bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Renal tubular epithelial cells of the native hibernator Syrian hamster recover more rapidly from endoplasmic reticulum stress compared to those of human or mouse following warm anoxia-reoxygenation, possibly due to increased proteasomal function
Authors: Eleftheriadis Theodoros , Pissas Georgios , Antoniadi Georgia , Filippidis Georgios , Liakopoulos Vassilios , Stefanidis Ioannis
Published: January 2019

Comparative biology may reveal novel therapeutic strategies against human diseases. Ischemia‑reperfusion (IR) injury induces a number of diseases. It is known that hibernating mammals survive IR since during hibernation, prolonged periods of torpor with a marked decrease in blood flow and breathing rate are interrupted by short periods of arousal. In the present study, the differences in the characteristics of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the subsequent unfolded protein response, which are induced by IR and may cause cell death among humans, mice or the native hibernator Syrian hamster were examined in vitro using renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs) derived from these three sources. RPTECs were subjected to anoxia or reoxygenation, both at 37˚C. Cell death was measured by LDH release assay. ER stress was assessed by determining the levels of phosphorylated protein kinase RNA‑like ER kinase, ubiquitinated proteins and Bcl‑2‑associated X protein (Bax) by western blot analysis. For proteasomal activity, a specific assay was used. The results revealed that anoxia induced ER stress in all the evaluated RPTECs, from which only the hamster‑derived RPTECs recovered during reoxygenation. Anoxia and reoxygenation increased protein ubiquitination in the human‑ and mouse‑derived RPTECs, whereas this was decreased in the hamster‑derived RPTECs. Anoxia enhanced proteasomal activity in all the evaluated RPTECs. In the human‑ and mouse‑derived RPTECs, reoxygenation reduced proteasomal activity, which remained high in the hamster‑derived RPTECs. Anoxia and reoxygenation increased Bax expression and induced cell death in the human‑ and mouse‑derived RPTECs, while neither Bax overexpression nor cell death occurred in the hamster‑derived RPTECs. Thus, on the whole, the findings of this study demonstrate that compared to human‑ or mouse‑derived RPTECs, those derived from the hamster recover more rapidly from ER stress following warm anoxia‑reoxygenation, possibly due to increased proteasomal function.
Laser Refractive Surgery in a Patient With a Prepapillary Arterial Loop
Authors: Maldonado Miguel J. , Corcóstegui Iñigo , García-Layana Alfredo , Salinas-Alaman Angel , Rutzen Allan R.
Published: January 2019

Purpose:

To present a patient with a prepapillary vascular loop, a congenital anomaly that has been associated with vitreous hemorrhage and retinal vascular occlusion, who underwent refractive surgery.

Methods:

A 45-year-old man with 2.00 diopters (D) of myopia and a unilateral prepapillary arterial loop presented with an interest in LASIK. After consideration of the theoretical risks of LASIK, the patient underwent photorefractive keratectomy with manual de-epithelialization and a scanning spot excimer laser.

Results:

Postoperatively, uncorrected visual acuity was 20/20, visual field testing was normal, and no complications occurred. Follow-up was 4 years.

Conclusions:

Surface ablation was a safe method in a low myopic patient with a prepapillary vascular loop. This case emphasizes the importance of a thorough vitreoretinal examination in laser refractive candidates. [
J Refract Surg.
2008;24:49–51.]
Photorefractive Keratectomy With 0.02% Mitomycin C for Treatment of Residual Refractive Errors After LASIK
Authors: Srinivasan Sathish , Drake Antony , Herzig Sheldon
Published: January 2019

Purpose:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of prophylactic mitomycin C (MMC) during photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) over LASIK flaps for the treatment of residual refractive errors following LASIK.

Methods:

In this single center, retrospective clinical study, 30 eyes of 33 patients (mean age 37.2 years) who had MMC (0.02%, 30 to 120 seconds) during PRK for the treatment of residual refractive errors following myopic LASIK were evaluated. The retreatment procedures were performed with a VISX S4 laser with iris registration. All patients underwent slit-lamp microscopy, manifest and cycloplegic refraction, corneal topography, pachymetry, pupillometry, and wavefront analysis pre- and postoperatively. All patients underwent follow-up at 1 day, 1 week, and 1, 3, and 6 months and thereafter as required.

Results:

Mean time between LASIK and PRK retreatment was 67.3 months (range: 7 to 113 months). No intra- or postoperative complications occurred during primary LASIK or PRK retreatment. Mean spherical equivalent refraction of attempted correction with PRK was −0.94 diopters (D) (range: −2.38 to +0.75 D). At mean 7.1-month follow-up, the average uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) improved from 20/50 (range: 20/30 to 20/200) to 20/28 (range: 20/15 to 20/70). Twenty-seven of 30 eyes showed improvement in UCVA. Two eyes had subjective improvement of glare symptoms (and objective improvement in higher order aberrations), and one eye lost one line of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity due to unrelated corneal abrasion in the postoperative period. None of the eyes in the cohort developed postoperative haze.

Conclusions:

Photorefractive keratectomy with prophylactic MMC (0.02%) is a safe and effective option for treating myopic regression following LASIK. A single intraoperative application of 0.02% MMC for as few as 30 seconds was effective in preventing postoperative haze formation. [
J Refract Surg.
2008;24:S64–S67.]
Comparison of Standard (0.02%) and Low Dose (0.002%) Mitomycin C in the Prevention of Corneal Haze Following Surface Ablation for Myopia
Authors: Thornton Ivey , Xu Meng , Krueger Ronald R.
Published: January 2019

Purpose:

To retrospectively compare the safety and efficacy of lower dose mitomycin C (MMC) (0.002%) to that of the standard dose (0.02%) in eyes treated with photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) for myopia.

Methods:

The clinical efficacy of 95 eyes receiving myopic PRK with a standard concentration of MMC (0.02%) is sequentially compared to 126 eyes receiving low dose MMC (0.002%). The topical exposure times for MMC varied between 30 seconds and 2 minutes in both groups, and direct contralateral eye comparison of these two exposure times was analyzed in a prospective subset of 39 patients from among the low dose group. Patients were examined preoperatively and postoperatively at 1, 3, 6–9, and 9–12 months. Haze, visual acuity, and efficacy ratio outcomes were analyzed

Results:

The preoperative findings were overall statistically similar, except for higher spherical equivalent refractive error (
P
=.007) and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity (
P
=.007) in the standard MMC group. Postoperatively, haze levels ranged from 0 to 4+. With multivariable analysis, significantly less haze was noted among the standard dose MMC eyes for high myopia and higher ablation depth at all postoperative time points. In contrast, the haze levels were statistically similar for moderate myopia and lower ablation depths at the latter postoperative time points. The subset of contralateral eyes randomly receiving low dose MMC (0.002%) at either 30 seconds or 2 minutes exposure showed no significant difference in haze between these exposure times.

Conclusions:

The standard concentration of topical MMC (0.02%) is more effective than low dose MMC (0.002%) in preventing postoperative haze following surface ablation for myopia ⩾−6.00 D and deeper ablation depth ⩾75
µ
m. However, for moderate myopia and shallow depth, low dosing appears to be equally effective. The duration of MMC exposure appears to be less important than its concentration. [
J Refract Surg
. 2008;24:S68–S76.]
Wavefront-guided Excimer Laser Ablation Using Photorefractive Keratectomy and Sub-Bowman's Keratomileusis:A Contralateral Eye Study
Authors: Durrie Daniel S. , Slade Stephen G. , Marshall John
Published: January 2019

Purpose:

To explain the basic science and clinical evidence that has led to the development of a new technique in corneal refractive surgery—sub-Bowman's keratomileusis (SBK).

Methods:

A comprehensive review of the literature and report of a contralateral eye study of 50 patients (100 eyes) enrolled at 2 sites (25 patients per site) and randomized according to the dominant eye was conducted. All eyes underwent a wavefront-guided refractive correction using the Alcon LADARVision4000 System. In one eye, an 8.5-mm, ETOH-assisted photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) was performed. In the second eye, an 8.5-mm, 100-µm flap was attempted using a 60 kHz IntraLase FS femtosecond laser. Pre- and postoperative tests included best spectacle-corrected visual acuity, uncorrected visual acuity, corneal topography, wavefront aberrometry, retinal image quality, contrast sensitivity, and biomechanical response of the cornea. Patients completed subjective questionnaires at each follow-up.

Results:

Clinical results demonstrate that SBK provides quicker visual recovery, although the data suggest that the 3- and 6-months results are similar in terms of visual outcomes. Reichert Ocular Response Analyzer results demonstrate that its impact on the cornea is similar to PRK.

Conclusions:

This study indicates that SBK provides the visual recovery of a LASIK procedure with the Optical Response Analyzer results similar to PRK. [
J Refract Surg
. 2008;24:S77–S84.]
Depth-dependent Cohesive Tensile Strength in Human Donor Corneas: Implications for Refractive Surgery
Authors: Randleman J. Bradley , Dawson Daniel G. , Grossniklaus Hans E. , McCarey Bernard E. , Edelhauser Henry F.
Published: January 2019

Purpose:

To determine the cohesive tensile strength throughout the stroma of normal human donor corneas and evaluate the relevance of these findings within the context of current excimer laser surgical techniques.

Methods:

Twenty normal corneoscleral buttons from 11 donors were obtained from the Georgia Eye Bank. The corneas were cut into 3-mm strips, dissected at varying stromal depths, mechanically separated through the dissection plane using a motorized extensometer, and measured for cohesive tensile strength. Central corneal thickness and dissection depth were measured by routine light microscopy and correlated with cohesive tensile strength measurements.

Results:

A strong negative correlation was noted between stromal depth and cohesive tensile strength (r=−0.93). The anterior corneal stroma directly adjacent to Bowman's layer followed by the underlying anterior 40% of the corneal stroma had the highest cohesive tensile strength. Cohesive tensile strength plateaued from 40% to 90% corneal stromal depth and then declined rapidly from the posterior 10% of the stroma to Descemet's membrane. The anterior 40% of the corneal stroma had significantly higher cohesive tensile strength than the posterior 60% (33.3 g/mm vs 19.6 g/mm,
P
<.00001). Within the central 40% to 60% depth, a positive correlation was found between increased age and increased tensile strength (r=0.67), with corneal tensile strength increasing 38% from ages 20 to 78 years.

Conclusions:

The anterior 40% of the central corneal stroma is the strongest region of the cornea, whereas the posterior 60% of the stroma is at least 50% weaker. The risk for ectasia may therefore be greater with ablations into the posterior stroma. Increasing age is associated with increased corneal cohesive tensile strength. [
J Refract Surg
. 2008;24:S85–S89.]
Impact of the recruitment survey of tinnitus patients for the validation of Enriched Acoustic Environment therapy in Ecuador
Authors: Garzón Pico Christiam
Published: January 2019

Tinnitus is the perception of sound in the absence of an external acoustic estimation. However, Jastreboff and Jastreboff (2000) define it as the perception of sound resulting from the activity of the nervous system, without any mechanical vibratory activity in the cochlea (p. 163). Although nowadays this pathology has no cure, recent studies demonstrate that proper therapies can provide some relief if they are applied in an early stage. This work is the description of the procedure for the recruitment of valid patients, and the collection of documentation of their clinical histories, prior to the experimental validation of Enriched Acoustic Environment therapy (EAE).
It is the first time that a validation of this therapy has been carried out in Ecuador; consequently, several demographic factors must also be taken into account, since the social, cultural, climatological, and geographical characteristics could be of importance.
Calidad de vida y cambio social. De la polarización social a la axiológica en la sociedad andaluza
Authors: Navarro Clemente J. , Pérez Yruela Yanez Manuel
Published: January 2019

En este artículo se presentan los resultados de una investigación sobre condiciones de calidad de vida en la sociedad andaluza, basada en una encuesta realizada a cerca de 2.400 sujetos. La investigación se inscribe en la tendencia reciente a analizar los cambios objetivos en las condiciones de vida de los ciudadanos y, a la vez, analizar la opinión que estos cambios les merecen. A partir de esta comparación entre dimensiones objetivas y subjetivas, se ha realizado una tiplogía para clasificar a la población estudiada según el grado de coincidencia entre ambas dimensiones. El trabajo se ha centrado sobre todo en el tipo "adaptación", en el que se incluyen aquellos sujetos que pese a tener condiciones objetivas por debajo de la media expresan satisfacción subjetiva con su situación. Este es el grupo mayoritario (42%). En relación a este grupo, en el trabajo se desarrolla una explicación de esta paradoja. Esta se basa en la hipótesis de que los cambios ocurridos en las últimas décadas en las condiciones objetivas de vida, debido sobre todo a la expansión del Estado del Bienestar, han producido un percepción positiva del cambio social. La paradoja de la satisfacción se explicaría por la expectativa de que las condiciones objetivas mejoren a corto plazo dada la tendencia positiva de los cambios recientes experimentados.
A Política Externa: do Ultimatum à República
Authors: Costa Fernando
Published: January 2019

A evolução e os objectivos da política externa portuguesa, entre o Ultimatum inglês de 1890 e a implantação do regime republicano em 1910, estiveram centrados em duas vertentes geograficamente distintas, mas complementares.A primeira, cronologicamente situada entre 1850 e 1902, decorreu no contexto da corrida das grandes potências europeias aos territórios africanos (Scramble for Africa). Aqui se enquadram os projectos coloniais de Andrade Corvo e Barros Gomes, o Ultimatum, o tratado luso-britânico de 1891, o acordo anglo-alemão de 1898, a declaração de Windsor de 1899 e o consequente envolvimento de Portugal na guerra anglo-boer (1899-1902).A partir de 1902, devido, sobretudo, à rivalidade naval e militar anglo-germânica e à crescente importância da Espanha de Afonso XIII no contexto europeu, a atenção da diplomacia portuguesa passa a estar centrada nos arquipélagos da Madeira e dos Açores.
Política Externa e Política de Defesa: do Sidonismo à Ditadura Militar
Authors: Farinha Luís
Published: January 2019

O pós-sidonismo constituiu umas das etapas mais dramáticas da história contemporânea portuguesa. As elites republicanas mostraram-se incapazes para resolver o problema da escassez económica que sobreveio à I Grande Guerra, dentro de um quadro político democrático e parlamentar. A frágil base institucional aprofundou o défice de ordem cívica e impossibilitou a reconstrução económica e financeira.Os resultados obtidos com a intervenção de Portugal na I Guerra Mundial estiveram aquém das expectativas criadas, bem como os proveitos obtidos na Conferência de Paz. O reconhecimento externo da política republicana não foi de molde a habilitar o país com os meios económicos, financeiros e técnicos conducentes à sua modernização e, por extensão, ao desenvolvimento das colónias, sua opção estratégica fundamental.Enredada numa teia de instabilidade social e política, a nova República velha viu-se na obrigação de privilegiar uma política de defesa voltada para a manutenção da ordem cívica, arredando para um futuro incerto a construção do Império Africano.
Do Reconhecimento Internacional da Ditadura Militar ao Estado Novo - pontos de reflexão para o estudo da Política Externa de 1926 a 1933
Authors: Martins Susana
Published: January 2019

Ao contrário do que se passa aquando da instauração da República, o reconhecimento internacional da Ditadura Militar não representa qualquer problema para os novos detentores do poder. A instabilidade governativa dos últimos tempos da I República, por um lado, e o ambiente internacional da altura, com a proliferação de regimes autoritários ou totalitários, por outro, gera uma espécie de cumplicidade por parte da comunidade internacional. Aliás, o reconhecimento internacional do Governo seria necessário apenas no caso de essa alteração ter ocorrido fora das normas constitucionais, o que os novos dirigentes portugueses negam. O reconhecimento do corpo diplomático estrangeiro será precisamente baseado neste argumento.Também a definição institucional do regime não origina celeuma nos meios internacionais. A promulgação da Constituição de 1933 não é uma novidade, mas tão-somente o epílogo de um longo processo cujos propósitos são já conhecidos e aceites.
Uma Revolução Tranquila? Da Política Externa da Guerra Civil de Espanha ao Pacto do Atlântico
Authors: Martins Fernando
Published: January 2019

Nos cerca de quinze anos que medeiam entre o início da guerra civil de Espanha e a criação do Pacto do Atlântico, as coordenadas da vida política internacional sofreram a mais profunda alteração desde a Paz de Vestefália celebrada em 1648. Esta alteração equivaleu ao desaparecimento de um sistema de Estados europeus que, até 1941, existira, numa situação de clara hegemonia, teve consequências na política externa portuguesa. Estas consequências foram partilhadas com potências europeias que se orientaram, secularmente, por paradigmas idênticos, nomeadamente pela projecção não europeia da reflexão e da prática da sua política externa, e ainda pela reflexão e a prática de uma política exterior que privilegiava o bilateralismo, em detrimento do multilateralismo. É a história desta “revolução” partilhada que se pretende contar nesta conferência.
Ambient Assisted Living and Internet of Things
Authors: Marques Gonçalo
Published: January 2019

The study of systems and architectures for ambient assisted living (AAL) is undoubtedly a topic of great relevance given the ageing of the world population. On the one hand, AAL technologies are designed to meet the needs of the ageing population in order to maintain their independence as long as possible. On the other hand, internet of things (IoT) proposes that various “things,” which include not only communication devices but also every other physical object on the planet, are going to be connected and will be controlled across the internet. The continuous technological advancements turn possible to build smart objects with great capabilities for sensing and connecting turn possible several advancements in AAL and IoT systems architectures. Advances in networking, sensors, and embedded devices have made it possible to monitor and provide assistance to people in their homes. This chapter reviews the state of art on AAL and IoT and their applications for enhanced indoor living environments and occupational health.
Cloud-Based IoT Platform
Authors: Sarhan Amany
Published: January 2019

Developing IoT projects from scratch requires a lot of knowledge and expertise; moreover, it takes a very long time to be developed. It can be hard for starters and even senior developers to perfect every aspect of an IoT project in a timely manner. These aspects include hardware, communication, data storage, security, integration, application, data processing, and analysis. This chapter introduces a cloud-based platform that is concerned with data storage, device management, data processing, and integration with external systems, all while providing high level of security and allowing for future scaling. This platform should accelerate and simplify the development of IoT projects by lowering the entry barrier and offloading some of the burden off developers to give them more time to focus on other aspects such as hardware and applications. The authors discuss many implementation issues in the functional and design perspective that may guide others to make their own platforms from this insight view.
An IoE Architecture for the Preservation of the Cultural Heritage
Authors: Kasnesis Panagiotis , Kogias Dimitrios G. , Toumanidis Lazaros , Xevgenis Michael G. , Patrikakis Charalampos Z. , Giunta Gabriele , Calsi Giuseppe Li
Published: January 2019

Climatic changes and intensive industrialization have contributed to increasing the risk of damage of cultural heritage (CH) artefacts. On the other hand, small and medium-sized museums, as well as small CH sites struggle to fulfil international recommendations for protection and conservation, due to budget limitations. The constantly increasing potential of IoT-enabled devices and the establishment of cloud technologies as an enabling framework can help address this issue. In this chapter, the authors present an internet of everything (IoE) architecture, empowered by an easy-to-deploy cloud framework for the protection of CH. Particular use cases from CH sites are presented, as these have been identified in H2020 STORM project for safeguarding cultural heritage through technical and organizational resources management.
Epistemological Character of Sustainability and Value Creation
Authors: da Graça Jacira Lima , Filho Flavio de São Pedro , Madeira Maria José Aguilar , da Graça Filho Antonio Vicente , Barbosa Marcelo Augusto Mendes , da Silva Izabel Cristina
Published: January 2019

In fragile environments, such as the Western Amazon, there is a latent concern related to solid waste, deserving emphasis from the conceptual point of view, where the origin of sustainability becomes the emergency that forces the behavior through recycling seeking the reduction and absence of residues. Epistemology has as its function, among others, to define what provides conditions for examining relations between facts and theories. The question is, What does conceptual aspect contribute to awareness and improvement to the relation of capital, labor, and society? Apply the Theory U as argumentation in this relation. The general and main objective of this chapter is to deal with the epistemological aspect of sustainability against the capital, labor, and society based on the Theory U. As a result, the conceptual aspect contributes to awareness and improvement of the relation of capital, labor, and society considering the discourses treated in fragile environments in the Western Amazon.
Survival Under Aggressive Competition
Authors: Sozuer Aytug
Published: January 2019

The purpose of this chapter is to examine whether competitive strategies are helpful for small firms to survive when the intensity of rivalry is high. The research scope is a case of microenterprise that operates in industrial machinery and components sector in Istanbul, Turkey. Throughout a 12-year period, the critical incidents that the firm confronted in the competitive environment, its reactions to those challenges, and the consequences are evaluated under the framework of business strategy. Consequently, it is observed that differentiation strategies served the microenterprise to grow even under aggressive competition. The analysis is expected to contribute to the development of managerial skills in small firms, which constitute a large portion in economic activity.
Public Spending and Poverty in Ibero-American Countries
Authors: Sánchez-Torné Isadora , Espasandín-Bustelo Francisco , Pérez-Suárez Macarena
Published: January 2019

The purpose of this chapter is to provide useful information on the two main topics that define it: public spending and poverty. Three objectives are highlighted: 1) to provide a general overview of the concept of poverty and their characteristics; 2) to project, through the consulted literature, a model that explains the determinants of poverty; and 3) to describe, on the basis of aggregate data obtained on the CEPAL website, the situation of public spending (according to the classification by government function) and poverty (population living on less than $1.90 and $3.10/day) in some countries of the Ibero-American territory to show whether there is a significant relationship between public spending and poverty.
Ambidexterity in Context of Micro and Small Firms
Authors: Özşahin Mehtap
Published: January 2019

Micro and small firms operating in a volatile business environment are coerced to manage their limited resources for survival in the short term and sustaining competitiveness in the long term, which is achieved through concurrent pursuit of exploitation and exploration activities, namely through ambidexterity. Indeed, resource and competency constraints create both pressure and challenge for micro and small firms to pursue exploitation and exploration simultaneously, which makes this issue (ambidexterity) more essential to those firms. Thus, this chapter, examining the ambidexterity in context of micro and small firms, is expected to contribute to literature by providing an insight on how micro and small firms would survive and sustain in a highly volatile business environment through their ambidextrousness. In this respect, after “ambidexterity” is explicated, the essentiality of ambidexterity for micro and small firms operating in volatile business environment will be discussed, and an ambidextrous organization model for micro and small firms to achieve better performance will be proposed.
Improvement Proposal in Inventories at an Automotive Supply Company Settled in Mexico
Authors: Sánchez-Partida Diana , Guevara-Corona Adrian , Martínez-Flores José-Luis , Cano-Olivos Patricia
Published: January 2019

Controlling inventories and achieving effective management of them can significantly improve the profits to any company. This chapter presents a case of study of an automotive supply company that has operational problems due to over inventories. An ABC study and the economic order quantity model (EOQ) for 942 raw materials are presented promptly in order to increase the rotation efficiently, the yield of their inventories, as well as to minimize the logistics costs and maximize medium and long-term operations.
Lean Six Sigma Implementation Framework Using Resource-Based Theory Approach
Authors: Sony Michael
Published: January 2019

Resource-based theory (RBT) is one of the most popular paradigms in operations management. Lean Six Sigma (LSS) is the most widely used business improvement initiative for the last two decades. The previous LSS frameworks were concentrated on the LSS processes, and none of them proposed a link between organizational strategy, organizational resources and capabilities for gaining competitive advantage. The purpose of this chapter is to construct an RBT-based LSS framework. By reviewing the previous literature on RBT, LSS and organizational strategy, this chapter builds an implementation framework. This framework considers the firm resources, firm capability, competitive advantage, and LSS integration as the foundation of a firm's strategy. The research suggests that application of RBT can add richness to LSS implementation within an organization, which will bring practical implications for forming the resource-based strategy in the organizations leading to competitive advantage. This is the first chapter to suggest an integration framework of RBT with LSS for strategy implications.
Transforming Health Information Management Through the Digital Pen and Paper (DPP) Technology
Authors: Tsoromokos Dimitrios P , Lazakidou Athina A
Published: January 2019

The aim of this article is the development and use of a smart accountability system (both systemic and individual) during the provision of health services, which will free up a large number of resources within a Health Organization. Compared to traditional manual recording, the new system of Digital Pen and Paper (DPP) achieves a significant reduction in the organization's operating cost. Over the duration of seven months from January to July 2016, 693 forms were collected from three public hospitals of Greece. 49 nurses who worked in intensive care units (ICU) took part in the survey. 18,934 fields were filled in 1,466 of which were counted with errors. The accuracy percentage rate of the data amounts to 92.3% and the corresponding rate of errors to 7.7%. The average time for a form to be filled in by a nurse using the digital pen amounts to 3 minutes and 35 seconds. The highest percentage rate of data accuracy reached 94.76% and the best time of filling in the form was under 3 minutes per form. Results can be improved even more through user training and application of entry rules.
A Functional Idiotype/Anti-Idiotype Network Is Active in Genetically Gluten-Intolerant Individuals Negative for Both Celiac Disease–Related Intestinal Damage and Serum Autoantibodies
Authors: Quaglia Sara , Ferrara Fortunato , De Leo Luigina , Ziberna Fabiana , Vatta Serena , Marchiò Serena , Sblattero Daniele , Ventura Alessandro , Not Tarcisio
Published: January 2019

An unbalance between Abs that recognize an autoantigen (idiotypes; IDs) and Igs that bind such Abs (anti-IDs) is considered a functional event in autoimmune disorders. We investigated the presence of an ID/anti-ID network in celiac disease (CD), a condition in which antitissue transglutaminase 2 (TG2) Abs are suspected to contribute to CD pathogenesis. To characterize the ID side, we reproduced by in vitro yeast display the intestine-resident Abs from CD and control patients. These TG2-specific IDs were used to identify potential anti-IDs in the serum. We observed elevated titers of anti-IDs in asymptomatic patients with predisposition to CD and demonstrated that anti-ID depletion from the serum restores a detectable humoral response against TG2. Our study provides an alternative approach to quantify CD-related autoantibodies in cases that would be defined “negative serology” with current diagnostic applications. Therefore, we suggest that developments of this technology could be designed for perspective routine tests.
C1s Inhibition by BIVV009 (Sutimlimab) Prevents Complement-Enhanced Activation of Autoimmune Human B Cells In Vitro
Authors: Nikitin Pavel A. , Rose Eileen L. , Byun Tony S. , Parry Graham C. , Panicker Sandip
Published: January 2019

The classical pathway of complement (CP) can mediate C3 opsonization of Ags responsible for the costimulation and activation of cognate B lymphocytes. In this manner, the complement system acts as a bridge between the innate and adaptive immune systems critical for establishing a humoral response. However, aberrant complement activation is often observed in autoimmune diseases in which C3 deposition on self-antigens may serve to activate self-reactive B cell clones. In this study, we use BIVV009 (Sutimlimab), a clinical stage, humanized mAb that specifically inhibits the CP-specific serine protease C1s to evaluate the impact of upstream CP antagonism on activation and proliferation of normal and autoimmune human B cells. We report that BIVV009 significantly inhibited complement-mediated activation and proliferation of primary human B cells. Strikingly, CP antagonism suppressed human Ig–induced activation of B cells derived from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. These results suggest that clinical use of CP inhibitors in autoimmune patients may not only block complement-mediated tissue damage, but may also prevent the long-term activation of autoimmune B cells and the production of autoantibodies that contribute to the underlying pathologic condition of these diseases.
Leishmania donovaniInduces Autophagy in Human Blood–Derived Neutrophils
Authors: Pitale Durgesh Manohar , Gendalur Neelaram Sahadev , Descoteaux Albert , Shaha Chandrima
Published: January 2019

Neutrophils, the essential components of the innate immune system, are recruited in large numbers to the pathogen site of entry. Several pathogens induce neutrophil autophagy; however, function of autophagic events during Leishmania parasite infection remain unknown. In this article, we report a finding that is new, to our knowledge, of how Leishmania-induced human polymorphonuclear neutrophil (hPMN) autophagy regulates the silent mode of parasite transfer to macrophages by influencing the engulfment of infected cells. Leishmania infection induced a time-dependent autophagy increase responsive to block by 3-methyladenine but sensitive to ULK1/2 inhibition only after 3 h. This suggested the prevalence of canonical autophagy during later hours, ULK1/2 inhibition being able to block only canonical autophagy. Interaction of Rubicon and Beclin-1 at 1 h postinfection affirmed the prevalence of noncanonical autophagy during early infection. There was a reduction in macrophage uptake of parasite-exposed hPMNs treated with 3-methyladenine or ULK1/2 inhibitor, suggesting the involvement of both noncanonical and canonical autophagy in neutrophil engulfment. Autophagy inducer rapamycin augmented neutrophil engulfment by macrophages. Redistribution of hPMN surface CD47 encouraged neutrophil uptake. Activation of ERK, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and NADPH oxidase–mediated reactive oxygen species generation were induced after parasite binding. The lpg1-knockout parasites expressing defective lipophosphoglycan did not induce autophagy, indicating that lipophosphoglycan is necessary for interaction with the neutrophils. Autophagy induction was TLR2/4 independent because the receptor blockade did not interfere with infection-induced autophagy. In summary, the engulfment of neutrophils by the macrophages was influenced by the escalation of hPMN autophagy, which is an important event during Leishmania infection.
Jugadores, escritores e influencers en redes sociales: procesos de profesionalización entre adolescentes
Authors: Establés María-José , Guerrero-Pico Mar , Contreras-Espinosa Ruth S
Published: January 2019

Introducción. La evolución de la industria mediática ha precipitado profundos cambios en la forma en que los adolescentes desarrollan sus competencias y acceden a la producción transmedia. En concreto, nos centraremos en la aparición de una zona gris donde los hobbys mediáticos devienen en oportunidades de profesionalización para los jóvenes, y en oportunidades de beneficio económico para las industrias. Metodología. El enfoque metodológico que se ha llevado a cabo se ha realizado desde una perspectiva mixta de métodos cualitativos y cuantitativos. Se han integrado técnicas de recolección y análisis de datos de corte etnográfico, estadístico y textual. Resultados. Se detectan tres ámbitos de profesionalización: videojuegos, escritura creativa y redes sociales con sus propias dinámicas con respecto al género de los adolescentes y los recursos y plataformas utilizados. Discusión y Conclusiones. Los adolescentes que emprenden procesos de profesionalización son una minoría y, dentro de este grupo, es fundamental fortalecer las competencias que les permitan comprender en qué medida su trabajo beneficia económicamente a las compañías de comunicación.
Characterization of black carbon-containing fine particles in Beijing during wintertime
Authors: Wang Junfeng , Liu Dantong , Ge Xinlei , Wu Yangzhou , Shen Fuzhen , Chen Mindong , Zhao Jian , Xie Conghui , Wang Qingqing , Xu Weiqi , Zhang Jie , Hu Jianlin , Allan James , Joshi Rutambhara , Fu Pingqing , Coe Hugh , Sun Yele
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Refractory black carbon (BC) is a product of incomplete combustion of fossil
fuel, biomass and biofuel, etc. By mixing with other species, BC can play
significant roles in climate change, visibility impairment and human health.
Such BC-containing particles in densely populated megacities like Beijing may
have specific sources and properties that are important to haze formation and
air quality. In this work, we exclusively characterized the BC-containing
particles in urban Beijing by using a laser-only Aerodyne soot particle
aerosol mass spectrometer (SP-AMS), as part of the Atmospheric Pollution &
Human Health (APHH) 2016 winter campaign. The average mass ratio of coating
to BC core (RBC) was found to be ∼5.0. Positive matrix
factorization shows the presence of significant primary fossil fuel and
biomass-burning organics (64 % of total organics). Yet secondary species,
including sulfate, nitrate and oxygenated organic aerosol (OA) species, could
have significant impacts on the properties of BC-containing particles,
especially for ones with larger BC core sizes and thicker coatings. Analyses
of sources and diurnal cycles of organic coating reveal significant afternoon
photochemical production of secondary OA (SOA), as well as nighttime aqueous
production of a portion of highly oxygenated OA. Besides SOA, photochemical
production of nitrate, not sulfate, appeared to be important. Further
investigations on BC-containing particles during different periods show that,
on average, more polluted periods would have more contributions from
secondary species and more thickly coated BC tended to associate with more
secondary species, indicating the important role of chemical aging to the
pollution of BC-containing particles in urban Beijing during wintertime.
However, for individual pollution events, primary species (fossil fuel, coal
and biomass-burning emissions) could also play a dominant role, as revealed
by the compositions of BC-containing particles in two polluted episodes during the
sampling period.
Aerosol monitoring in Siberia using an 808 nm automatic compact lidar
Authors: Ancellet Gerard , Penner Iogannes E. , Pelon Jacques , Mariage Vincent , Zabukovec Antonin , Raut Jean Christophe , Kokhanenko Grigorii , Balin Yuri S.
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Our study provides new information on aerosol-type seasonal variability
and sources in Siberia using observations (ground-based lidar and
sun photometer combined with satellite measurements). A micropulse lidar
emitting at 808 nm provided almost continuous aerosol backscatter
measurements for 18 months (April 2015 to September 2016) in Siberia, near
the city of Tomsk (56∘ N, 85∘ E). A total of 540 vertical
profiles (300 daytime and 240 night-time) of backscatter ratio and aerosol
extinction have been retrieved over periods of 30 min, after a careful
calibration factor analysis. Lidar ratio and extinction profiles are
constrained with sun-photometer aerosol optical depth at 808 nm (AOD808)
for 70 % of the daytime lidar measurements, while 26 % of the night-time lidar
ratio and AOD808 greater than 0.04 are constrained by direct lidar
measurements at an altitude greater than 7.5 km and where a low aerosol
concentration is found. An aerosol source apportionment using the Lagrangian
FLEXPART model is used in order to determine the lidar ratio of the remaining
48 % of the lidar database. Backscatter ratio vertical profile, aerosol type
and AOD808 derived from micropulse lidar data are compared with
sun-photometer AOD808 and satellite observations (CALIOP space-borne lidar
backscatter and extinction profiles, Moderate Resolution Imaging
Spectroradiometer (MODIS) AOD550 and Infrared Atmospheric Sounding
Interferometer (IASI) CO column) for three case studies corresponding to the
main aerosol sources with AOD808>0.2 in Siberia. Aerosol typing using
the FLEXPART model is consistent with the detailed analysis of the three case
studies. According to the analysis of aerosol sources, the occurrence of
layers linked to natural emissions (vegetation, forest fires and dust) is
high (56 %), but anthropogenic emissions still contribute to 44 % of the
detected layers (one-third from flaring and two-thirds from urban emissions). The
frequency of dust events is very low (5 %). When only looking at AOD808>0.1, contributions from taiga emissions, forest fires and urban pollution
become equivalent (25 %), while those from flaring and dust are lower
(10 %–13 %). The lidar data can also be used to assess the contribution of
different altitude ranges to the large AOD. For example, aerosols related to
the urban and flaring emissions remain confined below 2.5 km, while aerosols
from dust events are mainly observed above 2.5 km. Aerosols from forest fire
emissions are observed to be the opposite, both within and above the planetary boundary layer (PBL).
Connection between the length of day and wind measurements in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere at mid- and high latitudes
Authors: Wilhelm Sven , Stober Gunter , Matthias Vivien , Jacobi Christoph , Murphy Damian J.
Published: January 2019

Abstract. This work presents a connection between the density variation
within the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) and changes in the
intensity of solar radiation. On a seasonal timescale, these changes take
place due to the revolution of the Earth around the Sun. While the Earth,
during the northern-hemispheric (NH) winter, is closer to the Sun, the upper
mesosphere expands due to an increased radiation intensity, which results in
changes in density at these heights. These density variations, i.e., a
vertical redistribution of atmospheric mass, have an effect on the rotation
rate of Earth's upper atmosphere owing to angular momentum conservation. In
order to test this effect, we applied a theoretical model, which shows a
decrease in the atmospheric rotation speed of about
∼4 m s−1 at a latitude of 45∘
in the case of a density change of 1 % between 70 and 100 km. To support
this statement, we compare the wind variability obtained from meteor radar
(MR) and Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) satellite observations with fluctuations in the length of a day
(LOD). Changes in the LOD on timescales of a year and less are primarily
driven by tropospheric large-scale geophysical processes and their impact on
the Earth's rotation. A global increase in lower-atmospheric
eastward-directed winds leads, due to friction with the Earth's surface, to an
acceleration of the Earth's rotation by up to a few milliseconds per
rotation. The LOD shows an increase during northern winter and decreases
during summer, which corresponds to changes in the MLT density due to the
Earth–Sun movement. Within the MLT the mean zonal wind shows similar
fluctuations to the LOD on annual scales as well as longer time series, which
are connected to the seasonal wind regime as well as to density changes
excited by variations in the solar radiation. A direct correlation between
the local measured winds and the LOD on shorter timescales cannot clearly be
identified, due to stronger influences of other natural oscillations on the
wind. Further, we show that, even after removing the seasonal and 11-year
solar cycle variations, the mean zonal wind and the LOD are connected by
analyzing long-term tendencies for the years 2005–2016.
Climate change, re-/afforestation, and urbanisation impacts on evapotranspiration and streamflow in Europe
Authors: Teuling Adriaan J. , de Badts Emile , Jansen Femke A. , Fuchs Richard , Buitink Joost , Hoek van Dijke Anne J. , Sterling Shannon
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Since the 1950s, Europe has seen large shifts in climate and land cover. Previous assessments of past and future changes in evapotranspiration or streamflow have either focussed on land use/cover or climate contributions, or have focussed on individual catchments under specific climate conditions. Here, we aim to understand how decadal changes in climate (e.g., precipitation, temperature) and land use (e.g., de-/afforestation, urbanization) have impacted the amount and distribution of water resources availability across Europe since the 1950s. To this end, we simulate the distribution of green and blue water fluxes at high-resolution (1 × 1 km) by combining (a) a steady-state Budyko model for water balance partitioning constrained by long-term (lysimeter) observations across different land-use types, (b) a novel decadal high-resolution historical land use reconstruction, and (c) gridded observations of key meteorological variables. The continental-scale patterns in the simulations agree well with coarser-scale observation-based estimates of evapotranspiration, and also with observed changes in streamflow from small basins across Europe. We find that strong shifts in the continental-scale patterns of evapotranspiration and streamflow have occured from 1950 to 2010. In Sweden, for example, increased precipitation dominates effects of large scale re- and afforestation leading to increases in both streamflow and evapotranspiration. In most of the Mediterrenean, decreased precipitation combines with increased forest cover and potential evapotranspiration to reduce streamflow. In spite of local and regional scale complexity, the Europe-wide net contribution of land use, precipitation and potential evapotranspiration changes to changes in ET is similar with around ~ 40 km3/y, equivalent to the discharge of a large river. For streamflow, changes in precipitation dominate land use and potential evapotranspiration contributions with ~ 90 km3/y compared to ~ 45 km3/y. Locally, increased forest cover and urbanisation have lead to significant decreases and increases of available streamflow.
Compact design of a novel precise cable drive mechanism with high precision and large torque-to-weight ratio
Authors: Xie Xin , Jiang Xianliang , Fan Shixun , Fan Dapeng
Published: January 2019

Abstract. Precise cable drive is an elegant transmission mode and has many
advantages of high efficiency, flexible layout, besides being lightweight.
Since the common layout, Single-Input Single-Output (SISO) spur gear
configuration, suffers from low torque-to-weight ratio and loose structure,
this paper proposes a novel transmission configuration with large
torque-to-weight and compact size. It combines the advantages of
Multiple-Input Single-Output (MISO) configuration and bevel gear
configuration. The design methods and transmission kinematics of the novel
configuration are studied. An analytical model is developed for
characterizing the transmission backlash of the proposed configuration, which
is derived by simultaneous satisfying system's constitutive relation,
equilibrium, and geometric constraints. Parametric sensitivities are carried
out to investigate the influence of the major design parameter on the
transmission characteristics. At last, a prototype of MISO with bevel gear
configuration cable drive mechanism (MBCDM) is built, with which a series of
experiments are carried out. This mechanism could achieve maximum output
torque of 3.3 Nm with considerable toque-to-weight ratio of
9.649 Nm kg−1. The experimental results show that the transmission
backlash and ripple torque are dominant nonlinear effects in the MBCDM
system. It shows that the ripple torque is connected with the rotational
displacement, with the highest peak at 694.3 cycle rad−1 and the
amplitude of 24.67 µrad. The transmission backlash experimental
results are in good agreement with simulation ones, with the error level of
4.14 %.