bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hands-Free Maneuvers of Robotic Vehicles via Human Intentions Understanding Using Wearable Sensing
Authors: Wang Weitian , Li Rui , Guo Longxiang , Diekel Z. Max , Jia Yunyi
Published: April 2018

Intelligent robotic vehicles are more and more fully automated, without steering wheels, gas/brake pedals, or gearshifts. However, allowing the human driver to step in and maneuver the robotic vehicle under specific driving requirements is a necessary issue that should be considered. To this end, we propose a wearable-sensing-based hands-free maneuver intention understanding approach to assist the human to naturally operate the robotic vehicle without physical contact. The human intentions are interpreted and modeled based on the fuzzy control using the forearm postures and muscle activities information detected by a wearable sensory system, which incorporates electromyography (EMG) sensors and inertial measurement unit (IMU). Based on the maneuver intention understanding model, the human can flexibly, intuitively, and conveniently control diverse vehicle maneuvers only using his intention expressions. This approach was implemented by a series of experiments in the practical situations on a lab-based 1/10 robotic vehicle research platform. Experimental results and evaluations demonstrated that, by taking advantage of the nonphysical contact and natural handleability of this approach, the robotic vehicle was successfully and effectively maneuvered to finish the driving tasks with considerable accuracy and robustness in human-robotic vehicle interaction.
Solvent-Free Ring Cleavage Hydrazinolysis of Certain Biginelli Pyrimidines
Authors: Said Mohamed A. , Eldehna Wagdy M. , Ghabbour Hazem A. , Kabil Maha M. , Al-shakliah Nasser S. , Abdel-Aziz Hatem A.
Published: April 2018

Certain Biginelli pyrimidines with ester substitution in C5 were subjected to unexpected ring opening upon solvent-free reaction with hydrazine hydrate to give three products: pyrazole, arylidenehydrazines, and urea/thiourea, respectively. The nonisolable carbohydrazide intermediates are formed firstly followed by the intermolecular nucleophilic attack of terminal amino group of hydrazide function on sp2 C6 rather than the sp3 C4 to give the ring adduct which was produced as a final product.
Combination of Modified Bentall Procedure and Orthotopic Liver Transplantation
Authors: Seppelt Philipp C. , von Haken Rebecca , Werner Jens , Kallenbach Klaus
Published: April 2018

Indication for combined cardiac surgery and orthotopic liver transplantation is rare and patients are at high risks. Individual surgical strategy must be developed since a general standard of such procedure does not exist. We report the case of a 45-year-old woman who underwent simultaneously modified Bentall procedure and orthotopic liver transplantation. Underlying diseases were end-stage polycystic liver, aneurysm of the ascending aorta, and severe aortic regurgitation. To avoid prolonged bypass times, both teams worked simultaneously. During cardiac reperfusion, time inferior vena cava stayed ligated while the cyst liver was explanted.
On the Complexity of Impossible Differential Cryptanalysis
Authors: Yang Qianqian , Hu Lei , Shi Danping , Todo Yosuke , Sun Siwei
Published: April 2018

While impossible differential attack is one of the most well-known and familiar techniques for symmetric-key cryptanalysts, its subtlety and complicacy make the construction and verification of such attacks difficult and error-prone. We introduce a new set of notations for impossible differential analysis. These notations lead to unified formulas for estimation of data complexities of ordinary impossible differential attacks and attacks employing multiple impossible differentials. We also identify an interesting point from the new formulas: in most cases, the data complexity is only related to the form of the underlying distinguisher and has nothing to do with how the differences at the beginning and the end of the distinguisher propagate in the outer rounds. We check the formulas with some examples, and the results are all matching. Since the estimation of the time complexity is flawed in some situations, in this work, we show under which condition the formula is valid and give a simple time complexity estimation for impossible differential attack which is always achievable.
Mast Cells Exert Anti-Inflammatory Effects in an IL10−/−Model of Spontaneous Colitis
Authors: Lennon E. M. , Borst L. B. , Edwards L. L. , Moeser A. J.
Published: April 2018

Mast cells are well established as divergent modulators of inflammation and immunosuppression, but their role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) remains to be fully defined. While previous studies have demonstrated a proinflammatory role for mast cells in acute models of chemical colitis, more recent investigations have shown that mast cell deficiency can exacerbate inflammation in spontaneous colitis models, thus suggesting a potential anti-inflammatory role of mast cells in IBD. Here, we tested the hypothesis that in chronic, spontaneous colitis, mast cells are protective. We compared colitis and intestinal barrier function in IL10−/−mice to mast cell deficient/IL10−/−(double knockout (DKO): KitWsh/Wsh × IL10−/−) mice. Compared with IL10−/−mice, DKO mice exhibited more severe colitis as assessed by increased colitis scores, mucosal hypertrophy, intestinal permeability, and colonic cytokine production. PCR array analyses demonstrated enhanced expression of numerous cytokine and chemokine genes and downregulation of anti-inflammatory genes (e.g.,Tgfb2,Bmp2,Bmp4,Bmp6, andBmp7) in the colonic mucosa of DKO mice. Systemic reconstitution of DKO mice with bone marrow-derived mast cells resulted in significant amelioration of IL10−/−-mediated colitis and intestinal barrier injury. Together, the results presented here demonstrate that mast cells exert anti-inflammatory properties in an established model of chronic, spontaneous IBD. Given the previously established proinflammatory role of mast cells in acute chemical colitis models, the present findings provide new insight into the divergent roles of mast cells in modulating inflammation during different stages of colitis. Further investigation of the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory role of the mast cells may elucidate novel therapies.
Temperature-Sensitive Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/Konjac Glucomannan/Graphene Oxide Composite Membranes with Improved Mechanical Property, Swelling Capability, and Degradability
Authors: Zou Guohong , Shen Juan , Duan Peizhen , Xia Xu , Chen Rigui , Jin Bo
Published: April 2018

Temperature-sensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)/konjac glucomannan/graphene oxide (PNIPAM/KGM/GO) composite membranes were prepared by solution blending using calcium ions as a cross-linker. The composite membranes were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy (Raman), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The swelling, mechanical property, phase transformation behaviors, and enzymatic degradation activities were also determined. Results revealed that the phase transition temperatures of all the composite membranes were approximately 35°C. The PNIPAM/KGM/GO composite membranes showed enhanced mechanical property. The swelling behavior and enzymatic degradation of the PNIPAM/KGM/GO composite membranes improved compared with those of conventional PNIPAM hydrogel and PNIPAM/KGM composite membranes. Thus, the PNIPAM/KGM/GO composite membranes have potential applications in the biomedical field as skin dressings.
A Gallium-67/68–Labeled Antibody Fragment for Immuno-SPECT/PET Shows Low Renal Radioactivity Without Loss of Tumor Uptake
Authors: Uehara Tomoya , Yokoyama Miki , Suzuki Hiroyuki , Hanaoka Hirofumi , Arano Yasushi
Published: April 2018

Purpose: This study was undertaken to evaluate the renal radioactivity levels of a newly designed 67Ga-labeled antibody fragment with a linkage cleaved by enzymes present on the brush border membrane (BBM) lining the lumen of the renal tubule.

Experimental Design: 67Ga-labeled S-2-(4-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid (SCN-Bn-NOTA) was conjugated with an antibody Fab fragment through a Met-Val-Lys linkage (67Ga-NOTA-MVK-Fab) considering that a Met-Val sequence is a substrate of enzymes on the renal BBM and 67Ga-NOTA-Met is excreted from the kidney into the urine. The enzymatic recognition of the linkage was evaluated with a low-molecular-weight 67Ga-NOTA-Met-Val-Lys derivative. Biodistribution of radioactivity after injection of 67Ga-NOTA-MVK-Fab into mice was compared with 67Ga-NOTA-conjugated Fab fragments through a Met-Ile linkage that liberates 67Ga-NOTA-Met (67Ga-NOTA-MI-Fab) or a conventional thiourea linkage (67Ga-NOTA-Fab).

Results: The MVK linkage remained stable in plasma and was recognized by enzymes on renal BBM to liberate 67Ga-NOTA-Met. When injected into mice, all three 67Ga-labeled Fab exhibited similar blood clearance rates and tumor accumulation. Significant differences were observed in the kidney where 67Ga-NOTA-MVK-Fab registered the lowest renal radioactivity levels from early postinjection time (P < 0.05), followed by 67Ga-NOTA-MI-Fab, which was well reflected in the SPECT/CT images.

Conclusions: These findings indicated that our proposal of liberating a radiolabeled compound to urinary excretion from antibody fragments at the renal BBM to reduce the renal radioactivity levels was applicable to 67/68Ga-labeled antibody fragments. Because antibody fragments and constructs share similar metabolic fates in the kidney, the present labeling procedure would also apply to a variety of antibody fragments and constructs of interest. Clin Cancer Res; 24(14); 3309–16. ©2018 AACR.
Targeting Galectin-1 Impairs Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer Progression and Invasion
Authors: Shih Tsung-Chieh , Liu Ruiwu , Wu Chun-Te , Li Xiaocen , Xiao Wenwu , Deng Xiaojun , Kiss Sophie , Wang Ting , Chen Xiao-Jia , Carney Randy , Kung Hsing-Jien , Duan Yong , Ghosh Paramita M. , Lam Kit S.
Published: April 2018

Purpose: The majority of patients with prostate cancer who are treated with androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) will eventually develop fatal metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). Currently, there are no effective durable therapies for patients with mCRPC. High expression of galectin-1 (Gal-1) is associated with prostate cancer progression and poor clinical outcome. The role of Gal-1 in tumor progression is largely unknown. Here, we characterized Gal-1 functions and evaluated the therapeutic effects of a newly developed Gal-1 inhibitor, LLS30, in mCRPC.

Experimental Design: Cell viability, colony formation, migration, and invasion assays were performed to examine the effects of inhibition of Gal-1 in CRPC cells. We used two human CRPC xenograft models to assess growth-inhibitory effects of LLS30. Genome-wide gene expression analysis was conducted to elucidate the effects of LLS30 on metastatic PC3 cells.

Results: Gal-1 was highly expressed in CRPC cells, but not in androgen-sensitive cells. Gal-1 knockdown significantly inhibited CRPC cells' growth, anchorage-independent growth, migration, and invasion through the suppression of androgen receptor (AR) and Akt signaling. LLS30 targets Gal-1 as an allosteric inhibitor and decreases Gal-1–binding affinity to its binding partners. LLS30 showed in vivo efficacy in both AR-positive and AR-negative xenograft models. LLS30 not only can potentiate the antitumor effect of docetaxel to cause complete regression of tumors, but can also effectively inhibit the invasion and metastasis of prostate cancer cells in vivo.

Conclusions: Our study provides evidence that Gal-1 is an important target for mCRPC therapy, and LLS30 is a promising small-molecule compound that can potentially overcome mCRPC. Clin Cancer Res; 24(17); 4319–31. ©2018 AACR.
In utero Fetal Intubation for a Large Neck Mass: A Minimally Invasive EXIT Option
Authors: Chmait Ramen H. , Chon Andrew H. , Anselmo Dean , Vanderbilt Douglas L. , Townsend Jae , Julian-Wang Beth , Don Debra
Published: April 2018

Fetuses with obstructive neck and orofacial lesions have been delivered via an ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) procedure to facilitate securement of the airway while on placental circulation. Pregnancy-related cardiovascular changes and technical issues unique to an EXIT procedure increase fetal and maternal risks relative to a standard cesarean section. In order to circumvent such issues, fetal endoscopic intubation has been proposed. We report a case of a fetus with a large neck mass (mixed solid and multiloculated cystic lesion measuring 9.2 × 5.3 × 8.5 cm, neck hyperextension, protruding tongue, and serial gagging movements) that was successfully intubated in utero and delivered at 36 weeks and 0 days via standard cesarean section, thereby avoiding an EXIT procedure. The risks, benefits, and technical issues of in utero tracheal intubation are reviewed.
Survival of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients Treated with Sorafenib beyond Progression
Authors: Apostolidis Leonidas , Pfeiffenberger Jan , Gotthardt Daniel , Radeleff Boris , Mehrabi Arianeb , Schemmer Peter , Jäger Dirk , Schirmacher Peter , Stremmel Wolfgang , Schulze-Bergkamen Henning , Springfeld Christoph , Weiss Karl Heinz
Published: April 2018

Background/Aim: Sorafenib leads to improved survival in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. Continuation of sorafenib beyond progression has been a possible treatment strategy when further approved therapeutic agents are lacking. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all HCC patients at our institution with documented disease progression under treatment with sorafenib. Overall survival (OS) from start of sorafenib treatment was compared between patients who received sorafenib for > 3 weeks beyond progression (group 1) and those who discontinued sorafenib ≤3 weeks after progression (group 2). Group 1 was further subdivided into those patients who received sorafenib for > 3 months (group 1a) and those who received it for ≤3 months (group 1b). Results: A total of 71 patients were analyzed. Median OS for all patients was 15.4 months. OS in group 1 (15.6 months) and 2 (13.0 months) was similar (p = 0.90). Patients in group 1a showed significantly prolonged median OS (19.7 months) compared to that of patients in group 1b (13.6 months, p = 0.004), and they showed a trend towards prolonged OS compared to group 2 (p = 0.126). For patients with a poor prognosis according to their Child-Pugh stage, performance status, alpha-fetoprotein, and response to prior sorafenib treatment, OS was significantly prolonged in group 1 versus group 2 (12.1 vs. 6.4 months, p = 0.019). Conclusion: In HCC patients, continuing sorafenib beyond progression for > 3 months is associated with improved survival compared to discontinuing sorafenib within 3 months. Furthermore, patients with a poor prognosis who continue sorafenib beyond progression in general show significantly prolonged survival.
Risk Factor Profiles Achieved with Medical Therapy in Prevalent Patients with Pulmonary Arterial and Distal Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension
Authors: Bartenstein Philipp , Saxer Stéphanie , Appenzeller Paula , Lichtblau Mona , Schwarz Esther I. , Ulrich Silvia
Published: April 2018

Background: The latest pulmonary hypertension (PH) guidelines define therapeutic goals in terms of symptoms, exercise capacity, and haemodynamics for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and recommend advanced combined medical therapy. For inoperable or post-surgical residual distal chronic thromboembolic PH (CTEPH) medical treatment is similarly advised. Objectives: We analysed whether risk factor goals are achieved and combination therapy is used in prevalent patients with PAH or distal CTEPH. Methods: PAH or distal CTEPH patients who were seen at the University Hospital Zurich during the last year were analysed in terms of demography, clinical data, medication, and therapeutic goals. Achievement of therapeutic goals was defined as New York Heart Association (NYHA) class ≤II, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NTpro­BNP) < 300 ng/L, and 6-min walking distance (6MWD) > 440 m. Results: A total of 108 PAH patients (age 59 ± 18 years, 62% female, 64% idiopathic, 36% associated) and 38 distal CTEPH patients (age 69 ± 14 years, 55% female) were included. They had been diagnosed on average 66 ± 48 months (±SD) previously. The percentage of PAH/CTEPH patients with NYHA ≤II was 52/53, respectfully, the percentage of those with NTproBNP < 300 ng/L was 61/52, and with 6MWD > 440 m 63/50. Overall, 33/31% fulfilled 3 and 29/35% fulfilled 2 of these goals. Regarding therapy, 43% of PAH patients were on double and 10% on triple combination therapy, whereas 16% of distal CTEPH patients were on double and 3% on triple combination therapy. Conclusions: In this real-life cohort of prevalent patients with PAH or distal CTEPH, targeted drug therapy resulted in an achievement of ≥2/3 predefined therapeutic goals in 2/3 of patients. Patients with PAH were more likely to receive combination therapy compared to CTEPH patients.
Cytological Findings of Malignant and Benign Head and Neck Masses in Somalia
Authors: Baş Yılmaz
Published: April 2018

Objective: There are no up-to-date records on head and neck masses (HNMs) in Somalia. This cytological study is the first to demonstrate the benefits and findings of fine-needle aspiration cytology in evaluating HNMs in the adult population of Somalia. Study Design: A total of 116 aspiration samples were taken from different levels of the neck region, except for the thyroid. Cases were classified as salivary gland, lymph node, or soft tissue/cystic lesions. They were classified according to age, gender, and cytological diagnosis. Results: Patients included 54 (46.6%) males and 62 (53.4%) females, with a mean age of 40.6 years. Seventy-two patients (62.1%) had benign lesions, while 44 (37.9%) had malignant lesions. Necrotizing granulomatous lymphadenitis (n = 51, 70.8% of the benign findings) and lymph node metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma (n = 13, 29.5% of the malignant findings) were the most frequent findings. Conclusion: Fine-needle aspiration is a useful procedure in the diagnosis of neck masses. It is a cheap and easy guiding method for diagnosing granulomatous lymphadenitis and advanced-stage metastatic cancers, which are common in this country.
Bronchial Thermoplasty in Severe Asthma: Best Practice Recommendations from an Expert Panel
Authors: Bonta Peter I. , Chanez Pascal , Annema Jouke T. , Shah Pallav L. , Niven Robert
Published: April 2018

Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) is a bronchoscopic treatment for patients with severe asthma who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy. In this “expert best practice” paper, the background and practical aspects of BT are highlighted. Randomized, controlled clinical trials have shown BT to be safe and effective in reducing severe exacerbations, improving quality of life, and decreasing emergency department visits. Five-year follow-up studies have provided evidence of the functional stability of BT-treated patients with persistence of a clinical benefit. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) guidelines state that BT can be considered as a treatment option for adult asthma patients at step 5. Patient selection for BT requires close collaboration between interventional pulmonologists and severe asthma specialists. Key patient selection criteria for BT will be reviewed. BT therapy is delivered in 3 separate bronchoscopy sessions at least 3 weeks apart, covering different regions of the lung separately. Patients are treated with 50 mg/day of prednisolone or equivalent for 5 days, starting treatment 3 days prior to the procedure. The procedure is performed under moderate-to-deep sedation or general anesthesia. At bronchos­copy a single-use catheter with a basket design is inserted through the instrument channel and the energy is delivered by a radiofrequency (RF) generator (AlairTM Bronchial Thermoplasty System). BT uses temperature-controlled RF energy to impact airway remodeling, including a reduction of excessive airway smooth muscle within the airway wall, which has been recognized as a predominant feature of asthma. The treatment should be performed in a systemic manner, starting at the most distal part of the (sub)segmental airway, then moving proximally to the main bronchi, ensuring that the majority of the airways are treated. In general, 40–70 RF activations are provided in the lower lobes, and between 50 and 100 activations in the upper lobes combined. The main periprocedural adverse events are exacerbation of asthma symptoms and increased cough and sputum production. Occasionally, atelectasis has been observed following the procedure. The long-term safety of BT is excellent. An optimized BT responder profile – i.e., which specific asthma phenotype benefits most – is a topic of current research.
Associations among Obesity, Eating Speed, and Oral Health
Authors: Sonoda Chikanobu , Fukuda Hideki , Kitamura Masayasu , Hayashida Hideaki , Kawashita Yumiko , Furugen Reiko , Koyama Zenya , Saito Toshiyuki
Published: April 2018

Objective: This study was conducted to understand how eating speed and oral health condition are associated with obesity in Japanese working men. Methods: We studied a total of 863 men attending an annual medical checkup of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force in Sasebo City, Japan. Participants answered a questionnaire about their eating speed, and we examined their anthropometric status in terms of BMI, waist circumference, and oral health condition, especially periodontal disease and number of functional teeth. Multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusting for potential confounding variables were performed. Results: The multivariate-adjusted odds ratio for waist circumference greater than 90 cm of the ‘very fast' group compared to the ‘slow, very slow' group was 5.22 (95% confidence interval 1.81-15.06) after adjusting for potential confounding factors. Individuals were more likely to have waist circumference greater than 90 cm if they had a larger ‘number of missing functional teeth' (odds ratio 1.14; 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.28) and severe periodontal disease (odds ratio 2.74; 95% confidence interval, 1.46-5.13). Conclusion: Eating speed, the number of missing functional teeth, and severe periodontal disease are associated independently with larger waist circumference.
Diabetes Self-Management: A Key to Better Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Diabetes
Authors: Al-Khaledi Maha , Al-Dousari Hussah , Al-Dhufairi Shaikhah , Al-Mousawi Taiba , Al-Azemi Rehab , Al-Azimi Farah , Badr Hanan E.
Published: April 2018

Objective: The aims of this study were to assess health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among adult patients with diabetes attending primary health care diabetes clinics in Kuwait and to examine the factors associated with the HRQOL of patients with diabetes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 503 patients with diabetes attending 26 primary health care diabetes clinics in Kuwait. A self- administered questionnaire on participants’ socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, in addition to the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ) to assess patients’ diabetes self-management (DSM), was used. The SF-12 was employed to assess the HRQOL, producing the following 2 outcomes: physical health composite (PHC) and mental health composite (MHC). Results: The mean age of participants was 52 ± 0.8 years, and 53.1% were males and 49.0% were Kuwaitis. The median DSM sum score was 6.5. Male patients with diabetes showed a significantly better median DSM sum score than female patients with diabetes. The overall median score of HRQOL was 61.7/100, with a better median PHC versus MHC score of quality of life (66.7/100 and 56.7/100, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed a significant direct association between DSM and better primary health composite and MHC scores. It also showed that female gender and reporting 2 or more diabetic complications were significantly associated with a poor PHC. Conclusions: Kuwaiti patients with diabetes showed a modest level of HRQOL. Patients’ DSM, gender, and diabetes complications were significant independent correlates to HRQOL. Appraisal of the HRQOL of patients with diabetes as an essential component of diabetes management in clinical settings is suggested. Further studies to examine the impact of good DSM on HRQOL improvement are needed.
What about Cryptangieae (Cyperaceae)—a molecular hypothesis about its tribal status and circumscription
Authors: COSTA SUZANA M. , MOROKAWA ROSEMERI , BITTRICH VOLKER , THOMAS WILLIAM W. , AMARAL MARIA DO CARMO E.
Published: April 2018

We endorse the tribal status of Cryptangieae and discuss its most probable sister-group based on phylogenetic analyses using rbcL, trnL-trnL-trnF and ITS sequences. Cryptangieae were poorly sampled in previous molecular phylogenies of Cyperaceae: only three of about 50 species were sampled and all of them are currently included in the genus Lagenocarpus. We gathered more data about the tribe to verify its monophyletic status and to clarify the relationships among the tribes of subfamily Cyperoideae. Here we present a phylogeny with 18 species of Cryptangieae including all three currently recognized genera. Cryptangieae appears as monophyletic with great support in our Maximum Parsimony and Bayesian Inference analyses based on single and combined matrices. We emphasize the need for morphological, molecular and biogeographical data to achieve a broadly supported interpretation of the early divergent taxa of subfamily Cyperoideae.
Laurobasidiaceae fam. nov. (Exobasidiales, Basidiomycota), a new family for fungi causing galls with aerial root-like outgrowths, with a new record from Thailand of Laurobasidium hachijoense on a new host, Cinnamomum subavenium
Authors: SOMRITHIPOL SAYANH , JONES E. B. GARETH , SOMMAI SUJINDA , SUETRONG SATINEE , MONGKOLSAMRITH SUCHADA , NATHALANG ANUTTARA , PINRUAN UMPAWA
Published: April 2018

A fungal disease with aerial-root-liked gall symptoms on Cinnamomum subavenium in Khao Yai National Park, Northeastern Thailand is reported, and the causative agent identified as Laurobasidium hachijoense. Cultures from the Thai specimens, as well as the type culture from Japan, were sequenced for LSU and ITS genes. Analysis of these gene sequences showed that the Thai isolates clustered with the type strain of Laurobasidium hachijoense. This is the first report of this fungus on a new host and in Thailand. Morphology of this fungus from the Thai specimens as well as the seasonal symptom in the natural forest are described and illustrated. Laurobasidiaceae is proposed as a new family for Laurobasidium. It was nested in a highly supported clade with the Cryptobasidiaceae and a sister clade to the Branchybasidiaceae, Graphoilaceae and Exobasidiaceae clades within the order Exobasidiales. Laurobasidiaceae morphologically possesses basidial sterigmata, thin-walled basidiospores with an abaxial hilum, and sporulating on the surface of the host tissues. It is unique from other families in the Exobasidiales in causing aerial-root-like galls on the host plant. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that strains of Acaromyces ingoldii grouped together with Laurobasidium hachijoense indicating they are conspecific. Morphological examination also confirmed that these two taxa are the same fungus. Laurobasidium hachijoense is proposed as the valid name based on its occupation of the initial type material of this organism, and the monotypic genus Acaromyces becomes a synonym of Laurobasidium. Exobasidium cinnamomi is also considered a Laurobasidium species based on its morphology and the stag-horn-like galls on a lauraceous host. The taxonomy of the Laurobasidiaceae is discussed.
Hornstedtia garbosa (Zingiberaceae: Alpinieae), a new species from Mindanao, Philippines
Authors: NAIVE MARK ARCEBAL K. , ALEJANDRO GRECEBIO JONATHAN D.
Published: April 2018

Hornstedtia garbosa Naive & Alejandro, a new endemic species from southern Philippines, is here described and illustrated. This new species is comparable to H. microcheila Ridl. and H. sanhan M.F. Newman but distinct by its obovate labellum which is white with a red centre. Information on habitat and ecology as well as notes on its similarity to other probably allied species of the genus are provided. An identification key to the five recognized Philippine Hornstedtia species is also included.
A new species of Glipa LeConte, 1859 subgenus Stenoglipa Franciscolo, 1952 (Coleoptera: Mordellidae: Mordellini) from the Philippines
Authors: RUZZIER ENRICO
Published: April 2018

The mordellid fauna of the Philippines is still poorly known and only a few scattered contributions on this area exist (Ray 1930a,b; Shiyake 1997; Franciscolo 2000; Horák 2007; Kiyoyama 2010; Takakuwa 2000, 2011).
Ascidians collected during the Madibenthos expedition in Martinique: 2. Stolidobranchia, Styelidae
Authors: MONNIOT FRANÇOISE
Published: April 2018

An inventory of the marine benthic fauna around Martinique was the aim of the European Madibenthos expedition 2016. Among a large number of invertebrates abundant ascidians were collected: the phlebobranchs were already studied and the results published (Monniot 2018). A second group, belonging to the Styelidae (Stolidobranchia), includes 17 species of which one is new and new records for two other species. Each of them is described and the geographic distribution given.
Modeling of Mineral Dust Emissions with a Weibull Wind Speed Distribution Including Subgrid-Scale Orography Variance
Authors: Menut Laurent
Published: April 2018

The modeling of mineral dust emissions requires an extensive knowledge of the wind speed close to the surface. In regional and global models, Weibull distributions are often used to better represent the subgrid-scale variability of the wind speed. This distribution mainly depends on akparameter, itself currently parameterized as a function of the wind speed value. In this study we propose to add the potential impact of the orography variance in the wind speed distribution by changing thekparameter value. Academic test cases are designed to estimate the parameters of the scheme. A realistic test case is performed over a large domain encompassing the northern part of Africa and Europe and for the period 1 January–1 May 2012. The results of the simulations are compared to particulate matter (PM10) surface concentrations and Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET) aerosol optical depth and aerosol size distribution. We show that with the orography variance, the simulation results are closer to the ones without variance, showing that this additional variability is not the main driver of possible errors in mineral dust modeling.
Percutaneous Versus Surgical Revascularization for Left Main or Multivessel Coronary Artery Disease: Results From a Large-Scale Meta-Analysis in the Era of Drug-Eluting Stents
Authors: Verdoia Monica , Barbieri Lucia , Kedhi Elvin , Suryapranata Harry , De Luca Giuseppe
Published: April 2018

The best treatment options for left main (LM) or multivessel coronary disease (MVD) are still debated. We performed a meta-analysis of randomized trials comparing percutaneous versus surgical revascularization for LM or MVD. Primary end point was overall mortality. Secondary end points were major adverse cardiovascular events, recurrent myocardial infarction, repeated revascularization, or stroke. A total of 8 randomized trials were included, involving 8694 patients, 50% undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). At a mean follow-up of 39.7 months, mortality was 8.2% with no difference for PCI versus coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG; odds ratio [OR] 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18 [0.90-1.55]; P = .24, P for heterogeneity [ Phet] = .01). However, CABG was slightly favored for MVD (OR [95% CI] = 1.54 [1.12-2.13]; P = .008, Phet = .14 for PCI) whereas noninferior for LM disease (OR [95% CI] = 0.88 [0.60-1.29]; P = .50, Phet = .10, P interaction = .03). A similar benefit with CABG was also observed in terms of repeated coronary revascularization, whereas PCI significantly reduced stroke. This meta-analysis shows that surgical coronary revascularization still offers advantages in survival and recurrent ischemic events compared to PCI using drug-eluting stents (DES) in MVD although burdened by an increased risk of stroke. In LM disease, CABG did not provide outcome benefits but was associated with a higher risk of stroke compared to PCI. Additional randomized trials are certainly needed with new-generation DES.
Broadband and High-Resolution Static Fourier Transform Spectrometer with Bandpass Sampling
Authors: Özcan Meriç , Sardari Behzad
Published: April 2018

In this study, experimental demonstration of a static Fourier transform spectrometer (static-FTS), based on division of the spectrum into multiple narrowband signals, is presented. The bandpass sampling technique used in this novel spectrometer solves the Nyquist sampling rate limitations and enables recording of wideband spectrum in high resolution. The proposed spectrometer not only has the potential of operating in a wide spectral range, but also has a resolution potential better than 2 cm−1.
A case of hereditary coproporphyria with posterior reversible encephalopathy and novel coproporphyrinogen oxidase gene mutation c.863T>G (p.Leu288Trp)
Authors: Lambie Deborah , Florkowski Chris , Sies Chris , Raizis Anthony , Siu Wai-Kwan , Towns Cindy
Published: April 2018

A 21-year-old female had recurrent presentations to the emergency department with myalgia, vomiting, abdominal pain and subsequently developed generalized seizures. She was volume depleted with a plasma sodium of 125 mmol/L (reference interval: 135–145) and she had fluctuating hypertension. Acute porphyria was suspected and confirmed with raised urine porphobilinogen/creatinine ratio of 12:4 μmol/mmoL (reference interval < 1:5) and she was treated with intravenous haem arginate. Urinary porphyrin/creatinine ratio was 673 nmol/mmoL (reference interval <35) and faecal porphyrins 2430 μmol/kg dry weight (reference interval: <200) were markedly elevated, with raised faecal CIII:CI ratio, consistent with acute coproporphyria. Diagnosis was confirmed by the demonstration of a novel missense variant in the coproporphyrinogen oxidase gene c.863T > G (p.Leu288Trp) predicted to be deleterious and which segregated with three other affected family members. Although CT head was normal, magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed symmetrical signal abnormalities and swelling in the parietal and occipital lobes consistent with posterior reversible encephalopathy. Over several days, her seizures ceased and sodium and blood pressure normalized. The aetiology of the acute porphyric attack was likely multifactorial with contributions from a recent viral illness and caloric deprivation. No drug precipitant was identified. We postulate that untreated hypertension played a key role in the development of posterior reversible encephalopathy. Early clinical suspicion and urine porphobilinogen testing are the key components in preventing morbidity and mortality in acute porphyrias.
Dominican Contributions to Christian Life in Mesopotamia-Iraq (c. 1750–2017)
Authors: Girling Kristian
Published: April 2018

A community of particular significance in the development of Mesopotamian-Iraqi Christian life in the modern era was (and is) the Dominican Order which has had a sustained presence since the 18th century. This article serves as an overview of Dominican contributions to Syriac Christian life in Mesopotamia and reflects on the Order’s presence as part of the traditional plurality of Iraqi society. Notwithstanding the rise of Da’esh/ISIL since June 2014 multiple religious traditions continue to exist in Iraq. The willingness of wider Iraqi society to accept a Christian presence is easily forgotten in contemporary narratives which focus on sectarian discourses and avoid acknowledging that the Middle East is not dichotomous in perpetuity: there are wider considerations than Jewish-Muslim, Arab-Kurd, Arab-Persian &c. Moreover, while Islam is an ever present reality in the modern and contemporary Middle East, it is not the only reality.
Il popolo di San Gennaro
Authors: Mele Francisco
Published: April 2018

La ricerca parte da un esame del popolo di San Gennaro, a Napoli, come garante della costruzione sempre in divenire dell’identità napoletana, secondo la Teologia del Popolo sviluppata dai teologi e filosofi argentini Lucio Gera, Justino O’Farrell e Juan Carlos Scannone.

Il popolo possiede una conoscenza, una razionalità, anche se non teorico-scientifica, che si esprime mediante le celebrazioni liturgiche, le feste religiose, le processioni. Facendo riferimento alla prospettiva mnemostorica (Jan Assmann), San Gennaro è una figura della memoria e non della storia.

Applicando la lettura bio-politica elaborata da Michel Foucault, nel culto di San Gennaro, durante la cerimonia delle feste dedicate a San Gennaro, trovano fondamento e legittimazione la Chiesa, lo Stato rappresentato dalle sue istituzioni e il popolo napoletano. Paradossalmente anche la camorra cerca una legittimazione per imporre il suo proprio predominio, nonostante che la sua pretesa venga respinta e condannata sia dallo Stato che dalla Chiesa.
Modeling Human Steering Behavior During Path Following in Teleoperation of Unmanned Ground Vehicles
Authors: Mirinejad Hossein , Jayakumar Paramsothy , Ersal Tulga
Published: April 2018

Objective:

This paper presents a behavioral model representing the human steering performance in teleoperated unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs).

Background:

Human steering performance in teleoperation is considerably different from the performance in regular onboard driving situations due to significant communication delays in teleoperation systems and limited information human teleoperators receive from the vehicle sensory system. Mathematical models capturing the teleoperation performance are a key to making the development and evaluation of teleoperated UGV technologies fully simulation based and thus more rapid and cost-effective. However, driver models developed for the typical onboard driving case do not readily address this need.

Method:

To fill the gap, this paper adopts a cognitive model that was originally developed for a typical highway driving scenario and develops a tuning strategy that adjusts the model parameters in the absence of human data to reflect the effect of various latencies and UGV speeds on driver performance in a teleoperated path-following task.

Results:

Based on data collected from a human subject test study, it is shown that the tuned model can predict both the trend of changes in driver performance for different driving conditions and the best steering performance of human subjects in all driving conditions considered.

Conclusions:

The proposed model with the tuning strategy has a satisfactory performance in predicting human steering behavior in the task of teleoperated path following of UGVs.

Application:

The established model is a suited candidate to be used in place of human drivers for simulation-based studies of UGV mobility in teleoperation systems.
Dynamisms of financialization: Circuits of power in globalized production networks
Authors: Pedraza-Acosta Isabel , Mouritsen Jan
Published: April 2018

This article analyses the dominant ideological mode of rationality of financialization, its operationalization via accounting devices and deployments in political intra- and inter-organizational processes, and its dynamisms in global production networks. It asks how are political processes informed and conditioned by calculative devices that mediate financialization processes? Drawing on a study of a French multinational corporation whose accounting devices – one concerning performance that requires suppliers to be ‘poor’ and another concerning risk that requires suppliers to be ‘rich’ – the article focuses on the dynamic of circuits of power. Accounting devices provide one-sided incentives by categorizing suppliers as costs, silencing the industrial rationality of the network where suppliers are the capabilities and skills needed by the multinational corporation. Such tensions put the network at risk, as when the suppliers went bankrupt, the multinational corporation was devoid of its industrial competencies. Financialization is ambiguous. Its devices are not inherently facilitative of systemic powers but reflect an ideological mode of rationality and political processes that produce overflows. The associated circuits of power show that systemic power is never eternal but dynamic. Circuits of power develop ambiguous political processes that push disruptive dynamisms of financialization processes in global production networks. Financialization produces costly tensions.
Governance of Labor Standards in Australian and German Garment Supply Chains: The Impact of Rana Plaza
Authors: Schuessler Elke , Frenkel Stephen J. , Wright Chris F.
Published: April 2018

This article analyzes the impact of the 2013 Rana Plaza building collapse on garment lead firms’ labor standards policies in the light of new governance approaches, particularly the pathbreaking Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh. Based on a sample of 20 Australian and German garment firms, the authors find that firms with low prior baseline standards revised their supply chain and sourcing policies and signed the Accord. Firms with medium and high baseline standards responded variously, from making no changes to revising their policies and signing the Accord. Firm response variation can be explained by stakeholder pressure occurring in different national industrial and institutional contexts following the Rana Plaza incident, which served as a focusing event. Results suggest the wider applicability of the focusing event framework for industrial relations scholarship and highlight some of the mechanisms driving changes in industrial relations institutions.
Application of dynamical system theory in LC harmonic oscillator circuits: A complement tool to the Barkhausen criterion
Authors: Salas-Castro Pablo , Delgado-Aranda Finees , Tristán-Hernández Edgar , Martínez-Montejano Roberto C , Murguía J S , Campos-Cantón Isaac
Published: April 2018

There are different types of electronic oscillators that have a wide variety of applications in areas such as computing, audio, communication, among others. One of these is the harmonic oscillators that generate an output sinusoidal signal. Due to the advantages of these, this paper proposes a methodology based on an analysis based on the dynamical system theory. This provides undergraduates a useful tool for a better understanding of the harmonic oscillators in order to design and implement accurately this kind of circuits. This tool complements the widely recognized Barkhausen criterion, which is a mathematical condition that must be satisfied by linear feedback oscillators. The analysis based on the dynamical system theory consists of obtaining a state matrix and its eigenvalues from the mathematical model of the oscillator circuits. The eigenvalues are adjusted to get an oscillator system, thus from this way, a set of conditions are derived. These conditions are complementary to those obtained by the Barkhausen criterion.
Trade and terrorism
Authors: Bandyopadhyay Subhayu , Sandler Todd , Younas Javed
Published: April 2018

We construct a model of the consequences of terrorism on trade, where firms in trading nations face different costs arising from domestic and transnational terrorism. Using a dyadic dataset in a gravity model, we test terrorism’s effects on overall trade, exports, and imports, while allowing for disaggregation by primary commodities and manufactured goods. While domestic and transnational terrorism have marginal or no significant influence on the overall trade of primary products, both types of terrorism significantly reduce the overall trade of manufactured goods. This novel finding for a global sample indicates the avenue by which terrorism reduces trade and suggests why previous global studies that looked at all trade generally found modest impacts. Moreover, both domestic and transnational terrorism have a detrimental effect on manufactured imports. The larger apparent reduction for transnational terrorism is not statistically different from that of domestic terrorism. A more mixed picture characterizes the effect of terrorism on exports. Domestic terrorism reduces manufactured exports and increases primary exports, while transnational terrorism reduces primary exports. Placebo tests support our hypothesized causality.
Cost Analysis of Single-Dose Hepatitis B Revaccination Among Infants Born to Hepatitis B Surface Antigen-Positive Mothers and Not Responding to the Initial Vaccine Series
Authors: Hall Eric W. , Rosenberg Eli S. , Trigg Monica , Nelson Noele , Schillie Sarah
Published: April 2018

Objectives:

Infants born to mothers who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positive are at risk for perinatal hepatitis B infection. As prevention, these infants receive a series of 3 or 4 doses of hepatitis B vaccine starting at birth and postvaccination serologic testing. Infants with antibody levels <10 mIU/mL are considered vaccine nonresponders and should be revaccinated. The objective of this cost analysis was to assess a single-dose revaccination strategy among infant nonresponders.

Methods:

We used a decision analytic tree to compare the costs of a single-dose revaccination strategy with the costs of a 3-dose revaccination strategy. The analysis consisted of 3 epidemiologic scenarios that varied levels of previous protection among infants indicated for revaccination. We assumed health outcomes in each strategy were the same, and we evaluated costs from the societal perspective using 2016 US dollars. We conducted sensitivity analyses on key variables, including the minimum required efficacy of a single revaccination dose.

Results:

In all analyses, the single-dose revaccination strategy was a lower-cost option than the 3-dose revaccination strategy. Under the assumption that all revaccination visits were previously unscheduled, single-dose revaccination reduced the cost per infant by $119.81 to $155.72 (depending on the scenario). Across all scenarios, the most conservative estimate for the threshold efficacy (the minimum efficacy required to result in a lower-cost option) value of single-dose revaccination was 67%.

Conclusions:

For infants who were born to HBsAg-positive mothers and who were not responding to the initial vaccine series, a single-dose revaccination strategy, compared with a 3-dose revaccination strategy, reduced costs across several scenarios. These results helped inform the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices’ vote in February 2017 to recommend single-dose revaccination.
Introduction: Streetlife – the shifting sociologies of the street
Authors: Hubbard Phil , Lyon Dawn
Published: April 2018

The street has long been a key laboratory for studies of social life, from the roots of urban sociology in the ethnographies of the Chicago School to the diverse range of contemporary studies which consider the performative, affective and non-representational nature of street etiquette and encounter. For all this, the street remains only loosely defined in many studies, and sometimes disappears from view entirely, with social action often privileged over material and environmental context. This Special Issue is intended as a spur to take the street more seriously in contemporary sociology, and explores the importance of the street as a site, scale and field for sociological research. Recognising that the street is both contradictory and complex, the Introduction to this Issue draws out emerging themes in the shifting sociologies of the street by highlighting the specific contribution interdisciplinary work can make to our understanding of streets as distinctive but contested social spaces.