bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SFRPTumour Suppressor Genes Are Potential Plasma-Based Epigenetic Biomarkers for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Authors: Cheng Yuen Yee , Mok Ellie , Tan Sarah , Leygo Catherine , McLaughlin Chris , George A. M. , Reid Glen
Published: December 2017

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is associated with asbestos exposure. Asbestos can induce chronic inflammation which in turn can lead to silencing of tumour suppressor genes. Wnt signaling pathway can be affected by chronic inflammation and is aberrantly activated in many cancers including colon and MPM.SFRPgenes are antagonists of Wnt pathway, andSFRPs are potential tumour suppressors in colon, gastric, breast, ovarian, and lung cancers and mesothelioma. This study investigated the expression and DNA methylation ofSFRPgenes in MPM cells lines with and without demethylation treatment. Sixty-six patient FFPE samples were analysed and have showed methylation ofSFRP2(56%) andSFRP5(70%) in MPM.SFRP2andSFRP5tumour-suppressive activity in eleven MPM lines was confirmed, and long-term asbestos exposure led to reduced expression of theSFRP1andSFRP2 genes in the mesothelium (MeT-5A) via epigenetic alterations. Finally, DNA methylation ofSFRPs is detectable in MPM patient plasma samples, with methylatedSFRP2andSFRP5showing a tendency towards greater abundance in patients. These data suggested thatSFRPgenes have tumour-suppresive activity in MPM and that methylated DNA fromSFRPgene promoters has the potential to serve as a biomarker for MPM patient plasma.
Analysis of the Metabolites of Indole Degraded by an Isolated Acinetobacter pittii L1
Authors: Yang Zuoyi , Zhou Junhui , Xu Yanbin , Zhang Yaping , Luo Haien , Chang KenLin , Wang Yujie
Published: December 2017

Indole and its derivatives are typical nitrogen heterocyclic compounds and have been of immense concern since they are known for the risk of their toxic, recalcitrant, and carcinogenic properties for human and ecological environment. In this study, a Gram-negative bacterial strain of eliminating indole was isolated from a coking wastewater. The strain was confirmed as Acinetobacter pittii L1 based on the physiological and biochemical characterization and 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) gene sequence homology. 400 mg/L indole could be completely removed within 48 h by the strain on the optimum condition of 37°C, pH 7.4, and 150 rpm. The organic nitrogen was converted to NH3-N and then to NO3- and the organic carbon was partially transferred to CO2 during the indole biodegradation. The metabolic pathways were proposed to explain the indole degradation based on the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis of indigo, 4-(3-Hydroxy-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-2-oxo-but-3-enoic acid, and isatin. The toxicity of the biodegradation products was evaluated using the Microtox test, which revealed that the metabolites were more toxic than indole. Our research holds promise for the potential application of Acinetobacter pittii L1 for NHCs degradation, production of indigoids, and soil remediation as well as treatment of indole containing wastewater.
Effect of Gonadotropin Types and Indications on Homologous Intrauterine Insemination Success: A Study from 1251 Cycles and a Review of the Literature
Authors: Cabry-Goubet Rosalie , Scheffler Florence , Belhadri-Mansouri Naima , Belloc Stephanie , Lourdel Emmanuelle , Devaux Aviva , Chahine Hickmat , De Mouzon Jacques , Copin Henri , Benkhalifa Moncef
Published: December 2017

Objective. To evaluate the IUI success factors relative to controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) and infertility type, this retrospective cohort study included 1251 couples undergoing homologous IUI. Results. We achieved 13% clinical pregnancies and 11% live births. COS and infertility type do not have significant effect on IUI clinical outcomes with unstable intervention of various couples’ parameters, including the female age, the IUI attempt rank, and the sperm quality. Conclusion. Further, the COS used seemed a weak predictor for IUI success; therefore, the indications need more discussion, especially in unexplained infertility cases involving various factors. Indeed, the fourth IUI attempt, the female age over 40 years, and the total motile sperm count <5 × 106 were critical in decreasing the positive clinical outcomes of IUI. Those parameter cut-offs necessitate a larger analysis to give infertile couples more chances through IUI before carrying out other ART techniques.
High Prevalence of Leptotrichia amnionii, Atopobium vaginae, Sneathia sanguinegens, and Factor 1 Microbes and Association of Spontaneous Abortion among Korean Women
Authors: Seo Sang Soo , Arokiyaraj Selvaraj , Kim Mi Kyung , Oh Hea Young , Kwon Minji , Kong Ji Sook , Shin Moon Kyung , Yu Ye Lee , Lee Jae Kwan
Published: December 2017

Objective. The purpose of this study was to (i) determine the cervical microbial composition in different abortion samples and to (ii) investigate the correlation between spontaneous abortion and cervical microbes in Korean women. Methods. We collected cervical swabs from women who had never undergone abortion (N=36), had spontaneous abortion (N=23), and had undergone induced abortion (N=88) and subjected those samples to 16S rRNA pyrosequencing. Further, factor analysis and correlation between cervical microbiota and spontaneous abortion were evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Results. In spontaneous abortion women, 16 S rRNA gene sequences showed significant increases in Atopobium vaginae, Megasphaera spp., Gardnerella vaginalis, Leptotrichia amnionii, and Sneathia sanguinegens compared to women in nonabortion group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, A. vaginae (OD = 11.27; 95% = 1.57–81), L. amnionii (OD = 11.47; 95% = 1.22–107.94), S. sanguinegens (OD = 6.89; 95% = 1.07–44.33), and factor 1 microbes (OD = 16.4; 95% = 1.88–42.5) were strongly associated with spontaneous abortion. Conclusions. This study showed a high prevalence of L. amnionii, A. vaginae, S. sanguinegens, and factor 1 microbes in spontaneous abortion and association with spontaneous abortion in Korean women.
Clinical Phenotype of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy and Relation to Symptom Patterns: Cluster and Factor Analysis in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in Korea
Authors: Won Jong Chul , Im Yong-Jin , Lee Ji-Hyun , Kim Chong Hwa , Kwon Hyuk Sang , Cha Bong-Yun , Park Tae Sun
Published: December 2017

Objectives. Patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common complication. However, patients are usually suffering from not only diverse sensory deficit but also neuropathy-related discomforts. The aim of this study is to identify distinct groups of patients with DPN with respect to its clinical impacts on symptom patterns and comorbidities. Methods. A hierarchical cluster analysis and factor analysis were performed to identify relevant subgroups of patients with DPN (n=1338) and symptom patterns. Results. Patients with DPN were divided into three clusters: asymptomatic (cluster 1, n=448, 33.5%), moderate symptoms with disturbed sleep (cluster 2, n=562, 42.0%), and severe symptoms with decreased quality of life (cluster 3, n=328, 24.5%). Patients in cluster 3, compared with clusters 1 and 2, were characterized by higher levels of HbA1c and more severe pain and physical impairments. Patients in cluster 2 had moderate pain levels but disturbed sleep patterns comparable to those in cluster 3. The frequency of symptoms on each item of MNSI by “painful” symptom pattern showed a similar distribution pattern with increasing intensities along the three clusters. Conclusions. Cluster and factor analysis endorsed the use of comprehensive and symptomatic subgrouping to individualize the evaluation of patients with DPN.
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps Are Pathogenic in Ventilator-Induced Lung Injury and Partially Dependent on TLR4
Authors: Li Haosi , Pan Pinhua , Su Xiaoli , Liu Shuai , Zhang Lemeng , Wu Dongdong , Li Haitao , Dai Minhui , Li Yi , Hu Chengping , Chen Jie
Published: December 2017

The pathogenesis of ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) is associated with neutrophils. Neutrophils release neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are composed of DNA and granular proteins. However, the role of NETs in VILI remains incompletely understood. Normal saline and deoxyribonuclease (DNase) were used to study the role of NETs in VILI. To further determine the role of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in NETosis, we evaluated the lung injury and NET formation in TLR4 knockout mice and wild-type mice that were mechanically ventilated. Some measures of lung injury and the NETs markers were significantly increased in the VILI group. DNase treatment markedly reduced NETs markers and lung injury. After high-tidal mechanical ventilation, the NETs markers in the TLR4 KO mice were significantly lower than in the WT mice. These data suggest that NETs are generated in VILI and pathogenic in a mouse model of VILI, and their formation is partially dependent on TLR4.
Effect of Polypropylene Modification by Impregnation with Oil on Its Wear and Friction Coefficient at Variable Load and Various Friction Rates
Authors: Sędłak Paweł , Białobrzeska Beata , Stawicki Tomasz , Kostencki Piotr
Published: December 2017

Laboratorial two-body wear testing was carried out in order to assess effects of polypropylene modification by impregnating it with oils on friction coefficient and wear in comparison to those parameters of unmodified polypropylene, Teflon, and polyamide during operation under conditions of sliding friction without lubrication. Wear behaviour of the tested specimens was investigated using ASTM G77-98 standard wear test equipment. Recording program made it possible to visualise and record the following parameters: rotational speed and load, linear wear, friction coefficient, temperature of the specimen, and ambient temperature. In addition, wear mechanisms of the analysed materials were determined with use of scanning electron microscopy. In the case of the remaining tested polymers, the most important mechanism of wear was adhesion (PP, PTFE, PA 6.6, and PA MoS2), microcutting (PTFE, PA 6.6, and PA MoS2), fatigue wear (PTFE), forming “roll-shaped particles” combined with plastic deformation (PA 6.6 and PA MoS2), and thermal wear (PP). Impregnation of polypropylene with engine oil, gear oil, or RME results in significant reduction of friction coefficient and thus of friction torque, in relation to not only unmodified polypropylene but also the examined polyamide and Teflon.
Decellularized Swine Dental Pulp as a Bioscaffold for Pulp Regeneration
Authors: Hu Lei , Gao Zhenhua , Xu Junji , Zhu Zhao , Fan Zhipeng , Zhang Chunmei , Wang Jinsong , Wang Songlin
Published: December 2017

Endodontic regeneration shows promise in treating dental pulp diseases; however, no suitable scaffolds exist for pulp regeneration. Acellular natural extracellular matrix (ECM) is a favorable scaffold for tissue regeneration since the anatomical structure and ECM of the natural tissues or organs are well-preserved. Xenogeneic ECM is superior to autologous or allogeneic ECM in tissue engineering for its unlimited resources. This study investigated the characteristics of decellularized dental pulp ECM from swine and evaluated whether it could mediate pulp regeneration. Dental pulps were acquired from the mandible anterior teeth of swine 12 months of age and decellularized with 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) combined with Triton X-100. Pulp regeneration was conducted by seeding human dental pulp stem cells into decellularized pulp and transplanted subcutaneously into nude mice for 8 weeks. The decellularized pulp demonstrated preserved natural shape and structure without any cellular components. Histological analysis showed excellent ECM preservation and pulp-like tissue, and newly formed mineralized tissues were regenerated after being transplanted in vivo. In conclusion, decellularized swine dental pulp maintains ECM components favoring stem cell proliferation and differentiation, thus representing a suitable scaffold for improving clinical outcomes and functions of teeth with dental pulp diseases.
Seizure Detection and Network Dynamics of Generalized Convulsive Seizures: Towards Rational Designing of Closed-Loop Neuromodulation
Authors: Dheer Puneet , Chaitanya Ganne , Pizarro Diana , Esteller Rosana , Majumdar Kaushik , Pati Sandipan
Published: December 2017

Objective. Studies have demonstrated the utility of closed-loop neuromodulation in treating focal onset seizures. There is an utmost need of neurostimulation therapy for generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The study goals are to map the thalamocortical network dynamics during the generalized convulsive seizures and identify targets for reliable seizure detection. Methods. Local field potentials were recorded from bilateral cortex, hippocampi, and centromedian thalami in Sprague-Dawley rats. Pentylenetetrazol was used to induce multiple convulsive seizures. The performances of two automated seizure detection methods (line length and P-operators) as a function of different cortical and subcortical structures were estimated. Multiple linear correlations-Granger’s Causality was used to determine the effective connectivity. Results. Of the 29 generalized tonic-clonic seizures analyzed, line length detected 100% of seizures in all the channels while the P-operator detected only 35% of seizures. The detection latencies were shortest in the thalamus in comparison to the cortex. There was a decrease in amplitude correlation within the thalamocortical network during the seizure, and flow of information was decreased from thalamus to hippocampal-parietal nodes. Significance. The preclinical study confirms thalamus as a superior target for automated detection of generalized seizures and modulation of synchrony to increase coupling may be a strategy to abate seizures.
Outer Retina and Choroidal Thickness in Intermediate Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Reticular Pseudodrusen Findings
Authors: Camacho Pedro , Dutra-Medeiros Marco , Cabral Diogo , Silva Rufino
Published: December 2017

Purpose: To evaluate outer retina and choroidal thickness in subjects with intermediate age-related macular degeneration (iAMD) and to describe associations with the presence of reticular pseudodrusen (RPD). Methods: This was a retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of 157 consecutive eyes (specifically: 62 eyes classified as having RPD and 95 eyes with drusen ≥125 µm). Only cases with digital color fundus photographs, red-free, and infrared, obtained and graded according to the Age-Related Eye Disease Study to define iAMD, were used for this study. Outer retina and choroidal thickness were manually segmented and quantified at 12 locations in the horizontal meridian. Results: RPD appeared to be associated with thinning of the outer layers even after adjustment for gender and age. The presence of RPD in iAMD decreased with increase of choroidal thickness (total odds ratio [OR] 0.991, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.985-0.996; nasal OR 0.992, 95% CI 0.986-0.997), with increased thickness of the myoid zone of the photoreceptors (total OR 0.812, 95% CI 0.688-0.958; nasal OR 0.863, 95% CI 0.755-0.987) and with increased thickness of the outer segment of the photoreceptors (total OR 0.850, 95% CI 0.731-0.989; nasal OR 0.857, 95% CI 0.736-0.989). Conclusions: The greatest differences between eyes with and without RPD are found at the level of the choroidal thickness and at the level of the photoreceptors.
Distraction versus Intensity: The Importance of Exercise Classes for Cognitive Performance in School
Authors: Wollseiffen Petra , Vogt Tobias , Strüder Heiko K. , Schneider Stefan
Published: December 2017

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the influence of a class of aerobic exercise and an art class on brain cortical activity and possible effects on cognitive performance. Subject and Methods: Electroencephalography was used to record the electrocortical activity of 16 schoolchildren (8-10 years old) before and after an aerobic exercise class and an art class. Performance in a standardized test of educational attainment (VERA-3) was assessed following both classes. Results: A significant decrease in cortical activity was detected in all 4 lobes after exercise but not after art classes (p < 0.05). No changes in cognitive performance were observed after exercise and art classes. Conclusion: In this study, cortical activity was reduced after an exercise class but no effect on cognitive performance was observed. Hence, the neurophysiological effect of exercise should be further evaluated regarding different kinds of cognitive performance: creativity, knowledge acquisition as well as the outlasting effects of exercise on academic achievement.
The GAKhN Dictionary: An Introduction
Authors: Fore Devin
Published: December 2017

Devin Fore introduces the GAKhN Dictionary of Artistic Terms (1923–29), a selection of which is published in translation here for the first time. After a brief history of the State Academy of Artistic Sciences (GAKhN), which was established in 1921 and dissolved in 1930, Fore situates the unfinished collaboration between the academy's Section of Visual Arts and the Philosophical Department in the context of GAKhN's larger commitment to democratizing knowledge, and he suggests that what emerges from these dictionary entries are the contours of a program for a positivist aesthetics.
October before October
Authors: Churner Rachel
Published: December 2017

Rachel Churner introduces essays by Annette Michelson and Rosalind Krauss on Soviet cinema, reprinted in conjunction with the centennial of the October revolution. Published in the early 1970s, these essays provide a glimpse into how the founders of October thought about the revolution—and, in particular, Sergei Eisenstein's film October, which commemorated the tenth anniversary of the revolution—in the years before they started their publication.
Russian Wanderer in the Post-Soviet Space
Authors: Jordan Katya
Published: December 2017

In “Russian Wanderer in the Post-Soviet Space: Homelessness in Ilichevsky’s Matisse,” Katya Jordan examines Aleksandr Ilichevsky’s conceptualization of homelessness as a state of existential not belonging that beset the author himself and others of his generation when the Soviet system collapsed in the early 1990s. The novel’s protagonist attempts to mitigate his metaphorical homelessness by choosing to embrace actual homelessness and to use it as “part of a flight to a deeper awareness” (Widmer); yet Jordan also shows that the type of homelessness that Ilichevsky depicts draws on the Russian spiritual tradition of strannichestvo, the kind of wandering that allows one to leave the secular world behind in pursuit of a spiritual destination, never to return to either the physical or the spiritual point of origin. By bringing into the discussion the writings of Dostoevsky, Berdyaev, and Ioann Lestvichnik, Jordan shows that although homelessness in Matisse has lost its religious underpinnings, it nevertheless remains primarily a spiritual concept that allows an individual to break free from the mass society one is living in.
Spectacles of Terrorist Violence in Boris Savinkov’s Fiction
Authors: Malia Jennifer
Published: December 2017

In the early twentieth century, Boris Savinkov organized assassinations for the Combat Organization of the Party of Socialist-Revolutionaries (PSR). He was not only a Russian revolutionary terrorist but also a fiction writer who wrote about political violence. With the publication of The Pale Horse (1909) and What Never Happened: A Novel of the Revolution (1912), many critics assumed Savinkov became disillusioned with political violence on moral grounds. I argue instead his works question the effectiveness of the PSR’s terrorism on political grounds by revealing the Party’s failed attempts to organize terrorist acts with consistent results. With his fiction, Savinkov problematizes his culture’s desire to create a heroic myth of the revolutionary terrorist as a martyr.
Iatrochemistry and Paracelsism in the Ottoman Empire in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries
Authors: Bachour Natalia
Published: December 2017

The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries saw the spread of iatrochemistry. In the second half of the seventeenth century, European iatrochemical knowledge was introduced into the Ottoman Empire through translations from Latin into Arabic. This study addresses the adoption and adaptation of this new knowledge by examining these works, as well as the medical compendium of Dāwūd al-Anṭākī and the only book written by Ibn Sallūm himself. European medical texts underwent a transformation process on a textual as well as on a conceptual level, especially regarding Paracelsism. Even before that, Dāwūd al-Anṭākī’s book already contains alchemical procedures and mineral remedies for internal application, which might be described as a precursor of medical chemistry.
Domestic Politics in South Korea and the Territorial Issue of Dokdo
Authors: Yoo Hyon Joo
Published: December 2017

This paper examines why and how political leaders in South Korea are constrained by domestic politics with respect to a territorial dispute with Japan. While Korean leaders desire to employ a low-key position vis-à-vis Japan’s territorial claim, the public in South Korea increasingly demand that their leaders confront Japan more firmly. This creates a dilemma for leaders in Korea. Maintaining a calm diplomacy toward Japan infuriates the Korean public while employing a tough policy toward the neighboring state, in response to the public demand, leads the government of Tokyo into bolder provocations. This makes it difficult for South Korea to foster cooperation with Japan on various issues that are not directly related to the territorial problem.
Dicharax (?) candrakirana n. sp. (Gastropoda: Cyclophoridae) from Sempu Island, Indonesia
Authors: NURINSIYAH AYU SAVITRI , HAUSDORF BERNHARD
Published: December 2017

The Alycaeinae Blanford, 1864 (Gastropoda: Cyclophoridae) is a species-rich group of caenogastropod land snails distributed mainly in Southeast Asia (Kobelt 1902). The Madagascan endemic Boucardicus Fischer-Piette & Bedoucha, 1965 has also been classified in the Alycaeinae (Emberton 2002). The Asian species of Alycaeinae are characterized by a sutural tube on the last whorl that is closed at its posterior end, but is connected to the outside by radial microtunnels opening near the umbilicus. This device is hypothesized to allow gas exchange when the animal is retracted and the operculum seals the shell aperture (Páll-Gergely et al. 2016).
Coelioxoides piscicauda sp. nov., a new cuckoo bee from southeastern Brazil with a key to the species of Coelioxoides Cresson (Hymenoptera: Apidae)
Authors: ROCHA-FILHO LÉO CORREIA DA , SERRANO JOSÉ CARLOS , GARÓFALO CARLOS ALBERTO
Published: December 2017

A new species of Coelioxoides Cresson (Apidae), Coelioxoides piscicauda sp. nov. Rocha-Filho from São Paulo State, Brazil, is described. A key to the four recognized species of the genus, C. exulans (Holmberg), C. piscicauda sp. nov., C. punctipennis Cresson, and C. waltheriae Ducke, is provided. In addition, new host records of Coelioxoides are presented as well as a compilation of published data on species of Tetrapedia Klug associated with this cleptoparasitic genus.
Identification of Neoceratitis asiatica (Becker) (Diptera: Tephritidae) based on morphological characteristics and DNA barcode
Authors: GUO SHAOKUN , HE JIA , ZHAO ZIHUA , LIU LIJUN , GAO LIYUAN , WEI SHUHUA , GUO XIAOYU , ZHANG RONG , LI ZHIHONG
Published: December 2017

Neoceratitis asiatica (Becker), which especially infests wolfberry (Lycium barbarum L.), could cause serious economic losses every year in China, especially to organic wolfberry production. In some important wolfberry plantings, it is difficult and time-consuming to rear the larvae or pupae to adults for morphological identification. Molecular identification based on DNA barcode is a solution to the problem. In this study, 15 samples were collected from Ningxia, China. Among them, five adults were identified according to their morphological characteristics. The utility of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene sequence as DNA barcode in distinguishing N. asiatica was evaluated by analysing Kimura 2-parameter distances and phylogenetic trees. There were significant differences between intra-specific and inter-specific genetic distances according to the barcoding gap analysis. The uncertain larval and pupal samples were within the same cluster as N. asiatica adults and formed sister cluster to N. cyanescens. A combination of morphological and molecular methods enabled accurate identification of N. asiatica. This is the first study using DNA barcode to identify N. asiatica and the obtained DNA sequences will be added to the DNA barcode database.
A cave-dwelling Iberian palpigrade (Arachnida: Palpigradi) of the Eukoenenia mirabilis group
Authors: MAYORAL J.G. , BARRANCO P.
Published: December 2017

A new species Eukoenenia amatei sp. nov. is described on the basis of a female captured in a cave in south-eastern Spain. It is characterized by the presence of a single blade on the lateral organ and the absence of a glandular complex on sternites IV and VI. Some of these characters are shared with five other species distributed in Europe, Asia, Africa and South and Central America. The new species is remarkable for the elongation of basitarsus of leg IV which is the second longest in the E. mirabilis group. Only one other species in this group, E. indalica, has similar troglomorphic characters. In addition, formulas of palp and leg chaetotaxy are provided to facilitate species comparison.
Mammary Analogue Secretory Carcinoma of the Thyroid Mimicking Locally Advanced Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Rare Case Report
Authors: Liao Haihui , Khan Ashraf , Miron Patricia M. , Cornejo Kristine M.
Published: December 2017

Mammary analogue secretory carcinoma (MASC) harboring ETV6 gene rearrangements was first described in the salivary gland with a relatively favorable prognosis and a possible molecular therapeutic target with pan-Trk inhibitors. Recently, primary MASC of the thyroid gland has been reported. We report a case of a 4.0 cm MASC arising from the left thyroid of a 58-year-old female with extrathyroidal extension. Initially, it was diagnosed by fine needle aspiration as suspicious for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and subsequently called a poorly differentiated carcinoma on resection. A final diagnosis of primary MASC of the thyroid was confirmed after an expanded immunohistochemical panel and identification of an ETV6 gene rearrangement by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Morphologically, the tumor was composed of solid, microcystic and focally papillary growth with dense fibrotic stroma and necrosis. Overlapping cytological features with PTC were identified, including foci of enlarged cells with irregular nuclear membranes/grooves. However, most of the cells contained prominent nucleoli with intraluminal and intracytoplasmic eosinophilic secretions. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were strongly positive for pancytokeratin, cytokeratin 7, PAX8, mammaglobin, and GCDFP-15, with rare staining for GATA3 and S100 and negative for TTF-1 and thyroglobulin. We report a rare case of a primary thyroid MASC, initially misdiagnosed as PTC. Pathologists should be aware of this entity and, given the similarities to PTC, have a high index of suspicion, prompting the addition of immunohistochemical and molecular studies. Furthermore, an accurate diagnosis is important because of the possible prognostic and treatment implications.
Patient selection for mechanical thrombectomy in posterior circulation emergent large-vessel occlusion
Authors: Raymond Scott , Rost Natalia Sana , Schaefer Pamela Whitney , Leslie-Mazwi Thabele , Hirsch Joshua A , Gonzalez Ramon Gilberto , Rabinov James
Published: December 2017

Triage of posterior circulation stroke from emergent large-vessel occlusion (pc-ELVO) is challenging owing to the stuttering clinical course and potential for rapid decline. Growing clinical data support the use of mechanical thrombectomy in pc-ELVO, but there are limited data addressing the clinical and imaging criteria for patient selection. We present our triage algorithm used to select patients for endovascular therapy (EVT) in the setting of pc-ELVOS. We use a consecutive retrospective database from 2004 to 2016 to describe the practice patterns and prognostic factors for pc-ELVO patients treated using both medical and EVT. Patients with moderate to severe deficits (NIHSS > 10) did better when they received EVT ( p < 0.03), whereas patients with stable, mild deficits (NIHSS ≤ 10) did well (90% favorable outcome) regardless of treatment type. Roughly one-third of patients presenting with mild deficits deteriorated to moderate to severe deficits (NIHSS > 10), most of whom subsequently received EVT (9 of 12), with 56% favorable outcomes. Cerebellar and brainstem infarct volumes were independent imaging predictors of outcome. These results can be used to define triage criteria for use of EVT in pc-ELVO in future practice and clinical trials.
Estimulação cardíaca artificial e suas implicações na enfermagem
Authors: Mota Wilian Helber , Saracini Kelmi Cristina , De Lima Leo Christyan Alves , De Oliveira Algeri Ellen Daiane Biavatti , De Souza Laurindo Pereira
Published: December 2017

Introdução: O coração é dotado de um sistema especial de condução de impulsos elétricos. Quando este sistema é lesado, pode-se indicar o implante de um dispositivo cardíaco artificial que propicie uma atividade elétrica mais fisiológica possível. É imprescindível a presença de enfermeiro na assistência de paciente crítico ou potencialmente crítico, sendo assim indispensável à atuação deste profissional nos cuidados ao paciente submetido ao implante de marcapasso cardíaco, pois este exige maior complexidade técnica e conhecimento científico. Objetivo: O objetivo desta pesquisa foi apresentar uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a estimulação artificial cárdica e suas implicações para a enfermagem. Método: Trata-se de estudo de revisão por meio de avaliação retrospectiva utilizando-se de pesquisa bibliográfica exploratória, das produções acerca de implante de marcapasso e suas implicações para a enfermagem, no período de 2005 a 2015. Resultados: Ao analisar o cenário epidemiológico atual, inferiu-se que o tipo de marcapasso mais implantado nas unidades da federação corresponde ao de câmara dupla transvenoso 62% do total de procedimentos sendo este o que apresenta a menor taxa de mortalidade. Com base nesses dados, pode-se pensar as condições clínicas do paciente pré-trans e pós-implante e expor os diagnósticos e intervenções de enfermagem mais próximos das necessidades do cliente. Conclusão: O enfermeiro tem total responsabilidade em procedimentos de emergência, portanto deve estar capacitado para assumir tais procedimentos, compreender a patologia de base e ter conhecimento técnico e científico quanto ao procedimento de implante de dispositivos cardíacos, suas indicações, complicações e necessidades do paciente fator fundamental para o exercício pleno da enfermagem.
Câncer de pele: caracterização do perfil e avaliação da proteção solar dos pacientes atendidos em serviço universitário
Authors: Pires Carla Andréa Avelar , Fayal Aglayn Pimentel , Cavalcante Renata Henriques , Fayal Syenne Pimentel , Lopes Nicole Salomão , Fayal Franklin Pimentel , Dos Santos Maria Amélia Lopes
Published: December 2017

Introdução: O câncer de pele é a neoplasia de maior incidência no Brasil. Vários fatores têm sido atribuídos como risco para seu desenvolvimento, como: cor da pele, horário e tempo de exposição ao sol, residência em um país tropical e uso de imunossupressão crônica. Objetivo: descrever os casos de câncer de pele, bem como o hábito de proteção solar na prevenção de lesões causadas por radiação ultravioleta. Métodos: estudo transversal, individualizado e observacional com 50 pacientes, com diagnóstico de câncer de pele, acompanhados no Ambulatório de Dermatologia da Universidade do Estado do Pará, na cidade de Belém (PA), no período de janeiro de 2013 a outubro de 2016. A pesquisa foi feita por meio de um questionário padronizado autoaplicativo. Resultados: Observou-se o maior acometimento de câncer de pele em pacientes com idade > 50 anos (90%), brancos (68%), olhos castanhos (68%), cabelos castanhos (78%), que não faziam uso de filtro solar (86%); com diagnóstico de Carcinoma Basocelular (94%), tendo a face como a área corporal mais acometida (52%). Conclusões: O carcinoma Basocelular com lesões de mais de um ano de surgimento foi o câncer de pele predominante nesta população em que a maioria não apresentava o hábito do uso de filtro solar.
Salivary levels of SIgA and perceived stress among dental students
Authors: Sangiorgio João Paulo Menck , Seixas Gabriela Fleury , De Paula Ramos Solange , Dezan-Garbelini Cássia Cilene
Published: December 2017

Background: Academic stress may impair mucosal immunity and expose dental students to an increased risk of infections. Objective: to assess stress scores in dental students and their relationship with variation in SIgA levels. Methods: All students (n = 289) were invited to take part of the study, and 207 (71.63%) effectively participated, being 152 (73.4%) females. At the day of data collection, the students answered The Dental Environmental Stress Questionnaire (DES) and unstimulated saliva samples were collected for determination of salivary flow rate and SIgA concentration and secretion rate. Results: Mean DES scores were higher in females (78.97 ± 16.42), but no correlations between the sum of DES scores and salivary parameters were observed (P=0.08). A moderate inverse relationship was observed between SIgA secretion rates and the subscales Academic Performance (P=0.01), Interpersonal relationships (P=0.02) and Difficulties and Insecurities about Professional Future (P=0.05). A weak correlation was found between SIgA concentration and the items Amount of assigned classwork (P=0.02), Lack of confidence in self to be a successful dentist (P=0.01), Lack of time for relaxation (P=0.01), Financial responsibilities (P=0.02) and Personal physical health (P=0.005). Weak correlations between SIgA secretion rates and DES items were also found for Lack of cooperation by patient in their home care (P=0.003), Patients being late or not showing up for their appointments (P=0.02), Lack of self confidence to be a successful dentist (P=0.008), Personal physical health (P=0.019), and others. Conclusion: Different sources of stress were observed among first to fifth year students and some of these stressors may negatively impact on salivary SIgA secretion.
Enhancing Subsurface Drainage to Control Salinity in Dryland Agriculture
Authors: Steppuhn Harold , McArthur L. J. Bruce
Published: December 2017

Abstract. Controlling the physical processes of soil salinization involves lowering ground water levels, draining the vadose zones, and leaching excess salts from root zones. Plastic drain tubing strategically placed 1.5 to 1.8 m below the surface in semiarid lands can lower water tables and drain phreatic water, but irrigation is usually required to satisfactorily leach the offending salts. In non-irrigated drylands, the leaching process depends on natural precipitation, but the drier the climate, the greater the need for more leaching water. Possible practices which tap complementary water in conjunction with subsurface drainage include: (1) establishment of roughness barriers to trap wind-borne snow, and (2) pumping water from near-surface, ground water mounds. The mean electrical conductivity of saturated soil paste extracts sampled yearly from a semiarid site in Saskatchewan averaged 14.1 dS m-1 during the six years before the drainage was installed, 13.0 dS m-1 for two years just after drainage but before capturing blowing snow, and 9.6 dS m-1 for the six years following. The average barley grain harvested during the six years prior to drainage yielded 330 kg ha-1 and 2414 kg ha-1 after installation of the enhanced drainage system. In a follow-up sub-study, fall applications of 4.6 dS m-1 mounded ground water from a shallow well fitted with a solar-powered pump within a drainage system preceded spring seeding of alfalfa. Enhanced drainage improved mean seedling emergence from 20% to 79%. Every 28 mm of ground water applied, up to 2273 mm, increased alfalfa emergence by 1%. Keywords: Agricultural drainage, Plant emergence, Pre-seeding irrigation, Solar-powered pumping, Soil reclamation, Soil salinity, Windbreaks.
Subirrigation System Performance and Evaluation in the Red River Valley of the North
Authors: Jia Xinhua , Scherer Thomas F. , Steele Dean D. , DeSutter Thomas M.
Published: December 2017

Abstract.

Using a subsurface drainage system, subirrigation (SI) applies water below the ground surface and raises the phreatic water to within or near the root zone. SI is relatively new to the Red River Valley (RRV) of the North in eastern North Dakota (ND) and west central Minnesota (MN). In 2011, two SI field sites in the RRV were installed and have shown promising results in optimal water management and increasing agricultural production. Unlike a surface irrigation system, SI supplies water below the ground surface over a long duration; water loss is generally through crop transpiration; and SI leads to negligible water loss via wind, surface runoff and evaporation. Therefore, a new method was developed to evaluate the SI system performance. Water application efficiency (Ea) was calculated through the soil moisture changes in the root zone before and after the SI application with known amounts of SI, precipitation, and evapotranspiration (ET). Uniformity coefficient (UC) and distribution efficiency of low quarter (DULQ) were estimated from the total depth of water stored in the root zone. The SI system performance in 2014 and 2015 showed that the Ea was over 100% in 2014 and 78% for the ND 2015 site-year. The Ea values were high, indicating that the SI system either performed better than typical surface irrigation systems with minimal water loss, or the SI system and/or the methods need improvement in accurate ET estimation to help close the water budget. The UCs were 67% to 86%, and the DULQs were 48% to 78%, much lower than typical sprinkler and surface irrigation systems, possibly due to the unique SI flow path. Overall, the evaluation indicated that a SI system is effective as a water supply, but the uniformity needs to be improved with a longer SI duration or smaller flow rate or an alternative SI system design. Keywords: Red River Valley of the North, Subirrigation, Uniformity, Water use efficiency.
The Handmaid’s Tale
Authors: Williamson Emma
Published: December 2017

This article discusses the book, The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood. Recently made into a televised series in the US and also aired in the UK, the book, which was written in 1985, presents a dystopic/futuristic vision of an American future Puritan society called Gilead where women have no rights and function in terms of the wider needs of the society. This book has received particular attention recently because of some of the parallels that can be drawn between the evangelical utterings of the current US Republican administration, and the fictional world which Atwood created over 30 years ago. The book also, however, raises a whole raft of questions which lie at the foundations of feminism: the relationships which exist between women, the role of reproduction and power, sexuality, repression, endemic violence against women and resistance. This article will look at the key themes in the book alongside recent discussions about the lessons which can be learnt from the text and the warnings we need to heed.
Sexual harassment of women politicians in Japan
Authors: Dalton Emma
Published: December 2017

In 2016 in Japan, three women were appointed to politically powerful and historically significant positions. Koike Yuriko became the first female governor of Tokyo, Renho Murata became the leader of the opposition party, the Democratic Party, and Inada Tomomi became only the second woman to lead the Ministry of Defence. Despite these gains, the Japanese political world can be a hostile place for women. Japan’s national legislative assembly has the lowest representation of women among OECD countries, and harassment of women in politics is common. Situating Japan’s experience within the emergent violence against women in politics (VAWP) literature, I draw on a 2014 survey of women politicians about their experiences of sexual harassment and from interviews with individual women politicians to examine the extent and nature of sexual harassment in Japanese politics. This is a ‘hidden’ problem due to ineffective legislation and a lack of awareness of what constitutes sexual harassment, even among politicians. I argue that the first step in combating sexual harassment of women in politics in Japan is to make it visible.
Evolving mannequins in Jacques Becker’s Falbalas (1944–45)
Authors: Blum-Reid Sylvie
Published: December 2017

Fashion is prominently displayed in Jacques Becker’s Falbalas (1944), through the presence of mannequins, both living women and display models. Falbalas is an unusual French film that incorporates both a contemporary fashion house and the creation of a couture collection during the Second World War, which marks a key moment in the history of fashion and cinema. Living and still mannequins are part of a skilful cinematic mise-en-scène, carefully elaborated by an imaginative filmmaker conscious of the power of theatricality. Jean-Paul Gaultier credits the film for starting his career in fashion; he was, and still is, influenced by the way the models moved, or ‘evolved’, in Falbalas, rather than by its plot. Falbalas, heavily marked by Paul Poiret’s theory on mannequins, was orchestrated by couturier Marcel Rochas. Falbalas plays with the spectator on various levels, following the way in which the film’s designer plays with his models, both living and still. The mannequin resists Philippe, and comes to life at the end, signifying the death of an era, but also paradoxically the birth of a new style.
On space curves as a substrate for audio-visual composition
Authors: Putnam Lance
Published: December 2017

Technology has long provided artists with new tools and materials to inform or drive the concept, production and/or communication of their artworks. With the advent of computers, artists have an unprecedented degree of access to a vast realm of mathematical structures to use towards the production of artefacts. Harmonic space curves are a basic, yet rich virtual material for construction of audio-visual works that are noteworthy for their persistence across a diverse range of technologies. This is evidenced by a brief foray into mechanical, electronic and digital systems that produce space curves and the author’s own successes in utilizing space curves as a substrate for audio-visual synthesis and composition.
Migrantisch, weiblich, prekär?
Authors: Yildiz Özlem
Published: December 2017

Mit ca. 2.500 eingetragenen Salons ist die Friseurbranche in Berlin mit Abstand die größte in Deutschland. Die bisherige Forschung zur Migrant_innenökonomie und zu Frauen in der Selbständigkeit hat die Branchenanalyse vernachlässigt, weshalb gruppenabhängige Untersuchungen häufig zu Zuschreibungen von Merkmalen geführt haben, die die Gruppen als besonders und separiert von den anderen herausgearbeitet haben. In ihrer Forschung zur Selbständigkeit in der Berliner Friseurbranche zeigt Özlem Yildiz mithilfe eines vergleichenden Mixed-method-Ansatzes, dass Akteure desselben Feldes ähnlich agieren - unabhängig von migrantischen und weiblichen Zuschreibungen.
On the accuracy of detailed model inductance matrix estimation for air core winding
Authors: Ahour Jafar Nosratian , Seyedtabaii Saeed , Gharehpetian Gevork B.
Published: December 2017

Researchers have used various methods to determine the parameters of transformer- equivalent circuits in transient studies. But most of these previous algorithms had difficulty finding the equivalent circuit parameters in a bigger model. This paper presents a new method to extract the inductance matrix of a detailed model for an air core winding for transient studies using frequency-response measurement data. This matrix can be determined with acceptable accuracy by using the proposed method. The biggest advantage of the proposed method is a reduction in the search space, and thus, speedier problemsolving. Simulations showed that the use of the proposed method leads to better behavioural quality of a transformer winding. The simulation results of the previous and proposed methods were compared with the help of a 20/0.4 kV, 1600 kVA transformer. This comparison showed the accuracy and superiority of the proposed method.
The Influence of Stack Position and Acoustic Frequency on the Performance of Thermoacoustic Refrigerator with the Standing Wave
Authors: Kajurek Jakub , Rusowicz Artur , Grzebielec Andrzej
Published: December 2017

Thermoacoustic refrigerator uses acoustic power to transport heat from a low-temperature source to a high-temperature source. The increasing interest in thermoacoustic technology is caused due to its simplicity, reliability as well as application of environmentally friendly working fluids. A typical thermoacoustic refrigerator consists of a resonator, a stack of parallel plates, two heat exchangers and a source of acoustic wave. The article presents the influence of the stack position in the resonance tube and the acoustic frequency on the performance of thermoacoustic refrigerator with a standing wave driven by a loudspeaker, which is measured in terms of the temperature difference between the stack edges. The results from experiments, conducted for the stack with the plate spacing 0.3 mm and the length 50 mm, acoustic frequencies varying between 100 and 400 Hz and air as a working fluid are consistent with the theory presented in this paper. The experiments confirmed that the temperature difference for the stack with determined plate spacing depends on the acoustic frequency and the stack position. The maximum values were achieved for resonance frequencies and the stack position between the pressure and velocity node.
Modeling the Performance of Water-Zeolite 13X Adsorption Heat Pump
Authors: Kowalska Kinga , Ambrożek Bogdan
Published: December 2017

The dynamic performance of cylindrical double-tube adsorption heat pump is numerically analysed using a non-equilibrium model, which takes into account both heat and mass transfer processes. The model includes conservation equations for: heat transfer in heating/cooling fluids, heat transfer in the metal tube, and heat and mass transfer in the adsorbent. The mathematical model is numerically solved using the method of lines. Numerical simulations are performed for the system water-zeolite 13X, chosen as the working pair. The effect of the evaporator and condenser temperatures on the adsorption and desorption kinetics is examined. The results of the numerical investigation show that both of these parameters have a significant effect on the adsorption heat pump performance. Based on computer simulation results, the values of the coefficients of performance for heating and cooling are calculated. The results show that adsorption heat pumps have relatively low efficiency compared to other heat pumps. The value of the coefficient of performance for heating is higher than for cooling
Rabbi Nissim and His Influence on Medieval German Literature: Rudolf von Ems’s Der guote Gêrhart and Heinrich Kaufringer’s »Der Einsiedler und der Engel«
Authors: Classen Albrecht
Published: December 2017

In diesem Aufsatz wird der Versuch unternommen, das sehr verschwommene aber ungemein wichtige Abhängigkeitsverhältnis zwischen den Erzählungen des Rabbi Nissim (im heutigen Tunesien) und den Werken der zwei mittelhochdeutschen Dichter Rudolf von Ems (