bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pharmaceutical and nutraceutical approaches for preventing liver carcinogenesis: Chemoprevention of hepatocellular carcinoma using acyclic retinoid and branched‐chain amino acids
Authors: Shimizu Masahito , Shirakami Yohei , Hanai Tatsunori , Imai Kenji , Suetsugu Atsushi , Takai Koji , Shiraki Makoto , Moriwaki Hisataka
Published: November 2013

The poor prognosis for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is associated with its high rate of recurrence in the cirrhotic liver. Therefore, more effective strategies need to be urgently developed for the chemoprevention of this malignancy. The malfunction of retinoid X receptor α, a retinoid receptor, due to phosphorylation by Ras/mitogen‐activated protein kinase is closely associated with liver carcinogenesis and may be a promising target for HCC chemoprevention. Acyclic retinoid (ACR), a synthetic retinoid, can prevent HCC development by inhibiting retinoid X receptor α phosphorylation and improve the prognosis for this malignancy. Supplementation with branched‐chain amino acids (BCAA), which are used to improve protein malnutrition in patients with liver cirrhosis, can also reduce the risk of HCC in obese cirrhotic patients. In experimental studies, both ACR and BCAA exert suppressive effects on HCC development and the growth of HCC cells. In particular, combined treatment with ACR and BCAA cooperatively inhibits the growth of HCC cells. Furthermore, ACR and BCAA inhibit liver tumorigenesis associated with obesity and diabetes, both of which are critical risk factors for HCC development. These findings suggest that pharmaceutical and nutraceutical approaches using ACR and BCAA may be promising strategies for preventing HCC and improving the prognosis of this malignancy.
In vivo field‐cycling relaxometry using an insert coil for magnetic field offset
Authors: Pine Kerrin J. , Goldie Fred , Lurie David J.
Published: November 2013

Purpose

The T1 of tissue has a strong dependence on the measurement magnetic field strength. T1‐dispersion could be a useful contrast parameter, but is unavailable to clinical MR systems which operate at fixed magnetic field strength. The purpose of this work was to implement a removable insert magnet coil for field‐cycling T1‐dispersion measurements on a vertical‐field MRI scanner, by offsetting the static field over a volume of interest.

Methods

An insert magnet coil was constructed for use with a whole‐body sized 59 milli‐Tesla (mT) vertical‐field, permanent‐magnet based imager. The coil has diameter 38 cm and thickness 6.1 cm and a homogeneous region (± 5%) of 5 cm DSV, offset by 5 cm from the coil surface. Surface radiofrequency (RF) coils were also constructed.

Results

The insert coil was used in conjunction with a surface RF coil and a volume‐localized inversion‐recovery pulse sequence to plot T1‐dispersion in a human volunteer's forearm over a range of field strengths from 1 mT to 70 mT.

Conclusion

T1‐dispersion measurements were demonstrated on a fixed‐field MRI scanner, using an insert coil. This demonstrates the feasibility of relaxation dispersion measurements on an otherwise conventional MR imager, facilitating the exploitation of T1‐dispersion contrast for enhanced diagnosis. Magn Reson Med 72:1492–1497, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Protrusion‐guided extracellular vesicles mediate CD30 trans‐signalling in the microenvironment of Hodgkin's lymphoma
Authors: Hansen Hinrich P , Engels Hanna‐Mareike , Dams Maria , Paes Leme Adriana F , Pauletti Bianca Alves , Simhadri Vijaya Lakshmi , Dürkop Horst , Reiners Katrin S , Barnert Sabine , Engert Andreas , Schubert Rolf , Quondamatteo Fabio , Hallek Michael , Pogge von Strandmann Elke
Published: November 2013

Classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL)‐affected lymphoid tissue contains only a few malignant Hodgkin and Reed–Sternberg (HRS) cells, which are disseminated within a massive infiltrate of reactive cells. In particular, the innate immune infiltrate is deemed to support tumour growth by direct cell–cell interaction. Since they are rarely found in close proximity to the malignant cells in situ, we investigated whether cHL‐derived extracellular vesicles might substitute for a direct cell–cell contact. We studied the crosstalk of the transmembrane proteins CD30 and CD30 ligand (CD30L) because they are selectively expressed on HRS and innate immune cells, respectively. Here, we showed that HRS cells released both the ectodomain as a soluble molecule (sCD30) and the entire receptor on the surface of extracellular vesicles. The vesicle diameter was 40–800 nm, as determined by cryo‐ and immune electron microscopy. In addition to CD30, typical extracellular vesicle markers were detected by mass spectrometry and flow cytometry, including tetraspanins, flotillins, heat shock proteins and adhesion molecules. In contrast to sCD30, vesicles caused a CD30‐dependent release of interleukin‐8 in CD30L+ eosinophil‐like EoL‐1 cells and primary granulocytes from healthy donors, underscoring the functionality of CD30 on vesicles. In extracellular matrix (ECM)‐embedded culture of HRS cells, a network of actin and tubulin‐based protrusions guided CD30+ vesicles into the micro‐environment. This network targeted CD30+ vesicles towards distant immune cells and caused a robust polarization of CD30L. Confocal laser scanning microscopy of 30 µm sections showed a CD30 vesicle‐containing network also in cHL‐affected lymphoid tissue of both mixed‐cellularity and nodular sclerosing subtypes. This network might facilitate the communication between distant cell types in cHL tissue and allow a functional CD30–CD30L interaction in trans. The tubulin backbone of the network may provide a target for the therapy of cHL with antitubulin‐based CD30 antibody constructs. Copyright © 2013 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Treatment of a tongue lymphangioma with sirolimus after failure of surgical resection and propranolol
Authors: Akyüz Canan , Ataş Erman , Varan Ali
Published: November 2013

Lymphangiomas of the tongue are rare, and their treatment is problematic. A 10 year‐old patient with tongue lymphangioma who was previously treated with surgery and propranolol with no response was treated with sirolimus in our department. We used sirolimus with a dose of 1.6 mg/m2/day. After 3 months of treatment, the mass had decreased by more than 60%. We continued the treatment for 1 year with a maximum response of 70% decrease in mass. Disease remained stable 6 months after stopping therapy, the latest time of follow‐up. Sirolimus appears to be effective in lymphangioma but requires further study. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:931–932. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Irinotecan and temozolomide for treatment of neuroblastoma in a patient with renal failure on hemodialysis
Authors: Armstrong Amy E. , Dargart Jamie , Reichek Jennifer , Walterhouse David O. , Matossian Debora , Cohn Richard A. , Gosiengfiao Yasmin
Published: November 2013

Renal failure is a rare complication of neuroblastoma or its therapy. To our knowledge, no reports describe treatment of children with neuroblastoma with chemotherapy in the setting of renal failure and maintenance hemodialysis. We report a 6‐year‐old child with high‐risk neuroblastoma who developed renal failure requiring long‐term hemodialysis. She was subsequently treated with 13 cycles of intravenous irinotecan 20 mg/m2/day and oral temozolomide 100 mg/m2/day for 5 days before disease progression without any dose adjustments, transfusions, febrile neutropenia or diarrhea. This case demonstrates that irinotecan and temozolomide can be safely administered in children with renal failure requiring hemodialysis. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2014;61:949–950. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Synthesis of biodegradable and flexible, polylactic acid based, thermoplastic polyurethane with high gas barrier properties
Authors: Ali Fathilah Binti , Kang Dong Jin , Kim Minsoo P , Cho Chul‐Hee , Kim Bumjoon J
Published: November 2013

Polylactic acid (PLA) has the beneficial properties of good mechanical strength, biodegradability and biocompatibility, and these properties make it suitable for use as an environmentally friendly packaging material. However, its use has been limited by its brittleness and poor stability. In this work, we successfully developed an efficient synthesis scheme to improve the mechanical properties, flexibility and gas barrier properties of PLA‐based polymers. Four different PLA‐based thermoplastic polyurethane (PLAPU) polymers were synthesized through the reaction of PLA diol with hexamethylene diisocyanate, followed by chain extension with polycaprolactone (PCL) diol. The relative compositions of the hard PLA and the soft PCL diols in the PLAPU polymers were controlled systematically to optimize the physical properties of the polymers. For example, increasing the content of PCL resulted in higher molecular weight PLAPU polymers that had increased tensile strengths and elongations at break, but their moduli were decreased. At the optimized PLA:PCL ratio of 1:3, the PLAPU polymer had an excellent elongation at break of 1053% with a relatively high Young's modulus of 51.8 MPa. In addition, the gas barrier properties of the PLAPUs were significantly enhanced depending on the molecular weight and PCL content of the polymers. To demonstrate the feasibility of using PLAPU polymers for biodegradable packaging materials, hydrolytic degradation tests were performed in phosphate buffer solution, and the PLAPU polymers were degraded gradually at rates that depended on the content of PCL in the polymers. This optimized PLAPU polymer exhibited excellent flexibility and gas barrier property, as well as high elongation, demonstrating its potential utility as packaging materials. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
Synthesis and characterization of poly(propylene glycol) polytrioxamide and poly(urea oxamide) segmented copolymers
Authors: Buckwalter Daniel J , Hudson Amanda G , Moore Robert B , Long Timothy E
Published: November 2013

This report describes the synthesis and characterization of unprecedented poly(propylene glycol) (PPG) polytrioxamide and poly(urea oxamide) (UOx) segmented copolymers containing monodisperse hard segments. Synthesis of the segmented copolymers relied on an efficient two‐step end‐capping sequence, which resulted in novel difunctional oxamic hydrazide‐terminated polyether oligomers. Polymerization with oxalyl chloride or 4,4′‐methylenebis(cyclohexyl isocyanate) provided the desired segmented copolymers displaying thermoplastic elastomeric behavior. Variable‐temperature Fourier transform infrared and 1H NMR spectroscopies confirmed the presence of hard segment structures and revealed ordered hydrogen bonding interactions with thermal dissociation profiles similar to those of polyurea and polyoxamide copolymer analogs. Dynamic mechanical analysis of PPG‐UOx exhibited a longer, rubbery plateau with increased moduli compared to PPG polyurea, and tensile analysis revealed a dramatic increase in copolymer toughness due to enhanced hydrogen bonding. A new step‐growth polymerization strategy is described that is capable of producing tunable hydrogen bonding segmented copolymer architectures. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry
A CdS nanodipole solar cell
Authors: Huang Fang , Liu Xiangxin , Wang Wenjing
Published: November 2013

In this work, we report significant characteristics of nanodipole solar cells that would facilitate the understanding of the mechanism underlying the nanodipole photovoltaic effect. A CdS–CdTe pseudobinary system underwent phase segregation during high‐temperature CdCl2 treatment in a N2 atmosphere, giving convincing evidence to prove the existence of wurtzite CdS0.956Te0.044 nanodipoles embedded in zinc blende CdS0.04Te0.96. On the microscale, a strong synchronous in‐plane piezoresponse by wurtzite CdS0.956Te0.044 was observed using piezoelectric force microscopy in the vertical and lateral modes. Further, it was observed that a piezoresponse and analogous electric hysteresis existing at the grain boundaries varied with an external direct current electrical field; this phenomenon is considered to contribute significantly to the hysteresis behavior of photovoltage. In addition, high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy analysis indicated the formation of hexagonal CdS0.956Te0.044 particles in the film. On the macroscale, the photovoltage of a CdS nanodipole device with a symmetric structure was found to be tunable and became stable after the application of a direct current field. This feature of tunable photovoltage cannot be explained by the classical theory of junction devices. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pirin down‐regulates the EAF2/U19 protein and alleviates its growth inhibition in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Qiao Zhongjie , Wang Dan , Hahn Junghyun , Ai Junkui , Wang Zhou
Published: November 2013

BACKGROUND

The tumor suppressor ELL associated factor 2 (EAF2/U19) has been reported to induce apoptosis of LNCaP cells and suppress AT6.1 xenograft prostate tumor growth. EAF2/U19 expression level is down‐regulated in advanced human prostate cancer. EAF2/U19 is also a putative transcription factor with a transactivation domain and capability of sequence‐specific DNA binding. Identification of binding partners and regulators of EAF2/U19 is essential to understand its function in regulating apoptosis/survival of prostate cancer cells.

METHODS

Through a yeast two‐hybrid screening system, we identified Pirin as a binding partner of EAF2. We further determined the interaction between epitope‐tagged EAF2/U19 and Pirin by co‐immunoprecipitation in mammalian cells. The effect of Pirin on EAF2/U19 inhibition of LNCaP growth was assayed by colony formation.

RESULTS

Pirin co‐immunoprecipitated with EAF2/U19 and the overexpressed Pirin decreased the expression level of EAF2/U19 protein in prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC3. Furthermore, overexpression of EAF2/U19 suppressed LNCaP colony formation, and co‐expression of Pirin significantly blocked the growth inhibition induced by EAF2/U19 overexpression.

CONCLUSION

Pirin is a newly identified binding partner of EAF2/U19 capable of down‐regulating EAF2/U19 protein and alleviating its inhibition of prostate cancer cell survival/proliferation. Pirin may play an important role involved in EAF2/U19 function as an androgen‐responsive gene and tumor repressor. Prostate 74:113–120, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Periprostatic adipose tissue from obese prostate cancer patients promotes tumor and endothelial cell proliferation: A functional and MR imaging pilot study
Authors: Venkatasubramanian Palamadai N. , Brendler Charles B. , Plunkett Beth A. , Crawford Susan E. , Fitchev Philip S. , Morgan Gina , Cornwell Mona L. , McGuire Michael S. , Wyrwicz Alice M. , Doll Jennifer A.
Published: November 2013

BACKGROUND

Obesity, particularly visceral adiposity, confers a worse prognosis for prostate cancer (PCa) patients, and increasing periprostatic adipose (PPA) tissue thickness or density is positively associated with more aggressive disease. However, the cellular mechanism of this activity remains unclear. Therefore, in this pilot study, we assessed the functional activity of PPA tissue secretions and established a biochemical profile of PPA as compared to subcutaneous adipose (SQA) tissues from lean, overweight and obese PCa patients.

METHODS

Adipose tissues were collected from PCa patients undergoing surgical prostate removal. Tissues were analyzed by histologic and magnetic resonance (MR) techniques. Explant tissue culture secretions were used in proliferation assays on PCa and endothelial cells.

RESULTS

PPA secretions obtained from obese patients were significantly more pro‐proliferative in both PCa and endothelial cells as compared to PPA obtained from lean or overweight men and SQA tissues. Consistent with this, PPA microvessel density was increased, and the T2 relaxation time was decreased, compared to SQA tissues, and we observed a modest, inverse correlation between the T2 and tumor stage. Moreover, the ratio of unsaturated to saturated fatty acids, obtained using MR spectroscopy, showed a modest, inverse correlation with Gleason score.

CONCLUSIONS

These pilot data show that PPA stimulates PCa cell proliferation and angiogenesis and that obesity intensifies this activity, thus generating a mechanistic hypothesis to explain the worse prognosis observed in obese PCa patients. Our pilot study also shows that MR technology may be useful in further elucidating the relationship between obesity and PCa progression. Prostate 74:326–335, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Role of metal/silicon semiconductor contact engineering for enhanced output current in micro‐sized microbial fuel cells
Authors: Mink Justine , Rojas Jhonathan , Rader Kelly , Hussain Muhammad Mustafa
Published: November 2013

We show that contact engineering plays an important role to extract the maximum performance from energy harvesters like microbial fuel cells (MFCs). We experimented with Schottky and Ohmic methods of fabricating contact areas on silicon in an MFC contact material study. We utilized the industry standard contact material, aluminum, as well as a metal, whose silicide has recently been recognized for its improved performance in smallest scale integration requirements, cobalt. Our study shows that improvements in contact engineering are not only important for device engineering but also for microsystems.
On the time‐splitting errors of one‐dimensional advection schemes in numerical weather prediction models; a comparative study
Authors: Schneider W. , Bott A.
Published: November 2013

A one‐dimensional flux‐form advection scheme with a new correction of time‐splitting errors is implemented in the numerical weather prediction (NWP) model COSMO of the German Meteorological Service. The advection scheme is applied for calculating the transport of all prognostic humidity variables in COSMO. Moreover, the advective transport of passive tracers is investigated. With the modified COSMO configuration, several realistic case‐studies are performed and compared with the operational COSMO version. The main focus of these investigations is on the behaviour of the new advection scheme in regions with strong deformational flow fields, such as steep orographical terrain and meteorological fronts.

The numerical results of these case‐studies indicate that the modified COSMO model yields results similar to the operational version. The observed differences between the two model versions are minimized when the advection scheme of the operational COSMO model is applied with a numerically expensive Strang splitting approach. At the same time, the results of the new advection scheme are barely affected by the application of Strang splitting. Since, in addition to this, the new advection scheme behaves numerically more stably than the original scheme, it is an attractive alternative for calculating the transport of scalar quantities in NWP models.
Statistical approach to establish equivalence of unabbreviated mass spectra
Authors: Bodnar Willard Melissa A. , Waddell Smith Ruth , McGuffin Victoria L.
Published: November 2013

RATIONALE

In many legal and regulatory applications, mass spectral comparison of an unknown or questioned sample to a reference standard or database is used for identification; however, no statistical confidence level or error rate is determined. Therefore, a simple and rapid method to establish the statistical equivalence of mass spectra is needed.

METHODS

The standard deviation of the abundance at each m/z ratio was determined from replicate measurements or from a statistical model. These standard deviations were used in an unequal variance t‐test to compare two spectra at every m/z ratio over the entire scan range. If determined to be statistically indistinguishable at every m/z ratio, the random‐match probability (RMP) that the specific mass spectral fragmentation pattern occurred by chance was calculated.

RESULTS

n‐Alkane and alkylbenzene standards of varying concentrations were analyzed on the same instrument at different ionization voltages. Using the proposed method, replicate spectra were successfully associated at the 99.9% confidence level, with RMP values less than 10–29. Despite the similarity in fragmentation patterns, spectra were distinguished from others in the homologous series. Moreover, the n‐alkane spectra were appropriately associated to and discriminated from those in a standard reference database at the 99.9% confidence level.

CONCLUSIONS

A simple and rapid method to assign statistical significance to the comparison of mass spectra was developed and validated. This method may be useful for legal and regulatory applications, such as the identification of controlled substances, environmental pollutants, and food and drug contaminants. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Output containment analysis and design for high‐order linear time‐invariant swarm systems
Authors: Dong Xiwang , Shi Zongying , Lu Geng , Zhong Yisheng
Published: November 2013

Output containment analysis and design problems for high‐order linear time‐invariant swarm systems are dealt with. Firstly, output containment protocols are presented for leaders and followers, respectively, to partially assign the output motion modes of leaders and propel the outputs of followers to converge to the convex hull formed by the outputs of leaders. Then, output containment problems for swarm systems are transformed into stability problems, and sufficient conditions for swarm systems to achieve output containment are proposed. Moreover, an approach to determine the gain matrix in the protocol for swarm systems to achieve output containment is given, which has less calculation complexity. Finally, numerical simulations are presented to demonstrate theoretical results. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An improved three‐phase reactive power measurement algorithm using walsh functions transform
Authors: Aliyu Garba , Khalid Saifulnizam Bin Abd. , Mustafa Mohd Wazir , Shareef Hussein
Published: November 2013

This paper proposes an improved algorithm for three‐phase power component measurement using the Walsh function (WF), which takes into account the advantages offered by the algorithm in the analysis of nonlinear load problems to improve the accuracy and reliability of measurement. In the pricing of electricity based on the value of the integral of the load active power measured using a kilowatt‐hour meter, the electric utility loses some revenue for the energy delivered to current harmonic generating customers and customers whose load causes current asymmetry. An improved algorithm based on the WF for measuring the active and reactive power of a network with linear and or nonlinear and sinusoidal or nonsinusoidal network is developed and tested, and the result compared with IEEE standard 1459–2000 which is based on fast Fourier transformation. The method does not require phase shifting of the phase current signals by π/2 with respect to the voltage signals. The proposed algorithm enables reactive power measurement for proper electricity billing to the consumer with nonlinear loads. © 2013 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Early exposure of 17α‐ethynylestradiol and diethylstilbestrol induces morphological changes and alters ovarian steroidogenic pathway enzyme gene expression in catfish, Clarias gariepinus
Authors: Sridevi P. , Chaitanya R. K. , Prathibha Y. , Balakrishna S. L. , Dutta‐Gupta A. , Senthilkumaran B.
Published: November 2013

Environmental estrogens are major cause of endocrine disruption in vertebrates, including aquatic organisms. Teleosts are valuable and popular models for studying the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment. In the present study, we investigated the changes caused by exposure to the synthetic estrogens 17α‐ethynylestradiol (EE2) and diethylstilbesterol (DES) during early stages of growth and sex differentiation of air‐breathing catfish, Clarias gariepinus, at the morphological, histological, and molecular levels. Catfish hatchlings, 0 day post hatch (dph) were exposed continuously to sublethal doses of EE2 (50 ng/L) and DES (10 ng/L) until 50 dph and subsequently monitored for ovarian structural changes and alteration in the gene expression of steroidogenic enzymes till adulthood. Treated fish exhibited morphological deformities such as spinal curvature, stunted growth, and yolk‐sac fluid retention. In addition to ovarian atrophy, DES‐treated fish showed either rudimentary or malformed ovaries. Detailed histological studies revealed precocious oocyte development as well as follicular atresia. Further, transcript levels of various steroidogenic enzyme and transcription factor genes were altered in response to EE2 and DES. Activity of the rate‐limiting enzyme of estrogen biosynthesis, aromatase, in the ovary as well as the brain of treated fish was in accordance with transcript level changes. These developmental and molecular effects imparted by EE2 and DES during early life stages of catfish could demonstrate the deleterious effects of estrogen exposure and provide reliable markers for estrogenic EDCs exposure in the environment. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 30: 439–451, 2015.
Re: Repeat measurements of nuchal translucency at 11–14 weeks of gestation: when do we need them? L. J. Salomon, R. Porcher, D. Socolov, H. Lamrani and Y. Ville. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2013; 42: 629–633
Authors: Cuckle H.
Published: November 2013

Linked Comment: Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2013:42:629–633
On existence of weak solution to a model describing incompressible mixtures with thermal diffusion cross effects
Authors: Bulíček M. , Havrda J.
Published: November 2013

We present a model describing unsteady flows of a heat conducting mixture composed from L constituents in two and three dimensional bounded domain. We assume that the flow of the mixture is described only by the barycentric velocity, and that the fluid is non‐Newtonian. In addition, we assume that the diffusion flux depends also on the temperature gradient, describing the Soret effect, and that the heat flux depends also on the chemical potentials gradient, describing the Dufour effect. We briefly show under which assumptions on the constitutive equations the model obeys the first and the second laws of thermodynamics and for a large class of physically well‐motivated constitutive relations we establish the existence of a weak solution. For simplicity we restrict ourselves only onto the linear models, i.e., the diffusion and the heat flux depend linearly on the temperature and chemical potentials gradients.
High intraguild predator density induces thinning effects on and increases temporal overlap with prey populations
Authors: Anderson Thomas L. , Semlitsch Raymond D.
Published: November 2013

Intraguild (IG) predator density can alter its effects on intraguild prey populations through several mechanisms, including density‐dependent processes that affect IG predator traits such as size or growth that enhance or limit its predatory abilities. We examined whether intraspecific density‐dependence altered IG predator traits, as well as the subsequent interspecific effects among its intraguild prey within a larval salamander guild. Four densities of ringed salamanders (Ambystoma annulatum), the IG predator, were combined with the presence/absence of spotted salamanders (A. maculatum), the IG prey, within experimental mesocosms. We modeled the effects of A. annulatum density on both conspecific and heterospecific responses that would be indicative of density‐dependent competition and predation, respectively. We also modeled the reciprocal interspecific effects of A. maculatum on A. annulatum. We found that increasing intraspecific density negatively affected morphological traits but not survival of A. annulatum. No interspecific effects of A. maculatum on A. annulatum were observed. Alternatively, traits of A. maculatum showed nonlinear relationships with increasing A. annulatum density. Thinning effects of A. annulatum on A. maculatum were observed, as survival was positively and size negatively related for A. maculatum with IG predator density. The temporal overlap of the IG predator and prey also increased nonlinearly with IG predator density, intensifying the potential encounter rate of the two species. Overall, this study shows that density‐dependent processes in IG predators can significantly affect traits of both themselves, as well as IG prey, which could ultimately change whether competition or predation occurs between the two groups.
A Pilot Randomized Trial of Community‐Based Parent Training for Immigrant Latina Mothers
Authors: Williamson Ariel A. , Knox Lyndee , Guerra Nancy G. , Williams Kirk R.
Published: November 2013

This paper reports on the development and piloting of the Madres a Madres (Mothers to Mothers) program, a new, community‐based parent training program designed for immigrant Latina mothers and their children. Promotoras, or female community health workers of Latina background, delivered the program in a home visitation format. A total of 194 mothers and 194 focal children (87 male, 107 female) ages 7–12 were randomized to the intervention (113 mother–child dyads) or wait‐list control condition (81 mother–child dyads) over the study period. Outcomes of interest were mother‐reported parenting skills, broad family functioning, and child externalizing and internalizing behaviors. Data collection occurred at pretest, 3‐month posttest, and 9‐month follow‐up periods. Multilevel growth models revealed increases in intervention mothers’ reported parenting skills, family support, and family organization, and reductions in child internalizing behavior from pretest to follow‐up, relative to the control condition. Outcomes did not vary by focal child age, gender, nativity status, or mother acculturative status (years in the United States). Findings are discussed in the context of future directions for research on the Madres a Madres program and on the implementation and dissemination of empirically‐supported parent training practices to culturally diverse families.
Breast cancer brain metastases: a review of the literature and a current multidisciplinary management guideline
Authors: Gil-Gil M. J. , Martinez-Garcia M. , Sierra A. , Conesa G. , del Barco S. , González-Jimenez S. , Villà S.
Published: November 2013

Breast cancer represents the second most frequent etiology of brain metastasis (BM). It is estimated that 10–30 % of patients with breast cancer are diagnosed with BM. Breast cancer BM are increasing due to the aging population, detection of subclinical disease, and better control of systemic disease. BM is a major cause of morbidity and mortality affecting neurocognition, speech, coordination, behavior, and quality of life. The therapy of BM remains controversial regarding use and timing of surgical resection, application of whole-brain radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery and systemic drugs in patients with particular tumor subtypes. Despite numerous trials, the range of interpretation of these has resulted in differing treatment perspectives. This paper is a review of the state of the art and a multidisciplinary guideline on strategies to improve the therapeutic index in this situation.
Voting at 16? Youth suffrage is up for debate
Authors: Zeglovits Eva
Published: November 2013

In the debate on lowering the voting age, possible consequences have been discussed, among which are turn-out and the quality of the vote choice of newly enfranchised teenagers. Although findings on the turn-out of 16- and 17-year-olds are encouraging to supporters of youth suffrage, the results on political maturity are somewhat mixed. Most results stem from the case of Austria, where the voting age was lowered to 16 in 2007. They are supplemented with results of the Norwegian Voting Age Trial.
Political Union: Legitimacy and Efficiency to Overcome the Crisis
Authors: Chopin Thierry
Published: November 2013

This paper aims to outline a number of concrete proposals in view of providing detailed operational content for the project to create a genuine European political leadership and to strengthen legitimacy and democratic control of the decision-making process. The legal feasibility of each of the proposals set out here is analysed by identifying the type of reform it involves: innovation, using the treaty as it stands; limited changes to the Treaty under the simplified revision procedure; and more important changes to the Treaty under the ordinary revision procedure.
Ectopic overexpression of castor bean LEAFY COTYLEDON2 (LEC2) in Arabidopsis triggers the expression of genes that encode regulators of seed maturation and oil body proteins in vegetative tissues
Authors: Kim Hyun Uk , Jung Su-Jin , Lee Kyeong-Ryeol , Kim Eun Ha , Lee Sang-Min , Roh Kyung Hee , Kim Jong-Bum
Published: November 2013

The LEAFY COTYLEDON2 (LEC2) gene plays critically important regulatory roles during both early and late embryonic development. Here, we report the identification of the LEC2 gene from the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis), and characterize the effects of its overexpression on gene regulation and lipid metabolism in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. LEC2 exists as a single‐copy gene in castor bean, is expressed predominantly in embryos, and encodes a protein with a conserved B3 domain, but different N‐ and C‐terminal domains to those found in LEC2 from Arabidopsis. Ectopic overexpression of LEC2 from castor bean under the control of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter in Arabidopsis plants induces the accumulation of transcripts that encodes five major transcription factors (the LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1), LEAFY COTYLEDON1‐LIKE (L1L), FUSCA3 (FUS3), and ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE 3 (ABI3) transcripts for seed maturation, and WRINKELED1 (WRI1) transcripts for fatty acid biosynthesis), as well as OLEOSIN transcripts for the formation of oil bodies in vegetative tissues. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants that express the LEC2 gene from castor bean show a range of dose‐dependent morphological phenotypes and effects on the expression of LEC2‐regulated genes during seedling establishment and vegetative growth. Expression of castor bean LEC2 in Arabidopsis increased the expression of fatty acid elongase 1 (FAE1) and induced the accumulation of triacylglycerols, especially those containing the seed‐specific fatty acid, eicosenoic acid (20:1Δ11), in vegetative tissues.
An Integrative Meta-Analysis of MicroRNAs in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: ElHefnawi Mahmoud , Soliman Bangli , Abu-Shahba Nourhan , Amer Marwa
Published: November 2013

We aimed to shed new light on the roles of microRNAs (miRNAs) in liver cancer using an integrative in silico bioinformatics analysis. A new protocol for target prediction and functional analysis is presented and applied to the 26 highly differentially deregulated miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma. This framework comprises: (1) the overlap of prediction results by four out of five target prediction tools, including TargetScan, PicTar, miRanda, DIANA-microT and miRDB (combining machine-learning, alignment, interaction energy and statistical tests in order to minimize false positives), (2) evidence from previous microarray analysis on the expression of these targets, (3) gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analysis of the miRNA targets and their pathways and (4) linking these results to oncogenesis and cancer hallmarks. This yielded new insights into the roles of miRNAs in cancer hallmarks. Here we presented several key targets and hundreds of new targets that are significantly enriched in many new cancer-related hallmarks. In addition, we also revealed some known and new oncogenic pathways for liver cancer. These included the famous MAPK, TGFβ and cell cycle pathways. New insights were also provided into Wnt signaling, prostate cancer, axon guidance and oocyte meiosis pathways. These signaling and developmental pathways crosstalk to regulate stem cell transformation and implicate a role of miRNAs in hepatic stem cell deregulation and cancer development. By analyzing their complete interactome, we proposed new categorization for some of these miRNAs as either tumor-suppressors or oncomiRs with dual roles. Therefore some of these miRNAs may be addressed as therapeutic targets or used as therapeutic agents. Such dual roles thus expand the view of miRNAs as active maintainers of cellular homeostasis.
Evaluating regional workshops on strengthening the capacity of healthcare professional associations to achieve Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5
Authors: Rabbani Fauziah , Perveen Shagufta , Wasim Saba , Toure Kadi , Nurse‐Findlay Stephen , Mobeen Naushaba
Published: November 2013

Objective

In 2007–2008, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH), Geneva, organized capacity‐building workshops in Malawi, Burkina Faso, and Bangladesh. Their aim was to strengthen the role of healthcare professional associations (HCPAs) in national reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) planning and programs. The present cross‐sectional study evaluated the outcomes of these regional workshops.

Methods

In 2010, a structured survey, telephone interviews of workshop participants, and a document review were used to analyze the impact of these workshops.

Results

Overall, HCPAs in only 2 of the 17 participating countries (11.8%) were able to increase their impact on RMNCH planning. Although all countries developed action plans, 15 (88.2%) were unable to fully implement them despite increased interactions among HCPAs and with the Ministry of Health (MOH). Nine countries (52.9%) implemented their action plans partly. Engagement of the MOH emerged as a strong indicator of HCPA contribution toward RMNCH planning.

Conclusion

Strong and sustained follow‐up by PMNCH, a clear sense of ownership by HCPAs, designated staff, and financial resources emerged as important determinants for the implementation of action plans. These workshops were generally successful in both encouraging HCPA collaboration and marching toward Millennium Development Goals 4 and 5.
Efficacy of continuous wound infiltration of local anesthetic for pain relief after gynecologic laparoscopy
Authors: Kong Tae‐Wook , Park Hyogyeong , Cheong Ji‐Yoon , Min Sang‐Ki , Ryu Hee‐Sug
Published: November 2013

Objective

To assess the efficacy of analgesia provided by continuous ropivacaine wound infiltration after gynecologic laparoscopy.

Methods

Sixty patients who underwent gynecologic laparoscopy at Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Republic of Korea, between March and May 2012 were randomized to receive either intravenous fentanyl and ketorolac infusion on demand by patient‐controlled analgesia (IV PCA group, n = 31) or continuous wound infiltration of local ropivacaine (CWI group, n = 29). Postoperative pain and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) were assessed via a visual analog scale. The number of patients who requested rescue analgesia was recorded.

Results

There was no significant difference in postoperative pain between the 2 groups, but more patients requested rescue analgesia in the CWI group than in the IV PCA group in 24 hours (18 versus 9 patients, respectively; P = 0.010). The PONV scores at 12 and 24 hours were, respectively, 0.28 and 0.27 in the CWI group, and 0.71 and 0.73 in the IV PCA group (P = 0.004). Nine patients requested cessation of IV PCA because of severe nausea or vomiting.

Conclusion

Continuous ropivacaine wound infiltration was found to be as effective as patient‐controlled analgesia for postoperative pain relief after gynecologic laparoscopy. This technique provides good analgesia with less opioid analgesic requirement and few adverse effects.
The earliest manuscript of Bede's metrical Vita S. Cudbercti
Authors: Gneuss Helmut , Lapidge Michael
Published: November 2013

In the years immediately preceding the Second World War, the Latin manuscripts
of the National Széchényi Museum in Budapest were in the process
of being catalogued by Dr Emma Bartoniek. The collection includes a large
number of fragments taken from bindings of printed books, and among
these fragments is a single bifolium, written in Anglo-Saxon minuscule script
of apparent eighth-century date, containing part of Bede's metrical Vita S.
Cudbercti (lines 95–128 and 340–75).
How German children use intonation to signal information status in narrative discourse
Authors: DE RUITER LAURA E.
Published: November 2013

Recent research on adult German suggests that speakers use particular pitch accent types to signal the information status of discourse referents. This study investigates to what extent German five- and seven-year-olds have acquired this mapping. Semi-natural speech data was obtained from a picture-elicited narration task in which the information status was systematically varied. Surprisingly, data from an adult control group were inconsistent with the claim of a clear status-accent mapping, and demonstrated that adult scripted speech cannot be taken as a target model. However, compared with adults' unscripted speech productions, children were indeed adult-like in their information status marking. Both child groups accented new referents, but tended to deaccent given referents. Accessible referents (whose first mentions were less recent) were mostly realized like new referents. Differences between adults and children emerged in the use of intonation to structure narrations, suggesting that some functions of intonation may be acquired only later.
Patterns of skill attainment and loss in young children with autism
Authors: Thurm Audrey , Manwaring Stacy S. , Luckenbaugh David A. , Lord Catherine , Swedo Susan E.
Published: November 2013

The purpose of this study was to extend the literature on the ontogeny of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by examining early attainment and loss of specific sociocommunicative skills in children with autism (AUT; n = 125), pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS; n = 42), nonspectrum developmental delays (n = 46), and typical development (n = 31). The ages of skill attainment and loss were obtained from a caregiver interview. The findings indicated that children with AUT, PDD-NOS, and developmental delays diverged from typically developing children in attainment of sociocommunicative skills early in the first year of life. Loss of at least one skill was reported in a majority of children with AUT and PDD-NOS. Significant delays in attainment of skills were also reported in children who lost skills. The wide variation in skill attainment and loss reported across children indicates that symptom onset and regression may be best represented continuously, with at least some early delay and loss present for a great majority of children with ASD.
The role of the cardiologist in the evaluation of dysautonomia
Authors: Boris Jeffrey R.
Published: November 2013

Dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, or dysautonomia, is an uncommon disease. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is one of the several types of dysautonomia. Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, also known as chronic orthostatic intolerance, is the most common but least severe of the dysautonomic disorders; it will serve as the model for evaluation and management of the other dysautonomias. Overall, these patients can have variable dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system that is more severe than that observed in typical neurocardiogenic syncope. Frequently, providers are not familiar with either the evaluation or the management of this syndrome, or are just not interested in doing so. This article attempts to describe strategies for evaluation and management of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. The diagnosis of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is made by the finding of orthostatic intolerance associated with a pulse greater than 120 beats per minute in the first 10 minutes of upright position or an elevation in pulse greater than 30 beats per minute in the first 10 minutes of upright position. Overall, these patients can have variable dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system that is more severe than that seen in typical neurocardiogenic syncope. A wide variety of associated symptoms may exist and these symptoms can have tremendous impact on the lives of the patients and their families. Management of these patients can be difficult as well as rewarding. It is helpful to perform an extensive education up front with these patients and their families. Interventions for patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome typically fall into two broad categories: non-pharmacological and pharmacological. Non-pharmacological therapies are varied, but are based primarily on ensuring adequate status of intravascular fluid. Polypharmacy may be required to control symptoms associated with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. On account of the severity of their symptoms, these patients frequently have difficulty in completing their school assignments. The physician may need to help support the attempts of the family to work with the school to help the patient stay in school. As postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is underdiagnosed and poorly understood, it is a disease that provides an excellent opportunity to perform research. The most important studies would be those that aim to elucidate an aetiology and a pathophysiology of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. In the final analysis, the role of the cardiologist in the evaluation and management of a patient with dysautonomia is to help a patient with severe disability to feel as if they are normal, or much closer to it.
9th Annual William J. Rashkind Memorial Lecture in Paediatric Cardiology: “The Reimbursement Tsunami: Preserving the Passion”
Authors: Campbell Robert
Published: November 2013

In the early 1980s cardiology was dominated by “triple threat individuals” – doctors who were the very best clinicians, very best researchers, and very best teachers. This type of individual usually became the director of the division. Now, however, the amount of knowledge and specialisation in each of these three areas of expertise has exploded. It is not certain that triple threat individuals can or do exist today. Instead, we need to be aiming higher, for a “quintuple threat profession”. Not only do we need expertise in clinical care, teaching, and research, but also we now require business leadership and alignment. No single person can be expert in all five of these areas. In paediatric cardiology we need to invest in the right people. Our new “quintuple threat profession” needs to match the expertise and passion of the right people with our current and future needs. Going forward, we should focus on leadership, teams, and alignment. We need to identify, develop, and empower leaders at all levels within our profession, including physicians, nurses, and hospital administrators. Ultimately, we need a profession that remains clinically led, but professionally managed. The second step of the formula is the development of successful teams, and teamwork. Successful “team behaviour” is not a part of traditional medical education. The third step is alignment. Alignment can be defined as representing the degree to which physicians and organisations, such as hospitals, acting out of enlightened self-interest, operate inside a common vision, mutual goals, and the acceptance of a shared destiny. Imagine the benefits to our profession and our kids if we can provide a new level of leadership, teamwork, and alignment going forward.