bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibody-Mediated Inhibition of Tspan12 Ameliorates Vasoproliferative Retinopathy Through Suppression of β-Catenin Signaling
Authors: Bucher Felicitas , Zhang Ding , Aguilar Edith , Sakimoto Susumu , Diaz-Aguilar Sophia , Rosenfeld Mauricio , Zha Zhao , Zhang Hongkai , Friedlander Martin , Yea Kyungmoo
Published: March 2017

Background:

Anti-angiogenic biologicals represent an important concept for the treatment of vasoproliferative diseases. However, the need for continued treatment, the presence of nonresponders, and the risk of long-term side effects limit the success of existing therapeutic agents. Although Tspan12 has been shown to regulate retinal vascular development, nothing is known about its involvement in neovascular disease and its potential as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of vasoproliferative diseases.

Methods:

Rodent models of retinal neovascular disease, including the mouse model of oxygen-induced retinopathy and the very low density lipoprotein receptor knockout mouse model were analyzed for Tspan/β-catenin regulation. Screening of a phage display of a human combinatorial antibody (Ab) library was used for the development of a high-affinity Ab against Tspan12. Therapeutic effects of the newly developed Ab on vascular endothelial cells were tested in vitro and in vivo in the oxygen-induced retinopathy and very low density lipoprotein receptor knockout mouse model.

Results:

The newly developed anti-Tspan12 Ab exhibited potent inhibitory effects on endothelial cell migration and tube formation. Mechanistic studies confirmed that the Ab inhibited the interaction between Tspan12 and Frizzled-4 and effectively modulates β-catenin levels and target genes in vascular endothelial cells. Tspan12/β-catenin signaling was activated in response to acute and chronic stress in the oxygen-induced retinopathy and very low density lipoprotein receptor mouse model of proliferative retinopathy. Intravitreal application of the Ab showed significant therapeutic effects in both models without inducing negative side effects on retina function. Moreover, combined intravitreal injection of the Ab with a known vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitor, Aflibercept, resulted in significant enhancement of the therapeutic efficacy of each monotherapy. Combination therapy with the Tspan12 blocking antibody can be used to reduce anti-vascular endothelial growth factor doses, thus decreasing the risk of long-term off-target effects.

Conclusions:

Tspan12/β-catenin signaling is critical for the progression of vasoproliferative disease. The newly developed anti-Tspan12 antibody has therapeutic effects in vasoproliferative retinopathy and can enhance the potency of existing anti- vascular endothelial growth factor agents.
Co-Optimization Free Lunches: Tractability of Optimal Black-Box Algorithms for Maximizing Expected Utility
Authors: Popovici Elena
Published: March 2017

Co-optimization problems often involve settings in which the quality ( utility) of a potential solution is dependent on the scenario within which it is evaluated, and many such scenarios exist. Maximizing expected utility is simply the goal of finding the potential solution whose expected utility value over all possible scenarios is best. Such problems are often approached using coevolutionary algorithms. We are interested in the design of generally well-performing black-box algorithms for this problem, that is, algorithms which have access to the utility function only via input–output queries. We research this matter by focusing on three main questions: 1) are some algorithms strictly better than others when judged in aggregation over all possible instances of the problem? that is, is there “free lunch”? 2) do optimal algorithms exist? and 3) if so, do they have a tractable implementation? For a specific expected-utility maximization context, involving several assumptions and performance choices, we answer all three questions affirmatively and concretely: we provide examples of free lunch; we describe the general operation of optimal algorithms; we characterize situations when this operation has a very simple and efficient implementation, situations when the computational cost can be significantly reduced, and situations when tractability of optimal algorithms might be out of reach.
When to Take a Gesture Seriously: On How We Use and Prioritize Communicative Cues
Authors: Gunter Thomas C. , Weinbrenner J. E. Douglas
Published: March 2017

When people talk, their speech is often accompanied by gestures. Although it is known that co-speech gestures can influence face-to-face communication, it is currently unclear to what extent they are actively used and under which premises they are prioritized to facilitate communication. We investigated these open questions in two experiments that varied how pointing gestures disambiguate the utterances of an interlocutor. Participants, whose event-related brain responses were measured, watched a video, where an actress was interviewed about, for instance, classical literature (e.g., Goethe and Shakespeare). While responding, the actress pointed systematically to the left side to refer to, for example, Goethe, or to the right to refer to Shakespeare. Her final statement was ambiguous and combined with a pointing gesture. The P600 pattern found in Experiment 1 revealed that, when pointing was unreliable, gestures were only monitored for their cue validity and not used for reference tracking related to the ambiguity. However, when pointing was a valid cue (Experiment 2), it was used for reference tracking, as indicated by a reduced N400 for pointing. In summary, these findings suggest that a general prioritization mechanism is in use that constantly monitors and evaluates the use of communicative cues against communicative priors on the basis of accumulated error information.
“This Is the Century of Light”: László Moholy-Nagy’s Painting and Photography Debate in i 10, 1927
Authors: Forgács Éva
Published: March 2017

The emergence in the 1920s of the idea that photography could be a full-fledged form of artistic expression—rather than mere mechanical imaging—led artists and art experts alike to wrestle with the question: What exactly constitutes art? Photography now challenged painting, both figurative and abstract, and as photography’s many previously unsuspected potentials were revealed and explored, artists and experts felt an urgency to articulate photography’s relationship to the concept of art. Invested in photography and ever the advocate of a new innovative medium and genre, László Moholy-Nagy wanted to hear what some of the most respected artists and experts of the time had to say about photography, and so in 1927 he moderated a debate on the subject of “painting and photography” in the journal Internationale Revue i 10.
An Objective Revaluation of Photograms by László Moholy-Nagy
Authors: Pénichon Sylvie , Lough Krista , Messier Paul
Published: March 2017

Throughout his career, László Moholy-Nagy (1895–1946) produced many photograms, a selection of which was examined in European and American collections. Sheet dimensions and thickness, base color, surface gloss and texture were recorded. The analysis of the data and the results of this investigation are presented in this article. The article also explores the effectiveness of paper characterization and how it can contribute to and enhance historical research when applied to a particular body of work by one artist.
László Moholy-Nagy’s Painting Materials: From Substance to Light
Authors: Salvant Johanna , Barten Julie , Casadio Francesca , Kokkori Maria , Pozzi Federica , Stringari Carol , Sutherland Ken , Walton Marc
Published: March 2017

This article presents results from an extensive scientific examination of the painting materials used by László Moholy-Nagy. The artist employed modern materials, such as metals and plastics, alongside more traditional artists’ oil paint and canvas, creatively manipulating these diverse media to generate a unique visual vocabulary. This study highlights the intimate link between the material properties and the expressive content of Moholy-Nagy’s painted works.
Sinopotamon baokangense sp. nov., a new freshwater crab with spoon-tipped cheliped fingers from Hubei Province, P.R. China (Decapoda, Brachyura, Potamidae)
Authors: Chu Kelin , Sun Yufang , Sun Hongying
Published: March 2017

A new freshwater crab of the genus Sinopotamon Bott, 1967, S. baokangense sp. nov. (Potamidae), is described from Baokang County, Hubei Province, P.R. China. The new species closely resembles two other Chinese species: S. cochlearidigitum Dai, Chen, Zhang & Lin, 1986, from Fang and Zhushan Counties; and S. introdigitum Dai, Chen, Zhang & Lin, 1986, from Fang and Yun Counties and Shennongjia, in general morphology and their distinctive spoon-tipped cheliped fingers. The new species, however, can easily be distinguished by a number of cheliped, male abdominal, and male first gonopod characters.
Association Between Parental Barriers to Accessing a Usual Source of Care and Children’s Receipt of Preventive Services
Authors: Bellettiere John , Chuang Emmeline , Hughes Suzanne C. , Quintanilla Isaac , Hofstetter C. Richard , Hovell Melbourne F.
Published: March 2017

Objectives:

Preventive health services are important for child development, and parents play a key role in facilitating access to services. This study examined how parents’ reasons for not having a usual source of care were associated with their children’s receipt of preventive services.

Methods:

We used pooled data from the 2011-2014 National Health Interview Survey (n = 34 843 participants). Parents’ reasons for not having a usual source of care were framed within the Penchansky and Thomas model of access and measured through 3 dichotomous indicators: financial barriers (affordability), attitudes and beliefs about health care (acceptability), and all other nonfinancial barriers (accessibility, accommodation, and availability). We used multivariable logistic regression models to test associations between parental barriers and children’s receipt of past-year well-child care visits and influenza vaccinations, controlling for other child, family, and contextual factors.

Results:

In 2014, 14.3% (weighted percentage) of children had at least 1 parent without a usual source of care. Children of parents without a usual source of care because they “don’t need a doctor and/or haven’t had any problems” or they “don’t like, trust, or believe in doctors” had 35% lower odds of receiving well-child care (adjusted odds ratio = 0.65; 95% CI, 0.56-0.74) and 23% lower odds of receiving influenza vaccination (adjusted odds ratio = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.69-0.86) than children of parents without those attitudes and beliefs about health care. Financial and other nonfinancial parental barriers were not associated with children’s receipt of preventive services. Results were independent of several factors relevant to children’s access to preventive health care, including whether the child had a usual source of care.

Conclusions:

Parents’ attitudes and beliefs about having a usual source of care were strongly associated with their children’s receipt of recommended preventive health services. Rates of receipt of child preventive services may be improved by addressing parents’ attitudes and beliefs about having a usual source of care. Future studies should assess causes of these associations.
The Effects of Secondary Special Education Preparation in Reading: Research to Inform State Policy in a New Era
Authors: Knackstedt Kimberly M. , Leko Melinda M. , Siuty Molly Baustien
Published: March 2017

In this study, the authors present findings from a survey of 577 secondary special educators in a large Midwestern state regarding their reading pre-service and in-service teacher preparation and its effect on teachers’ sense of preparedness for teaching reading to adolescents with disabilities. Six models were fitted using multinomial logistic regression analyses. Results demonstrate the importance of two factors in preparing special educators who have a high sense of preparedness for teaching reading to adolescents with disabilities. The first is pre-service coursework that uses practice-based pedagogical approaches as opposed to passive lecture and the second is more extensive in-service professional development. The results are discussed in light of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and its delegation of teacher preparation policy to state education agencies. Implications for future research and policy in special education teacher preparation are provided.
Hydroxychloroquine-induced hyperpigmentation in systemic diseases: prevalence, clinical features and risk factors: a cross-sectional study of 41 cases
Authors: Bahloul E , Jallouli M , Garbaa S , Marzouk S , Masmoudi A , Turki H , Bahloul Z
Published: March 2017

Introduction

Hydroxychloroquine is an antimalarial agent widely prescribed in internal medicine, rheumatology and dermatology. Its use can be complicated by various side effects including skin pigmentation.

Objectives

The aim of the study is to review epidemiological, clinical features and risk factors of hydroxychloroquine-induced pigmentation.

Materials and methods

We performed a cross-sectional study conducted over a period of 5 months. During this period, patients who had been treated with hydroxychloroquine for over 6 months, in the internal medicine department, underwent a complete dermatological examination. All patients completed a structured questionnaire to collect demographic data, dosage and treatment duration of hydroxychloroquine, other drug intake, hydroxychloroquine indication, and presence of pigmentary changes on the skin, nail, hair, and mucosa.

Results

A total of 41 patients (38 women and 3 men) were included in the study. The mean age was 39.2 ± 15.4 years. The hydroxychloroquine was indicated for systemic lupus erythematosus in 73.2%, dermatomyositis in 12.2%, rheumatoid arthritis in 9.8%, actinic lichen and sarcoidosis each in 2.4%. Cutaneous pigmented lesions were found in 21 cases (51%), mucous pigmentation in 5 cases (12%) and nail pigmentation in 1 case (2.5%). In 12 of 41 (29%) of the hydroxychloroquine users, we conclude a hydroxychloroquine-induced pigmentation. There were 11 women and one man with a mean age of 43 years and all of them were systemic lupus erythematosus patients. Pigmented lesions were located on the lower limbs in seven cases, the face in two cases, lips in two cases and the gum in two cases. Pigmentation appeared after a median duration of hydroxychloroquine treatment of 32 months with a median cumulative dose of 361 g. Overall, two patients reported that the appearance of pigmented lesions was preceded by the occurrence of ecchymotic areas following microtrauma. Significant association was found between hydroxychloroquine-induced pigmentation and treatment with oral anticoagulants and/or antiplatelet agents ( p = 0.03).

Conclusion

Our systematic examination of patients demonstrated that hydroxychloroquine-induced pigmentation is not rare. The imputability of hydroxychloroquine in the genesis of this discoloration is difficult to establish. Our study supports the hypothesis that ecchymosis, platelet antiaggregants and oral anticoagulants may be the main predisposing factors to hydroxychloroquine-induced pigmentation.
Delineating Characteristics of Maladaptive Repetitive Thought: Development and Preliminary Validation of the Perseverative Cognitions Questionnaire
Authors: Szkodny Lauren E. , Newman Michelle G.
Published: March 2017

Worry, rumination, and obsessive thinking are theorized to differ on temporal orientation, positive perceived function, degree of intrusiveness, and discordance with one’s self-concept. However, prior findings with respect to such differences may be due to method variance of the measures used and/or inclusion of items confounded by diagnostic symptoms. Accurately capturing differences between types of perseverative thought linked to psychopathology and understanding whether such aspects are common across disorders or specific to some may be important to designing effective treatments for them. Two studies are presented detailing the development and validation of the Perseverative Cognitions Questionnaire (PCQ). The PCQ is a 45-item self-report measure that assesses six dimensional characteristics of worry, rumination, and obsessive thinking previously found to discriminate these thought styles: Lack of Controllability, Preparing for the Future, Expecting the Worst, Searching for Causes/Meaning, Dwelling on the Past, and Thinking Discordant with Ideal Self. Factor structure of the PCQ was established using principal components, exploratory factor, and confirmatory factor analyses. PCQ scales exhibited differential convergence with measures of perseverative thought and psychopathology. The PCQ also demonstrated acceptable retest correlations across 1- and 2-week periods, and incremental validity when predicting symptoms of anxiety, depression, and obsessive compulsive disorder.
Effect of thermo-magneto-electro-mechanical fields on the bending behaviors of a three-layered nanoplate based on sinusoidal shear-deformation plate theory
Authors: Arefi Mohammed , Zenkour Ashraf M
Published: March 2017

The nonlocal thermo-magneto-electro-mechanical bending behaviors of a three-layered nanoplate are presented in this study. The three-layered nanoplate includes a nano-sheet and two piezo-magnetic face-sheets at the top and the bottom. Temperature distribution is assumed linear along the thickness of the plate. The piezo-magnetic face-sheets are subjected to three-dimensional electric and magnetic potentials. The applied electric and magnetic potentials are applied at top of the face-sheets. The constitutive thermo-electro-magneto relations are derived based on the sinusoidal shear-deformation plate theory and nonlocal electro-magneto-elasticity. Using the principle of virtual work seven equations of the equilibrium are derived. The numerical results of this research indicate that some parameters have considerable effect on the bending behavior of three-layered nanoplate. Nonlocal parameter, applied electric and magnetic potentials, and temperature distribution are important parameters in this analysis.
‘Erotiques Cannibales’: A Queer Ontological Take on Desire from Urban Congo
Authors: Hendriks Thomas
Published: March 2017

This article illustrates the theoretical productivity of the recent ontological turn in anthropology as a way to further ‘anthropologize’ queer studies by taking seriously erotic alterity as an ethnographic situation that unlocks possibilities for radically re-thinking desire beyond the limiting framework of ‘sexuality’. It proposes a thought experiment with the specific ways in which same-sex loving men and boys in contemporary urban Congo conceptualize desire as a self-affirming predatory force that joyfully queers the ‘normal’ world. Rather than ethnographically representing ‘their’ erotic concepts, this article tries to think through them and calls for a non-melancholic theorization of desire.
Do clinical guidelines for whole body computerised tomography in trauma improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce unnecessary investigations? A systematic review and narrative synthesis
Authors: Hare Nicholas P , Macdonald Alistair W , Mellor James P , Younus Maaz , Chatha Hridesh , Sammy Ian
Published: March 2017

Introduction

Whole body computerised tomography has become a standard of care for the investigation of major trauma patients. However, its use varies widely, and current clinical guidelines are not universally accepted. We undertook a systematic review of the literature to determine whether clinical guidelines for whole body computerised tomography in trauma increase its diagnostic accuracy.

Materials and methods

A systematic review of Medline, Cinhal and the Cochrane database, supplemented by a manual search of relevant papers was undertaken, with narrative synthesis. Studies comparing clinical guidelines to physician gestalt for the use of whole body computerised tomography in adult trauma were included.

Results

A total of 887 papers were identified from the electronic databases, and 1 from manual searches. Of these, seven papers fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Two papers compared clinical guidelines with routine practice: one found increased diagnostic accuracy while the other did not. Two papers investigated the performance of established clinical guidelines and demonstrated moderate sensitivity and low specificity. Two papers compared different components of established triage tools in trauma. One paper devised a de novo clinical decision rule, and demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy with the tool. The outcome criteria used to define a ‘positive’ scan varied widely, making direct comparisons between studies impossible.

Conclusions

Current clinical guidelines for whole body computerised tomography in trauma may increase the sensitivity of the investigation, but the evidence to support this is limited. There is a need to standardise the definition of a ‘clinically significant’ finding on CT to allow better comparison of diagnostic studies.
When legislators choose not to decide: Abstentions in the European Parliament
Authors: Mühlböck Monika , Yordanova Nikoleta
Published: March 2017

Why do legislators choose to vote ‘Abstain’ instead of ‘Yea’ or ‘Nay’? Is it because they shy away from taking sides when facing competing demands? We address this question by studying roll-call vote data on the sixth European Parliament. In line with our principal–agent approach, we find that Members of the European Parliament are prone to strategically abstain when torn between different positions of their national party, their transnational party group, and their country’s minister. Abstentions are thus not random but strategic and ignoring them may bias the findings of legislative studies.
The promise and challenge of online action research: Notes from a study of self-motivated online music learners
Authors: Schmidt-Jones Catherine A
Published: March 2017

As a developer of online open education resources that provide basic information about Western music theory, notation, and acoustics, I undertook an action research project with the long-term goal of creating resources that were more accessible, particularly to independent learners pursuing their own music-making goals. In order to better understand the situations and perspectives of real-world learner stakeholders, I sought participants among the self-motivated users of my open education resources, offering active help in designing and carrying out inquiries based on their goals. Eleven long-term participants provided insights that have subsequently affected my efforts to design more accessible open education resources, but the course of the study also revealed tensions and challenges related to the online action research methodology. I have reported elsewhere the study results as they relate to online music education. This paper focuses on action research issues raised in the course of the study, including open versus closed online actions, reaching disadvantaged communities and learners, and consciousness-raising at a distance.
Paying students to learn: An ethical analysis of cash for grades programmes
Authors: Warnick Bryan R
Published: March 2017

A growing number of schools have begun experimenting with giving students cash rewards to improve academic performance. This practice has come to be known as ‘cash-for-grades’. In this article, I examine some of the philosophical and ethical questions involved with cash-for-grades programmes, rather than focusing on whether such incentives ‘work’ to increase academic performance. Building on the framework of philosopher Michael Sandel, I examine whether cash incentives are more coercive or corruptive than currently accepted educational practices. An answer to these questions ultimately requires a careful analysis of the meaning of cash as an incentive. Comparing cash incentives to grade incentives, I argue that the individuality and immediacy specific to cash incentives make them uniquely problematic in an educational environment.
The study of applying heat to enhance moisture transfer in knitted spacer structures
Authors: Mbise E , Dias T , Hurley W , Morris R
Published: March 2017

The aim of the article is to report the research of the Advanced Textiles Research Group on the application of heat to enhance the moisture transmission in knitted spacer structures. The current trend in the design and development of moisture management textiles is to use knitted spacer structures. Generally, in moisture management textiles, the moisture is transmitted through the fabric due to capillary forces, which are influenced by the hydrostatic pressure difference between the two fabric layers and the geometry and the dimensions of the capillaries of the sandwiched fibre layer of a knitted spacer structures. However, the hydrostatic pressure difference is also influenced by the outer environmental changes. The research has demonstrated that the moisture transfer rate of up to 30% per 100 cm2 of fabric area can be achieved by creating a temperature gradient between the two layers of a knitted spacer structures. This temperature gradient was achieved by application of heat at one layer of the knitted spacer structures, which influenced the hydrostatic pressure difference of the knitted spacer structures. Application of heat to the knitted spacer structures was achieved by knitting small heater elements on side of knitted spacer structures to create an active moisture management structure. Wash tests, temperature rise rates and moisture wettability experiments of the active moisture management structure were performed, and the results are discussed in the publication.
Control point locating scheme of street light network in urban environment
Authors: Chang Yue-Shan , Sheu Ruey-Kai , Wu Guang-Ting
Published: March 2017

Energy conservation is the top-priority policy for public street light infrastructure construction in recent years. Traditional periodically always-on policy guarantees the brightness for dark nights, but it consumes most energy and wastes a lot of money. Hence, there are strong demands to intelligently manage the construction and control over street light infrastructures. In this article, a scheme for locating the control point of street light network in urban district is proposed to replace the conventional always-on policy based on the geographic information of an urban environment. We first exploit the geographic map of an urban district to estimate the total number of street lights, and then partition the district into several adaptive blocks. Finally, the control point of each partitioned block is found and the connection of all street lights is established. Some experiments have been conducted to evaluate the performance and the feasibility of the proposed scheme. And the experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme is very reliable and efficient to construct the street light network of urban district.
Efficient location-based conditional privacy-preserving authentication scheme for vehicle ad hoc networks
Authors: Wu Libing , Fan Jing , Xie Yong , Wang Jing , Liu Qin
Published: March 2017

Due to the real-time requirement of message in vehicle ad hoc networks, it is a challenge to design an authentication for vehicle ad hoc networks to achieve security, efficiency, and conditional privacy-preserving. To address the challenge, many conditional privacy-preserving authentication schemes using bilinear pairing or ideal tamper-proof device have been proposed for vehicle ad hoc networks in recent years. However, the bilinear pairing operation is one of the most complex cryptographic operations and the assumption of tamper-proof device is very strong. In this article, an efficient location-based conditional privacy-preserving authentication scheme without the bilinear pairing and tamper-proof device is proposed. Compared with the most recently proposed authentication schemes, the proposed scheme markedly decreases the computation costs of message signing and message verification phase, while satisfies all security requirements of vehicle ad hoc networks and provides conditional privacy-preserving.
Pulse pressure in acute coronary syndromes: Comparative prognostic significance with systolic blood pressure
Authors: Tan Nigel S , Sarak Bradley , Fox Keith AA , Brieger David , Steg Ph. Gabriel , Gale Chris P , Bhatt Deepak L , Spencer Frederick A , Grondin Francois R , Goodman Shaun G , Yan Andrew T ,   on behalf of the Canadian GRACE/GRACE-2 and CANRACE Investigators
Published: March 2017

Background:

Pulse pressure is a readily available vital sign that has been shown to independently predict outcomes in several cardiovascular disease states. We investigated the prognostic significance of pulse pressure (PP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) among patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Methods:

A total of 14,514 patients with ACS in the prospective, multicentre Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE), expanded GRACE (GRACE-2) and Canadian Registry of Acute Coronary Events (CANRACE) were stratified by initial PP on presentation. Patient characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were compared by PP quartiles and the independent prognostic significance of PP for in-hospital mortality was quantified. We compared the discriminative ability (c-statistic) of models incorporating either PP or SBP.

Results:

Patients with higher PPs were older, more frequently female and had higher prevalence rates of conventional cardiovascular risk factors (all p < 0.01). Lower PP was associated with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction presentation, higher GRACE risk scores and higher rates of adverse in-hospital outcomes ( p < 0.001). PP was strongly correlated with SBP (Pearson’s correlation coefficient = 0.79, p < 0.001). After adjustment for other GRACE risk model predictors, lower PP was independently associated with in-hospital mortality (first vs. fourth quartile [reference]: adjusted odds ratio 2.57, 95% confidence interval 1.80–3.67). The c-statistic was slightly higher for the multivariable model incorporating SBP as compared to the model with PP (0.868 vs. 0.864, respectively, p = 0.028) for in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion:

Higher presenting PP is associated with increased age and more prevalent cardiovascular risk factors, whereas patients with lower PP present with worse clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes. Lower PP is an independent adverse prognosticator in ACS. However, PP did not improve the discriminatory performance of the GRACE risk score compared with SBP.
An epidemiological analysis of the burden of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in the USA, Europe and Japan
Authors: Gall Henning , Hoeper Marius M. , Richter Manuel J. , Cacheris William , Hinzmann Barbara , Mayer Eckhard
Published: March 2017

Epidemiological data for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) are limited and there are conflicting reports regarding its pathogenesis.

A literature review was conducted to identify CTEPH epidemiological data up to June 2014. Data were analysed to provide estimates of the incidence of CTEPH in the USA, Europe and Japan. An epidemiological projection model derived country-specific estimates of future incidence and diagnosis rates of CTEPH.

Overall, 25 publications and 14 databases provided quantitative epidemiological data. In the USA and Europe, the crude annual incidence of diagnosed pulmonary embolism and crude annual full (i.e.diagnosed and undiagnosed) incidence of CTEPH were 66–104 and 3–5 cases per 100 000 population, respectively, while in Japan these rates were lower at 6.7 and 1.9 per 100 000 population, respectively. In 2013, 7–29% of CTEPH cases in Europe and the USA were diagnosed, and the majority of patients were in New York Heart Association functional class III/IV at diagnosis. The projection model indicated that incidence of CTEPH will continue to increase over the next decade.

These data suggest that CTEPH is underdiagnosed and undertreated, and there is an urgent need to increase awareness of CTEPH. High-quality epidemiological studies are required to increase understanding of CTEPH.
Dispersive and directional electrical conductivity and dielectric permittivity of conductive-mineral-bearing samples derived from multifrequency tensor electromagnetic induction measurements
Authors: Misra Siddharth , Torres-Verdín Carlos , Homan Dean , Rasmus John
Published: March 2017

Organic-rich mudrocks, hydrocarbon-bearing conventional formations, and source rocks generally contain pyrite, rutile, graphite, graphitic precursors, and other electrically conductive minerals in the form of veins, laminations, flakes, and grains. Under redox-inactive subsurface conditions, when an external electromagnetic (EM) field is applied to geomaterials containing conductive mineral inclusions, ions in pore-filling brine and charge carriers (electrons and holes) in electrically conductive mineral inclusions migrate, accumulate/deplete, and diffuse around impermeable host-inclusion interfaces. These EM-field-induced phenomena are referred to as perfectly polarized interfacial polarization (PPIP) phenomena, and they alter the effective electrical conductivity [Formula: see text] and effective relative dielectric permittivity [Formula: see text] of geomaterials. In addition, the relaxation process associated with such polarization phenomena and the time required to fully develop and dissipate the EM-field-induced polarization gives rise to frequency dispersion of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of geomaterials containing conductive mineral inclusions. A laboratory-based EM apparatus, referred to as a whole-core EM induction tool, was used to measure the directional, multifrequency EM response of brine-saturated 4 in diameter (10.16 cm diameter), 2 ft long (0.61 m long), glass-bead packs containing uniformly distributed pyrite and graphite inclusions. We then implemented a semianalytic (SA) EM forward model, referred to as the SA model, to compute the [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of these conductive-mineral-bearing glass-bead packs. The estimated [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] of conductive-mineral-bearing packs exhibit directional and frequency dispersive characteristics, which can be explained using the theory of PPIP phenomena. Relative variations in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] due to frequency dispersion were as large as [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively, between the values estimated at 20 and 260 kHz. Computed values of [Formula: see text] of conductive-mineral-bearing packs were unusually large in the range of 103–106, whereas the corresponding values of [Formula: see text] exhibited strong dependence on volume content, size, and metallic nature of conductive mineral inclusions, brine salinity, and frequency. Furthermore, packs containing uniformly distributed pyrite and graphite inclusions exhibited conductivity and permittivity anisotropy in the range of one to two.
Early fruiting in Synsepalum dulcificum (Schumach. & Thonn.) Daniell juveniles induced by water and inorganic nutrient management
Authors: Tchokponhoué Dèdéou Apocalypse , N'Danikou Sognigbé , Hale Iago , Van Deynze Allen , Achigan-Dako Enoch Gbènato
Published: March 2017

Background.The miracle plant,Synsepalum dulcificum(Schumach. & Thonn.) Daniell is a native African orphan crop species that has recently received increased attention due to its promise as a sweetener and source of antioxidants in both the food and pharmaceutical industries. However, a major obstacle to the species’ widespread utilization is its relatively slow growth rate and prolonged juvenile period.Method.In this study, we tested twelve treatments made up of various watering regimes and exogenous nutrient application (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, at varying dosages) on the relative survival, growth, and reproductive development of 15-months-oldS. dulcificumjuveniles.Results.While the plants survived under most tested growing conditions, nitrogen application at doses higher than 1.5 g [seedling]-1was found to be highly detrimental, reducing survival to 0%. The treatment was found to affect all growth traits, and juveniles that received a combination of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (each at a rate of 1.5 g [seedling]-1), in addition to daily watering, exhibited the most vegetative growth. The simple daily provision of adequate water was found to greatly accelerate the transition to reproductive maturity in the species (from >36 months to an average of 23 months), whereas nutrient application affected the length of the reproductive phase within a season, as well as the fruiting intensity.Conclusions.This study highlights the beneficial effect of water supply and fertilization on both vegetative and reproductive growth inS. dulcificum. Water supply appeared to be the most important factor unlocking flowering in the species, while the combination of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium at the dose of 1.5 g (for all) consistently exhibited the highest performance for all growth and yield traits. These findings will help intensifyS. dulcificum’s breeding and horticultural development.
What are the effects of nurse attitudes towards patients with borderline personality disorder?
Authors: Loader Katie
Published: March 2017

Since the addition of borderline personality disorder (BPD) to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 1980, negative connotations have been attached to patients presenting with the disorder. Professional and governmental guidelines state that BPD should not be a diagnosis of exclusion, advocating instead for development of services, training and education. The aim of this review is to explore how psychiatric nurses' attitudes towards patients with BPD impact on care delivery. A two-fold search strategy was undertaken consisting of a database and ancestry search, nine papers were identified. A thematic analysis was undertaken, resulting in four themes: labelling and negative experiences; seeing the person; standard vs personalised care and the impact on care delivery. Psychiatric nurses experience a diverse range of emotional and behavioural responses to BPD patients. Both positive and negative attitudes resulted in significant impacts on care delivery, the therapeutic relationship, individuals and the team. Additional training and support is needed to promote understanding and foster more positive attitudes.
Meeting physical health needs: The Modified Early Warning Score (MEWS) project
Authors: Aligawesa Mariam , Marks-Maran Di
Published: March 2017

A national early warning scoring system (NEWS) for acutely ill patients in hospital was recommended following the report of a working group of the Royal College of Physicians. As a result, a guideline related to acutely ill patients in hospital was published by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (2007) . The physical health and wellbeing needs of people with a mental illness and learning disability are well documented in both statutory and clinical literature. There is now a considerable body of research highlighting significantly poorer physical health outcomes for patients with serious mental illness, with a premature mortality rate average of 20 years earlier than the general population. This article presents to implementation service evaluation/quality improvement initiative in one NHS trust which involved the implementation of the Modified Early Warning Scoring System (MEWS) that enables staff to assess, recognise and respond to the physical health needs of people with mental health problems or a learning disability in an inpatient setting.
Politics and palliative care: Sierra Leone
Authors: Smyth Dion
Published: March 2017

Dion Smyth's review of palliative nursing on the internet
Chemistry, synthesis and progress report on biological activities of thiadiazole compounds - a review
Authors: Asif Mohammad
Published: March 2017

Thiadiazoles are an important class of heterocyclic compounds that exhibit diverse applications in organic synthesis, pharmaceutical and biological applications. They are also useful as oxidation inhibitors, cyanine dyes, metal chelating agents, anti-corrosion agents. Researchers across the globe are working on this moiety due to their broad spectrum of applications of thiadiazole chemistry. This article provides information about developments, exploration, synthetic strategies, techniques for the synthesis of thiadiazoles and their diverse biological activities, structure-activity relationship of the compounds and physical properties. This article is an important tool for organic and medicinal chemists to develop newer thiadiazole compounds that could be better agents in terms of efficacy and safety.
Perbedaan Kadar Interferon Gamma pada Tuberkulosis Anak
Authors: Fatah Sitti Ridha Khairani , Juffrie Mohammad , Setyati Amalia
Published: March 2017

Latar belakang. Tuberkulosis (TB) adalah penyakit akibat infeksi kuman Mycobacterium tuberculosis, suatu bakteri batang Gram positif. Salah satu sitokin yang diproduksi sel Th1 adalah interferon gamma (IFN-γ) yang berperan penting dalam mengeliminasi bakteri Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Terjadinya gangguan atau penurunan aktivitas sel Th1 dan sitokinnya yaitu IFN-γ cukup bermakna dalam memengaruhi mekanisme pertahanan tubuh terhadap penyakit TB. Manifestasi klinis penyakit TB terjadi karena adanya defisiensi imun, terutama imunitas selular. Tujuan. Mengkaji perbedaan kadar interferon gamma dilihat dari derajat lesi paru pada pasien TB anak. Metode. Penelitian cross sectional dilakukan di RSUP Dr. Sardjito and RSUD Sleman selama bulan Desember 2014. Subyek penelitian adalah anak kurang dari 15 tahun yang terdiagnosis TB menggunakan skor TB IDAI. Produksi interferon-gamma diukur dengan metode ELISA dan perbedaan kadarnya dibandingkan dengan derajat lesi paru.Hasil. Berdasarkan derajat lesi paru, kadar IFN-γ pada kasus tuberkulosis anak dengan lesi paru minimal (8,37±3,25) lebih tinggi daripada kasus dengan lesi paru sedang (3,52±1,75), dan lesi paru luas (4,83±2,78).Kesimpulan. Ada perbedaan rerata kadar IFN-γ serum TB anak berdasarkan derajat lesi paru minimal, sedang, dan luas, walaupun secara statistik tidak bermakna.
Resusitasi Cairan: dari Dasar Fisiologis hingga Aplikasi Klinis
Authors: Pudjiadi Antonius H
Published: March 2017

Resusitasi cairan merupakan langkah penting tatalaksana renjatan pada anak. Kebutuhan resusitasi cairan sangat individual. Pemberian cairan yang tidak tepat dapat membahayakan  pasien. Tinjauan pustaka ini akan membahas fisiologi dasar sistem hemodinamik, khususnya dalam kaitannya dengan resusitasi cairan. Berbagai protokol pemberian resusitasi cairan akan dibahas secara teknik, serta masalahnya pada penggunaannya dalam klinis.
Innovation versus Replication: Some Notes on the Approaches in Defining Shariah Compliance in Islamic Finance
Authors: Laldin Mohamad Akram , Furqani Hafas
Published: March 2017

Shariah contains the principles and foundations upon which financial system from an Islamic perspective is established and acts as guidance and framework on which the direction of the industry is set. This would include the whole processes from product conceptual inception of developing shariah product compliance manual, developing product structure, reviewing the legal documentation, and producing report or opinion on the product application in the market. Islamic finance is expected to offer something new to the market instead of a mere replication and modification of conventional practices in Islamic forms. The paper attempts to survey the approach in developing Islamic finance, including the debate on replication and innovation in a product to the structure as well as the gaps between ideals and practices.  [Keuangan Islam dikembangkan berdasarkan atas semangat, filosofi dan prinsip-prinsip hukum Islam sebagaimana terangkum dalam ekonomi shariah. Makalah ini berusaha mengamati berbagai pendekatan dalam mengembangkan keuangan Islam, perdebatan mengenai replikasi ekonomi konvensional, dan inovasi dalam produk hingga struktur maupun kesenjangan antara yang ideal dengan kenyataannya. ]
Umwelthygiene: Gesundheit für die Ethosphäre
Authors: Müller-Herold Ulrich
Published: March 2017

The term “ethosphere” is proposed for the ecosystem consisting of humans, together with their domestic, farm, and laboratory animals. (The Greek word “ethos” designates housing for man and farm animals. It is related to the words “ethics” and “ethology”,
and has the same twofold meaning as the word pair “habit” and “habitation” in English.) The changing quality of air, water, soil, and food, as well as noise and other influences from civilization give rise to environmental stress within the ethosphere. Via the ethosphere's
network of internal relations this kind of stress is redistributed amongst and within the various species. It leads to psychosomatic reactions and to the development of coping strategies. Under the name “Environmental Hygiene” a special curriculum, centered around the concept of
ethosphere, has been designed at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) in order to tackle these problems.
Gewässerschutz bei Regenwetter
Authors: Krejei Vladimir , Lange Jörg , Schilling Wolfgang
Published: March 2017

The typical Central European urban drainage and receiving water system is described both from a historical and a technical perspective. Most common is the combined sewer system in which sanitary sewage and storm sewage are conveyed to the treatment plant in a single pipe. During
storms this system is overloaded and large quantities of sewage by-pass the treatment plant as so-called combined sewer overflows (CSO) without further treatment. Sewage generating and transport processes in urban drainage systems are relatively well known. They can be simulated today
with fair accuracy to predict measures against adverse effects in urban areas. Today, simulation models are an indispensable tool to describe the characteristics of CSO. Knowledge on the ecological effects of CSO is much more limited, though. There is some evidence, however, that adverse
impacts to receiving water biota are primarily resulting from morphological modifications of receiving water courses rather than resulting from CSO. A future urban drainage strategy should therefore be linked to the revitalization of receiving water courses, and focus on the deceleration
of storm runoff by infiltration, the separation of strong and weak sewage at the source, and the allocation of measures in a site-specific and problem-oriented manner. Storage ponds to reduce combined sewer overflows should only be applied if specific receiving water requirements can be identified.