bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variants in the
SCN5A
Promoter Associated With Various Arrhythmia Phenotypes
Authors: Yagihara Nobue , Watanabe Hiroshi , Barnett Phil , Duboscq‐Bidot Laetitia , Thomas Atack C. , Yang Ping , Ohno Seiko , Hasegawa Kanae , Kuwano Ryozo , Chatel Stéphanie , Redon Richard , Schott Jean‐Jacques , Probst Vincent , Koopmann Tamara T. , Bezzina Connie R. , Wilde Arthur A. M. , Nakano Yukiko , Aiba Takeshi , Miyamoto Yoshihiro , Kamakura Shiro , Darbar Dawood , Donahue Brian S. , Shigemizu Daichi , Tanaka Toshihiro , Tsunoda Tatsuhiko , Suda Masayoshi , Sato Akinori , Minamino Tohru , Endo Naoto , Shimizu Wataru , Horie Minoru , Roden Dan M. , Makita Naomasa
Published: September 2016

Background

Mutations in the coding sequence of

SCN
5A

, which encodes the cardiac Na
+
channel α subunit, have been associated with inherited susceptibility to various arrhythmias. Variable expression of

SCN
5A

is a possible mechanism responsible for this pleiotropic effect; however, it is unknown whether variants in the promoter and regulatory regions of

SCN
5A

also modulate the risk of arrhythmias.

Methods and Results

We resequenced the core promoter region of

SCN
5A

and the regulatory regions of

SCN
5A

transcription in 1298 patients with arrhythmia phenotypes (atrial fibrillation, n=444; sinus node dysfunction, n=49; conduction disease, n=133; Brugada syndrome, n=583; and idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, n=89). We identified 26 novel rare variants in the

SCN
5A

promoter in 29 patients affected by various arrhythmias (atrial fibrillation, n=6; sinus node dysfunction, n=1; conduction disease, n=3; Brugada syndrome, n=14; idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, n=5). The frequency of rare variants was higher in patients with arrhythmias than in controls. In the alignment with chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data, the majority of variants were located at regions bound by transcription factors. Using a luciferase reporter assay, 6 variants (Brugada syndrome, n=3; idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, n=2; conduction disease, n=1) were functionally characterized, and each displayed decreased promoter activity compared with the wild‐type sequences. We also identified rare variants in the regulatory region that were associated with atrial fibrillation, and the variant decreased promoter activity.

Conclusions

Variants in the core promoter region and the transcription regulatory region of

SCN
5A

were identified in multiple arrhythmia phenotypes, consistent with the idea that altered

SCN
5A

transcription levels modulate susceptibility to arrhythmias.
ASPECTS (Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score) Assessment of the Perfusion–Diffusion Mismatch
Authors: Lassalle Louis , Turc Guillaume , Tisserand Marie , Charron Sylvain , Roca Pauline , Lion Stephanie , Legrand Laurence , Edjlali Myriam , Naggara Olivier , Meder Jean-François , Mas Jean-Louis , Baron Jean-Claude , Oppenheim Catherine
Published: September 2016

Background and Purpose—

Rapid and reliable assessment of the perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI)/diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) mismatch is required to promote its wider application in both acute stroke clinical routine and trials. We tested whether an evaluation based on the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) reliably identifies the PWI/DWI mismatch.

Methods—

A total of 232 consecutive patients with acute middle cerebral artery stroke who underwent pretreatment magnetic resonance imaging (PWI and DWI) were retrospectively evaluated. PWI-ASPECTS and DWI-ASPECTS were determined blind from manually segmented PWI and DWI volumes. Mismatch-ASPECTS was defined as the difference between PWI-ASPECTS and DWI-ASPECTS (a high score indicates a large mismatch). We determined the mismatch-ASPECTS cutoff that best identified the volumetric mismatch, defined as Volume

T
max>6s

/Volume
DWI
≥1.8, a volume difference≥15 mL, and a Volume
DWI
<70 mL.

Results—

Inter-reader agreement was almost perfect for PWI-ASPECTS (κ=0.95 [95% confidence interval, 0.90–1]), and DWI-ASPECTS (κ=0.96 [95% confidence interval, 0.91–1]). There were strong negative correlations between volumetric and ASPECTS-based assessments of DWI lesions (ρ=−0.84,
P
<0.01) and PWI lesions (ρ=-0.90,
P
<0.01). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a mismatch-ASPECTS ≥2 best identified a volumetric mismatch, with a sensitivity of 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.89–0.98) and a specificity of 0.82 (95% confidence interval, 0.74–0.89).

Conclusions—

The mismatch-ASPECTS method can detect a true mismatch in patients with acute middle cerebral artery stroke. It could be used for rapid screening of patients with eligible mismatch, in centers not equipped with ultrafast postprocessing software.
Brief Screening of Vascular Cognitive Impairment in Patients With Cerebral Autosomal-Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy Without Dementia
Authors: Brookes Rebecca L. , Hollocks Matthew J. , Tan Rhea Y.Y. , Morris Robin G. , Markus Hugh S.
Published: September 2016

Background and Purpose—

Cerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a monogenic form of cerebral small vessel disease leading to early-onset stroke and dementia, with younger patients frequently showing subclinical deficits in cognition. At present, there are no targeted cognitive screening measures for this population. However, the Brief Memory and Executive Test (BMET) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) have shown utility in detecting cognitive impairment in sporadic small vessel disease. This study assesses the BMET and the MoCA as clinical tools for detecting mild cognitive deficits in CADASIL.

Methods—

Sixty-six prospectively recruited patients with CADASIL, and 66 matched controls completed the BMET, with a subset of these also completing the MoCA. Receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated to examine the sensitivity and specificity of clinical cutoffs for the detection of vascular cognitive impairment and reduced activities of daily living.

Results—

Patients with CADASIL showed more cognitive impairment overall and were poorer on both executive/processing and memory indices of the BMET relative to controls. The BMET showed good accuracy in predicting vascular cognitive impairment (85% sensitivity and 84% specificity) and impaired instrumental activities of daily living (92% sensitivity and 77% specificity). The MoCA also showed good predictive validity for vascular cognitive impairment (80% sensitivity and 78% specificity) and instrumental activities of daily living (75% sensitivity and 76% specificity). The most important background predictor of vascular cognitive impairment was a history of stroke.

Conclusions—

The results indicate that the BMET and the MoCA are clinically useful and sensitive screening measures for early cognitive impairment in patients with CADASIL.
Association Between Carotid Bulb Diaphragm and Ischemic Stroke in Young Afro-Caribbean Patients
Authors: Joux Julien , Boulanger Marion , Jeannin Severine , Chausson Nicolas , Hennequin Jean-Luc , Molinié Vincent , Smadja Didier , Touzé Emmanuel , Olindo Stephane
Published: September 2016

Background and Purpose—

Carotid bulb diaphragm (CBD) has been described in young carotid ischemic stroke (CIS) patients, especially in blacks. However, the prevalence of CBD in CIS patients is unknown, and whether CBD is a risk factor for CIS remains unclear. We assessed the association between CBD and incident CIS in a population-based study.

Methods—

We selected all young (<55 years) CIS patients from a 1-year population-based cohort study in the Afro-Caribbean population of Martinique in 2012. All patients had a comprehensive work-up including a computed tomographic angiography. We calculated CIS associated with ipsilateral CBD incidence with 95% confidence intervals using Poisson distribution. We then selected age- and sex-matched controls among young (<55 years) Afro-Caribbean stroke-free patients admitted for a road crash who routinely had computed tomographic angiography. Odds ratio (ORs) were calculated by conditional logistic regression adjusted for hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes and smoking.

Results—

CIS associated with ipsilateral CBD incidence was 3.8 per 100 000 person-years (95% confidence interval, 1.4–6.1). Prevalence of ipsilateral CBD was 23% in all CIS and 37% in undetermined CIS patients. When restricted to undetermined CIS, CBD prevalence was 24 times higher than that in controls (adjusted OR, 24.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.8–325.6).

Conclusions—

CBD is associated with an increased risk of ipsilateral CIS in young Afro-Caribbean population.
Rebalancing Spatial Attention: Endogenous Orienting May Partially Overcome the Left Visual Field Bias in Rapid Serial Visual Presentation
Authors: Śmigasiewicz Kamila , Hasan Gabriel Sami , Verleger Rolf
Published: September 2016

In dynamically changing environments, spatial attention is not equally distributed across the visual field. For instance, when two streams of stimuli are presented left and right, the second target (T2) is better identified in the left visual field (LVF) than in the right visual field (RVF). Recently, it has been shown that this bias is related to weaker stimulus-driven orienting of attention toward the RVF: The RVF disadvantage was reduced with salient task-irrelevant valid cues and increased with invalid cues. Here we studied if also endogenous orienting of attention may compensate for this unequal distribution of stimulus-driven attention. Explicit information was provided about the location of T1 and T2. Effectiveness of the cue manipulation was confirmed by EEG measures: decreasing alpha power before stream onset with informative cues, earlier latencies of potentials evoked by T1-preceding distractors at the right than at the left hemisphere when T1 was cued left, and decreasing T1- and T2-evoked N2pc amplitudes with informative cues. Importantly, informative cues reduced (though did not completely abolish) the LVF advantage, indicated by improved identification of right T2, and reflected by earlier N2pc latency evoked by right T2 and larger decrease in alpha power after cues indicating right T2. Overall, these results suggest that endogenously driven attention facilitates stimulus-driven orienting of attention toward the RVF, thereby partially overcoming the basic LVF bias in spatial attention.
Feature-selective Attention in Frontoparietal Cortex: Multivoxel Codes Adjust to Prioritize Task-relevant Information
Authors: Jackson Jade , Rich Anina N. , Williams Mark A. , Woolgar Alexandra
Published: September 2016

Human cognition is characterized by astounding flexibility, enabling us to select appropriate information according to the objectives of our current task. A circuit of frontal and parietal brain regions, often referred to as the frontoparietal attention network or multiple-demand (MD) regions, are believed to play a fundamental role in this flexibility. There is evidence that these regions dynamically adjust their responses to selectively process information that is currently relevant for behavior, as proposed by the “adaptive coding hypothesis” [Duncan, J. An adaptive coding model of neural function in prefrontal cortex. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2, 820–829, 2001]. Could this provide a neural mechanism for feature-selective attention, the process by which we preferentially process one feature of a stimulus over another? We used multivariate pattern analysis of fMRI data during a perceptually challenging categorization task to investigate whether the representation of visual object features in the MD regions flexibly adjusts according to task relevance. Participants were trained to categorize visually similar novel objects along two orthogonal stimulus dimensions (length/orientation) and performed short alternating blocks in which only one of these dimensions was relevant. We found that multivoxel patterns of activation in the MD regions encoded the task-relevant distinctions more strongly than the task-irrelevant distinctions: The MD regions discriminated between stimuli of different lengths when length was relevant and between the same objects according to orientation when orientation was relevant. The data suggest a flexible neural system that adjusts its representation of visual objects to preferentially encode stimulus features that are currently relevant for behavior, providing a neural mechanism for feature-selective attention.
Finding Positive Meaning in Negative Experiences Engages Ventral Striatal and Ventromedial Prefrontal Regions Associated with Reward Valuation
Authors: Doré Bruce P. , Boccagno Chelsea , Burr Daisy , Hubbard Alexa , Long Kan , Weber Jochen , Stern Yaakov , Ochsner Kevin N.
Published: September 2016

Neuroimaging research has identified systems that facilitate minimizing negative emotion, but how the brain is able to transform the valence of an emotional response from negative to positive is unclear. Behavioral and psychophysiological studies suggest a distinction between minimizing reappraisal, which entails diminishing the arousal elicited by negative stimuli, and positive reappraisal, which instead changes the emotional valence of arousal from negative to positive. Here we show that successful minimizing reappraisal tracked with decreased activity in the amygdala, but successful positive reappraisal tracked with increased activity in regions involved in computing reward value, including the ventral striatum and ventromedial pFC (vmPFC). Moreover, positive reappraisal enhanced positive connectivity between vmPFC and amygdala, and individual differences in positive connectivity between vmPFC and amygdala, ventral striatum, dorsomedial pFC, and dorsolateral pFC predicted greater positive reappraisal success. These data broaden models of emotion regulation as quantitative dampening of negative emotion and identify activity in a network of brain valuation, arousal, and control regions as a neural basis for the ability to create positive meaning from negative experiences.
Nonparametric e-Mixture Estimation
Authors: Takano Ken , Hino Hideitsu , Akaho Shotaro , Murata Noboru
Published: September 2016

This study considers the common situation in data analysis when there are few observations of the distribution of interest or the target distribution, while abundant observations are available from auxiliary distributions. In this situation, it is natural to compensate for the lack of data from the target distribution by using data sets from these auxiliary distributions—in other words, approximating the target distribution in a subspace spanned by a set of auxiliary distributions. Mixture modeling is one of the simplest ways to integrate information from the target and auxiliary distributions in order to express the target distribution as accurately as possible. There are two typical mixtures in the context of information geometry: the [Formula: see text]- and [Formula: see text]-mixtures. The [Formula: see text]-mixture is applied in a variety of research fields because of the presence of the well-known expectation-maximazation algorithm for parameter estimation, whereas the [Formula: see text]-mixture is rarely used because of its difficulty of estimation, particularly for nonparametric models. The [Formula: see text]-mixture, however, is a well-tempered distribution that satisfies the principle of maximum entropy. To model a target distribution with scarce observations accurately, this letter proposes a novel framework for a nonparametric modeling of the [Formula: see text]-mixture and a geometrically inspired estimation algorithm. As numerical examples of the proposed framework, a transfer learning setup is considered. The experimental results show that this framework works well for three types of synthetic data sets, as well as an EEG real-world data set.
Variations on the Theme of Synaptic Filtering: A Comparison of Integrate-and-Express Models of Synaptic Plasticity for Memory Lifetimes
Authors: Elliott Terry
Published: September 2016

Integrate-and-express models of synaptic plasticity propose that synapses integrate plasticity induction signals before expressing synaptic plasticity. By discerning trends in their induction signals, synapses can control destabilizing fluctuations in synaptic strength. In a feedforward perceptron framework with binary-strength synapses for associative memory storage, we have previously shown that such a filter-based model outperforms other, nonintegrative, “cascade”-type models of memory storage in most regions of biologically relevant parameter space. Here, we consider some natural extensions of our earlier filter model, including one specifically tailored to binary-strength synapses and one that demands a fixed, consecutive number of same-type induction signals rather than merely an excess before expressing synaptic plasticity. With these extensions, we show that filter-based models outperform nonintegrative models in all regions of biologically relevant parameter space except for a small sliver in which all models encode memories only weakly. In this sliver, which model is superior depends on the metric used to gauge memory lifetimes (whether a signal-to-noise ratio or a mean first passage time). After comparing and contrasting these various filter models, we discuss the multiple mechanisms and timescales that underlie both synaptic plasticity and memory phenomena and suggest that multiple, different filtering mechanisms may operate at single synapses.
A Universal Approximation Theorem for Mixture-of-Experts Models
Authors: Nguyen Hien D. , Lloyd-Jones Luke R. , McLachlan Geoffrey J.
Published: September 2016

The mixture-of-experts (MoE) model is a popular neural network architecture for nonlinear regression and classification. The class of MoE mean functions is known to be uniformly convergent to any unknown target function, assuming that the target function is from a Sobolev space that is sufficiently differentiable and that the domain of estimation is a compact unit hypercube. We provide an alternative result, which shows that the class of MoE mean functions is dense in the class of all continuous functions over arbitrary compact domains of estimation. Our result can be viewed as a universal approximation theorem for MoE models. The theorem we present allows MoE users to be confident in applying such models for estimation when data arise from nonlinear and nondifferentiable generative processes.
Intraspecific variation in opportunistic use of trophic resources by the lizard Ameiva corax (Squamata: Teiidae)
Authors: Garrison Grace , Phillips Mia , Eifler Maria , Eifler Douglas
Published: September 2016

Ameiva coraxis restricted to a small island (<2 ha), off the coast Anguilla. We present information on intraspecific variation in its diet, based on observations of 190 marked individuals. Larger individual were more likely to attempt to enter active seabird nests and only large males were observed to successfully enter a nest and break open an egg. Flower eating was commonly observed and its occurrence was not related to lizard size or sex. More than half the population was observed visiting areas where fisherman mixed their bait, a foraging strategy also unrelated to lizard size or sex.Ameiva coraxis known to socially feed at large food items such as seabird eggs. The individuals that can initially access these food items may occupy key roles in the social network.
The time interval between sequential mating affects the response of male meadow voles to previous mates
Authors: Ferkin Michael H. , Ferkin Adam C.
Published: September 2016

Male meadow voles differed in their copulatory behaviour, mating and reproductive success, and odour preferences for successively encountered mates, when the interval between pairing with two females was 1 h, 1 day, 4 days, 7 days or 10 days. Male voles had shorter latencies to first ejaculation with female 2 than with female 1 when the interval was 1 h, which may be attributed to heightened sexual arousal in males for female 2. Males also had shorter copulatory bouts with female 2 than with female 1 when the intervals between pairings were 1 h and 1 day. Shorter copulation bouts may allow more mating opportunities for both sexes and encourage multiple mating. Male voles also preferred the scent marks of female 2 to those of female 1 when the interval between pairing was 7 or 10 days, suggesting that these females were treated as distinct entities.
The effects of stirring, population levels and a potential anti-nematodal product on the respiration of second-stage juveniles of Meloidogyne incognita measured with different technology
Authors: van Aardt Willie J. , Fourie Hendrika , Pretorius Marthinus , Louw Roan , van Dyk Hayley
Published: September 2016

The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) ofMeloidogyne incognitasecond-stage juveniles (J2) was measured using polarographic oxygen sensor (POS) and fibre-optic oxygen sensor (FOS) technology. The effect of stirring speed on the OCR of J2 suspended in tap water was determined using POS. Next, the OCR of different J2 numbers was measured using FOS. Also, the OCR of J2 in tap water using POS and FOS was recorded, and also the effect of SoilBioMuti (SBM) on J2 OCR using FOS. Stirring speed had no pronounced effect on the OCR of J2. FOS recorded the OCR of as few as five J2. The OCR of J2 in sterile tap water was significantly lower for POS than FOS. Using FOS, non-filtered (NF) SBM without J2 had the highest OCR, being 42% higher than that of NF SBM with J2. The two filtered SBM (with and without J2) treatments had the lowest OCR values.
First record of Viannaiidae (Nematoda: Trichostrongylina) in fossorial rodents (Ctenomys spp.) from Central Argentina, with description of a new genus and species
Authors: SERRANO PAULA CAROLINA , DIGIANI MARÍA CELINA
Published: September 2016

A new genus and species of Viannaiidae (Trichostrongylina, Heligmosomoidea), Ischilinema baldoi n. gen. et sp. is described parasitizing two species of tuco-tucos, Ctenomys bergi and Ctenomys rosendopascuali (Rodentia, Hystricomorpha, Ctenomyidae) from Córdoba province, Central Argentina. No helminths were previously known from these two host species. The new genus is defined by the following characters: synlophe with 15 continuous ridges subequal in size, presence of left cuticular dilatation, a gap between ridges 1' and 2', bursa asymmetrical with dorsal ray hypertrophied and displaced to the right, and spicules not twisted. This is the first record of Viannaiidae from the Ctenomyidae, enlarging the host range of these parasites to five out of the 12 extant families of caviomorphs.
The Role of Eddy Diffusivity on a Poleward Jet Shift
Authors: Wang Lei , Lee Sukyoung
Published: September 2016

The authors use a quasigeostrophic (QG) two-layer model to examine how eddies modify the meridional asymmetry of a zonal jet. The initial asymmetry is introduced in the model’s “radiative equilibrium state” and is intended to mimic a radiatively forced poleward jet shift simulated by climate models. The calculations show that the initial “poleward” jet shift in the two-layer model is amplified by eddy potential vorticity fluxes. This eddy-accentuation effect is greater as the baroclinicity of the equilibrium state is reduced, suggesting that seasonal variations in baroclinicity may help explain observed and modeled jet-shift sensitivity to season. The eddy-accentuated jet shift from the corresponding radiative equilibrium state is more clearly visible in the slowly varying, eddy-free reference state of Nakamura and Zhu. This reference state formally responds only to nonadvective, nonconservative processes, but ultimately arises from the advective eddy fluxes. The implication is that fast eddies are capable of driving a slowly varying jet shift, which may be balanced by nonconservative processes such as radiative heating/cooling.
The Stratospheric Pathway of La Niña
Authors: Iza Maddalen , Calvo Natalia , Manzini Elisa
Published: September 2016

A Northern Hemisphere (NH) polar stratospheric pathway for La Niña events is established during wintertime based on reanalysis data for the 1958–2012 period. A robust polar stratospheric response is observed in the NH during strong La Niña events, characterized by a significantly stronger and cooler polar vortex. Significant wind anomalies reach the surface, and a robust impact on the North Atlantic–European (NAE) region is observed. A dynamical analysis reveals that the stronger polar stratospheric winds during La Niña winters are due to reduced upward planetary wave activity into the stratosphere. This finding is the result of destructive interference between the climatological and the anomalous La Niña tropospheric stationary eddies over the Pacific–North American region.

In addition, the lack of a robust stratospheric signature during La Niña winters reported in previous studies is investigated. It is found that this is related to the lower threshold used to detect the events, which signature is consequently more prone to be obscured by the influence of other sources of variability. In particular, the occurrence of stratospheric sudden warmings (SSWs), partly linked to the phase of the quasi-biennial oscillation, modulates the observed stratospheric signal. In the case of La Niña winters defined by a lower threshold, a robust stratospheric cooling is found only in the absence of SSWs. Therefore, these results highlight the importance of using a relatively restrictive threshold to define La Niña events in order to obtain a robust surface response in the NAE region through the stratosphere.
Large-Scale Influences on Summertime Extreme Precipitation in the Northeastern United States
Authors: Marquardt Collow Allison B. , Bosilovich Michael G. , Koster Randal D.
Published: September 2016

Observations indicate that over the last few decades there has been a statistically significant increase in precipitation in the northeastern United States and that this can be attributed to an increase in precipitation associated with extreme precipitation events. Here a state-of-the-art atmospheric reanalysis is used to examine such events in detail. Daily extreme precipitation events defined at the 75th and 95th percentile from gridded gauge observations are identified for a selected region within the Northeast. Atmospheric variables from the Modern-Era Retrospective Analysis for Research and Applications, version 2 (MERRA-2), are then composited during these events to illustrate the time evolution of associated synoptic structures, with a focus on vertically integrated water vapor fluxes, sea level pressure, and 500-hPa heights. Anomalies of these fields move into the region from the northwest, with stronger anomalies present in the 95th percentile case. Although previous studies show tropical cyclones are responsible for the most intense extreme precipitation events, only 10% of the events in this study are caused by tropical cyclones. On the other hand, extreme events resulting from cutoff low pressure systems have increased. The time period of the study was divided in half to determine how the mean composite has changed over time. An arc of lower sea level pressure along the East Coast and a change in the vertical profile of equivalent potential temperature suggest a possible increase in the frequency or intensity of synoptic-scale baroclinic disturbances.
Enhancing classroom participation of students with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Authors: Selanikyo Efrat , Yalon-Chamovitz Shira , Weintraub Naomi
Published: September 2016

Background.

Students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have been found to participate less in school-based activities.

Purpose.

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a combined in-service and collaborative consultation intervention model for enhancing classroom participation of students with IDD.

Method.

The Collaborative Consultation for Participation of Students With IDD (Co-PID) program involved a multidisciplinary team (an occupational therapist and 17 teachers) as well as 35 students and was compared to an in-service program (20 teachers and 34 students). Students were 8 to 20 years old. The programs aimed to enhance three classroom participation components: communicating, choosing, and initiating.

Findings.

The Co-PID was found to significantly improve students’ participation in all areas, whereas the participation of the students in the in-service group decreased.

Implications.

A school-based multidisciplinary intervention program for students with IDD, combining in-service and collaborative consultation (e.g., Co-PID), may assist in enhancing classroom participation among students with IDD.
Fuzzy-PSS and fuzzy neural network non-linear PI controller-based SSSC for damping inter-area oscillations
Authors: Tavakoli Ali Reza , Seifi Ali Reza , Arefi Mohammad Mehdi
Published: September 2016

In this paper, a new approach is recommended for damping out power system oscillations. In this approach, a new fuzzy neural proportional–integral (PI) controller (FNPIC) based static synchronous series compensator (SSSC) and a fuzzy-power system stabilizer (fuzzy-PSS) with a new structure are simultaneously employed. Adaptive learning rates based on the Lyapunov stability theory to enhance the convergence speed of the proposed controller are obtained. In the structure of fuzzy-PSS, a pattern search algorithm is used to adjust four gains. A two-area four-machine power system and a three-area, three-machine power system are employed to investigate the efficiency of the proposed method. Simulations results confirm the capabilities of proposed controller in suppressing the power system oscillations.
Factors Influencing Head and Neck Surgical Oncologists’ Transition from Curative to Palliative Treatment Goals
Authors: Liao Kershena , Blumenthal‐Barby Jennifer , Sikora Andrew G.
Published: September 2016

Objective

The factors influencing head and neck surgical oncologists’ goals of care and decisions to initiate conversations about transitioning to palliative‐intent treatment for patients with limited curative treatment options are incompletely understood. Lack of guidance for physicians on this topic can lead to inconsistent utilization of palliative services, as well as confusing, upsetting experiences for patients and families. We review the literature investigating the clinical factors, inter‐ and intrapersonal factors, and financial and health care system considerations that head and neck cancer physicians weigh during this decision‐making process.

Data Sources

PubMed.

Review Methods

Selected literature on head and neck surgical oncologists’ decision making in end‐of‐life care and palliative therapy was reviewed and analyzed thematically.

Conclusions

Physicians taking into account patients’ clinical trajectories often overestimate the negative impact of head and neck cancer symptoms on their quality of life, suggesting that patients’ expectations of quality of life should be discussed early, before communication barriers arise. How head and neck clinicians perceive and are influenced by patients’ desired degree of autonomy, which varies greatly depending on the severity of illness, is still unclear. Patients’ financial and insurance status affects decision making about hospice care. Finally, physician demographics (eg, age, subspecialization, practice setting), emotions, and philosophical background may exert unconscious biases that have not been fully determined for head and neck surgical oncologists.

Implications for Practice

A more comprehensive understanding of the head and neck surgical oncologist’s approach toward considering a transition to therapy with palliative intent may help guide advancements in this complex counseling process, leading to improvements in patient care, quality of life, and outcomes.
Novelty-seeking trait predicts the effect of methylphenidate on creativity
Authors: Gvirts Hila Z , Mayseless Naama , Segev Aviv , Lewis D Yael , Feffer Kfir , Barnea Yael , Bloch Yuval , Shamay-Tsoory Simon G
Published: September 2016

In recent years the use of psychostimulants for cognitive enhancement in healthy individuals with no psychiatric disorders has been on the rise. However, it is still unclear whether psychostimulants improve certain cognitive functions at the cost of others, and how these psychostimulants interact with individual personality differences. In the current study, we investigated whether the effect of one common stimulant, methylphenidate (MPH), on creativity is associated with novelty seeking. Thirty-six healthy adults, without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptomology, were assigned randomly in a double-blind fashion to receive MPH or placebo. We found that the effect of MPH on creativity was dependent on novelty-seeking (NS) personality characteristics of the participants. MPH increased creativity in individuals with lower NS, while it reduced creativity levels in individuals with high NS. These findings highlight the role of the dopaminergic system in creativity, and indicate that among healthy individuals NS can be seen as a predictor of the effect of MPH on creativity.
Inhibition of Src family kinases improves cognitive function after intraventricular hemorrhage or intraventricular thrombin
Authors: Liu Da Zhi , Waldau Ben , Ander Bradley P , Zhan Xinhua , Stamova Boryana , Jickling Glen C , Lyeth Bruce G , Sharp Frank R
Published: September 2016

Intraventricular hemorrhage causes spatial memory loss, but the mechanism remains unknown. Our recent studies demonstrated that traumatic brain injury activates Src family kinases, which cause spatial memory loss. To test whether the spatial memory loss was due to blood in the ventricles, which activated Src family kinases, we infused autologous whole blood or thrombin into the lateral ventricles of adult rats to model non-traumatic intraventricular hemorrhage. Hippocampal neuron loss was examined 1 day to 5 weeks later. Spatial memory function was assessed 29 to 33 days later using the Morris water maze. Five weeks after the ventricular injections of blood or thrombin, there was death of most hippocampal neurons and significant memory deficits compared with sham operated controls. These data show that intraventricular thrombin is sufficient to kill hippocampal neurons and produce spatial memory loss. In addition, systemic administration of the non-specific Src family kinase inhibitor PP2 or intraventricular injection of siRNA-Fyn, a Src family kinase family member, prevented hippocampal neuronal loss and spatial memory deficits following intraventricular hemorrhage. The data support the conclusions that thrombin mediates the hippocampal neuronal cell death and spatial memory deficits produced by intraventricular blood and that these can be blocked by non-specific inhibition of Src family kinases or by inhibiting Fyn.
Victims and Not Violators: Scapegoat Theory and 3 Maccabees 7.10–17
Authors: Cason Thomas Scott
Published: September 2016

The aim of this article is to read 3 Mace. 7.10–17 thorough the lens of René Girard's four stereotypes of scapegoating. The aim is to show that there is a way to make sense of the gratuitous violence in the scene, other than the explanation provided by the text. Interpreting the story in light of a scapegoating act not only helps to explain the disproportionate degree of punishment suffered by the apostates, but also uncovers a possible literary function for this inexplicable slaughter within the context of the narrative's conclusion. Read along the lines of sacrificial victims, the execution of the apostates makes certain that Philopator and the faithful Jews stand on the same side by story's end. While the execution of the traitors signifies the transference of Philopator's blame from one Jewish group to another, the willingness of the faithful Jews to put to death their own demonstrates once and for all their unyielding loyalty to the crown.
The First Family: Terah and Sons
Authors: Blenkinsopp Joseph
Published: September 2016

This article argues that, though Abraham is the principal subject of the first unit in the Terah genealogy, the genealogical structure of Genesis obliges one to take account of the family to which he belonged, its antecedents and its descendants, and therefore not only to look forward to the ethnogenesis of a single people, but backwards into the post-disaster world, the world we still inhabit.
Global nursing and the lived experience of migration intermediaries
Authors: van den Broek Diane , Groutsis Dimitria
Published: September 2016

Discussion of skilled migration often focuses on skill shortages and global labour market trends, with little attention directed to the individual experiences of the migrants themselves. ‘Divina’ is a migrant nurse who left her home country of the Philippines to gain work in Australia. In the process of this migration, Divina was drawn into a complex web of co-ethnic relationships with migration intermediaries that shaped much of her experiences with respect to entry and employment in Australia. Her story highlights how migration intermediaries can exacerbate the precarious and vulnerable position of skilled migrants. The dangers are particularly striking for those migrating from non-English-speaking and/or developing nations, where vulnerabilities can be entrenched by ‘trusting’ co-ethnic relations forged between sending and receiving countries.
Investigations on static aeroelastic problems of transonic fans based on fluid–structure interaction method
Authors: Wang Songbai , Li Shaobin , Song Xizhen
Published: September 2016

Fan blades of high bypass ratio gas turbine engines are subject to substantial aerodynamic and centrifugal loads, producing the well-known phenomenon of blade untwist. Accurate fan blade shape prediction is very crucial for high-performance aero-engine. In order to investigate the effects of static aeroelastic deflections on aerodynamic performances, a time domain two-way fluid–structure interaction method was applied to simulate the deflection of NASA Rotor 67 fan blades under different operating conditions. This paper pays attention to the deviation of fan profile and aerodynamic performance due to the varying aerodynamic loads, especially for off-design conditions. The results show that the static aeroelastic deflection has a 1.8% impact on the total pressure ratio under near stall condition, and a 1.7% impact on the choke mass flow rate, relative to the cold configuration. Thus, the blade design in industrial practice should adopt a two-way fluid–structure interaction method to consider the influence of static aeroelastic problems on aerodynamic performance.
The recursively generational brain
Authors: van Deventer Vasi
Published: September 2016

Modern understandings of the brain involve computation in one form or another. In large brain projects the synthesis of brain and computer is taken to its ultimate conclusion by super computer simulations of the brain and the export of brain processes in the form of neuromorphic computing. But behind these computations lurks the reality of a brain calling upon itself in the representation of itself, with each call establishing a new generation of itself. This is a recursively generational brain, a brain that is both generating and generated. This article conceptualises these processes in terms of the relational symmetries of the generating brain and the generated brain. Abstract constructs are made more tangible in an example in which geometric characteristics of a triangle are used to model the functioning of a simplified recursively generational brain. In conclusion, it is claimed that a proper simulation of the brain would necessarily be cyborgian.
Rethinking social pacts in Europe: Prime ministerial power in Ireland and Italy
Authors: Regan Aidan
Published: September 2016

In Ireland and Southern European countries, social pacts were widely seen as a mechanism to mobilize broad support for weak governments to legitimate difficult reforms in the context of monetary integration. I retrace the politics of these pacts in Ireland and Italy to argue that it was less the condition of ‘weak government’ that enabled the negotiation of tripartite pacts, than the intervention of a ‘strong executive’: the prime minister’s office. Social pacts were pursued as a political strategy to enhance prime ministerial executive autonomy. In the aftermath of the euro crisis, this means of enhancing executive autonomy has been replaced by the negotiation of grand coalition governments, with the exclusion of unions; but this continues the trend towards the prime ministerialization of politics.
Investigation of aircrew noise exposure levels and hearing protection solutions in helicopter cabin
Authors: Chen Yong , Ghinet Sebastian , Price Andrew , Wickramasinghe Viresh , Grewal Anant
Published: September 2016

High noise levels in the helicopter cabin adversely affect aircrew communication and reduce comfort in the short-term and may lead to hearing loss in the long-term if flight helmets cannot provide sufficient protection to the aircrew. A cabin noise exposure survey has been performed on a Royal Canadian Air Force CH-147F Chinook heavy lift helicopter to evaluate the noise environment and noise protection performance of the flight helmet. Investigation results showed that the low-frequency noise attenuation provided by the Royal Canadian Air Force flight helmet was marginal in high-speed flight conditions that generate loud cabin noise. Therefore, in-canal earphone integrated with active noise cancellation capability was investigated to provide enhanced noise protection and improve clarity in voice communication. Simulation and proof-of-concept test results verified that active noise cancellation in-canal earphones can serve as a feasible technical solution to provide enhanced noise attenuation to mitigate the low-frequency N/rev tonal noise generated by the aerodynamic pressure from the helicopter rotor blades.
Adaptive underslung beam using shape-memory alloys for frequency-tuning
Authors: dos Santos Filipe Amarante , Cismaşiu Corneliu
Published: September 2016

The present article addresses the study of an adaptive-passive beam structure with a shape-memory alloy based actuator. In order to mitigate adverse dynamic effects resulting from externally induced vibrations, the structure is able to automatically tune its natural frequency to avoid resonance. The adaptive-passive beam configuration is based on an underslung cable-stayed girder concept. Its frequency tuning is achieved by temperature modulation of the shape-memory alloy elements through a closed-loop control process based on a proportional-integral-derivative algorithm. The effectiveness of the proposed control solution is substantiated by numerical simulations and experimental tests on a small-scale prototype. The validated numerical model enables the simulation of the proposed control approach in a real-scale footbridge, subjected to a prescribed pedestrian loading. The results are very encouraging and show that, by activating the shape-memory alloy elements, the system is able to successfully shift its natural frequency and to mitigate the effects of induced vibrations.
Played Into Collaborating
Authors: Hannula Otso , Irrmann Olivier
Published: September 2016

Background. Design games have been widely used in service co-design to structure the design dialogues between stakeholder groups and service designers in probing, imagining and prototyping services. However, we propose that the type and phase of the design dialogues scaffolded by design games can be expanded to include early phases of service co-design.

Method. To illustrate this approach, we studied ATLAS, a design game for service co-design project planning through a video-based microethnography. In ATLAS, service designers and other project stakeholders collaboratively explore their early understanding of the project goals, participants and methods. We studied the interaction between an interorganizational group of players based on a video recording of a game of ATLAS.

Results. Our analysis produced four categories of interaction displayed by both the players and the facilitator: co-creating the plan, thinking with the material, playing the game and following the rules. Based on these themes of interaction, we characterize the structure provided by ATLAS as a co-creation scaffold that supports planning and an interaction scaffold that maintains the game activity.

Conclusions. Based on our study, we describe the ability of design games to structure dialogues as scaffolding. Through our study, we expand the role of design games to include the earliest phases of service co-design projects.
Inspiring Collaboration
Authors: Wylie Sara , Schultz Kim , Thomas Deborah , Kassotis Chris , Nagel Susan
Published: September 2016

This article describes Dr Theo Colborn’s legacy of inspiring complementary and synergistic environmental health research and advocacy. Colborn, a founder of endocrine disruption research, also stimulated study of hydraulic fracturing (fracking). In 2014, the United States led the world in oil and gas production, with fifteen million Americans living within one mile of an oil or gas well. Colborn pioneered efforts to understand and control the impacts of this sea change in energy production. In 2005, her research organization The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX) developed a database of chemicals used in natural gas extraction and their health effects. This database stimulated novel scientific and social scientific research and informed advocacy by (1) connecting communities’ diverse health impacts to chemicals used in natural gas development, (2) inspiring social science research on open-source software and hardware for citizen science, and (3) posing new scientific questions about the endocrine-disrupting properties of fracking chemicals.
Antithrombin Administration During Intravenous Heparin Anticoagulation in the Intensive Care Unit: A Single-Center Matched Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Beyer Jacob T. , Schoeppler Kelly E. , Zanotti Giorgio , Weiss Gregory M. , Mueller Scott W. , MacLaren Robert , Fish Douglas N. , Kiser Tyree H.
Published: September 2016

Unfractionated heparin (UFH) is a frequently utilized indirect anticoagulant that induces therapeutic effect by enhancing antithrombin (AT)-mediated procoagulant enzyme inhibition. In suspected heparin resistance (HR) during cardiopulmonary bypass, AT activity may be decreased and AT supplementation helps restore UFH responsiveness. The benefit of AT supplementation in HR over longer durations of UFH therapy is unclear. The objective of this study was to describe and evaluate the use of AT III concentrate in the intensive care units (ICUs) at our institution for improving UFH therapy response over 72 hours. A total of 44 critically ill patients were included in the analysis—22 patients received at least 1 dose of AT and 22 patients received no AT. Thirty (68.2%) of the 44 patients were receiving mechanical circulatory support. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. The average AT activity prior to AT supplementation was 57.9% in the treatment group, and the median cumulative dose of AT was 786.5 U (9.26 U/kg) per patient. There were no significant differences observed in proportion of time spent in therapeutic range (31.9% vs 35.2%, P = .65), time to therapeutic goal (16.5 vs 15.5 hours, P = .97), or patients who experienced a bleeding event (5 vs 5, P = .99) between groups. In conclusion, AT supplementation had minimal impact on anticoagulant response in this cohort of ICU patients with mild to moderate HR receiving a prolonged UFH infusion. Additional research is needed to define AT activity targets and to standardize AT supplementation practices in patients receiving prolonged heparin infusion.