bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hybrid direct manufacturing method of metallic parts using deposition and micro continuous rolling
Authors: Zhang Haiou , Wang Xiangping , Wang Guilan , Zhang Yang
Published: October 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report a new direct metal manufacturing method which integrates freeform deposition process and micro rolling process, introduce the manufacturing principle and show the advantages of this method.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper introduces the hybrid manufacturing principle and devices first. Then, the key parameters of hybrid manufacturing process are studied by contrast experiments. The results of comparisons of manufacturing accuracy, microstructure and tensile test between freeform fabricated parts and hybrid manufactured parts show the advantages of this new direct manufacturing method.

Findings

– The experiments results show that the accuracy of hybrid manufacturing method is improved obviously comparing with arc-based freeform deposition manufacturing method; the microstructure of the hybrid manufacturing part turns into cellular crystal instead of dendrite; the tensile strength of the part increases by 33 percent and the tensile deformation improved more than two times.

Originality/value

– The paper presents a new hybrid direct metal manufacturing method for the first time. The hybrid manufacturing devices are developed. The experiments results show that the hybrid manufacturing method can be used on directly fabricating large metal components with outstanding quality, efficiency and low cost. The application prospect is great.
Don't Mention the War: TheCourt ofAppeal, theCriminalCasesReviewCommission and Dealing with the Past inNorthernIreland
Authors: Quirk Hannah
Published: November 2013

Despite the vast transitional justice scholarship relating to prisoner release, amnesties and prosecutions when conflicts end, there is a significant gap in practice and academic literature regarding wrongful convictions. Uniquely amongst post‐conflict societies,NorthernIreland has a body for investigating miscarriages of justice, albeit one designed for ‘ordinary’ appeals. In the absence of a formal truth‐recovery process, criminal appeals are becoming a proxy for addressing the role of the state during ‘TheTroubles,’ as well as remedying individual injustices. This article examines the approach of theNorthernIrelandCourt ofAppeal during the conflict. It charts the developments in its decision‐making following the cease‐fires and the establishment of theCriminalCasesReviewCommission. It concludes that the current system is unsatisfactory as it ignores the effects of the conflict on the appeal process and offers no insights into the role of theCourt during the conflict. Alternative models are suggested.
Influence of the Thermal Stabilization Process on the Volatile Profile of Canned Tomato‐Based Food
Authors: Cosmai Lucrezia , Summo Carmine , Caponio Francesco , Paradiso Vito M. , Gomes Tommaso
Published: October 2013

The literature contains several papers dealing with the volatile constituents contributing to the aroma of fresh and processed tomatoes. Along with the traditional tomato‐based products, tomato‐based pâtés, characterized by complex ingredient formulations, are commonly consumed as a seasoning for pasta, and as a dressing for meats, salads, and sandwiches. To the best of our knowledge, no investigations have been published on the influence of thermal stabilization treatments on the composition of volatile compounds in tomato‐based pâtés. To this aim, thermally stabilized and not stabilized tomato‐based pâtés were subjected to the analysis of volatile compounds. The results obtained highlighted the influence of the thermal stabilization process on the evolution of volatile composition tomato‐based pâtés. In particular, the terpenic compounds showed significant decreases after the thermal stabilization process treatment, due to their degradation and oxidation favored by high temperatures. The thermal stabilization caused, moreover, an increase in volatile compounds deriving from lipid oxidation and Maillard reaction, characterized by low‐sensory thresholds, and from the thermal degradation of carotenoids and fresh tomato‐derived compounds.
HLA‐DR typing in polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a study from a tertiary care hospital in northern India
Authors: Dibya Ranjan Behera , Nand Kumar Singh , Usha Singh , Pramod Kumar Verma
Published: November 2013

Introduction

Many studies of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) association with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) have reported conflicting results, which were probably related to ethnic differences. Moreover, in India, studies on HLA‐DR typing on JIA, particularly polyarticular JIA, is lacking.

Objective

The aim of our study was to reveal the frequency of HLA DR types in a cohort of polyarticular JIA in northern India.

Methods

Fifty‐two polyarticular JIA patients were included as per the recent International League of Associations for Rheumatology classification, 2001. HLA‐DR typing was performed in 21 patients (18 rheumatoid factor [RF]+ and three RF−) by a DNA‐based polymerase chain reaction method for the determination of HLA alleles using sequence specific primers (SSP). The results were compared with that of 23 healthy controls of the same age and sex.

Results

HLA‐DR4 was present in five cases (23%) in the diseased group while only in one case (4.3%) in the control group with a relative risk of 5.47, but when compared with only RF+ polyarticular JIA, HLA‐DR4 was found to be significantly high (27.7% vs. 4.43%; P < 0.05) with a relative risk of 6.3. Further, DR4, DR1, DR2, DR9, DR10 were also non‐significantly high in these patients with relative risk of 3.2 for DR9 and 1.8 for DR10. In contrast, HLA‐DR6 was seen only in 5.5% of polyarticular JIA cases, whereas it was present in 39% of controls (P < 0.05), a showing negative association.

Conclusion

HLA‐DR4 codes for susceptibility to RF+ polyarticular JIA with a six‐fold risk, whereas HLA‐DR6 offers protection.
Wild‐caught rodents retain a majority of their natural gut microbiota upon entrance into captivity
Authors: Kohl Kevin D. , Dearing M. Denise
Published: October 2013

Experiments conducted on captive animals allow scientists to control many variables; however, these settings are highly unnatural. Previous research has documented a large difference in microbial communities between wild animals and captive‐bred individuals. However, wild‐caught animals brought into captivity might retain their natural microbiota and thus provide a better study system in which to investigate the ecology of the gut microbiome. We collected individuals of the desert woodrat (Neotoma lepida) from nature and investigated changes in the microbial community over 6 months in captivity. Additionally, we inventoried potential environmental sources of microbes (food, bedding) from the wild and captivity. We found that environmental sources do not make large contributions to the woodrat gut microbial community. We documented a slight decrease in several biodiversity metrics over 6 months in captivity, yet the magnitude of change was small compared with other studies. Wild and captive animals shared 64% of their microbial species, almost twice that observed in other studies of wild and captive‐bred individuals (≤ 37% shared). We conclude that wild‐caught animals brought into captivity retain a substantial proportion of their natural microbiota and represent an acceptable system in which to study the gut microbiome.
Endophytic Bradyrhizobium spp. isolates from sugarcane obtained through different culture strategies
Authors: Rouws Luc Felicianus Marie , Leite Jakson , de Matos Gustavo Feitosa , Zilli Jerri Edson , Coelho Marcia Reed Rodrigues , Xavier Gustavo Ribeiro , Fischer Doreen , Hartmann Anton , Reis Verônica Massena , Baldani José Ivo
Published: November 2013

Brazilian sugarcane has been shown to obtain part of its nitrogen via biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Recent reports, based on the culture independent sequencing of bacterial nifH complementary DNA (cDNA) from sugarcane tissues, have suggested that members of the Bradyrhizobium genus could play a role in sugarcane‐associated BNF. Here we report on the isolation of Bradyrhizobium spp. isolates and a few other species from roots of sugarcane cultivar RB867515 by two cultivation strategies: direct isolation on culture media and capture of Bradyrhizobium spp. using the promiscuous legume Vigna unguiculata as trap‐plant. Both strategies permitted the isolation of genetically diverse Bradyrhizobium spp. isolates, as concluded from enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (PCR) fingerprinting and 16S ribosomal RNA, nifH and nodC sequence analyses. Several isolates presented nifH phylotypes highly similar to nifH cDNA phylotypes detected in field‐grown sugarcane by a culture‐independent approach. Four isolates obtained by direct plate cultivation were unable to nodulate V. unguiculata and, based on PCR analysis, lacked a nodC gene homologue. Acetylene reduction assay showed in vitro nitrogenase activity for some Bradyrhizobium spp. isolates, suggesting that these bacteria do not require a nodule environment for BNF. Therefore, this study brings further evidence that Bradyrhizobium spp. may play a role in sugarcane‐associated BNF under field conditions.
The Role of Serpin and Cystatin Antiproteases in Mucosal Innate Immunity and their Defense against HIV
Authors: Aboud Lindsay , Ball Terry Blake , Tjernlund Annelie , Burgener Adam
Published: October 2013

Antiproteases play diverse roles in nature, from regulating protease activity to innate defense against microorganisms. Recently, antiproteases have been shown to play important roles in HIV pathogenesis including, inhibiting HIV binding and replication and reducing activation and inflammation of susceptible cells. They have also been implicated as one of the initial host responders, in plasma, to control replication of HIV. More recently, antiproteases expressed at the mucosal surface have been linked to reduced susceptibility to HIV infection in HIV‐exposed sero‐negative individuals. These factors are expressed in the epithelial layer of the female genital tract, thus at the frontline of defense against mucosal infection. This review focuses on the specific antimicrobial roles of antiproteases, focusing on serpins and cystatins, with an emphasis on their known and potential roles in HIV infection. Their potential as therapeutic interventions to combat HIV is also discussed.
The role of TLR4 in pathophysiology of antiphospholipid syndrome‐associated thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity
Authors: Xie Hongxiang , Sheng Liangju , Zhou Hong , Yan Jinchuan
Published: November 2013

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the clinical features of recurrent thrombosis in the venous or arterial circulation and fetal losses. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL), particularly against the phospholipid binding protein beta‐2 glycoprotein I (β2GPI), play an important role in APS pathological mechanisms. aPL can activate intracellular signal transduction in a β2GPI‐dependent manner to induce inflammatory responses, and promote hypercoagulable state and recurrent spontaneous abortion when β2GPI is associated with the cell surface receptor. In vivo and in vitro studies show that Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is the high affinity receptor that connects β2GPI to the target cells. However, ANXA2 is not a transmembrane protein and lacks an intracellular signal transduction pathway. Growing evidences suggest that the transmembrane protein toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) might act as an ‘adaptor’ for intracellular signal transduction. This review focuses on the role of TLR4 and its signalling pathway in APS pathological mechanisms which will help us better understand the pathological processes of this syndrome.
Do ureteric stent extraction strings affect stent‐related quality of life or complications after ureteroscopy for urolithiasis: a prospective randomised control trial
Authors: Barnes Kerri T. , Bing Megan T. , Tracy Chad R.
Published: October 2013

Objective

To determine whether ureteric stent extraction strings affect stent‐related quality of life (QoL) or increase complications after ureteroscopy (URS) for stone disease.

Patients and Methods

In all, 68 patients undergoing URS (October 2011 to May 2013) for stone disease were randomised to receive a ureteric stent with or without an extraction string.

Patients completed the Ureteric Stent Symptom Questionnaire (USSQ) on postoperative days 1 and 6, and 6 weeks after stent removal.

Pain was assessed at stent removal.

Adverse events, including early stent removal, stent migration, retained stent, urinary tract infection (UTI), emergency room (ER) visits and postoperative phone calls were monitored.

Results

There was no difference in stent‐related QoL as measured by the USSQ between those with and without a stent extraction string, pain at stent removal between those who pulled their stent independently vs those who underwent cystoscopy for stent removal, or in the rate of UTIs, ER visits or phone calls between groups.

Five patients (four female, one male) removed their stent early by inadvertently pulling the string; none required replacement.

Patients without a string had a significantly longer period with the postoperative ureteric stent (10.6 vs 6.3 days, P < 0.001).

One patient without a stent string retained her ureteric stent for 6 months, which was removed by cystoscopy without incident.

Conclusion

Ureteric stent extraction strings may offer several advantages without increasing stent‐related urinary symptoms, complications, or postoperative morbidity.
Intravesical administration of green tea extract attenuates the inflammatory response of bacterial cystitis – a rat model
Authors: Rosenberg Shilo , Horowitz Ray , Coppenhagen‐Glazer Shunit , Pizov Galina , Elia Anna , Gofrit Ofer N. , Ginsburg Isaac , Pode Dov
Published: October 2013

Objective

To explore the effect of intravesical instillation of green tea extract (GTE) on a rat model of bacterial cystitis.

Materials and Methods

In vitro bactericidal properties of GTE were analysed by adding GTE to a suspension of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), streaking on MacConkey agar, and incubating overnight.

In vivo effects of intravesical instillation of GTE on bacterial cystitis was analysed using a rat model of bacterial cystitis. In all, 42 female Sabra rats weighing 200–260 g were divided into five groups.

Parameters measured were bladder weight (percentage of the total rat weight), dipstick urine analysis and histopathological changes in the bladder. Histological changes evaluated were degree of oedema, mixed inflammatory infiltration, urothelial epithelial invasion by neutrophils and reactive atypia.

Results

No in vitro bactericidal activity was detected for GTE.

Intravesical instillation of GTE did not cause damage to the rat bladders.

Intravesical instillation of GTE attenuated the inflammatory response to UPEC‐SR71‐induced bacterial cystitis in this rat model.

Conclusions

Intravesical instillation of GTE attenuated the inflammatory response to UPEC‐SR71‐induced bacterial cystitis and is a novel approach to the treatment of bacterial cystitis.

High concentrations of intravesical GTE did not cause histologically evident damage to the rat bladder.

The results of this study are preliminary and further studies will be needed to explore the feasibility of using this approach in humans.
High antitumor activity of pladienolide B and its derivative in gastric cancer
Authors: Sato Momoko , Muguruma Naoki , Nakagawa Tadahiko , Okamoto Koichi , Kimura Tetsuo , Kitamura Shinji , Yano Hiromi , Sannomiya Katsutaka , Goji Takahiro , Miyamoto Hiroshi , Okahisa Toshiya , Mikasa Hiroaki , Wada Satoshi , Iwata Masao , Takayama Tetsuji
Published: November 2013

The antitumor activity of pladienolide B, a novel splicing inhibitor, against gastric cancer is totally unknown and no predictive biomarker of pladienolide B efficacy has been reported. We investigated the antitumor activity of pladienolide B and its derivative on gastric cancer cell lines and primary cultured cancer cells from carcinomatous ascites of gastric cancer patients. The effect of pladienolide B and its derivative on six gastric cancer cell lines was investigated using a MTT assay and the mean IC50 values determined to be 1.6 ± 1.2 (range, 0.6–4.0) and 1.2 ± 1.1 (range, 0.4–3.4) nM, respectively, suggesting strong antitumor activity against gastric cancer. The mean IC50 value of pladienolide B derivative against primary cultured cells from 12 gastric cancer patients was 4.9 ± 4.7 nM, indicative of high antitumor activity. When 18 SCID mice xenografted with primary cultured cells from three patients were administered the pladienolide B derivative intraperitoneally, all tumors completely disappeared within 2 weeks after treatment. Histological examination revealed a pathological complete response for all tumors. In the xenograft tumors after treatment with pladienolide B derivative, immature mRNA were detected and apoptotic cells were observed. When the expressions of cell‐cycle proteins p16 and cyclin E in biopsied gastric cancer specimens were examined using immunohisctochemistry, positivities for p16 and cyclin E were significantly and marginally higher, respectively, in the low‐IC50 group compared with the high‐IC50 group, suggesting the possibility that they might be useful as predictive biomarkers for pladienolide B. In conclusion, pladienolide B was very active against gastric cancer via a mechanism involving splicing impairment and apoptosis induction.
A Framework for Assessing Supply‐Side Wildlife Conservation
Authors: PHELPS J. , CARRASCO L. R. , WEBB E. L.
Published: November 2013

Market‐based, supply‐side interventions such as domestication, cultivation, and wildlife farming have been proposed as legal substitutes for wild‐collected plants and animals in the marketplace. Based on the literature, we devised a list of the conditions under which supply‐side interventions may yield positive conservation outcomes. We applied it to the trade of the orchid Rhynchostylis gigantea, a protected ornamental plant. We conducted a survey of R. gigantea at Jatujak Market in Bangkok, Thailand. Farmed (legal) and wild (illegal, protected) specimens of R. gigantea were sold side‐by‐side at market. These results suggest farmed specimens are not being substituted for wild plants in the marketplace. For any given set of physical plant characteristics (size, condition, flowers), the origin of the plants (wild vs. farmed) did not affect price. For all price classes, farmed plants were of superior quality to wild‐collected plants on the basis of most physical variables. These results suggest wild and farmed specimens represent parallel markets and may not be substitutable goods. Our results with R. gigantea highlight a range of explanations for why supply‐side interventions may lack effectiveness, for example, consumer preferences for wild‐collected products and low financial incentives for farming. Our results suggest that market‐based conservation strategies may not be effective by themselves and may be best utilized as supplements to regulation and education. This approach represents a broad, multidisciplinary evaluation of supply‐side interventions that can be applied to other plant and animal species.

Un Marco de Referencia para Evaluar la Oferta de la Conservación de Vida Silvestre
The endoscopist's guide to serrated polyposis
Authors: La Nauze R. , Suzuki N. , Saunders B. , Clark S. , Thomas‐Gibson S.
Published: November 2013

Aim

Serrated polyposis is a condition of the colon characterized by multiple serrated polyps. This review aims to provide a practical guide to the day‐to‐day management of serrated polyposis, including diagnosis, endoscopic identification of serrated polyps, surveillance, the role of endoscopic and surgical management and the screening of family members.

Method

The literature was searched using PubMed and MEDLINE databases for the terms “serrated polyp”, “serrated polyposis” and “hyperplastic polyposis”. English‐language abstracts were read and the full article was retrieved if relevant to the review. Expert opinion from the authors was also sought.

Results

Advances in our knowledge of the molecular pathways involved in serrated polyposis and an improved clinical picture of the disease from retrospective studies have led to better understanding of its pathogenesis and natural history. However, there are still areas not answered by the literature, and hence empirical management or expert opinion has to be followed.

Conclusion

Improvements in our understanding of serrated polyposis, together with improvements in endoscopic equipment and technique, have enabled the endoscopist to be at the forefront of managing this condition from diagnosis to endoscopic surveillance and control of the polyps.
Recent progress in genome engineering techniques in the silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Daimon Takaaki , Kiuchi Takashi , Takasu Yoko
Published: November 2013

Rapid advances in genome engineering tools, such as zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator‐like effector nucleases (TALENs), and the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeats/CRISPR‐associated (CRISPR/Cas) system, have enabled efficient gene knockout experiments in a wide variety of organisms. Here, we review the recent progress in targeted gene disruption techniques in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Although efficiency of targeted mutagenesis was very low in an early experiment using ZFNs, recent studies have shown that TALENs can induce highly efficient mutagenesis of desired target genes in Bombyx. Notably, mutation frequencies induced by TALENs can reach more than 50% of G0 gametes. Thus, TALENs can now be used as a standard tool for gene targeting studies, even when mutant phenotypes are unknown. We also propose guidelines for experimental design and strategy for knockout experiments in Bombyx. Genome editing technologies will greatly increase the usefulness of Bombyx as a model for lepidopteran insects, the major agricultural pests, and lead to sophisticated breeding of Bombyx for use in sericulture and biotechnology.
Comparison of serial serum ferritin measurements and liver iron concentration assessed by MRI in adult transfused patients with sickle cell disease
Authors: Tsitsikas Dimitris A. , Nzouakou Ruben , Ameen Venus , Sirigireddy Bala , Amos Roger J.
Published: November 2013

Aims

Transfused patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at risk of iron overload and identifying such patients is important to prevent associated complications. Our aim was to assess the efficacy of serial serum ferritin (SF) measurements in identifying patients with hepatic iron overload as assessed by liver MRI and its usefulness in guiding decision making regarding chelation therapy.

Patients/Methods

We retrospectively compared the results of 49 liver MRI scans (LS) with the median serum ferritin (MSF) values for 28 patients in our institution.

Results

We found a nonlinear increment of MSF with increasing liver iron concentration (LIC). 18.4% and 47.4% of abnormal LSs corresponded to MSF <1000 mcg/L and <2000 mcg/L, respectively. 30.4% of patients with LIC of 7 mg/g dry weight or higher had a MSF <2000 mcg/L. In 38.5% of patients receiving chelation, MSF offered little information regarding the efficacy of treatment and was sometimes misleading.

Conclusion

Serial serum ferritin measurements in adult transfused patients with sickle cell disease have a low sensitivity for identifying patients with iron overload and are of limited value in guiding decision making regarding initiation or monitoring of chelation therapy. The iron status of such high risk patients should be assessed by more definitive ways such as MRI.
Effects of quinapril on angiotensin converting enzyme and plasma renin activity as well as pharmacokinetic parameters of quinapril and its active metabolite, quinaprilat, after intravenous and oral administration to mature horses
Authors: Davis J. L. , Kruger K. , LaFevers D. H. , Barlow B. M. , Schirmer J. M. , Breuhaus B. A.
Published: November 2013

Reasons for performing study

Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors improve survival and quality of life in human patients and small animals with cardiovascular and renal disease. There is limited information regarding their effects in horses.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetics of quinapril and its effects on ACE and renin in horses.

Study design

Experimental study using healthy mature horses.

Methods

Six healthy horses were administered quinapril at 120 mg i.v., 120 mg per os and 240 mg per os in a 3‐way crossover design. Blood was collected for measurement of quinapril and quinaprilat concentrations using ultra‐high pressure liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry. Angiotensin converting enzyme activity and renin activity were measured using a radioenzymatic assay. Noncompartmental pharmacokinetic modelling and statistical analyses were performed.

Results

No adverse effects were observed during the study period. Intravenous and oral administration significantly inhibited ACE activity. Renin concentrations increased in all groups, but this increase was not statistically significant. Following i.v. administration of quinapril, mean terminal half‐life was 0.694 h and 1.734 h for quinapril and quinaprilat, respectively. The mean volume of distribution and clearance for quinapril were 0.242 l/kg bwt and 11.93 ml/kg bwt/min, respectively. Maximum concentration for quinaprilat was 145 ng/ml at 0.167 h. Bioavailability of quinapril following oral administration was <5%. Quinaprilat was detected in all horses following oral administration of quinapril; however, it was below the limit of quantification of the assay (2.5 ng/ml) for most horses in the 120 mg dosing group.

Conclusions

These results suggest that, despite low plasma concentrations, quinapril has sufficient oral absorption to produce inhibition of ACE in healthy horses. Controlled studies in clinically affected horses are indicated. Quinapril provides a potential treatment alternative for horses with cardiovascular and renal disease.
Modification of the total soluble sugar content of the C4 grass Paspalum notatum expressing the wheat‐derived sucrose:sucrose 1‐fructosyltransferase and sucrose:fructan 6‐fructosyltransferase genes
Authors: Muguerza Melody , Gondo Takahiro , Yoshida Midori , Kawakami Akira , Terami Fumihiro , Yamada Toshihiko , Akashi Ryo
Published: October 2013

Fructans are water‐soluble fructose oligomers and polymers that are accumulated in many plants, especially the C3 temperate grasses. Fructan accumulation enhances cold and drought tolerance in grasses, and the increased soluble carbohydrates improve forage quality, especially the nutritional value animals can gain from these grasses. The C4 grasses yield high biomass but their inability to accumulate fructans coupled with their low water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content are limiting factors for the forage quality of these grasses. The aim of this study was to produce fructans and increase the total soluble sugar content by introducing and expressing fructan biosynthesis genes in a C4 grass, bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flügge). Using particle bombardment, we transformed bahiagrass with a wheat‐derived sucrose:sucrose 1‐fructosyltransferase (1‐SST) gene and a sucrose:fructan 6‐fructosyltransferase (6‐SFT) gene, both of which were regulated by the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter. Transcripts of the 1‐SST and 6‐SFT genes were detected in six out of 12 transgenic plants carrying both genes. Transgenic bahiagrass plants expressing the 1‐SST and 6‐SFT genes accumulated 1‐kestose and nystose. Although further polymerization of fructose units by 6‐SFT activity was not detected in transgenic plants, the total soluble sugar content increased. These results suggest that transgenic bahiagrass plants expressing wheat fructosyltransferase genes created a new metabolic pathway for fructan biosynthesis, which is an important requirement for producing fructans in C4 forage grasses with the objective of increasing the total soluble sugar content of these plants. This is the first report of introducing plant‐derived fructosyltransferases with the goal of increasing fructan accumulation in C4 forage grasses.
Promethazine Plus Sumatriptan in the Treatment of Migraine: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Asadollahi Shadi , Heidari Kamran , Vafaee Reza , Forouzanfar Mohammad Mahdi , Amini Afshin , Shahrami Ali
Published: November 2013

Objective

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of sumatriptan (50 mg) plus promethazine (SPr) (25 mg) compared with sumatriptan (50 mg) plus placebo in patients with migraine attacks.

Background

Migraine is a chronic, disabling disorder with an estimated worldwide prevalence of 10% in adults imposing substantial social and economic impact. Efficient treatment of migraine attacks could benefit patients by reducing their disability and the need for health care resources, and improving economic productivity.

Design and Methods

This was a multicenter, randomized, double‐blind trial conducted at 5 university‐affiliated research centers in Iran. Between January 2013 and April 2013, 350 individuals with a history of migraine were evaluated. Patients were diagnosed with migraine, with or without aura, as defined by the International Headache Society diagnostic criteria. The 242 patients meeting the eligibility criteria were randomly assigned to SPr group (n = 121) or the sumatriptan plus placebo (SP) group (n = 121). The study medications were taken on an outpatient basis during the moderate to severe phase of migraine attack. Patients recorded details of the treated migraine on a diary card and rated pain severity immediately before dosing and 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, and 4 hours after dosing using a 4‐point scale (0 = none to 3 = severe).

Results

Of 242 patients randomized, 216 were included in the intention‐to‐treat efficacy analysis. In the SPr group, 39.6% of subjects experienced 2‐hour headache‐free response (primary outcome), which was significantly more effective than SP treatment (26.3%, odds ratio: 1.83, 95% confidence interval: 1.03–3.26, P = .038). Significantly more patients receiving SPr treatment (62.2%) had headache improvement compared with SP treatment (37.2%) at 2 hours (odds ratio: 2.77, 95% confidence interval: 1.60‐4.81, P < .001). A similar pattern of between‐group differences was observed for 4‐hour headache‐free response (P = .006) and headache improvement response (P = .003). The incidence of headache recurrence within 2‐48 hours after treatment was lowest in the SPr group (15.0%) compared with SP group (26.6%, P = .041).

The only significant drug‐related adverse events reported in ≥15% of patients in any treatment group were somnolence (32.2% and 7% in the SPr and SP groups, respectively, P < .001), extrapyramidal symptoms (4.3% and 0%, P = .05), and nausea (1% and 8%, P = .03).

Conclusion

This is the first prospective clinical trial to demonstrate that multimechanism therapy for migraine, combining a triptan and an antiemetic agent, is well tolerated and offers improved clinical benefits compared with monotherapy.
Role of illness representations and coping in patients with atopic dermatitis: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Schut C. , Felsch A. , Zick C. , Hinsch K.‐D. , Gieler U. , Kupfer J.
Published: October 2013

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a skin disease accompanied by psychological burden. It has been shown for other chronic diseases that illness representations and coping strategies are associated with disease‐related burden and other outcome variables like time until patients return to work or health care use.

Objective

The goal of this cross‐sectional study was to investigate whether illness representations and coping strategies are correlated with the severity of AD and self‐rated physical impairment of the patients.

Methods

A total of 109 AD patients were examined at the beginning of their stay at a rehabilitation centre. They filled in validated questionnaires to measure illness perceptions (IPQ), coping strategies (EBS) and self‐rated physical well‐being (FEW). In addition, the severity of AD (SCORAD) was determined by a doctor.

Results

Linear regression analysis revealed that a considerable amount of the variance in self‐rated physical well‐being (51%) could be predicted by particular illness perceptions and coping. Subsequent multiple mediation analyses indicated that certain coping strategies (active problem solving and depressive reactions) mediated the effect of illness representations on self‐rated physical well‐being. In contrast, only 7.4% of the SCORAD could be predicted by the IPQ scale illness identity.

Conclusion

This study showed that illness representations and coping are highly associated with self‐rated physical impairment in AD patients. Therefore, this patient group might profit from cognitive behavioural interventions designed to alter patients' illness perceptions. The hypothesis that a modification in illness perceptions leads to a faster recovery and a more rapid return to work should be tested in future randomized controlled trials.
The Effect of a Modeling Resin and Thermocycling on the Surface Hardness, Roughness, and Color of Different Resin Composites
Authors: Tuncer Safa , Demirci Mustafa , Tiryaki Murat , Ünlü Nimet , Uysal Ömer
Published: October 2013

Statement of Problem

The application of modeling resin could affect the surface quality and color of resin composites.

Purpose

To evaluate the effects of modeling resin on the microhardness, roughness, and color of composite restorations, with and without thermocycling.

Methods

Sixty disc‐shaped specimens for each resin composite were prepared in three groups: Group 1: A resin composite disc was cured against a polyester matrix and finished/polished; Group 2: A composite instrument was wetted withBiscoModelingResin (Bisco, Schaumburg, IL, USA) to smooth the composite surface, which was cured against a polyester matrix and finished/polished; Group 3: A composite instrument was wetted with modeling resin to smooth the composite surface, which was cured against a polyester matrix. Microhardness, roughness, and color were measured 24 hours after curing and after 10,000 thermocycles.

Results

Modeling resin significantly influenced the microhardness ofGrandioSO(Voco, Cuxhaven, Germany) and Gradia Direct Posterior (GC America, Alsip, IL, USA), and the surface roughness ofGrandioSO,FiltekSilorane (3M ESPE, St Paul, MN, USA), andAeliteAllPurposeBody (Bisco) (p < 0.05). The microhardness of the Group 1 resin composites was affected by thermocycling (p < 0.05); however, thermocycling had no significant effect on surface roughness (p > 0.05). Tested composites showed clinically perceptible color changes after thermocycling. In Group 1,FiltekUltimate (3M ESPE) showed the lowest color change (p < 0.05), and in Group 2,FiltekSilorane showed the highest significant color changes (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Modeling resin did not affect the microhardness, surface roughness, and color ofAeliteLS Posterior (Bisco),FiltekUltimate (3M ESPE), andClearfilMajestyEsthetic (Kuraray Medical Inc, Tokyo, Japan) specimens. Also, thermocycling process only affected microhardness of tested resin composites.

Clinical Significance

The effect of modeling resin on surface microhardness, roughness, and color stability of composite materials depends on the type of resin composite. In clinical practice, the adverse effects of modeling resin might be alleviated by a proper finishing and polishing procedure.
Between tradition and innovation: developing Flood Risk Management Plans in the Netherlands
Authors: Jong Pieter , Brink Margo van den
Published: October 2013

Traditionally, governmental authorities in the Netherlands have a strong focus on the construction and maintenance of flood defences, such as dikes and dams. The last decades, however, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of spatial planning for flood risk management. With the arrival of the Floods Directive (2007), it is likely that even more attention will be paid to sustainable spatial planning to reduce flood risks. From an institutional perspective, this paper explores the way in which the Netherlands is now attempting to further integrate water management and spatial planning in the preparation of its first Flood Risk Management Plans. The current internal policy debate centres around five important issues concerning the required measures, instruments, rules, governance styles and time perspectives. Maintaining its strong, engineering‐based water management tradition, and at the same time institutionalising a framework for a more holistic flood risk management that comprises not only rules and regulations for probability reduction but also for impact reduction through sustainable spatial planning turns out to be a challenging task. The recently established national Delta Commissioner (2012) could be an important stimulus for the further integration and innovation of water management and spatial planning.
In‐Hospital Mortality and Coronary Procedure Use for Individuals with Dementia with Acute Myocardial Infarction in the United States
Authors: Tehrani David M. , Darki Leila , Erande Ashwini , Malik Shaista
Published: November 2013

Objectives

To determine in‐hospital mortality differences in individuals with dementia and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) when using invasive coronary procedures.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

2009 Nationwide Inpatient Sample.

Participants

Individuals admitted with a primary diagnosis of AMI (N = 631,734) to 1,045 hospitals in 44 states during 2009.

Measurements

Dementia status and procedural use of diagnostic catheterization, percutaneous intervention (PCI), and coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) as indicated by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes. The primary outcome was in‐hospital mortality. Using multivariable analysis adjusted for covariates, associations were made between coronary procedural use in individuals with dementia and in‐hospital mortality. Additional multivariable analysis identified the association between utilization of coronary procedures and in‐hospital mortality in AMI patients with dementia.

Results

Dementia diagnosis (n = 15,335) was associated with greater likelihood of in‐hospital mortality (odds ratio (OR) = 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.15–1.29, P < .001) and less use of diagnostic catheterization (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.35–0.40, P < .001), PCI (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.35–0.40, P < .001), and CABG (OR = 0.19, 95% CI = 0.16–0.22, P < .001). There was less likelihood of in‐hospital mortality in participants with dementia who received diagnostic catheterization (OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.16–0.78, P < .001), PCI (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.47–0.70, P < .001), or CABG (OR = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.08–0.56, P < .001) than in those not receiving respective interventions.

Conclusion

Dementia is a significant predictor of in‐hospital mortality for hospitalized individuals with AMI and is associated with less use of invasive coronary procedures. Beyond differing care patterns for individuals with AMI and dementia, these results indicate that individuals with dementia are at substantially greater risk for in‐hospital mortality when they do not receive procedural interventions.
Environmental Implications and Costs of Municipal Solid Waste‐Derived Ethylene
Authors: Nuss Philip , Gardner Kevin H , Bringezu Stefan
Published: November 2013

Carbon recycling, in which organic waste is recycled into chemical feedstock for material production, may provide benefits in resource efficiency and a more cyclical economy—but may also create “trade‐offs” in increased impacts elsewhere. We investigate the system‐wide environmental burdens and cost associated with carbon recycling routes capable of converting municipal solid waste (MSW) by gasification and Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis into ethylene. Results are compared to business‐as‐usual (BAU) cases in which ethylene is derived from fossil resources and waste is either landfilled with methane and energy recovery (BAU#1) or incinerated (BAU#2) with energy recovery. Monte Carlo and sensitivity analysis is used to assess uncertainties of the results. Results indicate that carbon recycling may lead to a reduction in cumulative energy demand (CED), total material requirement (TMR), and acidification, when compared to BAU#1. Global warming potential is found to be similar or slightly lower than BAU#1 and BAU#2. In comparison to BAU#2, carbon recycling results in higher CED, TMR, acidification, and smog potential, mainly as a result of larger (fossil‐based) energy offsets from energy recovery. However, if a renewable power mix (envisioned for the future) is assumed to be offset, BAU#2 impacts may be similar or higher than carbon recycling routes. Production cost per kilogram (kg) MSW‐derived ethylene range between US$1.85 and US$2.06 (Jan 2011 US$). This compares to US$1.17 per kg for fossil‐based ethylene. Waste‐derived ethylene breaks even with its fossil‐based counterpart at a tipping fee of roughly US$42 per metric ton of waste feedstock.
Increased toll‐like receptor 4 in cerebral endothelial cells contributes to the astrocyte swelling and brain edema in acute hepatic encephalopathy
Authors: Jayakumar Arumugam R. , Tong Xiao Y. , Curtis Kevin M. , Ruiz‐Cordero Roberto , Abreu Maria T. , Norenberg Michael D.
Published: November 2013

Astrocyte swelling and the subsequent increase in intracranial pressure and brain herniation are major clinical consequences in patients with acute hepatic encephalopathy. We recently reported that conditioned media from brain endothelial cells (ECs) exposed to ammonia, a mixture of cytokines (CKs) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), when added to astrocytes caused cell swelling. In this study, we investigated the possibility that ammonia and inflammatory agents activate the toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) in ECs, resulting in the release of factors that ultimately cause astrocyte swelling. We found a significant increase in TLR4 protein expression when ECs were exposed to ammonia, CKs or LPS alone, while exposure of ECs to a combination of these agents potentiate such effects. In addition, astrocytes exposed to conditioned media from TLR4‐silenced ECs that were treated with ammonia, CKs or LPS, resulted in a significant reduction in astrocyte swelling. TLR4 protein up‐regulation was also detected in rat brain ECs after treatment with the liver toxin thioacetamide, and that thioacetamide‐treated TLR4 knock‐out mice exhibited a reduction in brain edema. These studies strongly suggest that ECs significantly contribute to the astrocyte swelling/brain edema in acute hepatic encephalopathy, likely as a consequence of increased TLR4 protein expression by blood‐borne noxious agents.

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Ammonia and inflammatory agents, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or cytokines (CKs), activate the toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) in endothelial cells (ECs) ultimately resulting in astrocyte swelling. TLR4 protein upregulation was detected in rat brain ECs in acute hepatic encephalopathy (AHE), whereas TLR4 knock‐out mice exhibited a reduction in brain edema after AHE. These studies suggest that ECs significantly contribute to the astrocyte swelling/brain edema in AHE.
Fibre type composition in the lumbar perivertebral muscles of primates: implications for the evolution of orthogrady in hominoids
Authors: Neufuss J. , Hesse B. , Thorpe S. K. S. , Vereecke E. E. , D'Aout K. , Fischer M. S. , Schilling N.
Published: November 2013

The axial musculoskeletal system is important for the static and dynamic control of the body during both locomotor and non‐locomotor behaviour. As a consequence, major evolutionary changes in the positional habits of a species are reflected by morpho‐functional adaptations of the axial system. Because of the remarkable phenotypic plasticity of muscle tissue, a close relationship exists between muscle morphology and function. One way to explore major evolutionary transitions in muscle function is therefore by comparative analysis of fibre type composition. In this study, the three‐dimensional distribution of slow and fast muscle fibres was analysed in the lumbar perivertebral muscles of two lemuriform (mouse lemur, brown lemur) and four hominoid primate species (white‐handed gibbon, orangutan, bonobo, chimpanzee) in order to develop a plausible scenario for the evolution of the contractile properties of the axial muscles in hominoids and to discern possible changes in muscle physiology that were associated with the evolution of orthogrady. Similar to all previously studied quadrupedal mammals, the lemuriform primates in this study exhibited a morpho‐functional dichotomy between deep slow contracting local stabilizer muscles and superficial fast contracting global mobilizers and stabilizers and thus retained the fibre distribution pattern typical for quadrupedal non‐primates. In contrast, the hominoid primates showed no regionalization of the fibre types, similar to previous observations in Homo. We suggest that this homogeneous fibre composition is associated with the high functional versatility of the axial musculature that was brought about by the evolution of orthograde behaviours and reflects the broad range of mechanical demands acting on the trunk in orthograde hominoids. Because orthogrady is a derived character of euhominoids, the uniform fibre type distribution is hypothesized to coincide with the evolution of orthograde behaviours.
Periosteal thickness and cellularity in mid‐diaphyseal cross‐sections from human femora and tibiae of aged donors
Authors: Moore Shannon R. , Milz Stefan , Knothe Tate Melissa L.
Published: November 2013

Due to lack of access in healthy patients, the structural properties underlying the inherent regenerative power and advanced material properties of the human periosteum are not well understood. Periosteum comprises a cellular cambium layer directly apposing the outer surface of bone and an outer fibrous layer encompassed by the surrounding soft tissues. As a first step to elucidating the structural and cellular characteristics of periosteum in human bone, the current study aims to measure cambium and fibrous layer thickness as well as cambium cellularity in human femora and tibiae of aged donors. The major and minor centroidal axes (CA) serve as automated reference points in cross‐sections of cadaveric mid‐diaphyseal femora and tibiae. Based on the results of this study, within a given individual, the cambium layer of the major CA of the tibia is significantly thicker and more cellular than the respective layer of the femur. These significant intraindividual differences do not translate to significant interindividual differences. Further, mid‐diaphyseal periosteal measures including cambium and fibrous layer thickness and cellularity do not correlate significantly with age or body mass. Finally, qualitative observations of periosteum in amputated and contralateral or proximal long bones of the lower extremity show stark changes in layer organization, thickness, and cellularity. In a translational context, these novel data, though inherently limited by availability and accessibility of human mid‐diaphyseal periosteum tissue, provide important reference values for the use of periosteum in the context of facilitated healing and regeneration of tissue.