bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
T1 and T2 Mapping in Cardiology: “Mapping the Obscure Object of Desire”
Authors: Mavrogeni Sophie , Apostolou Dimitris , Argyriou Panayiotis , Velitsista Stella , Papa Lilika , Efentakis Stelios , Vernardos Evangelos , Kanoupaki Mikela , Kanoupakis George , Manginas Athanassios
Published: August 2017

The increasing use of cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) is based on its capability to perform biventricular function assessment and tissue characterization without radiation and with high reproducibility. The use of late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) gave the potential of non-invasive biopsy for fibrosis quantification. However, LGE is unable to detect diffuse myocardial disease. Native T1 mapping and extracellular volume fraction (ECV) provide knowledge about pathologies affecting both the myocardium and interstitium that is otherwise difficult to identify. Changes of myocardial native T1 reflect cardiac diseases (acute coronary syndromes, infarction, myocarditis, and diffuse fibrosis, all with high T1) and systemic diseases such as cardiac amyloid (high T1), Anderson-Fabry disease (low T1), and siderosis (low T1). The ECV, an index generated by native and post-contrast T1 mapping, measures the cellular and extracellular interstitial matrix (ECM) compartments. This myocyte-ECM dichotomy has important implications for identifying specific therapeutic targets of great value for heart failure treatment. On the other hand, T2 mapping is superior compared with myocardial T1 and ECM for assessing the activity of myocarditis in recent-onset heart failure. Although these indices can significantly affect the clinical decision making, multicentre studies and a community-wide approach (including MRI vendors, funding, software, contrast agent manufacturers, and clinicians) are still missing.
Spontaneous Resolution of a Sylvian Arachnoid Cyst in a Child: A Case Report
Authors: Adilay Utku , Guclu Bulent , Tiryaki Mehmet , Hicdonmez Tufan
Published: August 2017

We report the case of a 7-year-old boy with an incidentally diagnosed left sylvian arachnoid cyst. At a clinical follow-up of 2 years, cranial computed tomography scans found the cyst to be totally resolved. The mechanism of this rare spontaneous resolution of an arachnoid cyst is discussed.
Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Basilar Artery Occlusion in Early Therapeutic Time Window
Authors: Uno Junji , Kameda Katsuharu , Otsuji Ryosuke , Ren Nice , Nagaoka Shintaro , Maeda Kazushi , Ikai Yoshiaki , Gi Hidefuku
Published: August 2017

Background: The natural history of basilar artery occlusion (BAO) is devastating, with morbidity rates increasing up to 80%. However, the efficacy of recanalization therapy for BAO has not been established as yet. Objective: We analyzed consecutive cases of BAO treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) to evaluate its safety and efficacy and to determine factors associated with the prognosis. Methods: Between October 2011 and September 2016, MT was performed in 34 patients with BAO. MT was performed using the Penumbra system and stent retriever. CT perfusion was used for evaluating patients. Cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps and cerebral blood volume (CBV) maps were evaluated. CBF/CBV mismatch was defined as ≥50% penumbra. Clinical outcomes were correlated with demographic, clinical, and radiographic findings. Results: The median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 29 (14-33). The recanalization rate (≥thrombolysis in cerebral infarction grades 2b) was 100%. The median onset to recanalization time (OTR) was 197 (160-256) min. Favorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale ≤2) at 90 days occurred in 56% (n = 19 of 34). The mortality rate at 90 days was 12% (n = 4 of 34). In univariate analysis, intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) use, and OTR were significantly associated with favorable outcomes. In a multivariate logistic regression model, IV rt-PA use and lower National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score were significantly related to favorable outcomes. Conclusion and Relevance: Multimodal endovascular therapy using the Penumbra system and stent retriever demonstrated a high recanalization rate and favorable outcomes for BAO. Both devices were feasible and effective in the treatment of BAO. An approach combining MT with IV thrombolysis provided a better recanalization rate and more favorable clinical outcomes.
Overexpression of MicroRNA miR-7-5p Is a Potential Biomarker in Neuroendocrine Neoplasms of the Small Intestine
Authors: Heverhagen Anna E. , Legrand Nathalie , Wagner Vinona , Fendrich Volker , Bartsch Detlef K. , Slater Emily P.
Published: August 2017

Background/Aims: Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the small intestine (SI-NENs) constitute 25-30% of all gastroenteropancreatic NEN. These tumors arise from enterochromaffin cells, and little is known about their microRNA (miRNA) expression. The purpose of this study was to characterize the expression of miRNAs in SI-NEN and to determine the potential of miRNAs as noninvasive blood-based biomarkers. Methods: miRNA was purified from 15 tumor and 7 control tissue samples, converted to cDNA, and applied to a miScript miRNA PCR. The small nucleolar RNA, SNORD95, was used as an endogenous control. Results: Microarray analysis revealed 7 miRNAs that showed a promising distinction between tumorous and healthy tissue. The miRNAs miR-7-5p and miR-96-5p were clearly upregulated in the tumor compared to the healthy tissue. In contrast, miRNAs miR-9-5p, miR-122-5p, miR-124-3p, miR-143-3p, and miR-144-3p showed a distinct downregulation in the tumor compared to the healthy tissue. These results were validated on a further 15 tumor samples, and the findings held true. As the miR-7-5p was significantly upregulated and revealed a low range across tumor samples, its presence was tested in the sera of 32 tumor patients and 25 healthy controls. Sera from all patients with SI-NENs had significantly higher levels of miR-7-5p than those from the 25 healthy controls (p = 0.0002), whereas there was no correlation with age, gender, or T-stage or UICC stage. Conclusion: The miRNA miR-7-5p may be a promising biomarker test for SI-NEN, which should be validated in a large-scale prospective study.
Deletion of NF-κB/RelA in Angiotensin II-Sensitive Mesenchymal Cells Blocks Aortic Vascular Inflammation and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation
Authors: Ijaz Talha , Sun Hong , Pinchuk Irina V. , Milewicz Dianna M. , Tilton Ronald G. , Brasier Allan R.
Published: August 2017

Objective—

Infusion of angiotensin II (Ang II) induces extracellular matrix remodeling and inflammation resulting in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) in normolipidemic mice. Although Ang II activates mesenchymal cells in the media and adventitia to become fibrogenic, the sentinel role of this mesenchymal population in modulating the inflammatory response and aneurysms is not known. We test the hypothesis that these fibrogenic mesenchymal cells play a critical role in Ang II-induced aortic wall vascular inflammation and AAA formation.

Approach and Results—

Ang II infusion increased phospho-Ser536-RelA and interleukin (IL)-6 immunostaining in the abdominal aorta. In addition, aortic mRNA transcripts of RelA-dependent cytokines IL-6 and IL-1β were significantly elevated suggesting that Ang II functionally activates RelA signaling. To test the role of mesenchymal RelA in AAA formation, we generated RelA-CKO mice by administering tamoxifen to double transgenic mice harboring RelA-flox alleles and tamoxifen-inducible Col1a2 promoter-driven Cre recombinase (Col1a2-CreER
T
). Tamoxifen administration to Col1a2-CreER
T
•mT/mG mice induced Cre expression and RelA depletion in aortic smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts but not in endothelial cells. Infusion of Ang II significantly increased abdominal aortic diameter and the incidence of AAA in RelA wild-type but not in RelA-CKO mice, independent of changes in systolic blood pressure. Furthermore, mesenchymal cell-specific RelA-CKO mice exhibited decreased expression of IL-6 and IL-1β cytokines and decreased recruitment of C68+ and F4/80
lo
•Ly6C
hi
monocytes during Ang II infusion.

Conclusions—

Fibrogenic mesenchymal RelA plays a causal role in Ang II-induced vascular inflammation and AAA in normolipidemic mice.
Palliative Care for Hospitalized Patients With Stroke
Authors: Singh Tarvinder , Peters Steven R. , Tirschwell David L. , Creutzfeldt Claire J.
Published: August 2017

Background and Purpose—

Substantial variability exists in the use of life-prolonging treatments for patients with stroke, especially near the end of life. This study explores patterns of palliative care utilization and death in hospitalized patients with stroke across the United States.

Methods—

Using the 2010 to 2012 nationwide inpatient sample databases, we included all patients discharged with stroke identified by
International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision
codes. Strokes were subclassified as ischemic, intracerebral, and subarachnoid hemorrhage. We compared demographics, comorbidities, procedures, and outcomes between patients with and without a palliative care encounter (PCE) as defined by the
International Classification of Diseases-Ninth Revision
code V66.7. Pearson χ
2
test was used for categorical variables. Multivariate logistic regression was used to account for hospital, regional, payer, and medical severity factors to predict PCE use and death.

Results—

Among 395 411 patients with stroke, PCE was used in 6.2% with an increasing trend over time (
P
<0.05). We found a wide range in PCE use with higher rates in patients with older age, hemorrhagic stroke types, women, and white race (all
P
<0.001). Smaller and for-profit hospitals saw lower rates. Overall, 9.2% of hospitalized patients with stroke died, and PCE was significantly associated with death. Length of stay in decedents was shorter for patients who received PCE.

Conclusions—

Palliative care use is increasing nationally for patients with stroke, especially in larger hospitals. Persistent disparities in PCE use and mortality exist in regards to age, sex, race, region, and hospital characteristics. Given the variations in PCE use, especially at the end of life, the use of mortality rates as a hospital quality measure is questioned.
Detection of Left Ventricular Thrombus by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance in Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source
Authors: Takasugi Junji , Yamagami Hiroshi , Noguchi Teruo , Morita Yoshiaki , Tanaka Tomotaka , Okuno Yoshinori , Yasuda Satoshi , Toyoda Kazunori , Gon Yasufumi , Todo Kenichi , Sakaguchi Manabu , Nagatsuka Kazuyuki
Published: August 2017

Background and Purpose—

We aimed to use contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance (CE-CMR) imaging to elucidate the prevalence of left ventricular (LV) thrombus in patients suspected of embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) with previous myocardial infarction or LV dysfunction (LV ejection fraction [LVEF] <50%).

Methods—

We prospectively investigated 797 consecutive patients who presented to our hospital with acute ischemic stroke between 2014 and 2015. Patients with myocardial infarction or LVEF<50% underwent CE-CMR imaging. ESUS was diagnosed according to proposal criteria based on transthoracic echocardiography findings.

Results—

The prevalence of ESUS was 22% (178 of 797) on initial diagnosis. Among 60 patients with myocardial infarction or LVEF<50%, the stroke subtypes were as follows: small artery disease, 17% (10 of 60); large artery atherosclerosis, 5% (3 of 60); cardioembolic stroke, 49% (29 of 60); ESUS, 23% (14 of 60); and undetermined causes other than ESUS, 6% (4 of 60). Of 60 patients examined via CE-CMR, LV thrombus was confirmed in 12 patients, whereas only 1 had been detected on transthoracic echocardiography (
P
=0.04). Importantly, 29% (4 of 14) of patients with ESUS had LV thrombus. A prediction model based on CE-CMR findings showed higher performance in LV thrombus detection, permitting a net improvement of 0.46 (95% confidence interval, 0.08–0.82;
P
=0.016) in cardioembolic stroke reclassification. Compared with patients without LV thrombus, those with LV thrombus had lower LVEF (median: 26% versus 40%;
P
=0.003). Notably, 42% (5 of 12) of patients with LV thrombus had LVEF≥30%.

Conclusions—

When ESUS-suspected patients have myocardial infarction or LV dysfunction, CE-CMR may help improve detection of cardioembolic stroke and provide relevant information for anticoagulation therapy.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT02251665.
Strategy and Two-Level Games: U.S. Domestic Politics and the Road to a Separate Peace, 1977–1978
Authors: Jackson Galen E.
Published: August 2017

How and to what extent do domestic political considerations influence U.S. foreign policy, particularly in the Middle East? This article addresses that question by drawing on declassified records that enable scholars to reevaluate the Carter administration's search for an Arab-Israeli settlement. Politics at home greatly affected U.S. policy. Moreover, the way such factors affected Carter's Middle East diplomacy was largely a function of the type of domestic political strategy the president chose to rely on. Had Carter and his advisers been more skilled as political operatives, the outcome of the peace negotiations might have been fundamentally different, especially on the issue of Israeli settlements policy. Thus, this article highlights the crucial importance of playing the “two-level game” for effective statecraft, a concept that has not been given adequate attention in the scholarly literature on the subject.
Asymmetric Compression of Representational Space for Object Animacy Categorization under Degraded Viewing Conditions
Authors: Grootswagers Tijl , Ritchie J. Brendan , Wardle Susan G. , Heathcote Andrew , Carlson Thomas A.
Published: August 2017

Animacy is a robust organizing principle among object category representations in the human brain. Using multivariate pattern analysis methods, it has been shown that distance to the decision boundary of a classifier trained to discriminate neural activation patterns for animate and inanimate objects correlates with observer RTs for the same animacy categorization task [Ritchie, J. B., Tovar, D. A., & Carlson, T. A. Emerging object representations in the visual system predict reaction times for categorization. PLoS Computational Biology, 11, e1004316, 2015; Carlson, T. A., Ritchie, J. B., Kriegeskorte, N., Durvasula, S., & Ma, J. Reaction time for object categorization is predicted by representational distance. Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, 26, 132–142, 2014]. Using MEG decoding, we tested if the same relationship holds when a stimulus manipulation (degradation) increases task difficulty, which we predicted would systematically decrease the distance of activation patterns from the decision boundary and increase RTs. In addition, we tested whether distance to the classifier boundary correlates with drift rates in the linear ballistic accumulator [Brown, S. D., & Heathcote, A. The simplest complete model of choice response time: Linear ballistic accumulation. Cognitive Psychology, 57, 153–178, 2008]. We found that distance to the classifier boundary correlated with RT, accuracy, and drift rates in an animacy categorization task. Split by animacy, the correlations between brain and behavior were sustained longer over the time course for animate than for inanimate stimuli. Interestingly, when examining the distance to the classifier boundary during the peak correlation between brain and behavior, we found that only degraded versions of animate, but not inanimate, objects had systematically shifted toward the classifier decision boundary as predicted. Our results support an asymmetry in the representation of animate and inanimate object categories in the human brain.
Negative interplay of tail and throat ornaments at pair formation in male barn swallows
Authors: Hasegawa Masaru , Arai Emi
Published: August 2017

Pair formation is indispensable for breeding in monogamous species, generating selection for male traits that increase the probability of pairing success. Male ornamentation is one such trait, and several empirical studies have shown the importance of each of multiple ornaments. Still, it remains unclear how multiple ornaments in combination affect the probability of pair formation. Using the Japanese barn swallow,Hirundo rustica gutturalis, we studied the interplay of two sexually selected male traits, tail length and throat coloration, during pair formation. Independent of other morphological, ornamental and abiotic variables, the probability of pair formation was predicted by the negative interplay between tail length and plumage colour saturation: males possessing more-colourful plumage with shorter tails or males possessing less-colourful plumage with longer tails had a higher probability of pair formation than others. The current findings may explain spatiotemporal variation in ornamentation and sexual selection in this model species.
Brazilian Federal Military Justice’s Jurisdiction to Prosecute Civilians
Authors: Augusto de Sousa Carlos
Published: August 2017

Brazilian Federal Military Justice has received criticism, especially with regard to the jurisdiction to try civilians in peacetime. However, this judgment protects the interests of the military and rests on the most current positivity.

There is no incompatibility between the Constitution and the rule established by Article 9 of the Military Criminal Code. The competence therein derives from the legislature’s intention that used the original ratione legis and also the ratione personae criteria to fix it.

On the other hand, the doctrine and the Supreme Court understand that the protection of the interests of the Armed Forces are not restricted to the hierarchy and discipline, recognizing the competence of military courts to try civilians, also in the light of its peculiarity.

It is important to emphasize the Brazilian Federal Military Justice is neither a martial court nor an administrative tribunal, but a branch of the Judiciary Power. Its guiding principles are in line with the human rights enshrined in the Brazilian legal system and the American Convention on Human Rights.

Under the auspices of the adversarial system, the trial of civilians by federal military court does not violate the guarantee of due process, since every process started respects the superior constitutional principles.
Civilian Sentencing Principles in Summary Military Discipline Proceedings
Authors: Marsh MAJ Tennille
Published: August 2017

The Australian Defence Force (adf) has had a number of inquiries or reviews into its military justice system in the past two decades. The recommendations of those inquiries have led to an increasing ‘civilianisation’ of the military discipline system. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the specific requirement of section 70 of the Defence Force Discipline Act (dfda) which requires sentencing authorities to explicitly consider ‘civilian’ sentencing principles. Given that the vast majority of adf personnel plead guilty during summary hearings, it is the sentencing process that is the most critical exercise of legal principles in the summary jurisdiction. The requirement to explicitly consider civilian sentencing principles, where such principles are not defined in the dfda, and are hotly contested amongst highly educated and experienced civilian lawyers, is impractical, inappropriate and does not serve what should be the fundamental purpose of the dfda: the maintenance of service discipline. This paper will discuss the difficulties of the current ‘civilianisation’ of the sentencing process and will propose potential guidelines for legislative reform of section 70 of the dfda, particularly in relation to summary authority hearings.
Vindication of Ulota pygmaeothecia (Orthotrichaceae, Bryophyta)
Authors: MUÑOZ-PUELLES LAURA , LARA FRANCISCO , MAZIMPAKA VICENTE , GARILLETI RICARDO
Published: August 2017

Ulota pygmaeothecia (Müll.Hal.) Kindb. and Ulota luteola (Hook.f. & Wilson) Wijk & Margad. are two epiphytic mosses from the evergreen Magellanic rainforests of southern South America. Both mosses have been considered as distinct species since their original description, with their specific status retained following the comprehensive review by Nicolajs Malta of South American Ulota (1927). Recently the synonymization of U. pygmaeothecia and U. luteola was proposed (Wang & Jia 2016), based mainly on the similarities stated in the protologues and the study of the available type specimens of U. pygmaeothecia and U. fulvella, as the type materials of U. luteola were lost in the mail. In the present paper, all available type material for names associated with these two taxa, together with additional specimens recently collected, have been studied in depth. As a result, it has been found that both mosses show important sporophytic and gametophytic differences, both qualitative and quantitative, that allow for a precise distinction between them and they are reinstated here as distinct species. The morphological features that best differentiate U. luteola and U. pygmaeothecia are discussed and illustrated with light microscope and SEM pictures. Finally, an updated and detailed description of each species is presented.
Three new species of the Encarsia inaron (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) species group from China with a key to Chinese species
Authors: GENG HUI , LI CHENG-DE
Published: August 2017

Five species of the inaron-group of Encarsia Förster (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae) from China are reviewed, including the description of three new species, E. dongbeiana Li & Geng, sp. nov., E. imiza Li & Geng, sp. nov., and E. polymacula Li & Geng, sp. nov. New distributional data for E. inaron (Walker) and E. azimi Hayat are provided and a key to Chinese species of E. inaron-group is given based on females.
A new species of Victoriopisa bantenensis (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Eriopisidae) from West Java, Indonesia
Authors: ARFIANTI TRI , WONGKAMHAENG KORAON
Published: August 2017

Victoriopisa bantenensis sp. nov. has not been previously reported and also the first record of the genus in Indonesian waters. It was collected from soft-bottom subtidal sediment in Banten Bay, West Java, Indonesia and is one of two Victoriopisa which has a notch on the anteroventral margin of the head. Victoriopisa bantenensis is characterized by the absence of eyes, the lateral cephalic lobes elongate and the absence of excavation on the gnathopod 2 propodus palm. Male and female of Victoriopisa bantenensis sp. nov shows sexually dimorphic characters on gnathopods 2. Male gnathopod 2 propodus palm without excavation while female with one excavation. Previously, 13 species of Victoriopisa has been described, and this one is the 14 species of the genus.
A new species of Mesostenus Gravenhorst (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae: Cryptinae) from Colombia
Authors: HERRERA-FLOREZ ANDRES FABIAN , DIAZ JOHN ALEXANDER PULGARIN , QUIROZ-GAMBOA JHON A.
Published: August 2017

The genus Mesostenus Gravenhorst has sixty one described species worldwide. A new species, Mesostenus hypsipylaphagous Herrera-Florez, sp. n. is described and its host given. This is the first record of Mesostenus from Colombia.
Frontogenesis in the Agulhas Return Current Region Simulated by a High-Resolution CGCM
Authors: Ohishi Shun , Tozuka Tomoki , Cronin Meghan F.
Published: August 2017

Detailed mechanisms for frontogenesis/frontolysis of the sea surface temperature (SST) front in the Agulhas Return Current (ARC) region are investigated using outputs from a high-resolution coupled general circulation model. The SST front is maintained throughout the year through an approximate balance between frontolysis by surface heat flux and frontogenesis by horizontal advection. Although a southward (northward) cross-isotherm flow on the northern (southern) side of the front is weaker than a strong eastward along-isotherm current in the frontal region, this cross-isotherm confluent flow advects warmer (cooler) temperature toward the SST front north (south) of the front and acts as the dominant frontogenesis mechanism. In addition, stronger (weaker) frontogenesis in austral summer (winter) is attributed to the stronger (weaker) cross-isotherm confluence, which may be linked to seasonal variations of the Agulhas Current, ARC, and Antarctic Circumpolar Current. On the other hand, the contribution from entrainment is relatively small, because frontolysis by larger (smaller) entrainment velocity on the northern (southern) side opposes frontogenesis by less (more) effective cooling associated with a thicker (thinner) mixed layer and smaller (larger) temperature difference between the mixed layer and entrained water in the northern (southern) region. To gain further insight into the time-mean cross-isotherm confluent flow in the frontal region, the vorticity balance is examined. It is shown that anticyclonic (cyclonic) vorticity advection north (south) of the front by the mean cross-isotherm confluence is in balance with the sum of cyclonic (anticyclonic) vorticity advection by the mean along-isotherm flow and cross-isotherm eddy–mean interaction.
Forecasting Storm Surge and Inundation: Model Validation
Authors: Veeramony Jayaram , Condon Andrew , van Ormondt Maarten
Published: August 2017

Coastal regions are increasingly vulnerable to damage from storm surge and inundation. Delft3D is used by the Naval Oceanographic Office to model the ocean dynamics in the near shore. In this study, the performance of Delft3D in predicting the surge and inundation during Hurricane Ike, which impacted the northern Gulf of Mexico in September 2008, is examined. Wave height, water level, and high-water mark comparisons with a number of observations confirm that the model does well in predicting the surge and inundation during extreme events. The impact of using forecast winds based on the best-track data as opposed to hindcast winds is also investigated, and it is found that the extent of inundation is represented reasonably well with the forecast winds. In Delft3D, waves can be coupled to the hydrodynamic component using the radiation stress gradient method or the dissipation method. Comparing the results of using the two shows that for low-resolution grids such as that needed for a forecast model the dissipation method works better at reproducing the water levels and inundation.
Assessing exchange rate sensitivity of bilateral agricultural trade for the Visegrad countries
Authors: Šimáková Jana
Published: August 2017

This article examines the short- and long-term effects of exchange rate changes on bilateral agricultural foreign trade for the Visegrad countries. Data used in this study covered the period from 1999: Q1 to 2014: Q3 and were based on the Standard International Trade Classification. To distinguish the long-term effects from the short-term ones, the J-curve theory was applied. A Johansen cointegration test and a vector error correction model were also used. The analyses showed that food, live animals, beverages and tobacco commodities were significantly connected with exchange rate movements in the long term. The effects of currency depreciation were ambiguous. However, an improvement in particular trade balances was observed in most cases following currency depreciation. The J-curve pattern was confirmed only for the Czech Republic in the trade of food and live animals with Italy and Poland and for Hungary in the trade of beverages and tobacco with Italy.
Combining 2 Commonly Adopted Nutrition Instruments in the Critical Care Setting Is Superior to Administering Either One Alone
Authors: Lew Charles Chin Han , Cheung Ka Po , Chong Mary Foong Fong , Chua Ai Ping , Fraser Robert J. L. , Miller Michelle
Published: August 2017

Background: This study aimed to determine the agreement between the modified Nutrition Risk in Critically ill Score (mNUTRIC) and the Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) and compare their ability in discriminating and quantifying mortality risk independently and in combination. Methods: Between August 2015 and October 2016, all patients in a Singaporean hospital received the SGA within 48 hours of intensive care unit admission. Nutrition status was dichotomized into presence or absence of malnutrition. The mNUTRIC of patients was retrospectively calculated at the end of the study, and high mNUTRIC was defined as scores ≥5. Results: There were 439 patients and 67.9% had high mNUTRIC, whereas only 28% were malnourished. Hospital mortality was 29.6%, and none was lost to follow‐up. Although both tools had poor agreement (κ statistics: 0.13, P < .001), they had similar discriminative value for hospital mortality (C‐statistics [95% confidence interval (CI)], 0.66 [0.62–0.70] for high mNUTRIC and 0.61 [0.56–0.66] for malnutrition, P = .12). However, a high mNUTRIC was associated with higher adjusted odds for hospital mortality compared with malnutrition (adjusted odds ratio [95% CI], 5.32 [2.15–13.17], P < .001, and 4.27 [1.03–17.71], P = .046, respectively). Combination of both tools showed malnutrition and high mNUTRIC were associated with the highest adjusted odds for hospital mortality (14.43 [5.38–38.78], P < .001). Conclusion: The mNUTRIC and SGA had poor agreement. Although they individually provided a fair discriminative value for hospital mortality, the combination of these approaches is a better discriminator to quantify mortality risk.
Media and events after Media Events
Authors: Frosh Paul , Pinchevski Amit
Published: August 2017

Media Events is a key text in explicating the relation between media and event insofar as it provides an account of time experienced through the structures and practices of broadcasting. We suggest that Dayan and Katz’s book investigates the heyday of a particular version of historicity, which is now giving way to a networked configuration of media events. Media witnessing introduces a bottom-up rather than top-down making of the event. The expansion of mobile digital technologies gives rise to multiple temporalities and trajectories of events through the media.
Exploring Cross-Cultural and Gender Differences in Test Anxiety Among U.S. and Canadian College Students
Authors: Lowe Patricia A.
Published: August 2017

Existing measures of test anxiety used with the college student population are old with old norms and old items, and they do not capture the multiple dimensions of the test anxiety construct or assess facilitating anxiety. In the present study, the validity of the scores of a new, multidimensional measure of test anxiety with a facilitating component, the Test Anxiety Measure for College Students (TAM-C) was examined in a sample of 1,344 Canadian and U.S. college students. Tests of measurement invariance were performed across culture and gender on the TAM-C and cultural and gender differences were explored. The results of multigroup confirmatory factor analyses across culture and gender supported strong invariance on the TAM-C. Latent mean analyses were also conducted and cultural and gender differences were found on the TAM-C. Although additional research is needed, the TAM-C appears to be a promising new measure for use with Canadian and U.S. college students.
Complexity of Risk: Mixed-Methods Approach to Understanding Youth Risk and Insecurity in Postconflict Settings
Authors: Taylor Laura K. , Merrilees Christine E. , Corkalo Biruski Dinka , Ajdukovic Dean , Cummings E. Mark
Published: August 2017

In settings of intergroup conflict, identifying contextually relevant risk factors for youth development is an important task. In Vukovar, Croatia, a city devastated during the war in former Yugoslavia, ethno-political tensions remain. The current study utilized a mixed-methods approach to identify two salient community-level risk factors (ethnic tension and general antisocial behavior) and related emotional insecurity responses (ethnic and nonethnic insecurity) among youth in Vukovar. In Study 1, focus group discussions ( N = 66) with mothers, fathers, and adolescents of age 11 to 15 years old were analyzed using the constant comparative method, revealing two types of risk and insecurity responses. In Study 2, youth ( N = 227, 58% male, M = 15.88, SD = 1.12 years) responded to quantitative scales developed from the focus groups, discriminate validity was demonstrated, and path analyses established predictive validity between each type of risk and insecurity. First, community ethnic tension (i.e., threats related to war/ethnic identity) significantly predicted ethnic insecurity for all youth (β = .41, p < .001). Second, experience with community antisocial behavior (i.e., general crime found in any context) predicted nonethnic community insecurity for girls (β = .32, p < .05) but not for boys. These findings are the first to show multiple forms of emotional insecurity at the community level; implications for future research are discussed.
The Test Anxiety Measure for College Students: Examination of Its Psychometric Properties Using an Online Survey With a Canadian Sample
Authors: Lowe Patricia A.
Published: August 2017

The psychometric properties of a new multidimensional measure of test anxiety, the Test Anxiety Measure for College Students (TAM-C), based on theory and current research were examined in a sample of 312 Canadian college students online. The TAM-C consists of a Facilitating Anxiety scale and five test anxiety (Cognitive Interference, Physiological Hyperarousal, Social Concerns, Task Irrelevant Behaviors, and Worry) scales. Results of confirmatory factor analyses validated the TAM-C six-factor structure. In addition, composite reliabilities were reported to be adequate. Furthermore, convergent and discriminant evidence of validity was found for the TAM-C scores. These findings are the first to be reported on the psychometric properties of the TAM-C scores outside the United States. Although additional research is needed with the TAM-C, it has the potential to become a useful measure to Canadian mental health professionals in their work with test-anxious college students.
Postinfectious Anti–Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody Positive Optic Neuritis and Myelitis
Authors: Vieira J. P. , Sequeira J. , Brito M. J.
Published: August 2017

We report the case of a 9-year-old girl admitted with fever, headache, and a cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytic pleocytosis. Polymerase chain reaction was positive for human herpes virus 6. She subsequently developed ataxia and bilateral loss of vision. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed bilateral optic nerve lesions with extension to optic chiasm and a short-segment myelitis. Serologic studies were positive for Borrelia burgdorferi IgM. Anti–aquaporin 4 antibody was negative and anti–myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody (MOG) positive. After intravenous methylprednisolone, ceftriaxone, and intravenous immunoglobulin, her vision slowly recovered. The patient was discharged with only mild visual acuity loss, 1 month after admission. Brain MRI was repeated later and was normal and MOG assay became negative. In our view, this patient suffered from a postinfectious, anti-MOG–mediated, spinal cord and optic nerve demyelination.
Critical Care Nutrition Support Best Practices: Key Differences Between Canadian and American Guidelines
Authors: Patel Jayshil J. , Lemieux Margot , McClave Stephen A. , Martindale Robert G. , Hurt Ryan T. , Heyland Daren K.
Published: August 2017

Since 2015, Society of Critical Care Medicine/American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition and Canadian critical care nutrition support guidelines have both been updated. Despite a similar evidentiary basis, there remain key differences between guideline recommendations. These differences in recommendations may pose confusion for the clinician and may encumber widespread applicability. The aim of this review was to enhance practitioner confidence in applying critical care nutrition support guidelines to patient care in their settings by outlining the similarities and differences between the American and Canadian methods for guideline development and describing the key differences and reasons behind the differences.
Union renewal in historical perspective
Authors: Croucher Richard , Wood Geoffrey
Published: August 2017

This article revisits contemporary union renewal/revival debates through comparison with the late 1930s resurgence of trade unionism in the UK’s engineering industry. It is argued that the 1930s union renewal arose from more favourable contextual conditions than those currently obtaining. It was led by political activists, with better-articulated organisation and greater resonance in the working class than their contemporary counterparts, who were assisted by state policy and pro-worker forces. Conclusions are drawn in relation to current debates.
Characterization of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who meet the diagnostic criteria for TAFRO syndrome
Authors: Hasegawa E , Sato H , Wada Y , Takai K , Wakamatsu A , Nozawa Y , Nakatsue T , Kuroda T , Suzuki Y , Nakano M , Narita I
Published: August 2017

Purpose

TAFRO syndrome is a novel disorder manifesting as fever, anasarca, thrombocytopenia, renal insufficiency and organomegaly, and its etiology has not been clarified. The aim of this study was to elucidate similarities and differences between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and TAFRO syndrome.

Methods

We examined 46 consecutive patients diagnosed with SLE and determined whether they meet the proposed diagnostic criteria for TAFRO syndrome (2015 version).

Results

Of the 46 patients with SLE, four (8.7%) also met the TAFRO syndrome criteria (TAFRO-like group). All patients in the TAFRO-like group were males, and their mean age was significantly higher than that of the non-TAFRO group (67.5 ± 8.7 vs. 39.3 ± 18.1 years, p = 0.004). C-reactive protein and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase levels were significantly higher, and frequencies of anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm antibodies were significantly lower in the TAFRO-like than non-TAFRO group. Elder cases (onset age ≥ 50 years) met significantly more categories of the diagnostic criteria for TAFRO syndrome than did those with younger cases.

Conclusions

Several patients with SLE, especially elder cases, showed features similar to those of TAFRO syndrome. Although exclusion of SLE is needed in the diagnostic criteria for TAFRO syndrome, TAFRO syndrome-like SLE should be considered.
Professional Socialization: A Grounded Theory of the Clinical Reasoning Processes That RNs and LPNs Use to Recognize Delirium
Authors: El Hussein Mohamed , Hirst Sandra , Osuji Joseph
Published: August 2017

Delirium is an acute disorder of attention and cognition. It affects half of older adults in acute care settings and is a cause of increasing mortality and costs. Registered nurses (RNs) and licensed practical nurses (LPNs) frequently fail to recognize delirium. The goals of this research were to identify the reasoning processes that RNs and LPNs use to recognize delirium, to compare their reasoning processes, and to generate a theory that explains their clinical reasoning processes. Theoretical sampling was employed to elicit data from 28 participants using grounded theory methodology. Theoretical coding culminated in the emergence of Professional Socialization as the substantive theory. Professional Socialization emerged from participants’ responses and was based on two social processes, specifically reasoning to uncover and reasoning to report. Professional Socialization makes explicit the similarities and variations in the clinical reasoning processes between RNs and LPNs and highlights their main concerns when interacting with delirious patients.
A Health Behavior Prediction Model for Patients With Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Kim Jiyoung , Kim Oksoo
Published: August 2017

The aim of this study was to determine the relationships among functional status, hostility, social support, illness perceptions, and health behaviors in patients with coronary artery disease using structural equation modeling. Participants comprised 215 patients with coronary artery disease who had received percutaneous coronary artery intervention or a coronary artery bypass graft in two general hospitals in Seoul, Korea. Using structured interviews with questionnaires, data accrued from July to August, 2015. Fitness of the model was verified with AMOS 21.0. As social support increased, it negatively aligned with cognitive-illness perceptions. Higher levels of hostility and greater negative cognitive-illness perceptions aligned with negative emotional-illness perceptions. Social support indirectly affected emotional-illness perceptions. Lower levels of functional status, greater social support, and more positive cognitive-illness perceptions aligned with health behaviors. Social support indirectly affected health behaviors. In conclusion, nurses should focus on coronary artery disease patients’ physical functions and cognitive-illness perceptions to provide support.
Translation and Adaptation of a Nursing Swearing Impact Questionnaire Into Chinese
Authors: Sun Yan , Stone Teresa E. , Yang Bingxiang , Petrini Marcia A. , McMillan Margaret
Published: August 2017

BACKGROUND: Verbal aggression and swearing are the most frequently encountered violence in the health care industry. Nurses are the most frequent victims. Not known is the incidence and impact of swearing against nurses in China. OBJECTIVES: (a) Develop a Chinese version of the Nursing Swearing Impact Questionnaire; (b) report the preliminary findings from the use of the tool. METHOD: Using a translation–back translation procedure, focus groups and expert review, followed by a survey of 32 participants. RESULTS: The Chinese version of the Nursing Swearing Impact Questionnaire has been developed, and cultural differences and different attitudes toward verbal aggression and swearing in disparate groups and workplaces have been highlighted. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first Chinese tool to research nurses’ perspectives and experiences of swearing in the workplace. Nurses in China face serious challenges, and the impact of swearing on nurses requires more attention.
BioGlue-Associated Loss of Aortic Valve Leaflet Motility Sonographically Masked by Both Newly Replaced Mechanical Aortic and Mitral Valves
Authors: Smeltz Alan Matthew , Caranasos Thomas G. , Teeter Emily G.
Published: August 2017

BioGlue is a surgical adhesive widely used to help reinforce complex cardiac and vascular repairs. Since its introduction, several case reports have emerged revealing complications that all providers should be mindful of whenever the product is used. This report considers a unique situation where BioGlue was used after double cardiac valve repair that resulted in adhesion of the new mechanical aortic valve leaflets and was difficult to visualize with transesophageal echocardiography.
Ewing Sarcoma and Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor
Authors: Pacheco M Cristina , Dolan Michelle , Bendel Anne
Published: August 2017

Ewing sarcoma (ES) and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) are high-grade malignancies of childhood, each of which is associated with genetic abnormalities on chromosome 22. ES is typically characterized by rearrangement of the EWSR1 locus and ATRT by deletion of SMARCB1. We report a case with an unusual fluorescence in situ hybridization signal pattern consistent with EWSR1 rearrangement that was shown to have loss of INI1 expression by immunohistochemistry due to deletion in the long arm of one chromosome 22. In light of the unusual findings in this case as well as the proximity of the EWSR1 locus and SMARCB1 locus on chromosome 22 and frequent CD99 staining in both tumors, we examined 16 ES cases and 17 ATRT, renal rhabdoid tumor (RRT), and extrarenal rhabdoid tumor (ERRT) cases for CD99 and INI1 staining and for EWSR1 rearrangement. Staining with INI1 was negative in ATRT, RRT, and ERRT and positive in ES cases; CD99 was positive in ES cases and variable in ATRT cases. All but 2 cases of ES, and no cases of ATRT, showed rearrangement of EWSR1. The present case appears to be best classified as a unique variant of ATRT based on immunohistochemistry, EWSR1 fluorescence in situ hybridization and RT-PCR, and SMARCB1 gene sequencing.
Adaptive Multiview Nonnegative Matrix Factorization Algorithm for Integration of Multimodal Biomedical Data
Authors: Ray Bisakha , Liu Wenke , Fenyö David
Published: August 2017

The amounts and types of available multimodal tumor data are rapidly increasing, and their integration is critical for fully understanding the underlying cancer biology and personalizing treatment. However, the development of methods for effectively integrating multimodal data in a principled manner is lagging behind our ability to generate the data. In this article, we introduce an extension to a multiview nonnegative matrix factorization algorithm (NNMF) for dimensionality reduction and integration of heterogeneous data types and compare the predictive modeling performance of the method on unimodal and multimodal data. We also present a comparative evaluation of our novel multiview approach and current data integration methods. Our work provides an efficient method to extend an existing dimensionality reduction method. We report rigorous evaluation of the method on large-scale quantitative protein and phosphoprotein tumor data from the Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC) acquired using state-of-the-art liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Exome sequencing and RNA-Seq data were also available from The Cancer Genome Atlas for the same tumors. For unimodal data, in case of breast cancer, transcript levels were most predictive of estrogen and progesterone receptor status and copy number variation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status. For ovarian and colon cancers, phosphoprotein and protein levels were most predictive of tumor grade and stage and residual tumor, respectively. When multiview NNMF was applied to multimodal data to predict outcomes, the improvement in performance is not overall statistically significant beyond unimodal data, suggesting that proteomics data may contain more predictive information regarding tumor phenotypes than transcript levels, probably due to the fact that proteins are the functional gene products and therefore a more direct measurement of the functional state of the tumor. Here, we have applied our proposed approach to multimodal molecular data for tumors, but it is generally applicable to dimensionality reduction and joint analysis of any type of multimodal data.
Driving habits – A Canadian study
Authors: Jahanfar Shayesteh
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Motor vehicle accidents are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Safe driving behavior constitutes proper use of seat belts as a driver and as a passenger. The correct use of seat belts has been shown to reduce death and injury following motor vehicle accidents by more than 50%. This study aims at investigating seat belt use and driving habits among Canadians.

Method

A population-based database from the Canadian Community Health Survey was analyzed.

Result

About 12% reported that they use seat belts most of the times, rarely or never and 27% of respondents were using cellphone while driving often or sometimes; 8% of respondents admitted to driving after 2 or more alcoholic drinks. Seat belt use in taxi passengers is much lower than in own cars, with 40% not using a seatbelt all of the time when in a taxi.

Discussion and conclusions

The major risk factors for not wearing seat belt as a passenger include age, education, ethnicity and income.