bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Central vs. peripheral determinants of sympathetic neural recruitment: insights from static handgrip exercise and postexercise circulatory occlusion
Authors: Badrov Mark B. , Olver T. Dylan , Shoemaker J. Kevin
Published: October 2016

Sympathetic outflow is modified during acute homeostatic stress through increased firing of low-threshold axons, recruitment of latent axons, and synaptic delay modifications. However, the role of central mechanisms versus peripheral reflex control over sympathetic recruitment remains unknown. Here, we examined sympathetic discharge patterns during fatiguing static handgrip (SHG) exercise and postexercise circulatory occlusion (PECO) to study the central vs. peripheral reflex elements of sympathetic neural coding. Muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA; microneurography) was measured in six males (25 ± 3 yr) at baseline (3 min) and during 5 min of SHG exercise completed at 20% maximal voluntary contraction. Isolation of the peripheral metaboreflex component was achieved by PECO for 3 min. Action potential (AP) patterns were studied using wavelet-based methodology. Compared with baseline, total MSNA increased by minute 3 of SHG, remaining elevated throughout the duration of exercise and PECO (all P < 0.05). The AP content per burst increased above baseline by minute 4 of SHG (Δ4 ± 2), remaining elevated at minute 5 (Δ6 ± 4) and PECO (Δ4 ± 4; all P < 0.05). Similarly, total AP clusters increased by minute 4 of SHG (Δ5 ± 5) and remained elevated at minute 5 (Δ6 ± 3) and PECO (Δ7 ± 5; all P < 0.01), indicating recruitment of latent subpopulations. Finally, the AP cluster size-latency profile was shifted downward during minutes 4 (−32 ± 22 ms) and 5 (−49 ± 17 ms; both P < 0.05) of SHG but was not different than baseline during PECO ( P > 0.05). Our findings suggest that central perceptual factors play a specific role in the synaptic delay aspect of sympathetic discharge timing, whereas peripheral reflex mechanisms affect recruitment of latent axons.
Effect of sodium nitrite on local control of contracting skeletal muscle microvascular oxygen pressure in healthy rats
Authors: Colburn Trenton D. , Ferguson Scott K. , Holdsworth Clark T. , Craig Jesse C. , Musch Timothy I. , Poole David C.
Published: October 2016

Exercise intolerance characteristic of diseases such as chronic heart failure (CHF) and diabetes is associated with reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability from nitric oxide synthase (NOS), resulting in an impaired microvascular O2 driving pressure (Po2 mv; O2 delivery/O2 utilization) and metabolic control. Infusions of the potent NO donor sodium nitroprusside augment NO bioavailability yet decrease mean arterial pressure (MAP) thereby reducing its potential efficacy for patient populations. To eliminate or reduce hypotensive sequelae, [Formula: see text] was superfused onto the spinotrapezius muscle. It was hypothesized that local [Formula: see text] administration would elevate resting Po2 mv and slow Po2 mv kinetics [increased time constant (τ) and mean response time (MRT)] following the onset of muscle contractions without decreasing MAP. In 12 anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats, Po2 mv of the circulation-intact spinotrapezius muscle was measured by phosphorescence quenching during 180 s of electrically induced twitch contractions (1 Hz) before and after superfusion of sodium nitrite (NaNO2 30 mM). [Formula: see text] superfusion elevated resting Po2 mv (control: 28.4 ± 1.1 vs. [Formula: see text]: 31.6 ± 1.2 mmHg; P ≤ 0.05), τ (control: 12.3 ± 1.2 vs. [Formula: see text]: 19.7 ± 2.2 s; P ≤ 0.05), and MRT (control: 19.3 ± 1.9 vs. [Formula: see text]: 25.6 ± 3.3 s; P ≤ 0.05). Importantly, these effects occurred in the absence of any reduction in MAP (103 ± 4 vs. 105 ± 4 mmHg, pre- and postsuperfusion respectively; P > 0.05). These results indicate that [Formula: see text] supplementation delivered to the muscle directly through [Formula: see text] superfusion enhances the blood-myocyte oxygen driving pressure without compromising MAP at rest and following the onset of muscle contraction. This strategy has substantial clinical utility for a range of ischemic conditions.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Ischemic conditions as diverse as chronic heart failure (CHF) and frostbite inflict tissue damage via inadequate O2 delivery. Herein we demonstrate that direct application of sodium nitrite enhances the O2 supply-O2 demand relationship, raising microvascular O2 pressure in healthy skeletal muscle. This therapeutic action of nitrite-derived nitric oxide occurred without inducing systemic hypotension and has the potential to relieve focal ischemia and preserve tissue vitality by enhancing O2 delivery.
Referent control and motor equivalence of reaching from standing
Authors: Tomita Yosuke , Feldman Anatol G. , Levin Mindy F.
Published: October 2016

Motor actions may result from central changes in the referent body configuration, defined as the body posture at which muscles begin to be activated or deactivated. The actual body configuration deviates from the referent configuration, particularly because of body inertia and environmental forces. Within these constraints, the system tends to minimize the difference between these configurations. For pointing movement, this strategy can be expressed as the tendency to minimize the difference between the referent trajectory (RT) and actual trajectory (QT) of the effector (hand). This process may underlie motor equivalent behavior that maintains the pointing trajectory regardless of the number of body segments involved. We tested the hypothesis that the minimization process is used to produce pointing in standing subjects. With eyes closed, 10 subjects reached from a standing position to a remembered target located beyond arm length. In randomly chosen trials, hip flexion was unexpectedly prevented, forcing subjects to take a step during pointing to prevent falling. The task was repeated when subjects were instructed to intentionally take a step during pointing. In most cases, reaching accuracy and trajectory curvature were preserved due to adaptive condition-specific changes in interjoint coordination. Results suggest that referent control and the minimization process associated with it may underlie motor equivalence in pointing.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Motor actions may result from minimization of the deflection of the actual body configuration from the centrally specified referent body configuration, in the limits of neuromuscular and environmental constraints. The minimization process may maintain reaching trajectory and accuracy regardless of the number of body segments involved (motor equivalence), as confirmed in this study of reaching from standing in young healthy individuals. Results suggest that the referent control process may underlie motor equivalence in reaching.
The relationship between ERP components and EEG spatial complexity in a visual Go/Nogo task
Authors: Jia Huibin , Li Huayun , Yu Dongchuan
Published: October 2016

The ERP components and variations of spatial complexity or functional connectivity are two distinct dimensions of neurophysiological events in the visual Go/Nogo task. Extensive studies have been conducted on these two distinct dimensions; however, no study has investigated whether these two neurophysiological events are linked to each other in the visual Go/Nogo task. The relationship between spatial complexity of electroencephalographic (EEG) data, quantified by the measure omega complexity, and event-related potential (ERP) components in a visual Go/Nogo task was studied. We found that with the increase of spatial complexity level, the latencies of N1 and N2 component were shortened and the amplitudes of N1, N2, and P3 components were decreased. The anterior Go/Nogo N2 effect and the Go/Nogo P3 effect were also found to be decreased with the increase of EEG spatial complexity. In addition, the reaction times in high spatial complexity trials were significantly shorter than those of medium and low spatial complexity trials when the time interval used to estimate the EEG spatial complexity was extended to 0∼1,000 ms after stimulus onset. These results suggest that high spatial complexity may be associated with faster cognitive processing and smaller postsynaptic potentials that occur simultaneously in large numbers of cortical pyramidal cells of certain brain regions. The EEG spatial complexity is closely related with demands of certain cognitive processes and the neural processing efficiency of human brain.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The reaction times, the latencies/amplitudes of event-related potential (ERP) components, the Go/Nogo N2 effect, and the Go/Nogo P3 effect are linked to the electroencephalographic (EEG) spatial complexity level. The EEG spatial complexity is closely related to demands of certain cognitive processes and could reflect the neural processing efficiency of human brain. Obtaining the single-trial ERP features through single-trial spatial complexity may be a more efficient approach than traditional methods.
Evidence of common and separate eye and hand accumulators underlying flexible eye-hand coordination
Authors: Jana Sumitash , Gopal Atul , Murthy Aditya
Published: October 2016

Eye and hand movements are initiated by anatomically separate regions in the brain, and yet these movements can be flexibly coupled and decoupled, depending on the need. The computational architecture that enables this flexible coupling of independent effectors is not understood. Here, we studied the computational architecture that enables flexible eye-hand coordination using a drift diffusion framework, which predicts that the variability of the reaction time (RT) distribution scales with its mean. We show that a common stochastic accumulator to threshold, followed by a noisy effector-dependent delay, explains eye-hand RT distributions and their correlation in a visual search task that required decision-making, while an interactive eye and hand accumulator model did not. In contrast, in an eye-hand dual task, an interactive model better predicted the observed correlations and RT distributions than a common accumulator model. Notably, these two models could only be distinguished on the basis of the variability and not the means of the predicted RT distributions. Additionally, signatures of separate initiation signals were also observed in a small fraction of trials in the visual search task, implying that these distinct computational architectures were not a manifestation of the task design per se. Taken together, our results suggest two unique computational architectures for eye-hand coordination, with task context biasing the brain toward instantiating one of the two architectures.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Previous studies on eye-hand coordination have considered mainly the means of eye and hand reaction time (RT) distributions. Here, we leverage the approximately linear relationship between the mean and standard deviation of RT distributions, as predicted by the drift-diffusion model, to propose the existence of two distinct computational architectures underlying coordinated eye-hand movements. These architectures, for the first time, provide a computational basis for the flexible coupling between eye and hand movements.
CRF-Based Model for Instrument Detection and Pose Estimation in Retinal Microsurgery
Authors: Alsheakhali Mohamed , Eslami Abouzar , Roodaki Hessam , Navab Nassir
Published: October 2016

Detection of instrument tip in retinal microsurgery videos is extremely challenging due to rapid motion, illumination changes, the cluttered background, and the deformable shape of the instrument. For the same reason, frequent failures in tracking add the overhead of reinitialization of the tracking. In this work, a new method is proposed to localize not only the instrument center point but also its tips and orientation without the need of manual reinitialization. Our approach models the instrument as a Conditional Random Field (CRF) where each part of the instrument is detected separately. The relations between these parts are modeled to capture the translation, rotation, and the scale changes of the instrument. The tracking is done via separate detection of instrument parts and evaluation of confidence via the modeled dependence functions. In case of low confidence feedback an automatic recovery process is performed. The algorithm is evaluated on in vivo ophthalmic surgery datasets and its performance is comparable to the state-of-the-art methods with the advantage that no manual reinitialization is needed.
The Case for Musical Instrument Training in Cerebral Palsy for Neurorehabilitation
Authors: Alves-Pinto Ana , Turova Varvara , Blumenstein Tobias , Lampe Renée
Published: October 2016

Recent imaging studies in cerebral palsy (CP) have described several brain structural changes, functional alterations, and neuroplastic processes that take place after brain injury during early development. These changes affect motor pathways as well as sensorimotor networks. Several of these changes correlate with behavioral measures of motor and sensory disability. It is now widely acknowledged that management of sensory deficits is relevant for rehabilitation in CP. Playing a musical instrument demands the coordination of hand movements with integrated auditory, visual, and tactile feedback, in a process that recruits multiple brain regions. These multiple demands during instrument playing, together with the entertaining character of music, have led to the development and investigation of music-supported therapies, especially for rehabilitation with motor disorders resulting from brain damage. We review scientific evidence that supports the use of musical instrument playing for rehabilitation in CP. We propose that active musical instrument playing may be an efficient means for triggering neuroplastic processes necessary for the development of sensorimotor skills in patients with early brain damage. We encourage experimental research on neuroplasticity and on its impact on the physical and personal development of individuals with CP.
A TDoA Localization Scheme for Underwater Sensor Networks with Use of Multilinear Chirp Signals
Authors: Cheng En , Lin Xizhou , Chen Shengli , Yuan Fei
Published: October 2016

Due to the multipath, Doppler, and other effects, the node location signals have high probability of access collision in the underwater acoustic sensor networks (UW-ASNs), and therefore, it causes the signal lost and the access block; therefore, it constrains the networks performance. In this paper, we take the multilinear chirp (MLC) signals as the location signal to improve the anticollision ability. In order to increase the detection efficiency of MLC, we propose a fast efficient detection method called mixing change rate-fractional Fourier transform (MCR-FrFT). This method transforms the combined rates of MLC into symmetry triangle rates and then separates the multiuser signals based on the transformed rates by using FrFT. Theoretical derivation and simulation results show that the proposed method can detect the locations signals, estimate the time difference of arrival (TDoA), reduce the multiple access interference, and improve the location performance.
Apolipoprotein E Gene Variants and Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Xu Min , Zhao Jun , Zhang Yu , Ma Xu , Dai Qiaoyun , Zhi Hong , Wang Bei , Wang Lina
Published: October 2016

Objectives.Apo Egenes involved in lipoprotein synthesis and metabolism are considered one of the candidates to CHD. However, the results remain conflicting.Methods. We performed this meta-analysis based on 30 published studies including 11,804 CHD patients and 17,713 controls.Results. Compared with the wild genotype E3/3, the variant genotypesApoEE3/4 and E4/4 were associated with 22% and 45% increased risk of CHD, respectively (E3/4 versus E3/3: OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.15–1.29; E4/4 versus E3/3: OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.23–1.71). Besides, compared withε3 allele, carriers with theε4 allele had a 46% increased risk of CHD (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.28–1.66), while theε2 had no significantly decreased risk of CHD. In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity,ε4 had a 25% increased risk of CHD in Caucasians (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.11–1.41), and the effects were more evident in Mongolians (OR = 2.29, 95% CI = 1.89–2.77). Theε2 allele had a decreased risk of CHD in Caucasians (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.74–0.96), but not in Mongolians.Conclusions. The analysis suggested thatApoEε4 mutation was associated with the increased risk of CHD, whileApoEε2 allele had a decreased risk of CHD just in Caucasians.
Evaluation of Hypoglycemic and Genotoxic Effect of Polyphenolic Bark Extract from Quercus sideroxyla
Authors: Soto-García Marcela , Rosales-Castro Martha , Escalona-Cardoso Gerardo N. , Paniagua-Castro Norma
Published: October 2016

Quercus sideroxyla is a wood species whose bark has phenolic compound and should be considered to be bioactive; the hypoglycemic and genotoxic properties of Q. sideroxyla bark were evaluated in this study. Total phenolic compound was determined in crude extract (CE) and organic extract (OE). The OE has the highest amount of phenols (724.1 ± 12.0 GAE/g). Besides, both CE and OE demonstrated effect over the inhibition of α‐amylase in vitro. Hypoglycemic activity was assessed by glucose tolerance curve and the area under curve (UAC); OE showed the highest hypoglycemic activity. In addition, diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) and the extracts (50 mg/kg) were administered for 10 days; OE showed hypoglycemic effect compared with diabetic control and decreased hepatic lipid peroxidation. Acute toxicity and genotoxicity were evaluated in CE; results of acute toxicity did not show any mortality. Besides, the comet assay showed that CE at a dose of 100 mg/kg did not show any genotoxic effect when evaluated at 24 h, whereas it induced slight damage at 200 mg/kg, with the formation of type 1 comets.
A Numerical Computation of a System of Linear and Nonlinear Time Dependent Partial Differential Equations Using Reduced Differential Transform Method
Authors: Singh Brajesh Kumar , Mahendra
Published: October 2016

This paper deals with an analytical solution of an initial value system of time dependent linear and nonlinear partial differential equations by implementing reduced differential transform (RDT) method. The effectiveness and the convergence of RDT method are tested by means of five test problems, which indicates the validity and great potential of the reduced differential transform method for solving system of partial differential equations.
Correct Definition of Sound Speed and Its Consequences in the Tasks of Hydrodynamics
Authors: Kirtskhalia Vladimir
Published: October 2016

The paper considers the applied problems of hydrodynamics and based on the new results, published by the author in recent years, shows that main assumptions used in the course of their solution, namely, incompressibility of liquids and potentiality of their movement, are not applicable to liquids in the gravitational field of the Earth.
Spontaneous Renal Artery Dissection in a Patient with Neurofibromatosis Type I
Authors: Shammas Nicolas W. , Chammas Majid Z. , Robken Jon , Coyne Edmund
Published: October 2016

We present a case of spontaneous renal artery dissection (SRAD) in a 28-year-old female with history of neurofibromatosis type I (NF-1) treated successfully with endovascular stenting. The clinical presentation, diagnostic testing, and treatment options are discussed. An endovascular approach with stenting was successfully performed after failure of medical treatment with subcutaneous low molecular weight heparin. Patient’s blood pressure and symptoms improved significantly. This may be the first reported case of SRAD in a patient with NF-1 successfully treated with endovascular stenting.
Equivalent Inertial Force Method of Seismic Calculation for Subway Station in Soft Site
Authors: Wang Guofu , Shang Jinhua , Ma Xianfeng , Xu Xiyong
Published: October 2016

On the basis of the structural characteristics of subway stations, structural inertial force can be simplified as multiple concentrated force acting on the member connecting node by using equivalent inertial force method of seismic calculation in soft site, and then internal forces of the structure will be analyzed. According to the principle that the maximum bending moment values of equivalent inertial force method and dynamic time-history analysis method are equal and the location is the same, the value of equivalent inertial force is determined, and the shear and axial force are ensured by introducing correction factor. The result shows that the calculation results of equivalent inertial force method are accurate and reliable. It can meet the design requirements and improve computational efficiency.
Relating Corroded Seven-Strand, Posttensioned Cable Cross-Sectional Properties to Load Capacity
Authors: Haskins Richard , White Barry , Ebeling Robert , Evans James
Published: October 2016

Multistrand anchors have seen widespread use, providing strength and stability at hydraulic Corps facilities. However, these steel tendons are subject to strength reduction as an effect of corrosion. Methods for evaluating the corroded cable strength do not exist to accurately estimate the time until tendon cables would have to be replaced (at great expense). The following five research tasks are used to address this deficiency: laboratory accelerated corrosion; pull-tests on pristine and laboratory corroded cables; optical scanning; data collection correlated with cross-sectional properties of cables; and development of a method to relate this data to the field. The pull-tests provide measured capacities for seven-strand, posttensioned (PT) cables. An optical scan of the corroded cables provides cross-sectional properties of individual wires within the pulled cables. Trendlines are established for the related peak cable capacities and cross-sectional properties in an effort to determine their correlations. Trendlines for minimum wire area and second-moment short axis diameter are found with low error, making them good predictors of loaded cable capacity. This pull-test dataset has been related back to cable failure in the field, assuming a linear rate of corrosion loss for the cross-sectional properties and required PT capacity.
Dielectric Resonator Antennas: Basic Concepts, Design Guidelines, and Recent Developments at Millimeter-Wave Frequencies
Authors: Keyrouz S. , Caratelli D.
Published: October 2016

An up-to-date literature overview on relevant approaches for controlling circuital characteristics and radiation properties of dielectric resonator antennas (DRAs) is presented. The main advantages of DRAs are discussed in detail, while reviewing the most effective techniques for antenna feeding as well as for size reduction. Furthermore, advanced design solutions for enhancing the realized gain of individual DRAs are investigated. In this way, guidance is provided to radio frequency (RF) front-end designers in the selection of different antenna topologies useful to achieve the required antenna performance in terms of frequency response, gain, and polarization. Particular attention is put in the analysis of the progress which is being made in the application of DRA technology at millimeter-wave frequencies.
A New Approach for the Approximations of Solutions to a Common Fixed Point Problem in Metric Fixed Point Theory
Authors: Altun Ishak , Al Arifi Nassir , Jleli Mohamed , Lashin Aref , Samet Bessem
Published: October 2016

We provide sufficient conditions for the existence of a unique common fixed point for a pair of mappings T,S:X→X, where X is a nonempty set endowed with a certain metric. Moreover, a numerical algorithm is presented in order to approximate such solution. Our approach is different to the usual used methods in the literature.
A Dynamic Pricing Reverse Auction-Based Resource Allocation Mechanism in Cloud Workflow Systems
Authors: Li Xuejun , Ding Ruimiao , Liu Xiao , Liu Xiangjun , Zhu Erzhou , Zhong Yunxiang
Published: October 2016

Market-oriented reverse auction is an efficient and cost-effective method for resource allocation in cloud workflow systems since it can dynamically allocate resources depending on the supply-demand relationship of the cloud market. However, during the auction the price of cloud resource is usually fixed, and the current resource allocation mechanisms cannot adapt to the changeable market properly which results in the low efficiency of resource utilization. To address such a problem, a dynamic pricing reverse auction-based resource allocation mechanism is proposed. During the auction, resource providers can change prices according to the trading situation so that our novel mechanism can increase the chances of making a deal and improve efficiency of resource utilization. In addition, resource providers can improve their competitiveness in the market by lowering prices, and thus users can obtain cheaper resources in shorter time which would decrease monetary cost and completion time for workflow execution. Experiments with different situations and problem sizes are conducted for dynamic pricing-based allocation mechanism (DPAM) on resource utilization and the measurement of Time⁎Cost (TC). The results show that our DPAM can outperform its representative in resource utilization, monetary cost, and completion time and also obtain the optimal price reduction rates.
Optimal Decisions for Prepositioning Emergency Supplies Problem with Type-2 Fuzzy Variables
Authors: Bai Xuejie
Published: October 2016

Prepositioning emergency supplies serves an important function in disaster relief operations. This paper presents a new class of fuzzy prepositioning emergency supplies model for three-echelon humanitarian logistics network, in which the postdisaster acquisition and transportation costs, the suppliers’ supply, and affected areas’ demand are uncertain and characterized by type-2 fuzzy variables with known possibility distributions. Since the inherent complexity of fuzzy prepositioning problem may be troublesome, the existing methods are no longer effective in dealing with the proposed model directly. We first derive the optimistic and pessimistic values formula for credibility value-at-risk (CVaR) reduced fuzzy variable of type-2 trapezoidal fuzzy variable. On the basis of formula obtained, we can convert original fuzzy prepositioning model into its equivalent parametric mixed integer programming form, which can be solved by conventional algorithms or general-purpose software. Finally, some numerical experiments have been performed to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed model and solution strategy.
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Does Not Correlate with Risk for Maternal Breast Cancer: Results from the Finnish Maternity Cohort
Authors: Fortner Renée T. , Schock Helena , Kaaks Rudolf , Lehtinen Matti , Pukkala Eero , Lakso Hans-Åke , Tanner Minna , Kallio Raija , Joensuu Heikki , Korpela Jaana , Toriola Adetunji T. , Hallmans Göran , Grankvist Kjell , Zeleniuch-Jacquotte Anne , Toniolo Paolo , Lundin Eva , Surcel Heljä-Marja
Published: October 2016

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is necessary for the maintenance of early pregnancy and promotes normal breast cell differentiation. Administered hCG reduces risk of carcinogen-induced breast cancer in animal models, and higher circulating hCG concentrations were associated with significantly lower long-term risk of breast cancer in a prior nested case–control study. In this study, we investigated early-pregnancy hCG concentrations and subsequent breast cancer risk. We conducted a nested case–control study with 1,191 cases and 2,257 controls (matched on age and date at blood collection) in the Finnish Maternity Cohort, a cohort with serum samples from 98% of pregnancies registered in Finland since 1983. This study included women with a serum sample collected early (<140 days gestation) in their first pregnancy resulting in a live, term birth. Breast cancer cases were identified via the Finnish Cancer Registry. Age at breast cancer diagnosis ranged from 22 to 58 years (mean: 41 years). hCG was measured using a solid-phase competitive chemiluminescence assay. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated using conditional logistic regression. We observed no association between hCG and breast cancer risk, overall [Quartile 4 vs. 1, OR, 1.14; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.94–1.39], by estrogen and progesterone receptor status, or by ages at first-term birth or diagnosis. Associations did not differ by time between pregnancy and diagnosis (e.g., <5 years, ORQ4 vs. Q1, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.64–1.89; ≥15 years, ORQ4 vs. Q1, 1.36; 95% CI, 0.86–2.13; pheterogeneity = 0.62). This large prospective study does not support an inverse relationship between early pregnancy serum hCG concentrations and breast cancer risk. Cancer Res; 77(1); 134–41. ©2016 AACR.
Experimental Electrophysiological and Pressure Responses of Urinary Bladder Detrusor to Lumbar to Sacral Nerve Rerouting - An Animal Study with Negative Results
Authors: Zerhau Pavel , Mackerle Zdeněk , Husár Matej , Sochůrková Daniela , Brichtová Eva , Gopfert Eduard , Faldyna Martin , Kubát Martin , Plánka Ladislav
Published: October 2016

Background/Aims/Objectives: To verify the transfer of evoked potentials through anastomosis of an experimentally created micturition reflex arc and to detect said potentials directly on the detrusor and sphincter of rabbit urinary bladder. Methods: During 2013-2015, 17 rabbits were operated upon and measurement followed during reoperation 3-16 months later. Suitable ventral spinal roots were electrophysiologically detected following laminectomy, and a somatic-central nervous system-autonomic micturition reflex arc was created. During reoperation, the ventral root was stimulated above and below the anastomosis, the evoked potentials on the bladder detrusor and sphincter were measured, and intravesical pressure was monitored. Results: With stimulation above the anastomosis, 9 animals (53%) displayed a urinary bladder detrusor response and 7 (41%) a sphincter response. Four rabbits (24%) had elevated intravesical pressure. During the control stimulation below the anastomosis, we detected a detrusor response in 7 animals (41%), a sphincter response in 5 (29%), and elevated pressure in 4 (24%). Neither induction of micturition nor decrease in external sphincter activity occurred. Conclusions: Creation of a somatic-CNS-autonomic reflex arc is technically possible. However reflex activity transferring through the anastomosis is detectable on the detrusor only in some individuals, and is unable to induce a micturition reflex with or without accompanying detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia.
Real-life treatment of venous thromboembolism with direct oral anticoagulants: The influence of recommended dosing and regimens
Authors: Trujillo-Santos Javier , Micco Pierpaolo Di , Dentali Francesco , Douketis James , Díaz-Peromingo José Antonio , Núñez Manuel Jesús , Cañas Inmaculada , Mastroiacovo Daniela , De Sousa Marta Saraiva , Monreal Manuel ,   RIETE Investigators
Published: October 2016

In patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE), the influence on outcome of using direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) at non-recommended doses or regimens (once vs twice daily) has not been investigated yet. We used the RIETE (Registro Informatizado Enfermedad TromboEmbólica) registry to compare the outcomes in patients with VTE receiving DOACs according to the recommendations of the product label versus in those receiving non-recommended doses and/or regimens. The major outcomes were the rate of VTE recurrences, major bleeding and death during the course of therapy. As of March 2016, 1635 VTE patients had received DOACs for initial therapy and 1725 for long-term therapy. For initial therapy, 287 of 1591 patients (18 %) on rivaroxaban and 22 of 44 (50 %) on apixaban did not receive the recommended therapy. For long-term therapy, 217 of 1611 patients (14 %) on rivaroxaban, 29 of 81 (36 %) on apixaban and 15 of 33 (46 %) on dabigatran did not receive the recommended therapy. During the course of therapy with DOACs, eight patients developed VTE recurrences, 14 had major bleeding and 13 died. Patients receiving DOACs at non-recommended doses and/or regimens experienced a higher rate of VTE recurrences (adjusted HR: 10.5; 95 %CI: 1.28–85.9) and a similar rate of major bleeding (adjusted HR: 1.04; 95 %CI: 0.36–3.03) or death (adjusted HR: 1.41; 95 %CI: 0.46–4.29) than those receiving the recommended doses and regimens. In our cohort, a non-negligible proportion of VTE patients received non-recommended doses and/or regimens of DOACs. This use may be associated with worse outcomes.
The Hippo pathway regulates human megakaryocytic differentiation
Authors: Lorthongpanich Chanchao , Jiamvoraphong Nittaya , Supraditaporn Kantpitchar , Klaihmon Phatchanat , U-pratya Yaowalak , Issaragrisil Surapol
Published: October 2016

The Hippo pathway is involved in several biological processes in both flies and mammals. Recent studies have shown that the Hippo pathway regulates Drosophila’s haematopoiesis; however, understanding of its role in mammalian haematopoiesis is still limited. In flies, deletion of the Hippo component gene, Warts, affects crystal cell differentiation. We explored the role of the Hippo pathway in human haemato-poiesis focusing on megakaryopoiesis. To investigate the role of LATS1/2 (a mammalian homolog of Warts) in human megakaryo -blastic cell differentiation and platelet formation, megakaryoblastic cell (MEG-01) line was used as a model to gain insight into mechan-ism of the Hippo pathway in mammalian megakaryopoiesis. Effect of LATS1/2 on megakaryoblastic cell differentiation and platelet production were determined by functional changes. We found that depletion of LATS1/2 resulted in an increase of CD41+ megakaryocytes with impaired platelet biogenesis. Our study shows that the Hippo signalling pathway plays a crucial role in human megakaryoblastic cell differentiation and thrombopoiesis.

Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
JUDICIALIZAÇÃO DA SAÚDE E DIÁLOGO INSTITUCIONAL: A EXPERIÊNCIA DE LAGES (SC)
Authors: Asensi Felipe , Pinheiro Roseni
Published: October 2016

A judicialização do direito à saúde tende a ser pensada sob o prisma da propositura de ações judiciais, mas existe uma série de estratégias extrajudiciais que podem ser desenvolvidas com a presença do Judiciário. O objetivo deste artigo consiste em analisar a interação entre o Judiciário, os profissionais de saúde e a gestão na efetivação do direito à saúde. Para tal, foi realizada uma pesquisa em parceria com o Conselho Nacional de Justiça em 2013 e 2014 no município de Lages (SC), que buscou analisar as estratégias locais desenvolvidas. A experiência de Lages versou sobre o Núcleo de Conciliação de Medicamentos ou que, a partir da interação com o Consórcio Intermunicipal e com os atores políticos e jurídicos, passou a ser ferramenta de diálogo institucional. Esses arranjos permitiram uma atuação predominantemente extrajudicial e fomentaram o diálogo entre os diversos atores locais. O resultado foi a redução da litigiosidade e a ampliação de arranjos institucionais dialógicos.
Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia in Spain
Authors: Sánchez-Hernández Rosa M. , Civeira Fernando , Stef Marianne , Perez-Calahorra Sofía , Almagro Fátima , Plana Nuria , Novoa Francisco J. , Sáenz-Aranzubía Pedro , Mosquera Daniel , Soler Cristina , Fuentes Francisco J. , Brito-Casillas Yeray , Real Jose T. , Blanco-Vaca Francisco , Ascaso Juan F. , Pocovi Miguel
Published: October 2016

Background—

Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a rare disease characterized by elevated plasma levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and extremely high risk of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. HoFH is caused by mutations in several genes, including LDL receptor (
LDLR
), apolipoprotein B (
APOB
), proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (
PCSK9
), and LDL protein receptor adaptor 1 (
LDLRAP1
). No epidemiological studies have assessed HoFH prevalence or the clinical and molecular characteristics of this condition. Here, we aimed to characterize HoFH in Spain.

Methods and Results—

Data were collected from the Spanish Dyslipidemia Registry of the Spanish Atherosclerosis Society and from all molecular diagnoses performed for familial hypercholesterolemia in Spain between 1996 and 2015 (n=16 751). Clinical data included baseline lipid levels and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events. A total of 97 subjects were identified as having HoFH—of whom, 47 were true homozygous (1 for
APOB
, 5 for
LDLRAP1
, and 41 for
LDLR
), 45 compound heterozygous for
LDLR
, 3 double heterozygous for
LDLR
and
PSCK9
, and 2 double heterozygous for
LDLR
and
APOB
. No
PSCK9
homozygous cases were identified. Two variants in
LDLR
were identified in 4.8% of the molecular studies. Over 50% of patients did not meet the classical HoFH diagnosis criteria. The estimated HoFH prevalence was 1:450 000. Compared with compound heterozygous cases, true homozygous cases showed more aggressive phenotypes with higher LDL-C and more atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease events.

Conclusions—

HoFH frequency in Spain was higher than expected. Clinical criteria would underestimate the actual prevalence of individuals with genetic HoFH, highlighting the importance of genetic analysis to improve familial hypercholesterolemia diagnosis accuracy.
Surrealism Is a Thing: Rubrics and Objectivation in the Surrealist Periodical, 1924–2015
Authors: Hansen Catherine
Published: October 2016

What links the existing international surrealist movement—a network of groups who publish their essays and collective experiments in an array of print and online periodicals—to the 20th-century Surrealism of art history textbooks is, to a large extent, its periodical publishing practices. This article pays particular attention to the periodical rubric (defined as a heading or category under which a certain kind of text or image serially appears) and contextualizes its surrealist use within a broader poetics of “objectivation.” In Surrealism, objectivation is the creation of a “thing,” which is to say a form of doing or thinking that acquires a name and locus around which a social collectivity can coalesce. The article explores this process as it becomes manifest in the various rubrics used in surrealist periodicals past and present.
The Flora of Uzbekistan Project
Authors: SENNIKOV ALEXANDER N. , TOJIBAEV KOMILJON SH. , KHASSANOV FURKAT O. , BESHKO NATALYA YU.
Published: October 2016

A new project, ‘Flora of Uzbekistan’, is announced to start with publication in 2017. It aims at publishing a multi-volume taxonomic treatment of vascular plants of Uzbekistan, with complete synonymy, nomenclature, distribution data, descriptions and identification keys. The taxonomic treatment is supported by an extensive database of distribution records, used to generate distribution maps. The background information for the Flora is provided, and the structure and the format of the work are outlined.
An annotated checklist and lectotypification of Ostryopsis Decne. (Betulaceae), with notes on the numbering system in the collections of P.J.M. Delavay
Authors: HOLSTEIN NORBERT , WEIGEND MAXIMILIAN
Published: October 2016

Here, we present an annotated checklist of the hazel-hornbeams, Ostryopsis (Betulaceae), an endemic genus from China with three species. The best character for species determination is found to be the indument on the lower leaf lamina, while the infructescence shape may be misleading. A lectotype is designated for O. davidiana and O. nobilis. The name Ostryopsis davidiana var. cinerascens, which is commonly placed to either species, turned out to be a heterotypic synonym of the lately described O. intermedia. In the course of this work, we noticed that collections by P.J.M. Delavay contain three different numbering systems, which may be of significance for type identification, especially for names by A.R. Franchet based on Delavay’s collections.
Investigation of Dielectric Properties of Polymers and their Discrimination Using Terahertz Time-Domain Spectroscopy with Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Mumtaz Muhammad , Mahmood Ahsan , Khan Sabih D. , Zia M. Aslam , Ahmed Mushtaq , Ahmad Izhar
Published: October 2016

Polymers are among the most commonly used materials in our everyday life. They are generally transparent to terahertz (THz) radiation, but are quite difficult to differentiate using optical techniques as few or no characteristic features exist in the spectral range of <2.0 THz for small and portable radiation systems. In this work, we report experimental measurement of refractive indices and absorption coefficients of styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) and Bakelite in the spectral range of 0.2–2.0 THz for the first time. Additionally, we demonstrate that by combining principle component analysis (PCA) with THz time-domain spectroscopy one can differentiate such polymers. In this analysis, the first three principle components PC1, PC2, and PC3 depict >94% variance with a distribution of 72.45%, 11.52%, and 9.38%, respectively.
Selective Weighted Least Squares Method for Fourier Transform Infrared Quantitative Analysis
Authors: Wang Xin , Li Yan , Wei Haoyun , Chen Xia
Published: October 2016

Classical least squares (CLS) regression is a popular multivariate statistical method used frequently for quantitative analysis using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectrometry. Classical least squares provides the best unbiased estimator for uncorrelated residual errors with zero mean and equal variance. However, the noise in FT-IR spectra, which accounts for a large portion of the residual errors, is heteroscedastic. Thus, if this noise with zero mean dominates in the residual errors, the weighted least squares (WLS) regression method described in this paper is a better estimator than CLS. However, if bias errors, such as the residual baseline error, are significant, WLS may perform worse than CLS. In this paper, we compare the effect of noise and bias error in using CLS and WLS in quantitative analysis. Results indicated that for wavenumbers with low absorbance, the bias error significantly affected the error, such that the performance of CLS is better than that of WLS. However, for wavenumbers with high absorbance, the noise significantly affected the error, and WLS proves to be better than CLS. Thus, we propose a selective weighted least squares (SWLS) regression that processes data with different wavenumbers using either CLS or WLS based on a selection criterion, i.e., lower or higher than an absorbance threshold. The effects of various factors on the optimal threshold value (OTV) for SWLS have been studied through numerical simulations. These studies reported that: (1) the concentration and the analyte type had minimal effect on OTV; and (2) the major factor that influences OTV is the ratio between the bias error and the standard deviation of the noise. The last part of this paper is dedicated to quantitative analysis of methane gas spectra, and methane/toluene mixtures gas spectra as measured using FT-IR spectrometry and CLS, WLS, and SWLS. The standard error of prediction (SEP), bias of prediction (bias), and the residual sum of squares of the errors (RSS) from the three quantitative analyses were compared. In methane gas analysis, SWLS yielded the lowest SEP and RSS among the three methods. In methane/toluene mixture gas analysis, a modification of the SWLS has been presented to tackle the bias error from other components. The SWLS without modification presents the lowest SEP in all cases but not bias and RSS. The modification of SWLS reduced the bias, which showed a lower RSS than CLS, especially for small components.
La rappresentazione del Virgilio dantesco in Robert Hollander: Tragedia nella Commedia
Authors: Ellul Manuel J.
Published: October 2016

Il saggio prende in esame la figura del Virgilio di Dante secondo l’interpretazione offerta da uno dei critici danteschi più autorevoli del nostro tempo: Robert Hollander, che nello studio Il Virgilio dantesco: Tragedia nella “Commedia” (1983) presenta Virgilio non più come simbolo della ragione umana, ma come una “tragedia” nella Commedia. Anche se Dante nutre tanta ammirazione verso il suo maestro, questo non gli impedisce di collocarlo per l’eternità nell’inferno. A differenza di altri personaggi pagani che vengono sottratti dalla dannazione eterna, fra cui Stazio e Rifeo, Virgilio non viene salvato da Dante. Questo aspetto rende, secondo Hollander, il Virgilio di Dante una vera e propria tragedia.
Trust-Based Work Time and Innovation: Evidence from Firm-Level Data
Authors: Godart Olivier N. , Görg Holger , Hanley Aoife
Published: October 2016

The authors explore whether the introduction of trust-based working hours is related to the subsequent innovation performance of firms. Based on a panel data set of German establishments, the study uses a propensity score matching approach that considers only firms that did not use trust-based work contracts initially. Results show that firms that adopt such contracts tend to be 12 to 15% more likely to improve products and 6 to 7% more likely to undertake process innovation. These results hold when controlling for another form of flexible working-time arrangement, namely working-time accounts. Thus, the positive relationship between the adoption of trust-based working hours and innovation seems to be driven by the degree of employee control and self-management over working time, rather than by merely allowing working-time flexibility.
The experience of electroconvulsive therapy and its impact on associated stigma: A meta-analysis
Authors: Aoki Yuta , Yamaguchi Sosei , Ando Shuntaro , Sasaki Natsuki , Bernick Peter J , Akiyama Tsuyoshi
Published: October 2016

Background:

Despite its efficacy and safety, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is underutilized, in part due to stigma associated with the treatment.

Aims:

The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that experiencing ECT has an impact on associated stigma, as measured by patient and family knowledge of and attitudes toward ECT.

Methods:

A comprehensive literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO. Studies with cross-sectional and/or longitudinal designs were identified. Studies were further categorized into subcategories based on participant type (patients or patient family members) and outcome domain (knowledge or attitudes). Effect size (Cohen’s d) was calculated for each study and then integrated into each subcategory (participant type by outcome domain) using a random effect model.

Results:

Eight studies were identified as being eligible for analysis. Two studies were cross-sectional, five were longitudinal and one incorporated both designs. Analysis of the longitudinal studies indicated that experiencing ECT both increased knowledge of and improved attitudes toward ECT in patients; in family members of patients, analysis showed significant positive change in knowledge of ECT, but no significant change in attitudes toward ECT.

Conclusion:

Experience with ECT may have a positive impact on knowledge of and attitudes toward ECT. However, the quality of evidence of included studies was low; further research is required in order to clarify the relationship and to identify information of use to individuals considering ECT as a treatment option.