bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human Parechovirus: an Increasingly Recognized Cause of Sepsis-Like Illness in Young Infants
Authors: Olijve Laudi , Jennings Lance , Walls Tony
Published: November 2017

Human parechovirus (HPeV) is increasingly being recognized as a potentially severe viral infection in neonates and young infants. HPeV belongs to the family
Picornaviridae
and is currently divided into 19 genotypes. HPeV-1 is the most prevalent genotype and most commonly causes gastrointestinal and respiratory disease. HPeV-3 is clinically the most important genotype due to its association with severe disease in younger infants, which may partly be explained by its distinct virological properties. In young infants, the typical clinical presentation includes fever, severe irritability, and rash, often leading to descriptions of “hot, red, angry babies.” Infants with severe central nervous system (CNS) infections are at an increased risk of long-term sequelae. Considering the importance of HPeV as a cause of severe viral infections in young infants, we recommend that molecular diagnostic techniques for early detection be included in the standard practice for the investigation of sepsis-like illnesses and CNS infections in this age group.
Truncating the gp41 Cytoplasmic Tail of Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Decreases Sensitivity to Neutralizing Antibodies without Increasing the Envelope Content of Virions
Authors: White Ellen , Wu Fan , Chertova Elena , Bess Julian , Roser James D. , Lifson Jeffrey D. , Hirsch Vanessa M.
Published: November 2017

An incomplete understanding of native human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) envelope glycoproteins (Envs) impedes the development of structural models of Env and vaccine design. This shortcoming is due in part to the low number of Env trimers on virus particles. For SIV, this low expression level can be counteracted by truncating the cytoplasmic tail (CT) of Env. CT truncation has been shown to increase Env incorporation into the virion and is commonly used in vaccine and imaging studies, but its effects on viral antigenicity have not been fully elucidated. To study the effects of a CT truncation of Env in viruses in similar genetic contexts, we introduced stop codons into the CT of a SIVsmE660 molecular clone and two neutralizing antibody (NAb) escape variants. These viruses shared 98% sequence identity in Env but were characterized as either tier 1 (sensitive to neutralization), tier 2 (moderately resistant to neutralization), or tier 3 (resistant to neutralization). However, the introduction of premature stop codons in Env at position Q741/Q742 converted all three transfection-derived viruses to a tier 3-like phenotype, and these viruses were uniformly resistant to neutralization by sera from infected macaques and monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). These changes in neutralization sensitivity were not accompanied by an increase in either the virion Env content of infection-derived viruses or the infectivity of transfection-derived viruses in human cells, suggesting that CT mutations may result in global changes to the Env conformation. Our results demonstrate that some CT truncations can affect viral antigenicity and, as such, may not be suitable surrogate models of native HIV/SIV Env.

IMPORTANCE
Modifications to the SIV envelope protein (Env) are commonly used in structural and vaccine studies to stabilize and increase the expression of Env, often without consideration of effects on antigenicity. One such widespread modification is the truncation of the Env C-terminal tail. Here, we studied the effects of a particular cytoplasmic tail truncation in three SIVsm strains that have highly similar Env sequences but exhibit different sensitivities to neutralizing antibodies. After truncation of the Env CT, these viruses were all very resistant to neutralization by sera from infected macaques and monoclonal antibodies. The viruses with a truncated Env CT also did not exhibit the desired and typical increase in Env expression. These results underscore the importance of carefully evaluating the use of truncated Env as a model in HIV/SIV vaccine and imaging studies and of the continued need to find better models of native Env that contain fewer modifications.
CXC Chemokines Exhibit Bactericidal Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Pathogens
Authors: Crawford Matthew A. , Fisher Debra J. , Leung Lisa M. , Lomonaco Sara , Lascols Christine , Cannatelli Antonio , Giani Tommaso , Rossolini Gian Maria , Doi Yohei , Goodlett David R. , Allard Marc W. , Sharma Shashi K. , Khan Erum , Ernst Robert K. , Hughes Molly A.
Published: November 2017

The continued rise and spread of antimicrobial resistance among bacterial pathogens pose a serious challenge to global health. Countering antimicrobial-resistant pathogens requires a multifaceted effort that includes the discovery of novel therapeutic approaches. Here, we establish the capacity of the human CXC chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 to kill multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, including New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase-1-producing
Klebsiella pneumoniae
and colistin-resistant members of the family
Enterobacteriaceae
that harbor the mobile colistin resistance protein MCR-1 and thus possess phosphoethanolamine-modified lipid A. Colistin-resistant
K. pneumoniae
isolates affected by genetic mutation of the PmrA/PmrB two-component system, a chromosomally encoded regulator of lipopolysaccharide modification, and containing 4-amino-4-deoxy-
l
-arabinose-modified lipid A were also found to be susceptible to chemokine-mediated antimicrobial activity. However, loss of PhoP/PhoQ autoregulatory control, caused by disruption of the gene encoding the negative regulator MgrB, limited the bactericidal effects of CXCL9 and CXCL10 in a variable, strain-specific manner. Cumulatively, these findings provide mechanistic insight into chemokine-mediated antimicrobial activity, highlight disparities amongst determinants of colistin resistance, and suggest that chemokine-mediated bactericidal effects merit additional investigation as a therapeutic avenue for treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens.

IMPORTANCE
As bacterial pathogens become resistant to multiple antibiotics, the infections they cause become increasingly difficult to treat. Carbapenem antibiotics provide an essential clinical barrier against multidrug-resistant bacteria; however, the dissemination of bacterial enzymes capable of inactivating carbapenems threatens the utility of these important antibiotics. Compounding this concern is the global spread of bacteria invulnerable to colistin, a polymyxin antibiotic considered to be a last line of defense against carbapenem-resistant pathogens. As the effectiveness of existing antibiotics erodes, it is critical to develop innovative antimicrobial therapies. To this end, we demonstrate that the chemokines CXCL9 and CXCL10 kill the most concerning carbapenem- and colistin-resistant pathogens. Our findings provide a unique and timely foundation for therapeutic strategies capable of countering antibiotic-resistant “superbugs.”
Large-Scale Bioinformatics Analysis of
Bacillus
Genomes Uncovers Conserved Roles of Natural Products in Bacterial Physiology
Authors: Grubbs Kirk J. , Bleich Rachel M. , Santa Maria Kevin C. , Allen Scott E. , Farag Sherif ,   AgBiome Team, Shank Elizabeth A. , Bowers Albert A.
Published: November 2017

Bacilli
are capable of producing a diverse array of specialized metabolites, many of which have gained attention for their roles as signals that affect bacterial physiology and development. Up to this point, however, the
Bacillus
genus’s metabolic capacity has been underexplored. We undertook a deep genomic analysis of 1,566
Bacillus
genomes to understand the full spectrum of metabolites that this bacterial group can make. We discovered that the majority of the specialized metabolites produced by
Bacillus
species are highly conserved, known compounds with important signaling roles in the physiology and development of this bacterium. Additionally, there is significant unique biosynthetic machinery distributed across the genus that might lead to new, unknown metabolites with diverse biological functions. Inspired by the findings of our genomic analysis, we speculate that the highly conserved alkylpyrones might have an important biological activity within this genus. We go on to validate this prediction by demonstrating that these natural products are developmental signals in
Bacillus
and act by inhibiting sporulation.
Gender differences in the decrease of in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction during the last 20 years in Switzerland
Authors: Radovanovic Dragana , Seifert Burkhardt , Roffi Marco , Urban Philip , Rickli Hans , Pedrazzini Giovanni , Erne Paul
Published: November 2017

Objective

To assess temporal trends of in-hospital mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) enrolled in the Swiss nationwide registry (AMIS Plus) over the last 20 years with regard to gender, age and in-hospital treatment.

Methods

All patients with AMI from 1997 to 2016 were stratified according to ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) or non-STEMI (NSTEMI), and gender using logistic regression analyses.

Results

Among 51 725 patients, 30 398 (59%) had STEMI and 21 327 (41%) had NSTEMI; 73% were men (63.9±12.8 years) and 27% were women (71.7±12.5 years). Over 20 years, crude in-hospital STEMI mortality decreased from 9.8% to 5.5% in men and from 18.3% to 6.9% in women. In patients with NSTEMI, it decreased from 7.1% to 2.1% in men and from 11.0% to 3.6% in women. After adjustment for age, mortality decreased per additional admission year by 3% in men with STEMI (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96 to 0.98, P<0.001), by 5% in women with STEMI (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93 to 0.96, P<0.001), by 6% in men with NSTEMI (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.93 to 0.96, P<0.001) and by 5% in women with NSTEMI (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.93 to 0.97, P<0.001). In patients <60 years, a decrease in mortality was seen in women with STEMI (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.90 to 0.99, P=0.025) and NSTEMI (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.94, P<0.001) but not in men with STEMI (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.04, P=0.46) and NSTEMI (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.94 to 1.03, P=0.41). The mortality decrease in patients with AMI was closely associated with the increase in reperfusion therapy.

Conclusion

From 1997 to 2016, in-hospital mortality of patients with AMI in Switzerland has halved and was more pronounced in women, particularly in the age category <60 years.

Trial registration number

NCT01305785; Results.
Plasmid AZOBR_p1-borne fabG gene for putative 3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier protein] reductase is essential for proper assembly and work of the dual flagellar system in the alphaproteobacterium Azospirillum brasilense Sp245
Authors: Filip’echeva Yulia A. , Shelud’ko Andrei V. , Prilipov Alexei G. , Burygin Gennady L. , Telesheva Elizaveta M. , Yevstigneyeva Stella S. , Chernyshova Marina P. , Petrova Lilia P. , Katsy Elena I.
Published: November 2017

Azospirillum brasilense can swim and swarm owing to the activity of a constitutive polar flagellum (Fla) and inducible lateral flagella (Laf), respectively. Experimental data on the regulation of the Fla and Laf assembly in azospirilla are scarce. Here, the coding sequence (CDS) AZOBR_p1160043 (fabG1) for a putative 3-oxoacyl-[acyl-carrier protein (ACP)] reductase was found essential for the construction of both types of flagella. In an immotile leaky Fla− Laf− fabG1::Omegon-Km mutant, Sp245.1610, defects in flagellation and motility were fully complemented by expressing the CDS AZOBR_p1160043 from plasmid pRK415. When pRK415 with the cloned CDS AZOBR_p1160045 (fliC) for a putative 65.2 kDa Sp245 Fla flagellin was transferred into the Sp245.1610 cells, the bacteria also became able to assemble a motile single flagellum. Some cells, however, had unusual swimming behavior, probably because of the side location of the organelle. Although the assembly of Laf was not restored in Sp245.1610 (pRK415-p1160045), this strain was somewhat capable of swarming motility. We propose that the putative 3-oxoacyl-[ACP] reductase encoded by the CDS AZOBR_p1160043 plays a role in correct flagellar location in the cell envelope and (or) in flagellar modification(s), which are also required for the inducible construction of Laf and for proper swimming and swarming motility of A. brasilense Sp245.
THE NEXUS BETWEEN ECONOMIC GROWTH, STOCK MARKET DEPTH, TRADE OPENNESS, AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT: THE CASE OF ASEAN COUNTRIES
Authors: PRADHAN RUDRA P. , ARVIN MAK B. , HALL JOHN H.
Published: November 2017

Many studies have investigated the causal relationship between economic growth and the depth in the stock market, between economic growth and trade openness, or between economic growth and foreign direct investment. Advancing on earlier work, this paper uses vector error-correction and cointegration techniques in order to establish whether there is a long-run equilibrium relationship between all four variables. We consider a sample of 25 ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) countries which are studied over the period 1961–2012. Our analysis, which combines various strands of the literature, establishes the direction of causality between the variables. Policy recommendations include the encouragement of mutual fund investment by smaller investors to increase stock market depth as well as methods to increase foreign direct investment, such as tax holidays.
Higher Iterated Hilbert Coefficients of the Graded Components of Bigraded Modules
Authors: Arkian Seyed Shahab
Published: November 2017

Let S = K[x1, …, xn] be the polynomial ring over a field K, and let I ⊂ S be a graded ideal. It is shown that the higher iterated Hilbert coefficients of the graded S-modules [Formula: see text](M, Ik) and [Formula: see text](M, Ik) are polynomial functions in k, and an upper bound for their degree is given. These results are derived by considering suitable bigraded modules.
The Impact of Exogenous Corporate Governance Changes on Innovation and Market Value
Authors: Gao Lei , Zagorchev Andrey
Published: November 2017

We investigate how exogenous corporate governance changes in terms of anti-takeover provisions affect the innovation and market value of the firm. Consistent with our conjecture, using triple difference-in-differences models, we find that the unexpected changes in the interpretation of the case law cause a decrease in innovation for Delaware firms with classified boards, entrenched managers, and in less competitive industries. We also show that after the case rulings for Delaware firms, lower (higher) innovation activities are associated with lower (higher) market values. Our results are robust to inclusion of conventional governance measures, alternative model specifications, and different measures of innovation.
Inter-Technology Backscatter
Authors: Iyer Vikram , Talla Vamsi , Kellogg Bryce , Smith Joshua R. , Gollakota Shyamnath
Published: November 2017

We introduce inter-technology backscatter, a novel approach that transforms wireless transmissions from one technology to another, on the air. We show for the first time that Bluetooth transmissions can be used to create Wi-Fi and ZigBee-compatible signals using backscatter communication. Since Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and ZigBee radios are widely available, this enables a backscatter design that works using only commodity devices. We build an FPGA prototype that creates 2'11 Mbps Wi-Fi or Zigbee packets by backscattering Bluetooth transmissions. We use this to demonstrate previously infeasible applications including the first contact lens form-factor antenna prototype and implantable neural recording interface that communicate directly to commodity devices, such as smartphones, thus enabling the vision of Internet-connected implanted devices
Within-Subject Reliability and between-Subject Variability of Oxidative Stress Markers in Saliva of Healthy Subjects: A Longitudinal Pilot Study
Authors: Alajbeg Iva Z. , Lapić Ivana , Rogić Dunja , Vuletić Lea , Andabak Rogulj Ana , Illeš Davor , Knezović Zlatarić Dubravka , Badel Tomislav , Vrbanović Ema , Alajbeg Ivan
Published: November 2017

The present study evaluated diurnal variations and day-to-day fluctuations of salivary oxidative stress (OS) markers in healthy adult individuals. Whole unstimulated saliva was collected at 2 time intervals over 3 consecutive days. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and uric acid (UA) were analyzed using spectrophotometric methods, while 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined using immunoassays. No significant differences for salivary OS markers between men and women were observed. For all examined OS markers, no significant day-to-day variations were demonstrated. Significant diurnal variations were found in salivary GPX, TAC and MDA levels. For SOD, TAC, GPX, and UA, good-to-moderate intraindividual coefficients of variations (CVs) were observed in more than 75% of the subjects. For MDA and 8-OHdG, intraindividual CVs > 35% were observed in 60% and 40% of the subjects, respectively. Between-subject variance was wide for all examined OS markers (CV% 30.08%–85.70%). Due to high intraindividual variability in the salivary concentrations of MDA and 8-OHdG, those markers cannot be reliably verified based on single measurements and multiple measurements over several days would provide more reliable information. Salivary SOD, TAC, GPX, and UA proved stable across three days of measurement. Trial Registration. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03029494. Registered on 2017-01-19.
Restrictive Cardiomyopathies: The Importance of Noninvasive Cardiac Imaging Modalities in Diagnosis and Treatment—A Systematic Review
Authors: Rammos Aidonis , Meladinis Vasileios , Vovas Georgios , Patsouras Dimitrios
Published: November 2017

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is the least common among cardiomyopathies. It can be idiopathic, familial, or secondary to systematic disorders. Marked increase in left and/or right ventricular filling pressures causes symptoms and signs of congestive heart failure. Electrocardiographic findings are nonspecific and include atrioventricular conduction and QRS complex abnormalities and supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) play a major role in diagnosis. Echocardiography reveals normal or hypertrophied ventricles, preserved systolic function, marked biatrial enlargement, and impaired diastolic function, often with restrictive filling pattern. CMR offering a higher spatial resolution than echocardiography can provide detailed information about anatomic structures, perfusion, ventricular function, and tissue characterization. CMR with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) and novel approaches (myocardial mapping) can direct the diagnosis to specific subtypes of RCM, depending on the pattern of scar formation. When noninvasive studies have failed, endomyocardial biopsy is required. Differentiation between RCM and constrictive pericarditis (CP), nowadays by echocardiography, is important since both present as heart failure with normal-sized ventricles and preserved ejection fraction but CP can be treated by means of anti-inflammatory and surgical treatment, while the treatment options of RCM are dictated by the underlying condition. Prognosis is generally poor despite optimal medical treatment.
Household Food Insecurity in Southeastern Iran: Severity and Related Factors
Authors: Mortazavi Zinat , Dorosty Ahmad Reza , Eshraghian Mohammad Reza , Ghaffari Mohtasham , Ansari-Moghaddam Alireza , Mohammadi Mahdi
Published: November 2017

Background.Today, more than one billion people globally suffer from poverty and food insecurity. This study aimed to determine the severity of and factors related to household food insecurity in Zahedan, Southeastern Iran.Methods.This cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 2,160 households between November 2014 and December 2015. Demographic and socioeconomic data were collected through interviewing the household mothers. Household food security status was assessed through the USDA 18-item questionnaire. The data were analyzed using chi-square test, one-way ANOVA, and logistic regression model.Results.Total food insecurity in the households investigated was 58.8%. There were significant associations (P<0.001) between household food insecurity status and the socioeconomic status of the households, ethnicity, education, age, and employment status of the head of the household and the mother of the household.Discussion.The results showed that more than half of the households examined suffer from food insecurity. Interventions to improve the food security status of people should be designed and implemented to improve people’s knowledge, skills, and attitudes related to healthy eating and food preparation. People’s access to healthy foods and knowledge of how to select healthy foods (especially on a limited budget) should also be improved.
On Generalized Growth of Analytic Functions Solutions of Linear Homogeneous Partial Differential Equation of Second Order
Authors: Kumar Devendra
Published: November 2017

The generalized growth parameters of analytic functions solutions of linear homogeneous partial differential equations of second order have been studied. Moreover, coefficients characterizations of generalized order and generalized type of the solutions represented in convergent series of Laguerre polynomials have been obtained.
Sciatic Nerve Palsy following Total Hip Replacement: Are Patients Personal Characteristics More Important than Limb Lengthening? A Systematic Review
Authors: De Fine Marcello , Romagnoli Matteo , Zaffagnini Stefano , Pignatti Giovanni
Published: November 2017

Sciatic nerve palsies are rare but potentially devastating complications, accounting for more than 90% of neurologic injuries following total hip replacement. A systematic literature screening was carried out searching papers evaluating an exclusive population of postarthroplasty sciatic nerve palsies to ascertain (1) the influence of limb lengthening itself on sciatic nerve palsy, (2) the most important risk factors, (3) the long-term prognosis, and (4) the outcomes of different treatments. Fourteen manuscripts were finally included. The wide prevalence of retrospective case series decreased the global methodological quality of the retrieved papers. A hazardous lengthening threshold cannot be surely identified. Developmental dysplasia of the hip and previous hip surgeries are the most frequently recognized risk factors. Rate of full nerve function restoration approximates two-thirds of the cases, independently of the extent of initial neural damage. Poor evidences are available about the best treatment strategy. Well-structured multicentric prospective comparative studies are needed to substantiate or contrast the finding of this review. Anyway, since the onset of palsies is probably due to a combination of individual factors, risk of nerve damage and potential for nerve recovery should be evaluated on an individual basis.
Is There a Correlation between New Scoring Systems and Systemic Inflammation in Stable Bronchiectasis?
Authors: Coban Hikmet , Gungen Adil Can
Published: November 2017

Aim. The present study aimed to investigate the relation between FACED and BSI scores, which were developed to measure the severity of bronchiectasis, and systemic inflammation in patients with stable bronchiectasis. Methods. FACED and BSI scores of 117 patients with stable bronchiectasis were calculated. The correlations between mean scores and CRP levels, leukocyte count, and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio were investigated. Findings. Mean BSI and FACED scores were 7.2 ± 5.2 and 2.1 ± 1.8, respectively. The severity of bronchiectasis as determined based on BSI and FACED increased significantly with increasing levels of CRP in patients with stable bronchiectasis (p=0.001 and p=0.027, resp.). No significant changes were found in leukocyte count (p=0.72 and p=0.09, resp.) and N/L ratio (p=0.45 and p=0.71, resp.). BSI and FACED scores were significantly correlated with CRP but not with leukocyte count or N/L ratio. Conclusion. In patients with stable bronchiectasis who are evaluated based on FACED and BSI scores, CRP can be a useful biomarker as a direct indicator of the severity of systemic inflammation.
Efficacy and Safety of a Topical Botanical in Female Androgenetic Alopecia: A Randomized, Single-Blinded, Vehicle-Controlled Study
Authors: Katoulis Alexandros C. , Liakou Aikaterini I. , Alevizou Antigoni , Bonovas Stefanos , Bozi Evangelia , Kontogiorgi Dimitra , Rigopoulos Dimitrios
Published: November 2017

Introduction: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) in females is a difficult to treat skin disorder. A novel topical botanical lotion has been approved for its treatment. It acts by increasing Bcl-2, perifollicular Langerhans and mast cells, and perifollicular collagen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this lotion in females. Methods: Forty women with AGA were randomized to apply the active lotion or placebo, twice daily for 24 weeks. Subjects were evaluated at 0, 12, and 24 weeks by clinical examination, photographic documentation, quality of life evaluation (DLQI), and trichogram (anagen to telogen ratio). Results: The clinical evaluation demonstrated an increased hair density in the intervention group (great improvement in 7.7%, moderate in 88.5%, and stable in 3.8%). The self-assessment score increased from 4.5 to 6.0 (24 weeks), and the DLQI improved from 4 to 3 in the intervention group (p < 0.001). The mean anagen to telogen ratio in the intervention group was 2.1, 3.9, and 6.0 at 0, 12, and 24 weeks, respectively, whereas in the control group it was 2.2, 3.8, and 3.3, respectively. Conclusion: The new topical botanical lotion showed remarkable efficacy, with a high degree of patient satisfaction and improvement of their quality of life.
Meraque/San Jiao of Eastern Medicine in Comparison with the Mesentery System Presented in Western Medicine
Authors: Avijgan Majid , Avijgan Mahtab , Salehzadeh Firouze
Published: November 2017

Background: In Persian medicine (PM) and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), there is an ignored space, namely the Meraque/San Jiao (M/S) space, which in our previous article has been described in detail. Recently, there has been a publication about the mesentery system describing it as a new system with a history of no more than 300 years. According to our previous publications, this is a part of the M/S system, which could represent adipose tissue and vessels. The mesentery and the M/S system can be regarded as one system, except that the mesentery system is a section of the integrated system of M/S with a history of more than 3,000 years; this is the main topic of this report. Key Message: Comparing the mesentery with the Meraque in PM and the San Jiao in TCM, we can conclude that the M/S is more complete than the mesentery. Based on ancient classical texts of PM, the Meraque system has 6 labyrinths and includes all membranes, the fascia, vessels, adipose tissue, and the gut. In PM and TCM, it has a very important role. We will attempt to modernize the M/S. This leads to new methods in treatment, management, and research of Western medicine.
Head-to-Head Comparison of Global and Regional Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking Strain Versus Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Tagging in a Multicenter Validation Study
Authors: Amzulescu Mihaela Silvia , Langet Hélène , Saloux Eric , Manrique Alain , Boileau Laurianne , Slimani Alisson , Allain Pascal , Roy Clotilde , de Meester Christophe , Pasquet Agnès , De Craene Mathieu , Vancraeynest David , Pouleur Anne-Catherine , Vanoverschelde Jean-Louis J. , Gerber Bernhard L.
Published: November 2017

Background—

Despite widespread use to characterize and refine prognosis, validation data of two-dimensional (2D) speckle tracking (2DST) echocardiography myocardial strain measurement remain scarce.

Methods and Results—

Global and regional subendocardial peak-systolic Lagrangian longitudinal (LS) and circumferential strain (CS) by 2DST and 2D-tagged (2DTagg) cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were compared against sonomicrometry in a dynamic heart phantom and among each other in 136 patients included prospectively at 2 centers. The ability of regional LS and CS 2DST and 2DTagg to identify late gadolinium enhancement was compared using receiver operating characteristics curves. In vitro, both LS-2DST and 2DTagg highly agreed with sonomicrometry (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC], 0.89 and ICC, 0.90, both
P
<0.001 with −3±2.8% and 0.34±4.35% bias, respectively). In patients, both global LS and global CS 2DST agreed well with 2DTagg (ICC, 0.89 and ICC, 0.80;
P
<0.001); however, they provided systematically greater values (relative bias of −37±27% and −25±37% for global LS and global CS, respectively). On regional basis, however, ICC (from 0.17 to 0.81) and relative bias (from −9 to −98%) between 2DST and 2DTagg varied strongly among segments. Ability to discriminate infarcted versus noninfarcted segments by late gadolinium enhancement was similarly good for regional LS 2DTagg and 2DST (area under the curve, 0.66 versus 0.59;
P
=0.08), while it was lower for CS 2DST than 2DTagg (area under the curve, 0.61 versus 0.75;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

The high accuracy against sonomicrometry and good agreement of global LS and global CS by 2DST and 2DTagg confirm the overall validity of 2DST strain measurement. Yet, higher intertechnique segmental variability and lower ability for detecting infarct suggest that 2DST strain estimates may be less performant on regional than on global basis.
Inhibition of Vascular c‐Jun N‐Terminal Kinase 2 Improves Obesity‐Induced Endothelial Dysfunction After Roux‐en‐Y Gastric Bypass
Authors: Doytcheva Petia , Bächler Thomas , Tarasco Erika , Marzolla Vincenzo , Engeli Michael , Pellegrini Giovanni , Stivala Simona , Rohrer Lucia , Tona Francesco , Camici Giovanni G. , Vanhoutte Paul M. , Matter Christian M. , Lutz Thomas A. , Lüscher Thomas F. , Osto Elena
Published: November 2017

Background

Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass (
RYGB
) reduces obesity‐associated comorbidities and cardiovascular mortality.
RYGB
improves endothelial dysfunction, reducing c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (
JNK
) vascular phosphorylation.
JNK
activation links obesity with insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction. Herein, we examined whether
JNK
1 or
JNK
2 mediates obesity‐induced endothelial dysfunction and if pharmacological
JNK
inhibition can mimic
RYGB
vascular benefits.

Methods and Results

After 7 weeks of a high‐fat high‐cholesterol diet, obese rats underwent
RYGB
or sham surgery; sham–operated ad libitum–fed rats received, for 8 days, either the control peptide D‐
TAT
or the
JNK
peptide inhibitor D‐
JNK
i‐1 (20 mg/kg per day subcutaneous).
JNK
peptide inhibitor D‐
JNK
i‐1 treatment improved endothelial vasorelaxation in response to insulin and glucagon‐like peptide‐1, as observed after
RYGB
. Obesity increased aortic phosphorylation of
JNK
2, but not of
JNK
1.
RYGB
and
JNK
peptide inhibitor D‐
JNK
i‐1 treatment blunted aortic
JNK
2 phosphorylation via activation of glucagon‐like peptide‐1–mediated signaling. The inhibitory phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate‐1 was reduced, whereas the protein kinase B/endothelial
NO
synthase pathway was increased and oxidative stress was decreased, resulting in improved vascular
NO
bioavailability.

Conclusions

Decreased aortic
JNK
2 phosphorylation after
RYGB
rapidly improves obesity‐induced endothelial dysfunction. Pharmacological
JNK
inhibition mimics the endothelial protective effects of
RYGB
. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of novel strategies targeting vascular
JNK
2 against the severe cardiovascular disease associated with obesity.
Second Thoughts: Unknown Yiddish Texts and New Perspectives on the Study of Hasidism
Authors: Mayse Ariel Evan , Reiser Daniel
Published: November 2017

This study explores an important Hasidic manuscript rediscovered among the papers of Abraham Joshua Heschel at Duke University. The text, first noted by Heschel in the 1950s, is a collection of sermons by the famed tzaddik Judah Aryeh Leib Alter of Ger (d. 1905). These homilies are significant because they were transcribed by one of his disciples, in many cases capturing them in the original Yiddish. Comparing this alternative witness to Alter’s own Hebrew version (called Sefat emet), printed shortly after his death, reveals substantive differences in the sermons’ development, structure, and themes. But the manuscript’s importance extends beyond a critical new perspective on Alter’s teachings. It offers a snapshot of the processes behind the formation of Hasidic books, and calls for scholars to consider the unavoidable divergences between Hebrew and Yiddish, between orality and textuality, and the transmission of ideas from a teacher to his disciples, vectors of change that inhabit all Hasidic literature.
The Aim and Structure of Gershom ben Solomon’s Shaʿar ha-shamayim
Authors: Freudenthal Gad
Published: November 2017

Gershom ben Solomon’s very popular Shaʿar ha-shamayim (The Gate of Heaven), written in the Midi in the last quarter of the 13th century, differs from the two earlier 13th-century Hebrew encyclopedias in that it lays very strong emphasis on the empirical sublunar world (beginning with the elements and especially with the two Aristotelian exhalations), nearly ignoring the theory of the soul and metaphysics. This article argues that the clue to Gershom’s distinctive approach to the study of the world is to be found in Samuel ibn Tibbon’s Maʾamar yiqqawu ha-mayim (A Treatise on ‘Let the Water Gather’) of 1231. With this insight, we also realize that Gershom’s is an ‘encyclopedia’ of a new genre, really a personal philosophical work, whose numerous building blocks are arranged in accordance with a philosophical principle. In this respect, the work is that of a true philosopher-scientist, not of a mere compiler.
Traversing Geography, Attaining Cognition
Authors: Okuyade Ogaga
Published: November 2017

Although a number of studies of the African bildungsroman exist, they hardly explore the utility of journeying in the development of the protagonist. Some of these studies continue to reiterate the existence of the postcolonial African bildungsroman and its structure or how postcolonial writers have subverted this genre to narrativize the African experience of growth. However, the crucial role of travel in the African bildungsroman remains to be discussed comprehensively. It is my intention, therefore, to address this oversight and begin to fill the gap. My central contention is that travel is an essential catalyst in the process of personal growth. Chimamada Ngozi Adichie’s Purple Hibiscus will function as my primary text for analysis, but I also make reference to other narratives as ancillary texts in order to accentuate the functionality of journey, its metaphoric implications, and its structural application to Purple Hibiscus as a postcolonial African bildungsroman. In order to understand how mobility facilitates the construction of consciousness in Purple Hibiscus, I situate Kambili’s personal growth around a kind of mobility which resides within the usual-everyday kind of journey, which is by no means mythic, to articulate a template that foregrounds Kambili’s struggle for individuation—familial confinement, separation-cum-isolation, initiation, and return.
Hypertextuality and the Economic Novel in Zimbabwe
Authors: Vambe Maurice Taonezvi
Published: November 2017

Recent surges and advances in the popular use of electronic technology such as Internet, email, iPad, iPhone, and touch-screens in Africa have opened up great communicative possibilities among ordinary people whose voices were previously marginalized in traditional elitist media. People far apart geographically and living in different times can communicate rapidly and with great ease. This technological revolution has challenged and broken down boundaries of dependence on television, newspapers, and novels, the traditional forms of communication. It is now possible to upload a novel onto an iPad and read it as one moves from place to place. The burden of carrying hard copies is relieved but not eradicated; in most African countries, including Zimbabwe (the centre of focus in the present article), the creative work of art or hard copy of a novel is still relied upon as source of information. There are creative, experimental innovations in the novel form in Zimbabwe which to some extent can justify one’s speaking of a hypertextual novel. This new type of novel incorporates multiple narratives, and sometimes deliberately uses genres such as the email form as a constitutive narrative style that confirms as well as destabilizes previous assumptions of single coherent stories told from one point of view. Using the concepts of hypertextuality, intertextuality, and Bakhtin’s notions of carnivalesque and heteroglossia in speech and written utterances, this article reconsiders the implications of the presence of ideologies of hypertextuality in one novel from Zimbabwe, Nyaradzo Mtizira’s The Chimurenga Protocol (2008). The article argues that the multiplicity of narratives constitutes the hypertextual dimension of the novelistic form.
Citizen Journalism and Conflict Transformation
Authors: Ajao Toyin , Wielenga Cori
Published: November 2017

The ubiquitous Internet platform in Africa has given rise to a new set of non-state actors responding to protracted conflicts through the use of new media technology. As a departure from a state-centric approach to addressing conflict in Africa, this interdisciplinary study explores the contribution of the public in responding to armed conflicts through citizen journalism. To unearth non-violent African digital innovations, this research explored the Ushahidi platform, which emerged as a response to Kenya’s 2008 post-election violence. Using a qualitative method, data was gathered through unstructured in-depth interviews. The data was analysed using thematic analysis. The data showed the transformative role the Ushahidi platform played during Kenya’s electoral violence through crisis-mapping, the early warning multi-agent consortium, a constitutional referendum, and election monitoring. Evidence also emerged regarding the pioneer work of Ushahidi in other non-violent technological involvements in addressing crisis in Kenya.
Transit Migration and “Valve States”
Authors: Tudoroiu Theodor
Published: November 2017

This article introduces the concept of a “valve” state as an instrument in the study of transit migration. A “valve” state is defined as a transit state that, due to its geographical position, to a specific regional political and geopolitical configuration and to key changes in its migration control policies, can play a decisive role in significantly shaping regional transit migratory flows. The case study of the 2015 Balkan migratory wave is used to show that this phenomenon was triggered by policy changes in two “valve” states, Greece and Macedonia, that challenged the externalisation and securitisation policies of the European Union. Developments in the first part of 2016 are also taken into consideration in order to show the role of “valve” states in putting an end to the migratory wave. Critically, this was due to the creation of a new “valve” state, Turkey, as part of Brussels’ regime of influence.
European Governments’ Responses to the ‘Refugee Crisis’
Authors: Skleparis Dimitris
Published: November 2017

In the face of the ‘refugee crisis’, many European governments, even in traditionally liberal states, unilaterally introduced a number of restrictive and, often, controversial migration, asylum, and border control policies. The author argues that past legal-bureaucratic choices on migration and asylum policies, ongoing developments in international relations at that time, the structural and perceived capacity of receiving states to cope with the refugee influx, and long-standing migration-related security concerns influenced the responses of many European governments amid the mass population movement. However, the author also suggests that the surfacing of particular policies across Europe was related to the newly elected Greek government’s attempted U-turn from similar repressive and controversial policies during that time. In this regard, the author maintains that repressive and controversial migration, asylum, and border control policies cannot simply be abolished within the context of theeucommon market and interdependence ofeuinternal and external controls.
Ant-like stone beetles on the roof of the world. Cephenniini of Nepal and Bhutan (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae)
Authors: JAŁOSZYŃSKI PAWEŁ
Published: November 2017

The tribe Cephenniini is for the first time reported to occur in the Himalaya Mountains, and 58 species are described: Cephennomicrus arunensis sp. n., Cm. acupunctatus sp. n., Cm. taplejungensis sp. n., Hlavaciellus primitivus sp. n., Cephennodes (s. str.) cavifrons sp. n., C. (s. str.) pampinosus sp. n., C. (s. str.) bagmatianus sp. n., C. (s. str.) popeye sp. n., C. (s. str.) clavodentatus sp. n., C. (s. str.) meredaranus sp. n., C. (s. str.) yangrianus sp. n., C. (s. str.) suturalis sp. n., C. (s. str.) karnaliensis sp. n., C. (s. str.) churtanus sp. n., C. (s. str.) sermathangensis sp. n., C. (s. str.) tipulipes sp. n., C. (s. str.) yeti sp. n., C. (s. str.) inflaticornis sp. n., C. (s. str.) dolakhanus sp. n., C. (s. str.) manangensis sp. n., C. (s. str.) martensi sp. n., C. (s. str.) paramartensi sp. n., C. (s. str.) monolaminatus sp. n., C. (s. str.) thakanus sp. n., C. (s. str.) annapurnaensis sp. n., C. (s. str.) parbatensis sp. n., C. (s. str.) letheanus sp. n., C. (s. str.) myagdiensis sp. n., C. (s. str.) malla sp. n., C. (s. str.) gorkha sp. n., C. (s. str.) tharepatianus sp. n., C. (s. str.) minisulcatus sp. n., C. (s. str.) mustangensis sp. n., C. (s. str.) lalitpuranus sp. n., C. (s. str.) paralalitpuranus sp. n., C. (s. str.) bahrabisensis sp. n., C. (s. str.) bilaminatus sp. n., C. (s. str.) ghorepanianus sp. n., C. (s. str.) cordilaminatus sp. n., C. (s. str.) mangmayanus sp. n. C. (s. str.) bilobatus sp. n., C. (s. str.) gokarnaensis sp. n., C. (s. str.) pseudogokarnaensis sp. n., C. (s. str.) mahisapala sp. n., C. (s. str.) licchavi sp. n., C. (s. str.) gopala sp. n., C. (s. str.) paniporuanus sp. n., C. (s. str.) brachyclavatus sp. n., C. (s. str.) phulchokianus sp. n., C. (s. str.) pokharensis sp. n., C. (s. str.) newar sp. n., C. (s. str.) kusunda sp. n., C. (s. str.) sindhupalchowk sp. n., C. (s. str.) furcatus sp. n., C. (s. str.) penicillipes sp. n., C. (s. str.) sulcatus sp. n., C. (s. str.) kalopanianus sp. n., and C. (s. str.) poonensis sp. n. Cephennodes popeye occurs in Bhutan; all remaining species inhabit Nepal. Four new species groups are established in Cephennodes, and a checklist of all Cephennodes species placed in species groups is given. The presumably plesiomorphic morphological structures of H. primitivus are discussed, and comparative notes on the Himalayan Cephenniini fauna are presented.
Afterschool school triathlon training for 11- to 14-year old girls: Influences on academic motivation and achievement
Authors: Gatz Jennifer , Kelly Angela M
Published: November 2017

Objective:

This study evaluated the effect of a Transformation through Triathlon after school programme in promoting health status, academic motivation and socioemotional development in at-risk girls aged 11–14 years attending middle school in the USA.

Design:

A phenomenological approach was employed with elements of grounded theory to analyse data from focus group interviews for insights into programmatic outcomes.

Setting:

Participants ( N = 29) were invited to participate in the 20-week after school triathlon training and health promotion programme, and some volunteered for interviews. They were selected based on school personnel characterising them as at-risk for low self-esteem, a sedentary lifestyle, and/or classification as overweight. The programme combined empowerment lessons, nutrition and health science education twice per week from mid-March until June 2014, and after-school activities such as triathlon-specific training and group fitness classes three times per week through until July, with a culminating youth sprint triathlon (300-yard swim, 7-mile bike ride, and 1.5-mile run).

Method:

Focus groups of five to six girls were convened immediately after programme completion, and again 12 weeks later. A semi-structured interview protocol was developed with questions regarding individual goals, perceptions of programme structure and setting, and programmatic effects related to academics and motivation.

Results:

Qualitative analysis revealed that confidence, interest, and self-determination motivational constructs positively influenced goal setting, strategies, health, fitness, motivation, and academic achievement.

Conclusion:

Intervention participants learned to self-regulate their learning and set goals that promoted fitness, academic achievement, better attitudes, and resilience. After school community and family inclusive programmes with a structured fitness component increase confidence, self-determination and academic achievement though social support structures.
“I Honestly Would Not Have Known What to Do”: An Exploratory Study of Perspectives on Client Suicide Among Vocational Rehabilitation Support Staff
Authors: Lund Emily M. , Schultz Jared C. , Thomas Katie B. , Nadorff Michael R. , Sias Christina M. , Chowdhury Dalia , DeTore Nicole R. , Galbraith Kate
Published: November 2017

Despite the high prevalence of suicide both overall and among people with disabilities in particular, little research has explored suicide in the context of the vocational rehabilitation (VR) system or in counseling support staff in general. We analyzed the responses of 14 VR support staff who responded to an open-ended qualitative prompt regarding their experiences with suicide training and competency. Key themes included a perceived lack of and desire for more training regarding suicide, seeking and receiving suicide training outside of VR, and a perceived lack of resources for working with suicidal clients. Responses also underscored the heavy emotional impact of working with these clients, especially when one feels unprepared to do so. These results suggest that it is important to provide VR support staff with resources and training for addressing suicide in their client populations.
“Restorative Justice” or Restoring Order? Restorative School Discipline Practices in Urban Public Schools
Authors: Lustick Hilary
Published: November 2017

Suspension rates for students of color are higher than for White students, even in schools that utilize alternatives to suspension like restorative practices. This study draws on data from a year-long multicase ethnography that sought to elucidate why such disproportionality prevails in schools that use restorative practices. This article focuses on one finding: that the individuals hired to be restorative coordinators were consistently young, non-White staff from the same neighborhoods as their students. The majority-White faculty and administration greatly depended on these coordinators to bond with, contain, and compel obedience from students of color.