bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Protective Effect of Agaricus brasiliensis on STZ‐Induced Diabetic Neuropathic Pain in Rats
Authors: Ji Weifeng , Huang Haiying , Chao Ji , Lu Wuchao , Guo Jianyou
Published: January 2014

Objective. The present investigation examined the neuroprotective effect of Agaricus brasiliensis (AbS) against STZ‐induced diabetic neuropathic pain in laboratory rats. STZ‐induced diabetic rats were administered orally with AbS. Body weight, serum glucose, and behavioral parameters were measured before and at the end of the experiment to see the effect of AbS on these parameters. After 6 weeks of treatments, all animals were sacrificed to study various biochemical parameters. Treatment with AbS 80 mg/kg in diabetic animals showed significant increase in body weight, pain threshold, and paw withdrawal threshold and significant decrease in serum glucose, LPO and NO level, Na‐K‐ATPase level, and TNF‐α and IL‐1β level as compared to vehicle treated diabetic animals in dose and time dependent manner. AbS can offer pain relief in PDN. This may be of potential benefit in clinical practice for the management of diabetic neuropathy.
Video Pulses: User-Based Modeling of Interesting Video Segments
Authors: Avlonitis Markos , Chorianopoulos Konstantinos
Published: January 2014

We present a user-based method that detects regions of interest within a video in order to provide video skims and video summaries. Previous research in video retrieval has focused on content-based techniques, such as pattern recognition algorithms that attempt to understand the low-level features of a video. We are proposing a pulse modeling method, which makes sense of a web video by analyzing users'Replayinteractions with the video player. In particular, we have modeled the user information seeking behavior as a time series and the semantic regions as a discrete pulse of fixed width. Then, we have calculated the correlation coefficient between the dynamically detected pulses at the local maximums of the user activity signal and the pulse of reference. We have found that users'Replayactivity significantly matches the important segments in information-rich and visually complex videos, such as lecture, how-to, and documentary. The proposed signal processing of user activity is complementary to previous work in content-based video retrieval and provides an additional user-based dimension for modeling the semantics of a social video on the web.
SSDLP: Sharing Secret Data between Leader and Participant
Authors: Al-Najjar Hazem , Al-Rousan Nadia
Published: January 2014

This paper investigates the problem of sharing the secret document containing a secret data between leader and participant(s) depending on specific conditions and rules. The participant(s) can retrieve part of the secret document but will not be able to retrieve any secret data without the leader. At the same time, the leader may have a little information about the secret document but cannot retrieve the secret data and the secret document without cooperating with participant(s). To evaluate the proposed model and the system efficiency, four tests are suggested, which are concatenation and sharing data test, leader visual test, information entropy analysis, and correlation analysis. Results show that the proposed model is efficient in sharing the data between the leader and participant(s) and the model can achieve our concept of the data sharing between leader and participant(s). However, by analyzing the proposed model using numerical tests and visual tests, the results show that the visual tests will not give attackers useful information about the original data, while the numerical tests show that the entropy attacks are not possible and the correlation between the adjacent pixels will not give useful information. Finally, the results show that the proposed model is strong against different types of attacks.
The Holistic Effects of Acupuncture Treatment
Authors: Yang Jing-Wen , Li Qian-Qian , Li Fang , Fu Qing-Nan , Zeng Xiang-Hong , Liu Cun-Zhi
Published: January 2014

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as a complex medical science which reflects philosophical principles and embodies large dialectical thought, is used to place the human body into a large system for observation. Acupuncture as a vital part of TCM, has been practiced to treat various diseases and symptoms. However, acupuncture is also facing severe challenges resulted from insufficient modern scientific research. Nowadays, the holistic effects of acupuncture can be researched by some modern approaches, such as the systems biology and fMRI technique. It is believed that having a better understand will greatly promote acupuncture research and be beneficial to scientization and modernization of acupuncture.
Cognitive Flexibility, Theory of Mind, and Hyperactivity/Inattention
Authors: Farrant Brad M. , Fletcher Janet , Maybery Murray T.
Published: January 2014

The present study analyzed the concurrent and longitudinal relations among cognitive flexibility, theory of mind, and hyperactivity/inattention in a sample of 70 typically developing children (M age = 61.4 months, SD = 8.3 months). Mothers and teachers reported on children’s hyperactivity/inattention using the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (Goodman, 1997), cognitive flexibility was measured using the dimension change card sort task (Zelazo, 2006), and theory of mind was assessed using a battery of tasks. Cognitive flexibility and theory of mind scores were found to be significantly negatively correlated with the level of hyperactivity/inattention at both time points. Furthermore, year 1 cognitive flexibility score was found to be a significant predictor of year 2 hyperactivity/inattention score after controlling for child age, gender, and year 1 hyperactivity/inattention score. Directions for future research include training studies which would further our understanding of these relationships and allow more effective interventions.
Model for Vaccine Design by Prediction of B-Epitopes of IEDB Given Perturbations in Peptide Sequence, In Vivo Process, Experimental Techniques, and Source or Host Organisms
Authors: González-Díaz Humberto , Pérez-Montoto Lázaro G. , Ubeira Florencio M.
Published: January 2014

Perturbation methods add variation terms to a known experimental solution of one problem to approach a solution for a related problem without known exact solution. One problem of this type in immunology is the prediction of the possible action of epitope of one peptide after a perturbation or variation in the structure of a known peptide and/or other boundary conditions (host organism, biological process, and experimental assay). However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no reports of general-purpose perturbation models to solve this problem. In a recent work, we introduced a new quantitative structure-property relationship theory for the study of perturbations in complex biomolecular systems. In this work, we developed the first model able to classify more than 200,000 cases of perturbations with accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity >90% both in training and validation series. The perturbations include structural changes in >50000 peptides determined in experimental assays with boundary conditions involving >500 source organisms, >50 host organisms, >10 biological process, and >30 experimental techniques. The model may be useful for the prediction of new epitopes or the optimization of known peptides towards computational vaccine design.
Brain Mechanisms and Reading Remediation: More Questions Than Answers
Authors: Pammer Kristen
Published: January 2014

Dyslexia is generally diagnosed in childhood and is characterised by poor literacy skills with associated phonological and perceptual problems. Compensated dyslexic readers are adult readers who have a documented history of childhood dyslexia but as adults can read and comprehend written text well. Uncompensated dyslexic readers are adults who similarly have a documented history of reading impairment but remain functionally reading-impaired all their lives. There is little understanding of the neurophysiological basis for how or why some children become compensated, while others do not, and there is little knowledge about neurophysiological changes that occur with remedial programs for reading disability. This paper will review research looking at reading remediation, particularly in the context of the underlying neurophysiology.
Evaluation of Green Port Factors and Performance: A Fuzzy AHP Analysis
Authors: Chiu Rong-Her , Lin Le-Hui , Ting Shih-Chan
Published: January 2014

Due to the occurrence of abnormal global environmental change, the concept of sustainable development becomes more and more important. Port plays an important role in economic development for a country. To tackle the environmental pollution coming from the construction and operation of a port, the green concept emerged as a solution. Founded on the previous literatures, the current study formulates a Fuzzy AHP model including five dimensions and thirteen factors as the guidelines for green port operation. The results of empirical study point out the top five priority attributes of green port operation which are: hazardous waste handling, air pollution, water pollution, port greenery, and habitat quality maintenance. The FAHP model is a good referral for decision makers of port organizations to forge a “greener” port operation; it also can be used to evaluate the port’s green operation performance.
Effects of Vacancy Cluster Defects on Electrical and Thermodynamic Properties of Silicon Crystals
Authors: Huang Pei-Hsing , Lu Chi-Ming
Published: January 2014

A first-principle plane-wave pseudopotential method based on the density function theory (DFT) was employed to investigate the effects of vacancy cluster (VC) defects on the band structure and thermoelectric properties of silicon (Si) crystals. Simulation results showed that various VC defects changed the energy band and localized electron density distribution of Si crystals and caused the band gap to decrease with increasing VC size. The results can be ascribed to the formation of a defect level produced by the dangling bonds, floating bonds, or high-strain atoms surrounding the VC defects. The appearance of imaginary frequencies in the phonon spectrum of defective Si crystals indicates that the defect-region structure is dynamically unstable and demonstrates phase changes. The phonon dispersion relation and phonon density of state were also investigated using density functional perturbation theory. The obtained Debye temperatureθDfor a perfect Si crystal had a minimum value of 448 K atT= 42 K and a maximum value of 671 K at the high-temperature limit, which is consistent with the experimental results reported by Flubacher. Moreover, the Debye temperature decreased with increases in the VC size. VC defects had minimal effects on the heat capacity (Cv) value when temperatures were below 150 K. As the temperature was higher than 150 K, the heat capacity gradually increased with increasing temperature until it achieved a constant value of 11.8 cal/cell·K. The heat capacity significantly decreased as the VC size increased. For a 2 × 2 × 2 superlattice Si crystal containing a hexagonal ring VC (HRVC10), the heat capacity decreased by approximately 17%.
State‐Feedback Control for Fractional‐Order Nonlinear Systems Subject to Input Saturation
Authors: Luo Junhai
Published: January 2014

We give a state‐feedback control method for fractional‐order nonlinear systems subject to input saturation. First, a sufficient condition is derived for the asymptotical stability of a class of fractional‐order nonlinear systems. Then based on Gronwall‐Bellman lemma and a sector bounded condition of the saturation function, a linear state‐feed back controller is designed. Finally, two simulation examples are presented to show the validity of the proposed method.
Decomposition of Fuzzy Soft Sets with Finite Value Spaces
Authors: Feng Feng , Fujita Hamido , Jun Young Bae , Khan Madad
Published: January 2014

The notion of fuzzy soft sets is a hybrid soft computing model that integrates both gradualness and parameterization methods in harmony to deal with uncertainty. The decomposition of fuzzy soft sets is of great importance in both theory and practical applications with regard to decision making under uncertainty. This study aims to explore decomposition of fuzzy soft sets with finite value spaces. Scalar uni-product and int-product operations of fuzzy soft sets are introduced and some related properties are investigated. Usingt-level soft sets, we define level equivalent relations and show that the quotient structure of the unit interval induced by level equivalent relations is isomorphic to the lattice consisting of allt-level soft sets of a given fuzzy soft set. We also introduce the concepts of crucial threshold values and complete threshold sets. Finally, some decomposition theorems for fuzzy soft sets with finite value spaces are established, illustrated by an example concerning the classification and rating of multimedia cell phones. The obtained results extend some classical decomposition theorems of fuzzy sets, since every fuzzy set can be viewed as a fuzzy soft set with a single parameter.
Performance of BVBlue Rapid Test in Detecting Bacterial Vaginosis among Women in Mysore, India
Authors: Madhivanan Purnima , Krupp Karl , Li Tan , Ravi Kavitha , Selezneva Julia , Srinivas Vijaya , Arun Anjali , Klausner Jeffrey D.
Published: January 2014

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is the most common cause of abnormal vaginal discharge in reproductive age women. It is associated with increased susceptibility to HIV/STI and adverse birth outcomes. Diagnosis of BV in resource-poor settings like India is challenging. With little laboratory infrastructure there is a need for objective point-of-care diagnostic tests. Vaginal swabs were collected from women 18 years and older, with a vaginal pH > 4.5 attending a reproductive health clinic. BV was diagnosed with Amsel’s criteria, Nugent scores, and the OSOM BVBlue test. Study personnel were blinded to test results. There were 347 participants enrolled between August 2009 and January 2010. BV prevalence was 45.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 41.5%–52.8%) according to Nugent score. When compared with Nugent score, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value for Amsel’s criteria and BVBlue were 61.9%, 88.3%, 81.5%, 73.7% and 38.1%, 92.7%, 82.1%, 63.9%, respectively. Combined with a “whiff” test, the performance of BVBlue increased sensitivity to 64.4% and negative predictive value to 73.8%. Despite the good specificity, poor sensitivity limits the usefulness of the BVBlue as a screening test in this population. There is a need to examine the usefulness of this test in other Indian populations.
Stochastic Logistic Systems with Jumps
Authors: Wu Ruihua , Wang Ke
Published: January 2014

This paper is concerned with a stochastic nonautonomous logistic model with jumps. In the model, the martingale and jump noise are taken into account. This model is new and more feasible and applicable. Sufficient criteria for the existence of global positive solutions are obtained; then asymptotic boundedness inpth moment, stochastically ultimate boundedness, and asymptotic pathwise behavior are to be considered.
Relationship-Based Care and Behaviours of Residents in Long-Term Care Facilities
Authors: Desrosiers Johanne , Viau-Guay Anabelle , Bellemare Marie , Trudel Louis , Feillou Isabelle , Guyon Anne-Céline
Published: January 2014

Introduction. In long-term care (LTC), person-centred approaches are encouraged. One such approach, relationship-based care (RBC), aims among other things to reduce residents’ agitated behaviours. RBC has been used in numerous Quebec LTC facilities over the past decade but it has never been studied.Objective. Explore correlations between use of RBC by trained caregivers and the frequency of agitated and positive behaviours of residents with cognitive impairments.Methods. Two independent raters observed fourteen caregiver/resident dyads in two LTC facilities during assistance with hygiene and dressing. Checklists were used to quantify caregivers’ RBC use and residents’ agitated and positive behaviours.Results. Scores for RBC use were high, suggesting good application of the approach by caregivers. Correlation analyses showed that offering residents realistic choices and talking to them during care were associated with both positive and agitated behaviours (Pfrom 0.03 to 0.003). However, many other components of RBC were not associated with residents’ behaviours during care.Conclusions. There were only a few quantitative links between the RBC checklist items and the frequency of agitated or positive behaviours. Other studies with a more rigorous research design are needed to better understand the impact of relationship-based care on residents’ behaviours.
Manic Episode after Ventricular-Peritoneal Shunt Replacement in a Patient with Radiation-Induced Hydrocephalus: The Role of Lifetime Subthreshold Bipolar Features
Authors: Callari Antonio , Mantua Valentina , Miniati Mario , Benvenuti Antonella , Mauri Mauro , Dell'Osso Liliana
Published: January 2014

We present a case report of a woman hospitalized for a ventricular-peritoneal shunting replacement, who developed a manic episode with psychotic symptoms after hydrocephalus resolution. We have no knowledge of cases of manic episodes due to hydrocephalus resolution by ventricular-peritoneal shunt replacement, although previous case reports have suggested that hydrocephalus might induce rapid-onset affective episodes or mood cycles. The patient’s history revealed the lifetime presence of signs and features belonging to the subthreshold bipolar spectrum, in absence of previous full-blown episodes of a bipolar disorder. Our hypothesis is that such lifetime sub-threshold bipolar features represented precursors of the subsequent full-blown manic episode, triggered by an upregulated binding of striatum D2 receptors after the ventricular-peritoneal shunt replacement.
Investigation on Motorcyclist Riding Behaviour at Curve Entry Using Instrumented Motorcycle
Authors: Yuen Choon Wah , Karim Mohamed Rehan , Saifizul Ahmad
Published: January 2014

This paper details the study on the changes in riding behaviour, such as changes in speed as well as the brake force and throttle force applied, when motorcyclists ride over a curve section road using an instrumented motorcycle. In this study, an instrumented motorcycle equipped with various types of sensors, on-board cameras, and data loggers, was developed in order to collect the riding data on the study site. Results from the statistical analysis showed that riding characteristics, such as changes in speed, brake force, and throttle force applied, are influenced by the distance from the curve entry, riding experience, and travel mileage of the riders. A structural equation modeling was used to study the impact of these variables on the change of riding behaviour in curve entry section. Four regression equations are formed to study the relationship between four dependent variables, which are speed, throttle force, front brake force, and rear brake force applied with the independent variables.
Phase I/II Trial of Orteronel (TAK-700)—an Investigational 17,20-Lyase Inhibitor—in Patients with Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Dreicer Robert , MacLean David , Suri Ajit , Stadler Walter M. , Shevrin Daniel , Hart Lowell , MacVicar Gary R. , Hamid Omid , Hainsworth John , Gross Mitchell E. , Shi Yuanjun , Webb Iain J. , Agus David B.
Published: January 2014

Purpose: The androgen receptor pathway remains active in men with prostate cancer whose disease has progressed following surgical or medical castration. Orteronel (TAK-700) is an investigational, oral, nonsteroidal, selective, reversible inhibitor of 17,20-lyase, a key enzyme in the production of androgenic hormones.

Experimental Design: We conducted a phase I/II study in men with progressive, chemotherapy-naïve, metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer, and serum testosterone <50 ng/dL. In the phase I part, patients received orteronel 100 to 600 mg twice daily or 400 mg twice a day plus prednisone 5 mg twice a day. In phase II, patients received orteronel 300 mg twice a day, 400 mg twice a day plus prednisone, 600 mg twice a day plus prednisone, or 600 mg once a day without prednisone.

Results: In phase I (n = 26), no dose-limiting toxicities were observed and 13 of 20 evaluable patients (65%) achieved ≥50% prostate-specific antigen (PSA) decline from baseline at 12 weeks. In phase II (n = 97), 45 of 84 evaluable patients (54%) achieved a ≥50% decline in PSA and at 12 weeks, substantial mean reductions from baseline in testosterone (−7.5 ng/dL) and dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate (−45.3 μg/dL) were observed. Unconfirmed partial responses were reported in 10 of 51 evaluable phase II patients (20%). Decreases in circulating tumor cells were documented. Fifty-three percent of phase II patients experienced grade ≥3 adverse events irrespective of causality; most common were fatigue, hypokalemia, hyperglycemia, and diarrhea.

Conclusions: 17,20-Lyase inhibition by orteronel was tolerable and results in declines in PSA and testosterone, with evidence of radiographic responses. Clin Cancer Res; 20(5); 1335–44. ©2014 AACR.
Personal Black Carbon Exposure Influences Ambulatory Blood Pressure
Authors: Zhao Xiaoyi , Sun Zhichao , Ruan Yanping , Yan Jianhua , Mukherjee Bhramar , Yang Fumo , Duan Fengkui , Sun Lixian , Liang Ruijuan , Lian Hui , Zhang Shuyang , Fang Quan , Gu Dongfeng , Brook Jeffrey R. , Sun Qinghua , Brook Robert D. , Rajagopalan Sanjay , Fan Zhongjie
Published: January 2014

Few prospective studies have assessed the blood pressure effect of extremely high air pollution encountered in Asia’s megacities. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between combustion-related air pollution with ambulatory blood pressure and autonomic function. During February to July 2012, personal black carbon was determined for 5 consecutive days using microaethalometers in patients with metabolic syndrome in Beijing, China. Simultaneous ambient fine particulate matter concentration was obtained from the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center and the US Embassy. Twenty-four–hour ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate variability were measured from day 4. Arterial stiffness and endothelial function were obtained at the end of day 5. For statistical analysis, we used generalized additive mixed models for repeated outcomes and generalized linear models for single/summary outcomes. Mean (SD) of personal black carbon and fine particulate matter during 24 hours was 4.66 (2.89) and 64.2 (36.9) μg/m
3
. Exposure to high levels of black carbon in the preceding hours was associated significantly with adverse cardiovascular responses. A unit increase in personal black carbon during the previous 10 hours was associated with an increase in systolic blood pressure of 0.53 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure of 0.37 mm Hg (95% confidence interval, 0.17–0.89 and 0.10–0.65 mm Hg, respectively), a percentage change in low frequency to high frequency ratio of 5.11 and mean interbeat interval of −0.06 (95% confidence interval, 0.62–9.60 and −0.11 to −0.01, respectively). These findings highlight the public health effect of air pollution and the importance of reducing air pollution.
Strain Improves Risk Prediction Beyond Ejection Fraction in Chronic Systolic Heart Failure
Authors: Zhang Kathleen W. , French Benjamin , May Khan Abigail , Plappert Ted , Fang James C. , Sweitzer Nancy K. , Borlaug Barry A. , Chirinos Julio A. , St. John Sutton Martin , Cappola Thomas P. , Ky Bonnie
Published: January 2014

Background

The utility of longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain and strain rate in determining prognosis in chronic heart failure is not well established.

Methods and Results

In 416 patients with chronic systolic heart failure, we performed speckle‐tracking analyses of left ventricular longitudinal, circumferential, and radial strain and strain rate on archived echocardiography images (30 frames per second). Cox regression models were used to determine the associations between strain and strain rate and risk of all‐cause mortality, cardiac transplantation, and ventricular‐assist device placement. The area under the time‐dependent
ROC
curve (
AUC
) was also calculated at 1 year and 5 years. Over a maximum follow‐up of 8.9 years, there were 138 events (33.2%). In unadjusted models, all strain and strain rate parameters were associated with adverse outcomes (
P
<0.001). In multivariable models, all parameters with the exception of radial strain rate (
P
=0.11) remained independently associated, with patients in the lowest tertile of strain or strain rate parameter having a ≈2‐fold increased risk of adverse outcomes compared with the reference group (
P
<0.05). Addition of strain to ejection fraction (
EF
) led to a significantly improved
AUC
at 1 year (0.697 versus 0.633,
P
=0.032) and 5 years (0.700 versus 0.638,
P
=0.001). In contrast, strain rate did not provide incremental prognostic value to
EF
alone.

Conclusions

Longitudinal and circumferential strain and strain rate, and radial strain are associated with chronic heart failure prognosis. Strain provides incremental value to
EF
in the prediction of adverse outcomes, and with additional study may be a clinically relevant prognostic tool.
Trends in Incidence, Management, and Outcomes of Cardiogenic Shock Complicating ST‐Elevation Myocardial Infarction in the United States
Authors: Kolte Dhaval , Khera Sahil , Aronow Wilbert S. , Mujib Marjan , Palaniswamy Chandrasekar , Sule Sachin , Jain Diwakar , Gotsis William , Ahmed Ali , Frishman William H. , Fonarow Gregg C.
Published: January 2014

Background

Limited information is available on the contemporary and potentially changing trends in the incidence, management, and outcomes of cardiogenic shock complicating
ST
‐elevation myocardial infarction (
STEMI
).

Methods and Results

We queried the 2003–2010 Nationwide Inpatient Sample databases to identify all patients ≥40 years of age with
STEMI
and cardiogenic shock. Overall and age‐, sex‐, and race/ethnicity‐specific trends in incidence of cardiogenic shock, early mechanical revascularization, and intra‐aortic balloon pump use, and inhospital mortality were analyzed. From 2003 to 2010, among 1 990 486 patients aged ≥40 years with
STEMI
, 157 892 (7.9%) had cardiogenic shock. The overall incidence rate of cardiogenic shock in patients with
STEMI
increased from 6.5% in 2003 to 10.1% in 2010 (
P
trend
<0.001). There was an increase in early mechanical revascularization (30.4% to 50.7%,
P
trend
<0.001) and intra‐aortic balloon pump use (44.8% to 53.7%,
P
trend
<0.001) in these patients over the 8‐year period. Inhospital mortality decreased significantly, from 44.6% to 33.8% (
P
trend
<0.001; adjusted
OR
, 0.71; 95%
CI
, 0.68 to 0.75), whereas the average total hospital cost increased from $35 892 to $45 625 (
P
trend
<0.001) during the study period. There was no change in the average length of stay (
P
trend
=0.394). These temporal trends were similar in patients <75 and ≥75 years of age, men and women, and across each racial/ethnic group.

Conclusions

The incidence of cardiogenic shock complicating
STEMI
has increased during the past 8 years together with increased use of early mechanical revascularization and intra‐aortic balloon pumps. There has been a concomitant decrease in risk‐adjusted inhospital mortality, but an increase in total hospital costs during this period.
Р. Г. Скрынников и Великий Новгород
Authors: Gyóni Gábor
Published: January 2014

Novgorod the Great occupies an important place in Russian history and historiography. The so-called democratic structure of Novgorod had been idealized by Russian writers, but the fact that Novgorod was captured by Moscow was simultaneously considered to be a progressive development. R. G. Skrynnikov studied the history of Novgorod at the beginning of his career. He believed that pomest’e estates arose in the Novgorod region as a result of Moscow’s agression. As for Ivan IV’s terror against the city, Skrynnikov thought it was primarily a campaign against the democratic traditions of Novgorodian people. Skrynnikov was a representative of the Saint-Petersburg school of history characterized by anthropocentrism, esteem for sources, and historiography without political ideology.
The Livonian War and the Mentality of the Russian Nobles
Authors: Filyushkin Alexander
Published: January 2014

The Livonian War (1558-1583) was responsible for many innovations in Russian warfare. For the first time Russian troops conquered a European state which had a higher level of development than Muscovy. Russian nobles built their own world in Russian Livonia, and for the first time Russian troops were evacuated from another country after a long period of time. All these factors influenced the mentality of the Russian nobles. Nevertheless, the sources demonstrate something quite different, that the Livonian War did not change the mentality of the Muscovite nobles or their attitude toward service. That service was considered fairly routine and was regarded as familiar everyday military labor. In this respect, contemporaries did not separate the Livonian War from an endless succession of wars that shook Russia in the sixteenth century. Apart from the tsar’s early childhood, there were only three more or less peaceful years between 1547 and 1584; during the rest of Tsar Ivan IV’s reign, service people certainly could not complain about the lack of opportunities for military service. The Livonian War hardly impressed the Russian nobles or influenced their outlook on life.
‘Animals Just Love You as You Are’: Experiencing Kinship across the Species Barrier
Authors: Charles Nickie
Published: January 2014

This article explores how affective relationships between humans and animals are understood and experienced. It argues that, although the context of close relationships with pets has changed, affective relationships between humans and animals have a long history. The affinities between people and their pets are experienced as emotionally close, embodied and ethereal and are deeply embedded in family lives. They are understood in terms of kinship, an idiom which indicates significant and enduring connectedness between humans and animals, and are valued because of animals’ differences from, as well as similarities to, humans. Kinship across the species barrier is not something new and strange, but is an everyday experience of those humans who share their domestic space with other animals. Rather than witnessing a new phenomenon of post-human families, multi-species households have been with us for a considerable length of time but have been effectively hidden from sociology by the so-called species barrier.
Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 prevents cognitive impairment induced by pneumococcal meningitis in Wistar rats
Authors: Barichello Tatiana , Generoso Jaqueline S , Michelon Cleonice M , Simões Lutiana R , Elias Samuel G , Vuolo Franciele , Comim Clarissa M , Dal-Pizzol Felipe , Quevedo João
Published: January 2014

Pneumococcal meningitis is a relevant clinical disease characterized by an intense inflammatory reaction into the subarachnoid and ventricular spaces, leading to blood–brain barrier breakdown, hearing loss, and cognitive impairment. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are capable of degrading components of the basal laminin, thus contributing to BBB damage and neuronal injury. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-2/9 inhibitors on BBB integrity, learning, and memory in Wistar rats subjected to pneumococcal meningitis. The animals underwent a magna cistern tap and received either 10 µL sterile saline as a placebo or an equivalent volume of a Streptococcus pneumoniae suspension at a concentration of 5 × 109 cfu/mL. The rats were randomized into different groups that received adjuvant treatment with MMP-2, MMP-9 or MMP-2/9 inhibitors. The BBB integrity was evaluated, and the animals were habituated to open-field and object recognition tasks 10 days after meningitis induction. Adjuvant treatments with inhibitors of MMP-2 or MMP-2/9 prevented BBB breakdown in the hippocampus, and treatments with inhibitors of MMP-2, MMP-9 or MMP-2/9 prevented BBB breakdown in the cortex. Ten days after meningitis induction, the animals that received adjuvant treatment with the inhibitor of MMP-2/9 demonstrated that animals habituated to the open-field task faster and enhanced memory during short-term and long-term retention test sessions in the object recognition task. Further investigation is necessary to provide support for MMP inhibitors as an alternative treatment for bacterial meningitis; however, these findings suggest that the meningitis model could be a good research tool for studying the biological mechanisms involved in the behavioral alterations associated with pneumococcal meningitis.
Percutaneous balloon kyphoplasty for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures
Authors: Yu Chia-Wei , Hsieh Ming-Kai , Chen Lih-Huei , Niu Chi-Chien , Fu Tsai-Sheng , Lai Po-Liang , Chen Wen-Jer , Chen Wen-Chien , Lu Meng-Ling
Published: January 2014

Background

Vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) constitute a major health care problem, not only because of their high incidence but also because of their direct and indirect negative impacts on both patients’ health-related quality of life and costs to the health care system. Two minimally invasive surgical approaches were developed for the management of symptomatic VCFs: balloon kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of balloon kyphoplasty in the treatment of symptomatic VCFs.

Methods

Between July 2011 and June 2012, one hundred and eighty-seven patients with two hundred and fifty-one vertebras received balloon kyphoplasty in our hospital. There were sixty-five male and one hundred and twenty-two female patients with an average age of 74.5 (range, 61 to 95 years). The pain symptoms and quality of life, were measured before operation and at one day, three months, six months and one year following kyphoplasty. Radiographic data including restoration of kyphotic angle, anterior vertebral height, and any leakage of cement were defined.

Results

The mean visual analog pain scale decreased from a preoperative value of 7.7 to 2.2 at one day (p < .05) following operation and the Oswestry Disability Index improved from 56.8 to 18.3 (p < .05). The kyphotic angle improved from a mean of 14.4° before surgery to 6.7° at one day after surgery (p < .05). The mean anterior vertebral height increased significantly from 52% before surgery to 74.5% at one day after surgery (p < .05) and 70.2% at one year follow-up. Minor cement extravasations were observed in twenty-nine out of two hundred and fifty-one procedures, including six leakage via basivertebral vein, three leakage via segmental vein and twenty leakage through a cortical defect. None of the leakages were associated with any clinical consequences.

Conclusions

Balloon kyphoplasty not only rapidly reduced pain and disability but also restored sagittal alignment in our patients at one-year follow-up. The treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with balloon kyphoplasty is a safe, effective, and minimally invasive procedure that provides satisfactory clinical results.
HIV-1 Vif N-terminal Motif is required for recruitment of Cul5 to Suppress APOBEC3
Authors: Evans Sean L , Schön Arne , Gao Qimeng , Han Xue , Zhou Xiaohong , Freire Ernesto , Yu Xiao-Fang
Published: January 2014

Background

HIV-1 Vif promotes the degradation of host anti-retroviral factor family, APOBEC3 proteins via the recruitment of a multi-subunit E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. The complex is composed of a scaffold protein, Cullin 5 (Cul5), RING-box protein (Rbx), a SOCS box binding protein complex, Elongins B/C (Elo B/C), as well as newly identified host co-factor, core binding factor beta (CBF-β). Cul5 has previously been shown to bind amino acids within an HCCH domain as well as a PPLP motif at the C–terminus of Vif; however, it is unclear whether Cul5 binding requires additional regions of the Vif polypeptide.

Results

Here, we provide evidence that an amino terminal region of full length Vif is necessary for the Vif-Cul5 interaction. Single alanine replacement of select amino acids spanning residues 25–30 (25VXHXMY30) reduced the ability for Vif to bind Cul5, but not CBF-β or Elo B/C in pull-down experiments. In addition, recombinant Vif mutants had a reduced binding affinity for Cul5 compared to wild-type as measured by isothermal titration calorimetry. N-terminal mutants that demonstrated reduced Cul5 binding were also unable to degrade APOBEC3G as well as APOBEC3F and were unable to restore HIV infectivity, in the presence of APOBEC3G. Although the Vif N-terminal amino acids were necessary for Cul5 interaction, the mutation of each residue to alanine induced a change in the secondary structure of the Vif-CBF-β-Elo B/C complex as suggested by results from circular dichroism spectroscopy and size-exclusion chromatography experiments. Surprisingly, the replacement of His108 to alanine also contributed to the Vif structure. Thus, it is unclear whether the amino acids contribute to a direct interaction with Cul5 or whether the amino acids are responsible for the structural organization of the Vif protein that promotes Cul5 binding.

Conclusions

Taken together, we propose a novel Vif N-terminal motif that is responsible for Vif recruitment of Cul5. Motifs in Vif that are absent from cellular proteins represent attractive targets for future HIV pharmaceutical design.
The D-amino acid peptide D3 reduces amyloid fibril boosted HIV-1 infectivity
Authors: Widera Marek , Klein Antonia Nicole , Cinar Yeliz , Funke Susanne Aileen , Willbold Dieter , Schaal Heiner
Published: January 2014

Background

Amyloid fibrils such as Semen-Derived Enhancer of Viral Infection (SEVI) or amyloid-β-peptide (Aβ) enhance HIV-1 attachment and entry. Inhibitors destroying or converting those fibrils into non-amyloidogenic aggregates effectively reduce viral infectivity. Thus, they seem to be suitable as therapeutic drugs expanding the current HIV-intervening repertoire of antiretroviral compounds.

Findings

In this study, we demonstrate that the small D-amino acid peptide D3, which was investigated for therapeutic studies on Alzheimer’s disease (AD), significantly reduces both SEVI and Aβ fibril boosted infectivity of HIV-1.

Conclusions

Since amyloids could play an important role in the progression of AIDS dementia complex (ADC), the treatment of HIV-1 infected individuals with D3, that inhibits Aβ fibril formation and converts preformed Aβ fibrils into non-amyloidogenic and non-fibrillar aggregates, may reduce the vulnerability of the central nervous system of HIV patients for HIV associated neurological disorders.
DLC1 suppresses NF-κB activity in prostate cancer cells due to its stabilizing effect on adherens junctions
Authors: Tripathi Veenu , Popescu Nicholas C , Zimonjic Drazen B
Published: January 2014

DLC1 (Deleted in Liver Cancer 1) gene encodes a RhoGTPase-activating protein (RhoGAP), which exerts most of its tumor suppressor functions through suppression of small Rho GTPases proteins RhoA, RhoB, RhoC and to some degree Cdc42, but not Rac. RhoGTPases are implicated in NF-κB activation in highly invasive prostate carcinoma (PCA), with consequences on cell proliferation, survival and metastatic capacity. Here we demonstrate that DLC1 transduction in two androgen-independent (AI) and highly metastatic PCA cell lines negatively regulates NF-κB activity in a GAP- and α-catenin-dependent manner. Expressed DLC1 protein suppresses the phosphorylation of NF-κB inhibitor, IκBα, causes its relocation from membrane ruffles into cytoplasm and attenuates its ubiquitination and subsequent degradation. DLC1-mediated NF-kB suppression and its effects are comparable to NF-κB inhibition using either shRNA knockdown or peptide inhibitor. Expression of transduced DLC1 suppressed the expression of NF-κB mediated genes. Such effects were found to be reliant on presence of calcium, indicating that the observed modifications are dependent on, and enabled by DLC-mediated stabilization of adherens junctions. These results expand the multitude of DLC1 interactions with other genes that modulate its oncosuppressive function, and may have potential therapeutic implications.
Multiple sclerosis lesion detection with local multimodal Markovian analysis and cellular automata ‘GrowCut’
Authors: Biediger Daniel , Collet Christophe , Armspach Jean‐Paul
Published: January 2014

Multiple sclerosis affect over 2.5 million people world‐wide. This autoimmune disease of the central nervous system causes damage to the insulating myelin sheaths around the axons in the brain. The disease progresses at different rates in different people and can have periods of remission and relapse. A fast and accurate method for evaluating the number and size of MS lesions in the brain is a key component in evaluating the progress of the disease and the efficacy of treatments. Manual segmentation is slow and difficult and the results can be somewhat subjective. It requires a physician to consider several MRI slices across multiple modalities. The power and speed of computer systems provide an obvious avenue to help. While many automated methods exist, they have not reached human‐level accuracy of the segmentation results. There exists a need for a robust, fast and accurate method to improve the results of automatic MS lesion segmentation methods. We propose a post‐processing stage to improve the segmentation results of an existing system. It uses two different strategies to improve the segmentation results of an automated system based on whole‐brain tissue classification and lesion detection. The first strategy leverages the current processing system at a granularity finer than the whole brain to detect lesions at a local level. This reflects the way that a physician considers only a part of the brain at a time. It then combines the series of local results to produce a whole‐brain segmentation. This approach better captures the local lesion properties and produces encouraging results, with a general improvement in the detection rate of lesions. The second method dives deeper and looks at the individual voxel level. Just as a physician might look more closely at a lesion, it considers the local neighborhood around a lesion detection. The method selects seed points from the existing results and uses a region growing method based on cellular automata. It grows the lesion areas based on a local neighborhood similarity in intensity. Over the eleven patients examined, some results improved over the base case and show the efficiency of the proposed approach.
Randomized Controlled Trial of a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Plus Hypnosis Intervention to Control Fatigue in Patients Undergoing Radiotherapy for Breast Cancer
Authors: Montgomery Guy H. , David Daniel , Kangas Maria , Green Sheryl , Sucala Madalina , Bovbjerg Dana H. , Hallquist Michael N. , Schnur Julie B.
Published: January 2014

Purpose

The objective of this study was to test the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy plus hypnosis (CBTH) to control fatigue in patients with breast cancer undergoing radiotherapy. We hypothesized that patients in the CBTH group receiving radiotherapy would have lower levels of fatigue than patients in an attention control group.

Patients and Methods

Patients (n = 200) were randomly assigned to either the CBTH (n = 100; mean age, 55.59 years) or attention control (n = 100; mean age, 55.97 years) group. Fatigue was measured at four time points (baseline, end of radiotherapy, 4 weeks, and 6 months after radiotherapy). Fatigue was measured using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) –Fatigue subscale and Visual Analog Scales (VASs; Fatigue and Muscle Weakness).

Results

The CBTH group had significantly lower levels of fatigue (FACIT) at the end of radiotherapy (z, 6.73; P < .001), 4-week follow-up (z, 6.98; P < .001), and 6-month follow-up (z, 7.99; P < .001) assessments. Fatigue VAS scores were significantly lower in the CBTH group at the end of treatment (z, 5.81; P < .001) and at the 6-month follow-up (z, 4.56; P < .001), but not at the 4-week follow-up (P < .07). Muscle Weakness VAS scores were significantly lower in the CBTH group at the end of treatment (z, 9.30; P < .001) and at the 6-month follow-up (z, 3.10; P < .02), but not at the 4-week follow-up (P < .13).

Conclusion

The results support CBTH as an evidence-based intervention to control fatigue in patients undergoing radiotherapy for breast cancer. CBTH is noninvasive, has no adverse effects, and its beneficial effects persist long after the last intervention session. CBTH seems to be a candidate for future dissemination and implementation.
Optimal Duration and Timing of Adjuvant Chemotherapy After Definitive Surgery for Ductal Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas: Ongoing Lessons From the ESPAC-3 Study
Authors: Valle Juan W. , Palmer Daniel , Jackson Richard , Cox Trevor , Neoptolemos John P. , Ghaneh Paula , Rawcliffe Charlotte L. , Bassi Claudio , Stocken Deborah D. , Cunningham David , O'Reilly Derek , Goldstein David , Robinson Bridget A. , Karapetis Christos , Scarfe Andrew , Lacaine Francois , Sand Juhani , Izbicki Jakob R. , Mayerle Julia , Dervenis Christos , Oláh Attila , Butturini Giovanni , Lind Pehr A. , Middleton Mark R. , Anthoney Alan , Sumpter Kate , Carter Ross , Büchler Markus W.
Published: January 2014

Purpose

Adjuvant chemotherapy improves patient survival rates after resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, but the optimal duration and time to initiate chemotherapy is unknown.

Patients and Methods

Patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma treated within the international, phase III, European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer–3 (version 2) study were included if they had been randomly assigned to chemotherapy. Overall survival analysis was performed on an intention-to-treat basis, retaining patients in their randomized groups, and adjusting the overall treatment effect by known prognostic variables as well as the start time of chemotherapy.

Results

There were 985 patients, of whom 486 (49%) received gemcitabine and 499 (51%) received fluorouracil; 675 patients (68%) completed all six cycles of chemotherapy (full course) and 293 patients (30%) completed one to five cycles. Lymph node involvement, resection margins status, tumor differentiation, and completion of therapy were all shown by multivariable Cox regression to be independent survival factors. Overall survival favored patients who completed the full six courses of treatment versus those who did not (hazard ratio [HR], 0.516; 95% CI, 0.443 to 0.601; P < .001). Time to starting chemotherapy did not influence overall survival rates for the full study population (HR, 0.985; 95% CI, 0.956 to 1.015). Chemotherapy start time was an important survival factor only for the subgroup of patients who did not complete therapy, in favor of later treatment (P < .001).

Conclusion

Completion of all six cycles of planned adjuvant chemotherapy rather than early initiation was an independent prognostic factor after resection for pancreatic adenocarcinoma. There seems to be no difference in outcome if chemotherapy is delayed up to 12 weeks, thus allowing adequate time for postoperative recovery.