertiary referral centre in the UK
Authors: Bibby Anna C , Williams Katie , Smith Sarah , Bhatt Nidhi , Maskell Nick A
Published: September 2016

Background

Multidisciplinary team meetings are standard care for cancer in the UK and Europe. Professional bodies recommend that mesothelioma cases should be discussed at specialist multidisciplinary team meetings. However, no evidence exists exploring the role of the specialist mesothelioma multidisciplinary team meeting.

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical activity of 1 specialist mesothelioma multidisciplinary team meeting and to determine how often a definitive diagnosis was made, whether the core requirements of the meeting were met and whether there was any associated benefit or detriment.

Design and setting

A service evaluation using routinely collected data from 1 specialist mesothelioma multidisciplinary team meeting in a tertiary referral hospital in the South-West of England.

Participants

All cases discussed between 1/1/2014 and 31/12/2015.

Outcome measures

The primary outcome measure was whether a definitive diagnosis was made. Secondary outcomes included whether treatment advice was offered, information on clinical trials provided or further investigations suggested. Additional benefits of the multidisciplinary team meeting and time taken from referral to outcome were also collected.

Results

A definitive diagnosis was reached in 171 of 210 cases discussed (81%). Mesothelioma was diagnosed in 153/210 (73%). Treatment advice was provided for 127 of 171 diagnostic cases (74%) and further investigations suggested for all 35 non-diagnostic cases. 86/210 cases (41%) were invited to participate in a trial, of whom 43/86 (50%) subsequently enrolled. Additional benefits included the avoidance of postmortem examination if the coroner was satisfied with the multidisciplinary team decision. The overall process from referral to outcome dispatch was <2 weeks in 75% of cases.

Conclusions

This specialist mesothelioma multidisciplinary team meeting was effective at making diagnoses and providing recommendations for further investigations or treatment. The core requirements of a specialist mesothelioma multidisciplinary team meeting were met. The process was timely, with most outcomes returned within 2 weeks of referral.
Study protocol of a randomised controlled trial of intranasal ketamine compared with intranasal fentanyl for analgesia in children with suspected, isolated extremity fractures in the paediatric emergency department
Authors: Reynolds Stacy L , Studnek Jonathan R , Bryant Kathleen , VanderHave Kelly , Grossman Eric , Moore Charity G , Young James , Hogg Melanie , Runyon Michael S
Published: September 2016

Introduction

Fentanyl is the most widely studied intranasal (IN) analgesic in children. IN subdissociative (INSD) ketamine may offer a safe and efficacious alternative to IN fentanyl and may decrease overall opioid use during the emergency department (ED) stay. This study examines the feasibility of a larger, multicentre clinical trial comparing the safety and efficacy of INSD ketamine to IN fentanyl and the potential role for INSD ketamine in reducing total opioid medication usage.

Methods and analysis

This double-blind, randomised controlled, pilot trial will compare INSD ketamine (1 mg/kg) to IN fentanyl (1.5 μg/kg) for analgesia in 80 children aged 4–17 years with acute pain from a suspected, single extremity fracture. The primary safety outcome for this pilot trial will be the frequency of cumulative side effects and adverse events at 60 min after drug administration. The primary efficacy outcome will be exploratory and will be the mean reduction of pain scale scores at 20 min. The study is not powered to examine efficacy. Secondary outcome measures will include the total dose of opioid pain medication in morphine equivalents/kg/hour (excluding study drug) required during the ED stay, number and reason for screen failures, time to consent, and the number and type of protocol deviations. Patients may receive up to 2 doses of study drug.

Ethics and dissemination

This study was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, the local institutional review board and the study data safety monitoring board. This study data will be submitted for publication regardless of results and will be used to establish feasibility for a multicentre, non-inferiority trial.

Trial registration number

NCT02521415.
Burn injury and long-term nervous system morbidity: a population-based cohort study
Authors: Vetrichevvel Thirthar P , Randall Sean M , Fear Mark W , Wood Fiona M , Boyd James H , Duke Janine M
Published: September 2016

Objective

To investigate if children and adults who are hospitalised for a burn injury have increased long-term hospital use for nervous system diseases.

Design

A population-based retrospective cohort study using linked administrative health data from the Western Australian Data Linkage System.

Participants

Records of 30 997 persons hospitalised for a first burn injury in Western Australia during the period 1980–2012, and 123 399 persons who were age and gender frequency matched with no injury admissions randomly selected from Western Australia's birth registrations and electoral roll.

Main outcome measures

Admission rates and summed length of stay for nervous system diseases. Negative binomial and Cox proportional hazards regression modelling were used to generate incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and HRs with 95% CIs, respectively.

Results

After adjustment for demographic factors and pre-existing health status, the burn injury cohort had 2.20 times (95% CI 1.86 to 2.61) as many nervous system admissions and 3.25 times the number of days in hospital (95% CI: 2.28 to 4.64) than the uninjured cohort. This increase was found for those who had sustained burns during childhood (<15 years: IRR, 95% CI: 1.97, 1.49 to 2.61) and early to mid-adulthood (15–45 years: IRR, 95% CI: 2.70, 2.06 to 3.55) and older adults (≥45 years: IRR, 95% CI: 1.62, 1.33 to 1.97). Significantly elevated first-time postburn admissions were observed for children for 15 years postburn discharge (0–5 years: HR, 95% CI: 1.97, 1.75 to 2.22; 5–15 years: HR, 95% CI: 1.44, 1.28 to 1.63) and for adults 45 years and older at index burn for 5 years postburn only (HR, 95% CI: 1.72, 1.42 to 2.09).

Conclusions

Burn injury appears to be associated with increased nervous system-related morbidity for many years after burn injury. Further work into the mechanisms and possible treatments to reduce this morbidity are warranted in light of these findings.
The last Patagonian cycad,Austrozamiastockeyigen. et sp. nov., early Eocene of Laguna del Hunco, Chubut, Argentina
Authors: Wilf Peter , Stevenson Dennis Wm. , Cúneo N. Rubén
Published: September 2016

The cycads pose classic problems in evolutionary biogeography, owing to their far-flung extant distributions and the sparse fossil records of living genera. A noteworthy example is Tribe Encephalarteae of Family Zamiaceae, today consisting of Encephalartos (Africa) and the Australian genera Lepidozamia and Macrozamia. Numerous petrified trunks of Encephalarteae described from the Cretaceous of Patagonia, Antarctica, and India indicate far larger past distributions across Gondwana and subsequent extinctions. The only fossils close to the current range are Paleogene leaf fragments from Australia assigned to Lepidozamia and Macrozamia. Here, we report a large frond piece and several isolated leaflets of a compressed cycad, along with an associated spiny petiole, from the late-Gondwanan, 52.2 Ma Laguna del Hunco flora of Patagonia, Argentina. Austrozamia stockeyi gen. et sp. nov., has the novel combination of an Encephalartos-type leaf and Lepidozamia-type cuticle. The Australian Lepidozamia fossils, widely used for molecular clock calibrations, could also represent an extinct genus. Austrozamia stockeyi demonstrates survival of the Encephalarteae in Patagonia and presumably across Gondwana until its terminal phase, adding a striking new component to the growing list of South American plant extinctions associated with Antarctic separation and related climate changes.
Changes of Ionic Concentrations During Seizure Transitions — A Modeling Study
Authors: Gentiletti Damiano , Suffczynski Piotr , Gnatkovsky Vadym , de Curtis Marco
Published: September 2016

Traditionally, it is considered that neuronal synchronization in epilepsy is caused by a chain reaction of synaptic excitation. However, it has been shown that synchronous epileptiform activity may also arise without synaptic transmission. In order to investigate the respective roles of synaptic interactions and nonsynaptic mechanisms in seizure transitions, we developed a computational model of hippocampal cells, involving the extracellular space, realistic dynamics of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] ions, glial uptake and extracellular diffusion mechanisms. We show that the network behavior with fixed ionic concentrations may be quite different from the neurons’ behavior when more detailed modeling of ionic dynamics is included. In particular, we show that in the extended model strong discharge of inhibitory interneurons may result in long lasting accumulation of extracellular [Formula: see text], which sustains the depolarization of the principal cells and causes their pathological discharges. This effect is not present in a reduced, purely synaptic network. These results point to the importance of nonsynaptic mechanisms in the transition to seizure.
Cell-Based ESD Diodes with a Zigzag-Shaped Layout to Enhance the ESD Survival Level
Authors: Son Minoh , Park Changkun
Published: September 2016

In this study, we propose cell-based diodes which are laid out with a zigzag shape as electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection elements to enhance the ESD survival level of the diodes. Generally, diodes are regarded as simple ESD protection devices in integrated circuits. During ESD events, the P–N junction of the ESD diode acts as a thermal source. In this study, we investigate a distributed layout method which relies on a cell-based ESD diode to prevent an excessive increase in the temperature at the P–N junction. However, although the distributed layout enhances the ESD survival levels of the ESD diode, the required area increases compared that of a typical layout. Thus, we propose a zigzag layout technique for the cell-based diode to reduce the area and obtain a high ESD survival level. To verify the feasibility of the zigzag layout techniques for cell-based diodes, we designed ESD diodes using 110[Formula: see text]nm RF CMOS technology. The experimental results successfully demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method.
Parities on 2-knots and 2-links
Authors: Fedoseev Denis A. , Manturov Vassily O.
Published: September 2016

Two-dimensional knots and links are studied in the paper. In this paper, the notion of a parity for 2D knots and links is introduced via techniques similar to the ones used by the second named author in 1D case. By using parity new invariants are constructed and some known invariants are refined.
Duality preserving Gray maps for codes over rings
Authors: Szabo Steve , Ulmer Felix
Published: September 2016

Given a finite ring [Formula: see text] which is a free left module over a subring [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text], two types of [Formula: see text]-bases, pseudo-self-dual bases (similar to trace orthogonal bases) and symmetric bases, are defined which in turn are used to define duality preserving maps from codes over [Formula: see text] to codes over [Formula: see text]. Both types of bases are generalizations of similar concepts for fields. Many illustrative examples are given to shed light on the advantages to such mappings as well as their abundance.
Multi-agent reinforcement learning using ordinal action selection and approximate policy iteration
Authors: Liu Daxue , Wu Jun , Xu Xin
Published: September 2016

Multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) provides a useful and flexible framework for multi-agent coordination in uncertain dynamic environments. However, the generalization ability and scalability of algorithms to large problem sizes, already problematic in single-agent RL, is an even more formidable obstacle in MARL applications. In this paper, a new MARL method based on ordinal action selection and approximate policy iteration called OAPI (Ordinal Approximate Policy Iteration), is presented to address the scalability issue of MARL algorithms in common-interest Markov Games. In OAPI, an ordinal action selection and learning strategy is integrated with distributed approximate policy iteration not only to simplify the policy space and eliminate the conflicts in multi-agent coordination, but also to realize the approximation of near-optimal policies for Markov Games with large state spaces. Based on the simplified policy space using ordinal action selection, the OAPI algorithm implements distributed approximate policy iteration utilizing online least-squares policy iteration (LSPI). This resulted in multi-agent coordination with good convergence properties with reduced computational complexity. The simulation results of a coordinated multi-robot navigation task illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Quaternionic (super) twistors extensions and general superspaces
Authors: Cirilo-Lombardo Diego Julio , Pervushin Victor N.
Published: September 2016

In a attempt to treat a supergravity as a tensor representation, the four-dimensional [Formula: see text]-extended quaternionic superspaces are constructed from the (diffeomorphyc) graded extension of the ordinary Penrose-twistor formulation, performed in a previous work of the authors [D. J. Cirilo-Lombardo and V. N. Pervushin, Int. J. Geom. Methods Mod. Phys., doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/S0219887816501139.], with [Formula: see text] These quaternionic superspaces have [Formula: see text] even-quaternionic coordinates and [Formula: see text] odd-quaternionic coordinates, where each coordinate is a quaternion composed by four [Formula: see text]-fields (bosons and fermions respectively). The fields content as the dimensionality (even and odd sectors) of these superspaces are given and exemplified by selected physical cases. In this case, the number of fields of the supergravity is determined by the number of components of the tensor representation of the four-dimensional [Formula: see text]-extended quaternionic superspaces. The role of tensorial central charges for any [Formula: see text] even [Formula: see text] is elucidated from this theoretical context.
On equation Xn − 1 = BZn
Authors: Bartolomé B. , Mihăilescu P.
Published: September 2016

We consider the Diophantine equation [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is understood as a parameter. We prove that if the equation has a solution, then either the Euler totient of the radical, [Formula: see text], has a common divisor with the exponent [Formula: see text], or the exponent is a prime and the solution stems from a solution to the diagonal case of the Nagell–Ljunggren equation: [Formula: see text]. This allows us to apply recent results on this equation to the binary Thue equation in question. In particular, we can then display parametrized families for which the Thue equation has no solution. The first such family was proved by Bennett in his seminal paper on binary Thue equations (see [M. A. Bennet, Rational approximation to algebraic numbers of small height: the Diophantine equation [Formula: see text], J. Reine Angew. Math. 535 (2001) 1–49]).
On Greenberg’s generalized conjecture for complex cubic fields
Authors: Kataoka Takenori
Published: September 2016

Let [Formula: see text] be a prime number. For a number field [Formula: see text], let [Formula: see text] be the compositum of all [Formula: see text]-extensions of [Formula: see text]. Then Greenberg’s generalized conjecture (GGC) claims that the unramified Iwasawa module [Formula: see text] is pseudo-null over the Iwasawa algebra associated to the Galois group of [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we establish sufficient conditions of GGC when [Formula: see text] is a complex cubic field and give many examples which satisfy the conditions with the help of computer programs.
Explicit evaluation of quadratic Euler sums
Authors: Xu Ce , Yang Yingyue , Zhang Jianwen
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we work out some explicit formulae for double nonlinear Euler sums involving harmonic numbers and alternating harmonic numbers. As applications of these formulae, we give new closed form representations of several quadratic Euler sums through Riemann zeta function and linear sums. The given representations are new.
On multiple zeta values of even arguments
Authors: Hoffman Michael E.
Published: September 2016

For [Formula: see text], let [Formula: see text] be the sum of all multiple zeta values with even arguments whose weight is [Formula: see text] and whose depth is [Formula: see text]. Of course [Formula: see text] is the value [Formula: see text] of the Riemann zeta function at [Formula: see text], and it is well known that [Formula: see text]. Recently Shen and Cai gave formulas for [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] in terms of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We give two formulas for [Formula: see text], both valid for arbitrary [Formula: see text], one of which generalizes the Shen–Cai results; by comparing the two we obtain a Bernoulli-number identity. We also give explicit generating functions for the numbers [Formula: see text] and for the analogous numbers [Formula: see text] defined using multiple zeta-star values of even arguments.
Trip Recommendation Meets Real-World Constraints
Authors: Zhang Chenyi , Liang Hongwei , Wang Ke
Published: September 2016

As location-based social network (LBSN) services become increasingly popular, trip recommendation that recommends a sequence of points of interest (POIs) to visit for a user emerges as one of many important applications of LBSNs.
Personalized
trip recommendation tailors to users’ specific tastes by learning from past check-in behaviors of users and their peers. Finding the optimal trip that maximizes user’s experiences for a given time budget constraint is an NP-hard problem and previous solutions do not consider three practical and important constraints. One constraint is
POI availability
, where a POI may be only available during a certain time window. Another constraint is
uncertain traveling time
, where the traveling time between two POIs is uncertain. In addition, the
diversity
of the POIs included in the trip plays an important role in user’s final adoptions. This work presents efficient solutions to personalized trip recommendation by incorporating these constraints and leveraging them to prune the search space. We evaluated the efficiency and effectiveness of our solutions on real-life LBSN datasets.
Imaging Tumor Metabolism to Assess Disease Progression and Treatment Response
Authors: Timm Kerstin N. , Kennedy Brett W.C. , Brindle Kevin M.
Published: September 2016

Changes in tumor metabolism may accompany disease progression and can occur following treatment, often before there are changes in tumor size. We focus here on imaging methods that can be used to image various aspects of tumor metabolism, with an emphasis on methods that can be used for tumor grading, assessing disease progression, and monitoring treatment response. Clin Cancer Res; 22(21); 5196–203. ©2016 AACR.
Sildenafil Improves Brain Injury Recovery following Term Neonatal Hypoxia-Ischemia in Male Rat Pups
Authors: Yazdani Armin , Khoja Zehra , Johnstone Aaron , Dale Laura , Rampakakis Emmanouil , Wintermark Pia
Published: September 2016

Term asphyxiated newborns remain at risk of developing brain injury despite available neuropreventive therapies such as hypothermia. Neurorestorative treatments may be an alternative. This study investigated the effect of sildenafil on brain injury induced by neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) at term-equivalent age. Neonatal HI was induced in male Long-Evans rat pups at postnatal day 10 (P10) by left common carotid ligation followed by a 2-hour exposure to 8% oxygen; sham-operated rat pups served as the control. Both groups were randomized to oral sildenafil or vehicle twice daily for 7 consecutive days. Gait analysis was performed on P27. At P30, the rats were sacrificed, and their brains were extracted. The surfaces of both hemispheres were measured on hematoxylin and eosin-stained brain sections. Mature neurons and endothelial cells were quantified near the infarct boundary zone using immunohistochemistry. HI caused significant gait impairment and a reduction in the size of the left hemisphere. Treatment with sildenafil led to an improvement in the neurological deficits as measured by gait analysis, as well as an improvement in the size of the left hemisphere. Sildenafil, especially at higher doses, also caused a significant increase in the number of neurons near the infarct boundary zone. In conclusion, sildenafil administered after neonatal HI may improve brain injury recovery by promoting neuronal populations.
Quantitative Assessment of Surgical Anatomy and Three-Dimensional Relationships in the Supralabyrinthine Space
Authors: Ni Yusu , Wang Kaishi , Jiang Yi , Zhou Ren , Sha Yan , Li Huawei
Published: September 2016

Objective: To explore and quantify the surgically relevant anatomic relationships and three-dimensional (3D) morphology of the supralabyrinthine space, and enable a deeper, clearer understanding of its regional anatomy. Materials and Methods: 3D-DOCTOR software was used to create a 3D reconstruction of the axial CT images and multiplanar reformatting of 55 slices of temporal bone in 29 patients (17 males and 12 females), whose average age was 38.69 ± 17.81 years. The 3D relationships between the mutual complex structures were displayed graphically and measured. Results: The important structures within the temporal bone were displayed in detail. 3D relationships between the structures in the temporal bone, such as the ossicles, facial nerves, labyrinth, and skull base, were quantified. Conclusion: Quantification of surgically relevant anatomic relationships and the morphology of the supralabyrinthine space in three dimensions are very helpful in surgical dissection.
Advances in the Management of Acute Cardiorenal Syndrome in China: Biomarkers for Predicting Development and Outcomes
Authors: Hou Fan Fan , Yang Xiaobing
Published: September 2016

Background: Acute cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is a common clinical condition associated with adverse outcomes. Early identification of acute kidney injury in this setting remains challenging given that serum creatinine level is a marker of renal function and not kidney injury. Summary: Several renal injury-related molecules are now available, which may help elucidate the complexities of the organ crosstalk, enabling more accurate risk stratification and effective interventions. Key Messages: This review highlights the major studies that have characterized the diagnostic and prognostic predictive power of these biomarkers with reference to acute CRS. Although more research is needed, the current results are very promising.
Prognostic Role of Lactate Dehydrogenase Expression in Urologic Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhang Yong , Xu Ting , Wang Yi , Zhang Hong , Zhao Yang , Yang Xuecheng , Cao Yanwei , Yang Wu , Niu Haitao
Published: September 2016

Objective: The prognostic role of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in urinary system cancer is still controversial. Thus, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the prognostic significance of LDH for patients with urinary system cancer. Methods: We searched the PubMed, Embase, Springer and CNKI databases for studies published from January 1991 to February 2015 associated with LDH and urinary system cancer. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. After careful review, survival data were extracted from eligible studies. We used pooled hazard ratios (HRs) to estimate the effect of LDH on overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Results: 44 studies meeting the criterion were included. High expression of LDH was significantly correlated with poor OS in urologic cancer (pooled HR 1.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.81-2.07; p < 0.001). The pooled HRs showed significant difference in PFS between LDH over expression group with LDH low expression group (Pooled HR 1.95, 95% CI 1.61-2.36; p < 0.001) in urologic cancer. Conclusion: High serum LDH is associated with OS and PFS in patients with urinary system cancer, and it is an effective biomarker of prognosis in patients with urologic cancer.
Efficacy Profile of Ivabradine in Patients with Heart Failure plus Angina Pectoris
Authors: Borer Jeffrey S. , Swedberg Karl , Komajda Michel , Ford Ian , Tavazzi Luigi , Böhm Michael , Depre Christophe , Wu Yuna , Maya Juan , Dominjon Fabienne
Published: September 2016

Objectives: In the Systolic Heart Failure Treatment with the If Inhibitor Ivabradine Trial (SHIFT), slowing of the heart rate with ivabradine reduced cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalizations among patients with systolic chronic heart failure (CHF). Subsequently, in the Study Assessing the Morbidity-Mortality Benefits of the If Inhibitor Ivabradine in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease (SIGNIFY) slowing of the heart rate in patients without CHF provided no benefit for cardiovascular death or nonfatal myocardial infarction (primary composite end point), with secondary analyses suggesting possible harm in the angina subgroup. Therefore, we examined the impact of ivabradine in the patients with CHF plus angina in SHIFT. Methods: SHIFT enrolled adults with stable, symptomatic CHF, a left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35% and a sinus rhythm with a resting heart rate ≥70 bpm. Outcomes were the SHIFT and SIGNIFY primary composite end points and their components. Results: Of 6,505 patients in SHIFT, 2,220 (34%) reported angina at randomization. Ivabradine numerically, but not significantly, reduced the SIGNIFY primary composite end point by 8, 11 and 11% in the SHIFT angina subgroup, nonangina subgroup and overall population, respectively. Ivabradine also reduced the SHIFT primary composite end point in all 3 subgroups. Conclusions: In SHIFT, ivabradine showed consistent reduction of cardiovascular outcomes in patients with CHF; similar results were seen in the subgroup of SHIFT patients with angina.
Evaluation of
68
Ga-Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II Ligand Positron Emission Tomography for Clinical Molecular Imaging of Atherosclerotic Plaque Neovascularization
Authors: Derlin Thorsten , Thiele Johannes , Weiberg Desiree , Thackeray James T. , Püschel Klaus , Wester Hans-Jürgen , Aguirre Dávila Lukas , Larena-Avellaneda Axel , Daum Günter , Bengel Frank M. , Schumacher Udo
Published: September 2016

Objective—

Intraplaque neovascularization contributes to the progression and rupture of atherosclerotic lesions. Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) is strongly expressed by endothelial cells of tumor neovasculature and plays a major role in hypoxia-induced neovascularization in rodent models of benign diseases. We hypothesized that GCPII expression may play a role in intraplaque neovascularization and may represent a target for imaging of atherosclerotic lesions. The aim of this study was to determine frequency, pattern, and clinical correlates of vessel wall uptake of a
68
Ga-GCPII ligand for positron emission tomographic imaging.

Approach and Results—

Data from 150 patients undergoing
68
Ga-GCPII ligand positron emission tomography were evaluated. Tracer uptake in various arterial segments was analyzed and was compared with calcified plaque burden, cardiovascular risk factors, and immunohistochemistry of carotid specimens. Focal arterial uptake of
68
Ga-GCPII ligand was identified at 5776 sites in 99.3% of patients. The prevalence of uptake sites was highest in the thoracic aorta; 18.4% of lesions with tracer uptake were colocalized with calcified plaque. High injected dose (
P
=0.0005) and obesity (
P
=0.007) were significantly associated with
68
Ga-GCPII ligand accumulation, but other cardiovascular risk factors showed no association. The number of
68
Ga-GCPII ligand uptake sites was significantly associated with overweight condition (
P
=0.0154). Immunohistochemistry did not show GCPII expression. Autoradiographic blocking studies indicated nonspecific tracer binding.

Conclusions—

68
Ga-GCPII ligand positron emission tomography does not identify vascular lesions associated with atherosclerotic risk. Foci of tracer accumulation are likely caused by nonspecific tracer binding and are in part noise-related. Taken together, GCPII may not be a priority target for imaging of atherosclerotic lesions.
Contralaterally Controlled Functional Electrical Stimulation Improves Hand Dexterity in Chronic Hemiparesis
Authors: Knutson Jayme S. , Gunzler Douglas D. , Wilson Richard D. , Chae John
Published: September 2016

Background and Purpose—

It is unknown whether one method of neuromuscular electrical stimulation for poststroke upper limb rehabilitation is more effective than another. Our aim was to compare the effects of contralaterally controlled functional electrical stimulation (CCFES) with cyclic neuromuscular electrical stimulation (cNMES).

Methods—

Stroke patients with chronic (>6 months) moderate to severe upper extremity hemiparesis (n=80) were randomized to receive 10 sessions/wk of CCFES- or cNMES-assisted hand opening exercise at home plus 20 sessions of functional task practice in the laboratory for 12 weeks. The task practice for the CCFES group was stimulation assisted. The primary outcome was change in Box and Block Test (BBT) score at 6 months post treatment. Upper extremity Fugl–Meyer and Arm Motor Abilities Test were also measured.

Results—

At 6 months post treatment, the CCFES group had greater improvement on the BBT, 4.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.2–7.0), than the cNMES group, 1.8 (95% CI, 0.6–3.0), between-group difference of 2.8 (95% CI, 0.1–5.5),
P
=0.045. No significant between-group difference was found for the upper extremity Fugl–Meyer (
P
=0.888) or Arm Motor Abilities Test (
P
=0.096). Participants who had the largest improvements on BBT were <2 years post stroke with moderate (ie, not severe) hand impairment at baseline. Among these, the 6-month post-treatment BBT gains of the CCFES group, 9.6 (95% CI, 5.6–13.6), were greater than those of the cNMES group, 4.1 (95% CI, 1.7–6.5), between-group difference of 5.5 (95% CI, 0.8–10.2),
P
=0.023.

Conclusions—

CCFES improved hand dexterity more than cNMES in chronic stroke survivors.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00891319.
What’s in a Word? ‘Partnerships’ between nato and Other International Institutions and Some Issues of Shared Responsibility
Authors: Zwanenburg Marten
Published: September 2016

This article discusses partnerships between nato and other international institutions, with a particular focus on questions of international responsibility raised by such partnerships. It concludes that ‘partnership’ is a notion that is used by nato in a rather general sense, rather than as referring to a clearly delineated category with specific legal connotations. In practice, nato has partnerships with States, international organizations, ngos and private actors. Such partnerships are relatively little formalized, including where questions of responsibility are concerned. As a consequence of the lack of specific arrangements between nato and partners, and the lack of practice—or in any event practice that has been made public—the ars and ario have a potentially important role to play. Upon closer scrutiny, however, the application of these principles raises many questions. One reason for this is that they are relatively underdeveloped in respect of situations where multiple actors are involved.
A new species and a new combination in Meniscium (Thelypteridaceae) from Brazil
Authors: FERNANDES ROZIJANE SANTOS , SALINO ALEXANDRE
Published: September 2016

A new species of Meniscium from northern and central Brazil, M. delicatum, is described and illustrated. In addition, a new combination in Meniscium is proposed for Dryopteris pachysorum. A key for the Brazilian species of Meniscium is presented.
Nomenclatural novelties for the Palaeocene plants of North America
Authors: DOWELD ALEXANDER B.
Published: September 2016

The new names Mciveriella and Rhamnica are proposed to replace later homonyms, Harmsia McIver & Basinger and Rhamnites Forbes ex McIver & Basinger respectively. Rhamnites Newberry is restored as a valid genus, being synonymized with Amelanchites McIver & Basinger. Rhamnites Forbes ex Berry is re-classified as Berchemiopsis McGinitie. The new combinations Archeampelos lobatocrenata, Archeampelos nebrascensis, Berchemiopsis berchemiiformis, Mciveriella hydrocotyloidea, Rhamnica cleburnii, Rhamnica goldiana, Rhamnites asperus are proposed. Furthermore the illegitimate name Populus cordata Newberry (non Hort. ex Poiret) is lectotypified and transferred into Archeampelos with the new name A. yellowstonica.
On the taxonomic identity and lectotypification of Impatiens uncipetala C.B.Clarke ex Hook.f.
Authors: GOGOI RAJIB , ADAMOWSKI WOJCIECH , SHERPA NORBU , CHHETRI GEETAMANI
Published: September 2016

Impatiens yui S.H.Huang from NW Yunnan is treated as a synonym of I. uncipetala C.B.Clarke ex Hook.f., known from eastern Himalaya of Nepal, Sikkim, West Bengal and Arunachal Pradesh. The species epithet of the latter is misleading because observations of living specimens do not support the hook-like shape for the appendage of the upper lateral petal. The name I. uncipetala C.B.Clarke ex Hook.f. is lectotypified herewith.
A new species of Cyrtodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam
Authors: LE DZUNG TRUNG , NGUYEN TRUONG QUANG , LE MINH DUC , ZIEGLER THOMAS
Published: September 2016

We describe a new species of the genus Cyrtodactylus on the basis of six specimens collected from the limestone forest of the Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve, Ninh Binh Province, Vietnam. Cyrtodactylus soni sp. nov. can be distinguished from its congeners by genetic distinction and morphological differences in number of femoral and precloacal pores, femoral scales, ventral scales, lamellae, subcaudals, and dorsal tubercle arrangement, as well as in size and color pattern. In the phylogenetic analyses, the new species is nested in a clade containing taxa from northwestern and northcentral Vietnam and northern Laos.
Two new species of genus Joruma McAtee (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Typhlocybinae) from Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil
Authors: COELHO LUCI BOA NOVA , DA-SILVA ELIDIOMAR RIBEIRO , FERREIRA PAULO SÉRGIO FIUZA
Published: September 2016

Joruma abernardesi sp.nov. and Joruma phrolfsi sp.nov. (Typhlocybinae: Jorumini) are described based on specimens from Mata do Paraíso, an Atlantic Forest reserve located at Viçosa municipality. This is the first record of the genus Joruma McAtee in Minas Gerais State, southeastern Brazil.
Revision of the spider crab genus Sargassocarcinus Ward, 1936 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Epialtidae)
Authors: NG PETER K. L. , LIN CHIA-WEI , NARUSE TOHRU
Published: September 2016

The Western Pacific epialtid genus Sargassocarcinus Ward, 1936, is revised. The genus had been regarded as monotypic but is here shown to contain three species: S. sublimis (Rathbun, 1916), S. cristatus (Balss, 1924), and S. foliatus Ward, 1936 (type species). The many unusual characters possessed by Sargassocarcinus are figured and discussed; and diagnostic features of the three species are clarified. The taxonomy of the three species and aspects of their ecology are discussed. Sargassocarcinus species are found free-living on coral rubble habitats and not associated with macrophytic algae.
Plateurytion roigi sp. nov., a new geophilid centipede (Myriapoda: Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha) from Southern Chile
Authors: PEREIRA LUIS ALBERTO
Published: September 2016

Plateurytion roigi sp. nov. (Chilopoda: Geophilomorpha: Geophilidae) is fully described and illustrated from the holotype female from southern Chile (Region X (de Los Lagos region): Palena province). The new species seems particularly similar to P. gracilis (Gervais, 1849) (from Chile and Argentina), to which it is accordingly compared in detail for a confident identification. This is the sixth report of a species of the genus Plateurytion Attems, 1909, from Chile. The others are P. gracilis (Gervais, 1849); P. metopias (Attems, 1903); P. michaelseni (Attems, 1903); P. mundus (Chamberlin, 1955); and P. zapallar (Chamberlin, 1955). New geographic records are given for Plateurytion mauryi Pereira, 2008, which is reported for the first time from San Juan province, up to now only known from the type locality (in Mendoza province), central-western Argentina. Plateurytion yungarum (Pereira, 2005), is reported from the montane cloud forest altitudinal level of the Yungas forest of northwestern Argentina, until now it has only been recorded from the (lowest) montane forest altitudinal level of the Yungas.
Varieties of American Popular Nationalism
Authors: Bonikowski Bart , DiMaggio Paul
Published: September 2016

Despite the relevance of nationalism for politics and intergroup relations, sociologists have devoted surprisingly little attention to the phenomenon in the United States, and historians and political psychologists who do study the United States have limited their focus to specific forms of nationalist sentiment: ethnocultural or civic nationalism, patriotism, or national pride. This article innovates, first, by examining an unusually broad set of measures (from the 2004 GSS) tapping national identification, ethnocultural and civic criteria for national membership, domain-specific national pride, and invidious comparisons to other nations, thus providing a fuller depiction of Americans’ national self-understanding. Second, we use latent class analysis to explore heterogeneity, partitioning the sample into classes characterized by distinctive patterns of attitudes. Conventional distinctions between ethnocultural and civic nationalism describe just about half of the U.S. population and do not account for the unexpectedly low levels of national pride found among respondents who hold restrictive definitions of American nationhood. A subset of primarily younger and well-educated Americans lacks any strong form of patriotic sentiment; a larger class, primarily older and less well educated, embraces every form of nationalist sentiment. Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics and partisan identification, these classes vary significantly in attitudes toward ethnic minorities, immigration, and national sovereignty. Finally, using comparable data from 1996 and 2012, we find structural continuity and distributional change in national sentiments over a period marked by terrorist attacks, war, economic crisis, and political contention.