bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metallosis after Exchange of the Femoral Head and Liner following Ceramic Acetabular Liner Dissociation in Total Hip Arthroplasty with a Modular Layered Acetabular Component
Authors: Takasago Tomoya , Goto Tomohiro , Wada Keizo , Hamada Daisuke , Iwame Toshiyuki , Matsuura Tetsuya , Nagamachi Akihiro , Sairyo Koichi
Published: August 2016

The type of bearing material that should be used in revision surgery after the failure of ceramic-on-ceramic total hip arthroplasty (THA) remains controversial. In the case of ceramic fracture, the residual ceramic particles can cause consequent metallosis when metal implants are used for revision THA. On the other hand, in the case of THA failure without ceramic fracture, revision THA with a metal femoral head provides satisfactory results. We report an unusual case of progressive osteolysis due to metallosis that developed after revision THA for ceramic liner dissociation without a liner fracture performed using a metal femoral head and polyethylene liner. The residual metal debris and abnormal pumping motion of the polyethylene liner due to the breakage of the locking system or the aspherical metal shell being abraded by the ceramic head seemed to be the cause of the progressive osteolysis.
The Improvement of Hyperglycemia after RYGB Surgery in Diabetic Rats Is Related to Elevated Hypothalamus GLP-1 Receptor Expression
Authors: Zynat Jazyra , Guo Yuyu , Lu Yingli , Lin Dongping
Published: August 2016

Objectives. This study aimed to explore the expression of GLP-1 receptor in hypothalamus and gastrointestinal tissues after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery in diabetic rats.Methods. Male 12-week-old Wistar rats (control) and Goto-Kakizaki rats (diabetic) were randomly divided into two groups, respectively: control sham surgery group (C), control RYGB group (C + R), diabetic sham surgery group (D), and diabetic RYGB group (D + R). Body weight and blood glucose were monitored before and after surgery every week. Eight weeks after surgery, all rats were sacrificed and the serum fasting GLP-1 concentrations were measured by ELISA. GLP-1R and DPP-4 expression in hypothalamus and ileum were measured by RT-PCR.Results. The body weight and fasting/random blood glucose in the D + R group decreased significantly compared with the D group (P<0.05). Serum GLP-1 levels in diabetic rats treated with RYGB were higher than the corresponding sham surgery rats. The expression of GLP-1R of hypothalamus in RYGB-treated diabetic rats was significantly higher than those of the sham surgery diabetic rats and both control group rats (P<0.05). We found a negative correlation between hypothalamus GLP-1R mRNA and blood glucose level. No significant difference was seen in ileum GLP-1R and DPP-4 expression among all groups.Conclusions. RYGB efficiently promoted serum GLP-1 levels and the expression of GLP-1 receptor in the hypothalamus in diabetic rats. These data suggest that the hypothalamus GLP-1R may play an important role in the GLP-1 system for improving glucose homeostasis after reconstruction of the gastrointestinal tract.
Resection and Resolution of Bone Marrow Lesions Associated with an Improvement of Pain after Total Knee Replacement: A Novel Case Study Using a 3-Tesla Metal Artefact Reduction MRI Sequence
Authors: Kurien Thomas , Kerslake Robert , Haywood Brett , Pearson Richard G. , Scammell Brigitte E.
Published: August 2016

We present our case report using a novel metal artefact reduction magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence to observe resolution of subchondral bone marrow lesions (BMLs), which are strongly associated with pain, in a patient after total knee replacement surgery. Large BMLs were seen preoperatively on the 3-Tesla MRI scans in a patient with severe end stage OA awaiting total knee replacement surgery. Twelve months after surgery, using a novel metal artefact reduction MRI sequence, we were able to visualize the bone-prosthesis interface and found complete resection and resolution of these BMLs. This is the first reported study in the UK to use this metal artefact reduction MRI sequence at 3-Tesla showing that resection and resolution of BMLs in this patient were associated with an improvement of pain and function after total knee replacement surgery. In this case it was associated with a clinically significant improvement of pain and function after surgery. Failure to eradicate these lesions may be a cause of persistent postoperative pain that is seen in up to 20% of patients following TKR surgery.
Impact of a New Nasal Pillows Mask on Patients’ Acceptance, Compliance, and Willingness to Remain on CPAP Therapy
Authors: Wimms Alison , Ketheeswaran Sahisha , Ziegenbein Claus , Jennings Laura , Woehrle Holger
Published: August 2016

Aim. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) masks are a key factor in patient compliance. This program assessed the performance of a new nasal pillows mask (NPM) on a variety of new and established obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients using CPAP therapy.Methods. Five programs were developed to assess the new NPM [AirFit P10, ResMed] on naïve patients; patients established on another NPM; patients using a nasal mask; patients with low CPAP compliance; and patients who wished to stop using CPAP therapy.Results. A total of 212 patients were included. In naïve patients, CPAP usage after 3 months was5.9±1.7hours/night, compared with the control group at4.6±2.4hours/night (p<0.05). In patients established on another NPM, usage improved to7.4±1.1hours/night versus6.7±1.4(p=0.001). 78% of nasal mask users wished to continue using the new NPM. Low compliance patients improved with an average of 0.87 hours/night (p=0.001) when using the new NPM. In patients at the point of quitting CPAP, 60% continued with therapy using the new NPM. Conclusion. The new NPM mask performed well in a variety of clinical groups of OSA patients receiving CPAP therapy and shows that technical advances in CPAP masks can improve patient compliance.
Knowledge of Latin American Obstetricians and Gynecologists regarding Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Authors: Bahamondes Luis , Marin Victor , Ciarmatori Silvia , Silva-Filho Agnaldo L. , Acuña Juan Manuel , Makuch Maria Y.
Published: August 2016

Background. Heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) is a common gynecological complaint affecting quality of life.Objectives. To assess knowledge on diagnosis and treatments of HMB of Latin American (LA) obstetricians and gynecologists (OBGYNs).Methods. A survey was conducted during a scientific meeting, organized to provide updated information on topics of reproductive medicine to OBGYNs from 12 LA countries who were invited to respond to a multiple-choice questionnaire.Results. Of the 210 OBGYNs participating in the survey, from 169 (80.4%) to 203 (96.7%) answered the questions. Most respondents (80%) gave accurate answers regarding the amount of blood loss which defines HMB, underreported the proportion of women who consulted due to HMB, and were aware that the use of combined oral contraceptives (COCs) with ethynyl estradiol is not an adequate treatment in women with HMB. Female OBGYNs and those who worked in the private sector were more prone to report a higher possibility of improvement of HMB with a COC that contained estradiol valerate and dienogest or with a levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system.Conclusions. In general, the respondents were aware of the importance of HMB in gynecological practice and of the new medical treatments and underreported the proportion of women who consulted due to HMB.
Endoscopic Ultrasound for the Detection of Left Atrial Appendage Thrombus: A Useful Technique in Patients with Transesophageal Echocardiography Contraindication
Authors: Marina-Breysse Manuel , Jurado-Román Alfonso , López-Viedma Bartolomé , Piqueras-Flores Jesús , López-Lluva María T.
Published: August 2016

Endoscopic ultrasound is a diagnostic and therapeutic technique used in specialized centers for patients that have undergone digestive procedures. This technique enables highly precise real-time imaging of the digestive tract wall and surrounding organs. Endoscopic ultrasound is also useful in patients with cardiovascular diseases such as atrial fibrillation. In patients with contraindication for transesophageal echocardiography due to high risk of esophageal bleeding or complications that may require immediate intervention, endoscopic ultrasound may be a safer option for visualizing atrial chambers to rule out the presence of left atrial appendage thrombi before cardioversion.
Generalized Minimum Variance Control for MDOF Structures under Earthquake Excitation
Authors: Guenfaf Lakhdar , Azira Mohamed
Published: August 2016

Control of a multi-degree-of-freedom structural system under earthquake excitation is investigated in this paper. The control approach based on the Generalized Minimum Variance (GMV) algorithm is developed and presented. Our approach is a generalization to multivariable systems of the GMV strategy designed initially for single-input-single-output (SISO) systems. Kanai-Tajimi and Clough-Penzien models are used to generate the seismic excitations. Those models are calculated using the specific soil parameters. Simulation tests using a 3DOF structure are performed and show the effectiveness of the control method.
A Potential Therapeutic Role of Myoinositol in the Metabolic and Cardiovascular Profile of PCOS Iranian Women Aged between 30 and 40 Years
Authors: Salehpour Saghar , Nazari Leila , Hoseini Sedighe , Saharkhiz Nasrin , Ghazi Fatemeh , Sohrabi Mohammad Reza
Published: August 2016

Introduction. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common disorder in reproductive age. This pilot study investigated the effects of myoinositol (MI) treatment on metabolic and cardiovascular profile in PCOS women over 30 years of age.Methods. Between 2015 and 2016, 50 women with diagnosis of PCOS by the Rotterdam Criteria were included in the study. All women received MI 2 g plus 200 μg of folic acid (Inofolic, Health Parsian, Iran; twice daily) for 3 months. Baseline and 3-month serum samples were taken after an overnight fast to evaluate the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), fasting glucose, and the levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), homocysteine, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure. Participants’ weight was measured before and after treatment and body mass index (BMI) was calculated.Results. The data showed a significant improvement in the serum level of insulin sensitivity and a reduction of cholesterol, LDL, and homocysteine after three months of treatment. Furthermore, blood pressure was significantly reduced in the treated patients. Three participants became pregnant during treatment.Conclusion. Results showed that supplementation with MI and folic acid in PCOS patients over 30 years of age could decrease the risk of cardiovascular problems by normalizing the metabolic profile.
Empedobacter brevisMeningitis in a Neonate: A Very Rare Case of Neonatal Meningitis and Literature Review
Authors: Sharma Deepak , Patel Ankur , Soni Priyanka , Sharma Pradeep , Gupta Basudev
Published: August 2016

Empedobacter brevisis gram-negative bacilli that belongs to Flavobacteriaceae family. It was previously known with name ofFlavobacterium breve. The reservoir of these bacteria is soil, plants, water, food, hospital water sources, including incubators, sinks, faucets, tap water, hemodialysis systems, saline solutions, and other pharmaceutical solutions. We report a case of term female newborn, admitted with complaint of respiratory distress developing soon after birth and developed clinical features of sepsis at age of 92 hours of postnatal life. The sepsis screen was positive and blood culture and cerebrospinal fluid showed growth ofEmpedobacter brevisthat was resistant to multiple antibiotics. The neonate was treated with appropriate antibiotics and was discharged successfully. The novelty of the case report is that this is the first case report of neonatal sepsis caused byEmpedobacter brevis.
Identifying the Prognosis Factors in Death after Liver Transplantation via Adaptive LASSO in Iran
Authors: Raeisi Shahraki Hadi , Pourahmad Saeedeh , Ayatollahi Seyyed Mohammad Taghi
Published: August 2016

Despite the widespread use of liver transplantation as a routine therapy in liver diseases, the effective factors on its outcomes are still controversial. This study attempted to identify the most effective factors on death after liver transplantation. For this purpose, modified least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), called Adaptive LASSO, was utilized. One of the best advantages of this method is considering high number of factors. Therefore, in a historical cohort study from 2008 to 2013, the clinical findings of 680 patients undergoing liver transplant surgery were considered. Ridge and Adaptive LASSO regression methods were then implemented to identify the most effective factors on death. To compare the performance of these two models, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used. According to the results, 12 factors in Ridge regression and 9 ones in Adaptive LASSO regression were significant. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of Adaptive LASSO was equal to 89% (95% CI: 86%–91%), which was significantly greater than Ridge regression (64%, 95% CI: 61%–68%) (p<0.001). As a conclusion, the significant factors and the performance criteria revealed the superiority of Adaptive LASSO method as a penalized model versus traditional regression model in the present study.
Removing Noises Induced by Gamma Radiation in Cerenkov Luminescence Imaging Using a Temporal Median Filter
Authors: Cao Xu , Li Yang , Zhan Yonghua , Chen Xueli , Kang Fei , Wang Jing , Liang Jimin
Published: August 2016

Cerenkov luminescence imaging (CLI) can provide information of medical radionuclides used in nuclear imaging based on Cerenkov radiation, which makes it possible for optical means to image clinical radionuclide labeled probes. However, the exceptionally weak Cerenkov luminescence (CL) from Cerenkov radiation is susceptible to lots of impulse noises introduced by high energy gamma rays generating from the decays of radionuclides. In this work, a temporal median filter is proposed to remove this kind of impulse noises. Unlike traditional CLI collecting a single CL image with long exposure time and smoothing it using median filter, the proposed method captures a temporal sequence of CL images with shorter exposure time and employs a temporal median filter to smooth a temporal sequence of pixels. Results of in vivo experiments demonstrated that the proposed temporal median method can effectively remove random pulse noises induced by gamma radiation and achieve a robust CLI image.
Recombination Hotspot/Coldspot Identification Combining Three Different Pseudocomponents via an Ensemble Learning Approach
Authors: Liu Bingquan , Liu Yumeng , Huang Dong
Published: August 2016

Recombination presents a nonuniform distribution across the genome. Genomic regions that present relatively higher frequencies of recombination are called hotspots while those with relatively lower frequencies of recombination are recombination coldspots. Therefore, the identification of hotspots/coldspots could provide useful information for the study of the mechanism of recombination. In this study, a new computational predictor called SVM-EL was proposed to identify hotspots/coldspots across the yeast genome. It combined Support Vector Machines (SVMs) and Ensemble Learning (EL) based on three features including basic kmer (Kmer), dinucleotide-based auto-cross covariance (DACC), and pseudo dinucleotide composition (PseDNC). These features are able to incorporate the nucleic acid composition and their order information into the predictor. The proposed SVM-EL achieves an accuracy of 82.89% on a widely used benchmark dataset, which outperforms some related methods.
Incoherent Dictionary Learning Method Based on Unit Norm Tight Frame and Manifold Optimization for Sparse Representation
Authors: Tang HongZhong , Zhang Xiaogang , Chen Hua , Zhu Ling , Wang Xiang , Li Xiao
Published: August 2016

Optimizing the mutual coherence of a learned dictionary plays an important role in sparse representation and compressed sensing. In this paper, a efficient framework is developed to learn an incoherent dictionary for sparse representation. In particular, the coherence of a previous dictionary (or Gram matrix) is reduced sequentially by finding a new dictionary (or Gram matrix), which is closest to the reference unit norm tight frame of the previous dictionary (or Gram matrix). The optimization problem can be solved by restricting the tightness and coherence alternately at each iteration of the algorithm. The significant and different aspect of our proposed framework is that the learned dictionary can approximate an equiangular tight frame. Furthermore, manifold optimization is used to avoid the degeneracy of sparse representation while only reducing the coherence of the learned dictionary. This can be performed after the dictionary update process rather than during the dictionary update process. Experiments on synthetic and real audio data show that our proposed methods give notable improvements in lower coherence, have faster running times, and are extremely robust compared to several existing methods.
An Enhanced OFDM Resource Allocation Algorithm in C-RAN Based 5G Public Safety Network
Authors: Feng Lei , Li Wenjing , Yu Peng , Qiu Xuesong
Published: August 2016

Public Safety Network (PSN) is the network for critical communication when disaster occurs. As a key technology in 5G, Cloud-Radio Access Network (C-RAN) can play an important role in PSN instead of LTE-based RAN. This paper firstly introduces C-RAN based PSN architecture and models the OFDM resource allocation problem in C-RAN based PSN as an integer quadratic programming, which allows the trade-off between expected bitrates and allocating fairness of PSN Service User (PSU). However, C-RAN based PSN needs to improve the efficiency of allocating algorithm because of a mass of PSU-RRH associations when disaster occurs. To deal with it, the resources allocating problem with integer variables is relaxed into one with continuous variables in the first step and an algorithm based on Generalized Bender’s Decomposition (GBD) is proposed to solve it. Then we use Feasible Pump (FP) method to get a feasible integer solution on the original OFDM resources allocation problem. The final experiments show the total throughput achieved by C-RAN based PSN is at most higher by 19.17% than the LTE-based one. And the average computational time of the proposed GBD and FP algorithm is at most lower than Barrier by 51.5% and GBD with no relaxation by 30.1%, respectively.
Efficient Payload Delivery by a Bispecific Antibody–Drug Conjugate Targeting HER2 and CD63
Authors: de Goeij Bart E.C.G. , Vink Tom , ten Napel Hendrik , Breij Esther C.W. , Satijn David , Wubbolts Richard , Miao David , Parren Paul W.H.I.
Published: August 2016

Antibody–drug conjugates (ADC) are designed to be stable in circulation and to release potent cytotoxic drugs intracellularly following antigen-specific binding, uptake, and degradation in tumor cells. Efficient internalization and routing to lysosomes where proteolysis can take place is therefore essential. For many cell surface proteins and carbohydrate structures on tumor cells, however, the magnitude of these processes is insufficient to allow for an effective ADC approach. We hypothesized that we could overcome this limitation by enhancing lysosomal ADC delivery via a bispecific antibody (bsAb) approach, in which one binding domain would provide tumor specificity, whereas the other binding domain would facilitate targeting to the lysosomal compartment. We therefore designed a bsAb in which one binding arm specifically targeted CD63, a protein that is described to shuttle between the plasma membrane and intracellular compartments, and combined it in a bsAb with a HER2 binding arm, which was selected as model antigen for tumor-specific binding. The resulting bsHER2xCD63his demonstrated strong binding, internalization and lysosomal accumulation in HER2-positive tumor cells, and minimal internalization into HER2-negative cells. By conjugating bsHER2xCD63his to the microtubule-disrupting agent duostatin-3, we were able to demonstrate potent cytotoxicity of bsHER2xCD63his-ADC against HER2-positive tumors, which was not observed with monovalent HER2- and CD63-specific ADCs. Our data demonstrate, for the first time, that intracellular trafficking of ADCs can be improved using a bsAb approach that targets the lysosomal membrane protein CD63 and provide a rationale for the development of novel bsADCs that combine tumor-specific targeting with targeting of rapidly internalizing antigens. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(11); 2688–97. ©2016 AACR.
Successful Treatment of Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Lymphoproliferative Disorder with Rituximab in a Patient Undergoing Immunosuppressive Therapy for Aplastic Anemia
Authors: Shimizu Hiroaki , Kobayashi Nobuhiko , Mihara Masahiro , Iriuchishima Hirono , Ishizaki Takuma , Kojima Yoshihisa , Handa Hiroshi
Published: August 2016

Epstein-Barr virus-associated lymphoproliferative disorder (EBV-LPD) is a currently emerging serious complication in immunosuppressed patients, especially in allogeneic transplant recipients. Several fatal cases of EBV-LPD have been reported in aplastic anemia (AA) patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy (IST) with antithymocyte globulin (ATG) plus cyclosporine A (CsA), but no appropriate prophylactic or therapeutic strategy has been established. Herein, we describe a 29-year-old man whose EBV-LPD was successfully treated with rituximab. He received IST with ATG plus CsA for hepatitis-associated AA. EBV-DNA in plasma, which was not detectable before IST, gradually increased after IST initiation. A high fever and systemic lymphadenopathy developed 31 days after IST initiation. An EBV-DNA titer of 5.7 × 105 copies/μl was detected, and a diagnosis of EBV-LPD was made. Although discontinuation of IST was not effective, a single dose of rituximab on day 33 resolved the clinical symptoms and completely eliminated EBV-DNA. Even after restarting CsA administration, no elevation of EBV-DNA was observed, and his complete blood cell count had fully recovered 1 year after IST. This case suggests that this treatment strategy for EBV-LPD with EBV-DNA monitoring and rituximab administration, which has been recommended in allogeneic transplant recipients, may also be useful in the context of AA patients receiving IST.
Significance of Primary Tumor Location and Histology for Brain Metastasis Development and Peritumoral Brain Edema in Lung Cancer
Authors: Fábián Katalin , Gyulai Márton , Furák József , Várallyay Péter , Jäckel Márta , Bogos Krisztina , Döme Balázs , Pápay Judit , Tímár József , Szállási Zoltán , Moldvay Judit
Published: August 2016

Background: Brain metastasis of lung cancer adversely affects overall survival (OS) and quality of life, while peritumoral brain edema is responsible for life-threatening complications. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathological and cerebral radiological data of 575 consecutive lung cancer patients with brain metastases. Results: In adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, peritumoral brain edema was more pronounced than in small-cell lung cancer (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). There was a positive correlation between the size of metastasis and the thickness of peritumoral brain edema (p < 0.001). It was thicker in supratentorial tumors (p = 0.019), in younger patients (≤50 years) (p = 0.042), and in females (p = 0.016). The time to development of brain metastasis was shorter in central than in peripheral lung cancer (5.3 vs. 9.0 months, p = 0.035). Early brain metastasis was characteristic for adenocarcinomas. A total of 135 patients had brain only metastases (N0 disease) characterized by peripheral lung cancer predominance (p < 0.001) and a longer time to development of brain metastasis (9.2 vs. 4.4 months, p < 0.001). OS was longer in the brain only subgroup than in patients with N1-3 diseases (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The clinicopathological characteristics of lung cancer are related to the development and radiographic features of brain metastases. Our results might be helpful in selecting patients who might benefit from prophylactic cranial irradiation.
Hyponatremia with Persistent Elevated Urinary Fractional Uric Acid Excretion: Evidence for Proximal Tubular Injury?
Authors: Lee S.-M.Kurt , Lanaspa Miguel A. , Sánchez-Lozada Laura G. , Johnson Richard J.
Published: August 2016

Background/Aims: Hyponatremia associated with high urinary fractional excretion of uric acid which persists after serum sodium is corrected is the cardinal feature of salt losing nephropathy (SLN). We hypothesize that low grade proximal tubular injury is present in SLN because the proximal tubule is the main site of uric acid and sodium transport. Methods: Five subjects with SLN were compared to four subjects with recurrent hyponatremia and three healthy individuals. Urinary NGAL (neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin, a marker of tubular injury) and fasting urinary fructose levels (a marker of proximal tubular injury) were measured. Results: Subjects with SLN (n=5) showed elevated fractional uric acid excretion (22 ± 6 vs 4 ± 2 percent, p<0.0001), elevated urinary NGAL levels (62 ± 37 vs 9 ± 7 ng/mg creatinine, p=0.001) and fasting urinary fructose levels compared with the 7 controls (383 ± 465 vs 60 ± 34µmole/µg creatinine, p <0.001). A strong correlation between urinary NGAL levels and urinary fructose levels was observed (r =0.87, p‹0.001). Conclusion: High urinary fractional excretion of uric acid in SLN is associated with elevated NGAL and fasting urinary fructose levels suggesting that SLN may involve tubular injury.
Left Ventricular Mechanics in Patients with Abnormal Origin of the Left Main Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Trunk Late after Successful Repair
Authors: Di Salvo Giovanni , Siblini Ghassan , Issa Ziad , Mohammed Habdan , Abu Hazeem Anas , Pergola Valeria , Muhanna Nisreen , Al Qweai Naif , Galzerano Domenico , Fadel Bahaa , Fayyadh Majid , Joufan Mansour , Halees Zohair , Bulbul Ziad
Published: August 2016

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate left ventricular (LV) mechanics by using speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) in asymptomatic patients with abnormal origin of the left main coronary artery from the pulmonary trunk (ALCAPA), late after successful repair, in the presence of LV ejection fraction (EF) >50%. Methods: We studied 30 ALCAPA patients (median age 4 years, range 1-25 years, NYHA class I, LVEF >50%) and 16 healthy age- and sex-matched controls (median age 5 years, range 1-25 years). All underwent standard echocardiographic evaluation and STE. Results: LV dimensions and LVEF (63.6 ± 8.2% vs. 64.1 ± 5.1%, p = 0.826) were not different between patients and controls. Diastolic parameters were significantly abnormal in our patients versus controls (E/e' average: 11.9 ± 5.8 vs. 6.6 ± 3.0, p = 0.0014). Global LV longitudinal strain was significantly lower in ALCAPA patients versus controls (-17.6 ± 3.5% vs. -23.4 ± 3.1%, p < 0.0001). LV torsion (9.1 ± 4.9° vs. 11.9 ± 3.3°, p = 0.046) was significantly impaired in ALCAPA patients. Conclusions: After successful repair in asymptomatic ALCAPA patients, despite an LVEF >50%, diastolic function, LV longitudinal deformation and LV torsion remain impaired. We suggest including a detailed study of the diastolic function and cardiac mechanics in the clinical follow-up of these patients to identify the subgroup of patients at higher risk.
Funktionalitäten von Essstörungen - Ergebnisse einer Analyse im stationären Setting
Authors: Mikschl Susanne , Schlegl Sandra , Külz Anne Katrin , Rief Winfried , Voderholzer Ulrich
Published: August 2016

Einleitung: Symptome psychischer Störungen können verschiedene Funktionalitäten aufweisen, sodass die Symptomatik von Betroffenen häufig nicht ausschließlich als aversiv empfunden wird und eine ambivalente Einstellung gegenüber der Therapie besteht. Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war es, die für die Patienten relevanten intrapsychischen und interpersonellen Funktionalitäten der Essstörung zu erheben. Methode: Mittels eines Pilotfragebogens wurden Funktionalitäten bei Essstörungen an 37 stationären Patientinnen mit Anorexia nervosa (AN) oder Bulimia nervosa (BN) erhoben. Dieser umfasste eine offene Einleitungs- sowie Abschlussfrage und die Bewertung von 18 vorgegebenen Funktionalitäten. Die Freitextantworten wurden mittels inhaltsanalytischer Techniken kategorisiert sowie über Häufigkeitsverteilungen erfasst. Weiterhin wurden Mittelwerte berechnet und AN mit BN verglichen. Ergebnisse: Essstörungen wird häufiger eine intrapsychische als eine interpersonelle Funktionalität zugeschrieben. Vor allem dienen sie der Emotionsregulation, dem Erlangen von Sicherheit und Kontrolle sowie dem Herstellen von Inhalt und Struktur. Nach der Einleitungsfrage stellt das Herstellen von Nähe und Geborgenheit die häufigste interpersonelle Funktionalität dar; gemäß der Abschlussfrage dienen Essstörungen am häufigsten als Hilferuf. Der einzige signifikante Unterschied bezüglich der Funktionalitäten zwischen Patientinnen mit AN und BN fand sich zur Essstörung als Hilferuf. Schlussfolgerungen: Es konnte eine Vielzahl von Funktionalitäten bei Essstörungen erfasst werden. Intrapsychischen Funktionalitäten kommt eine besondere Relevanz zu, vor allem der Emotionsregulation. Die Ergebnisse unterstreichen die Bedeutung der gezielten Bearbeitung der Funktionalitäten in der störungsspezifischen Psychotherapie.
Detection of Choroidal Neovascularization in Central Serous Chorioretinopathy Using Optical Coherence Tomographic Angiography
Authors: Weng Sisi , Mao Lei , Yu Suqin , Gong Yuanyuan , Cheng Lu , Chen Xia
Published: August 2016

Purpose: To demonstrate the detection of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in clinically diagnosed central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) by optical coherence tomographic angiography (OCTA). Methods: Seventy-five eyes of 70 patients were included. OCTA was performed on each patient. Two trained readers evaluated the images independently to confirm the diagnosis and identify CNV at the level of the outer retina. Results: All studied eyes presented characteristics consistent with CSC based on eye examination and traditional imaging technologies, including fundus fluorescein angiography, which showed no evidence of CNV. However, OCTA revealed definite abnormal vascularization at the level of the outer retina in 8 eyes (10.7%) of 8 patients (11.4%). Conclusion: This study suggests that in some cases of CSC, OCTA could be an alternative option to detect CNV that is undetectable by other conventional imaging techniques.
Determining Stroke Onset Time Using Quantitative MRI: High Accuracy, Sensitivity and Specificity Obtained from Magnetic Resonance Relaxation Times
Authors: McGarry Bryony L. , Rogers Harriet J. , Knight Michael J. , Jokivarsi Kimmo T. , Gröhn Olli H.J. , Kauppinen Risto A.
Published: August 2016

Many ischaemic stroke patients are ineligible for thrombolytic therapy due to unknown onset time. Quantitative MRI (qMRI) is a potential surrogate for stroke timing. Rats were subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion and qMRI parameters including hemispheric differences in apparent diffusion coefficient, T2-weighted signal intensities, T1 and T2 relaxation times (qT1, qT2) and f1, f2 and Voverlap were measured at hourly intervals at 4.7 or 9.4 T. Accuracy and sensitivity for identifying strokes scanned within and beyond 3 h of onset was determined. Accuracy for Voverlap, f2 and qT2 (>90%) was significantly higher than other parameters. At a specificity of 1, sensitivity was highest for Voverlap (0.90) and f2 (0.80), indicating promise of these qMRI indices in the clinical assessment of stroke onset time.
Clinical practice guidelines for prophylaxis of venous thomboembolism in cancer patients
Authors: Frere Corinne , Farge Dominique
Published: August 2016

Symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) occurs 4-7 times more frequently in cancer patients as compared to non-cancer patients. A significant number of risk factors, which can be subcategorised as patient-, cancer- or treatment-related, have been shown to influence the risk of VTE during malignancy and further incorporated in risk-assessment models. Safe and efficient thromboprophylaxis regimens allow substantial decreased in VTE rates, since VTE is most often a largely preventable disease, but thromboprophylaxis remains underused in cancer compared to non-cancer patients. If thromboprophylaxis is warranted in cancer patients undergoing surgery or hospitalised for acute medical illness or with a lower mobility in the absence of contraindications to anticoagulants, its benefit remains controversial in outpatients and may be limited to locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic or lung cancer treated with chemotherapy. The International Initiative on Thrombosis and Cancer-CME free mobile app (ios and android), based on the International Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG), facilitates their implementation and dissemination of knowledge worldwide so as to improve VTE treatment and prophylaxis in cancer patients.
Domestic Politics, International Crimes: Gross Violations of the Right to Political Participation
Authors: Wood Tim
Published: August 2016

This article posits that gross breaches of the human right to political participation – in electoral contexts and more generally – are a central (if so far implicit) preoccupation of international criminal law. In particular, drawing on case law concerning attacks instigated by political organisations against their opponents, the author suggests that infringements of political participation can and do pervade the contextual elements of crimes against humanity. More concretely, depending on the circumstances, the author argues that deprivations of political participation may constitute the underlying offence of persecution. The elucidation of this link serves to refine our understanding of crimes against humanity, enhance the potential for comprehensive transitional justice, promote the systemic integrity of international law and highlight the importance attached to democratic values.
How can the Pragmatic Philosophy of John Dewey Make a Contribution to the Theory and Practice of Intercultural Communication?
Authors: Holmes Stephen
Published: August 2016

This paper focuses on the practical question of how the ideas of John Dewey can contribute to improved intercultural communication theory and practice, especially to training. The question is answered in four parts. The first part refers to the presumed superiority of sensitivity to difference as opposed to similarity in intercultural communication. The second part suggests that Dewey’s duality of potentiality and interaction can be carried over to the duality of competence and performance. The third part highlights the use of the generic concepts of pattern and habit to better understand culture as a practical experience. The final part advocates a closer look at the idea and experience of rhythm as an epistemological alternative to subject vs object. The author relies on his experience as a trainer and a teacher of Intercultural Communication and proceeds down an interdisciplinary path, especially attempting to set up a dialogue with biology, systems and the arts.
Rethinking the Human Condition: Skepticism, Realism, and Transactional Pragmatism
Authors: Ryan Frank X.
Published: August 2016

For several decades, renewed interest in the connection between perception and knowledge has sustained a robust debate over external world skepticism (ews). Recently, however, a growing consensus claims the skeptical challenge has been substantially met, and that realism in some robust form has emerged a clear victor. I invite us to rethink this consensus in a two-part response. The first forges a temporary alliance with skepticism against prominent forms of contemporary realism. That these fail to rebuff ews bolsters Barry Stroud’s call for a new paradigm of objectivity. In the second part I sketch such a paradigm based upon a transactional interpretation of John Dewey’s pragmatism, and indicate its resilience to skeptical attacks.
The genus Miconia (Melastomataceae) in Espírito Santo, Brazil
Authors: BACCI LUCAS F. , CADDAH MAYARA K. , GOLDENBERG RENATO
Published: August 2016

Miconia is the largest genus of Melastomataceae in Brazil with more than 280 species, of which 120 are found in the Atlantic Rainforest. We present here a taxonomic treatment for the species of Miconia that occur in Espírito Santo, with morphological descriptions, geographic distribution, comments, photos and an identification key. We found 55 species, from which six were recently described (five endemic, M. capixaba, M. kollmannii, M. michelangeliana, M. ruschiana and M. valentinensis, and one with wider distribution, M. atlantica) and six are new records for the state (Miconia molesta, M. petroniana, M. staminea, M. stenostachya, M. valtheri and M. willdenowii). One species is presented here as a new species that will be described soon by other authors.
Applications of Quantum Cascade Laser Spectroscopy in the Analysis of Pharmaceutical Formulations
Authors: Galán-Freyle Nataly J. , Pacheco-Londoño Leonardo C. , Román-Ospino Andrés D. , Hernandez-Rivera Samuel P.
Published: August 2016

Quantum cascade laser spectroscopy was used to quantify active pharmaceutical ingredient content in a model formulation. The analyses were conducted in non-contact mode by mid-infrared diffuse reflectance. Measurements were carried out at a distance of 15 cm, covering the spectral range 1000–1600 cm−1. Calibrations were generated by applying multivariate analysis using partial least squares models. Among the figures of merit of the proposed methodology are the high analytical sensitivity equivalent to 0.05% active pharmaceutical ingredient in the formulation, high repeatability (2.7%), high reproducibility (5.4%), and low limit of detection (1%). The relatively high power of the quantum-cascade-laser-based spectroscopic system resulted in the design of detection and quantification methodologies for pharmaceutical applications with high accuracy and precision that are comparable to those of methodologies based on near-infrared spectroscopy, attenuated total reflection mid-infrared Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy.
Correlation-sum-deviation ranging method for vehicular node based on IEEE 802.11p short preamble
Authors: Cui Xuerong , Gulliver T Aaron , Zhang Hao , Li Juan , Wu Chunlei
Published: August 2016

Growth of the traffic flow and traffic accident has raised more and more demands on wireless communication and positioning technologies that can provide new services such as vehicle collision warning and traffic management. Currently, the global navigation satellite system such as global positioning system and BeiDou satellite positioning system is widely used in vehicles and is fairly accurate in flat open areas. However, the global navigation satellite system can only work in line of sight environment, and it fails to operate in non-line of sight tunnels or downtown areas where blockage of satellite signals is frequent. Because of the shortages of global navigation satellite system, the wireless ranging or positioning system using the short preamble of IEEE 802.11p is provided. Typically, accurate time of arrival estimation is very important for positioning estimation. In order to improve the precision of the time of arrival estimation, a correlation-sum-deviation method for ranging using the IEEE 802.11p short preamble is proposed. Simulation results are presented which show that in both the additive white Gaussian noise channel and the international telecommunications union multipath channel for vehicular environments, the proposed method provides better precision and is less complex than other techniques, particularly when the signal-to-noise ratio is low.
Indoor localization based on subarea division with fuzzy C-means
Authors: Li Junhuai , Tian Jubo , Fei Rong , Wang Zhixiao , Wang Huaijun
Published: August 2016

One of the most significant researches in location-based services is the development of effective indoor localization. In this work, we propose a novel model of fingerprint localization, which divides location area into different subareas by fuzzy C-means and calculates location via relative distance fuzzy localization. In offline training stage, fuzzy C-means algorithm is used in localization model to divide localization area into different subareas and then to select the useful access points in subareas to reduce the dimensions of fingerprint. In online location stage, we use the nearest neighbor algorithm to select the subareas and to calculate the coordinate of the target point according to relative distance fuzzy localization algorithm, which converts traditional fingerprint of reference points into distance fingerprint and calculates the coordinate of the target point by fuzzy C-means algorithm. The noise and non-linear attenuation between the wireless signal and distance are taken into full consideration in relative distance fuzzy localization algorithm, which eliminates the random environmental noise. Experiments show that our proposed model is able to save the calculation time and improve the localization accuracy.
Managing and engineering complex technological systems: a review
Authors: Abbas Ghulam
Published: August 2016

Book details

Zonnenshain A, Stauber S.

Managing and Engineering Complex Technological Systems.

John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, USA; 2015.

240 pages, ISBN: 978-1-119-06859-4.
The Benefits of Attending the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS): The Role of Research Confidence
Authors: Casad Bettina J. , Chang Amy L. , Pribbenow Christine M.
Published: August 2016

The Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS) is designed to support undergraduate students’ professional development as future scientists. Juniors, seniors, and postbaccalaureates who attended ABRCMS during 2008–2011 were emailed a link to an online questionnaire in which they reported their experiences at the conference. Attendees reported many ABRCMS-provided benefits. Frequency of attending or presenting at ABRCMS is positively related to science self-efficacy, research confidence, sense of belonging in science, and intentions to pursue a research degree in graduate school. Increased research confidence predicts graduate school plans and intentions for a research career in science; however, men were slightly more likely to intend to pursue a research career than women, likely due to higher research confidence. Although all attendees benefited from ABRCMS, underrepresented minority (URM) students had higher science self-efficacy and sense of belonging in science after attending ABRCMS than non-URM students. This finding demonstrates the effectiveness of ABRCMS as an intervention to increase the representation and success of URMs in science. Results highlight the importance of attending a minority-oriented research conference where URMs can develop their science self-efficacy, research confidence, and sense of belonging in science. However, changes to the conference and undergraduate research experiences may be necessary to reduce gender gaps.
Building Typologies Prevalent in Northern Pakistan and Their Performance during the 2015 Hindu Kush Earthquake
Authors: Ismail Najif , Khattak Nouman
Published: August 2016

The M7.5 earthquake of 26 October 2015 resulted due to reverse faulting at an intermediate depth of 210 km within the northeast-trending tabular zone underneath the Hindu Kush region, with its epicenter located 45 km southwest of Jarm in Afghanistan. In Pakistan alone, the earthquake and subsequent aftershock swarm resulted in 280 fatalities, injuries to 1,770 persons, and notable damage to 109,123 buildings. A synopsis of observations is presented herein, covering details about seismotectonics, strong motion characteristics, damage statistics, and typical building failure modes. Building damage was observed to mostly concentrate in vulnerable rural and old unreinforced masonry buildings, with aspects such as complete or partial out of plane collapse of walls, collapse of roofs due to loss of seating, shear cracking in masonry walls/panels, shear and flexural damage in masonry spandrels, cracking at infill-frame interface, damage at building corners, pounding damage, toppled minarets, and damage due to ground settlement.
End-of-Life Care in Latin America
Authors: Soto-Perez-de-Celis Enrique , Chavarri-Guerra Yanin , Pastrana Tania , Ruiz-Mendoza Rossana , Bukowski Alexandra , Goss Paul E.
Published: August 2016

Cancer has become a global pandemic with disproportionately higher mortality rates in low- and middle- income countries, where a large fraction of patients present in advanced stages and in need of end-of-life care. Globally, the number of adults needing end-of-life care is greater than 19 million, and up to 78% of these patients are living in low- and middle- income countries. In the Americas alone, more than one million people are in need of end-of-life care, placing an enormous burden on local health systems, which are often unprepared to meet the challenge presented by this complex patient population. In Latin America, cancer care is characterized by the presence of vast inequalities between and within countries, and the provision of end-of-life care is no exception. Disparities in access to advanced care planning, with a lack of provision of adequate palliative care and pain medication, are common in the region. These shortcomings are related in large part to inadequate or inappropriate legislation, lack of comprehensive national palliative care plans, insufficient infrastructure, lack of opportunities for clinical training, unreliable reporting of data, and cultural barriers. This report reviews the current status of end-of-life care in Latin America, focusing on identifying existing deficiencies and providing a framework for improvement.
Μια πρόταση για τη διαλεκτική μεθοδολογία εμπειρικής έρευνας: Το παράδειγμα των Εστιασμένων Ομάδων για την κοινωνική και εργασιακή ένταξη των νέων
Authors: Χτούρης Σωτήρης , Ζήση Αναστασία , Ρενταρή Μάλαμα
Published: August 2016

Το παρόν άρθρο παρουσιάζει τη μεθοδολογία που εφαρμόστηκε στο ερευνητικό έργο ΑΡΙΣΤΕΙΑ (Ι) In4Youth εστιάζοντας στην τεχνική των εστιασμένων ομάδων και στην ανάπτυξη μιας διαλεκτικής μεθοδολογίας ποιοτικής έρευνας. Στη μεθοδολογία αυτή εντάσσονται διάφορες παραδόσεις της ποιοτικής έρευνας με στόχο τη δημιουργία ενός δόκιμου εργαλείου καταγραφής και ανάλυσης κοινωνικών δεδομένων που θα στηρίζεται στην  διάδραση των συμμετεχόντων των Εστιασμένων Ομάδων αλλά και στη δυναμική και διαλεκτική ανάδειξη των κοινωνικών φαινομένων. Η έρευνα In4Youth αποτελεί μια σημαντική ευκαιρία μελέτης της δυναμικής της κοινωνικής  ένταξης ή  του αποκλεισμού των νέων από την αγορά εργασίας μέσω των Εστιασμένων Ομάδων (Focus Group), διότι η μέθοδος καταγράφει διαλεκτικά την επισφάλεια και την αμφιθυμία των συμμετεχόντων στις διαδρομές τους ανάμεσα στην εκπαίδευση, την προσωρινή εργασία και τις καταστάσεις ανεργίας. 