bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Whole Blood Gene Expression Reveals Specific Transcriptome Changes in Neonatal Encephalopathy
Authors: Montaldo Paolo , Kaforou Myrsini , Pollara Gabriele , Hervás-Marín David , Calabria Ines , Panadero Joaquin , Pedrola Laia , Lally Peter J. , Oliveira Vânia , Kage Anup , Atreja Gaurav , Mendoza Josephine , Soe Aung , Pattnayak Santosh , Shankaran Seetha , Vento Máximo , Herberg Jethro , Thayyil Sudhin
Published: October 2018

Background: Variable responses to hypothermic neuroprotection are related to the clinical heterogeneity of encephalopathic babies; hence better disease stratification may facilitate the development of individualized neuroprotective therapies. Objectives: We examined if whole blood gene expression analysis can identify specific transcriptome profiles in neonatal encephalopathy. Material and Methods: We performed next-generation sequencing on whole blood RNA from 12 babies with neonatal encephalopathy and 6 time-matched healthy term babies. Genes significantly differentially expressed between encephalopathic and control babies were identified. This set of genes was then compared to the host RNA response in septic neonates and subjected to pathway analysis. Results: We identified 950 statistically significant genes discriminating perfectly between healthy controls and neonatal encephalopathy. The major pathways in neonatal encephalopathy were axonal guidance signaling (p = 0.0009), granulocyte adhesion and diapedesis (p = 0.003), IL-12 signaling and production in macrophages (p = 0.003), and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α signaling (p = 0.004). There were only 137 genes in common between neonatal encephalopathy and bacterial sepsis sets. Conclusion: Babies with neonatal encephalopathy have striking differences in gene expression profiles compared with healthy control and septic babies. Gene expression profiles may be useful for disease stratification and for developing personalized neuroprotective therapies.
Comparison between Hyper-CVAD and PETHEMA ALL-93 in Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Single-Center Study
Authors: Erkut Nergiz , Akidan Osman , Selim Batur Derya , Karabacak Volkan , Sonmez Mehmet
Published: October 2018

Background: Although cure rates in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are quite high with combined chemotherapy regimens, complete response (CR) and long-term survival rates in adults are 80–90 and 30–40%, respectively. Currently, combined chemotherapy regimens, such as Hyper-CVAD and PETHEMA, are used in patients with adult ALL. However, there has been no study comparing the results of Hyper-CVAD and PETHEMA ALL-93. Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, we evaluated the results of Hyper-CVAD and PETHEMA ALL-93 in 51 ALL patients treated between September 2008 and March 2017 at the Department of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University. Results: Thirty-eight patients were treated with Hyper-CVAD and 13 with PETHEMA ALL-93. CR was obtained in 90 and 100% of patients, respectively. Survival estimates were comparable between Hyper-CVAD and PE­THEMA ALL-93, with a median overall survival (OS) and a median disease-free survival (DFS) of 17.5 and 12.1 months, respectively, for Hyper-CVAD and of 18.6 and 12.9 months, respectively, for PETHEMA ALL-93. The 2-year OS rates for Hyper-CVAD and PETHEMA ALL-93 were 30 and 40%, respectively, and the 2-year DFS rates were 28 and 44%, respectively. PETHEMA ALL-93 resulted in more hepatotoxicity, hypofibrinogenemia, aspergillus infection, and skin rash than Hyper-CVAD. Conclusions: Although Hyper-CVAD and PE­THEMA ALL-93 showed similar effects, Hyper-CVAD was tolerated better. Age and comorbidities should be taken into account before a chemotherapy regimen is determined for patients with ALL.
Matrix Gla Protein, Plaque Stability, and Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Severe Atherosclerotic Disease
Authors: Zwakenberg Sabine R. , van der Schouw Yvonne T. , Vermeer Cees , Pasterkamp Gerard , den Ruijter Hester M. , Beulens Joline W.J.
Published: October 2018

Objective: This study aims to investigate whether plasma matrix Gla protein (MGP) species, desphospho-uncarboxylated (dp-uc) MGP, and total uncarboxylated (t-uc) MGP are associated with plaque levels of uncarboxylated (uc) MGP, markers of plaque stability, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Methods: From the Athero-Express biobank, we selected carotid plaque samples of 100 patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. The level of agreement between plasma MGP species and plaque ucMGP levels was assessed using weighted kappa (κ). We analyzed histological characteristics of plaque composition (plaque hemorrhage, lipid and calcification content). Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between plasma MGP and plaque characteristics. Furthermore, CVD endpoints (n = 20) were collected over a mean follow-up of 2.6 years. Results: Weighted κ statistics of plasma dp-ucMGP and t-ucMGP and plaque ucMGP were 0.10 (95% CI –0.31 to 0.52) and 0.14 (95% CI –0.20 to 0.48). Higher dp-ucMGP levels tended to be associated with less plaque hemorrhage (ORper 500 nM 0.96; 95% CI 0.92–1.00). No association was found for lipid and calcification content. Cox proportional hazards models showed no association between dp-ucMGP (HRper 200 pM 0.92; 95% CI 0.75–1.11) and an inverse association between t-ucMGP (HRper 500 nM 0.79; 95% CI 0.62–0.99) and cardiovascular events. Conclusions: Plasma dp-ucMGP and t-ucMGP concentrations do not reflect plaque ucMGP levels. Elevated dp-ucMGP levels may be associated with less plaque hemorrhage, suggestive of more stable plaques. T-ucMGP was not related with markers of plaque stability; however, elevated plasma t-ucMGP levels were associated with a reduced CVD risk.
Peripheral Neuroimmunoendocrine Interactions: Contribution of TNFRp55 to the Circadian Synchronization of Progesterone and Cytokine Production in Joints of Mice in Late Pregnancy
Authors: Arias José L. , Mayordomo Andrea C. , Silva Juan E. , Ragusa Juan A.V. , Rabinovich Gabriel A. , Anzulovich Ana C. , Di Genaro María S.
Published: October 2018

Objective: Circadian rhythms are generated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus of the hypothalamus and involve rhythmic expression of clock genes and proteins. This rhythmicity is transferred to peripheral tissues by neural and hormonal signals. Late pregnancy is considered a state of inflammation which impacts on peripheral tissues such as joints. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) mediates inflammatory and circadian responses through its p55 receptor (TNFRp55). Neuroimmunoendocrine interactions in joints have not been studied completely. The purpose of this study was to analyze these interactions, investigating the circadian rhythms of progesterone (Pg) and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the joints at the end of pregnancy (gestational day 18). Moreover, the impact of TNFRp55 deficiency on these temporal oscillations was explored. Methods: Wild-type and TNFRp55-deficient (KO) C57BL/6 mice were kept under constant darkness in order to study their endogenous circadian rhythms. The expression of the clock genes Bmal1 and Per1 at circadian time 7 was studied by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in the ankle joints of nonpregnant and pregnant (gestational day 18) mice. In late pregnancy, Pg and the cytokines interleukin 17 (IL-17), IL-6, and IL-10 were measured in the joints throughout a 24-h period by radioimmunoassay and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Results: A significant increase in Bmal1 and Per1 mRNA expression was detected in the joints of pregnant KO mice. Furthermore, KO mice displayed a desynchronization of articular Pg and cytokine production. Conclusions: Our results show that TNF, via TNFRp55 signaling, modulates articular Pg and cytokine circadian rhythms in late pregnancy. These findings suggest a temporal neuroimmunoendocrine association in peripheral tissues in late pregnancy.
The Utility of Flow Rate Compared with Left Ventricular Stroke Volume Index in the Hemodynamic Classification of Severe Aortic Stenosis with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Alexandru Dragos , Pollack Simcha , Petillo Florentina , Cao J. Jane , Barasch Eddy
Published: October 2018

Objectives: To substitute the stroke volume index (SVi) with flow rate (FR) in the hemodynamic classification of severe aortic stenosis (AS) with preserved ejection fraction (EF), in order to evaluate its prognostic value. Methods: A total of 529 patients (78.8 ± 9.8 years old, 44.1% males) with isolated severe AS (aortic valve area, AVA < 1 cm2), EF ≥50%, in sinus rhythm, who underwent transthoracic echocardiography, were stratified by FR (≥/< 200 mL/s) and mean pressure gradient (MG) (≥/< 40 mm Hg): FRnormal/MGhigh, FRlow/MGhigh, FRnormal/MGlow, and FRlow/MGlow. Results: Aortic valve replacement was more frequently performed in the FRnormal/MGhigh than in the FRlow/MGlow group (69.3 vs. 47%, respectively, p < 0.0001), yielding a similar survival benefit across all four groups. Over a median follow-up of 51 ± 29 months, there were 249 deaths. In highly adjusted models, the FRlow/MGlow group had a higher all-cause mortality (HR = 1.7, 95% CI: 1.1–2.6, p = 0.02) than patients with FRnormal/MGhigh. FR had a stronger association with AVA than SVi (r = 0.51 vs. 0.41, respectively, p = 0.0002), and a similar predictive value for death (AUC = 0.57 and 0.58, respectively, p = 0.88). Conclusions: The FRlow/MGlow subset of AS is associated with the worst prognosis, and FR is not superior to SVi in the hemodynamic classification of severe AS.
Changes in Profiles of Kawasaki Disease Noted over Time in Suzhou, China
Authors: Sun Ling , Tang Yunjia , Wang Ye , Qian Guanghui , Yan Wenhua , Wang Bo , Li Xuan , Lv Haitao
Published: October 2018

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to explore the changes in epidemiological, clinical and laboratory characteristics of Kawasaki disease (KD) over a 12-year period in this area. Methods: The medical records of KD patients hospitalized in the Children’s Hospital of Soochow University from January 2006 to December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. To elucidate the changes more clearly in these years, we divided all patients into three groups according to the time of admission, 5-year time intervals apart. Results: We found the number of KD had increased in recent years, although the age compositions had some variances. The male-to-female ratio peaked in patients aged 6–11 months and then decreased with ages. Incidence rates of clinical characteristics were almost the same except for cervical lymphadenopathy. Significant differences were noted in percentage of neutrophils, albumin, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and platelets. However, only ESR and platelets were significantly different after adjusting the days of disease onset. A trend showing a shorter fever duration before intravenous immunoglobulin treatment was also noted. Conclusions: The number of KD was increasing annually. Our results were indicative of a possibly changed etiology of the disease. However, further large-scale long-term surveillance is warranted.
Pleiotropic Benefits of the Angiotensin Receptor Blocker Candesartan in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer Disease
Authors: Trigiani Lianne J. , Royea Jessika , Lacalle-Aurioles María , Tong Xin-Kang , Hamel Edith
Published: October 2018

The angiotensin receptor blocker losartan mitigated cerebrovascular and cognitive deficits in mouse models of Alzheimer disease, in line with some clinical evidence of reduced onset and progression to Alzheimer disease. We investigated whether these benefits apply to another angiotensin receptor blocker, namely candesartan. Adult transgenic mice overexpressing a mutated form of the human APP (amyloid precursor protein) and wild-type controls were treated with vehicle or candesartan (cohort 1: 2 months, 1 mg/kg per day, osmotic subcutaneous minipumps; cohort 2: 5 months, 10 mg/kg per day in drinking water). Candesartan largely restored endothelial and smooth muscle function and reduced neuroinflammation in both cohorts, without improving sensory evoked cerebral blood flow responses. Candesartan exerted restorative effects on the reduced number of Ki67-immunopositive proliferating cells in the granule cell layer of the hippocampus but not on that of DCX (doublecortin)-positive immature granule cells, despite normalizing the length of their dendritic projections in the molecular layer. Amyloid plaque load and impaired cognitive function were unaltered by candesartan, and blood pressure was decreased in treated APP and wild-type mice. Overall, findings show that candesartan shared several advantages reported previously for losartan, but it exhibited limited cognitive benefits and stronger blood pressure lowering effects. The choice of angiotensin receptor blocker may thus be critical for therapeutic efficacy in patients with vascular diseases at high risk of developing Alzheimer disease.
Are We Getting Closer to Risk Stratification in Left Ventricular Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy?
Authors: Jefferies John L.
Published: October 2018

See Article by
Shijie Li et al
Composing with Biomemristors: Is Biocomputing the New Technology of Computer Music?
Authors: Miranda Eduardo Reck , Braund Edward , Venkatesh Satvik
Published: October 2018

Our research concerns the development of biocomputers using electronic components grown out of biological material. This article reports the development of a novel biological memristor and an approach to using such biomemristors to build interactive generative music systems. The memristor is an electronic component regarded as a resistor with memory. After an introduction to harnessing the Physarum polycephalum organism to implement biomemristors, the article presents PhyBox, a biocomputer that uses four biomemristors to generate music interactively. The resistance of a biomemristor varies as a function of the voltage that has passed through it. Music input is represented in terms of voltage transitions and music output is encoded as measurements of the current yielded by the system's memristive behavior. An example of a musical composition using PhyBox is detailed. The article concludes with a short discussion of how the combination between artificial machines and biological organisms is paving the way for the development of new technologies for music based on living processors.
The Effects of School Reform under NCLB Waivers: Evidence from Focus Schools in Kentucky
Authors: Bonilla Sade , Dee Thomas S.
Published: October 2018

Under waivers to the No Child Left Behind Act, the federal government required states to identify schools where targeted subgroups of students have the lowest achievement and to implement reforms in these “Focus Schools.” In this study, we examine the Focus School reforms in the state of Kentucky. The reforms in this state are uniquely interesting for several reasons. One is that the state developed unusually explicit guidance for Focus Schools centered on a comprehensive school-planning process. Second, the state identified Focus Schools using a “super subgroup” measure that combined traditionally low-performing subgroups into an umbrella group. This design feature may have catalyzed broader whole-school reforms and attenuated the incentives to target reform efforts narrowly. Using regression discontinuity designs, we find that these reforms led to substantial improvements in school performance, raising math proficiency rates by 17 percent and reading proficiency rates by 9 percent.
Ein Ratschluss Gottes oder von Menschen?
Authors: Lanzinger Daniel
Published: October 2018

This article takes Gamaliel’s speech in Acts 5:34-39 as a test case for Luke’s use of dramatic irony, which is defined as a difference in either knowledge or comprehension between an intradiegetic narrator and the extradiegetic recipients. It is argued that the author applies this narrative tool in a very complex way to elaborate his theology of providence: Even though Gamaliel proposes the distinction between divine and human plans and activities, he does not fully grasp the meaning of his words. This encourages the readers to evaluate Gamaliel’s statement on the basis of Luke’s narrative. Hence, they are able to conclude that from a divine point of view a human action opposing God’s plan cannot actually exist because God has already foreseen this action.
The Rest of Her Offspring
Authors: Buisch Pauline Paris
Published: October 2018

This paper demonstrates that a number of striking similarities between the expansion of Gen 3:15 found in the Palestinian Targums and the drama of Revelation 12 indicates that both are derived from the same Jewish tradition that interprets Gen 3:15 messianically. The implications of such a study are threefold. First, the primary intertext for Revelation 12 should be understood as Gen 3:15. Second, such a relationship between the New Testament and the Targumic traditions indicates that the Palestinian Targums should not be neglected in New Testament studies, as has been the recent trend. Finally, the so-called protoevangelium is ultimately a Christian adaptation of a Jewish messianic interpretation of Gen 3:15.
The Portable Archives of the Westphalian Negotiations: From Archival Arsenals to Archival Absolutism (France, Portugal, and Spain)
Authors: Montcher Fabien
Published: October 2018

This article analyzes the formation of scholar-jurists’ archives during Late Renaissance conflicts and their use by individuals and state powers. Departing from the case of the French scholar, Théodore Godefroy (1580-1649), and his role in the Peace of Westphalia (1643-1648), this article shows how scholars’ portable archives were used as archival arsenals during diplomatic negotiations, eventually leading to the adoption of a system of “archival absolutism” in France. This archival absolutism was a reaction to the fragmentation of archives that had previously fostered trans-imperial exchanges among scholars. This article also demonstrates, through the case of Godefroy’s portable archive and correspondence, how the search for political legitimacy by a “restored” monarchy—like Portugal—during a period of conflict between the chief hegemonic powers in western Europe—Spain and France—contributed to the distinct development of those states’ uses of legal experts and their archives over the course of the seventeenth century.
Nugae Theatri
Authors: Watt Caitlin
Published: October 2018

This article examines Erasmus’ additions to the Adagia in 1533 drawn from comedic playwrights Plautus and Terence. Although Erasmus generally expressed a preference for Terence, Plautus is cited more frequently overall in the Adages and the 133 borrowings from Plautus in the 1533 additions drastically outnumber the 22 from Terence. While scholars have noted this numerical discrepancy, few have hazarded concerted attempts to explain it. This article analyzes the different Plautine and Terentian references in the additions of 1533 and reads them in the context of Erasmus’ other educational writings on classical literature and particularly on characters in comedy. Ultimately, two explanations for Erasmus’ apparent preference for Plautus in 1533 present themselves. First, Plautus presented memorable characters who illustrated the tension between eloquence and morality that characterized the debate in Erasmus’ time over comedy’s role in education. Second, Giambattista Pio’s 1500 edition of Plautus with commentary provided Erasmus with other motivations, such as the opportunity for textual criticism, to focus on Plautus.
The Infinite Aphorisms of Erasmus and Bacon
Authors: Hui Andrew
Published: October 2018

Aphorisms occupy a central place in the works of Erasmus and Bacon. Erasmus wanted to construct the total library of antiquity through adages; Bacon’s project was to construct the laboratory of modernity, its progress presented in the propagation of aphorisms. Like Erasmus, Bacon believed that the aphorism would stir readers to contemplate and inquire further. But unlike Erasmus, Bacon maintains that this process of discovery is accomplished not through endlessly combing through the archives of the ancients but rather by interrogating the book of the world.
Dressed for Success?
Authors: Kochkina Svetlana
Published: October 2018

A translation of a book is not just a faithful conversion of its text from one language to another. The translation is a regeneration of the entire complex organism of the book which often radically alters its paratextual apparatus. Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the Twenty-First Century (Harvard University Press, 2014) is a book that has not only challenged the current capitalist economic model but has also revolutionized the idea of a bestseller. A comparison of the paratexts of its French and English editions demonstrates how a skilful and purposeful visual repackaging of a book, deploying a different paratext, without any cuts or alterations to its text, can radically transform it, make the translation attractive to a wider audience, and ultimately be a contributing factor in its success.
Bestsellers 2008 to 2014
Authors: Kovač Miha , Wischenbart Rüdiger
Published: October 2018

This paper looks at top bestselling authors as chosen by algorithms developed by Jodie Archer and Mathew Jockers and compares these authors with top authors in European bestseller charts in 2008–2015. Through these comparisons, the paper shows that, besides the bestselling narratives as analysed with Jockers and Archer’s algorithms, there is a set of non-textual mechanisms that influence the generation of bestsellers. These non-textual properties include the author’s personal background, mechanisms inherent to the book industry, and the book market’s broader cultural, linguistic, and social environment. This paper advocates a holistic approach combining research on bestselling narratives with research on bestsellers’ non-textual properties. Such an approach will bring better insights into the cultural logic of book markets and will have practical consequences for book marketing, since it will help publishers understand which books have bestselling potential and the reasons for their successes and failures.
The Response to George Berkeley’s Philosophy in Twentieth-Century Danish Experimental Psychology: Edgar Rubin and Edgar Tranekjær Rasmussen
Authors: Huggler Jørgen
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this paper is to explore the reception of George Berkeley in a particular corner of 20th-century Danish psychology and philosophy. In contrast to philosophers, such as Peter Zinkernagel and David Favrholdt, Danish experimental psychologists, including Edgar Rubin and Edgar Tranekjær Rasmussen, made highly appreciative reference to the methodology and experimental observations of Berkeley and David Hume. This paper focuses on these psychologists’ interest in Berkeley’s ideas. I will first present Rubin’s path from a mosaic-like understanding of psychological phenomena (elemental psychology) to a holistic view, detailing what he termed adspective psychology and its method. I then turn to Rubin’s embrace of certain experimental observations made by Berkeley and, in particular, by Hume concerning theminima visibilia. The second part of the paper deals with Tranekjær Rasmussen’s interpretation of Berkeley’s work, and in particular of his immaterialism, his notion of God, and his critique of abstract ideas.
Repetition due to Detected Omission
Authors: Gottlieb Leeor
Published: October 2018

In this article I shall demonstrate how omission due to homoeoteleuton may actually sometimes result in a longer text. Several variants among textual witnesses of the Hebrew Bible presented in this article are most easily explained, to my mind, as the result of the omission being detected and the missing text being copied into the manuscript from the point the omission was detected. Thus, the text from the point of omission to the point of detection is repeated in the target scroll, the new copy of the text. Recognition of this scribal phenomenon may help elucidate difficult passages.
The Socio-Religious Setting of the (Proto-)Masoretic Text
Authors: Tov Emanuel
Published: October 2018

We find the proto-Masoretic texts (MT) in two synagogues, in texts and tefillin found with the Judean Desert communities of the Zealots and the followers of Bar Kokhba, the targumim, Jewish-Greek translations, and rabbinic literature. After 70 CE, proto-MT was in the hands of the rabbis, and prior to that time in the hands of similar circles. However, there were also persons and communities that did not use MT. None of their versions were based on MT, with the possible exception of the quotations of the Hebrew Ben Sira in Jeremiah. The persons and communities that did not use the proto-MT text are the Qumran community and the authors of all the Second Temple rewritten Bible compositions, based on either SP, the LXX, or a combination of the two. These conclusions are instructive regarding the socio-religious environment of the proto-MT, but not about the proto-MT text itself, which remains enigmatic.
The Role of Memory in Vorlage-based Transmission: Evidence from Erasures and Corrections
Authors: Vroom Jonathan
Published: October 2018

This article argues that the act of Vorlage-based copying involves a dynamic interplay between both memory and Vorlage. While numerous scholars argue that memory played a significant role in textual transmission in ancient Israel and early Judaism, few have explicitly discussed the role that memory plays in the act of copying a manuscript. This article identifies with greater precision the point in the copying process at which a scribe may rely on long-term memory, rather than his Vorlage. The article will examine three erasures in three Dead Sea scrolls that demonstrate the phenomenon of memory-cued errors, in which a scribe’s long-term memory caused mistakes in the copying process. Not only do these memory-cued errors illustrate the role of memory in the copying process, they also allow for a much clearer and more nuanced understanding of the nature of textual transmission.
Subseasonal Variability of Rossby Wave Breaking and Impacts on Tropical Cyclones during the North Atlantic Warm Season
Authors: Li Weiwei , Wang Zhuo , Zhang Gan , Peng Melinda S. , Benjamin Stanley G. , Zhao Ming
Published: October 2018

This study investigates the subseasonal variability of anticyclonic Rossby wave breaking (AWB) and its impacts on atmospheric circulations and tropical cyclones (TCs) over the North Atlantic in the warm season from 1985 to 2013. Significant anomalies in sea level pressure, tropospheric wind, and humidity fields are found over the tropical–subtropical Atlantic within 8 days of an AWB activity peak. Such anomalies may lead to suppressed TC activity on the subseasonal time scale, but a significant negative correlation between the subseasonal variability of AWB and Atlantic basinwide TC activity does not exist every year, likely due to the modulation of TCs by other factors. It is also found that AWB occurrence may be modulated by the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO). In particular, AWB occurrence over the tropical–subtropical west Atlantic is reduced in phases 2 and 3 and enhanced in phases 6 and 7 based on the Real-Time Multivariate MJO (RMM) index. The impacts of AWB on the predictive skill of Atlantic TCs are examined using the Global Ensemble Forecasting System (GEFS) reforecasts with a forecast lead time up to 2 weeks. The hit rate of tropical cyclogenesis during active AWB episodes is lower than the long-term-mean hit rate, and the GEFS is less skillful in capturing the variations of weekly TC activity during the years of enhanced AWB activity. The lower predictability of TCs is consistent with the lower predictability of environmental variables (such as vertical wind shear, moisture, and low-level vorticity) under the extratropical influence.
Needle-punched three-dimensional nonwoven wound dressings with density gradient from biocompatible calcium alginate fiber
Authors: Gao Yingjun , Jin Xiangyu
Published: October 2018

Three-dimensional calcium alginate fiber (CAF) dressings with density gradients were fabricated by the needle-punching process. As a skin substitute, the dressings under wet conditions showed “skin-like” performance. The interconnected pores enabled the dressings to absorb more wound exudates. CAFs arranged vertically and the density gradients along thickness direction altered the diffusion and distribution of wound exudates in the dressings and prevented the wound exudates from infiltrating back to the wound surface, which kept the wound in excellent healing conditions. The changes in performance and structure of the dressings during wound healing were investigated. After absorbing the wound exudates, in the presence of Na+ ions, the Ca2+ ions in CAFs were exchanged and parts of CAFs turned into sodium alginate (SA) gels. The CAFs residues and SA gels composed the gelled dressings with a special composite structure, which displayed unique performance, especially the tensile process and the stereoscopic structure. The ion-exchange reaction was influenced by the H+ and OH- ions in wound exudates, affecting the properties of the gelled dressings. An in vitro cell culture assay indicated that the Ca2+ ions released from the dressings promoted cell growth and proliferation. The density gradient structure had a significant effect on the spread of cells on the dressings.
Risky Ride or Carefree Drive? An Analysis of Virginia’s Moped Safety and Registration Law on Operator Collision and Injury Outcomes
Authors: Seymour Joseph
Published: October 2018

The U.S. State of Virginia enacted a two-phased moped operator law, SB 1038, in 2013 that was intended to reduce collisions and injuries by requiring basic safety equipment, possession of identification (ID), and obtaining vehicle registration. This study evaluates the law’s effect on moped collisions, injuries, and fatalities through a two-part evaluation framework of the pre- and post-policy implementation periods. These components include a series tool, the interrupted time series analysis (ITSA), and a logistic regression of individual-level crash characteristics. The research design controls for gasoline prices, socioeconomic status, roadway conditions, population, seasonality, alcohol consumption, age, and gender, among other factors. Findings from ITSA demonstrate that the implementation of a helmet and ID requirements for moped operator reduced collision rates in the months following that requirement, however no such effect was found for reductions in serious injury and fatality rates, or frequencies following that stage and the vehicle registration requirement (referred to as Phase II). The logistic regression analysis of individual moped collision outcomes similarly found no support for Phase II’s role in reducing the risk of serious injury and fatal outcomes. As a public safety policy, SB 1038 was partially effective through its reduction of moped collisions, though the mechanism for achieving this is unclear. Potential explanations include the policy’s role in reducing the pool of risk-taking individuals through disincentivizing moped use, and mainstreaming safer moped operation. The study’s results indicate that states without moped operator requirements could experience reduced moped collisions from adoption of similar legislation.
Acute Stroke Treatment by Surgical Recanalization of Extracranial Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion: A Single Center Experience
Authors: Schubert Julia , Witte Otto W. , Settmacher Utz , Mayer Thomas E. , Günther Albrecht , Zanow Jürgen , Klingner Carsten M.
Published: October 2018

Ischemic stroke due to an acute occlusion of the extracranial internal carotid artery (eICA) is associated with high morbidity and mortality. The best treatment option remains unclear. This study aims to increase the available therapeutic experience documented for surgical recanalization of acute eICA occlusions. We retrospectively reviewed all hospital records of the University Hospital Jena between 2006 and 2018 to identified patients with acute ischemic stroke due to an occlusion of the eICA who underwent emergent surgical recanalization. We analyzed clinical data, surgical reports, imaging data, and outpatient records. The primary outcome parameter was the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 3 months. During the survey, 12 patients (mean age: 62.3 ± 10.8 years; range: 35-87) underwent emergent surgical recanalization for an acutely symptomatic eICA occlusion. All patients presented with neurological deficits with a mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission of 15.0 ± 5.1 (range 2-23). Patients were selected for surgery mainly due to the extent of the perfusion mismatch, while stroke severity and age were also considered. The median time from symptom onset to surgery was 309 ± 122 minutes (range 112-650 minutes). Complete recanalization was obtained in all 12 patients. No patient deteriorated postoperatively, no intracranial hemorrhage was observed, and no patient died in the following 3 months. Favorable outcomes (mRS: 0-2) after 3 months were achieved in 7 of 12 patients. The current study adds support to previous findings that the surgical recanalization of acute eICA occlusions is a possible and safe treatment option. However, a critical patient selection based on mismatch size in perfusion imaging is crucially important for successful treatment.
Airway Management and Clinical Outcomes in External Laryngeal Trauma: A Case Series
Authors: DePorre Alexandra R. , Schechtman Samuel A. , Hogikyan Norman D. , Thompson Aleda , Westman Amanda J. , Sargent Richard A. , Rosko Andrew J. , Bauer Ashley , Shanks Amy M. , Kupfer Robbi A. , Healy David W.
Published: October 2018

External laryngeal trauma is a rare but potentially fatal event that presents several management challenges. This retrospective observational case series conducted at a level-1 trauma center over a 12-year period consists of 62 cases of acute external laryngeal trauma. Patient demographics, mode and mechanisms of injury, presenting signs and symptoms, initial imaging results, airway management, time to surgical management, and 6-month outcomes including airway status, deglutition status, and voice quality were investigated. No difference was found in mortality or 6-month outcomes between patients requiring surgical repair and/or tracheostomy versus patients with less severe injuries managed conservatively.
Synthesis of CdS/ZnO Hybrid Nanoarchitectured Films with Visible Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Zirak Mohammad , Oveisi Hamid , Lin Jianjian , Bando Yoshio , Alshehri Abdulmohsen Ali , Kim Jeonghun , Ide Yusuke , Hossain Md Shahriar A , Malgras Victor , Yamauchi Yusuke
Published: October 2018

A spin-coating method has been employed to prepare crystalline nanostructured zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films. The CdS nanoparticles are then deposited on the surface via a successive ion adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method. Three different concentrations (15, 30, and 50 mM) are used to investigate the effect of various CdS loading on the photocatalytic activity of the hybrid ZnO-CdS hybrid thin films. The transparent crack-free thin films possess fine nanostructures on the top surface, with a fine dispersion of CdS nanoparticles. The highest photocatalytic activity is realized when the concentration is 30 mM. ZnO-CdS hybrid thin films with high surface area, crystalline wall, and low band gap have a great potential as a high-performance material for absorption and degradation of harmful dye molecules such as methylene blue (MB).
Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from Traditional Butter Produced in Djelfa Province of Algeria
Authors: Mourad Guetouache , Bettache Guessas
Published: October 2018

Morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics were employed to identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB), isolated from traditional (butter) was collected from different rural areas of the province of Djelfa. Among 177 isolates, 79 lactic acid bacterial (LAB) strains were isolated and purified. The results obtained show that the isolates obtained belong to the following genus Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, Enterococci and Leuconostoc characterize the biodiversity of this traditional butter studied. Only Gram-positive and catalase negative isolates were identified at species level. The most common LAB belonging to the species Lactobacillus alimentarius (15.19 %), Lactobacillus plantarum (22.78 %), Lactobacillus fermentum (18.99 %), Lactobacillus brevis (06.33 %), Lactococcus lactis (12.66 %), Lactococcus cremoris (06.33 %), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (06.33 %) and Enterococcus faecalis (11.39 %). The samples pH average was 6.06 ± 0.34, microbiological analysis results were; total mesophilic aerobic flora (TMAF) (2, 22 ± 0, 68).10 3cfu/ml, total coliforms 0,54 ± 0.56 ufc/ml, fecal coliforms 0,6 ± 0.50 cfu/ml, yeast (0,48 ± 0.31). 10 cfu/ml, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and moulds weren’t detected.
Estudos Clássicos IV: Percursos
Authors: Cornelli Gabriele , Coutinho Luciano
Published: October 2018

Considerando o crescente interesse acadêmico pela compreensão dos estudos clássicos e da tradição ocidental em suas variadas formas e expressões, o presente livro reúne os trabalhos de pesquisa desenvolvidos no interior do I Curso de Especialização em Estudos Clássicos, realizado na modalidade ensino a distância (EAD) pela Cátedra UNESCO Archai da Universidade de Brasília, com o objetivo de colocar o estudante em confronto com o mundo clássico e suas riquezas. Nas ciências humanas, em especial, quando se propõe o confronto com o passado, muitas vezes é necessário redefinir não apenas a importância dos clássicos, mas também marcar a extensão e os limites da lista que contempla aqueles que devem ser considerados os autores capitais de determinado campo, em um movimento constante de reconstrução. A formação de novos pesquisadores na área de Antiguidade significa a consolidação de uma área que se compreende como necessariamente interdisciplinar. Esperamos com esta obra apresentar para o público parte deste trabalho desenvolvido pela Cátedra UNESCO Archai em termos de formação de novos pesquisadores e de definição de um campo de investigação aberto e plural.
Correlation between High Serum Uric Acid Levels with Occurrence of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Soetomo General Hospital
Authors: Sukarno Deasy Putri , Hamdan Muhammad , Fidiana Fidiana , Fadil Fadil , Basuki Mudjiani
Published: October 2018

Background: The increased serum uric acid (SUA) levels have been linked to macro vascular disease in Type 2 Diabetes Melitus. The correlation between serum uric acid levels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy has not been addressed properly.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between high serum uric acid levels and diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Methods: This was a case-control design study and the sampling was done consecutively by following the inclusion and the exclusion criteria. The diabetic peripheral neuropathy was evaluated using Electroneuromyography (EMNG) and the serum were taken for uric acid level examination. Chi square test was used for the correlation analysis.

Result: Thirty subjects were enrolled and divided into an experimental group of 15 subjects and a control group of 15 subjects as well. We found that the diabetic peripheral neuropathy did not show a significant correlation with high serum uric acid levels, p=0,136 and OR 3,143 (CI 95% 0,681-14,503).

Conclusions: There was no correlation between high serum uric acid levels with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Notes from the Editors, July-August 2018
Authors: The Editors -
Published: October 2018

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This special issue is dedicated to developing the ecological critique embodied in Marx's theory of "metabolic rift." Each article uses the metabolic rift perspective to uncover core contradictions of capitalism, as well as possible paths toward a new system—one that will meet human needs while protecting the earth and future generations.
Land–Sea Ecological Rifts
Authors: Clark Brett , Longo Stefano B.
Published: October 2018

Increasing rates of nitrogen and phosphorus application have caused severe damage to aquatic systems, as rivers, streams, lakes, bays, and ocean systems have been inundated with nutrient runoff. Only by addressing the metabolic rupture in the soil nutrient cycle and the contradictions of capital can we begin to mend these land–sea rifts.
Marx, Value, and Nature
Authors: Foster John Bellamy
Published: October 2018

In recent years ecological critiques of capitalism have deepened and multiplied, resulting in new debates over the conception, scope, and purpose of Marx's value theory and its relation to the natural world.
The Reserve Army of Labor in China's Economy, 1991–2015
Authors: Xie Fusheng , Kuang Xiaolu , Li Zhi
Published: October 2018

Since the late 1990s, China's economic expansion has depended on an immense pool of cheap labor. Today, as wages increase and manufacturing operations leave the country, there are constant complaints about shortages of peasant workers. But has China really entered a new era of labor shortage?
'The Deadly Implications of Capital for the Human Habitat'
Authors: Sweezy Paul M.
Published: October 2018

In October 1992, MR founding editor Paul M. Sweezy wrote the following brief letter, published here for the first time, to Mészáros in response to an interview with Chris Arthur and Joseph McCarney that had just been published in Radical Philosophy. Sweezy saluted the critical significance of Mészáros’s argument on “the monstrous power of capital,” and the failure of many Marxists to perceive this problem in its full dimensions. He also affirmed the imperative of incorporating the ecological economics of Nicholas Georgescu-Roegen.
Beyond the Class–Race Binary
Authors: Feagin Joe R.
Published: October 2018

In his insightful new book, the historian David Roediger raises critical questions for scholar-activists seeking to understand white racism and contemporary capitalism and its class realities. He joins a long line of thinkers who have clearly recognized the need for both specifically racial and more universal, class-oriented programs of major social and economic change.
The Radicalization of Dashiell Hammett
Authors: Ruben Albert
Published: October 2018

In his review of Hardboiled Activist: The Work and Politics of Dashiell Hammett by Ken Fuller, Albert Ruben debunks popular arguments about Hammett's consistent radicalism. Instead, he highlights Fuller's research to point to Hammett's process of radicalization—from nihilism to communism—and the events that shaped his life and work.
Pedagogía Social y Educación Social en Colombia: cómo construir la cultura de paz comunitaria en el postconflicto
Authors: Del Pozo Serrano Francisco José , Jiménez Bautista Francisco , Barrientos Soto Andrea
Published: October 2018

Este artículo tiene como propósito analizar las implicaciones y las relaciones entre la Cultura de paz y la Pedagogía Social en el contexto colombiano a partir de los acuerdos de La Habana desde la conceptualización socio-pedagógica y de paz, los marcos socio-jurídicos dentro de los acuerdos. Destacamos os principales retos profesionales de las licenciaturas de Educación Social (comunitaria, etnoeducación, rural y campesina o de adultos) para la construcción de la paz comunitaria dentro del postconflicto que pueda ayudar a Colombia a construir un futuro dónde la paz pueda ser su realidad.
Predictors of Mortality in Patients with Acute Renal Failure
Authors: Sezer Mehmet Tugrul , Demir Murat , Gungor Gokhan , Senol Altug
Published: October 2018

Mortality associated with acute renal failure (ARF) remains high despite of developments in therapy strategies and definition of different prognostic factors. Therefore, this study focused on to define new prognostic factors and especially regional characteristics of the ARF patients. One hundred fifteen ARF patients, diagnosed from November 1998 to May 2003, were included to this prospective and observational study. Clinical features, laboratory parameters, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III scores and co-morbid conditions of the patients were examined. Clinical and laboratory data, and APACHE III scores were recorded at the first nephrology consult day. Thirty of the patients (26%) died. APACHE III scores, presence and the total number of co-morbid conditions and serum albumin levels at the time of first nephrology consultation were found as independent predictors of mortality. There was a negative correlation between APACHE III scores and serum albumin levels. Not only increased APACHE III score and presence of co-morbid conditions but also low serum albumin level was found as the predictors of mortality. However, only serum albumin level is seen as modifiable prognostic factor among these parameters. Therefore, further studies are necessary to determine the causes of hypoalbuminemia in patients with ARF and the effect of it’s effective treatment on patients outcome.
Vitamin D can be used as a supplement against cancer stem cells
Authors: Koçak Nadir , Nergiz Süleyman , Yıldırım ć°brahim Halil , Duran Yağmur
Published: October 2018

Cancer is standing like a bottomless pit or a black hole in front of mankind. Scientists are trying all possible ways to find a solution against to cancer. As known, cancer is a phenomenon fed from internal dynamics. One of internal dynamic is cancer stem cells that are involved in the formation and development of cancer. Because of these dynamics, scientists began to search solution inside of the body. Another internal dynamic is vitamin D and it is not only important in calcium homeostasis but also it is important for cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the effect of vitamin D on cancer stem cells that sorted from MCF-7 cell line and on HEK293 cell line as control. Our results showed that calcitriol treatment reduced the number of CSC (Cancer Stem Cell) in the MCF-7 cell while increased in HEK293 cell population. Gene expression analyses showed that effect of calcitriol on apoptosis plays an important role in this reduction. Deficiency or unavailability of vitamin D may take a role in the pathogenesis of breast cancer.
Screening of total phenolic, antiradical and antioxidant activities of Wiedemannia orientalis
Authors: Turkoglu Ismail
Published: October 2018

In this study, it was aimed to investigate total phenolic, antioxidant and antiradical activities of water and ethanolic extracts of the Wiedemannia orientalis (W. orientalis). In order to investigate the antiradical capacities, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activates were employed in the evaluation process. For the evaluation of antioxidant capacities, activities of phosphomolybdenum assay, reducing power and metal chelating were investigated.  In the evaluations, the amounts of total phenolics were determined to be 11.95±0.02-17.27±0.09 mg Gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g in W. orientalis extracts, respectively. Additionally, the amount of reducing power and total antioxidant capacity of leaf ethanol extract of W. orientalis were determined to be higher compared to the other extracts of W. orientalis. While the highest activity was observed in flower ethanol extract on the DPPH radical scavenging activity, flower water extract demonstrated better results in metal chelating activity. In the ABTS radical chelating activity, no significant differences were observed. As a result, it was suggested in our study that extracts of W. orientalis could be regarded as a natural and alternative source in pharmacology and medicine and food sectors. Such results can be put to use in pharmaceutical formulations and may lead to the developments of new human drugs from this medicinal plant.