bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Early stage primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma: Outcome-based clinicopathological study in comparison with serous carcinoma
Authors: Tian Qifang , Lu Bingjian , Ye Jing , Lu Weiguo , Xie Xing , Wang Xinyu
Published: February 2016

Objective

To compare clinicopathological characteristics and survival rates between patients with primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma and those with primary ovarian serous carcinoma.

Methods

This retrospective study reviewed archival tumour specimens, originally diagnosed as primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma, using refined histological criteria. All patients were contacted to establish survival status. Clinicopathological characteristics and patient survival data were compared with a group of control patients with primary ovarian serous carcinoma.

Results

Of the 33 patients originally diagnosed with primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma, this diagnosis was only confirmed in 18. Primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma was more commonly associated with early International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics tumour stages and low-grade histology than primary ovarian serous carcinoma. Patients with primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma had a significantly higher overall 5-year survival rate than those with primary ovarian serous carcinoma (12/12 [100%] versus 14/24 [58%]). Kaplan–Meier survival plots demonstrated that patients with primary ovarian mucinous carcinoma had a survival advantage over patients with primary ovarian serous carcinoma.

Conclusions

Primary ovarian mucinous carcinomas are frequently low-grade, stage I tumours and have an excellent prognosis.
Risk factors for preoperative respiratory complications in children with tracheobronchial foreign bodies
Authors: Yang Yi-Hui , Zhang Xin-Gang , Zhang Jian-Li , Zhang Yong-Bo , Kou Cui-Ping
Published: February 2016

Objective

To identify risk factors for preoperative respiratory complications associated with tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration (TFBA) by retrospectively analysing paediatric cases presenting with or without complications.

Methods

Paediatric patients who presented with TFBA and were admitted to hospital were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into two groups based on occurrence of preoperative respiratory complications as confirmed by computed tomography. Age, sex, TFBA symptoms, type of foreign body, retention timeand location of the foreign body were documented and compared between the groups.

Results

In total, 223 children were included: group A ( n = 161) included those with respiratory complications; group B ( n = 62) included those without respiratory complications. Univariate and multivariate analyses found that type of foreign body, and symptoms differed significantly between the two groups.

Conclusion

Respiratory complications of TFBA in children were correlated with the type of foreign body and symptoms.
Epidermal growth factor and prostaglandin E2 levels in Helicobacter pylori-positive gastric intraepithelial neoplasia
Authors: Chen Zhitao , Wu Jie , Xu Dan , Huang Manling , Sun Shengbin , Zhang Heng , Huang Xiaodong , Wang Ping
Published: February 2016

Objective

To investigate levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in Han Chinese patients with Helicobacter pylori-positive gastric low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (LGIN).

Methods

In this prospective, observational study, gastric specimens from patients with LGIN were collected by gastroscopy with consecutive biopsy. EGF and PGE2 concentrations in serum and gastric juice from patients with LGIN were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Presence of H. pylori infection was assessed in patients with LGIN and healthy controls.

Results

Out of 5 638 patients and 548 controls, H. pylori infection in patients with chronic gastritis was associated with disease type (endoscopic classification) and disease severity. Patients with H. pylori-positive LGIN had significantly higher concentrations of serum EGF and lower concentrations of serum PGE2 versus patients with H. pylori-negative LGIN. Serum EGF and PGE2 levels in patients with LGIN were not significantly associated with disease type, but were significantly associated with disease severity.

Conclusions

H. pylori infection was associated with chronic gastritis type (endoscopic classification) and disease severity. Abnormal EGF and PGE2 levels may be associated with H. pylori-positive LGIN in Han Chinese patients in central China.
Introduction to the Forum: The Status of Law in World Society
Authors: Kessler Oliver
Published: February 2016

This introduction positions The Status of Law in World Society in the context of Friedrich V. Kratochwil’s previous contributions to International Relations. It outlines how Kratochwil has replaced the rhetorical tradition that featured prominently in Rules, Norms and Decisions by practice theories and pragmatism in his new book. It then provides an overview of the nine new Meditations contained in The Status of Law, and introduces each contribution to this Forum.
Of Words and Deeds: A Reply to My Critics
Authors: Kratochwil Friedrich
Published: February 2016

In this response, I answer some of the critiques that were raised in the Forum. In particular, this response clarifies the role of practices and pragmatism, the limits of inter-disciplinarity, and the authority and assumed foundations of law in a post-foundational time. Even though this contribution does not attempt to solve these issues once and for all, it provides avenues for future engagement.
Determination of the extended Drucker–Prager parameters using the surrogate-based optimization method for polypropylene nanocomposites
Authors: Payandehpeyman Javad , Majzoobi Gholam Hossein , Bagheri Reza
Published: February 2016

In this article, a new method is proposed to identify the constants of the extended Drucker–Prager yield surface for polypropylene nanocomposites. The method is based on optimizing the difference between the numerical and the experimental results of a three-point bending test. The test specimens are made of polypropylene/nanoclay and polypropylene/nano-calcium carbonate nanocomposites with different nanoparticles content. Moreover, the effect of composite filler content on the extended Drucker–Prager constants of polypropylene, as the composite matrix, is investigated. Inasmuch as numerical simulation is usually very time-consuming and highly nonlinear, a surrogate-based model with radial basis function is used to approximate cost function. For calibration of the surrogate model, sample points are selected using the Latin hypercube sampling technique which enjoys good filling-space properties. The results indicate that the cohesion strength and elastic modulus of the neat polymer are improved by adding nanoparticles. The improvement, however, is more significant for the polypropylene/nanoclay with respect to that for the polypropylene/nano-calcium carbonate. The nanoparticles were found not to be considerably effective on the dilation angle of the neat polymer. In addition, it was found that the non-associative plastic flow assumption can describe plastic deformation of polypropylene composites more properly. The surrogate-based optimization method was validated by identifying some of the extended Drucker–Prager constants directly from tension and compression tests.
Obesity, Dietary Habits, and Sedentary Behaviors Among Adolescents in Sudan
Authors: Musaiger Abdulrahman O. , Nabag Fatima O. , Al-Mannai Mariam
Published: February 2016

Objective:

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of obesity, dietary habits, and sedentary patterns among Sudanese adolescents.

Methods:

A multistage stratified sampling method was used to select 945 adolescents (507 males and 438 females) aged 14 to 18 years, from Khartoum State, Sudan. A self-reported pretested questionnaire was used to collect the data. Overweight and obesity were determined using the International Obesity Task Force standard, which is based on body mass index for sex and age.

Results:

Overweight and obesity were growing problems among urban Sudanese adolescents (10.7%). Breakfast was commonly consumed on a daily basis by the majority of adolescents (74.2%), followed by lunch (63.9%) and supper (33.5%). Snacking was not a common practice among these individuals. Vegetables (63.9%) were more frequently consumed (more than 3 days per week) than fruit (30.1%). There were significant differences between genders regarding intake of vegetables ( P < .048), chicken ( P < .013), dairy products, sweets, nuts, chocolate, and legumes ( P < .001 for all). Sedentary behaviors (long duration of television viewing and Internet use) were highly prevalent, and physical activity was rarely practiced (6.8%).

Conclusion:

The findings indicated that risk factors for diet-related chronic diseases such as unhealthy dietary habits and sedentary behaviors are starting to rise among urban adolescents in Sudan. This creates the need for immediate action to prevent and control these risk factors before these diseases become major public health problems.
Protein Quality, Growth, and Malnutrition
Authors: Whitsett-Morrow Dacia , LaGrange Veronique
Published: February 2016

This article is the introduction to our formal proceedings of the symposium titled “Protein Quality, Growth and Malnutrition: Latest Scientific Findings and the Role of Dairy in Food Aid,” held during the Experimental Biology 2015 annual meeting in Boston, Massachusetts.
Female employment and elderly care: the role of care policies and culture in 21 European countries
Authors: Naldini Manuela , Pavolini Emmanuele , Solera Cristina
Published: February 2016

To what extent and in what ways do welfare state policies and cultural values affect the employment patterns of mid-life women with care responsibilities toward a frail parent? The study draws on Eurobarometer micro-data integrated with country-level information to respond to this question. Performing a multilevel analysis across 21 European countries, it considers macro factors that influence the decisions of mid-life women to give up or reduce paid work in order to care for a frail elderly parent. The results show that, while the overall level of expenditure on long-term care is not influential, settings characterized by limited formal care services, and strong norms with regard to intergenerational obligations, have a negative impact on women’s attachment to the labour market. Policies and cultural factors also influence the extent to which women are polarized: in more defamilialized countries, regardless of their level of education, female carers rarely reduce their level of employment.
Information sources preference of poultry farmers in selected rural areas of Tanzania
Authors: Msoffe Grace E.P. , Ngulube Patrick
Published: February 2016

This study focused on poultry farmers’ preference of information sources for accessing poultry management information in three rural districts of Tanzania. A mixed methods research design was deployed. Questionnaires and focus group discussions were used to collect quantitative and qualitative data respectively. Responses to the questionnaire which was administered by researchers in face-to-face meetings were received from 360 farmers, and 160 farmers participated in 16 focus group discussions. The study was carried out from July to December 2013 in nine selected villages in Tanzania. The findings indicate that farmers preferred interpersonal and informal sources. Source preferences were influenced by availability and accessibility of the information source. The results suggest that farmers preferred listening and talking, probably a result of the oral tradition prevailing in rural areas. It is also probable that farmers enjoy interpersonal sources because they allow a two-way communication, provide quick access, immediate feedback, ease of use, and convey information specific to their local situations. Further studies on development and changes in farmers’ information source preference are required in order to better address their current and future information needs.
Austerity as an opportunity for union revival: Québec public school teachers
Authors: Grenier Jean-Noël , Jalette Patrice
Published: February 2016

This article proposes an account of how two teachers’ labour federations have been reacting to austerity measures in public education. Current austerity measures have coincided with the renewal of collective agreements, thus allowing the study of how unions link bargaining stances to wider issues of service quality and accessibility. Union responses are the result of at least three influences: the institutional framework for public sector collective bargaining and worker representation, the previous orientation of members and their organisations towards social and work relations, and ongoing innovations for renewal and member engagement. We posit that union responses can contribute to renewal if they are guided by concerns to redefine union purpose, union organisation and building capacities. Under these conditions, unions are able to engage members and push forward an alternative agenda to that of the government. In doing so, they may be able to forge temporary alliances with outside stakeholders, namely parents. Analysis of union responses should consider the dialectic between union renewal effort and the opportunities and constraints of the institutional framework for public sector collective bargaining. The challenge for these two labour federations is in sustaining member engagement and activism beyond the current context of collective bargaining.
Experimental measurement of energy density of a vibrating beam
Authors: Nokhbatolfoghahai A , Navazi HM , Ghobaad Y , Haddadpour H
Published: February 2016

This paper presents a method for calculating vibrational energy density from experimental data in a uniform beam. The input excitation is a point random force that induces transverse vibration along the beam. Using finite difference method and four accelerometers, both translational and rotational terms of kinetic and potential energy densities are measured. Also, an energy finite element analysis based computer program is developed. The results of the measurements achieved by developed formulation are compared with those of energy finite element analysis results. It is found that there is a fair agreement between them at relatively lower frequencies. But, in high frequencies, the difference between analytical and experimental results increases which stems from occurrence of errors in calculation of potential energy density. Finally, a comparison between kinetic and potential terms of the energy density is done. It is concluded that an efficient and very simple measurement procedure can be used based on kinetic energy measurement only.
A new adaptive hybrid controller for vibration control of a vehicle seat suspension featuring MR damper
Authors: Phu Do Xuan , Choi Sang-Min , Choi Seung-Bok
Published: February 2016

This paper presents a new hybrid controller which is a combination of three control schemes: fuzzy neural control, PI control and sliding mode control. The interval type 2 fuzzy model featuring updated rules via online is used in this study and in order to support the fuzzy model, a granular clustering method is applied to find groups of data related to the initial fuzzy rule. Then the output for fuzzy model is used for the PI-sliding mode controller. The combination of PI and sliding mode controls is carried out by H-infinity technique method which is rely on the modified Riccati-like equation. After developing the mathematical model, the proposed controller is applied to vibration control of a vehicle seat suspension featuring magneto-rheological (MR) damper. In order to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed controller, two different excitations of bump and random signals are adopted and corresponding vibration control performances are evaluated. It is demonstrated through both simulation and experiment that the proposed controller can provide much better than vibration control performance compared with the conventional controllers showing more robust stability.
Abnormal galactosylation of immunoglobulin G in cerebrospinal fluid of multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Decker Yann , Schomburg Robert , Németh Eszter , Vitkin Artem , Fousse Mathias , Liu Yang , Fassbender Klaus
Published: February 2016

Background:

Glycosylation alterations have been associated with the development of several human diseases and their animal models, including multiple sclerosis.

Objectives:

We aimed to determine whether immunoglobulin G galactosylation might be changed in multiple sclerosis.

Methods:

Immunoglobulin G was isolated from serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis or viral meningitis and control patients without history of inflammatory or autoimmune disease. A lectin-based assay was used to investigate potential galactosylation modifications of immunoglobulin G.

Results and conclusion:

Galactosylation of immunoglobulin G isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of control patients was found to be age- and gender-dependent. In addition, immunoglobulin G galactosylation was significantly altered in cerebrospinal fluid but not in serum of multiple sclerosis patients. Furthermore, this modification was correlated with an active progression of multiple sclerosis. Finally, the loss of galactosyl moieties was not simply associated with inflammation as no such change was detected in viral meningitis patients characterized by brain inflammation.
A randomised, controlled trial of the effects of a mobile telehealth intervention on clinical and patient-reported outcomes in people with poorly controlled diabetes
Authors: Baron Justine S , Hirani Shashivadan , Newman Stanton P
Published: February 2016

Objective

The objective of this research is to determine the effects of mobile telehealth (MTH) on glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and other clinical and patient-reported outcomes in insulin-requiring people with diabetes.

Methods

A nine-month randomised, controlled trial compared standard care to standard care supplemented with MTH (self-monitoring, mobile-phone data transmissions, graphical and nurse-initiated feedback, and educational calls). Clinical (HbA1c, blood pressure, daily insulin dose, diabetes outpatient appointments (DOAs)) and questionnaire data (health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety) were collected. Mean group changes over time were compared using hierarchical linear models and Mann-Whitney tests.

Results

Eighty-one participants with a baseline HbA1c of 8.98% ± 1.82 were randomised to the intervention ( n = 45) and standard care ( n = 36). The Group by Time effect revealed MTH did not significantly influence HbA1c ( p = 0.228), but p values were borderline significant for blood pressure ( p = 0.054) and mental-health related quality of life ( p = 0.057). Examination of effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals for mean group differences at nine months supported the existence of a protective effect of MTH on mental health-related quality of life as well as depression. None of the other measured outcomes were found to be affected by the MTH intervention.

Conclusions

Findings from this study must be interpreted with caution given the small sample size, but they do not support the widespread adoption of MTH to achieve clinically significant changes in HbA1c. MTH may, however, have positive effects on blood pressure and protective effects on some aspects of mental health.
Civic hacking as data activism and advocacy: A history from publicity to open government data
Authors: Schrock Andrew R
Published: February 2016

The civic hacker tends to be described as anachronistic, an ineffective “white hat” compared to more overtly activist cousins. By contrast, I argue that civic hackers’ politics emerged from a distinct historical milieu and include potentially powerful modes of political participation. The progressive roots of civic data hacking can be found in early 20th-century notions of “publicity” and the right to information movement. Successive waves of activists saw the Internet as a tool for transparency. The framing of openness shifted in meaning from information to data, weakening of mechanisms for accountability even as it opened up new forms of political participation. Drawing on a year of interviews and participant observation, I suggest civic data hacking can be framed as a form of data activism and advocacy: requesting, digesting, contributing to, modeling, and contesting data. I conclude civic hackers are utopian realists involved in the crafting of algorithmic power and discussing ethics of technology design. They may be misunderstood because open data remediates previous forms of openness. In the process, civic hackers transgress established boundaries of political participation.
Not so ‘innocent’ after all? Exploring corporate identity construction online
Authors:   The PAD Research Group
Published: February 2016

While a lot of attention has been paid to online branding and the construction and communication of a company’s identity via its website, there is only very little research that looks at the processes involved in these activities from a discourse analytical perspective. This article aims to address this gap by conducting a case study of innocent, a UK producer of fruit juices. Combining corpus analytical tools with discourse analytical techniques and considering both text and multimodal features, we explore some of the strategies through which innocent creates a set of inter-related and closely intertwined identities on its website, thereby constructing the company’s brand image. However, our findings also reveal that some of the company’s identity claims (especially in relation to being an inclusive and welcoming ‘family’) are relativised and to some extent contradicted by the discursive processes through which these claims are articulated.
Patient compliance with postoperative analgesia after day case surgery: a multisite observational study of patients in North East London
Authors: Fahmy Nisreen , Siah Julian , Umo-Etuk Joanna
Published: February 2016

Background:

Pain is the commonest reason for delayed discharge and readmission post day surgery with up to 45% of patients reported to suffer moderate-to-severe post-surgical pain 24 hours after discharge. The importance of post-surgical pain management extends beyond the acute phase when one considers that all chronic post-surgical pain was once acute. Although much focus is given to perioperative analgesia, a patient’s pain management once discharged can be overlooked, whilst at this time the patient’s pain management is within their own hands.

Methods:

We conducted this multisite observational study of adult patients undergoing day case surgery. After obtaining patient consent data was collected on the operation, intra- and postoperative analgesia administered and discharge analgesia prescribed. Patients were then contacted at home by telephone 48 hours after discharge and asked about their postoperative pain and analgesia requirements.

Results:

Of 150 patients consented for the enrolment, we were able to obtain postoperative analgesia data on 100. A total of 68% of patients reported pain following discharge with 26% reporting severe pain, defined as a pain score of ⩾7. A total 68% of patients were prescribed and dispensed analgesia, and of those, 83% were compliant with their analgesia. Thus, we conclude that in this patient group, the incidence of postoperative pain was not due to lack of patient compliance, but inadequate analgesia prescription.

Discussion:

We recognise that our data reflect a patient population in North East London but suggest that the results may still be relevant to a wider patient group across the United Kingdom as the incidence of postoperative pain in our study was similar to published figures. Better patient satisfaction with postoperative analgesia may be obtained with more patient- and surgery-specific analgesic prescription.
Oxytocin improves cytological and histological profiles of vaginal atrophy in postmenopausal women
Authors: Al-Saqi Shahla Hamza , Jonasson Aino Fianu , Naessén Tord , Uvnäs-Moberg Kerstin
Published: February 2016

Objective

To investigate if topical oxytocin can reverse vaginal atrophy, as assessed by cytological and histological examination of the vaginal mucosal epithelium, in postmenopausal women after 12 weeks of treatment as compared to placebo.

Study design

Sixty-eight postmenopausal women diagnosed with vaginal atrophy were randomized for this multicenter, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. Thirty-three women received 600 IU vagitocin, an oxytocin containing gel, and 35 women received a placebo gel intravaginally. The dose was 600 IU daily for the first two weeks and thereafter 600 IU twice a week for 10 weeks. All participant women underwent four visits and a subgroup of 20 women had a further fifth visit. Vaginal smears for cytological evaluation were collected at all visits. Vaginal biopsies were taken in 20 women before and after 12 weeks of treatment for histological analysis. In these women a vaginal smear was also collected after 14 weeks.

Results

The increase in the percentage of superficial cells between 0 and 2 weeks was significantly greater after treatment with vagitocin in comparison with placebo (p = 0.04). The difference in the maturation value between 0 and 12 weeks was significantly higher in the vagitocin than in the placebo group (p = 0.01). The reduction in the scores of atrophy was according to the histological investigation significantly greater in the vagitocin group than in the placebo group at 12 weeks (p < 0.04).

Conclusion

Daily intravaginal treatment with vagitocin 600 IU improves expressions of vaginal atrophy as recorded by cytological investigation of vaginal smears and histological analysis of vaginal biopsies. Treatment twice weekly seems to be less effective regarding the increase in superficial cells.
Chronic Media Worlds: Social Media and the Problem of Pain Communication on Tumblr
Authors: Gonzalez-Polledo Elena
Published: February 2016

This article explores dynamics of pain communication in the social media platform Tumblr. As a device of health communication, the Tumblr platform brings together a network of behaviors, technologies, and media forms through which pain experience is reimaged through and against mainstream biomedical frameworks. The article develops an interpretative approach to analyze how, as social media platforms reorganize affective, emotional, physical, and temporal frames of experience, communication about chronic pain and illness is reimagined in its capacity to create social worlds. Drawing on ethnographic theory to reimagine the relation between politics and poetics in pain communication, the article explores the issue- and world-making capacities of social media.
Employment Outcomes of Vocational Rehabilitation Clients With Autism Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Alverson Charlotte Y. , Yamamoto Scott H.
Published: February 2016

Research has consistently documented poor employment outcomes for young adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Vocational rehabilitation (VR) services provide substantial federal and state commitments to individuals with disabilities to obtain and maintain employment. To date, little research has examined the relationship between VR services and employment outcomes of clients with ASD. The purpose of this descriptive study was to better understand employment outcomes of individuals with ASD. Data spanning 10 years from the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) 911 database were analyzed to identify characteristics of VR clients with ASD and the services they received. The percent of individuals who achieved competitive employment averaged 37% across the 10 years. Those who achieved an employment outcome participated in twice as many services as those who did not achieve an employment outcome.
Open Versus Closed Hearing-Aid Fittings: A Literature Review of Both Fitting Approaches
Authors: Winkler Alexandra , Latzel Matthias , Holube Inga
Published: February 2016

One of the main issues in hearing-aid fittings is the abnormal perception of the user’s own voice as too loud, “boomy,” or “hollow.” This phenomenon known as the occlusion effect be reduced by large vents in the earmolds or by open-fit hearing aids. This review provides an overview of publications related to open and closed hearing-aid fittings. First, the occlusion effect and its consequences for perception while using hearing aids are described. Then, the advantages and disadvantages of open compared with closed fittings and their impact on the fitting process are addressed. The advantages include less occlusion, improved own-voice perception and sound quality, and increased localization performance. The disadvantages associated with open-fit hearing aids include reduced benefits of directional microphones and noise reduction, as well as less compression and less available gain before feedback. The final part of this review addresses the need for new approaches to combine the advantages of open and closed hearing-aid fittings.
Using the Qualitative Interview in the Classroom to Help Students Make Connections Among Course Content, Social Capital, and Careers
Authors: Reardon Karen A.
Published: February 2016

This article introduces an exercise that helps students make connections among course content, social capital, and career aspirations. It puts the student in the role of a qualitative researcher planning for, conducting, and sharing an interview designed to explore the contemporaneous experience of a working professional with whom the student is already acquainted. Developed for a sociology class, I have translated and regularly used it in a business law and ethics class. Likewise, it is suitable for use in most management and entrepreneurship classes. I aim for students to (1) learn and practice the courtesies of business communication, (2) observe the prevalence of issues studied in relation to those encountered by working professionals, (3) appreciate the relevance of what they have studied throughout the course in context, (4) learn to recognize and build on their social capital, and (5) acquire and construct knowledge by sharing and comparing experiences.
CellECT: cell evolution capturing tool
Authors: Delibaltov Diana L. , Gaur Utkarsh , Kim Jennifer , Kourakis Matthew , Newman-Smith Erin , Smith William , Belteton Samuel A. , Szymanski Daniel B. , Manjunath B. S.
Published: February 2016

Background

Robust methods for the segmentation and analysis of cells in 3D time sequences (3D+t) are critical for quantitative cell biology. While many automated methods for segmentation perform very well, few generalize reliably to diverse datasets. Such automated methods could significantly benefit from at least minimal user guidance. Identification and correction of segmentation errors in time-series data is of prime importance for proper validation of the subsequent analysis. The primary contribution of this work is a novel method for interactive segmentation and analysis of microscopy data, which learns from and guides user interactions to improve overall segmentation.

Results

We introduce an interactive cell analysis application, called CellECT, for 3D+t microscopy datasets. The core segmentation tool is watershed-based and allows the user to add, remove or modify existing segments by means of manipulating guidance markers. A confidence metric learns from the user interaction and highlights regions of uncertainty in the segmentation for the user’s attention. User corrected segmentations are then propagated to neighboring time points. The analysis tool computes local and global statistics for various cell measurements over the time sequence. Detailed results on two large datasets containing membrane and nuclei data are presented: a 3D+t confocal microscopy dataset of the ascidian Phallusia mammillata consisting of 18 time points, and a 3D+t single plane illumination microscopy (SPIM) dataset consisting of 192 time points. Additionally, CellECT was used to segment a large population of jigsaw-puzzle shaped epidermal cells from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves. The cell coordinates obtained using CellECT are compared to those of manually segmented cells.

Conclusions

CellECT provides tools for convenient segmentation and analysis of 3D+t membrane datasets by incorporating human interaction into automated algorithms. Users can modify segmentation results through the help of guidance markers, and an adaptive confidence metric highlights problematic regions. Segmentations can be propagated to multiple time points, and once a segmentation is available for a time sequence cells can be analyzed to observe trends. The segmentation and analysis tools presented here generalize well to membrane or cell wall volumetric time series datasets.
Acknowledgement of manuscript reviewers 2015
Authors: Pieroni Andrea
Published: February 2016

Contributing reviewers

The editors of Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine would like to thank all our reviewers who have contributed to the journal in Volume 11 (2015).
Common fixed point results of a pair of generalized $(\psi,\varphi )$-contraction mappings in modular spaces
Authors: Öztürk Mahpeyker , Abbas Mujahid , Girgin Ekber
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we establish the existence of a common fixed point of almost generalized contractions on modular spaces. As an application, we present some fixed and common fixed point results for such mappings on modular spaces endowed with a graph. The existence of fixed and common points of mappings satisfying generalized contractive conditions of integral type is also obtained in such spaces. Some examples are presented to support the results obtained herein. Our results generalize and extend various comparable results in the existing literature.
Low birth weight and features of neuroticism and mood disorder
in 83 545 participants of the UK Biobank cohort
Authors: Lyall Donald M. , Inskip Hazel M. , Mackay Daniel , Deary Ian J. , McIntosh Andrew M. , Hotopf Matthew , Kendrick Tony , Pell Jill P. , Smith Daniel J.
Published: February 2016

Background

Low birth weight has been inconsistently associated with risk of
developing affective disorders, including major depressive disorder
(MDD). To date, studies investigating possible associations between birth
weight and bipolar disorder (BD), or personality traits known to
predispose to affective disorders such as neuroticism, have not been
conducted in large cohorts.

Aims

To assess whether very low birth weight (<1500 g) and low birth weight
(1500–2490 g) were associated with higher neuroticism scores assessed in
middle age, and lifetime history of either MDD or BD. We controlled for
possible confounding factors.

Method

Retrospective cohort study using baseline data on the 83 545 UK Biobank
participants with detailed mental health and birth weight data. Main
outcomes were prevalent MDD and BD, and neuroticism assessed using the
Eysenck Personality Inventory Neuroticism scale - Revised (EPIN-R)

Results

Referent to normal birth weight, very low/low birth weight were
associated with higher neuroticism scores, increased MDD and BD. The
associations between birth weight category and MDD were partially
mediated by higher neuroticism.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that intrauterine programming may play a role in
lifetime vulnerability to affective disorders.
Bispecific T-Cell Engager (BiTE) Antibody Construct Blinatumomab for the Treatment of Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: Final Results From a Phase I Study
Authors: Goebeler Maria-Elisabeth , Knop Stefan , Viardot Andreas , Kufer Peter , Topp Max S. , Einsele Hermann , Noppeney Richard , Hess Georg , Kallert Stefan , Mackensen Andreas , Rupertus Kathrin , Kanz Lothar , Libicher Martin , Nagorsen Dirk , Zugmaier Gerhard , Klinger Matthias , Wolf Andreas , Dorsch Brigitte , Quednau Beate D. , Schmidt Margit , Scheele Jürgen , Baeuerle Patrick A. , Leo Eugen , Bargou Ralf C.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

Blinatumomab is a CD19/CD3 BiTE (bispecific T-cell engager) antibody construct for the treatment of Philadelphia chromosome–negative acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia. We evaluated blinatumomab in relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

Patients and Methods

This 3 + 3 design, phase I dose-escalation study determined adverse events and the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of continuous intravenous infusion blinatumomab in patients with relapsed/refractory NHL. Blinatumomab was administered over 4 or 8 weeks at seven different dose levels (0.5 to 90 μg/m2/day). End points were incidence of adverse events, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and overall response rate.

Results

Between 2004 and 2011, 76 heavily pretreated patients with relapsed/refractory NHL, who included 14 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, were enrolled; 42 received treatment in the formal dose-escalation phase. Neurologic events were dose limiting, and 60 μg/m2/day was established as the MTD. Thirty-four additional patients were recruited to evaluate antilymphoma activity and strategies for mitigating neurologic events at a prespecified MTD. Stepwise dosing (5 to 60 μg/m2/day) plus pentosan polysulfate SP54 (n = 3) resulted in no treatment discontinuations; single-step (n = 5) and double-step (n = 24) dosing entailed two and seven treatment discontinuations due to neurologic events, respectively. Grade 3 neurologic events occurred in 22% of patients (no grade 4/5). Among patients treated at 60 μg/m2/day (target dose; n = 35), the overall response rate was 69% across NHL subtypes and 55% for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n = 11); median response duration was 404 days (95% CI, 207 to 1,129 days).

Conclusion

In this phase I study of relapsed/refractory NHL, continuous infusion with CD19-targeted immunotherapy blinatumomab at various doses and schedules was feasible, with an MTD of 60 μg/m2/day. Single-agent blinatumomab showed antilymphoma activity.
Increased Risk for Other Cancers in Addition to Breast Cancer for CHEK2*1100delC Heterozygotes Estimated From the Copenhagen General Population Study
Authors: Näslund-Koch Charlotte , Nordestgaard Børge G. , Bojesen Stig E.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

CHEK2 is a cell cycle checkpoint regulator, and the CHEK2*1100delC germline mutation leads to loss of function and increased breast cancer risk. It seems plausible that this mutation could also predispose to other cancers. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that CHEK2*1100delC heterozygosity is associated with increased risk for other cancers in addition to breast cancer in the general population.

Patients and Methods

We examined 86,975 individuals from the Copenhagen General Population Study, recruited from 2003 through 2010. The participants completed a questionnaire on health and lifestyle, were examined physically, had blood drawn for DNA extraction, were tested for presence of CHEK2*1100delC using Taqman assays and sequencing, and were linked over 1943 through 2011 to the Danish Cancer Registry. Incidences and risks of individual cancer types, including breast cancer, were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates, Fine and Gray competing-risks regressions, and stratified analyses with interaction tests.

Results

Among 86,975 individuals, 670 (0.8%) were CHEK2*1100delC heterozygous, 2,442 developed breast cancer, and 6,635 developed other cancers. The age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratio for CHEK2*1100delC heterozygotes compared with noncarriers was 2.08 (95% CI, 1.51 to 2.85) for breast cancer and 1.45 (95% CI, 1.15 to 1.82) for other cancers. When stratifying for sex, the age-adjusted hazard ratios for other cancers were 1.54 (95% CI, 1.08 to 2.18) for women and 1.37 (95% CI, 1.01 to 1.85) for men (sex difference: P = .63). For CHEK2*1100delC heterozygotes compared with noncarriers, the age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratios were 5.76 (95% CI, 2.12 to 15.6) for stomach cancer, 3.61 (95% CI, 1.33 to 9.79) for kidney cancer, 3.45 (95% CI, 1.09 to 10.9) for sarcoma, and 1.60 (95% CI, 1.00 to 2.56) for prostate cancer.

Conclusion

CHEK2*1100delC heterozygosity is associated with 15% to 82% increased risk for at least some cancers in addition to breast cancer. This information may be useful in clinical counseling of patients with this loss-of-function mutation.
Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Phase III Trial of Apatinib in Patients With Chemotherapy-Refractory Advanced or Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Stomach or Gastroesophageal Junction
Authors: Li Jin , Qin Shukui , Xu Jianming , Xiong Jianping , Wu Changping , Bai Yuxian , Liu Wei , Tong Jiandong , Liu Yunpeng , Xu Ruihua , Wang Zhehai , Wang Qiong , Ouyang Xuenong , Yang Yan , Ba Yi , Liang Jun , Lin Xiaoyan , Luo Deyun , Zheng Rongsheng , Wang Xin , Sun Guoping , Wang Liwei , Zheng Leizhen , Guo Hong , Wu Jingbo , Xu Nong , Yang Jianwei , Zhang Honggang , Cheng Ying , Wang Ningju , Chen Lei , Fan Zhining , Sun Piaoyang , Yu Hao
Published: February 2016

Purpose

There is currently no standard treatment strategy for patients with advanced metastatic gastric cancer experiencing progression after two or more lines of chemotherapy. We assessed the efficacy and safety of apatinib, a novel vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma for whom at least two lines of prior chemotherapy had failed.

Patients and Methods

This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial. Patients from 32 centers in China with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, for whom two or more prior lines of chemotherapy had failed, were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to oral apatinib 850 mg or placebo once daily. The primary end points were overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

Between January 2011 and November 2012, 267 patients were enrolled. Median OS was significantly improved in the apatinib group compared with the placebo group (6.5 months; 95% CI, 4.8 to 7.6 v 4.7 months; 95% CI, 3.6 to 5.4; P = .0149; hazard ratio, 0.709; 95% CI, 0.537 to 0.937; P = .0156). Similarly, apatinib significantly prolonged median PFS compared with placebo (2.6 months; 95% CI, 2.0 to 2.9 v 1.8 months; 95% CI, 1.4 to 1.9; P < .001; hazard ratio, 0.444; 95% CI, 0.331 to 0.595; P < .001). The most common grade 3 to 4 nonhematologic adverse events were hand-foot syndrome, proteinuria, and hypertension.

Conclusion

These data show that apatinib treatment significantly improved OS and PFS with an acceptable safety profile in patients with advanced gastric cancer refractory to two or more lines of prior chemotherapy.
Proposed Staging System for Patients With HPV-Related Oropharyngeal Cancer Based on Nasopharyngeal Cancer N Categories
Authors: Dahlstrom Kristina R. , Garden Adam S. , William William N. , Lim Ming Yann , Sturgis Erich M.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

Patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)–related oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) generally present with more advanced disease but have better survival than patients with HPV-unrelated OPC. The current American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC)/Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) TNM staging system for OPC was developed for HPV-unrelated OPC. A new staging system is needed to adequately predict outcomes of patients with HPV-related OPC.

Patients and Methods

Patients with newly diagnosed HPV-positive OPC (by p16 immunohistochemistry or in situ hybridization) treated at our institution from January 2003 through December 2012 were included. By using recursive partitioning analysis (RPA), we developed new stage groupings with both traditional OPC regional lymph node (N) categories and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) N categories. Survival was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the relationship between stage and survival was examined by using Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

Results

A total of 661 patients with HPV-positive OPC met the inclusion criteria. With the traditional TNM staging system, there was no difference in survival between stages (P = .141). RPA with NPC N categories resulted in more balanced stage groups and better separation between groups for 5-year survival than RPA with traditional OPC N categories. With the stage groupings that were based in part on NPC N categories, the risk of death increased with increasing stage (P for trend < .001), and patients with stage III disease had five times the risk of death versus patients with stage IA disease.

Conclusion

New stage groupings that are based on primary tumor (T) categories and NPC N categories better separate patients with HPV-positive OPC with respect to survival than does the current AJCC/UICC TNM staging system. Although confirmation of our findings in other patient populations is needed, we propose consideration of NPC N categories as an alternative to the traditional OPC N categories in the new AJCC/UICC TNM staging system that is currently being developed.
Improved Method to Stratify Elderly Patients With Cancer at Risk for Competing Events
Authors: Carmona Ruben , Zakeri Kaveh , Green Garrett , Hwang Lindsay , Gulaya Sachin , Xu Beibei , Verma Rohan , Williamson Casey W. , Triplett Daniel P. , Rose Brent S. , Shen Hanjie , Vaida Florin , Murphy James D. , Mell Loren K.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

To compare a novel generalized competing event (GCE) model versus the standard Cox proportional hazards regression model for stratifying elderly patients with cancer who are at risk for competing events.

Methods

We identified 84,319 patients with nonmetastatic prostate, head and neck, and breast cancers from the SEER-Medicare database. Using demographic, tumor, and clinical characteristics, we trained risk scores on the basis of GCE versus Cox models for cancer-specific mortality and all-cause mortality. In test sets, we examined the predictive ability of the risk scores on the different causes of death, including second cancer mortality, noncancer mortality, and cause-specific mortality, using Fine-Gray regression and area under the curve. We compared how well models stratified subpopulations according to the ratio of the cumulative cause-specific hazard for cancer mortality to the cumulative hazard for overall mortality (ω) using the Akaike Information Criterion.

Results

In each sample, increasing GCE risk scores were associated with increased cancer-specific mortality and decreased competing mortality, whereas risk scores from Cox models were associated with both increased cancer-specific mortality and competing mortality. GCE models created greater separation in the area under the curve for cancer-specific mortality versus noncancer mortality (P < .001), indicating better discriminatory ability between these events. Comparing the GCE model to Cox models of cause-specific mortality or all-cause mortality, the respective Akaike Information Criterion scores were superior (lower) in each sample: prostate cancer, 28.6 versus 35.5 versus 39.4; head and neck cancer, 21.1 versus 29.4 versus 40.2; and breast cancer, 24.6 versus 32.3 versus 50.8.

Conclusion

Compared with standard modeling approaches, GCE models improve stratification of elderly patients with cancer according to their risk of dying from cancer relative to overall mortality.