bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postischemic Anhedonia Associated with Neurodegenerative Changes in the Hippocampal Dentate Gyrus of Rats
Authors: Kasahara Jiro , Uchida Hiroto , Tezuka Kenta , Oka Nanae
Published: March 2016

Poststroke depression is one of the major symptoms observed in the chronic stage of brain stroke such as cerebral ischemia. Its pathophysiological mechanisms, however, are not well understood. Using the transient right middle cerebral artery occlusion- (MCAO-, 90 min) operated rats as an ischemia model in this study, we first observed that aggravation of anhedonia spontaneously occurred especially after 20 weeks of MCAO, and it was prevented by chronic antidepressants treatment (imipramine or fluvoxamine). The anhedonia specifically associated with loss of the granular neurons in the ipsilateral side of hippocampal dentate gyrus and was also prevented by an antidepressant imipramine. Immunohistochemical analysis showed increased apoptosis inside the granular cell layer prior to and associated with the neuronal loss, and imipramine seemed to recover the survival signal rather than suppressing the death signal to prevent neurons from apoptosis. Proliferation and development of the neural stem cells were increased transiently in the subgranular zone of both ipsi- and contralateral hippocampus within one week after MCAO and then decreased and almost ceased after 6 weeks of MCAO, while chronic imipramine treatment prevented them partially. Overall, our study suggests new insights for the mechanistic correlation between poststroke depression and the delayed neurodegenerative changes in the hippocampal dentate gyrus with effective use of antidepressants on them.
Parallelization of Eigenvalue-Based Dimensional Reductions via Homotopy Continuation
Authors: Bi Size , Han Xiaoyu , Tian Jing , Liang Xiao , Wang Yang , Huang Tinglei
Published: March 2016

This paper investigates a homotopy-based method for embedding with hundreds of thousands of data items that yields a parallel algorithm suitable for running on a distributed system. Current eigenvalue-based embedding algorithms attempt to use a sparsification of the distance matrix to approximate a low-dimensional representation when handling large-scale data sets. The main reason of taking approximation is that it is still hindered by the eigendecomposition bottleneck for high-dimensional matrices in the embedding process. In this study, a homotopy continuation algorithm is applied for improving this embedding model by parallelizing the corresponding eigendecomposition. The eigenvalue solution is converted to the operation of ordinary differential equations with initialized values, and all isolated positive eigenvalues and corresponding eigenvectors can be obtained in parallel according to predicting eigenpaths. Experiments on the real data sets show that the homotopy-based approach is potential to be implemented for millions of data sets.
Tridiagonal Operators and Zeros of Polynomials in Two Variables
Authors: Kokologiannaki Chrysi G. , Petropoulou Eugenia N. , Rizos Dimitris
Published: March 2016

The aim of this paper is to connect the zeros of polynomials in two variables with the eigenvalues of a self-adjoint operator. This is done by use of a functional-analytic method. The polynomials in two variables are assumed to satisfy a five-term recurrence relation, similar to the three-term recurrence relation that the classical orthogonal polynomials satisfy.
Establishment of Relational Model of Congenital Heart Disease Markers and GO Functional Analysis of the Association between Its Serum Markers and Susceptibility Genes
Authors: Liu Min , Zhao Luosha , Yuan Jiaying
Published: March 2016

Purpose. The purpose of present study was to construct the best screening model of congenital heart disease serum markers and to provide reference for further prevention and treatment of the disease.Methods. Documents from 2006 to 2014 were collected and meta-analysis was used for screening susceptibility genes and serum markers closely related to the diagnosis of congenital heart disease. Data of serum markers were extracted from 80 congenital heart disease patients and 80 healthy controls, respectively, and then logistic regression analysis and support vector machine were utilized to establish prediction models of serum markers and Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation.Results. Results showed that NKX2.5, GATA4, and FOG2 were susceptibility genes of congenital heart disease. CRP, BNP, and cTnI were risk factors of congenital heart disease (p<0.05); cTnI, hs-CRP, BNP, and Lp(a) were significantly close to congenital heart disease (p<0.01). ROC curve indicated that the accuracy rate of Lp(a) and cTnI, Lp(a) and BNP, and BNP and cTnI joint prediction was 93.4%, 87.1%, and 97.2%, respectively. But the detection accuracy rate of the markers’ relational model established by support vector machine was only 85%. GO analysis suggested that NKX2.5, GATA4, and FOG2 were functionally related to Lp(a) and BNP.Conclusions. The combined markers model of BNP and cTnI had the highest accuracy rate, providing a theoretical basis for the diagnosis of congenital heart disease.
Effect of Subthalamic Nucleus Stimulation on Pedunculopontine Nucleus Neural Activity
Authors: Sitti Ilkay , Acar Göksemin , Zisakis Athanasios K. , Özdemir Mevci , Acar Feridun , Burchiel Kim J.
Published: March 2016

Background: The pedunculopontine nucleus has recently been proposed as an alternative target for deep brain stimulation for the treatment of medically intractable Parkinson's disease. The suggested indication for pedunculopontine nucleus deep brain stimulation is severe and medically intractable axial symptoms such as gait and postural impairment. Objective: Our goal in this study was to describe the effects of subthalamic nucleus stimulation on pedunculopontine nucleus electrophysiological activity. Methods: Fourteen male Wistar rats were divided into a sham stimulation group and an experimental group. In both groups, electrodes were implanted bilaterally into the subthalamic nucleus and into the right pedunculopontine nucleus. Microelectrode recordings were carried out in both groups prior to and during subthalamic nucleus stimulation. Results: Subthalamic nucleus stimulation produced no clear inhibition of neuronal firing in the pedunculopontine nucleus. However, we found that stimulation of the subthalamic nucleus at 60 Hz produces some entrainment of pedunculopontine nucleus neuronal firing and a shift of subthalamic nucleus firing patterns to more tonic and random patterns. These results are consistent with the effects of deep brain stimulation on neuronal activity in the subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus internus. Conclusion: The result of this study provides additional evidence to improve our understanding of the mechanism of subthalamic nucleus-deep brain stimulation, and its physiological consequences.
Effects of Sildenafil Citrate and Heparin Treatments on Placental Cell Morphology in a Murine Model of Pregnancy Loss
Authors: Luna Rayana Leal , Vasconcelos Anne Gabrielle , Santana Nunes Ana Karolina , de Oliveira Wilma Helena , Barbosa Karla Patricia de Sousa , Peixoto Christina Alves
Published: March 2016

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections during pregnancy are well established as models for pregnancy complications, including fetal growth restriction (FGR), thrombophilia, preterm labor and abortion. Indeed, inflammation, as induced by LPS injection has been described as a pivotal factor in cases of miscarriage related to placental tissue damage. The phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil (Viagra®) is currently used to treat FGR cases in women, while low-molecular weight heparin (Fragmin®) is a standard treatment for recurrent miscarriage (RM). However, the pathways and cellular dynamics involved in RM are not completely understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of sildenafil and dalteparin in a mouse model of LPS-induced abortion. Histopathology, ultrastructural analysis and immunofluorescence for P-selectin were studied in two different placental cell types: trophoblast cells and labyrinth endothelial cells. Treatment with sildenafil either alone or in combination with heparin showed the best response against LPS-induced injury during pregnancy. In conclusion, our results support the use of these drugs as future therapeutic agents that may protect the placenta against inflammatory injury in RM events. Analyses of the ultrastructure and placental immunophysiology are important to understand the mechanism underlying RM. These findings may spark future studies and aid in the development of new therapies in cases of RM.
Pregnancy in a Series of Dystonia Patients Treated with Deep Brain Stimulation: Outcomes and Management Recommendations
Authors: Ziman Nathan , Coleman Robert R. , Starr Philip A. , Volz Monica , Marks Jr. William J. , Walker Harrison C. , Guthrie Stephanie L. , Ostrem Jill L.
Published: March 2016

Background: Medically refractory dystonia affects children and young adults, and deep brain stimulation (DBS) can allow some patients to regain functional independence. Women with dystonia treated with DBS may wish to conceive a child, but there is limited published information on pregnancy and DBS. Objective: To describe a series of dystonia patients treated with DBS who later became pregnant and provide guidelines for women treated with DBS considering conception. Methods: We reviewed all dystonia DBS cases implanted at the University of California, San Francisco, and University of Alabama at Birmingham from 1998 to 2015 and identified patients who became pregnant. Patient records were reviewed and structured interviews were conducted. Results: Six dystonia patients were identified [1 currently pregnant and 7 live births (including 1 twin pair)]. Patients (n = 5) with pre- and postoperative BFMDRS (Burke-Fahn-Marsden Dystonia Rating Scale) scores improved by 65.9% after DBS. All pregnancies and deliveries were uncomplicated (the delivery mode was not influenced by the presence of DBS), except for 1 child, who was born premature at 35 weeks' gestation. Stimulation remained on (n = 3) or off (n = 4) during deliveries. DBS neurostimulators did not hinder breastfeeding. Conclusions: In this small sample, pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding were safe in dystonia patients treated with DBS. The presence of DBS should not be a contraindication to pregnancy.
O laçador: espectro de significação e identidade
Authors: Dias Maria Alice Medeiros , Diligenti Marcos Pereira
Published: March 2016

O Monumento d’O Laçador foi concebido para simbolizar o gaúcho, figura emblemática do homem do campo, personagem principal da tradição rio-grandense, trabalhador da lida campeira, protagonista na criação de gado no Pampa do Rio Grande do Sul. A obra de Antônio Caringi ocupou durante quarenta e oito anos o Largo do Bombeiro, em uma das entradas da cidade de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil. A sua localização foi um dos fatores que contribuiu para que a Escultura fosse incorporada à imagem da Cidade e ao imaginário do porto alegrense como ícone da identidade gaúcha e símbolo da receptividade aos que por ali chegavam. Em 2007, em razão de uma obra viária, a Escultura foi deslocada para um espaço público especificamente projetado para recebê-la: o Sítio do Laçador, localizado a menos de um quilômetro do lugar original. O artigo trata dos impactos causados pelo deslocamento dessa importante Escultura Pública investigando a gama de fatores objetivos e subjetivos intrínsecos a esse processo, com ênfase na criação, implantação em logradouro público, identificação com a Cidade e com a população, ocasionados pela transferência de local na imagem da cidade, na identidade urbana e no papel d’O Laçador na paisagem de Porto Alegre.
Análise ambiental como subsídio ao planejamento urbano: o caso de Boa Esperança (MG)
Authors: Guimarães Larissa Gischewski , Santos Clibson Alves dos
Published: March 2016

A área de estudo do presente trabalho compreende as bacias hidrográficas urbanas da sede do município de Boa Esperança (MG), que apresentam diversos problemas socioambientais decorrentes da ação antrópica. Poluição, assoreamento e eutrofização dos córregos e ocupação desordenada das áreas de preservação permanente são os principais problemas observados. Na área de estudo, formou-se o Lago dos Encantos, porção do reservatório da usina hidrelétrica de Furnas muito utilizada para recreação, atividades esportivas e pesca. Este estudo realizou a análise ambiental das bacias hidrográficas citadas por meio da análise de aspectos qualitativos dos corpos hídricos, do uso solo, da degradação ambiental e das áreas sujeitas a enchentes e inundações. Os resultados mostram que a urbanização impactou as Áreas de Preservação Permanente (APP), prejudicando a qualidade ambiental e sanitária desses ambientes, resultando em problemas que podem afetar diretamente a saúde pública. A partir dessa análise, recomendou-se o estabelecimento de ações corretivas e preventivas, como a revitalização dos ambientes, a criação e ampliação de parques municipais, criação de ciclovias e atividades educativas que envolvam a comunidade. Para que essas ações tenham êxito deve-se incluir diretrizes relacionadas à conservação ambiental no processo de revisão do plano diretor municipal. Essa iniciativa é fundamental para que o planejamento urbano seja integrado ao planejamento ambiental.
Outcomes With Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Stent Implantation
Authors: Elgendy Islam Y. , Mahmoud Ahmed N. , Elgendy Akram Y. , Bavry Anthony A.
Published: March 2016

Background—

In the era of drug-eluting stents, it is unknown if intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance for percutaneous coronary intervention should be routinely endorsed. This study aimed to determine if IVUS-guided stent implantation is associated with improved outcomes.

Methods and Results—

Randomized trials that reported clinical outcomes and compared routine IVUS-guided stent implantation with an angiography-guided approach in the era of drug-eluting stents were included. Summary estimates were constructed primarily using the Peto model. Seven trials with 3192 patients were analyzed. The mean length of the coronary lesions was 32 mm. At a mean of 15 months, routine IVUS-guided percutaneous coronary intervention was associated with a reduction in the risk of major adverse cardiac events (6.5% versus 10.3%; odds ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.46–0.77;
P
<0.0001), mainly because of reduction in the risk of ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization (4.1% versus 6.6%; odds ratio, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, 0.43–0.84;
P
=0.003). The risk of cardiovascular mortality (0.5% versus 1.2%; odds ratio, 0.46; 95% confidence interval, 0.21–1.00;
P
=0.05), and stent thrombosis (0.6% versus 1.3%; odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.24–0.99;
P
=0.04) also appeared to be lower in the IVUS-guided group.

Conclusions—

In the era of drug-eluting stents for diffuse coronary lesions, IVUS-guided percutaneous coronary intervention is superior to angiography-guided percutaneous coronary intervention in reducing the risk of major adverse cardiac events. This is primarily because of reduction in the risk of ischemia-driven target lesion revascularization. This analysis also suggests that risk of cardiovascular mortality and stent thrombosis might be lower with an IVUS-guided approach.
Risk Factors for Nonplatelet Thromboxane Generation After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Authors: Kakouros Nikolaos , Nazarian Susanna M. , Stadler Patrizia B. , Kickler Thomas S. , Rade Jeffrey J.
Published: March 2016

Background

Persistent thromboxane (
TX
) generation while receiving aspirin therapy is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events. The Reduction in Graft Occlusion Rates (
RIGOR
) study found that aspirin‐insensitive
TXA
2
generation, indicated by elevated urine 11‐dehydro‐
TXB
2
(
UTXB
2
) 6 months after coronary artery bypass graft surgery, was a potent risk factor for vein graft thrombosis and originated predominantly from nonplatelet sources. Our goal was to identify risks factors for nonplatelet
TXA
2
generation.

Methods and Results

Multivariable modeling was performed by using clinical and laboratory variables obtained from 260
RIGOR
subjects with verified aspirin‐mediated inhibition of platelet
TXA
2
generation. The strongest variable associated with
UTXB
2
6 months after surgery, accounting for 47.2% of the modeled effect, was urine 8‐iso‐prostaglandin (
PG)F
2α
, an arachidonic acid metabolite generated nonenzymatically by oxidative stress (standardized coefficient 0.442,
P
<0.001). Age, sex, race, lipid therapy, creatinine, left ventricular ejection fraction, and aspirin dose were also significantly associated with
UTXB
2
(
P
<0.03), although they accounted for only 4.8% to 10.2% of the modeled effect. Urine 8‐iso‐
PGF
2α
correlated with risk of vein graft occlusion (odds ratio 1.67,
P
=0.001) but was not independent of
UTXB
2
. In vitro studies revealed that endothelial cells generate
TXA
2
in response to oxidative stress and direct exposure to 8‐iso‐
PGF
2α
.

Conclusions

Oxidative stress–induced formation of 8‐iso‐
PGF
2α
is strongly associated with nonplatelet thromboxane formation and early vein graft thrombosis after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The endothelium is potentially an important source of oxidative stress–induced thromboxane generation. These findings suggest therapies that reduce oxidative stress could be useful in reducing cardiovascular risks associated with aspirin‐insensitive thromboxane generation.
Short‐Term High‐Dose Vitamin E to Prevent Contrast Medium–Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Elective Coronary Angiography: A Randomized Placebo‐Controlled Trial
Authors: Rezaei Yousef , Khademvatani Kamal , Rahimi Behzad , Khoshfetrat Mehran , Arjmand Nasim , Seyyed‐Mohammadzad Mir‐Hossein
Published: March 2016

Background

Contrast medium–induced acute kidney injury (
CIAKI
) is a leading cause of acquired renal impairment. The effects of antioxidants have been conflicting regarding the prevention of
CIAKI
. We performed a study of vitamin E use to decrease
CIAKI
in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography.

Methods and Results

In a placebo‐controlled randomized trial at 2 centers in Iran, 300 patients with chronic kidney disease—defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
—were randomized 1:1 to receive 0.9% saline infusion 12 hours prior to and after intervention combined with 600 mg vitamin E 12 hours before plus 400 mg vitamin E 2 hours before coronary angiography or to receive placebo. The primary end point was the development of
CIAKI,
defined as an increase ≥0.5 mg/dL or ≥25% in serum creatinine that peaked within 72 hours. Based on an intention‐to‐treat analysis,
CIAKI
developed in 10 (6.7%) and 21 (14.1%) patients in the vitamin E and placebo groups, respectively (
P
=0.037). Change in white blood cell count from baseline to peak value was greater in the vitamin E group compared with the placebo group (−500 [−1500 to 200] versus 100 [−900 to 600]×10
3
/mL
, P
=0.001). In multivariate analysis, vitamin E (odds ratio 0.408, 95% CI 0.170–0.982,
P
=0.045) and baseline Mehran score (odds ratio 1.257, 95%
CI
1.007–1.569;
P
=0.043) predicted CIAKI.

Conclusions

Prophylactic short‐term high‐dose vitamin E combined with 0.9% saline infusion is superior to placebo for prevention of
CIAKI
in patients undergoing elective coronary angiography.

Clinical Trial Registration

URL
:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/
. Unique identifier:
NCT
02070679.
LE MARQUEUR LAIZHE
Authors: Iljic Robert
Published: March 2016

This paper is an attempt at coherent analysis of the Pekingese Laizhe.

The scarcity of linguistic material available on this time and aspect marker justifies a thorough descriptive study of its syntactic and semantic properties which, consequently, leads to a better unterdstanding of the basic principles inherent in the Chinese way of expressing the categories of time and aspect in general. Among other things, it points out the difference of character between the verbal suffixes -guo and -le.

Laizhe marks the "cut off" (i.e. "coupure"), an abstract operation, which implies that a given process or state which was going on in the past was subsequently closed and, indeed, cut off from the present.
WRITTEN CANTONESE OF HONG KONG
Authors: Bauer Robert S.
Published: March 2016

Dans une première partie, sont examinés les rapports du cantonais écrit avec les différents registres du cantonais parlé, en particulier sur le plan lexical, ainsi que l'impact du vocabulaire anglais.

La deuxième partie analyse des textes de cantonais écrit afin d'en identifier les conventions orthographiques et les tendances favorisant l'apparition d'un syllabaire exploitant les valeurs phonétiques tant des caractères chinois que des lettres latines.

La troisième partie décrit les contextes dans lesquels apparaît le cantonais écrit. Enfin la dernière partie étudie l'attitude de la communauté de Hong Kong vis-à-vis de l'avenir de la langue cantonaise après 1997.
PHONETICS AND PHONOLOGY OF YANG TONE PHONATION TYPES IN ZHENHAI
Authors: Rose Phil
Published: March 2016

L'auteur donne une description perceptuelle, acoustique et physiologique des modes phonatoires - chuchottement, voix chuchottée, et "grondement", qui caractérisent les syllabes aux tons yang du dialecte Wu de Zhenhai. Il en discute également les implications phonologiques.
CLAUSES OF NECESSITY AND THE MEANING OF CHINESE CHÚFĒI
Authors: Eifring Halvor
Published: March 2016

Le traitement dans les grammaires et les dictionnaires chinois du connecteur de phrase chúfēi (traduit généralement par "à moins que" ou "seulement si") est souvent peu éclairant. Cet article montre que chúfēi est une conjonction de subordination et l'expression d'une modalité de nécessité. Il n'a pas d'équivalent dans nos langues occidentales. Un des aspects troublants de chúfēi est qu'il apparaît dans des schémas où sa valeur sémantique demeure sans être explicitement exprimée.
ANALYSE SYNTAXIQUE DES EXPRESSIONS QUANTITATIVES EN CHINOIS ARCHAIQUE
Authors: Zhitang Drocourt
Published: March 2016

Based upon a systematic investigation of the data, this article demonstrates that the appearance of a new structure "numeral + measure + noun" in Late Archaic Chinese does not result from a change in word order as most syntactic studies propose, but rather from semantic restrictions that develop with the evolution of the language. In quantitative expressions, the prenominal or postnominal position of the numeral assumes a distinct function that one must analyze as modifier and predicate respectively.
FROM THEME MARKER TO OBJECT MARKER : THE HISTORY OF OLD JAPANESE О
Authors: Modini Paul
Published: March 2016

Cet article fournit des éléments sur le changement fonctionnel subi par la particule о en Vieux Japonais. Dans les poèmes les plus anciens du Man'yooshuu, la particule о fonctionne uniquement comme marqueur de thème, tandis que, dans les poèmes plus récents, elle s'emploie dans la plupart des propositions comme marqueur d'objet puisqu'on peut la trouver dans une proposition avec un agent suivi du marqueur de thème wa. Cet article s'appuie sur les index de Man'yooshuu dans Masamune (1953-1955) et Takeda (1974) et constitue un complément à Modini (CLAO, Vol. XXII, Eté 1993, N°1).
Computed Tomography and light microscopy: combining visualisation techniques in the study of mangrove seedling development
Authors: Tonné Nathalie , Koedam Nico , Buls Nico , De Mey Johan , Beeckman Hans , Robert Elisabeth M.R.
Published: March 2016

When seedlings grow into young plants their tissue proportions change over time. Viviparous mangrove seedlings of the Rhizophoraceae are different from other young trees. They consist of a thickened cylinder-shaped hypocotyl that allows the seedlings to float and disperse before establishment. Despite the crucial role in the ecological and biogeographical success of mangroves, not much has been published about the internal development of mangrove seedlings in their early life stages. We used X-ray CT-scanning and light microscopy to investigate the internal development (i) over time and (ii) with hypocotyl height in seedlings of the mangrove species Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Ceriops tagal. While light microscopy offered cell- and tissue identification in destructive transverse sections, X-ray CT-scanning allowed investigating the internal tissue development of living plants over time in a non-destructive way. Our results indicated that the vascular tissue proportionally increased over time and with hypocotyl height in both species in accordance with the growing importance of this tissue in the developing seedlings. As a result, the cortex, composed of an inner and outer zone, proportionally decreased over time and with height in both species. No clear trends over time and with height could be observed regarding the proportion of the pith tissue. A decrease in average density of all tissues together with height was discerned in both species indicating the seedlings were heavier at their base. The latter suggests a supporting role of the seedling base in tidal and wind action. The combination of CT-scanning and light microscopy offered the advantages of both methods in the developmental study of young mangrove plants, and opens perspectives in the study of internal development of young plants in general.
Wood anatomy of Cupressus and its relation to geographical distribution
Authors: Román-Jordán Elena , Esteban Luis G. , de Palacios Paloma , Fernández Francisco G.
Published: March 2016

The wood anatomy of 14 species of Cupressus was studied to determine whether there is a pattern of wood anatomical diversity between the species from the North and Central American (western) region and the Eurasian (eastern) region. Xanthocyparis vietnamensis and Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (syn. Xanthocyparis nootkatensis) were also studied to compare their wood anatomy, given their recent inclusion by some authors in Cupressus. The arrangement of the axial parenchyma, morphology of the transverse end walls of the axial parenchyma, presence of ray tracheids, typology of the end walls of the ray parenchyma cells and ray height support to some extent the division of Cupressus into two large groups: the American group (western region) and the Eurasian group (eastern region), as proposed in molecular phylogenetic studies. The wood anatomy of Chamaecyparis nootkatensis shares the presence of ray tracheids and the same ray typology with American Cupressus, and has the same ray height as Eurasian Cupressus. In contrast, Xanthocyparis vietnamensis shares the absence of ray tracheids and the same ray typology with Eurasian Cupressus, and has the same ray height as American Cupressus.
A new species of Gurania (Cucurbitaceae) from Northeastern Brazil
Authors: GOMES-COSTA GÉSSICA A. , BARBOSA MARIA REGINA DE V.
Published: March 2016

During analysis of herbarium collections for a taxonomic review of the Brazilian species of Gurania from the Atlantic forest, one new species was discovered. The new species is known only from the state of Bahia and honors Dr. Michael H. Nee. A description, illustrations, and photos of Gurania neei are presented along with comments on its similarities and differences with related species.
Circulating miR-130a, miR-27b, and miR-210 in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease and Their Potential Relationship With Oxidative Stress
Authors: Signorelli Salvatore Santo , Volsi Guido Li , Pitruzzella Alessandro , Fiore Valerio , Mangiafico Marco , Vanella Luca , Parenti Rosalba , Rizzo Manfredi , Volti Giovanni Li
Published: March 2016

Some emerging risk factors such as oxidative stress biomarkers and microRNAs (miRs) may add additional value to the established risk factors for peripheral artery disease (PAD). We enrolled 27 patients with PAD and 27 age-matched controls. We examined the levels of a series of miRs (miR-130a, miR-27b, and miR-210) in serum samples. The level of well-established oxidative stress biomarkers, such as lipid hydroperoxides, isoprostanes, hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) and reduced glutathione, was also measured in plasma and their relationship with the miRs was determined. Levels of miR-130a, miR-27b, and miR-210 were significantly increased in patients with PAD when compared to the controls. The level of miR-130 was positively correlated with body mass index, whereas miR-210 was inversely associated with pain-free walking distance (PfWD). None of the evaluated miRs was associated with lowered PfWD of patients with PAD (stage IIa > 250 m, IIb < 250 m) or oxidative stress parameters. In conclusion, our findings suggest the need for more research to assess if miRs can serve as useful markers for the early diagnosis and monitoring of PAD.
Gender Differences in Instructional Leadership
Authors: Hallinger Philip , Dongyu Li , Wang Wen-Chung
Published: March 2016

Purpose: Instructional leadership has assumed steadily increasing importance within the general role set of principals over the past 60 years. One persisting finding within this corpus of studies concerns the consistently higher ratings obtained by female principals on instructional leadership when compared with their male counterparts. This article employed meta-analysis first to test if there are significant differences in perceptions of the instructional leadership practices of male and female principals. Method: Then, the results were further analyzed to describe the nature of differences that were revealed in the first-stage analysis. The database for the meta-analysis consisted of 40 data sets drawn from 28 studies that had used the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale (PIMRS) in studies of gender and instructional leadership. The data sets comprised perception data collected variously from principals and teachers on more than 2,000 principals between 1983 and 2014. The data were analyzed at three different construct levels measured by the PIMRS instrument: PIMRS Total Score, three dimensions, 10 functions. Results: The meta-analysis yielded statistically significant gender differences in instructional leadership (Cohen’s d = .288, p < .01) when the results of all studies were combined. The direction of the findings suggested that female principals engaged in more active instructional leadership than male counterparts. Implications: The gender differences in instructional leadership are consistent with the broader results of the meta-analytic literature on gender and leadership. Implications are discussed for both research and practice.
Transition to Retirement and Use of Private Health Care
Authors: Blomgren Jenni
Published: March 2016

Associations between retirement and changes in health care use have not been shown in a longitudinal setting. In the Finnish universal health care system, transition into retirement from employment entails loss of access to occupational health care that provides easily accessible primary health care services, which may cause changes in utilization of other health care sectors. The aim of this study was to find out whether transition into old-age retirement is associated with change in utilization of private health care. The panel data consist of a 30% random sample of the Finnish population aged 62–75 in 2006–2011. Register data on National Health Insurance compensation were linked to socio-demographic covariates. Fixed-effects logistic and Poisson regression models were used. Adjusted for changes in covariates, retirement from employment was associated especially with private general practitioner visits but also with specialist visits among both women and men. Interaction analyses showed that retirement was associated with an increase in private care use only among those with higher-than-median income. The results may indicate preferences for quick access to care, mistrust toward the universal system, and problems of the public system in delivering needed services.
Dirty Rotten Shame? The Value and Ethical Functions of Shame
Authors: Uebel Michael
Published: March 2016

Approaching the human condition of shame from an ethical point of view, this essay traces the problems involving the relationship between shame and guilt, and between shame and the social field. Drawing on a phenomenological approach to shame phenomena, the essay explores moral and philosophical theories of shame underpinning our humanistic and psychological appreciation of this most basic human experience, one that, as we suggest, has both positive and negative valences.
Humanistic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy: Listening to Patients as Persons in Search of Meaning. The Case of Schizophrenia
Authors: Eneman Marc , Vanhee Lieve , Liessens Dirk , Luyten Patrick , Sabbe Bernard , Corveleyn Jozef
Published: March 2016

Confronted with any kind of critical event, people tend to develop an urgent need for answers that provide a useful interpretation of what they experience as a painfully intruding disaster. This urge results from the often-unbearable suffering and the disruption of everyday life, routines, and relations. Moreover, dreams and aspirations one had for the future, the realization of which they perceived as important in leading a meaningful life, may be lost or have to be reconsidered. Accompanying feelings of disappointment, demoralization, or even desperation are often treated as symptoms of depression. This approach is called into question by the concept of demoralization, which points to the presence of healthy modes of functioning in a state of lucid awareness of one’s condition. In this article, we focus on the case of schizophrenia, as we suppose that having to deal with recurring psychotic episodes constitutes such a pervasive experience, possibly leading to meaning deficiency. We propose then a treatment perspective that integrates care for the processes of mourning and of meaning making. This view, described here in the case of schizophrenic psychosis, is offered as a paradigm that can serve the approach to other serious conditions requiring prolonged care.
Republication of “Preschool Programs: Preliminary Findings”
Authors: Weikart David P.
Published: March 2016

Editor’s Note

In recent years, more than 700,000 children aged 3 through 5 years identified with speech or language impairments (44%), developmental delay (37%), autism (9%), and other disabilities (10%) received federally supported special education services. For our republished article in the inaugural issue of the 50th anniversary volume, we have selected a historical piece by David P. Weikart. Working in Ypsilanti, Michigan, in the early 1960s, Weikart and his colleagues saw the need for—and projected the benefits of providing—structured educational experiences to preschool children from disadvantaged backgrounds. His work on the Perry Preschool Project is widely recognized as a foundation for evidence-based practices driving continuing interest in and success of early childhood education and special education programs today.
Do neighbourhood facilities matter for slum housing? Evidence from Indian slum clusters
Authors: Das Saudamini , Mitra Arup , Kumar Rajnish
Published: March 2016

Slum dwellers in developing countries reside in inhuman conditions, with little provision of basic facilities and with considerable overlap between sources of drinking water supply, sewerage and the area for garbage disposal. Is it because clean environment does not enter their decision function for residence selection or is it simply non-affordability? We examine these questions in the context of the registered slum clusters of four Indian cities – Mathura, Ujjain, Jaipur and Ludhiana. A primary survey was conducted in these cities under a project on urban poverty undertaken jointly by the United Nations Development Programme and the Government of India in 2006–2007, based on which this analysis has been pursued. A reduced form hedonic equation of house prices of owned residential units is estimated to ascertain slum dwellers’ preferences in house selection. We find house prices vary consistently with many structural variables, but with only two of the neighbourhood features – streetlight and sewage facility provided by the government. Most of the other neighbourhood variables like provision of water, garbage collection, healthcare etc. including presence of open drain in the neighbourhood have insignificant effect on house prices. Measures of willingness to pay show strong promise of cost sharing for slum improvisation programs for facilities like sewage and street lights. Further, slums located within the city, closer to the CBD fetch higher prices. Slum residents expect public provision of other facilities.
Mobility in a global city: Making sense of Shanghai’s growing automobile-dominated transport culture
Authors: Williams Matthew , Arkaraprasertkul Non
Published: March 2016

Shanghai continues to position itself as the financial capital of the Chinese mainland economy. The concomitant explosion in wealth, the increasing penetration of consumer culture, the in-migration of vast numbers of non-Shanghainese to the city seeking work and the dispersal of the city to the periphery all have significant implications for mobility. This research poses three questions: 1) How do people move around Shanghai? 2) Why do they move in this way? 3) How does this choice of mobility impact on their being and sense of agency? Adopting a qualitative methodology, we approach mobility as a cultural phenomenon and seek to uncover the meanings that car drivers and transit riders attach to mobility and how this impacts their life and their experience of Shanghai. We found that in spite of the fact that Shanghai now has the most extensive metro system in the world, there is a growing materially, culturally and socially embedded automobile culture. The car has a resilient symbolic appeal for the residents of Shanghai. While the automobile is enabling in some routine functions of daily life, collectively it has diminished the agency of people in Shanghai. Congestion, pollution and psychosocial pressure to buy a car portend a socially unsustainable system of mobility. While the metro enables vast numbers of individuals to perform the functions of daily life, it is becoming overcrowded and is associated with the spatial and class-based segregation of people.
Popular Science in Eighteenth Century Almanacs: The Editorial Career of Henry Andrews of Royston, 1780–1820
Authors: Mori Jennifer C.
Published: March 2016

English popular science was more than a mid-nineteenth century phenomenon, whether defined as practical, utilitarian and comprehensible knowledge, or as a nexus of ¡deas, rhetoric and practice. All these criteria were fulfilled in four Stationers’ Company almanacs for forty years by Henry Andrews, an astronomer, mathematician, astrologer and meteorologist. Andrews employed these as instruments for an extensive campaign in the history of science education devised to acquaint working class readers with the key figures, ideas and methodologies of science.
Peer Mentors Can Improve Academic Performance
Authors: Asgari Shaki , Carter Frederick
Published: March 2016

The present study examined the relationship between peer mentoring and academic performance. Students from two introductory psychology classes either received ( n = 37) or did not receive ( n = 36) peer mentoring. The data indicated a consistent improvement in the performance (i.e., grades on scheduled exams) of the mentored group. A similar pattern of improvement was observed in the performance of students who scored below the class average on the first scheduled exam in the mentored group. Furthermore, the average score on Exam 4 as well as the final course grade was significantly higher for the mentored compared with the nonmentored group, indicating the potential benefits of prolonged exposure to a peer mentor. We also report students’ personal impressions of the peer mentoring experience.
Optimal tracking performance of networked control systems with communication delays under channel input power constraint
Authors: Wu Jie , Zhan Xi-Sheng , Zhang Xian-He , Jiang Tao , Han Tao
Published: March 2016

The optimal tracking performance of networked control systems with communication delay and white Gaussian noise under the consideration of the channel input power constraint is studied in this paper. The tracking performance is measured by the energy of the system’s error signal and channel input power. The tracking performance is minimized by considering the channel input power constraint searching through all stabilizing two-parameter controllers. The optimal tracking performance of networked control systems under the communication delays, packet dropout and white Gaussian noise of the communication channel has been studied. The explicit expressions of the optimal tracking performance are obtained by applying the spectral factorization and inner–outer factorization techniques. It is shown that the optimal tracking performance depends on the non-minimum phase zeros, unstable poles of the given plant, communication delay, packet dropouts probability and white Gaussian noise. It is also shown that if the constraint of the communication channel does not exist, the optimal tracking performance reduces to the existing tracking performance of the control system without communication. The result shows how the communication delay, packet dropout probability and white Gaussian noise may fundamentally constrain a networked system’s tracking capability. Finally, some typical examples are given to illustrate the theoretical results.
Radiological protection in ion beam radiotherapy: practical guidance for clinical use of new technology
Authors: Yonekura Y. , Tsujii H. , Hopewell J.W. , Ortiz López P. , Cosset J-M. , Paganetti H. , Montelius A. , Schardt D. , Jones B. , Nakamura T.
Published: March 2016

Recently introduced technologies in radiotherapy have significantly improved the clinical outcome for patients. Ion beam radiotherapy, involving proton and carbon ion beams, provides excellent dose distributions in targeted tumours, with reduced doses to the surrounding normal tissues. However, careful treatment planning is required in order to maximise the treatment efficiency and minimise the dose to normal tissues. Radiation exposure from secondary neutrons and photons, particle fragments, and photons from activated materials should also be considered for radiological protection of the patient and medical staff. Appropriate maintenance is needed for the equipment and air in the treatment room, which may be activated by the particle beam and its secondary radiation. This new treatment requires complex procedures and careful adjustment of parameters for each patient. Therefore, education and training for the personnel involved in the procedure are essential for both effective treatment and patient protection. The International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) has provided recommendations for radiological protection in ion beam radiotherapy in Publication 127. Medical staff should be aware of the possible risks resulting from inappropriate use and control of the equipment. They should also consider the necessary procedures for patient protection when new technologies are introduced into clinical practice.
Social Influence Opportunity Recognition, Evaluation, and Capitalization: Increased Theoretical Specification Through Political Skill’s Dimensional Dynamics
Authors: McAllister Charn P. , Ellen B. Parker , Ferris Gerald R.
Published: March 2016

Social influence is one of the oldest and most researched constructs in organizational behavior. Most research has examined the “what” and “who” of social influence behavior, but it was not until recently that scholars began examining the “how,” or the operation, of social influence techniques and behaviors. Social effectiveness constructs, such as political skill, have been the primary focus of this research effort. However, despite these constructs illuminating social influence processes, little is known about the actual operation of the social effectiveness constructs themselves. Thus, to develop a more complete understanding of social influence effectiveness, this article develops a theoretical framework by synthesizing several literatures and explaining how the individual dimensions of political skill affect the social influence process. Specifically, the authors (a) review and integrate research and theory in social influence and political skill; (b) develop an opportunity recognition, evaluation, and capitalization model to provide a theoretical framework for the dimensional dynamics of political skill; and (c) provide suggestions for how this framework informs future political skill research.
Oral Flurbiprofen Spray for Posttonsillectomy Pain
Authors: Muderris Togay , Gul Fatih , Yalciner Gokhan , Babademez Mehmet Ali , Bercin Sami , Kiris Muzaffer
Published: March 2016

Objective

Tonsillectomy is still one of the most common surgical procedures, but there exists no standard guideline for pain management after tonsillectomy. Our aim is to determine whether oral spray of flurbiprofen reduces pain and has an influence on other morbid outcomes following tonsillectomy.

Study Design

Prospective, double‐blind, randomized, placebo controlled.

Setting

Patients at Ataturk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Subjects and Methods

This study was performed on 84 patients (45 in flurbiprofen group, 39 in placebo group) who underwent tonsillectomy. The patients were randomly chosen, and each used oral spray of flurbiprofen 3 times daily or placebo solution at the same regimen. Efficacy was assessed by changes in Numeric Pain Rating Scale. Data were collected at postoperative days 1, 3, 5, and 7 for pain, bleeding, and healing. Data for Mallampati scores were also collected.

Results

There were no significant difference between groups with respect to the demographic data. The flurbiprofen group had statistically significant lower pain scores at days 1, 3, 5, and 7 (P =. 000, P =. 002, P =. 001, P =. 000, respectively). On days 3 and 7, pain scores were significantly different between different Mallampati groups (P =. 049, P =. 015, respectively). The flurbiprofen group required less analgesic than the placebo group during the study period on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 (P =. 001, P =. 001, P =. 03, P =. 001, respectively). Healing and side effects were not significantly different between the groups.

Conclusion

In this study, topical use of flurbiprofen may reduce posttonsillectomy pain without any evidence of additional complications.
Review of the Series: Major Findings and Key Trends
Authors: Ross Kenneth R.
Published: March 2016

The origins of the Regnum Edinburgh 2010 Series can be traced to a lecture given in Edinburgh by John Pobee of Ghana in 2000. Pobee highlighted the importance of the upcoming centenary of the Edinburgh 1910 World Missionary Conference. This prompted a series of annual conferences in Scotland that yielded the material for Volume 1 of the Series. It also resulted in the international meeting that identified the themes on which the Edinburgh 2010 study process, conference and publications would be concentrated. A distinctive unifying thread in a diverse series of studies of Christian mission is the pneumatogical turn in Missio Dei thinking that is evident in this literature.