bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can Rehabilitation Influence the Efficiency of Control Signals in Complex Motion Strategies?
Authors: Cholewa Joanna , Cholewa Jaroslaw , Gorzkowska Agnieszka , Malecki Andrzej , Stanula Arkadiusz
Published: May 2017

The factor determining quality of life in Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the worsening of a patient’s walking ability. The use of external stimuli can improve gait when performing complex motor patterns. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of rehabilitation on the effectiveness of control signals in people with PD. The study was performed on 42 people with idiopathic PD in the third stage of disease. The control group consisted of 19 patients who did not participate in rehabilitation activities. The experimental group was systematically participating in rehabilitation activities twice a week (60 minutes) for 9 months. Gait speed, mean step length, and step frequency were calculated on the basis of the obtained results. These parameters were compared in both groups by single factor variance analyses. The best results were obtained using rhythmic external auditory signals. The group with patients actively participating in rehabilitation showed statistically significant improvement in gait speed (12.35%), mean step length (18.00%), and frequency step (2.40%) compared to the control group. The presented research showed the positive effect of rehabilitation and was based on the performance of complex motion patterns, using external control signals for their effectiveness in new motion tasks.
Staphylococcus saprophyticusRecovered from Humans, Food, and Recreational Waters in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: Sousa Viviane Santos de , da-Silva Ana Paula de Souza , Sorenson Leif , Paschoal Raphael Paiva , Rabello Renata Fernandes , Campana Eloiza Helena , Pinheiro Márcia Soares , Santos Lyssa Oliveira Ferreira dos , Martins Natacha , Botelho Ana Carolina Nunes , Picão Renata Cristina , Fracalanzza Sérgio Eduardo Longo , Riley Lee Woodland , Sensabaugh George , Moreira Beatriz Meurer
Published: May 2017

Staphylococcus saprophyticusis an important agent of urinary tract infection (UTI) in young women, but information about this pathogen in human microbiota and in common environment is lacking. The aim of this study was to characterizeS. saprophyticusisolates from genitoanal microbiota of 621 pregnant women, 10 minas cheese packs, and five beaches in Rio de Janeiro city and compare PFGE profiles of these isolates with five UTI PFGE clusters described in this city. We investigated 65S. saprophyticusisolates from microbiota, 13 from minas cheese, and 30 from beaches and 32 UTI isolates. Antimicrobial resistance was determined by disk diffusion, MIC by agar dilution, and PCR. Erythromycin-resistance geneserm(C),msr(A),msr(B),mph(C), andlin(A) were found in 93% of isolates. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole resistance correlated withdfrGordfrAgenes. Three cefoxitin-resistant isolates carried themecAgene. All isolates obtained from cheese were susceptible to all antimicrobial agents. Six of 10 pregnant women with >1 isolate had monoclonal colonization. Isolates from pregnant women shared 100% similarity with UTI PFGE cluster types A and E obtained almost 10 years previously, suggesting temporal persistence ofS. saprophyticus. Antimicrobial resistance of beach isolates reflected the profiles of human isolates. Taken together, results indicate a shared source for human and environmental isolates.
Preparation and Optimization of 10-Hydroxycamptothecin Nanocolloidal Particles Using Antisolvent Method Combined with High Pressure Homogenization
Authors: Lian Bolin , Li Yong , Zhao Xiuhua , Zu Yuangang , Wang Ying , Zhang Yin , Li Yuanyuan
Published: May 2017

The aim of this study was to prepare 10-hydroxycamptothecin nanocolloidal particles (HCPTNPs) to increase the solubility of drugs, reduce the toxicity, improve the stability of the drug, and so forth. HCPTNPs was prepared by antisolvent precipitation (AP) method combined with high pressure homogenization (HPH), followed by lyophilization. The main parameters during antisolvent process including volume ratio of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and H2O and dripping speed were optimized and their effects on mean particle size (MPS) and yield of HCPT primary particles were investigated. In the high pressure homogeneous procedure, types of surfactants, amount of surfactants, and homogenization pressure (HP) were optimized and their influences on MPS, zeta potential (ZP), and morphology were analyzed. The optimum conditions of HCPTNPs were as follows: 0.2 mg/mL HCPT aqueous suspension, 1% of ASS, 1000 bar of HP, and 20 passes. Finally, the HCPTNPs via lyophilization using glucose as lyoprotectant under optimum conditions had an MPS of 179.6 nm and a ZP of 28.79 ± 1.97 mV. The short-term stability of HCPTNPs indicated that the MPS changed in a small range.
Performance of Gradient-Based Solutions versus Genetic Algorithms in the Correlation of Thermal Mathematical Models of Spacecrafts
Authors: Anglada Eva , Martinez-Jimenez Laura , Garmendia Iñaki
Published: May 2017

The correlation of the thermal mathematical models (TMMs) of spacecrafts with the results of the thermal test is a demanding task in terms of time and effort. Theoretically, it can be automatized by means of optimization techniques, although this is a challenging task. Previous studies have shown the ability of genetic algorithms to perform this task in several cases, although some limitations have been detected. In addition, gradient-based methods, although also presenting some limitations, have provided good solutions in other technical fields. For this reason, the performance of genetic algorithms and gradient-based methods in the correlation of TMMs is discussed in this paper to compare the pros and cons of them. The case of study used in the comparison is a real space instrument flown aboard the International Space Station.
Advancing Shannon Entropy for Measuring Diversity in Systems
Authors: Rajaram R. , Castellani B. , Wilson A. N.
Published: May 2017

From economic inequality and species diversity to power laws and the analysis of multiple trends and trajectories, diversity within systems is a major issue for science. Part of the challenge is measuring it. Shannon entropy H has been used to rethink diversity within probability distributions, based on the notion of information. However, there are two major limitations to Shannon’s approach. First, it cannot be used to compare diversity distributions that have different levels of scale. Second, it cannot be used to compare parts of diversity distributions to the whole. To address these limitations, we introduce a renormalization of probability distributions based on the notion of case-based entropy Cc as a function of the cumulative probability c. Given a probability density p(x), Cc measures the diversity of the distribution up to a cumulative probability of c, by computing the length or support of an equivalent uniform distribution that has the same Shannon information as the conditional distribution of p^c(x) up to cumulative probability c. We illustrate the utility of our approach by renormalizing and comparing three well-known energy distributions in physics, namely, the Maxwell-Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein, and Fermi-Dirac distributions for energy of subatomic particles. The comparison shows that Cc is a vast improvement over H as it provides a scale-free comparison of these diversity distributions and also allows for a comparison between parts of these diversity distributions.
Functional Treatment of a Child with Extracapsular Mandibular Fracture
Authors: Cassi Diana , Magnifico Marisabel , Di Blasio Chiara , Gandolfini Mauro , Di Blasio Alberto
Published: May 2017

Condylar fractures are among the most frequent fractures in the context of traumatic lesions of the face. The management of condylar fractures is still controversial, especially when fractures occur in children: if overlooked or inappropriately treated, these lesions may lead to severe sequelae, both cosmetic and functional. The therapy must be careful because severe long-term complications can occur. In this case report, the authors present a case of mandibular fracture in which the decision between surgical therapy and functional therapeutic regimen may be controversial due to the particular anatomy of the fracture line and the age of the patient.
The Damaging Effect of Passenger Mutations on Cancer Progression
Authors: McFarland Christopher D. , Yaglom Julia A. , Wojtkowiak Jonathan W. , Scott Jacob G. , Morse David L. , Sherman Michael Y. , Mirny Leonid A.
Published: May 2017

Genomic instability and high mutation rates cause cancer to acquire numerous mutations and chromosomal alterations during its somatic evolution; most are termed passengers because they do not confer cancer phenotypes. Evolutionary simulations and cancer genomic studies suggest that mildly deleterious passengers accumulate and can collectively slow cancer progression. Clinical data also suggest an association between passenger load and response to therapeutics, yet no causal link between the effects of passengers and cancer progression has been established. To assess this, we introduced increasing passenger loads into human cell lines and immunocompromised mouse models. We found that passengers dramatically reduced proliferative fitness (∼3% per Mb), slowed tumor growth, and reduced metastatic progression. We developed new genomic measures of damaging passenger load that can accurately predict the fitness costs of passengers in cell lines and in human breast cancers. We conclude that genomic instability and an elevated load of DNA alterations in cancer is a double-edged sword: it accelerates the accumulation of adaptive drivers, but incurs a harmful passenger load that can outweigh driver benefit. The effects of passenger alterations on cancer fitness were unrelated to enhanced immunity, as our tests were performed either in cell culture or in immunocompromised animals. Our findings refute traditional paradigms of passengers as neutral events, suggesting that passenger load reduces the fitness of cancer cells and slows or prevents progression of both primary and metastatic disease. The antitumor effects of chemotherapies can in part be due to the induction of genomic instability and increased passenger load. Cancer Res; 77(18); 4763–72. ©2017 AACR.
Immune Correlates of GM-CSF and Melanoma Peptide Vaccination in a Randomized Trial for the Adjuvant Therapy of Resected High-Risk Melanoma (E4697)
Authors: Butterfield Lisa H. , Zhao Fengmin , Lee Sandra , Tarhini Ahmad A. , Margolin Kim A. , White Richard L. , Atkins Michael B. , Cohen Gary I. , Whiteside Theresa L. , Kirkwood John M. , Lawson David H.
Published: May 2017

Purpose: E4697 was a multicenter intergroup randomized placebo-controlled phase III trial of adjuvant GM-CSF and/or a multiepitope melanoma peptide vaccine for patients with completely resected, high-risk stage III/IV melanoma.

Experimental Design: A total of 815 patients were enrolled from December 1999 to October 2006 into this six-arm study. GM-CSF was chosen to promote the numbers and functions of dendritic cells (DC). The melanoma antigen peptide vaccine (Tyrosinase368-376 (370D), gp100209-217 (210M), MART-127-35) in montanide was designed to promote melanoma-specific CD8+ T-cell responses.

Results: Although the overall RFS and OS were not significantly improved with the vaccine or GM-CSF when compared with placebo, immunomodulatory effects were observed in peripheral blood and served as important correlates to this therapeutic study. Peripheral blood was examined to evaluate the impact of GM-CSF and/or the peptide vaccine on peripheral blood immunity and to investigate potential predictive or prognostic biomarkers. A total of 11.3% of unvaccinated patients and 27.1% of vaccinated patients developed peptide-specific CD8+ T-cell responses. HLA-A2+ patients who had any peptide-specific CD8+ T-cell response at day +43 tended to have poorer OS in univariate analysis. Patients receiving GM-CSF had significant reduction in percentages of circulating myeloid dendritic cells (mDC) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC) at day +43. In a subset of patients who received GM-CSF, circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), and anti-GM-CSF–neutralizing antibodies (Nabs) were also modulated. The majority of patients developed anti-GM-CSF Nabs, which correlated with improved RFS and OS.

Conclusions: The assessment of cellular and humoral responses identified counterintuitive immune system changes correlating with clinical outcome. Clin Cancer Res; 23(17); 5034–43. ©2017 AACR.
Augmented TME O-GlcNAcylation Promotes Tumor Proliferation through the Inhibition of p38 MAPK
Authors: Moriwaki Kazumasa , Asahi Michio
Published: May 2017

O-GlcNAcylation is a dynamic O-linked glycosylation event that plays a crucial role in regulating cellular signaling. Recent studies indicate that increased O-GlcNAcylation is a general feature in cancer and contributes to various cancer phenotypes, including cell proliferation, survival, invasion, metastasis, and energy metabolism. However, the role of O-GlcNAcylation in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is not fully elucidated. Here, B16 melanoma cells were subcutaneously transplanted into O-GlcNAc transferase transgenic (Ogt-Tg) mice exhibiting elevated O-GlcNAcylation to examine the effect of O-GlcNAcylation in the TME on tumor progression. In this model system, B16 tumor growth was significantly higher in Ogt-Tg/+ mice compared with wild-type (WT) mice. The tumors grown in Ogt-Tg/+ mice showed significant downregulation of p38 MAPK activity and upregulation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In addition, proinflammatory cytokine production was significantly lower in the tumor tissues from Ogt-Tg/+ mice than in those from WT mice. Activation of NF-κB, a key regulator in the cytokine production, was downregulated in the macrophages of the tumor tissues grown in Ogt-Tg/+ mice. These data reveal that elevated O-GlcNAcylation in the TME reduces the production of inflammatory cytokines and promotes cancer progression through downregulation of p38 MAPK activity and subsequent upregulation of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

Implications: The reduced production of inflammatory cytokines by augmented O-GlcNAcylation in the TME, mainly macrophages, promotes tumor proliferation through the inhibition of p38 MAPK and suggests a possible cause of increased morbidity and mortality rates for various cancers in diabetic patients. Mol Cancer Res; 15(9); 1287–98. ©2017 AACR.
Surfactant for Respiratory Distress Syndrome: New Ideas on a Familiar Drug with Innovative Applications
Authors: Niemarkt H.J. , Hütten M.C. , Kramer Boris W.
Published: May 2017

In the last 4 decades, advances in neonatology have led to a significant increase in the survival of preterm infants. One of the biggest advances was the introduction of surfactant replacement therapy for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome. This is the main cause of respiratory insufficiency in preterm infants and is one of the major causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Surfactant replacement therapy is already a well-investigated and established therapy in neonatology. However, surfactant replacement therapy has progressed and been refined over recent decades, especially with the increasing care for preterm infants born before 26 weeks' gestational age and the recent clinical focus on avoiding mechanical ventilation. Clinical evidence is evolving on new types of surfactant, surfactant dosages, co-medication given before, with, or after surfactant replacement, and new technical advances regarding the mode of administration.
Exploring Neural Efficiency in Multiple Sclerosis Patients during the Symbol Digit Modalities Test: A Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study
Authors: Fittipaldi-Márquez María Sol , Cruz-Gómez Álvaro Javier , Sanchis-Segura Carla , Belenguer Antonio , Ávila César , Forn Cristina
Published: May 2017

Background: Reduced information-processing speed (IPS) is a primary cognitive deficit of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The neural efficiency hypothesis describes an inverse relationship between cognitive performance in a task and the amount of cognitive resources devoted to it. Previous studies have shown that the neural efficiency hypothesis provides an appropriate framework to explore cognitive dysfunction in neurological patients. Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the neural efficiency hypothesis regarding IPS capabilities in cognitively preserved MS patients. Methods: 16 MS patients and 17 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled and neuropsychologically assessed. All participants also performed a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)-adapted version of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) at different interstimulus intervals (ISI: 1.5, 2, and 2.5 s). Results: MS patients only displayed lower SDMT performance when the ISI was set at 1.5 s. However, MS patients' normal SDMT performance at larger ISIs was achieved at the cost of increased brain activation, hence revealing that they were less cognitively efficient than the HCs. Regression analyses confirmed this conclusion by showing an opposite relationship between SDMT performance and the amount of neural resources recruited in the HC and MS groups. Thus, while a positive relationship between both variables was observed in MS patients, this correlation was negative for the HC group. Conclusions: MS patients require more cognitive resources than HCs to achieve a normal SDMT performance, then revealing that they are less efficient regarding IPS capabilities.
eNewborn: The Information Technology Revolution and Challenges for Neonatal Networks
Authors: Haumont Dominique , NguyenBa Cuong , Modi Neena
Published: May 2017

Among preterm infants, 1-2% are born before 32 weeks of gestation or have a birth weight below 1,500 g. They contribute disproportionately to the burden of mortality and morbidity related to preterm birth, whether in the neonatal period or later in life. They are the target population studied in neonatal networks. Improving neonatal care and later outcome is a major issue in public health. Neonatologists, health care providers, public authorities, parents and families, industry, and all organizations dedicated to infant health must bring their efforts together and dedicate their actions in order to do so. Neonatal networks are the strongest platforms through which to achieve this goal. The progressive information technology (IT) revolution is leading to a new approach. The power of search engines and new technological devices opens extraordinary new perspectives in terms of speed, storing, sharing, and innovative approaches in providing health care. However, difficulties are expected with old applications that cannot evolve in the new IT environment. Security and privacy in data collection are future challenges to be addressed. Here, we describe the eNewborn project and its original software. The main functionalities are interactive navigation, harmonization with other formats, linkage with other databases, and strict security and privacy procedures.
Glycemic Control in the Treatment of Psoriasis
Authors: Ip Wilfred , Kirchhof Mark G.
Published: May 2017

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease that manifests as scaly erythematous plaques as a consequence of keratinocyte hyperproliferation and inflammation. It is commonly associated with diabetes, obesity, and the metabolic syndrome. While there are numerous approved treatment options available, they have limitations including availability, toxicities such as immunosuppression, and high cost. There is increasing evidence to suggest that several hypoglycemic agents used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, including glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, thiazolidinediones and biguanides, exert beneficial effects in psoriasis. In this review, we summarize the growing evidence supporting the therapeutic role of hypoglycemic agents in psoriasis and discuss the potential underlying mechanisms. We suggest that dermatologists consider the use of hypoglycemic agents in psoriasis especially in cases with coexisting diabetes and in cases in which immunosuppression is contraindicated. Earlier referral to endocrinology in patients with concomitant diabetes may be appropriate.
Pavlov's Reflex before Pavlov: Early Accounts from the English, French and German Classic Literature
Authors: Jarius Sven , Wildemann Brigitte
Published: May 2017

The concept of classical conditioning (CC), strongly connected with the name and work of the Russian physiologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov (1849-1936), has become the foundation of the modern science of learning and, in particular, of the influential theories of Watson and Skinner and the entire school of behaviourism. In this paper, we give a number of forgotten accounts of CC in the English, French, and German classic literature that pre-date Pavlov's reports by decades or even centuries. These instances are taken from works of the 16th, 18th, and 19th centuries - authored by some of the finest writers of England (Sterne, Locke), France (Rabelais), and Germany (Jean Paul) - and indicate that the psychological mechanisms now described as CC were known long before Pavlov and his successors elaborated on them in a systematic way.
PD-1 Checkpoint Inhibitor Associated Autoimmune Encephalitis
Authors: Schneider Stephanie , Potthast Silke , Komminoth Paul , Schwegler Guido , Böhm Steffen
Published: May 2017

Objective: To report first-hand narrative experience of autoimmune encephalitis and to briefly review currently available evidence of autoimmune encephalitis in cancer patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Setting: A case study is presented on the management of a patient who developed autoimmune encephalitis during nivolumab monotherapy occurring after 28 weeks on anti-PD-1 monotherapy (nivolumab 3 mg/kg every 2 weeks) for non-small cell lung cancer. Results: No substantial improvement was observed by antiepileptic treatment. After administration of 80 mg methylprednisolone, neurologic symptoms disappeared within 24 h and the patient fully recovered. Conclusions: Immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment can lead to autoimmune encephalitis. Clinical trial data indicate a frequency of autoimmune encephalitis of ≥0.1 to <1% with a higher probability during combined or sequential anti-CTLA-4/anti-PD-1 therapy than during anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 monotherapy. Further collection of evidence and translational research is warranted.
Video Monitoring Application using Wireless Sensor Node with Various External Antenna
Authors: Zabri Amerrul , Kamal A. Rahim Mohamad , Zubir Farid , Muhamad Nadzir Norsaidah , A. Majid Huda
Published: May 2017

Surveillance and monitoring has become very important for security reasons these days. The use of wireless sensor node device offers a variety of platform depends on the attached sensor. When an image sensor is attached, the wireless sensor node is capable of monitoring an area wirelessly. Since wireless environment uses antenna to transmit and receive data, antenna is an important component that affects the video monitoring performance. This paper describes a surveillance system using Raspberry Pi with various external antenna. The Raspberry Pi with Pi Camera module and various types of antennas was used for testing and experimentation in line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) condition. The results revealed that the Yagi Uda antenna gives the best output in terms of its signal strength and average Receive (Rx) rate.
Identification of Thalassemia Disorder using Active Contour
Authors: Izzati Binti Che Marzuki Nurhanis Izzati Binti Che Marzuki , Humaimi bin Mahmood Nasrul Humaimi bin Mahmood , Azhar bin Abdul Razak Mohd
Published: May 2017

Thalassemia was known as the red blood cell (RBC) morphology disorder. This disease mostly affects the shape of the red blood cells. Thalassemia becomes the major public health problem when one of the people becomes the carrier of the disease. It can occur within a months after birth or even before birth and results in inappropriate growth and development of babies. Sometimes the affected babies will die shortly after birth. In order to screen thalassemia, there are a few tests need to be done. Firstly by performed Complete Blood Count (CBC) and secondly continued with hemoglobin electrophoresis test. This CBC test will identify the morphology of RBC. Hence, this paper will discuss the methods on identifying the morphology of thalassemia blood cells by using active contour technique. From the result of 16 normal and abnormal blood cell images, the active countour methods able to identifyThalassemia blood cells with accuracy of 90% from the abnormal cell images.
Mining Relation Extraction Based on Pattern Learning Approach
Authors: Sadikin Mujiono
Published: May 2017

Semantically, objects in unstructured document are related each other to perform a certain entity relation. This certain entity relation such: drug-drug interaction through their compounds, buyer-seller relationship through the goods or services, etc. Motivated by those kind of interaction, this study proposes a method to extract those objects and their interactions. It is presented a general framework of object-interaction mining of large corpora. The framework is started with the initial step in extracting a single object in the unstructured document. In this study, the initial step is a pattern learning method that is applied to drug-label documents to extract drug-names. We utilize an existing external knowledge to identify a certain regular expressions surrounding the targeted object and the probabilities of those regular expression, to perform the pattern learning process. The performance of this pattern learning approach is promising to apply in this relation extraction area. As presented in the results of this study, the best f-score performance of this method is 0.78 f-score. With adjusting of some parameters and or improving the method, the performance can be potentially improved.
A Training Monitoring System for Cyclist Based on Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: M. Abdul Latiff N. , A. Ruslee M. , K. Syed Yusof S. , R. Abdul Rahim M. , Sayuti H. , Mohamad Yusof K. , A. Baharudin M.
Published: May 2017

This paper presents a training monitoring system for cyclist that is based on the technology of wireless sensor networks (WSNs). A stable and reliable wireless cyclist monitoring system is vital to establish a smart and efficient sports management program. A training monitoring system has been developed and tested in a real cyclist training environment in a velodrome. The system is designed is such a way that the packet loss rate is minimum. Using TelG mote as the basis, customized sensor nodes that function as a forwarder node and the relay nodes are developed to form the WSN. This WSN is linked to the cloud network on the Internet. The cloud network is then established and end users application for data accessing is designed. Several experiments have been conducted in a real scenario in a velodrome to measure the reliability of the system architecture. It is shown from the experiments that the proposed system is reliable even when the cyclist is moving at a high speed. The packet loss is less than 2% which does not give a huge impact to the data transmission.
Optical Humidity Sensor Based on Tapered Fiber with Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes Slurry
Authors: Mohamed Habibah , Irawati Ninik , Ahmad Fauzan , Haniff Ibrahim Mohd , Ambran Sumiaty , Azizi Abdul Rahman Mohd , Wadi Harun Sulaiman
Published: May 2017

We demonstrated performance comparison of optical humidity sensor for bare and Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) slurry coated tapered optical fiber. The starting material for MWCNTs slurry is MWCNTs- acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) based fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer filament. The ABS was dissolved using acetone to produce MWCNTs-acetone suspension. The MWCNTs-acetone suspension was drop-casted on the tapered fiber to produce MWCNTs slurry by evaporation process at room temperature, which resulted the MWCNTs slurry attach to the tapered fiber. The MWCNTs slurry acts as the cladding for humidity changes measurement. The experimental works showed improvement of sensitivity from 3.811 μW/% of bare tapered fiber to 5.17 μW/% for the coated tapered fiber with MWCNTs slurry when the humidity varied from 45% to 80%.
Apixaban pharmacodynamic activity in umbilical cord, paediatric, and adult plasma
Authors: Yetman Robert , Barrett Yu , Wang Zhaoqing , Adamczyk Robert , Wang Jessie , Ramacciotti Eduardo , Frost Charles
Published: May 2017

The objective was to characterise apixaban pharmacodynamic (PD) activity in umbilical cord (UC), paediatric, and adult plasma. Plasma was obtained from blood samples from six UC donors, 70 paediatric (neonates [birth–≤1 month], infants [>1–≤6 months], toddlers [>6 months–≤2 years], young children [>2–≤6 years], children [>6–≤12 years], adolescents [>12–≤18 years]), and six adult (19–45 years) subjects. Plasma spiked with apixaban 0 (baseline), 30, or 110 ng/ml was analysed for anti-factor Xa activity, factor X levels, prothrombin time (PT), and modified PT (mPT). Apixaban had similar concentration-related effects on anti-factor Xa activity across groups (30 ng/ml: 0.223–0.295 IU/ml; 110 ng/ml: 1.212–1.474 IU/ml). Endogenous baseline factor X levels were 43%–68% lower in plasma from UC and subjects ≤6 months versus adults. Factor Xa inhibition (percentage change from baseline in apparent factor X levels) was similar for both apixaban concentrations across groups, except UC, neonate, and infant groups, which showed greater inhibition vs adults for apixaban 110 ng/ml. Baseline PT and mPT were similar across groups. Apixaban had no effect on PT at the concentrations tested. Apixaban 110 ng/ml prolonged mPT similarly across groups (44.4–53.2 s to 64.5–70.0 s); no prolongation was found with apixaban 30 ng/ml. Apixaban demonstrated consistent concentration-related effects on other PD endpoints in plasma samples from all age groups, except factor Xa inhibition.

Supplementary Material to this article is available at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Interfacility Transfer Directly to the Neuroangiography Suite in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Undergoing Thrombectomy
Authors: Jadhav Ashutosh P. , Kenmuir Cynthia L. , Aghaebrahim Amin , Limaye Kaustubh , Wechsler Lawrence R. , Hammer Maxim D. , Starr Matthew T. , Molyneaux Bradley J. , Rocha Marcelo , Guyette Francis X. , Martin-Gill Christian , Ducruet Andrew F. , Gross Bradley A. , Jankowitz Brian T. , Jovin Tudor G.
Published: May 2017

Background and Purpose—

In patients identified at referring facilities with acute ischemic stroke caused by a large vessel occlusion, bypassing the emergency department (ED) with direct transport to the neuroangiography suite may safely shorten reperfusion times.

Methods—

We conducted a single-center retrospective review of consecutive patients transferred to our facility for consideration of endovascular therapy. Patients were identified as admitted directly to the neuroangiography suite (DAN), transferred to the ED before intra-arterial therapy (ED-IA), and transferred to the ED but did not receive IA therapy (ED-IV).

Results—

A retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of transfer patients between January 2013 and October 2016 with large vessel occlusions identified 108 ED-IV patients and 261 patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy (DAN=111 patients and ED-IA=150 patients). There were no differences in baseline characteristics among the 3 groups. The median computed tomography ASPECTS (Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score) was lower in the ED-IV group versus the ED-IA and DAN groups (8 versus 9;
P
=0.001). In the DAN versus ED-IA cohort, there were comparable rates of TICI2b/3 recanalization and access to recanalization time. There was significantly faster hospital arrival to groin access time in the DAN cohort (81 minutes versus 22 minutes;
P
=0.001). Functional independence at 90 days was comparable in the DAN versus ED-IA cohorts but worse in the ED-IV group (43% versus 44% versus 22%;
P
=0.001).

Conclusions—

DAN is safe, feasible, and associated with faster times of hospital arrival to recanalization. The clinical benefit of this approach should be assessed in a prospective randomized trial.
Inflammatory Stroke Extracellular Vesicles Induce Macrophage Activation
Authors: Couch Yvonne , Akbar Naveed , Davis Simon , Fischer Roman , Dickens Alex M. , Neuhaus Ain A. , Burgess Annette I. , Rothwell Peter M. , Buchan Alastair M.
Published: May 2017

Background and Purpose—

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are protein–lipid complexes released from cells, as well as actively exocytosed, as part of normal physiology, but also during pathological processes such as those occurring during a stroke. Our aim was to determine the inflammatory potential of stroke EVs.

Methods—

EVs were quantified and analyzed in the sera of patients after an acute stroke (<24 hours; OXVASC [Oxford Vascular Study]). Isolated EV fractions were subjected to untargeted proteomic analysis by liquid chromatography mass-spectrometry/mass-spectrometry and then applied to macrophages in culture to investigate inflammatory gene expression.

Results—

EV number, but not size, is significantly increased in stroke patients when compared to age-matched controls. Proteomic analysis reveals an overall increase in acute phase proteins, including C-reactive protein. EV fractions applied to monocyte-differentiated macrophage cultures induced inflammatory gene expression.

Conclusions—

Together these data show that EVs from stroke patients are proinflammatory in nature and are capable of inducing inflammation in immune cells.
The Power to Pray
Authors: Bos David J.
Published: May 2017

Drawing on Marcel Mauss, this article contends that historians and sociologists should not focus on what prayer brings about, but on how it is brought about or “produced.” Specifically, it aims at bringing to light normative conceptions of prayer, through content analysis of Protestant children’s books, written by the Netherlands’ most important twentieth-century author of juvenile literature, W.G. van de Hulst. A recurrent theme in his earlier works is a “breach” in the prayer life of the (male) protagonists – their “conversion” from conventional, “ritual” prayer to individualised, improvised, “sincere” prayer. In his later works, by contrast, Van de Hulst suggested that “real prayer” can be learned gradually, in an intimate relationship between children – notably girls – and their mothers. The gender- and age-specific nature of these models for prayer is shown by mapping out differences between prayer scenes, e.g. with respect to social setting, body postures, and forms of address.
The Spirituality of the Desert
Authors: Vos Nienke
Published: May 2017

In this article, three relatively recent works of popular spirituality are discussed with a focus on the appropriation of the Apophthegmata Patrum, the sayings of the desert fathers (and mothers). It is shown that such appropriation implies a complex dynamic of breaching and bridging as the critical, “breaching”, voice of the desert is called upon to bridge the gap between antiquity and modernity. The process of appropriation implies both the selection of specific texts and a favourable reading of the same. It is also informed by the formal training as well as the personal experience of the respective authors: Henri Nouwen, Anselm Grün, and Kathleen Norris. As the oscillation between ressourcement and aggiornamento is brought to bear on the congenial transplanting of ancient wisdom to the (post-)modern world, it becomes apparent that in these spiritual bestsellers the more problematic aspects of the desert are hardly ever breached themselves.
The Servants of Khonsu in Thebes Neferhotep and its Hierarchy of ḥm-nṯr Priests during the Twenty-First Dynasty
Authors: Villar Gómez Alba María
Published: May 2017

Considered as the legitimate son and heir of Amun, Khonsu gained importance during the Ramesside Period in parallel with the birth of the Renaissance doctrine. This prominence is reflected in the biographical and genealogical information, which documents a substantial increase in the number of individuals performing administrative and religious functions for the different forms of Khonsu by the Twenty-First Dynasty.

The complete prosopography of the personnel relating to the cult of Khonsu in Thebes Neferhotep presents new insights into a collective, subordinated to the clergy of Amun and active in more than one cult throughout the Karnak complex, but which fulfilled a significant role at Thebes. In this regard, the title of Thirdḥm-nṯrpriest of Khonsu must be highlighted; the contextualization of the emergence of this office and the study of its holders builds solid foundations for a better understanding of the Theban cultic and administrative domains leading up to and during the Twenty-First Dynasty.
The bare-marking of ga
Authors: Hoye Masako
Published: May 2017

It has been recognized that the Japanese so-called subject marker ga is often not overtly expressed in spoken Japanese. Regarding the particle ga in conversational Japanese, the work of Ono, Thompson, and Suzuki (2000) is most notable. With respect to the bare-marking of ga, however, Ono et al. argue that “the norm is not to use ga, but to use a bare NP” (2000: 66). Although the current study is aligned with their work, we do not see the bare-marking of ga as a ‘norm’. Rather, we see that the pragmatic functions of the bare-marking of ga play just as important a role as ga-marking. Through an examination of naturally occurring every day conversational data, we provide two specific principles, Basic Rule 1 and Basic Rule 2. In reality, the Japanese bare-marking of ga in spoken Japanese is governed by these consistent, predictable, and systematic rules.
Which view of indirect reports do Persian data corroborate?
Authors: Salmani Nodoushan Mohammad Ali
Published: May 2017

In this paper, I will review Davidson’s paratactic account of indirect reports, the attacks leveled against it, and the support it received. I will then provide data from Persian which seem to support the idea that neither Davidson and his proponents nor his opponents were completely right, and that an adequate theory of indirect reports is doomed to be semantico-pragmatic in nature.
The preference for approximation
Authors: Solt Stephanie , Cummins Chris , Palmović Marijan
Published: May 2017

A curious fact about the communication of numerical information is that speakers often choose to use approximate or rounded expressions, even when more precise information is available (for instance, reporting the time as ‘three thirty’ when one’s watch reads 3:27). It has been proposed that this tendency towards rounding is driven by a desire to reduce hearers’ processing costs, a specific claim being that rounded values produce the same cognitive effect at less cognitive effort than non-round values (Van der Henst, Carles and Sperber, 2002). To date, however, the posited processing advantage for roundness has not been experimentally substantiated. Focusing on the domain of temporal expressions, we report on two experiments that demonstrate that rounded clock times are easier to remember and manipulate than their non-round counterparts, a finding that provides evidence for the influence of processing considerations on numerical expression choice. We further find a role for domain-specific granularity of measurement.
A case of Appalachian endemism: Revision of the Cambarus robustus complex (Decapoda: Cambaridae) in the Kentucky and Licking River basins of Kentucky, USA, with the description of three new species
Authors: LOUGHMAN ZACHARY J. , HENKANATHTHEGEDARA SUJAN M. , FETZNER JR. JAMES W. , THOMA ROGER F.
Published: May 2017

The amazing levels of freshwater biodiversity found in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States are among the highest recorded globally. Localized endemics make up much of this diversity, with numerous fish, freshwater mussels, salamanders and crayfish often being restricted to a single watershed, and in some instances, subwatersheds. Much of this diversity is the product of the processes of vicariance and historical stream drainage patterns. Herein, we describe three new crayfish species, all previously members of the Cambarus robustus complex, which occur in the Appalachian portion of the Kentucky and Licking river basins in Kentucky, USA. All three species differ from each other morphologically, genetically, and zoogeographically, fulfilling the requirements of the integrated species concept. Cambarus guenteri occurs in the southern tributaries of the Kentucky River mainstem as well as throughout the South Fork Kentucky River. Cambarus taylori is a narrow endemic, which only occurs in the Middle Fork Kentucky River. Cambarus hazardi, which has the widest distribution of the three new species, occurs in the North Fork Kentucky River, Red River, and upper reaches of the Licking River basin. Stream piracy events between the Cumberland and South Fork Kentucky River, as well as the Licking, Red and North Fork Kentucky rivers, are theorized to be important in the evolution of this complex. Cambarus guenteri is proposed as currently stable, though both C. taylori and C. hazardi are considered imperiled at this time due to habitat destruction throughout both of their respective ranges.
Redescription of types of Sphecodes (Austrosphecodes) (Hymenoptera: Halictinae) from Argentina and Brazil
Authors: GONÇALVES RODRIGO B
Published: May 2017

Here I provide taxonomic notes on types of Sphecodes (Austrosphecodes) which are deposited in South American institutions. Sphecodes andinus Schrottky, 1906, S. brasiliensis Schrottky, 1910, S. bruchi Schrottky, 1906, S. cordillerensis Jörgensen, 1912, S. coriae Moure & Hurd, 1987, S. inornatus (Schrottky, 1902), S. melanopus Schrottky, 1906, S. mendocinus Jörgensen, 1912, and S. minarum Schrottky, 1910 are redescribed. The male of S. brasiliensis, S. convergens Michener, 1978, and the female of S. inornatus are described for the first time. The lectotype of Halictus meridionalis Jörgensen, 1912 is presently designated.
A new whitefly genus and species, Himalayaleyrodes sarcococcae Dubey (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) infesting Christmas box (Buxaceae) in Western Himalaya, India
Authors: DUBEY ANIL KUMAR , SINGH SUDHIR
Published: May 2017

Puparia, immatures and adults of a new whitefly genus and species, Himalayaleyrodes sarcococcae Dubey are described from the Western Himalaya, India. The new species was found feeding on leaves as well as on green stems of Sarcococca saligna (D. Don) Muell. Biological information, habitus, line arts, photomicrographs of holotype and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images are given for this new taxon. Also, we discuss similarities and dissimilarities of puparia of the new genus with its closely related genus Bemisia Quaintance & Baker. Feeding behaviour is discussed.
Assessing CYGNSS’s Potential to Observe Extratropical Fronts and Cyclones
Authors: Crespo Juan A. , Posselt Derek J. , Naud Catherine M. , Bussy-Virat Charles
Published: May 2017

The Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) mission, launched in December 2016, is designed to estimate surface wind speeds over the global tropical oceans. Nevertheless, its orbit allows the constellation to view regions up to 40° latitude. As such, it is possible that CYGNSS will provide observations of a number of low-latitude extratropical cyclones and their associated fronts. In this study, one year of simulated CYGNSS specular point locations is combined with a database of objectively identified fronts and cyclones to assess the potential efficacy of CYGNSS for observing extratropical systems. It is found that, with the exception of regions poleward of warm fronts, the subset of locations in the simulated CYGNSS dataset nearly exactly matches the distribution of wind speeds and surface fluxes across frontal zones and near cyclone centers in the reanalysis database.
Methanol–Water-Dependent Structural Changes of Regenerated Silk Fibroin Probed Using Terahertz Spectroscopy
Authors: Wu Xu , Wu Xiaodong , Yang Bin , Shao Min , Feng Guojin
Published: May 2017

The mechanism of β-sheet crystallization in silk fibroin remains unclear, due to the incomplete information of protein assembly and structural state. The emerging terahertz (THz) spectroscopy (<10 THz) has been taken as an important tool to detect new aspects of biomolecular structure and is used for the first time to analyze the methanol–water (MeOH) induced structural changes of Bombyx mori silk fibroin. Mid-infrared spectroscopy (IR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that silk fibroin initially exists in a typical silk I form and reassemble into a predominant silk II (antiparallel β-sheet crystal) structure after MeOH treatment. The samples treated with MeOH–H2O mixed solutions show a predominant silk I structure without any silk-II-related peaks. As the MeOH concentration approaches 40 vol%, the absorbance of the β-sheet-related IR bands and the XRD peaks gradually increase, indicating a formation of β-sheet crystal during this process. THz spectrum shows the absorption capacity below 3 THz as well as the absorbance at 5.1 THz and 7.9 THz is indeed affected by the MeOH–H2O treatment, implying a MeOH–H2O-dependent change of intermolecular H-bonds in silk fibroin. The THz spectrum for silk fibroin gives additional information to the existing studies on the MeOH–H2O induced β-sheet crystallization of silk fibroin, which may help us understanding the structural changes of natural silk.
Polymorphic Phase Control of RDX-Based Explosives
Authors: Brady John J. , Argirakis Brittney L. , Gordon Alexander D. , Lareau Richard T. , Smith Barry T.
Published: May 2017

The polymorphic phase of 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) was examined as a function of mass loading, solvent, and sample deposition technique. When RDX was deposited at a high mass loading, the vibrational modes in the obtained Raman spectra were indicative of concomitant polymorphism as both the α-RDX and β-RDX phases were present. At low mass loadings, only β-RDX was observed regardless of solvent when using the drop cast crystallization method. However, α-RDX (the thermodynamically stable polymorphic phase observed with visible quantities of the explosive) was observed when RDX deposits were dry transferred. Observation of α-RDX was independent of the initial mass loading or the initial deposition solvent when using the dry transfer methodology. These data indicate that the use of the dry transfer preparation method can be used to successfully prepare RDX-based test articles with the α-RDX phase regardless of the solvent used to initially dissolve the RDX, the initial deposition technique, or the mass loading.