bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New genus and new species of Caprellidae (Crustacea: Peracarida: Amphipoda) from the mesophotic coral ecosystems of Puerto Rico and St. Croix, Caribbean Sea
Authors: GUERRA-GARCÍA JOSÉ M. , CHATTERJEE TAPAS , SCHIZAS NIKOLAOS V.
Published: September 2015

A new genus and two new species are described based on material collected from the mesophotic coral ecosystems of the U.S. Caribbean. The new genus Borikenella can be distinguished from other related genera such as Pseudaeginella, Paradeutella, Aciconula and Deutella by the combination of the following characters: pereopods 3 and 4 three-articulate, pereopods 5–7 six-articulate, mandible molar present, palp of the mandible with a setal formula 1-x-0, abdomen without appendages. The new species Liropus gurui, can be distinguished from the closely related L. japonicus mainly by the lack of anteroventral margin extended forward in pereonite 3, the lack of cleft and serration in the propodus of gnathopod 2, the longer pereopod 3 and the larger abdominal appendages.
Lamellibrachia sagami sp. nov., a new vestimentiferan tubeworm (Annelida: Siboglinidae) from Sagami Bay and several sites in the northwestern Pacific Ocean
Authors: KOBAYASHI GENKI , MIURA TOMOYUKI , KOJIMA SHIGEAKI
Published: September 2015

A new vestimentiferan tubeworm species of the genus Lamellibrachia Webb, 1969 is described. It was collected from cold seep areas off Hatsushima in Sagami Bay and at the Daini Tenryu Knoll in the Nankai Trough (606–1170 m depth). Lamellibrachia sagami sp. nov. differs from seven congeneric species in the following character states; showing a wider range of diameter of vestimental and trunk plaques than L. barhami, L. luymesi, L. satsuma and L. anaximandri; and having more numerous sheath lamellae (3–6 pairs) than L. juni (2–3 pairs) but fewer than L. victori (7 pairs) and L. columna (8–16 pairs).
Establishment of a new genus for Eresiomera paradoxa (Schultze, 1917) and related taxa (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) with description of two new species
Authors: SÁFIÁN SZABOLCS , COLLINS STEVE C.
Published: September 2015

Finding of two undescribed species, closely related to Eresiomera paradoxa (Schultze, 1917) in Liberia and the Democratic Repubic of Congo led the authors to revise the material available in the African Butterfly Reserarch Institute (ABRI), Nairobi. Examination of the material revealed that the placement of E. paradoxa and the related species neither in the genus Eresiomera Clench, 1965, nor in Pseuderesia Butler, 1874 in which the species was originally described, is satisfactory, based on characters offered by the wings and genitalia. Solving the problem a new genus, Parasiomera gen. nov. is erected for E. paradoxa and related taxa and two new species are described: P. alfa sp. nov., P. kivuensis sp. nov. The taxon orientalis Stempffer, 1962 orignally described as subspecies of Pseuderesia paradoxa is also elevated to species rank and placed in the new genus resulting the new combination and new status Parasiomera orientalis (Stempffer, 1962). To secure objectivity of the name usage of P. paradoxa, the only existing syntpe is designated as lectotype.
Taxonomic status of Tetragonopterus anomalus Steindachner, 1891, an inquirenda species in Characidae (Teleostei: Characiformes)
Authors: CARVALHO FERNANDO R. , SANTOS ANA CLÁUDIA
Published: September 2015

Tetragonopterus anomalus Steindachner was briefly described in July of 1891 (Steindachner 1891a:173) solely based on the holotype, which measured 144 mm (probably SL). Subsequently, in October, Steindachner (1891b:369) illustrated and redescribed the species in more detail. The type specimen was collected in the Paraná River, in the vicinity of Corrientes, Argentina. A few months before, in April of the same year, Perugia (1891:643) described Tetragonopterus nigripinnis, from de la Plata River. Ulrey (1895:273) considered T. anomalus as a junior synonym of T. nigripinnis, but did not justify the reasons for this synonymy, which was later supported by Perugia (1897:25). Eigenmann (1903:145) proposed the genus Markiana, with T. nigripinnis (= M. nigripinnis) as type species (type by monotypy), but did not mention T. anomalus in the description of this genus. However, in his later review of Markiana, Eigenmann (1918:124) confirmed T. anomalus as a junior synonym of Markiana nigripinnis, followed also by Fowler (1948:136). Nonetheless, uncertainty about the taxonomic status of T. anomalus, a poorly known species, led Lima et al. (2003:161) to consider it an inquirenda species in Characidae, and this status has been maintained until the present (Eschmeyer 2015).
Effects of Convective Microphysics Parameterization on Large-Scale Cloud Hydrological Cycle and Radiative Budget in Tropical and Midlatitude Convective Regions
Authors: Storer Rachel L. , Zhang Guang J. , Song Xiaoliang
Published: September 2015

A two-moment microphysics scheme for deep convection was previously implemented in the NCAR Community Atmosphere Model version 5 (CAM5) by Song et al. The new scheme improved hydrometeor profiles in deep convective clouds and increased deep convective detrainment, reducing the negative biases in low and midlevel cloud fraction and liquid water path compared to observations. Here, the authors examine in more detail the impacts of this improved microphysical representation on regional-scale water and radiation budgets. As a primary source of cloud water for stratiform clouds is detrainment from deep and shallow convection, the enhanced detrainment leads to larger stratiform cloud fractions, higher cloud water content, and more stratiform precipitation over the ocean, particularly in the subtropics where convective frequency is also increased. This leads to increased net cloud radiative forcing. Over land regions, cloud amounts are reduced as a result of lower relative humidity, leading to weaker cloud forcing and increased OLR. Comparing the water budgets to cloud-resolving model simulations shows improvement in the partitioning between convective and stratiform precipitation, though the deep convection is still too active in the GCM. The addition of convective microphysics leads to an overall improvement in the regional cloud water budgets.
Predictors of No-Reflow Phenomenon in Young Patients With Acute ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention
Authors: Celik Turgay , Balta Sevket , Ozturk Cengiz , Kaya Mehmet Gungor , Aparci Mustafa , Yildirim Osman A. , Demir Mustafa , Unlu Murat , Demirkol Sait , Kilic Selim , Iyisoy Atila
Published: September 2015

No-reflow is of prognostic value in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) but has not been extensively investigated in young patients. Young patients with STEMI admitted within 12 hours from symptom onset and treated by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) were recruited. Patients were classified into 2 groups based on postintervention thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow grade; no-reflow: TIMI flow grade 0, 1 or 2 (group 1; n = 27; 21 men, mean age: 42 ± 4 years); and angiographic success: TIMI flow grade 3 (group 2; n = 118; 110 men, mean age: 43 ± 4 years). Adjusted odds ratios were 13.79 for female gender ( P < .001; confidence interval [CI] = 1.88-101.26), 2.09 for pain to balloon time ( P < .017; CI = 1.14-3.812), 12.29 for high TIMI thrombus grade ( P = .012; CI = 1.74-86.94), 0.04 for tirofiban use ( P < .001; CI = 0.01-0.22), 5.19 for mean platelet volume (MPV; P < .001; CI = 2.44-11.01), and 1.008 for platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR; P = .034; CI = 1.001-1.016). In conclusion, female gender, pain to balloon time, high TIMI thrombus grade, tirofiban, MPV, and PLR were independent predictors of no-reflow in young patients with STEMI after pPCI.
Impact of Foreign Trade on Employment and Wages in Indian Manufacturing
Authors: S.N. Rajesh Raj , Sasidharan Subash
Published: September 2015

This study attempts to investigate the impact of international trade on the manufacturing employment and wages in India over the period 1980–2005. Given India’s abundant labour force, the empirical evidence will provide an indication on the role of trade openness in labour market in terms of employment and wages. We employ three standard modelling approaches, namely, factor content, growth decomposition and panel data modelling approaches, to verify the role of trade on employment and wages. We use panel data at the industry level obtained from Annual Survey of Industries (ASI) and World Bank trade data set. Our results suggest that international trade has not had any significant impact on employment generation in the manufacturing sector in India. While there is little evidence on any significant effect of export orientation on employment, import penetration had a detrimental effect on employment generation.
Anti-dumping Initiations in Indian Manufacturing Industries
Authors: Bagchi Sagnik , Bhattacharyya Surajit , Narayanan K.
Published: September 2015

Anti-dumping as a new protectionist trade policy has evolved as the popular strategy choice for the trading nations. Since the Uruguay Round of World Trade Organization (WTO) (1994), India has been a prominent user of it. This article attempts to explore the possible factors that might have triggered off 90 percent cases of anti-dumping by five major Indian manufacturing industries over the period 1997–2011. We construct a balanced panel combining data on anti-dumping initiations from the ‘Global Antidumping Database’ with trade data from the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics (DGCI&S)-India and United Nations Comtrade database at the Indian Trade Classification (ITC) based on Harmonized System (HS) two-digit level. Having count data, the empirical model is estimated initially through a random- effects Poisson regression model followed by a negative binomial model. The number of anti-dumping initiations in India is dependent on the value of imports, the presence of a dominant industry lobby and the retaliatory behaviour by the affected domestic firms, among some others. In fact, we find that in determining the number of anti-dumping initiations the conventional economic and foreign affairs policies take a backseat!
Gender Considerations for Rural Poverty Reduction in Bangladesh
Authors: Kabir Mohammod Lutful
Published: September 2015

UNICEF (2010), ADB (2011) and GOB (2011) reports reveal that Bangladesh has made significant progress in its social development areas; however, it still lack behind to eradicate poverty and sustain its social development. An initiative, rural non-farm economy (RNFE), has been introduced in Bangladesh to address poverty, social development and to empower rural women financially. RNFE has made contribution to match male–female parity in work participation and also to attain economic empowerment for women by enabling them to engage in economic activities without violating the social norms. The study indicates that women RNFE participants should get more income support and better health care facilities to maintain their subsistence and to get rid of poverty, while men RNFE participants should get more support to get involved in high-income RNFE activities and promote RNFE income growth.
Do tradeoffs structure antibiotic inhibition, resistance, and resource use among soil-borne Streptomyces?
Authors: Schlatter Daniel C. , Kinkel Linda L.
Published: September 2015

Background

Tradeoffs among competing traits are believed to be crucial to the maintenance of diversity in complex communities. The production of antibiotics to inhibit competitors and resistance to antibiotic inhibition are two traits hypothesized to be critical to microbial fitness in natural habitats, yet data on costs or tradeoffs associated with these traits are limited. In this work we characterized tradeoffs between antibiotic inhibition or resistance capacities and growth efficiencies or niche widths for a broad collection ofStreptomycesfrom soil.

Results

Streptomycesisolates tended to have either very little or very high inhibitory capacity. In contrast,Streptomycesisolates were most commonly resistant to antibiotic inhibition by an intermediate number of other isolates.Streptomyceswith either very high antibiotic inhibitory or resistance capacities had less efficient growth and utilized a smaller number of resources for growth (smaller niche width) than those with low inhibition or resistance capacities, suggesting tradeoffs between antibiotic inhibitory or resistance and resource use phenotypes.

Conclusions

This work suggests that life-history tradeoffs may be crucial to the maintenance of the vast diversity of antibiotic inhibitory and resistance phenotypes found amongStreptomycesin natural communities.
Daily laxative therapy reduces organ dysfunction in mechanically ventilated patients: a phase II randomized controlled trial
Authors: de Azevedo Rodrigo Palacio , Freitas Flávio Geraldo Resende , Ferreira Elaine Maria , Pontes de Azevedo Luciano Cesar , Machado Flávia Ribeiro
Published: September 2015

Introduction

Constipation is a common problem in intensive care units. We assessed the efficacy and safety of laxative therapy aiming to promote daily defecation in reducing organ dysfunction in mechanically ventilated patients.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, randomized, controlled, nonblinded phase II clinical trial at two general intensive care units. Patients expected to remain ventilated for over 3 days were randomly assigned to daily defecation or control groups. The intervention group received lactulose and enemas to produce 1–2 defecations per day. In the control group, absence of defecation was tolerated up to 5 days. Primary outcome was the change in Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score between the date of enrollment and intensive care unit discharge, death or day 14.

Results

We included 88 patients. Patients in the treatment group had a higher number of defecations per day (1.3 ± 0.42 versus 0.7 ± 0.56, p < 0.0001) and lower percentage of days without defecation (33.1 ± 15.7 % versus 62.3 ±24.5 %, p < 0.0001). Patients in the intervention group had a greater reduction in SOFA score (–4.0 (–6.0 to 0) versus –1.0 (–4.0 to 1.0), p = 0.036) with no difference in mortality rates or in survival time. Adverse events were more frequent in the treatment group (4.5 (3.0–8.0) versus 3.0 (1.0–5.7), p = 0.016), including more days with diarrhea (2.0 (1.0–4.0) versus 1.0 (0–2.0) days, p < 0.0001). Serious adverse events were rare and did not significantly differ between groups.

Conclusions

Laxative therapy improved daily defecation in ventilated patients and was associated with a greater reduction in SOFA score.

Trial registration

Clinical Trials.gov NCT01607060, registered 24 May 2012.
Estrogen administered after cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation ameliorates acute kidney injury in a sex- and age-specific manner
Authors: Ikeda Mizuko , Swide Thomas , Vayl Alexandra , Lahm Tim , Anderson Sharon , Hutchens Michael P.
Published: September 2015

Introduction

There is a sex difference in the risk of ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI), and estrogen mediates the protective effect of female sex. We previously demonstrated that preprocedural chronic restoration of physiologic estrogen to ovariectomized female mice ameliorated AKI after cardiac arrest and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CA/CPR). In the present study, we hypothesized that male mice and aged female mice would benefit from estrogen administration after CA/CPR. We tested the effect of estrogen in a clinically relevant manner by administrating it after CA/CPR.

Methods

CA/CPR was performed in young (10–15 weeks), middle-aged (43–48 weeks), and aged (78–87 weeks) C57BL/6 male and female mice. Mice received intravenous 17β-estradiol or vehicle 15 min after resuscitation. Serum chemistries and unbiased stereological assessment of renal injury were completed 24 h after CA. Regional renal cortical blood flow was measured by a laser Doppler, and renal levels of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and G protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) were evaluated with immunoblotting.

Results

Post-arrest estrogen administration reduced injury in young males without significant changes in renal blood flow (percentage reduction compared with vehicle: serum urea nitrogen, 30 %; serum creatinine (sCr), 41 %; volume of necrotic tubules (VNT), 31 %; P < 0.05). In contrast, estrogen did not affect any outcomes in young females. In aged mice, estrogen significantly reduced sCr (80 %) and VNT (73 %) in males and VNT (51 %) in females. Serum estrogen levels in aged female mice after CA/CPR were the same as levels in male mice. With age, renal ERα was upregulated in females.

Conclusions

Estrogen administration after resuscitation from CA ameliorates renal injury in young males and aged mice in both sexes. Because injury was small, young females were not affected. The protective effect of exogenous estrogen may be detectable with loss of endogenous estrogen in aged females and could be mediated by differences in renal ERs. Post-arrest estrogen administration is renoprotective in a sex- and age-dependent manner.
Improvement of antibiotic therapy and ICU survival in severe non-pneumococcal community-acquired pneumonia: a matched case–control study
Authors: Gattarello Simone , Lagunes Leonel , Vidaur Loreto , Solé-Violán Jordi , Zaragoza Rafael , Vallés Jordi , Torres Antoni , Sierra Rafael , Sebastian Rosa , Rello Jordi
Published: September 2015

Introduction

We aimed to compare intensive care unit mortality due to non-pneumococcal severe community-acquired pneumonia between the periods 2000–2002 and 2008–2014, and the impact of the improvement in antibiotic strategies on outcomes.

Methods

This was a matched case–control study enrolling 144 patients with non-pneumococcal severe pneumonia: 72 patients from the 2000–2002 database (CAPUCI I group) were paired with 72 from the 2008–2014 period (CAPUCI II group), matched by the following variables: microorganism, shock at admission, invasive mechanical ventilation, immunocompromise, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and age over 65 years.

Results

The most frequent microorganism was methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (22.1 %) followed by Legionella pneumophila and Haemophilus influenzae (each 20.7 %); prevalence of shock was 59.7 %, while 73.6 % of patients needed invasive mechanical ventilation. Intensive care unit mortality was significantly lower in the CAPUCI II group (34.7 % versus 16.7 %; odds ratio (OR) 0.78, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.64–0.95; p = 0.02). Appropriate therapy according to microorganism was 91.5 % in CAPUCI I and 92.7 % in CAPUCI II, while combined therapy and early antibiotic treatment were significantly higher in CAPUCI II (76.4 versus 90.3 % and 37.5 versus 63.9 %; p < 0.05). In the multivariate analysis, combined antibiotic therapy (OR 0.23, 95 % CI 0.07–0.74) and early antibiotic treatment (OR 0.07, 95 % CI 0.02–0.22) were independently associated with decreased intensive care unit mortality.

Conclusions

In non-pneumococcal severe community-acquired pneumonia , early antibiotic administration and use of combined antibiotic therapy were both associated with increased intensive care unit survival during the study period.
Avemar and Echinacea extracts enhance mobilization and homing of CD34+ stem cells in rats with acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Abdelmonem Maha , Kassem Samar H. , Gabr Hala , Shaheen Amira A. , Aboushousha Tarek
Published: September 2015

Introduction

Activation of endogenous stem cell mobilization can contribute to myocardial regeneration after ischemic injury. This study aimed to evaluate the possible role of Avemar or Echinacea extracts in inducing mobilization and homing of CD34+ stem cells in relation to the inflammatory and hematopoietic cytokines in rats suffering from acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods

AMI was developed by two consecutive subcutaneous injections of isoprenaline (85 mg/kg). AMI rats were either post-treated or pre- and post-treated daily with oral doses of Avemar (121 mg/kg) or Echinacea (130 mg/kg). In whole blood, the number of CD34+ cells was measured by flow cytometry and their homing to the myocardium was immunohistochemically assessed. Serum creatine kinase, vascular endothelial growth factor, interleukin-8 and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor were determined on days 1, 7 and 14 after AMI. Sections of the myocardium were histopathologically assessed.

Results

Rats pre- and post-treated with Avemar or Echinacea exhibited substantial increases in the number of circulating CD34+ cells, peaking on the first day after AMI to approximately 13-fold and 15-fold, respectively, with a decline in their level on day 7 followed by a significant increase on day 14 compared to their corresponding AMI levels. Only post-treatment with Echinacea caused a time-dependent increase in circulating CD34+ cells on days 7 and 14. Such increases in circulating CD34+ cells were accompanied by increased homing to myocardial tissue 14 days after AMI. Interestingly, pre- and post-treatment with Avemar or Echinacea substantially increased serum creatine kinase on day 1, normalized its activity on day 7 and, on continued treatment, only Echinacea markedly increased its activity on day 14 compared to the corresponding AMI values. Moreover, both treatments modified differently the elevated serum vascular endothelial growth factor and the lowered granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor levels of the AMI group but did not affect the level of interleukin-8. These results were supported histopathologically by reduced inflammatory reactions and enhanced neovascularization.

Conclusion

Avemar and Echinacea extracts can effectively induce mobilization and homing of CD34+ stem cells to the myocardial tissue and thus may help in stem cell-based regeneration of the infarcted myocardium.
Improved Outcomes After Autologous Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation for Light Chain Amyloidosis: A Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research Study
Authors: D'Souza Anita , Dispenzieri Angela , Wirk Baldeep , Zhang Mei-Jie , Huang Jiaxing , Gertz Morie A. , Kyle Robert A. , Kumar Shaji , Comenzo Raymond L. , Peter Gale Robert , Lazarus Hillard M. , Savani Bipin N. , Cornell Robert F. , Weiss Brendan M. , Vogl Dan T. , Freytes César O. , Scott Emma C. , Landau Heather J. , Moreb Jan S. , Costa Luciano J. , Ramanathan Muthalagu , Callander Natalie S. , Kamble Rammurti T. , Olsson Richard F. , Ganguly Siddhartha , Nishihori Taiga , Kindwall-Keller Tamila L. , Wood William A. , Mark Tomer M. , Hari Parameswaran
Published: September 2015

Purpose

Autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation, or autotransplantation, is effective in light-chain amyloidosis (AL), but it is associated with a high risk of early mortality (EM). In a multicenter randomized comparison against oral chemotherapy, autotransplantation was associated with 24% EM. We analyzed trends in outcomes after autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for AL in North America.

Patients and Methods

Between 1995 and 2012, 1,536 patients with AL who underwent autotransplantation at 134 centers were identified in the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research database. EM and overall survival (OS) were analyzed in three time cohorts: 1995 to 2000 (n = 140), 2001 to 2006 (n = 596), and 2007 to 2012 (n = 800). Hematologic and renal responses and factors associated with EM, relapse and/or progression, progression-free survival and OS were analyzed in more recent subgroups from 2001 to 2006 (n = 197) and from 2007 to 2012 (n = 157).

Results

Mortality at 30 and 100 days progressively declined over successive time periods from 11% and 20%, respectively, in 1995 to 2000 to 5% and 11%, respectively, in 2001 to 2006, and to 3% and 5%, respectively, in 2007 to 2012. Correspondingly, 5-year OS improved from 55% in 1995 to 2000 to 61% in 2001 to 2006 and to 77% in 2007 to 2012. Hematologic response to transplantation improved in the latest cohort. Renal response rate was 32%. Centers performing more than four AL transplantations per year had superior survival outcomes. In the multivariable analysis, cardiac AL was associated with high EM and inferior progression-free survival and OS. Autotransplantation in 2007 to 2012 and use of higher dosages of melphalan were associated with a lowered relapse risk. A Karnofsky score less than 80 and creatinine levels 2 mg/m2 or greater were associated with worsened OS.

Conclusion

Post-transplantation survival in AL has improved, with a dramatic reduction in early post-transplantation mortality and excellent 5-year survival. The risk-benefit ratio for autotransplantation has changed, and randomized comparison with nontransplantation approaches is again warranted.
Symmetry-Itemized Enumeration of Quadruplets of RS-Stereoisomers Derived from a Trigonal Pyramidal Skeleton
Authors: Fujita Shinsaku
Published: September 2015

Stereoisograms of five types are devised as graphical expressions of the action of an RS-stereoisomeric group on a trigonal pyramidal skeleton. A quadruplet of promolecules (i.e., a reference promolecule, its enantiomer, its RS-diastereomer, and its holantimer) contained in a stereoisogram is counted once as an equivalence class under the action of an RS-stereoisomeric group. An RS-stereoisomeric group  is constructed by starting from the point group C3v of a trigonal pyramidal skeleton, where a point group C3v, an RS-permutation group , a ligand-reflection group C3Î are integrated. Fujita’s unit-subduced-cycle-index (USCI) approach for enumeration under point groups is extended to cover enumeration under RS-stereoisomeric groups. The fixed-point-matrix (FPM) method and the partial-cycle-index (PCI) method of the USCI approach are applied to symmetry-itemized and type-itemized enumeration of quadruplets of promolecules under the action of the RS-stereoisomeric group . Theoretical foundations of stereochemical nomenclature are discussed on the basis of Fujita’s stereoisogram approach, where three aspects of absolute configuration are emphasized. Prochirality and pro-RS-stereogenicity are clarified to be conceptually distinct, just as chirality and RS-stereogenicity are conceptually distinct. Young’s tableaux for (pro)chirality and those for (pro-)RS-stereogenicity are compared to demonstrate such conceptual distinctions. It follows that a pair of R/S-stereodescriptors is assigned on the basis of RS-stereogenicity, not of chirality; and a pair of pro-R/pro-S-descriptors is assigned on the basis of pro-RS-stereogenicity, not of prochirality.
Fused-Ring Bulky “Rind” Groups Producing New Possibilities in Elemento-Organic Chemistry
Authors: Matsuo Tsukasa , Tamao Kohei
Published: September 2015

Kinetic stabilization with sterically bulky substituents or ligands has played a pivotal role in exploring a large variety of unsaturated compounds or low-coordinated complexes. This article describes our findings that a series of fused-ring octa-R-substituted s-hydrindacenyl groups (Rind groups), which we developed since 2007, can act as unique protecting groups both in main group chemistry and in transition-metal chemistry. The synthesis, structures, and properties of various types of highly reactive unsaturated and low-coordinated element-organic compounds of Groups 1, 2, 8, 11, and 13–17 featuring the bulky Rind groups are covered.
Chronic venous insufficiency in a geriatric collective
Authors: Stücker M. , Pientka L. , Reich-Schupke S. , Weyer K.
Published: September 2015

Aim: Investigation of symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) in geriatric patients > 65 years and their relation to activities of daily life and locomotion.

Methods: This monocenter pilot study collects data from patients of a geriatric hospital. We qualified Activities of daily live by Barthel Index, locomotion via Timed-Up-and-Go-test and clinical CEAP levels and included data from the Venous Clinical Severity Score and the patient questionnaire of the German Society of Phlebology. Additionally a duplex-sonographic screening was performed. Identified CEAP levels were correlated with results of the scores mentioned above.

Results: 42 patients with an average age of 80.5 (64–93) years were included. 76.2 % of them had a CEAP-score of ≥3. CEAP-score 5-6 correlated with limited locomotion and independence in activities of daily life. 81 % of the patients had previous venous therapies.

Conclusion: CVI is an underestimated disease in elder patients. In our collective a great part of patients showed relevant clinical symptoms of CVI which were aggravated by limitations of higher age. Early diagnostic and therapy of CVI are indicated to reduce complicated clinical courses.
On Minimal Valid Inequalities for Mixed Integer Conic Programs
Authors: Kılınç-Karzan Fatma
Published: September 2015

We study disjunctive conic sets involving a general regular (closed, convex, full dimensional, and pointed) cone 𝒦 such as the nonnegative orthant, the Lorentz cone, or the positive semidefinite cone. In a unified framework, we introduce 𝒦-minimal inequalities and show that, under mild assumptions, these inequalities together with the trivial cone-implied inequalities are sufficient to describe the convex hull. We focus on the properties of 𝒦-minimal inequalities by establishing algebraic necessary conditions for an inequality to be 𝒦-minimal. This characterization leads to a broader algebraically defined class of 𝒦-sublinear inequalities. We demonstrate a close connection between 𝒦-sublinear inequalities and the support functions of convex sets with a particular structure. This connection results in practical ways of verifying 𝒦-sublinearity and/or 𝒦-minimality of inequalities.

Our study generalizes some of the results from the mixed integer linear case. It is well known that the minimal inequalities for mixed integer linear programs are generated by sublinear (positively homogeneous, subadditive, and convex) functions that are also piecewise linear. Our analysis easily recovers this result. However, in the case of general regular cones other than the nonnegative orthant, our study reveals that such a cut-generating function view, which treats the data associated with each individual variable independently, is far from sufficient.
Non-Stationary Stochastic Optimization
Authors: Besbes Omar , Gur Yonatan , Zeevi Assaf
Published: September 2015

We consider a non-stationary variant of a sequential stochastic optimization problem, in which the underlying cost functions may change along the horizon. We propose a measure, termed variation budget, that controls the extent of said change, and study how restrictions on this budget impact achievable performance. We identify sharp conditions under which it is possible to achieve long-run average optimality and more refined performance measures such as rate optimality that fully characterize the complexity of such problems. In doing so, we also establish a strong connection between two rather disparate strands of literature: (1) adversarial online convex optimization and (2) the more traditional stochastic approximation paradigm (couched in a non-stationary setting). This connection is the key to deriving well-performing policies in the latter, by leveraging structure of optimal policies in the former. Finally, tight bounds on the minimax regret allow us to quantify the “price of non-stationarity,” which mathematically captures the added complexity embedded in a temporally changing environment versus a stationary one.
Cattle mange in Great Britain
Authors: Foster Aiden , Mitchell Sian , Wall Richard
Published: September 2015

Ectoparasites are almost ubiquitous on British cattle, reflecting the success of these parasites at retaining a residual population in the national herd. Chorioptes is the most common cause of mange in cattle and given its surface feeding habits can be difficult to eradicate with current treatments. Psoroptic mange has re-emerged in British cattle in recent years and while the prevalence of infestation is low this parasite poses a significant challenge for treatment especially in dairy cattle. Diagnosis of such ectoparasites is usually made by interpretation of signs of skin disease; definitive diagnosis requires microscopic examination of the ectoparasite, which can more accurately inform the implementation of control measures.
Rapid, Fully Automated Digital Immunoassay for p24 Protein with the Sensitivity of Nucleic Acid Amplification for Detecting Acute HIV Infection
Authors: Cabrera Carlos , Chang Lei , Stone Mars , Busch Michael , Wilson David H
Published: September 2015

BACKGROUND

Nucleic acid testing (NAT) has become the standard for high sensitivity in detecting low levels of virus. However, adoption of NAT can be cost prohibitive in low-resource settings where access to extreme sensitivity could be clinically advantageous for early detection of infection. We report development and preliminary validation of a simple, low-cost, fully automated digital p24 antigen immunoassay with the sensitivity of quantitative NAT viral load (NAT-VL) methods for detection of acute HIV infection.

METHODS

We developed an investigational 69-min immunoassay for p24 capsid protein for use on a novel digital analyzer on the basis of single-molecule-array technology. We evaluated the assay for sensitivity by dilution of standardized preparations of p24, cultured HIV, and preseroconversion samples. We characterized analytical performance and concordance with 2 NAT-VL methods and 2 contemporary p24 Ag/Ab combination immunoassays with dilutions of viral isolates and samples from the earliest stages of HIV infection.

RESULTS

Analytical sensitivity was 0.0025 ng/L p24, equivalent to 60 HIV RNA copies/mL. The limit of quantification was 0.0076 ng/L, and imprecision across 10 runs was <10% for samples as low as 0.09 ng/L. Clinical specificity was 95.1%. Sensitivity concordance vs NAT-VL on dilutions of preseroconversion samples and Group M viral isolates was 100%.

CONCLUSIONS

The digital immunoassay exhibited >4000-fold greater sensitivity than contemporary immunoassays for p24 and sensitivity equivalent to that of NAT methods for early detection of HIV. The data indicate that NAT-level sensitivity for acute HIV infection is possible with a simple, low-cost digital immunoassay.
HIDRÓLISE ENZIMÁTICA DA LACTOSE DE PERMEADO DE SORO
Authors: De Almeida Karina Nascimento , Alvim Tarso Da Costa , Souza Adriana Régia Marques de , Lacerda Gabriela Eustaquio , Alvim Fernanda Aparecida Lima Silva , Alvim Jonas Chaves
Published: September 2015

O permeado de soro é o resíduo do processo de concentração das proteínas do soro pelo método de ultrafiltração. Contém nutrientes importantes, como lactose, minerais e traços de proteínas e lipídeos. É um resíduo sem fim industrial estabelecido que causa sérios danos ao meio ambiente. Para que o seu aproveitamento seja integral e para permitir seu consumo por pessoas intolerantes ao açúcar do leite é preciso que a lactose seja hidrolisada. A hidrólise enzimática pela lactase (β-galactosidase) do fungo Kluyveromyces lactis é um método seguro e que não compromete a integridade dos demais nutrientes, permitindo assim o posterior uso do permeado como matériaprima. Este trabalho objetivou realizar ensaios de hidrólise enzimática da lactose de formulações de permeado de soro, em concentração de 0,2%, 0,7% e 1% nos tempos 30, 60 e 90 minutos com o pH do meio de 6,3 e temperatura de 37 ºC. As reações foram acompanhadas por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência que mostrou que a partir da concentração enzimática de 0,7% no tempo de 30 minutos, as formulações se tornaram seguras para o consumo de intolerantes à lactose, de acordo com níveis mínimos estabelecidos pela legislação.
The Change In Farming: A Review
Authors: Sandell Neil
Published: September 2015

The protagonist of the CBC documentary, The Change in Farming, is an 89-year-old farmer, called Henry. We learn that his grandson, Adam, has been recording Henry’s reminiscences about farming as a way of preserving his family heritage. The program was produced in 1998 by Adam Goddard, a 25-year-old musician and composer, in collaboration with veteran CBC producer, Steve Wadhams.
Adam is more hunter-gather than farmer. He collects found sound, an artist alert to its musical possibilities. He is composing a work using Henry’s speech. We hear the elder’s reaction. And then, in an indispensable coda, the two of them decamp to the barn, back on Henry’s turf once again.
The show piece of The Change in Farming is, of course, the musical composition. It is no accident that we have to wait to the end to hear it. In fact, it is testament to the impeccable dramaturgy. It is a master class in the slow reveal. Like all great craft, the attention to detail is well judged and sublimely concealed. The Change in Farming excels in 'show, don’t tell' exposition.
As storytelling, it upends the conventions of pioneer reminiscences, recombining words and phrases into something with an altogether new meaning. It is anti-nostalgia. And it challenges us. Are Henry’s words the lyrics or musical notes? Is Adam hallowing the past or critiquing it?
The Change in Farming juxtaposes an old viewpoint and a youthful one, found sound and the music of an old man’s voice, musical abstraction and the concrete reality of cattle bellowing in the barn. This counterpoint creates a satisfying complexity. This work was ingenious in its storytelling nearly 20 years ago. After all these years the novelty has not worn off. This classic remains farm-fresh.
Everything, Nothing, Harvey Keitel: A Review
Authors: Geis Sarah
Published: September 2015

Although producer Pejk Malinowski is originally from Denmark, and Everything, Nothing, Harvey Keitel is a project of London-based Falling Tree Productions, its premise seems cringingly American: our narrator goes to a self-help class, has an encounter with a celebrity. Which is to say, the risk of self-indulgence is high. To make it worse: the documentary takes place almost entirely within Malinovski’s mind. But these factors make it only more astonishing to hear how – through his singular voice, playful sense of humour, and impeccable sound design – Malinovski tells a story that makes the listener laugh, feel, and consider the intertwined nature of storytelling and happiness.
Everything, Nothing received highest honours at the inaugural In The Dark/Sheffield International Documentary Competition, as well as Best Radio Drama in both the 2014 Prix Europa Competition and 2015 BBC Audio Drama Awards.
Redesigning the identities of teachers and leaders: A framework for studying new professionalism and educator resistance
Authors: Anderson Gary , Cohen Michael
Published: September 2015

Neoliberal reforms of public education do more than shape policy and curriculum; they also influence educators’ understanding of themselves as professionals, driving at the very core of what it means to be a teacher or leader.  This article explores the effects of Neoliberal policies and New Public Management pracitces on teachers and principals and the ways they result in a “new professionalism.” The authors provide a framework for studying how these new polices and practices might be resisted, as well as a description of characteristics of the new professional and what professionalism might look like if it were grounded in community and advocacy.
Cultivating disruptive subjectivities: Interrupting the new professionalism
Authors: Herr Kathryn
Published: September 2015

This paper explores the everyday enactments of new public management in our professional lives utilizing principles of self-ethnography. Drawing on the reworking of an Action Research class, I explore the possibilities of a contextual analysis of the workplace to make more transparent the enactment of new public management. Little is known regarding how NPM plays out on the ground in local sites and how, in interacting with the culture it creates, professionals locate themselves and their work. I offer a close examination here of our changing context to explore the techniques and forms of power of NPM in the realms of higher education as well as how we might enact a politics of refusal.
Strengths and weaknesses of methods for identifying monoclonal free light chains of Ig: examples from two cases with renal disease
Authors: Levinson Stanley S.
Published: September 2015

Serum free light chain (FLC) analysis with ratio and urine immunofixation electrophoresis (IFE) are both available for routine use in helping to detect plasma cell dyscrasia and related diseases.

Case reports showing one serum positive for serum FLC but that showed a hook effect and overestimated the amount of monoclonal FLC while urine IFE was negative for Bence Jones protein, and a second serum that showed elevated FLC κ and λ but a normal κ/λ ratio, while urine IFE was positive for Bence Jones protein.

These two techniques complement one another. Neither of the techniques is truly quantitative, and both exhibit methodological defects.
Estimation of a respiratory signal from a single-lead ECG using the 4th order central moments
Authors: Schmidt Marcus , Krug Johannes W , Schumann Andy , Bär Karl-Jürgen , Rose Georg
Published: September 2015

For a variety of clinical applications like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) the monitoring of vital signs is a common standard in clinical daily routine. Besides the electrocardiogram (ECG), the respiratory activity is an important vital parameter and might reveal pathological changes. Thoracic movement and the resulting impedance change between ECG electrodes enable the estimation of the respiratory signal from the ECG. This ECG-derived respiration (EDR) can be used to calculate the breathing rate without the need for additional devices or monitoring modules. In this paper a new method is presented to estimate the respiratory signal from a single-lead ECG. The 4th order central moments was used to estimate the EDR signal exploiting the change of the R-wave slopes induced by respiration. This method was compared with two approaches by analyzing the Fantasia database from www.physionet.org. Furthermore, the ECG signals of 24 healthy subjects placed in an 3 T MR-scanner were acquired.
Automated classification of stages of anaesthesia by populations of evolutionary optimized fuzzy rules
Authors: Walther C. , Wenzel A. , Schneider M. , Trommer M. , Sturm K.-P. , Jaeger U.
Published: September 2015

The detection of stages of anaesthesia is mainly performed on evaluating the vital signs of the patient. In addition the frontal one-channel electroencephalogram can be evaluated to increase the correct detection of stages of anaesthesia. As a classification model fuzzy rules are used. These rules are able to classify the stages of anaesthesia automatically and were optimized by multiobjective evolutionary algorithms. As a result the performance of the generated population of fuzzy rule sets is presented. A concept of the construction of an autonomic embedded system is introduced. This system should use the generated rules to classify the stages of anaesthesia using the frontal one-channel electroencephalogram only.
A novel coaxial nozzle for in-process adjustment of electrospun scaffolds’ fiber diameter
Authors: Becker A. , Zernetsch H. , Mueller M. , Glasmacher B.
Published: September 2015

Electrospinning is a versatile method of producing micro- and nanofibers deposited in mats used as scaffolds for tissue engineering. Depending on the application, single or coaxial electrospinning can be used. Coaxial electrospinning enables the use of a broad spectrum of materials, the fabrication of hollow or core/shell fibers and an automatisation of the entire electrospinning process. In this regard, the design of coaxial nozzles plays a major role in a standardized as well as tailor-made scaffold fabrication. For this purpose an optimised coaxial nozzle has been designed and fabricated. Furthermore, tests have been carried out to validate the new nozzle design. With the use of the costum-made nozzle polymer concentration could be varied in a gradual manner. The variation in polymer concentration lead to fiber diameters between 0.75 to 3.25 μm. In addition, an increase in rotating velocity lead to an increase in fiber alignment as well as a slight decrease in fiber diameter. The demonstrated modifications of coaxial electrospinning proved to be a powerful tool for in-process adjustments of scaffold fabrication.
Design and control of a 3-DOF hydraulic driven surgical instrument
Authors: Cuntz Timo , Comella Laura
Published: September 2015

Although the use of minimally invasive surgery techniques has steadily increased, the development of new tools for these procedures has stagnated. Indeed a new generation of surgical instruments, with tips that have multiple degrees of freedom, has been developed. However, they are facing so many technical problems that none have been able to establish themselves in the medical market. To overcome the problems these instruments are facing, a micro hydraulic power transmission system has been developed and been presented in [1]. With these driving units it was possible to design an instrument for minimally invasive surgery with a tip which is movable in 3 degrees of freedom (DOF) and that is light in weight, small in size and powerful in movements and gripping. This paper presents the mechanical setup (including dimensions and materials), describes the theoretical basis for the control with the inverse kinematic model, discusses the external drives setup and gives first performance data of this novel hydraulically actuated laparoscopic instrument with 3 degrees of freedom.
Kinect based physiotherapy system for home use
Authors: Haas Dominik , Phommahavong Somphong , Yu Jing , Krüger-Ziolek Sabine , Möller Knut , Kretschmer Jörn
Published: September 2015

In physiotherapy, rehabilitation outcome is majorly dependent on the patient continuing exercises at home. To support a continuous and correct execution of exercises composed by the physiotherapist it is important that the patient stays motivated. With the emergence of game consoles such as Nintendo Wii, Sony PlayStation or Microsoft Xbox360 that employ special controllers or camera based motion recognition as means of user input those technologies have also been found to be interesting for other real-life applications. We present a concept to employ the Microsoft Kinect system as means to support patients during physiotherapy exercises at home. The system is intended to allow a physiotherapist to compose an individual set of exercises and to control the correct execution of those exercises through tracking the patient’s motions.
Measurement of needle susceptibility artifacts in magnetic resonance images
Authors: Schmitt Sebastian , Skopnik Katharina , Overhoff Heinrich Martin
Published: September 2015

The success of minimally invasive procedures under MR-guidance can be increased by the knowledge of the current needle pose. We hypothesize that a one-toone mapping exists between the needle orientation with respect to the static magnetic field and the cross-sectional shape of the needle’s susceptibility artifact. For this purpose, we derived a mathematical model, which describes the cross sectional geometry of the needle artifact. It is approximated by two ellipses. Certain parameters of these ellipses can be utilized for mapping the geometry of the needle artifact onto the needle orientation. The relation between the two ellipse parameters α (inclination of the semi-major axis) and b (length of the semi-minor axis) and the needle’s azimuth angle can be approximated by linear regression in a certain angle interval. A combination of these two ellipse parameters is suitable for estimating the needle’s azimuth angle within a range between 0° and 60°.