bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time‐dependent climate impact and energy efficiency of combined heat and power production from short‐rotation coppice willow using pyrolysis or direct combustion
Authors: Ericsson Niclas , Sundberg Cecilia , Nordberg Åke , Ahlgren Serina , Hansson Per‐Anders
Published: December 2016

A life cycle assessment of a Swedish short‐rotation coppice willow bioenergy system generating electricity and heat was performed to investigate how the energy efficiency and time‐dependent climate impact were affected when the feedstock was converted into bio‐oil and char before generating electricity and heat, compared with being combusted directly. The study also investigated how the climate impact was affected when part of the char was applied to soil as biochar to act as a carbon sequestration agent and potential soil improver. The energy efficiencies were calculated separately for electricity and heat as the energy ratios between the amount of energy service delivered by the system compared to the amount of external energy inputs used in each scenario after having allocated the primary energy related to the inputs between the two energy services. The energy in the feedstock was not included in the external energy inputs. Direct combustion had the highest energy efficiency. It had energy ratios of 10 and 36 for electricity and heat, respectively. The least energy‐efficient scenario was the pyrolysis scenario where biochar was applied to soils. It had energy ratios of 4 and 12 for electricity and heat, respectively. The results showed that pyrolysis with carbon sequestration might be an option to counteract the current trend in global warming. The pyrolysis system with soil application of the biochar removed the largest amount of from the atmosphere. However, compared with the direct combustion scenario, the climate change mitigation potential depended on the energy system to which the bioenergy system delivered its energy services. A system expansion showed that direct combustion had the highest climate change mitigation potential when coal or natural gas were used as external energy sources to compensate for the lower energy efficiency of the pyrolysis scenario.
Balance Impairments in Different Subgroups of Patients With Migraine
Authors: Carvalho Gabriela F. , Bonato Paolo , Florencio Lidiane L. , Pinheiro Carina F. , Dach Fabiola , Bigal Marcelo E. , Bevilaqua‐Grossi Debora
Published: December 2016

Background

Patients with migraine often experience balance impairments. However, the relationship between clinical features – like aura and chronicity – and the severity of balance impairments is not well established. The objective of this study was to assess balance impairments in different subgroups of migraine patients.

Method

One hundred five subjects diagnosed according to the ICHD‐III were recruited in the study. They were uniformly distributed among three groups: migraine with aura, migraine without aura, and chronic migraine. Thirty‐five controls were also recruited in the study. Balance impairments were assessed in all subjects via the modified Sensory Organization test and the Limits of Stability test. The results in the four groups were compared using ANCOVA tests with age, BMI, presence of dizziness, level of physical activity, time of migraine onset, and medication intake as covariates.

Results

Subjects in the migraine with aura and the chronic migraine groups showed poorer balance control than control subjects in three of the four conditions tested using the modified Sensory Organization test: FirmCE: CG: 1.5 cm2, 95%CI 1.3 to 1.7; M: 2.1 cm2, 95%CI 1.6 to 2.6; MA: 4.5 cm2, 95%CI 3.2 to 5.8; CM: 4.5 cm2, 95%CI 3.0 to 6.0; P < .027; FoamOE: CG: 5.1 cm2, 95%CI 4.6 to 5.6; M: 5.6 cm2, 95%CI 5.0 to 6.1; MA: 8.8 cm2, 95%CI 7.3 to 10.2; CM: 8.8 cm2, 95%CI 7.7 to 10.0; P < .018; FoamCE: CG: 14.8 cm2, 95%CI 13.7 to 15.9 cm2; M: 17.3 cm2, 95%CI 15.4 to 19.1; MA: 21.9 cm2, 95%CI 19.1 to 24.7; CM: 22.4 cm2, 95%CI 19.9 to 24.9; P < .0001. In the FoamOE and FoamCE conditions, both groups also showed poorer postural control than subjects in the migraine without aura group (P < .01). Differences between control subjects and subjects in all the migraine groups were found in the reaction time, movement velocity, endpoint excursion, and maximal excursion parameters (P < .04) in all the directions tested during the Limits of Stability test. None of the covariates appeared to affect the balance parameters (P > .05).

Conclusion

There is evidence of balance control impairments in subjects with all subtypes of migraine compared to control subjects. The presence of aura and frequent migraine attacks reflect negatively in the postural control performance and may have a significant clinical impact in patients with migraine that should be addressed with appropriate clinical interventions.
‘Shutting the World Out’: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Exploring the Paternal Experience of Parenting a Young Adult with a Developmental Disability
Authors: Thackeray Lisa A. , Eatough Virginia
Published: December 2016

Background

An in‐depth exploration of the experience of midlife fathers of developmentally disabled young adults (aged 19–32 years) was motivated by a dearth of research in this area (McKnight, PsyPAG Quarterly, 94, 2015, 10).

Method

Five fathers participated in semi‐structured interviews which were subjected to interpretative phenomenological analysis (Smith, Flowers and Larkin, 2009, Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Theory, Method, and Research. London: Sage).

Results

The final thematic structure comprises four inter‐related themes. They demonstrate a high degree of concern for children's well‐being; the joy adult children confers on their father's lives as well as the difficulties men experience in response to the limited opportunities available to their offspring. Importantly findings also illustrate the way in which men struggle to contend with painful emotions.

Conclusions

Societal conceptions of masculinity, fatherhood and disability necessarily influence the way fathers experience the world (Yarwood, Fathering, 9, 2011, 150). It is imperative that service providers recognize the particular challenges faced by fathers, seeking ways to better engage and support them.
MitochondrialDNAD‐loop haplogroup contributions to the genetic diversity of East European domestic chickens from Russia
Authors: Dyomin A.G. , Danilova M.I. , Mwacharo J.M. , Masharsky A.E. , Panteleev A.V. , Druzhkova A.S. , Trifonov V.A. , Galkina S.A.
Published: December 2016

To elucidate geographical and historical aspects of chicken dispersal across Eastern Europe, we analysed the complete mitochondrialDNAD‐loop sequence of 86 representatives from chicken breeds traditionally raised in the territory of the East European Plain (Orloff, Pavlov, Russian White, Yurlov Crower, Uzbek Game and Naked Neck). From the 1231–1232 bp D‐loop sequence, 35 variable sites that defined 22 haplotypes were identified in modern chicken. All populations, except Uzbek Game, exhibited high values of haplotype and nucleotide diversity suggesting a wide variation in maternal diversity. Inclusion of mtDNAsequences from other European and Asian countries revealed representatives from this study belonging to haplogroups A, E1 and C1. We also assessed fossil chicken material dated to the 9th–18th century from archaeological sites in Northern and Eastern Europe. Three haplotypes found in the fossil specimens belonged to haplogroup E1, while one sample dated to the 18th century was assigned to the C1 haplogroup. This is the first report of the occurrence of the C1 haplogroup in European chicken populations prior to the 20th century based on the fossil material. These results provide evidence for a relatively recent introduction of all haplotypes other than E1 into the East European chicken gene pool with the significant impact of the C1 haplogroup mainly distributed in Southern China.
Midkine is overexpressed in acute pancreatitis and promotes the pancreatic recovery in L‐arginine‐induced acute pancreatitis in mice
Authors: Cheng Li , Qiao Zhenguo , Xu Chunfang , Shen Jiaqing
Published: December 2016

Background and Aim

Midkine (MK) is involved in the pathogenesis of numerous malignancies, but the expression and effect of MK in acute pancreatitis (AP) have not been well studied and documented.

Methods

In this study, the expression of MK was assayed in mice with L‐arginine‐induced AP. A recombinant human MK (rhMK) was introduced in this study to test the effect of MK on the L‐arginine‐induced AP. Serum amylase and lipase were assayed. Pancreas tissue samples were also collected for the evaluation of histological injury. Western blot and immunochemical staining of α‐amylase and proliferating cell nuclear antigen were applied for the study of acinar regeneration in the pancreas.

Results

The elevation of MK expression was found in mice with AP induced by L‐arginine. After rhMK administration, rhMK did not affect the severity of acute pancreatic injury in acute phase in L‐arginine‐induced pancreatitis in mice, in accordance with changes of serum amylase and lipase and the histological evaluation. But during the recovery phase, the area of remaining acinar cells was increased and the fibrosis was reduced in rhMK‐treated mice. Furthermore, the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and α‐amylase was also upregulated after rhMK treatment.

Conclusion

Midkine is over‐expressed during AP in the animal model. Recombinant MK could promote the recovery of L‐arginine‐induced pancreatitis in mice. Therefore, MK may be involved in the regeneration of acinar cells in AP, and rhMK may be a possible therapeutic intervention for the repairment of AP.
Precautionary Savings with Risky Assets: When Cash Is Not Cash
Authors: DUCHIN RAN , GILBERT THOMAS , HARFORD JARRAD , HRDLICKA CHRISTOPHER
Published: December 2016

U.S. industrial firms invest heavily in noncash, risky financial assets such as corporate debt, equity, and mortgage‐backed securities. Risky assets represent 40% of firms’ financial portfolios, or 6% of total book assets. We present a formal model to assess the optimality of this behavior. Consistent with the model, risky assets are concentrated in financially unconstrained firms holding large financial portfolios, are held by poorly governed firms, and are discounted by 13% to 22% compared to safe assets. We conclude that this activity represents an unregulated asset management industry of more than $1.5 trillion, questioning the traditional boundaries of nonfinancial firms.
Comparison of Bailout and Planned Rotational Atherectomy for Heavily Calcified Coronary Lesions: A Single‐Center Experience
Authors: Allali Abdelhakim , Abdel‐Wahab Mohamed , Sulimov Dmitriy S. , Jose John , Geist Volker , Kassner Guido , Richardt Gert , Toelg Ralph
Published: December 2016

Objectives

The aim of this study was to compare outcomes of bailout and planned rotational atherectomy (RA) in the treatment of calcified coronary lesions.

Background

Current guidelines recommend RA as a bailout procedure for calcified or fibrotic lesions that cannot be adequately dilated before stenting. Nonetheless, planned RA is sometimes performed in certain challenging anatomies.

Methods

Data of patients treated with RA between 2002 and 2014 at a single‐center registry were retrospectively analyzed. The bailout RA group included patients where RA was employed after failure of balloon dilatation or stent delivery. Planned RA included patients where RA was employed electively without previous device failure.

Results

The study comprised 204 patients (221 lesions) and 308 patients (338 lesions) treated with bailout or planned RA, respectively. Angiographic success was achieved in the majority of cases, but was lower in the bailout RA group (93.7% vs. 97.6%, P = 0.02). Coronary dissections occurred more frequently in the bailout RA group (8.6% vs. 4.4%, P = 0.04), mean contrast amount was higher (279 ± 135 mL vs. 202 ± 92 mL, P < 0.001), and fluoroscopy time and procedural duration were longer in that group (32 min [IQR 21–51] vs. 18 min [IQR 14–28], P < 0.001 and 111 ± 50 min vs. 76 ± 35 min, P < 0.001, respectively). In‐hospital death and myocardial infarction were not significantly different between the groups (2.9% vs. 1.3%, P = 0.21 and 6.9% vs. 4.2%, P = 0.19). In‐hospital major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were higher in the bailout RA group (10.3% vs. 5.5%, P = 0.04). The 2‐year estimated rates of MACE (25.2% vs. 28.7%, log rank P = 0.52) and its components death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization were not significantly different between the groups. Equivalence of 2‐year MACE rates was also seen in all examined subgroups.

Conclusion

Shortened procedural duration and reduction of coronary dissections were observed with planned RA for selected lesions. However, this strategy does not affect long‐term clinical outcomes.
Novel treatment concepts in Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Glimelius I. , Diepstra A.
Published: December 2016

Treatment of classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) has been a success story, with cure of localized disease with radiotherapy in the 1930s, cure of advanced stages with combination chemotherapy with/without radiotherapy in the mid‐1960s and continuous improvements since then. Nonetheless, at present approximately 2% of patients with classical HL are primarily refractory to conventional therapy with only 50% becoming long‐term survivors. Another 13% of patients relapse, with only 60% being alive 10 years postrecurrence (as exemplified in this review in a Swedish cohort of 18‐ to 65‐year‐old patients diagnosed during the period 1992–2009). Recently, novel targeted drugs were approved for refractory/relapsed HL and here we review results of trials that form the basis for these approvals as well as new trials. In summary, brentuximab vedotin can be used in refractory patients (i) as a complement to high‐dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT) improving the chances of being able to proceed to an allogenic SCT and cure, (ii) as consolidation after autologous SCT and (iii) as palliative life‐prolonging treatment. However, we have yet to determine whether this drug provides the greatest benefit in first‐ or second‐line treatment, as consolidation or in refractory disease or relapse. Trials of immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as those targeting programmed death 1 (nivolumab and pembrolizumab), and thus not primarily the tumour cells, have shown overall response rates of >65%. Long‐term results and data from Phase III trials are still lacking, but nivolumab recently gained approval in refractory patients already treated with brentuximab vedotin and autologous SCT. Other novel treatments of interest include T cells with a chimeric antigen receptor and combination therapies with histone deacetylase inhibitors.
Modelling the influence of environmental and weather factors on the density of the invasive polychaete Boccardia proboscidea
Authors: Garaffo Griselda V. , Jaubet María L. , Sánchez María A. , Llanos Elizabeth N. , Vallarino Eduardo A. , Elías Rodolfo
Published: December 2016

The inter‐tidal zone around sewage discharges in a Southwest Atlantic shore (Mar del Plata, Argentina) is currently colonized by extensive inter‐tidal reefs of the invasive spionid Boccardia proboscidea. Understanding the links between both human and natural disturbances and the massive development of non‐indigenous species will help prevent marine bioinvasions, which are already favoured by global oceanic trade. We present herein predictive models for variations in the density of B. proboscidea around sewage discharges of Mar del Plata, using environmental (pH, turbidity, temperature, salinity and total organic matter content), weather (wind direction and storm records), spatial (sites) and temporal (season and year) variables. Density variations were modelled by generalized linear models, and model averaging (multimodel inference) was used to obtain predicted values. The highest predicted values of B. proboscidea density occurred at sites to the south of the sewage effluent in spring. These sites are more affected by urban effluent discharges and they showed increased B. proboscidea density when the north wind was predominant. In addition, B. proboscidea density values were higher in sites with 20–22 °C (seawater temperature), high total organic matter content in sediments and low salinity. The averaged model was only a good ‘predictive model’ for sites to the north of the outfall, but was useful as an ‘explanatory model’ in all sites. Such predictions may help to back up conservation and management policies and decisions.
Gun Stories: How Evidence Shapes Firearm Policy in the United States
Authors: Smith‐Walter Aaron , Peterson Holly L. , Jones Michael D. , Nicole Reynolds Marshall Ashley
Published: December 2016

This article examines the role of evidence in the National Rifle Association and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence's firearm policy debate proximate to the December 14, 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting. The groups’ member‐directed policy narratives are operationalized with The Narrative Policy Framework (NPF), and new categories of evidence for the framework are developed. Analysis of 2,535 paragraphs of member newsletters indicates the groups display different patterns of narrative components. Evidence is associated with narrative elements, and that narrative strategy has a significant, but mixed relationship with evidence. Most importantly, findings indicate that evidence frequently co‐occurs with characters, leading us to conclude that evidence has a buttressing, or supportive, role in policy narrative closely associated with character attributions. The findings expand the understanding of evidence in contentious policy debates and offer a new component for NPF theory.

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Amber N. W. Raile,
Charles T. Salmon, and
Lori Ann Post. 2014. “.” Politics & Policy 42 (): 103‐130.

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Shanahan, Elizabeth A.,
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Efficacy of early sivelestat administration on acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Kido Takashi , Muramatsu Keiji , Yatera Kazuhiro , Asakawa Takeshi , Otsubo Hiroki , Kubo Tatsuhiko , Fujino Yoshihisa , Matsuda Shinya , Mayumi Toshihiko , Mukae Hiroshi
Published: December 2016

ABSTRACT

Background and objective

The efficacy of sivelestat, a neutrophil elastase inhibitor, for acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) remains controversial. We investigated the role of sivelestat in ALI/ARDS patients on mortality as an end point between the sivelestat group and the non‐sivelestat group within 7 days of admission.

Methods

This study was performed using the Japanese nationwide administrative database (Diagnostic Procedure Combination; DPC) in 2012. We employed the propensity score weighting method with a Cox proportional hazards model to compare the mortality between the sivelestat group and the non‐sivelestat group.

Results

A total of 4276 patients were eligible for this study; 1997 patients were treated with sivelestat and 2279 patients did not receive sivelestat within 7 days of admission. After adjusting for confounds, the mortality within 3 months was significantly lower in the sivelestat group compared with the non‐sivelestat group (weighted hazard ratio: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.75–0.93; P < 0.002). Multiple regression analysis revealed that younger age, absence of cancer, no need for haemodialysis and no use of high‐dose methylprednisolone were significantly correlated with treatment success (survive).

Conclusion

These results of this retrospective and observational study suggest that administration of sivelestat within 7 days of admission may improve the prognosis of patients with ALI/ARDS. To our knowledge, this is the largest study to evaluate the efficacy of sivelestat on ALI/ARDS.
A phylogeny of the treehopper subfamily Heteronotinae reveals convergent pronotal traits (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Membracidae)
Authors: EVANGELISTA OLIVIA , SAKAKIBARA ALBINO M. , CRYAN JASON R. , URBAN JULIE M.
Published: December 2016

Even within an insect family famous for its morphological diversity, the treehopper subfamily Heteronotinae is a microcosm of pronotal variation, displaying remarkably dissimilar thoracic ornamentations among its ten included genera. Presented here is a reconstruction of heteronotine relationships based on DNA nucleotide sequence data from five nuclear and two mitochondrial genes from a comprehensive sample of ingroup taxa (including exemplars of all genera except for the monotypic Dysyncritus Fowler, 1895). Concordant phylogenetic estimates support the monophyly of Heteronotinae sensu stricto (i.e. excluding Darnoides Fairmaire, 1846), as well as the monophyly of the included genera Heteronotus Laporte, 1832, Nassunia Stål, 1862, Omolon Walker, 1862, Rhexia Stål, 1867, and Smiliorachis Fairmaire, 1846. Conversely, Anchistrotus Buckton, 1902, Allodrilus Evangelista, 2014 and Iria Stål, 1867 were not recovered as monophyletic, although topology comparison tests failed to reject the nonmonophyly of the latter two genera, nor Heteronotinae, as currently circumscribed. These results are interpreted in the context of available morphological evidence, which generally supports these findings. Also addressed here is the evolution of selected pronotal features representing major aspects of heteronotine morphology. Bayesian stochastic mapping of pronotal traits estimated multiple character state transitions, suggesting repeated acquisition of pronotal features, most of which have evolved independently within the diverse genus Heteronotus. These convergences may provide insight into the role of the pronotum in heteronotine groups that appear to serve different adaptive strategies, such as mimicry, crypsis and defence against predators. Furthermore, our results show a substantial diversity in need of formal description, including possible new genera, and several unique sexually dimorphic syndromes that may constitute a species complex within Heteronotus delineatus Walker, 1858. Nomenclatural changes are proposed for Nassunia nigromacula (Funkhouser, 1940) new combination and Smiliorachis inornata Stål, 1862 combination reinstated, which were found to be misplaced at the generic and subfamily levels according to our analyses.
EFFECTS OF X‐RAY BEAM ANGLE AND GEOMETRIC DISTORTION ON WIDTH OF EQUINE THORACOLUMBAR INTERSPINOUS SPACES USING RADIOGRAPHY AND COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY—A CADAVERIC STUDY
Authors: Djernæs Julie D. , Nielsen Jon V. , Berg Lise C.
Published: December 2016

The widths of spaces between the thoracolumbar processi spinosi (interspinous spaces) are frequently assessed using radiography in sports horses; however effects of varying X‐ray beam angles and geometric distortion have not been previously described. The aim of this prospective, observational study was to determine whether X‐ray beam angle has an effect on apparent widths of interspinous spaces. Thoracolumbar spine specimens were collected from six equine cadavers and left‐right lateral radiographs and sagittal and dorsal reconstructed computed tomographic (CT) images were acquired. Sequential radiographs were acquired with each interspinous space in focus. Measurements were performed for each interspinous space in the focus position and up to eight angled positions as the interspinous space moved away from focus (±). Focus position measurements were compared to matching sagittal CT measurements. Effect of geometric distortion was evaluated by comparing the interspinous space in radiographs with sagittal and dorsal reconstructed CT images. A total of 49 interspinous spaces were sampled, yielding 274 measurements. X‐ray beam angle significantly affected measured width of interspinous spaces in position +3 (P = 0.038). Changes in width did not follow a consistent pattern. Interspinous space widths in focus position were significantly smaller in radiographs compared to matching reconstructed CT images for backs diagnosed with kissing spine syndrome (P < 0.001). Geometric distortion markedly affected appearance of interspinous space width between planes. In conclusion, X‐ray beam angle and geometric distortion influence radiographically measured widths of interspinous spaces in the equine thoracolumbar spine, and this should be taken into consideration when evaluating sport horses.
Maintained right ventricular pressure overload induces ventricular–arterial decoupling in mice
Authors: Boehm Mario , Lawrie Allan , Wilhelm Jochen , Ghofrani Hossein A. , Grimminger Friedrich , Weissmann Norbert , Seeger Werner , Schermuly Ralph T. , Kojonazarov Baktybek
Published: December 2016

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

The aim was to investigate whether complementary assessment of non‐invasive ultrasound imaging together with closed chest‐derived intracardiac pressure–volume catheterization is applicable to mice for an in‐depth characterization of right ventricular (RV) function even upon maintained pressure overload.

What is the main finding and its importance?

Characterization of RV function by the complementary use of echocardiographic imaging together with pressure–volume catheterization reveals ventricular–arterial decoupling upon maintained pressure overload, where RV systolic function correlates with ventricular–arterial coupling rather than contractility, whereas diastolic function correlates well with RV diastolic pressure. This combined approach allows us to phenotype RV function and dysfunction better in genetically modified and/or pharmacologically treated mice.

Assessment of right ventricular (RV) function in rodents is a challenge because of the complex RV anatomy and structure. To date, the best characterization of RV function has been achieved by accurate cardiovascular phenotyping, involving a combination of non‐invasive imaging and intracardiac pressure–volume measurements. We sought to investigate the feasibility of two complementary phenotyping techniques for the evaluation of RV function in an experimental mouse model of sustained RV pressure overload. Mice underwent either sham surgery (n = 5) or pulmonary artery banding (n = 8) to induce isolated RV pressure overload. After 3 weeks, indices of RV function were assessed by echocardiography (Vevo2100) and closed chest‐derived invasive pressure–volume measurements (PVR‐1030). Pulmonary artery banding resulted in RV hypertrophy and dilatation accompanied by systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Invasive RV haemodynamic measurements demonstrated an increased end‐systolic elastance and arterial elastance after pulmonary artery banding compared with sham operation, resulting in ventricular–arterial decoupling. Regression analysis revealed that tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion is correlated with ventricular–arterial coupling (r² = 0.77, P = 0.002) rather than with RV contractility (r² = −0.61, P = 0.07). Furthermore, the isovolumic relaxation time to ECG‐derived R–R interval and the ratio of the early diastolic peak velocity measured by pulsed wave Doppler to the early diastolic peak obtained during tissue Doppler imaging correlate well with RV end‐diastolic pressure (r² = 0.87, P = 0.0001 and r² = 0.82, P = 0.0009, respectively). Commonly used indices of systolic RV function are associated with RV–arterial coupling rather than contractility, whereas diastolic indices well correlate with end‐diastolic pressure when there is maintained pressure overload.
An Investigation of Structure, Flexibility, and Function Variables that Discriminate Asymptomatic Foot Types
Authors: Shultz Sarah P. , Song Jinsup , Kraszewski Andrew P. , Hafer Jocelyn F. , Rao Smita , Backus Sherry , Hillstrom Rajshree M. , Hillstrom Howard J.
Published: December 2016

It has been suggested that foot type considers not only foot structure (high, normal, low arch), but also function (overpronation, normal, oversupination) and flexibility (reduced, normal, excessive). Therefore, this study used canonical regression analyses to assess which variables of foot structure, function, and flexibility can accurately discriminate between clinical foot type classifications. The feet of 61 asymptomatic, healthy adults (18–77 years) were classified as cavus (N = 24), rectus (N = 54), or planus (N = 44) using standard clinical measures. Custom jigs assessed foot structure and flexibility. Foot function was assessed using an emed-x plantar pressure measuring device. Canonical regression analyses were applied separately to extract essential structure, flexibility, and function variables. A third canonical regression analysis was performed on the extracted variables to identify a combined model. The initial combined model included 30 extracted variables; however 5 terminal variables (malleolar valgus index, arch height index while sitting, first metatarsophalangeal joint laxity while standing, pressure-time integral and maximum contact area of medial arch) were able to correctly predict 80.7% of foot types. These remaining variables focused on specific foot characteristics (hindfoot alignment, arch height, midfoot mechanics, Windlass mechanism) that could be essential to discriminating foot type.
Sling-Based Exercise for External Rotator Muscles: Effects on Shoulder Profile in Young Recreational Tennis Players
Authors: Goulet Charles , Rogowski Isabelle
Published: December 2016

Context:Tennis playing generates specific adaptations, particularly at the dominant shoulder. It remains to be established whether shoulder-strength balance can be restored by sling-based training for adolescent recreational tennis players.Objective:To investigate the effects of a sling-based exercise for shoulder external rotators on external rotator muscle strength, internal rotator muscle strength, glenohumeral range of motion, and tennis serve performance.Design:Test-retest design.Setting:Tennis training sports facilities.Participants:Twelve adolescent male players volunteered to participate in this study (age: 13.3 ± 0.5 y; height: 1.64 ± 0.07 m, mass: 51.7 ± 5.8 kg, International Tennis Number: 8).Intervention:The procedure spanned 10 wk. For the first 5 wk, players performed their regular training (RT) twice a week. For the last 5 wk, a sling-based exercise (SE) for strengthening the shoulder external rotator muscles was added to their RT.Main Outcome Measures:Maximal isometric strength of shoulder external and internal rotator muscles and glenohumeral range of motion in external and internal rotation were assessed in both shoulders. Serve performance was also evaluated by accuracy and postimpact ball velocity using a radar gun.Results:No change was found in any measurement after the RT period. Significant increases in external (∼+5%;P < .001) and internal (∼+2%;P < .05) rotator muscle strength and in external/internal strength ratio (∼+4%;P < .001) were observed after the SE period. Serve velocity and accuracy were significantly improved after SE (∼+2% and ∼+24%, respectively;P < .05 for both), while no clinically meaningful alterations in range of motion were observed.Conclusions:Prophylactic intervention through SE for strengthening shoulder external rotator muscles appears effective in restoring strength balance at the dominant shoulder and may prevent adolescent tennis players from sustaining degenerative shoulder problems, which could later impair their performance of daily and work-related tasks.
Carboxypeptidase activity in human mycoplasmas
Authors: Shibata K , Watanabe T
Published: December 2016

Mycoplasma salivarium produced citrulline, ammonia, and ATP from N-benzoylglycyl-L-arginine. The activity was inhibited by EDTA and was therefore concluded to be due to an arginine-specific carboxypeptidase. The activity was also found to exist in M. orale, M. buccale, M. faucium, and M. hominis.
Structure and relevance of the oligosaccharide hapten of Mycobacterium avium serotype 2
Authors: Camphausen R T , Jones R L , Brennan P J
Published: December 2016

The type-specific antigen of Mycobacterium avium serotype 2, the most ubiquitous of serotypes within the M. avium complex and a major cause of disseminated and localized infections, was isolated and purified. It is of the glycopeptidolipid (mycoside C) class with a characteristic oligosaccharide hapten. This was released as the oligosaccharide alditol by base-catalyzed reductive beta-elimination, and the structure was established by a combination of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, methylation analysis, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance as 2,3-di-O-methyl-L-fucopyranosyl-(alpha 1----3)-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(alpha 1----2)- 6-deoxytalitol. A feature of the work was the elucidation of the absolute (enantiomeric) configuration of the sugars. This same structure, in much less detail, was previously reported as the species-specific hapten of strains of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis. Thus, the work raises the intriguing possibility that some M. avium serotypes are synonymous, at least in outer cell wall anatomy, with the agent(s) of paratuberculosis (Johne's disease), an insidious disease of vast proportions in ruminants. In addition, recognition of a specific determinant will allow a precise study of the epidemiology of M. avium infections in humans and animals.
Purification and characterization of a molybdenum-pterin-binding protein (Mop) in Clostridium pasteurianum W5
Authors: Hinton S M , Merritt B
Published: December 2016

A large-scale fractionation scheme purified the major molybdenum(Mo)-binding protein (Mop) from crude extracts of Clostridium pasteurianum, with a 10 and 0.2% yield of Mo and protein, respectively. The apparent molecular weight of the purified molybdoprotein is 5,700, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The protein contains 0.7 mol of Mo per mol of protein with a molecular weight of 5,700. Mop, as isolated, has a peak absorbency at 293 nm. Denaturation and oxidation of the molybdoprotein released multiple pterin like fluorescent compounds. Mop appears to contain a pterin derivative and Mo, but phosphate analysis indicated that the pterin at the very least is not phosphorylated; phosphorylation is required for functional molybdenum cofactor. All treatments used to release the putative Mo-pterin species from Mop failed to yield a molybdopterin that had detectable molybdenum cofactor activity.
Naturally occurring TOL plasmids in Pseudomonas strains carry either two homologous or two nonhomologous catechol 2,3-oxygenase genes
Authors: Chatfield L K , Williams P A
Published: December 2016

Structural genes for catechol 2,3-oxygenase (C23O) were cloned from the TOL plasmids pWW5, pWW14, pWW74, pWW84, and pWW88 isolated from Pseudomonas strains of diverse geographical origins. Each pKT230-based C23O+ recombinant plasmid carried a 2.05-kilobase XhoI insert which showed strong homology in Southern hybridizations with the xylE gene from the archetype TOL plasmid pWW0. Fragments were mapped for restriction endonuclease sites and were classified into two closely related groups on the basis of restriction maps. C23O structural genes were located on cloned fragments by a combination of subcloning and site-specific mutagenesis. All five TOL plasmids examined yielded clones whose maps differed from that of xylE of pWW0 by only a single XbaI site, but in addition plasmids pWW5, pWW74, and pWW88 carried a second, homologous C23O gene with seven further restriction site differences. The remaining plasmids, pWW14 and pWW84, carried a second nonhomologous C23O gene related to the second C23O gene (C23OII) of TOL plasmid pWW15 described previously (H. Keil, M. R. Lebens, and P. A. Williams, J. Bacteriol. 163:248-255, 1985). Thus, each naturally occurring TOL plasmid in this study appears to carry genes for two meta cleavage dioxygenases.
Lactose and melibiose metabolism in Erwinia chrysanthemi
Authors: Gray J S , Lindner W A , Brand J M , Mildenhall J P
Published: December 2016

A Lac+ mutant of Erwinia chrysanthemi was isolated from the Lac- wild type on lactose agar. beta-Galactosidase was expressed independently of lactose transport in both the mutant and the wild type, and neither strain expressed thiogalactoside transacetylase. Lactose transport and alpha-galactosidase, constitutive in the Lac+ strain, were coordinately induced in the Lac- strain by melibiose and raffinose but not by isopropyl-beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside or thiomethyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside. Melibiose was a strong inhibitor of both the melibiose- and the raffinose-induced lactose permeases, whereas raffinose was a strong inhibitor of only the raffinose-induced lactose permease.
Entanglement entropy for pure gauge theories in 1+1 dimensions using the lattice regularization
Authors: Aoki Sinya , Itou Etsuko , Nagata Keitaro
Published: December 2016

We study the entanglement entropy (EE) for pure gauge theories in 1[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]1 dimensions with the lattice regularization. Using the definition of the EE for lattice gauge theories proposed in a previous paper,1 we calculate the EE for arbitrary pure as well as mixed states in terms of eigenstates of the transfer matrix in (1[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text]1)-dimensional lattice gauge theory. We find that the EE of an arbitrary pure state does not depend on the lattice spacing, thus giving the EE in the continuum limit, and show that the EE for an arbitrary pure state is independent of the real (Minkowski) time evolution. We also explicitly demonstrate the dependence of EE on the gauge fixing at the boundaries between two subspaces, which was pointed out for general cases in the paper. In addition, we calculate the EE at zero as well as finite temperature by the replica method, and show that our result in the continuum limit corresponds to the result obtained before in the continuum theory, with a specific value of the counterterm, which is otherwise arbitrary in the continuum calculation. We confirm the gauge dependence of the EE also for the replica method.
Vertex operators for production of baryon resonances in nucleon-gamma collisions with preserving gauge invariance and analyticity
Authors: Anisovich A. V. , Anisovich V. V. , Sarantsev A. V.
Published: December 2016

Vertex operators for photo- and electro-production of baryon states with arbitrary spin-parity, [Formula: see text], are constructed. The operators obey gauge invariance and analyticity constraints. Analyticity is realized as a requirement of the generalized Siegert theorem for vertex form factors.
Origin of giant dielectric permittivity and weak ferromagnetic behavior in (1−x)LaFeO3−xBaTiO3 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.25) solid solutions
Authors: Sreenivasu T. , Tirupathi P. , Prabahar K. , Suryanarayana B. , Chandra Mouli K.
Published: December 2016

The solid solutions of ([Formula: see text]) LaFeO3–[Formula: see text]BaTiO3 (0.0[Formula: see text]0.25) have been synthesized successfully by the conventional solid-state reaction method. Room temperature (RT) X-ray diffraction studies reveal the stabilization of orthorhombic phase with Pbnm space group. Complete solubility in the perovskite series was demonstrated up to [Formula: see text]. The dielectric permittivity shows colossal dielectric constant (CDC) at RT. The doping of BaTiO3 in LaFeO3 exhibit pronounced CDC up to a composition [Formula: see text], further it starts to decrease. The frequency-dependent dielectric loss exhibits polaronic conduction, which can attribute to presence of multiple valence of iron. The relaxation frequency and polaronic conduction mechanism was shifted towards RT as function of [Formula: see text]. Moreover, large magnetic moment with weak ferromagnetic behavior is observed in doped LaFeO3 solid solution, which might be the destruction of spin cycloid structure due to insertion of Ti in Fe–O–Fe network of LaFeO3.
Eager Synching
Authors: Chang Li-Pin , Sung Po-Han , Chen Po-Tsang , Chen Po-Hung
Published: December 2016

Flash storage has been a standard component in Android devices. Recent research has reported that application data management in Android involves frequent fsync() operations. The current fsync() implementations, including those of ext4 and F2FS, have several common drawbacks. Specifically, ext4 commits a transaction every time to sync a file, whereas F2FS commits a checkpoint to sync a directory. Committing a transaction or checkpoint flushes all dirty data from the page cache to the flash storage via many small, random block write requests. The resultant high I/O frequency and excessive write traffic cause a high fsync() latency. This study presents an efficient fsync() method, called eager synching, which is based on a simple idea: write less, and write sequentially. To sync a file, eager synching writes only a subset of all dirty data in the page cache to a sequential log space using a few sequential block write requests. It does not involve transaction or checkpoint committing. We successfully implemented eager synching in ext4 and F2FS, and our experimental results show that, compared with the original fsync() methods of ext4 and F2FS, eager synching reduced the average and maximum fsync() latencies by up to 72% and 91%, respectively, block-level write traffic by up to 35%, and I/O frequency by up to 66%. Through enhanced crash recovery procedures, eager synching can successfully recover all previously synched files while still guaranteeing the file system integrity. We also conducted live application replays using the proposed eager synching approach and observed that this approach significantly improved the application frame updating rate and application execution time.
Non-interference in Partial Order Models
Authors: Bérard Béatrice , Hélouët Loïc , Mullins John
Published: December 2016

Non-interference (NI) is a property of systems stating that confidential actions should not cause effects observable by unauthorized users. Several variants of NI have been studied for many types of models but rarely for true concurrency or unbounded models. This work investigates NI for High-level Message Sequence Charts (HMSCs), a scenario language for the description of distributed systems, based on composition of partial orders. We first propose a general definition of security properties in terms of equivalence among observations of behaviors. Observations are naturally captured by partial order automata, a formalism that generalizes HMSCs and permits assembling partial orders. We show that equivalence or inclusion properties for HMSCs (and hence for partial order automata) are undecidable, which means in particular that NI is undecidable for HMSCs. We hence consider decidable subclasses of partial order automata and HMSCs. Finally, we define weaker local properties, describing situations where a system is attacked by a single agent, and show that
local NI
is decidable. We then refine local NI to a finer notion of
causal NI
that emphasizes causal dependencies between confidential actions and observations and extend it to causal NI with (selective) declassification of confidential events. Checking whether a system satisfies local and causal NI and their declassified variants are PSPACE-complete problems.
A System for Response and Prevention of Security Incidents in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Midi Daniele , Sultana Salmin , Bertino Elisa
Published: December 2016

Resource constraints, unattended operating environments, and communication phenomena make Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) susceptible to operational failures and security attacks. However, applications often impose stringent requirements on data reliability and service availability, due to the deployment of sensor networks in various critical infrastructures. Given the failure- and attack-prone nature of sensor networks, enabling sensor networks to continuously provide their services as well as to effectively recover from attacks is a crucial requirement. We present Kinesis, a security incident response system designed to keep WSNs functional despite anomalies or attacks and to recover from attacks without significant interruption. Kinesis is quick and effective in responding to incidents, distributed in nature, dynamic in selecting response actions based on the context, and lightweight in terms of response policy specification, communication, and energy overhead. A per-node single timer-based distributed strategy to select the most effective response executor in a neighborhood makes the system simple and scalable, while achieving load balancing and redundant action optimization. We implement Kinesis in TinyOS and measure its performance for various application and network layer incidents. Extensive TOSSIM simulations and testbed experiments show that Kinesis successfully counteracts anomalies/attacks and behaves consistently under various attack scenarios and rates.
Serum Endocan Levels Associated with Hypertension and Loss of Renal Function in Pediatric Patients after Two Years from Renal Transplant
Authors: Souza Livia Victorino de , Oliveira Vanessa , Laurindo Aline Oliveira , Huarachı DelmaRegına Gomes , Nogueira Paulo Cesar Koch , Feltran Luciana de Santis , Medina-Pestana José Osmar , Franco Maria do Carmo
Published: December 2016

Endocan is an important biomarker of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction that increases in association with several chronic diseases. Few published data have described the role of endocan in pediatric renal transplant (RT) patients. We evaluated the endocan concentrations in 62 children who underwent renal transplantation and assessed their relationships with the patients’ blood pressure and loss of renal function. The endocan levels were significantly elevated in the pediatric RT patients who had hypertension and a loss of renal function. We determined positive correlations between the endocan concentrations and the hemodynamic variables (systolic blood pressure:r=0.416;P=0.001; pulse pressure:r=0.412;P=0.003). The endocan levels were inversely correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate (r=-0.388;P=0.003). An endocan cutoff concentration of 7.0 ng/mL identified pediatric RT patients who had hypertension and a loss of renal function with 100% sensitivity and 75% specificity. In conclusion, the endocan concentrations were significantly elevated in pediatric RT patients who had both hypertension and a loss of renal function. The correlations between the endocan levels and the hemodynamic variables and the markers of renal function strengthen the hypothesis that it is an important marker of cardiorenal risk.