bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ascorbic acid supplementation does not alter oxidative stress markers in healthy volunteers engaged in a supervised exercise program
Authors: Bunpo Piyawan , Anthony Tracy G.
Published: October 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of ascorbic acid (AA) consumption on the oxidative stress status of untrained volunteers participating in a supervised exercise program. The study included 46 young adults (average age, 23.5 ± 0.59 years; 37 females, 9 males) who remained sedentary (n = 16) or participated in 30 min of outdoor aerobic running (n = 30) at an intensity corresponding to 65%–75% of maximum heart rate for 3 times per week for 12 weeks. Exercised subjects were randomly assigned to an exercise group without AA supplementation (control; n = 10) or received either 250 mg (n = 10) or 500 mg (n = 10) of AA supplementation previous to each exercise session. Blood samples were taken on day 0 and day 84 to evaluate metabolic profiles and antioxidant status. Sedentary subjects underwent in a single bout of aerobic running to determine total antioxidant status (TAS) and malondiadehyde (MDA) at pre- and postexercise with or without AA supplementation. No significant change in TAS was observed. Plasma MDA significantly increased at postexercise (P < 0.05), and AA supplementation decreased MDA level significantly (P < 0.05). After 3 months of exercise, there was no significant change in blood glucose, lipid profile, MDA, TAS, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase activities amongst groups. Supplementation of AA was associated with minor and inconsistent reductions in SOD, GPx, and catalase activities (P < 0.05). These findings indicate that pre-exercise supplementation of ascorbic acid does not alter oxidative stress markers in the plasma and erythrocytes of young adults engaged in a supervised exercise program.
[Retracted] Hybrid Recurrent Laguerre‐Orthogonal‐Polynomial NN Control System Applied in V‐Belt Continuously Variable Transmission System Using Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Lin Chih-Hong
Published: October 2015

Because the V‐belt continuously variable transmission (CVT) system driven by permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) has much unknown nonlinear and time‐varying characteristics, the better control performance design for the linear control design is a time consuming procedure. In order to overcome difficulties for design of the linear controllers, the hybrid recurrent Laguerre‐orthogonal‐polynomial neural network (NN) control system which has online learning ability to respond to the system’s nonlinear and time‐varying behaviors is proposed to control PMSM servo‐driven V‐belt CVT system under the occurrence of the lumped nonlinear load disturbances. The hybrid recurrent Laguerre‐orthogonal‐polynomial NN control system consists of an inspector control, a recurrent Laguerre‐orthogonal‐polynomial NN control with adaptive law, and a recouped control with estimated law. Moreover, the adaptive law of online parameters in the recurrent Laguerre‐orthogonal‐polynomial NN is derived using the Lyapunov stability theorem. Furthermore, the optimal learning rate of the parameters by means of modified particle swarm optimization (PSO) is proposed to achieve fast convergence. Finally, to show the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme, comparative studies are demonstrated by experimental results.
Intervention Mapping to Adapt Evidence-Based Interventions for Use in Practice: Increasing Mammography among African American Women
Authors: Highfield Linda , Hartman Marieke A. , Mullen Patricia Dolan , Rodriguez Serena A. , Fernandez Maria E. , Bartholomew L. Kay
Published: October 2015

This paper describes and demonstrates the use of the systematic planning process, Intervention Mapping, to adapt an evidence-based public health intervention (EBI). We used a simplified version of Intervention Mapping (IM Adapt) to increase an intervention’s fit with a new setting and population. IM Adapt guides researchers and practitioners in selecting an EBI, making decisions about whether and what to adapt, and executing the adaptation while guarding the EBI’s essential elements (those responsible for effectiveness). We present a case study of a project in which we used IM Adapt to find, adapt, implement, and evaluate an EBI to improve mammography adherence for African American women in a new practice setting in Houston, Texas. IM Adapt includes the following (1) assess needs and organizational capacity; (2) find EBIs; (3) plan adaptations based on fit assessments; (4) make adaptations; (5) plan for implementation; and (6) plan for evaluation of the adapted EBI. The case study shows an example of how public health researchers and practitioners can use the tool to make it easier to find and use EBIs, thus encouraging greater uptake. IM Adapt adds to existing dissemination and adaptation models by providing detailed guidance on how to decide on effective adaptation, while maintaining the essential elements of the EBI.
Childhood Lead Exposure from Battery Recycling in Vietnam
Authors: Daniell William E. , Van Tung Lo , Wallace Ryan M. , Havens Deborah J. , Karr Catherine J. , Bich Diep Nguyen , Croteau Gerry A. , Beaudet Nancy J. , Duy Bao Nguyen
Published: October 2015

Background. Battery recycling facilities in developing countries can cause community lead exposure.Objective. To evaluate child lead exposure in a Vietnam battery recycling craft village after efforts to shift home-based recycling outside the village.Methods. This cross-sectional study evaluated 109 children in Dong Mai village, using blood lead level (BLL) measurement, parent interview, and household observation. Blood samples were analyzed with a LeadCare II field instrument; highest BLLs (≥45 μg/dL) were retested by laboratory analysis. Surface and soil lead were measured at 11 households and a school with X-ray fluorescence analyzer.Results. All children had high BLLs; 28% had BLL ≥45 μg/dL. Younger age, family recycling, and outside brick surfaces were associated with higher BLL. Surface and soil lead levels were high at all tested homes, even with no recycling history. Laboratory BLLs were lower than LeadCare BLLs, in 24 retested children.Discussion. In spite of improvements, lead exposure was still substantial and probably associated with continued home-based recycling, legacy contamination, and workplace take-home exposure pathways. There is a need for effective strategies to manage lead exposure from battery recycling in craft villages. These reported BLL values should be interpreted cautiously, although the observed field-laboratory discordance may reflect bias in laboratory results.
Synthesis and Characterization of Vanadium Doped Zinc Oxide Thick Film for Chemical Sensor Application
Authors: Zargar Rayees Ahmad , Arora Manju , Ahmad Masroor , Hafiz Aurangzeb Khurram
Published: October 2015

Zinc oxide and vanadium pentoxide nanoparticles derived by chemical coprecipitation route were used to cast Zn0.96V0.04O thick film by screen printing method. The structural, morphological, optical, and electrical properties of the film were characterized by powder XRD, SEM, Raman, UV-VIS, and DC conductivity techniques. XRD pattern, SEM image, and Raman spectrum of the film confirm the single phase formation of Wurtzite structure with preferential orientation along [101] plane, minor variation in lattice parameters, and vanadium ions substitution at zinc sites. Zn0.96V0.04O pellet has been used for sensing ammonia vapor concentrations in 20–50°C temperature range which exhibits maximum responsiveness and sensitivity at 30°C. The minor variations in resistance are observed with ammonia vapor concentration. The adsorption of ammonia vapors through weak hydrogen bonding and its insertion into lattice by nitrogen lone pairs donation at vacant/defect sites in lattice caused by vanadium doping are considered to explain gas sensing mechanism.
New Insights in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Heart Failure
Authors: Agnetti Giulio , Piepoli Massimo F. , Siniscalchi Giuseppe , Nicolini Francesco
Published: October 2015

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in the US and in westernized countries with ischemic heart disease accounting for the majority of these deaths. Paradoxically, the improvements in the medical and surgical treatments of acute coronary syndrome are leading to an increasing number of “survivors” who are then developing heart failure. Despite considerable advances in its management, the gold standard for the treatment of end-stage heart failure patients remains heart transplantation. Nevertheless, this procedure can be offered only to a small percentage of patients who could benefit from a new heart due to the limited availability of donor organs. The aim of this review is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of innovative approaches in the diagnosis and treatment of patients refractory to standard medical therapy and excluded from cardiac transplantation lists.
Nitric Oxide Regulates Neurogenesis in the Hippocampus following Seizures
Authors: Carreira Bruno P. , Santos Daniela F. , Santos Ana I. , Carvalho Caetana M. , Araújo Inês M.
Published: October 2015

Hippocampal neurogenesis is changed by brain injury. When neuroinflammation accompanies injury, activation of resident microglial cells promotes the release of inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen/nitrogen species like nitric oxide (NO). In these conditions, NO promotes proliferation of neural stem cells (NSC) in the hippocampus. However, little is known about the role of NO in the survival and differentiation of newborn cells in the injured dentate gyrus. Here we investigated the role of NO following seizures in the regulation of proliferation, migration, differentiation, and survival of NSC in the hippocampus using the kainic acid (KA) induced seizure mouse model. We show that NO increased the proliferation of NSC and the number of neuroblasts following seizures but was detrimental to the survival of newborn neurons. NO was also required for the maintenance of long-term neuroinflammation. Taken together, our data show that NO positively contributes to the initial stages of neurogenesis following seizures but compromises survival of newborn neurons.
Synthesis of Cotton from Tossa Jute Fiber and Comparison with Original Cotton
Authors: Rahman Md. Mizanur , Rahman Md. Rezaur , Hamdan Sinin , Hossen Md. Faruk , Lai Josephine Chang Hui , Liew Fui Kiew
Published: October 2015

Cotton fibers were synthesized from tossa jute and characteristics were compared with original cotton by using FTIR and TGA. The FTIR results indicated that the peak intensity of OH group from jute cotton fibers occurred at 3336 cm−1whereas the peak intensity of original cotton fibers occurred at 3338 cm−1. This indicated that the synthesized cotton fiber properties were very similar to the original cotton fibers. The TGA result showed that maximum rate of mass loss, the onset of decomposition, end of decomposition, and activation energy of synthesized cotton were higher than original cotton. The activation energy of jute cotton fibers was higher than the original cotton fibers.
Laparoscopic Distal Pancreatectomy with or without Preservation of the Spleen for Solid Pseudopapillary Neoplasm
Authors: Hori Tomohide , Masui Toshihiko , Kaido Toshimi , Ogawa Kohei , Yasuchika Kentaro , Yagi Shintaro , Seo Satoru , Takaori Kyoichi , Mizumoto Masaki , Iida Taku , Fujimoto Yasuhiro , Uemoto Shinji
Published: October 2015

Solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) is a rare tumor of the pancreas. Laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (DP) is a feasible and safe procedure, and successful spleen preservation rates are higher using a laparoscopic approach. We hypothesized that certain patients with SPN would be good candidates for laparoscopic surgery; however, few surgeons have reported laparoscopic DP for SPN. We discuss the preoperative assessment and surgical simulation for two SPN cases. A simulation was designed because we consider that a thorough preoperative understanding of the procedure based on three-dimensional image analysis is important for successful laparoscopic DP. We also discuss the details of the actual laparoscopic DP with or without splenic preservation that we performed for our two SPN cases. It is critical to use appropriate instruments at appropriate points in the procedure; surgical instruments are numerous and varied, and surgeons should maximize the use of each instrument. Finally, we discuss the key techniques and surgical pitfalls in laparoscopic DP with or without splenic preservation. We conclude that experience alone is inadequate for successful laparoscopic surgery.
Experimental Study on the Deactivating Effect of KNO3, KCl, and K2SO4 on Nanosized Ceria/Titania SCR Catalyst
Authors: Chen Xiongbo , Fang Ping , Zeng Wenhao , Liu Kunyuan , Tang Zhixiong , Cen Chaoping
Published: October 2015

Nanosized Ce/TiO2 is effective in selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3. The NO conversion of Ce/TiO2 is 93% at 370°C. However, addition of potassium using KNO3, KCl, or K2SO4 as precursors effectively deactivates Ce/TiO2. NO conversion at 370°C is reduced to 45%, 24%, and 16% after addition of KNO3, KCl, and K2SO4, respectively, with a controlled K/Ce molar ration at 0.25. The deactivation may be attributed to the changes in the structural and chemical state of ceria and the degradation of surface acidity. The transformation of amorphous ceria into ceria crystals after potassium addition, together with the decrease of surface defects, is also determined. Oxygen diffusion in the process of ceria reduction is slow, and the redox cycle is slowed down. Moreover, the surface acid sites are markedly destroyed, leading to the reduced capacity of ammonia adsorption. These results may provide useful information for the application and life management of CeO2/TiO2 in potassium‐rich environments such as biofuel‐fired boilers.
Functional Performance and Associations between Performance Tests and Neurological Assessment Differ in Men and Women with Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Medijainen Kadri , Pääsuke Mati , Lukmann Aet , Taba Pille
Published: October 2015

Background. Neurological assessment of a patient with Parkinson’s disease (PD) is expected to reflect upon functional performance. As women are known to report more limitations even for same observed functional performance level, present study was designed to examine whether associations between neurological assessments and functional performance differ across genders.Methods. 14 men and 14 women with PD participated. Functional performance was assessed by measuring walking speeds on 10-meter walk test (10MWT) and by performing timed-up-and-go-test (TUG). Neurological assessment included Hoehn and Yahr Scale (HY), Movement Disorders Society Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS), Schwab and England Activities of Daily Living Scale (S-E), and Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE).Results. In women with PD, Kendall’s tau-b correlation analyses revealed significant correlations between functional performance tests and neurological assessment measures, with the exception in MMSE. No corresponding associations were found for men, although they demonstrated better functional performance, as expected.Conclusion. Men in similar clinical stage of the PD perform better on functional tests than women. Disease severity reflects upon functional performance differently in men and women with PD. Results indicate that when interpreting the assessment results of both functional performance and neurological assessment tests, the gender of the patient should be taken into consideration.
Ultra-Low-Voltage Self-Body Biasing Scheme and Its Application to Basic Arithmetic Circuits
Authors: Taco Ramiro , Lanuzza Marco , Albano Domenico
Published: October 2015

The gate level body biasing (GLBB) is assessed in the context of ultra-low-voltage logic designs. To this purpose, a GLBB mirror full adder is implemented by using a commercial 45 nm bulk CMOS triple-well technology and compared to equivalent conventional zero body-biased CMOS and dynamic threshold voltage MOSFET (DTMOS) circuits under different running conditions. Postlayout simulations demonstrate that, at the parity of leakage power consumption, the GLBB technique exhibits a significant concurrent reduction of the energy per operation and the delay in comparison to the conventional CMOS and DTMOS approaches. The silicon area required by the GLBB full adder is halved with respect to the equivalent DTMOS implementation, but it is higher in comparison to conventional CMOS design. Performed analysis also proves that the GLBB solution exhibits a high level of robustness against temperature fluctuations and process variations.
A Multicenter Trial Defining a Serum Protein Signature Associated with Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Gerdtsson Anna S. , Malats Núria , Säll Anna , Real Francisco X. , Porta Miquel , Skoog Petter , Persson Helena , Wingren Christer , Borrebaeck Carl A. K.
Published: October 2015

Background. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive disease with rapid tumor progression and poor prognosis. This study was motivated by the lack of sensitive and specific PDAC biomarkers and aimed to identify a diagnostic, serum protein signature for PDAC. Methods. To mimic a real life test situation, a multicenter trial comprising a serum sample cohort, including 338 patients with either PDAC or other pancreatic diseases (OPD) and controls with nonpancreatic conditions (NPC), was analyzed on 293-plex recombinant antibody microarrays targeting immunoregulatory and cancer-associated antigens. Results. Serum samples collected from different hospitals were analyzed and showed that (i) sampling from five different hospitals could not be identified as a preanalytical variable and (ii) a multiplexed biomarker signature could be identified, utilizing up to 10 serum markers that could discriminate PDAC from controls, with sensitivities and specificities in the 91–100% range. The first protein profiles associated with the location of the primary tumor in the pancreas could also be identified. Conclusions. The results demonstrate that robust enough serum signatures could be identified in a multicenter trial, potentially contributing to the development of a multiplexed biomarker immunoassay for improved PDAC diagnosis.
Plant-Derived Compounds Targeting Pancreatic Beta Cells for the Treatment of Diabetes
Authors: Oh Yoon Sin
Published: October 2015

Diabetes is a global health problem and a national economic burden. Although several antidiabetic drugs are available, the need for novel therapeutic agents with improved efficacy and few side effects remains. Drugs derived from natural compounds are more attractive than synthetic drugs because of their diversity and minimal side effects. This review summarizes the most relevant effects of various plant-derived natural compounds on the functionality of pancreatic beta cells. Published data suggest that natural compounds directly enhance insulin secretion, prevent pancreatic beta cell apoptosis, and modulate pancreatic beta cell differentiation and proliferation. It is essential to continuously investigate natural compounds as sources of novel pharmaceuticals. Therefore, more studies into these compounds’ mechanisms of action are warranted for their development as potential anti-diabetics.
JPPRED: Prediction of Types of J-Proteins from Imbalanced Data Using an Ensemble Learning Method
Authors: Zhang Lina , Zhang Chengjin , Gao Rui , Yang Runtao
Published: October 2015

Different types of J-proteins perform distinct functions in chaperone processes and diseases development. Accurate identification of types of J-proteins will provide significant clues to reveal the mechanism of J-proteins and contribute to developing drugs for diseases. In this study, an ensemble predictor called JPPRED for J-protein prediction is proposed with hybrid features, including split amino acid composition (SAAC), pseudo amino acid composition (PseAAC), and position specific scoring matrix (PSSM). To deal with the imbalanced benchmark dataset, the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) and undersampling technique are applied. The average sensitivity of JPPRED based on above-mentioned individual feature spaces lies in the range of 0.744–0.851, indicating the discriminative power of these features. In addition, JPPRED yields the highest average sensitivity of 0.875 using the hybrid feature spaces of SAAC, PseAAC, and PSSM. Compared to individual base classifiers, JPPRED obtains more balanced and better performance for each type of J-proteins. To evaluate the prediction performance objectively, JPPRED is compared with previous study. Encouragingly, JPPRED obtains balanced performance for each type of J-proteins, which is significantly superior to that of the existing method. It is anticipated that JPPRED can be a potential candidate for J-protein prediction.
The Sensors Connectivity within SCADA Automation Environment and New Trends for Security Development during Multicasting Routing Transmission
Authors: Shahzad Aamir , Udagepola Kalum Priyanath , Lee Young-keun , Park Soojin , Lee Malrey
Published: October 2015

This study examined the security of SCADA system and its protocols, more specifically, SCADA/DNP3 protocol security. To achieve the study goals, a SCADA simulation environment is designed for water pumping process through connectivity of intelligent sensors, the payload is constructed, and security is deployed inside DNP3 protocol stack and then bytes are multicast to subcontrollers.
Effect of Partial Span Aspiration on the Performance of a Transonic Axial Compressor Rotor: A Numerical Study
Authors: Jain Vijaykumar , Nagpurwala Quamber H. , Nassar Abdul
Published: October 2015

Aspiration in an axial compressor is normally regarded as sucking out the low momentum boundary layer from blade suction surface, thus lowering the chances of flow separation and consequently that of stall under off-design operation. However, the suction mass flow does not take part in useful work and leads to loss of engine power output. This paper deals with a new concept of natural aspiration to energize blade suction surface boundary layer by injecting some fluid from pressure to suction side through a part span slot on the blade. The energized boundary layer has lesser tendency to separate, thus enhancing stall margin. Numerical simulations were carried out to study the effect of aspiration slot location and geometry on the performance and stall margin of a transonic axial compressor rotor. The computational results without aspiration slot were in fair agreement with the published experimental data. The modified rotor, with part span aspiration, showed ~3.2% improvement in stall margin at design rotational speed. The pressure ratio and efficiency of the aspirated rotor dropped by ~1.42% and ~2.0%, respectively, whereas the structural analysis did not indicate any adverse effect on the blade stress distribution in the presence of aspiration slot.
Study of Collagen Birefringence in Different Grades of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Using Picrosirius Red and Polarized Light Microscopy
Authors: Arun Gopinathan Pillai , Kokila Ganganna , Jyothi Mahadesh , Ananjan Chatterjee , Pradeep Linganna , Humaira Nazir Salroo
Published: October 2015

Objectives. The present study was done to evaluate birefringence pattern of collagen fibres in different grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma using Picrosirius red stain and polarization microscopy and to determine if there is a change in collagen fibres between different grades of oral squamous cell carcinoma.Materials and Methods. Picrosirius red stained 5 μm thick sections of previously diagnosed different grades of squamous cell carcinoma and normal oral mucosa were studied under polarization microscopy for arrangement as well as birefringence of collagen fibres around tumour islands.Results. It was found that thin collagen fibres increased and thick collagen fibres decreased with dedifferentiation of OSCC (P<0.0001 ). It was observed that there was change in polarization colours of thick fibres from yellowish orange to greenish yellow with dedifferentiation of OSCC indicating loosely packed fibres (P<0.0001).Conclusion. There was a gradual change of birefringence of collagen from yellowish orange to greenish yellow from well to poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, indicating that there is a change from mature form of collagen to immature form as tumour progresses. Studying collagen fibres with Picrosirius red for stromal changes around tumour islands along with routine staining may help in predicting the prognosis of tumour.
Feature Selection Using Particle Swarm Optimization in Intrusion Detection
Authors: Ahmad Iftikhar
Published: October 2015

The prevention of intrusion in networks is decisive and an intrusion detection system is extremely desirable with potent intrusion detection mechanism. Excessive work is done on intrusion detection systems but still these are not powerful due to high number of false alarms. One of the leading causes of false alarms is due to the usage of a raw dataset that contains redundancy. To resolve this issue, feature selection is necessary which can improve intrusion detection performance. Latterly, principal component analysis (PCA) has been used for feature reduction and subset selection in which features are primarily projected into a principal space and then features are elected based on their eigenvalues, but the features with the highest eigenvalues may not have the guaranty to provide optimal sensitivity for the classifier. To avoid this problem, an optimization method is required. Evolutionary optimization approach like genetic algorithm (GA) has been used to search the most discriminative subset of transformed features. The particle swarm optimization (PSO) is another optimization approach based on the behavioral study of animals/birds. Therefore, in this paper a feature subset selection based on PSO is proposed which provides better performance as compared to GA.
The Role of Circulating Tight Junction Proteins in Evaluating Blood Brain Barrier Disruption following Intracranial Hemorrhage
Authors: Jiao Xiaoyang , He Ping , Li Yazhen , Fan Zhicheng , Si Mengya , Xie Qingdong , Chang Xiaolan , Huang Dongyang
Published: October 2015

Brain injury after intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) results in significant morbidity and mortality. Blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption is a hallmark of ICH-induced brain injury; however, data mirroring BBB disruption in human ICH are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the significance of circulating biomarkers in evaluating BBB disruption after ICH. Twenty-two patients with ICH were recruited in this study. Concentrations of the tight junction proteins (TJs) Claudin-5 (CLDN5), Occludin (OCLN), and zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were measured by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples obtained from patients with ICH. The white blood cell (WBC) count in blood and CSF, albumin (ALB) levels in the CSF (ALBCSF), and the BBB ratio were significantly higher in the ICH than in controls (p<0.05). Significantly higher levels of CLDN5, OCLN, ZO-1, MMP-9, and VEGF in CSF were observed in the ICH group; these biomarkers were also positively associated with BBB ratio (p<0.05). Our data revealed that circulating TJs could be considered the potential biomarkers reflecting the integrity of the BBB in ICH.
Use of Peripheral Nerve Blocks with Sedation for Total Knee Arthroplasty in a Patient with Contraindication for General Anesthesia
Authors: Kamenetsky Eric , Nader Antoun , Kendall Mark C.
Published: October 2015

Although peripheral nerve blocks are commonly used to provide postoperative analgesia after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and other lower extremity procedures, these blocks are rarely used for intraoperative anesthesia. Most TKAs are performed under general anesthesia (GA) or neuraxial anesthesia (NA). The knee has a complex sensory innervation that makes surgical anesthesia difficult with peripheral nerve blocks alone. Rarely are both GA and NA relatively contraindicated and alternatives are considered. We present a patient who underwent TKA performed under peripheral nerve block and sedation alone.
Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 Inhibition
Authors: Bergeron Nathalie , Phan Binh An P. , Ding Yunchen , Fong Aleyna , Krauss Ronald M.
Published: October 2015

Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) plays an important role in the regulation of cholesterol homeostasis. By binding to hepatic low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors and promoting their lysosomal degradation, PCSK9 reduces LDL uptake, leading to an increase in LDL cholesterol concentrations. Gain-of-function mutations in PCSK9 associated with high LDL cholesterol and premature cardiovascular disease have been causally implicated in the pathophysiology of autosomal-dominant familial hypercholesterolemia. In contrast, the more commonly expressed loss-of-function mutations in PCSK9 are associated with reduced LDL cholesterol and cardiovascular disease risk. The development of therapeutic approaches that inhibit PCSK9 function has therefore attracted considerable attention from clinicians and the pharmaceutical industry for the management of hypercholesterolemia and its associated cardiovascular disease risk. This review summarizes the effects of PCSK9 on hepatic and intestinal lipid metabolism and the more recently explored functions of PCSK9 in extrahepatic tissues. Therapeutic approaches that prevent interaction of PCSK9 with hepatic LDL receptors (monoclonal antibodies, mimetic peptides), inhibit PCSK9 synthesis in the endoplasmic reticulum (antisense oligonucleotides, siRNAs), and interfere with PCSK9 function (small molecules) are also described. Finally, clinical trials testing the safety and efficacy of monoclonal antibodies to PCSK9 are reviewed. These have shown dose-dependent decreases in LDL cholesterol (44%–65%), apolipoprotein B (48%–59%), and lipoprotein(a) (27%–50%) without major adverse effects in various high-risk patient categories, including those with statin intolerance. Initial reports from 2 of these trials have indicated the expected reduction in cardiovascular events. Hence, inhibition of PCSK9 holds considerable promise as a therapeutic option for decreasing cardiovascular disease risk.
Christology in the Context of Indonesia
Authors: Haire James
Published: October 2015

This article examines the existence, function and meaning of Indonesian contextual Christologies. It begins by outlining the discourse on the theological validity of the concepts of contextual theology, particularly against the background of traditions inimical to, or sceptical of, such enterprises. In then examines the development of recent Christologies in Indonesia, that is, in the world’s most populous Muslim nation, a country, moreover, with a sizeable Christian minority. The article then examines two seminal Christologies, produced by Indonesian theologians since independence. This is the examination of largely hidden theologies. The first is the work of the highly original Javanese theologian, Eka Darmaputera, set against the background of the varying streams of Indonesian Islam. The second is the work produced by indigenous ethnic theologians, set against a background of pre-literary communal dynamics. From these, the article seeks to assess the issues of contextual Christologies and to evaluate these Christologies for international theological existence.
Digital Diplomacy 2.0? A Cross-national Comparison of Public Engagement in Facebook and Twitter
Authors: Kampf Ronit , Manor Ilan , Segev Elad
Published: October 2015

Social media holds the potential to foster dialogue between nations and foreign populations. Yet only a few studies to date have investigated the manner in which digital diplomacy is practised by foreign ministries. Using Kent and Taylor’s framework for dialogic communication, this article explores the extent to which dialogic communication is adopted by foreign ministries in terms of content, media channels and public engagement. The results of a six-week analysis of content published on Twitter and Facebook by eleven foreign ministries show that engagement and dialogic communication are rare. When engagement does occur, it is quarantined to specific issues. Social media content published by foreign ministries represents a continuous supply of press releases targeting foreign, rather than domestic, populations. A cross-national comparison revealed no discernible differences in the adoption of dialogic principles. Results therefore indicate that foreign ministries still fail to realize the potential of digital diplomacy to foster dialogue.
‘Review2014’: A Project of Reflection and Change in German Foreign Policy
Authors: Bagger Thomas
Published: October 2015

The ‘Review2014’ project was announced by Frank-Walter Steinmeier on 17 December 2013, the very day of his return to the German Foreign Ministry for a second term as Foreign Minister after his first term from 2005-2009. He presented the project’s conclusions under the heading ‘Crisis, Order, Europe’ on 25 February 2015, to the ministry’s staff and the wider public (see online at http: //www.review2014.de). A more detailed Action Plan aims to implement a set of specific institutional and procedural changes by summer 2016. The more ambitious goal of changes to the German Foreign Ministry’s culture will require a long-term effort.
Representing the Global Island: A Review of Ireland’s Foreign Policy
Authors: Keown Gerard
Published: October 2015

In January 2015, the Irish government published a new statement of the goals and objectives of Ireland’s foreign policy. The document, The Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World, was the result of a year-long process of reflection, research and analysis and a wide-ranging process of consultation and engagement. It offers a progressive and forward-looking vision of Ireland’s foreign policy and Ireland’s place in the world. The review was led by Ireland’s foreign ministry, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Teleconnections between the Peruvian Central Andes and Northeast Brazil during Extreme Rainfall Events in Austral Summer
Authors: Sulca Juan , Vuille Mathias , Silva Yamina , Takahashi Ken
Published: October 2015

Extreme precipitation events in the Peruvian Andes have significant socioeconomic impacts, yet their atmospheric dynamics are poorly understood. Here austral summer (December–March) wet and dry spells and their continental- and large-scale teleconnections are analyzed using reanalysis, gridded, and in situ precipitation data. Dry and wet spells in the Peruvian Andes show a pervasive dipole pattern with precipitation anomalies of the opposite sign over northeastern Brazil. Composite anomalies of various atmospheric fields during extreme precipitation events indicate that this dipole is related to large-scale adjustments in the upper-tropospheric Bolivian high–Nordeste low system, which in turn are modulated by northward-propagating extratropical Rossby wave trains. At upper- and midtropospheric levels, westerly wind anomalies over the Peruvian Andes suppress moisture flux from the Amazon during dry events, while wet events are characterized by opposite conditions. Yet, while easterly wind anomalies appear to be a prerequisite for heavy precipitation events in the region, they are not a sufficient forcing, as dry days can still occur during such periods. Dry spells in the Peruvian Andes appear to be linked to weakened convective activity over the western tropical Pacific, consistent with the previously documented El Niño influence over the region. Extreme dry and wet spells in northeastern Brazil only show a weak link to precipitation anomalies of the opposite sign over Peru but are strongly coupled with changes in the position and strength of the Nordeste low and the South Atlantic convergence zone.
More recess time, please!
Authors: Chang Rong , Coward Fanni Liu
Published: October 2015

Students in Shanghai, China, get much more recess time than their U.S. counterparts throughout their education. As U.S. education reform efforts seek ways of raising achievement, they have begun replacing recess with academic time. The lesson from Shanghai is that this may not be the best strategy. But whether the Shanghai system of more and longer periods of recess could be adopted in the U.S. is complicated because in Shanghai, school time often is for teaching only, and students are expected to review content and strengthen their skills after school.
Washington View
Authors: Ferguson Maria
Published: October 2015

Keeping it simple as a design concept is certainly laudable, but the American education system is far too complex for several of the proposed and popularized solutions to actually work. Donald Trump’s simple solution of expelling all persons who illegally entered the U.S. and the Obama administration’s plan to evaluate teachers based on student test scores both fail by quite a lot, although they seem simple ways to address education problems.
Dynamic, six-axis stiffness matrix characteristics of the intact intervertebral disc and a disc replacement
Authors: Holsgrove Timothy P , Gill Harinderjit S , Miles Anthony W , Gheduzzi Sabina
Published: October 2015

Thorough pre-testing is critical in assessing the likely in vivo performance of spinal devices prior to clinical use. However, there is a lack of data available concerning the dynamic testing of lumbar (porcine model) total disc replacements in all six axes under preload conditions. The aim of this study was to provide new data comparing porcine lumbar spinal specimen stiffness between the intact state and after the implantation of an unconstrained total disc replacement, in 6 degrees of freedom. The dynamic, stiffness matrix testing of six porcine lumbar isolated disc specimens was completed using triangle waves at a test frequency of 0.1 Hz. An axial preload of 500 N was applied during all testing. Specimens were tested both in the intact condition and after the implantation of the total disc replacement. Sixteen key stiffness terms were identified for the comparison of the intact and total disc replacement specimens, comprising the 6 principal stiffness terms and 10 key off-axis stiffness terms. The total disc replacement specimens were significantly different to the intact specimens in 12 of these key terms including all six principal stiffness terms. The implantation of the total disc replacement resulted in a mean reduction in the principal stiffness terms of 100%, 91%, and 98% in lateral bending, flexion–extension, and axial rotation, respectively. The novel findings of this study have demonstrated that the unconstrained, low-friction total disc replacement does not replicate the stiffness of the intact specimens. It is likely that other low-friction total disc replacements would produce similar results due to stiffness being actively minimised as part of the design of low-friction devices, without the introduction of stiffening elements or mechanisms to more accurately replicate the mechanical properties of the natural intervertebral disc. This study has demonstrated, for the first time, a method for the quantitative comparative mechanical function testing of total disc replacements and provides baseline data for the development of future devices.
Pullout performance comparison of pedicle screws based on cement application and design parameters
Authors: Tolunay Tolga , Başgül Cemile , Demir Teyfik , Yaman Mesut E , Arslan Arslan K
Published: October 2015

Pedicle screws are the main fixation devices for certain surgeries. Pedicle screw loosening is a common problem especially for osteoporotic incidents. Cannulated screws with cement augmentation are widely used for that kind of cases. Dual lead dual cored pedicle screw has already given promising pullout values without augmentation. This study concentrates on the usage of dual lead dual core with cement augmentation as an alternative to cannulated and standard pedicle screws with cement augmentation. Five groups (dual lead dual core, normal pedicle screw and cannulated pedicle screw with augmentation, normal pedicle screw, dual lead dual cored pedicle screw) were designed for this study. Healthy bovine vertebrae and synthetic polyurethane foams (grade 20) were used as embedding test medium. Test samples were prepared in accordance with surgical guidelines and ASTM F543 standard testing protocols. Pullout tests were conducted with Instron 3300 testing frame. Load versus displacement values were recorded and maximum pullout loads were stated. The dual lead dual cored pedicle screw with poly-methyl methacrylate augmentation exhibited the highest pullout values, while dual lead dual cored pedicle screw demonstrated similar pullout strength as cannulated pedicle screw and normal pedicle screw with poly-methyl methacrylate augmentation. The dual lead dual cored pedicle screw with poly-methyl methacrylate augmentation can be used for osteoporotic and/or severe osteoporotic patients according to its promising results on animal cadaver and synthetic foams.
Global and segmental kinematic changes following sequential resection of posterior osteoligamentous structures in the lumbar spine: An in vitro biomechanical investigation using pure moment testing protocols
Authors: Chamoli Uphar , Korkusuz Mert H , Sabnis Ashutosh B , Manolescu Andrei R , Tsafnat Naomi , Diwan Ashish D
Published: October 2015

Lumbar spinal surgeries may compromise the integrity of posterior osteoligamentous structures implicating mechanical stability. Circumstances necessitating a concomitant surgery to achieve restabilisation are not well understood. The main objective of this in vitro study was to quantify global and segmental (index and adjacent levels) kinematic changes in the lumbar spine following sequential resection of the posterior osteoligamentous structures using pure moment testing protocols. Six fresh frozen cadaveric kangaroo lumbar spines (T12–S1) were tested under a bending moment in flexion–extension, bilateral bending, and axial torsion in a 6-degree-of-freedom Kinematic Spine Simulator. Specimens were tested in the following order: intact state (D0), after interspinous and supraspinous ligaments transection between L4 and L5 (D1), further after a total bilateral facetectomy between L4 and L5 (D2). Segmental motions at the cephalad, damaged, and caudal levels were recorded using an infrared-based motion tracking device. Following D1, no significant change in the global range of motion was observed in any of the bending planes. Following D2, a significant increase in the global range of motion from the baseline (D0) was observed in axial torsion (median normalised change +20%). At the damaged level, D2 resulted in a significant increase in the segmental range of motion in flexion–extension (+77%) and axial torsion (+492%). Additionally, a significant decrease in the segmental range of motion in axial torsion (−35%) was observed at the caudal level following D2. These results suggest that a multi-segment lumbar spine acts as a mechanism for transmitting motions, and that a compromised joint may significantly alter motion transfer to adjacent segments. We conclude that the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments play a modest role in restricting global spinal motions within physiologic limits. Following interspinous and supraspinous ligaments transection, a total bilateral facetectomy resulted in a significant increase in axial torsion motion, both at global and damaged levels, accompanied with a compensatory decrease in motion at the caudal level.
Lung function in children in relation to ethnicity, physique and socioeconomic factors
Authors: Lum Sooky , Bountziouka Vassiliki , Sonnappa Samatha , Wade Angie , Cole Tim J. , Harding Seeromanie , Wells Jonathan C.K. , Griffiths Chris , Treleaven Philip , Bonner Rachel , Kirkby Jane , Lee Simon , Raywood Emma , Legg Sarah , Sears Dave , Cottam Philippa , Feyeraband Colin , Stocks Janet
Published: October 2015

Can ethnic differences in spirometry be attributed to differences in physique and socioeconomic factors?

Assessments were undertaken in 2171 London primary schoolchildren on two occasions 1 year apart, whenever possible, as part of the Size and Lung function In Children (SLIC) study. Measurements included spirometry, detailed anthropometry, three-dimensional photonic scanning for regional body shape, body composition, information on ethnic ancestry, birth and respiratory history, socioeconomic circumstances, and tobacco smoke exposure.

Technically acceptable spirometry was obtained from 1901 children (mean (range) age 8.3 (5.2–11.8) years, 46% boys, 35% White, 29% Black-African origin, 24% South-Asian, 12% Other/mixed) on 2767 test occasions. After adjusting for sex, age and height, forced expiratory volume in 1 s was 1.32, 0.89 and 0.51 z-score units lower in Black-African origin, South-Asian and Other/mixed ethnicity children, respectively, when compared with White children, with similar decrements for forced vital capacity (p<0.001 for all). Although further adjustment for sitting height and chest width reduced differences attributable to ethnicity by up to 16%, significant differences persisted after adjusting for all potential determinants, including socioeconomic circumstances.

Ethnic differences in spirometric lung function persist despite adjusting for a wide range of potential determinants, including body physique and socioeconomic circumstances, emphasising the need to use ethnic-specific equations when interpreting results.
Functional evidence for continued alveolarisation in former preterms at school age?
Authors: Yammine Sophie , Schmidt Anne , Sutter Oliver , Fouzas Sotirios , Singer Florian , Frey Urs , Latzin Philipp
Published: October 2015

Prematurity is the most common disruptor of lung development. The aim of our study was to examine the function of the more vulnerable peripheral airways in former preterm children by multiple-breath washout (MBW) measurements.

86 school-aged children, born between 24 and 35 weeks of gestation and 49 term-born children performed nitrogen MBW. Lung clearance index (LCI), and slope III-derived Scond and Sacin were assessed as markers for global, convection-dependent and diffusion–convection-dependent ventilation inhomogeneity, respectively.

We analysed the data of 77 former preterm (mean (range) age 9.5 (7.2–12.8) years) and 46 term-born children (mean age 9.9 (6.0–15.9) years). LCI and Sacin did not differ between preterm and term-born children. Scond was significantly elevated in preterm compared to term-born participants (mean difference z-score 1.74, 95% CI 1.17–2.30; p<0.001), with 54% of former preterm children showing elevated Scond. In multivariable regression analysis Scond was significantly related only to gestational age (R2=0.37).

Normal Sacin provides evidence for a functionally normal alveolar compartment, while elevated Scond indicates impaired function of more proximal conducting airways. Together, our findings support the concept of continued alveolarisation, albeit with “dysanaptic” lung growth in former preterm children.