bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disease origin and progression in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: an immunology perspective
Authors: Malaspina Andrea , Puentes Fabiola , Amor Sandra
Published: October 2014

The immune system is inextricably linked with many neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a devastating neuromuscular disorder affecting motor cell function with an average survival of 3 years from symptoms onset. In ALS, there is a dynamic interplay between the resident innate immune cells, that is, microglia and astrocytes, which may become progressively harmful to motor neurons. Although innate and adaptive immune responses are associated with progressive neurodegeneration, in the early stages of ALS immune activation pathways are primarily considered to be beneficial promoting neuronal repair of the damaged tissues, though a harmful effect of T cells at this stage of disease has also been observed. In addition, although auto-antibodies against neuronal antigens are present in ALS, it is unclear whether these arise as a primary or secondary event to neuronal damage, and whether the auto-antibodies are indeed pathogenic. Understanding how the immune system contributes to the fate of motor cells in ALS may shed light on the triggers of disease as well as on the mechanisms contributing to the propagation of the pathology. Immune markers may also act as biomarkers while pathways involved in immune action may be targets of new therapeutic strategies. Here, we review the modalities by which the immune system senses the core pathological process in motor neuron disorders, focusing on tissue-specific immune responses in the neuromuscular junction and in the neuroaxis observed in affected individuals and in animal models of ALS. We elaborate on existing data on the immunological fingerprint of ALS that could be used to identify clues on the disease origin and patterns of progression.
Oxford Handbook of Neurology
Authors: Manji Hadi , Connolly Seán , Kitchen Neil , Lambert Christian , Mehta Amrish
Published: October 2014

Fully updated for this second edition, the Oxford Handbook of Neurology is the definitive guide for all those working in neurology and neurosurgery. This practical and concise quick-reference resource includes a wealth of information and invaluable clinical guidance to ensure all readers stay up-to-date in this fast-moving specialty. Now including brand new chapters on neurological emergencies and neurology within other medical specialties, this online guide includes the most current management and treatment options, drugs, and neurosurgical techniques. Covering the entire breadth of neurology with additional sections on neuroanatomy, neurosurgery, neuroradiology and neurophysiology, it includes common presentations and disorders as well as information on neurological assessment. Also included are illustrations to ensure ease-of reference, and valuable clinical advice from experts in the field.
Premanifest and Early Huntington’s Disease
Authors: Wild Edward J. , Tabrizi Sarah J.
Published: October 2014

The traditional view that individuals carrying an expanded Huntington’s disease (HD) gene undergo phenoconversion, a stochastic event that takes them from symptom-free to symptomatic, is now disputed among clinicians, HD researchers, and patient and family advocates. Disease onset is officially declared when neurologic abnormalities that are unequivocally due to HD are diagnosed, but subjective symptoms and objective signs emerge gradually, and it is more helpful to consider and openly discuss a prodromal period, often as long as 10 years, which can provide a helpful framework for discussion and management. Considerable progress has been made in defining the neurobiologic processes that underlie the development of HD in humans and measures that can predict this for the purpose of conducting clinical trials, but these measures have not yet been validated sufficiently to make them useful in the clinical setting. This chapter discusses the multidisciplinary care of patients with premanifest, prodromal, and early manifest HD.
Genetic and Molecular Studies
Authors: Cazeneuve Cécile , Durr Alexandra
Published: October 2014

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a rare inherited neurologic disorder due to a single mutational mechanism in a large gene (HTT). The mutation is an abnormal CAG repeat expansion, which is translated to a polyglutamine stretch in the huntingtin protein. The growing field of repeat expansion disorders benefits greatly from the lessons learned from the role of the CAG repeat expansion in HD and its resulting phenotype–genotype correlations. The molecular diagnosis can be difficult, and there are some pitfalls for accurate sizing of the CAG repeat, especially in juvenile HD and for intermediate alleles. Correlation between CAG length and age of onset accounts for up to 72% of the variance in different populations, but the search for genes modifying age of onset or progression of HD is still ongoing.
CNS Hemangiopericytoma
Authors: Ghose Abhimanyu , Guha Gunjan , Kundu Ria , Tew John , Chaudhary Rekha
Published: October 2014

Background:

Central nervous system (CNS) hemangiopericytomas are rare mesenchymal tumors of the brain. In the absence of randomized clinical trials or large studies, the only information we have about the natural history and the management is from isolated clinical case series. They have suggested that surgery is beneficial, with conflicting results on the role of complete resection and adjuvant radiation. We have conducted a systematic review of clinical case series of CNS hemangiopericytoma analyzing the biology of the tumor and the best follow-up and management strategy.

Methods:

Fifteen pertinent clinical case series on newly diagnosed CNS hemangiopericytoma were selected by a review of literature. A total of 523 patients were analyzed for age, sex, mode of recurrence and metastases, and survival after complete/incomplete resection with or without radiation.

Results:

The mean age was found to be 44.17 (±3.59) years. The incidence was higher in male individuals younger than 45 years and in older female individuals. Complete resection and adjuvant radiation significantly improved survival in comparison with incomplete resection and no radiation, respectively (P<0.0001). Furthermore, a significant trend of the tumor to recur locally compared with extraneural and neural axis metastases was noted (P<0.0001). The mean time for distant metastases was seen to be 91.33 (±12.66) months.

Conclusions:

Complete resection followed by adjuvant radiation improves survival. Extraneural metastases, especially to lung, bone, and liver, are not uncommon and can occur late in the disease course for which continued follow-up is required. There is also a need to establish a systemic treatment regimen to control the distant metastases.
Developmental plasticity, cell fate specification and morphogenesis in the early mouse embryo
Authors: Bedzhov Ivan , Graham Sarah J. L. , Leung Chuen Yan , Zernicka-Goetz Magdalena
Published: October 2014

A critical point in mammalian development is when the early embryo implants into its mother's uterus. This event has historically been difficult to study due to the fact that it occurs within the maternal tissue and therefore is hidden from view. In this review, we discuss how the mouse embryo is prepared for implantation and the molecular mechanisms involved in directing and coordinating this crucial event. Prior to implantation, the cells of the embryo are specified as precursors of future embryonic and extra-embryonic lineages. These preimplantation cell fate decisions rely on a combination of factors including cell polarity, position and cell–cell signalling and are influenced by the heterogeneity between early embryo cells. At the point of implantation, signalling events between the embryo and mother, and between the embryonic and extraembryonic compartments of the embryo itself, orchestrate a total reorganization of the embryo, coupled with a burst of cell proliferation. New developments in embryo culture and imaging techniques have recently revealed the growth and morphogenesis of the embryo at the time of implantation, leading to a new model for the blastocyst to egg cylinder transition. In this model, pluripotent cells that will give rise to the fetus self-organize into a polarized three-dimensional rosette-like structure that initiates egg cylinder formation.
Extrapolating histone marks across developmental stages, tissues, and species: an enhancer prediction case study
Authors: Capra John A.
Published: October 2014

Background

Dynamic activation and inactivation of gene regulatory DNA produce the expression changes that drive the differentiation of cellular lineages. Identifying regulatory regions active during developmental transitions is necessary to understand how the genome specifies complex developmental programs and how these processes are disrupted in disease. Gene regulatory dynamics are mediated by many factors, including the binding of transcription factors (TFs) and the methylation and acetylation of DNA and histones. Genome-wide maps of TF binding and DNA and histone modifications have been generated for many cellular contexts; however, given the diversity and complexity of animal development, these data cover only a small fraction of the cellular and developmental contexts of interest. Thus, there is a need for methods that use existing epigenetic and functional genomics data to analyze the thousands of contexts that remain uncharacterized.

Results

To investigate the utility of histone modification data in the analysis of cellular contexts without such data, I evaluated how well genome-wide H3K27ac and H3K4me1 data collected in different developmental stages, tissues, and species were able to predict experimentally validated heart enhancers active at embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5) in mouse. Using a machine-learning approach to integrate the data from different contexts, I found that E11.5 heart enhancers can often be predicted accurately from data from other contexts, and I quantified the contribution of each data source to the predictions. The utility of each dataset correlated with nearness in developmental time and tissue to the target context: data from late developmental stages and adult heart tissues were most informative for predicting E11.5 enhancers, while marks from stem cells and early developmental stages were less informative. Predictions based on data collected in non-heart tissues and in human hearts were better than random, but worse than using data from mouse hearts.

Conclusions:

The ability of these algorithms to accurately predict developmental enhancers based on data from related, but distinct, cellular contexts suggests that combining computational models with epigenetic data sampled from relevant contexts may be sufficient to enable functional characterization of many cellular contexts of interest.
Crystal structure of {2,2′-[ethylenebis(nitrilomethanylylidene)]diphenolato-κ4O,N,N′,O′}oxidovanadium(IV) methanol monosolvate
Authors: Hsuan Rachel E. , Hughes Jemma E. , Miller Thomas H. , Shaikh Nabila , Cunningham Phoebe H. M. , O'Connor Alice E. , Tidey Jeremiah P. , Blake Alexander J.
Published: October 2014

Two independent molecules of the title solvated complex, [V(C16H14N2O2)O]·CH3OH, also known as [N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine]oxidovanadium(IV) or vanadyl salen, crystallize in the asymmetric unit. Each disordered methanol solvent molecule [occupancy ratios 0.678 (4):0.322 (4) and 0.750 (5):0.250 (5)] is linked to a [N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine]oxidovanadium(IV) molecule by an O—H...O hydrogen bond and to others by C—H...O hydrogen bonds. The resulting extended structure consists of a bilayer of molecules parallel to theabplane. Despite the fact that solvates are common in complexes derived from substituted analogues of theN,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine ligand, the title solvate is the first one of [N,N′-bis(salicylidene)ethylenediamine]oxidovanadium(IV) to be structurally characterized. The two vanadyl species have very similar internal geometries, which are best characterized as distorted square-based pyramidal with the vanadium atom displaced from the N2O2basal plane by 0.5966 (9) Å in the direction of the doubly-bonded oxide ligand.
Crystallography of metal–organic frameworks
Authors: Gándara Felipe , Bennett Thomas D.
Published: October 2014

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are one of the most intensely studied material types in recent times. Their networks, resulting from the formation of strong bonds between inorganic and organic building units, offer unparalled chemical diversity and pore environments of growing complexity. Therefore, advances in single-crystal X-ray diffraction equipment and techniques are required to characterize materials with increasingly larger surface areas, and more complex linkers. In addition, whilst structure solution from powder diffraction data is possible, the area is much less populated and we detail the current efforts going on here. We also review the growing number of reports on diffraction under non-ambient conditions, including the response of MOF structures to very high pressures. Such experiments are important due to the expected presence of stresses in proposed applications of MOFs – evidence suggesting rich and complex behaviour. Given the entwined and inseparable nature of their structure, properties and applications, it is essential that the field of structural elucidation is able to continue growing and advancing, so as not to provide a rate-limiting step on characterization of their properties and incorporation into devices and applications. This review has been prepared with this in mind.
Structure and function of dioxygenases in histone demethylation and DNA/RNA demethylation
Authors: Dong Cheng , Zhang Heng , Xu Chao , Arrowsmith Cheryl H. , Min Jinrong
Published: October 2014

Iron(II) and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent dioxygenases involved in histone and DNA/RNA demethylation convert the cosubstrate 2OG and oxygen to succinate and carbon dioxide, resulting in hydroxylation of the methyl group of the substrates and subsequent demethylation. Recent evidence has shown that these 2OG dioxygenases play vital roles in a variety of biological processes, including transcriptional regulation and gene expression. In this review, the structure and function of these dioxygenases in histone and nucleic acid demethylation will be discussed. Given the important roles of these 2OG dioxygenases, detailed analysis and comparison of the 2OG dioxygenases will guide the design of target-specific small-molecule chemical probes and inhibitors.
Why won’t task conflict cooperate? Deciphering stubborn results
Authors: L. Loughry Misty , C. Amason Allen
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to suggest why the theoretically positive relationship between task conflict and team performance has received mixed empirical support.

Design/methodology/approach

– We review the literature on task conflict and offer explanations for findings that contradict the expected positive relationship between task conflict and team performance.

Findings

– High levels of correlation among task, relationship and process conflict, and measurement and data analysis issues make it difficult to isolate the effects of each type of conflict. Group-level moderators, including values congruence, goal alignment, norms for debate and the group’s performance history and conflict history affect the relationship between task conflict and performance. The complex relationship between conflict and trust may cause task conflict to have mixed effects on performance. Individual differences and conflict management approaches also affect the relationship between task conflict and performance. Temporal issues and stages of group development are other relevant influences.

Practical implications

– To better achieve the theorized performance benefits of task conflict, a context characterized by trust is needed. Then norms fostering task conflict can be cultivated and employees can be trained in conflict management. Individual differences that affect team members’ ability to confidently accept task conflict can be considered in selection.

Originality/value

– Suggestions are presented for future research that may explain discrepant findings in the past empirical literature. In particular, it may be difficult for some team members to perceive task conflict in well-functioning teams. Measures of task conflict that avoid the use of words with a negative connotation should be tested.
Only narratives can reflect the experience of objectivity: effective persuasion
Authors: Goosseff Kyrill A.
Published: October 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences between objective language and narratives and how differences affect rhetoric.

Design/methodology/approach

– Conceptual implications are drawn from an analysis and discussion of the literature in the fields of autopoiesis, meanings and narratives.

Findings

– Only narratives convey the experience of objectivity, which makes them more effective to persuade people to change than just providing “objective” data and explanatory knowledge.

Originality/value

– The paper discusses how the projection of meaning is not an experience but knowledge. Meaning is experienced as an empirical property of the perceived.
Broad‐scale variation of fungal‐endophyte incidence in temperate grasses
Authors: Semmartin María , Omacini Marina , Gundel Pedro E. , Hernández‐Agramonte Ignacio M.
Published: October 2014

The strength of many interactions between plants and other organisms changes across regional gradients. For example, the relevance of plant‐herbivore interactions increases with primary production. Likewise, biotic interactions collectively become more intense from the poles to the equator. Yet, the regional variation of the interaction between grasses and systemic fungal endophytes, which provide resistance to biotic and abiotic environmental factors (i.e. herbivory and drought), is poorly understood.

We compiled 1008 records of the incidence level of fungal endophytes (Epichloë, Ascomycetes: Clavicipitaceae) on wild populations of 48 cool season grasses, encompassing 10 biomes across a broad latitudinal expanse and primary production gradient. Symbiosis incidence was analysed as a function of mean primary production, precipitation, temperature and latitude of each site, which in turn were obtained from climatic and satellital sources.

Across a 30‐fold variation of mean primary production, average symbiosis incidence increased from 20% to 70%. The pattern became stronger when the analysis was restricted to the single grass genus Festuca, which accounted for half of the total data.

The number of grass populations showing no symbiosis incidence (0%) decreased as primary production increased, whereas those with 100% of incidence increased.

Primary production at the regional scale was negatively correlated with latitude but positively with mean annual temperature and precipitation. Symbiosis incidence was similarly correlated with latitude and temperature, and it was not with mean annual precipitation.

Synthesis. Different descriptors of this grass‐fungus symbiosis show that average incidence in wild populations world‐wide increases with mean primary production. As at large spatial scales herbivory and temperature increase and aridity decreases with primary production, our results suggest that, at broad‐scales, these biotic and abiotic factors may be important drivers of the symbiosis success.
An Uncertain Future for the BBC World Service
Authors: WEBB ALBAN
Published: October 2014

In recent years, the BBC World Service has undergone the most radical overhaul of its governance, finance and working practices since the Second World War. In examining these changes, the Foreign Affairs Select Committee report on The Future of the BBC World Service articulates ‘clear differences’ between it and the BBC about how the World Service should be governed, and ‘serious reservations’ about the transfer of funding in April this year from government grant‐in‐aid to the licence fee. With a new BBC Charter due in 2017, will the distinct ethos and culture of the World Service survive this major reorganisation?
Effect of Date Palm Coproducts and Annatto Extract on Lipid Oxidation and Microbial Quality in a Pork Liver Pâté
Authors: Martín‐Sánchez A.M. , Ciro‐Gómez G.L. , Zapata‐Montoya J.E. , Vilella‐Esplá J. , Pérez‐Álvarez J.A. , Sayas‐Barberá E.
Published: October 2014

Dates are an interesting source of bioactive compounds, and coproducts from the date industry are of potential use in the manufacturing of meat products. In the present research, spreadable pork liver pâtés were made using fresh date coproducts (2.5% and 7.5%) as a potential functional ingredient and an ethanolic annatto extract (128 mg/kg) as colorant. The effect of these 2 ingredients on the lipid oxidation and microbial quality of the pâtés was assessed during 21 d of storage. The pâtés containing 7.5% date paste were seen to have the highest content of phenolic compounds during storage. The combination of 2.5% date paste and annatto protected pâtés against lipid oxidation throughout the 21 d of storage, thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances values being 0.47 mg MDA/kg at the end of this period, while other combinations increased oxidation compared to the control pâté. The control and those made with 2.5% date paste alone showed the highest counts of mesophilic aerobic bacteria, while the addition of annatto and/or 7.5% date paste reduced this count. The results suggest that a combination of both ingredients is necessary to reduce oxidation and microbial growth, but whereas the concentration of 2.5% is more appropriate to reduce oxidation, the combination with 7.5% date paste reduces the microbial counts. Both ingredients could have an opportunity of valorization in the meat industry for improving the quality.
Evaluation of Antioxidant Activities of Zein Protein Fractions
Authors: Tang Ning , Zhuang Hong
Published: October 2014

Zein protein was extracted from the by‐product corn gluten meal. The obtained zein protein was 1st hydrolyzed by 4 different proteases. The antioxidant activities of the hydrolysates or peptides were evaluated by free radical scavenging activity, metal ion chelating activity, and lipid peroxidation inhibitory capacity. Among hydrolysates produced, alkaline protease hydrolysates exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. A regression model was established by uniform design to optimize the alkaline protease hydrolysis conditions. The hydrolysates with molecular weight < 3 kDa obtained from ultrafiltration showed the highest antioxidant activities in all relevant assays. The hydrolysates with molecular weight <3 kDa were subsequently purified by gel filtration chromatography, and fraction F3 exhibited the highest antioxidant activities. Two peptides were identified from fraction F3 using LC‐ESI‐Q‐TOF MS/MS as Pro‐Phe (263.13 Da) and Leu‐Pro‐Phe (375.46 Da). These peptides exhibited good free radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibitory effect. The results clearly indicated that zein protein fractions are good sources for the development of natural antioxidants for the food industry.
Determinants of incident prediabetes and type 2 diabetes in a 7‐year cohort in a developing country: The Isfahan Cohort Study
Authors: Sadeghi Masoumeh , Talaei Mohammad , Parvaresh Rizi Ehsan , Dianatkhah Minoo , Oveisgharan Shahram , Sarrafzadegan Nizal
Published: October 2014

Background

This study aimed to identify determinants of new onset type‐2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes in a region with high rate of T2D but scarcity of evidence.

Methods

Participants free of T2D were identified in a population‐based study of adults older than 35 years living in the rural and urban areas of three districts in Iran in 2001 and were re‐examined after 7 years. Biochemical measurements, anthropometric data, blood pressure, smoking status and dietary intake were determined at both measurement points through identical protocols and procedures. Data analysis was done using multivariate ordered logistic regressions.

Results

Incidence rate of prediabetes and T2D was 32.3 (95%CI, 29.7–35.1) and 18.9 (17.1–20.9) per 1000 person‐year, respectively. Odds of progression to prediabetes and T2D were increased with ageing, living in rural area (OR = 1.28), unhealthy diet (OR = 1.32), overweight (OR = 1.45), obesity (OR = 1.97), waist gain (OR = 1.37), high waist‐to‐hip ratio (OR = 1.35), hypertension (OR = 1.35), and hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.50); but reduced with higher education (OR = 0.76) and weight loss (OR = 0.67) in the adjusted models. In those with prediabetes at baseline, parental history of T2D (OR = 2.26), obesity (OR = 2.59), high waist circumference (OR = 2.03), and hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 1.94) were associated with developing T2D. No factor was found to be associated with regression from prediabetes to normoglycemia in adjusted models.

Conclusions

Current data endorses proposed statistical projections for the future trend of diabetes, and highlights the potential role of obesity specifically visceral type.
Endothelial dysfunction after non‐cardiac surgery: a systematic review
Authors: SØNDERGAARD E. S. , FONNES S. , GÖGENUR I.
Published: October 2014

Background

More than 50% of patients with increased troponin levels after non‐cardiac surgery have an impaired endothelial function pre‐operatively. Non‐invasive markers of endothelial function have been developed for the assessment of endothelial dysfunction. The aim of this paper was to systematically review the literature to evaluate the association between non‐cardiac surgery and non‐invasive markers of endothelial function.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library Database according to the PRISMA guidelines. Endothelial dysfunction was described only with non‐invasive measurements done both pre‐ and post‐operatively and published in English. All types of non‐cardiac surgery and both men and women of all ages were included.

Results

We found 1722 eligible studies in our search, and of these, five studies fulfilled our inclusion and exclusion criteria. Endothelial function was disturbed in patients after non‐cardiac surgery. Three studies found a significant decrease in the endothelial function immediately after surgery (2 and 24 h post‐operatively). Two studies found that patients with previous endothelial dysfunction and scheduled for surgery (renal transplantation and vascular surgery respectively) had an improvement in endothelial dysfunction 1 month after surgery.

Conclusion

Endothelial function changes in relation to surgery. Assessment of endothelial function by non‐invasive measures has the potential to guide clinicians in the prevention or treatment of post‐operative myocardial damage.
Ontogenetic Scaling of the Hindlimb Muscles of the Greater Rhea (Rhea americana)
Authors: Picasso M. B. J.
Published: October 2014

The greater rhea (Rhea americana) is the largest South American bird. It is a cursorial, flightless species with long powerful legs and reduced forelimbs. The goal of this study was to explore how hindlimb muscles scale with body mass during postnatal growth and to analyze whether the specialized locomotion of this species affects the growth of muscle masses. The mass of 19 muscles and body mass were weighed in 21 specimens ranging from 1‐month‐old individuals to adults. Seventeen muscles scaled with positive allometry with respect to body mass, whereas two muscles scaled isometrically. The predominance of positive allometric growth in hindlimb muscles results in a limb with massive and powerful muscles specialized to support a large body mass and to attain relatively high running speeds. Analysis of muscle mass scaling is a simple and useful way to compare possible differences between locomotor styles, and it is valuable in studies that reconstruct the paleobiology of extinct taxa.
Incidence and outcomes of pregnancy‐associated melanoma in New South Wales 1994–2008
Authors: Bannister‐Tyrrell Melanie , Roberts Christine L. , Hasovits Csilla , Nippita Tanya , Ford Jane B.
Published: October 2014

Background

There is controversy about the interaction between melanoma and pregnancy. There is a lack of Australian data on pregnancy outcomes associated with melanoma in pregnancy, despite Australia having the highest incidence of melanoma in the world.

Aims

Describe trends, maternal characteristics and pregnancy outcomes associated with pregnancy‐associated melanoma in New South Wales.

Materials and Methods

Population‐based cohort study of all births (n = 1 309 501) of at least 20‐week gestation or 400 g birthweight in New South Wales, 1994–2008. Logistic regression was used to analyse the association between melanoma in pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes.

Results

577 pregnancy‐associated melanomas were identified, including 195 diagnosed during pregnancy and 382 diagnosed within 12 months postpartum. The crude incidence of pregnancy‐associated melanoma increased from 37.1 per 100 000 maternities in 1994 to 51.84 per 100 000 maternities in 2008. Adjusting for maternal age accounted for the trend in pregnancy‐associated melanoma. Melanomas diagnosed in pregnancy were thicker (median = 0.75 mm) than melanomas diagnosed postpartum (median = 0.60 mm) (P = 0.002). Pregnancy‐associated melanoma was associated with the increased risk of large‐for‐gestational‐age infant but not preterm birth, planned birth, caesarean section or stillbirth. Parity was inversely associated with pregnancy‐associated melanoma, as women with three or more previous pregnancies had 0.59 times the odds of pregnancy‐associated melanoma compared to nulliparous women (95% CI 0.42–0.84, P = 0.003).

Conclusions

The incidence of pregnancy‐associated melanoma has increased with increasing maternal age. The observation of thicker melanomas in pregnancy and increased risk of large‐for‐gestational‐age infants may suggest a role for growth‐related pregnancy factors in pregnancy‐associated melanoma.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: post‐infectious functional dyspepsia
Authors: Futagami S. , Itoh T. , Sakamoto C.
Published: October 2014

Background

The prevalence of functional dyspepsia (FD) following infectious gastroenteritis has not been systematically reviewed.

Aim

To conduct a systematic review and calculate the summary odds ratio (OR) for the development of FD following infectious gastroenteritis, as compared to a control population.

Methods

Published studies in PubMed, EmBASE, and Cochrane Database and abstracts from standard sources were screened for eligible studies. Data from studies meeting inclusion criteria were pooled for meta‐analysis.

Results

Nineteen studies were eligible for inclusion. The mean prevalence of FD following acute gastroenteritis (AGE) was 9.55% (FD, n = 909; AGE, n = 9517) in adult populations. The summary OR for the development of post‐infectious FD was 2.54 (95% CI = 1.76–3.65) at more than 6 months after AGE, as compared to the prevalence in controls within the same population. This is compared with the summary OR (3.51; 95% CI = 2.05–6.00) for the development of post‐infectious irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in the same population at more than 6 months after AGE. There was significant statistical heterogeneity with an I2 of 72.8% for the summary OR of post‐infectious FD. Several pathogens, including Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli O157, Campylobacter jejuni, Giardia lamblia and Norovirus have been shown to be associated with post‐infectious FD symptoms.

Conclusions

Infectious gastroenteritis is associated with an increased risk for subsequent dyspepsia as well as for irritable bowel syndrome. Post‐infectious FD and post‐infectious irritable bowel syndrome may represent different aspects of the same pathophysiology. Further studies will be needed to determine this.
A Molecular Dynamics Investigation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Prenyl Synthases: Conformational Flexibility and Implications for Computer‐aided Drug Discovery
Authors: Kim Meekyum Olivia , Feng Xinxin , Feixas Ferran , Zhu Wei , Lindert Steffen , Bogue Shannon , Sinko William , de Oliveira César , Rao Guodong , Oldfield Eric , McCammon James Andrew
Published: October 2014

With the rise in antibiotic resistance, there is interest in discovering new drugs active against new targets. Here, we investigate the dynamic structures of three isoprenoid synthases from Mycobacterium tuberculosis using molecular dynamics (MD) methods with a view to discovering new drug leads. Two of the enzymes, cis‐farnesyl diphosphate synthase (cis‐FPPS) and cis‐decaprenyl diphosphate synthase (cis‐DPPS), are involved in bacterial cell wall biosynthesis, while the third, tuberculosinyl adenosine synthase (Rv3378c), is involved in virulence factor formation. The MD results for these three enzymes were then compared with previous results on undecaprenyl diphosphate synthase (UPPS) by means of active site volume fluctuation and principal component analyses. In addition, an analysis of the binding of prenyl diphosphates to cis‐FPPS, cis‐DPPS, and UPPS utilizing the new MD results is reported. We also screened libraries of inhibitors against cis‐DPPS, finding ~1 μm inhibitors, and used the receiver operating characteristic–area under the curve (ROC‐AUC) method to test the predictive power of X‐ray and MD‐derived cis‐DPPS receptors. We found that one compound with potent M. tuberculosis cell growth inhibition activity was an IC50 ~0.5‐ to 20‐μm inhibitor (depending on substrate) of cis‐DPPS, a ~660‐nm inhibitor of Rv3378c as well as a 4.8‐μm inhibitor of cis‐FPPS, opening up the possibility of multitarget inhibition involving both cell wall biosynthesis and virulence factor formation.
Genetics of human isolated hereditary hair loss disorders
Authors: Basit S. , Khan S. , Ahmad W.
Published: October 2014

Hereditary hair loss in human is a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders. It is characterized by sparse to complete absence of hair on the scalp and other parts of the body. In few cases tightly curled twisted wooly hair (WH) on the scalp has been reported as well. The hair loss disorders, including both syndromic and non‐syndromic (isolated) forms, segregate either in autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive pattern. To date, seven autosomal dominant and equal numbers of autosomal recessive isolated forms of hair loss disorders have been characterized. Genes responsible for causing most of these disorders have been identified. In this review, we have provided an update on clinical and genetic aspects of isolated hereditary hair loss disorders manifesting with hypotrichosis and/or WHs. Because most of the recessive genes have been mapped using consanguineous families of Pakistani origin, therefore emphasis is given to mutations identified in these families. OMIM nomenclature has been followed to indicate different forms of hair loss disorders.
Sky Based Light Metering for High Dynamic Range Images
Authors: Gryaditskya Yulia , Pouli Tania , Reinhard Erik , Seidel Hans‐Peter
Published: October 2014

Image calibration requires both linearization of pixel values and scaling so that values in the image correspond to real‐world luminances. In this paper we focus on the latter and rather than rely on camera characterization, we calibrate images by analysing their content and metadata, obviating the need for expensive measuring devices or modeling of lens and camera combinations. Our analysis correlates sky pixel values to luminances that would be expected based on geographical metadata. Combined with high dynamic range (HDR) imaging, which gives us linear pixel data, our algorithm allows us to find absolute luminance values for each pixel—effectively turning digital cameras into absolute light meters. To validate our algorithm we have collected and annotated a calibrated set of HDR images and compared our estimation with several other approaches, showing that our approach is able to more accurately recover absolute luminance. We discuss various applications and demonstrate the utility of our method in the context of calibrated color appearance reproduction and lighting design.
Template‐Based Sampling of Anisotropic BRDFs
Authors: Filip J. , Vávra R.
Published: October 2014

BRDFs are commonly used to represent given materials’ appearance in computer graphics and related fields. Although, in the recent past, BRDFs have been extensively measured, compressed, and fitted by a variety of analytical models, most research has been primarily focused on simplified isotropic BRDFs. In this paper, we present a unique database of 150 BRDFs representing a wide range of materials; the majority exhibiting anisotropic behavior. Since time‐consuming BRDF measurement represents a major obstacle in the digital material appearance reproduction pipeline, we tested several approaches estimating a very limited set of samples capable of high quality appearance reconstruction. Initially, we aligned all measured BRDFs according to the location of the anisotropic highlights. Then we propose an adaptive sampling method based on analysis of the measured BRDFs. For each BRDF, a unique sampling pattern was computed, given a predefined count of samples. Further, template‐based methods are introduced based on reusing of the precomputed sampling patterns. This approach enables a more efficient measurement of unknown BRDFs while preserving the visual fidelity for the majority of tested materials. Our method exhibits better performance and stability than competing sparse sampling approaches; especially for higher numbers of samples.
Fractional Reyes‐Style Adaptive Tessellation for Continuous Level of Detail
Authors: Liktor G. , Pan M. , Dachsbacher C.
Published: October 2014

In this paper we present a fractional parametric splitting scheme for Reyes‐style adaptive tessellation. Our parallel algorithm generates crack‐free tessellation from a parametric surface, which is also free of sudden temporal changes under animation. Continuous level of detail is not addressed by existing Reyes‐style methods, since these aim to produce subpixel‐sized micropolygons, where topology changes are no longer noticeable. Using our method, rendering pipelines that use larger triangles, thus sensitive to geometric popping, may also benefit from the quality of the split‐dice tessellation stages of Reyes. We demonstrate results on a real‐time GPU implementation, going beyond the limited quality and resolution of the hardware tessellation unit. In contrast to previous split‐dice methods, our split stage is compatible with the fractional hardware tessellation scheme that has been designed for continuous level of detail.
Making in‐Front‐of Cars Transparent: Sharing First‐Person‐Views via Dashcam
Authors: Chen Shao‐Chi , Chen Hsin‐Yi , Chen Yi‐Ling , Tsai Hsin‐Mu , Chen Bing‐Yu
Published: October 2014

Visual obstruction caused by a preceding vehicle is one of the key factors threatening driving safety. One possible solution is to share the first‐person‐view of the preceding vehicle to unveil the blocked field‐of‐view of the following vehicle. However, the geometric inconsistency caused by the camera‐eye discrepancy renders view sharing between different cars a very challenging task. In this paper, we present a first‐person‐perspective image rendering algorithm to solve this problem. Firstly, we contour unobstructed view as the transferred region, then by iteratively estimating local homography transformations and performing perspective‐adaptive warping using the estimated transformations, we are able to locally adjust the shape of the unobstructed view so that its perspective and boundary could be matched to that of the occluded region. Thus, the composited view is seamless in both the perceived perspective and photometric appearance, creating an impression as if the preceding vehicle is transparent. Our system improves the driver's visibility and thus relieves the burden on the driver, which in turn increases comfort. We demonstrate the usability and stability of our system by performing its evaluation with several challenging data sets collected from real‐world driving scenarios.
A 3D printed TCP/HA structure as a new osteoconductive scaffold for vertical bone augmentation
Authors: Carrel Jean‐Pierre , Wiskott Anselm , Moussa Mira , Rieder Philippe , Scherrer Susanne , Durual Stéphane
Published: October 2014

Introduction

OsteoFlux® (OF) is a 3D printed porous block of layered strands of tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and hydroxyapatite. Its porosity and interconnectivity are defined, and it can be readily shaped to conform the bone bed's morphology. We investigated the performance of OF as a scaffold to promote the vertical growth of cortical bone in a sheep calvarial model.

Materials and methods

Six titanium hemispheres were filled with OF, Bio‐Oss (particulate bovine bone, BO), or Ceros (particulate TCP, CO) and placed onto the calvaria of 12 adult sheep (6 hemispheres/sheep). Histomorphometric analyses were performed after 8 and 16 weeks.

Results

OF led to substantial vertical bone growth by 8 weeks and outperformed BO and CO by a factor 2 yielding OF 22% ± 2.1; BO 11.5% ± 1.9; and CO 12.9% ± 2.1 total new bone. 3 mm away from the bony bed, OF led to a fourfold increase in new bone relative to BO and CO (n = 8, P < 0.002). At 16 weeks, OF, BO, and CO behaved similarly and showed marked new bone synthesis. A moderate degradation was observed at 16 weeks for all bone substitutes.

Conclusion

When compared to existing bone substitutes, OF enhances vertical bone growth during the first 2 months after implantation in a sheep calvarial model. The controlled porous structure translated in a high osteoconductivity and resulted in a bone mass 3 mm above the bony bed that was four times greater than that obtained with standard substitutes. These results are promising but must be confirmed in clinical tests.
On the Issuing Policies for Perishable Items such as Red Blood Cells and Platelets in Blood Service
Authors: Abbasi Babak , Hosseinifard S. Zahra
Published: October 2014

Red blood cells (RBCs) and platelets are examples of perishable items with a fixed shelf life. Recent studies show that transfusing fresh RBCs may lead to an improvement of patient outcomes. In addition, to better manage their inventory, hospitals prefer to receive fresh RBCs and platelets. Therefore, as well as minimizing outdates and shortages, reducing the average age of issue is a key performance criterion for blood banks. The issuing policy in a perishable inventory system has a substantial impact on the age of issue and outdate and shortage rates. Although several studies have compared the last in first out (LIFO) and the first in first out (FIFO) policies for perishable products, only a few studies have considered the situation of blood banks where replenishment is not controllable. In this study, we examine various issuing policies for a perishable inventory system with uncontrollable replenishment, and outline a modified FIFO policy. Our proposed modified FIFO policy partitions the inventory into two parts such that the first part holds the items with age less than a threshold. It then applies the FIFO policy in each part and the LIFO policy between the parts. We present two approximation techniques to estimate the average age of issue, the average time between successive outdates and the average time between successive shortages of the modified FIFO policy. Our analysis shows in several cases that where the objective function is a single economic function, or it is formulated as a multiobjective model, the modified FIFO policy outperforms the FIFO and LIFO policies.
A Decision Support Tool for Predicting Patients at Risk of Readmission: A Comparison of Classification Trees, Logistic Regression, Generalized Additive Models, and Multivariate Adaptive Regression Splines
Authors: Demir Eren
Published: October 2014

The number of emergency (or unplanned) readmissions in the United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) has been rising for many years. This trend, which is possibly related to poor patient care, places financial pressures on hospitals and on national healthcare budgets. As a result, clinicians and key decision makers (e.g., managers and commissioners) are interested in predicting patients at high risk of readmission. Logistic regression is the most popular method of predicting patient‐specific probabilities. However, these studies have produced conflicting results with poor prediction accuracies. We compared the predictive accuracy of logistic regression with that of regression trees for predicting emergency readmissions within 45 days after been discharged from hospital. We also examined the predictive ability of two other types of data‐driven models: generalized additive models (GAMs) and multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS). We used data on 963 patients readmitted to hospitals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma. We used repeated split‐sample validation: the data were divided into derivation and validation samples. Predictive models were estimated using the derivation sample and the predictive accuracy of the resultant model was assessed using a number of performance measures, such as area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve in the validation sample. This process was repeated 1,000 times—the initial data set was divided into derivation and validation samples 1,000 times, and the predictive accuracy of each method was assessed each time. The mean ROC curve area for the regression tree models in the 1,000 derivation samples was .928, while the mean ROC curve area of a logistic regression model was .924. Our study shows that logistic regression model and regression trees had performance comparable to that of more flexible, data‐driven models such as GAMs and MARS. Given that the models have produced excellent predictive accuracies, this could be a valuable decision support tool for clinicians (healthcare managers, policy makers, etc.) for informed decision making in the management of diseases, which ultimately contributes to improved measures for hospital performance management.
Stuttering as a trait or state – an ALE meta‐analysis of neuroimaging studies
Authors: Belyk Michel , Kraft Shelly Jo , Brown Steven
Published: October 2014

Stuttering is a speech disorder characterised by repetitions, prolongations and blocks that disrupt the forward movement of speech. An earlier meta‐analysis of brain imaging studies of stuttering (Brown et al., 2005) revealed a general trend towards rightward lateralization of brain activations and hyperactivity in the larynx motor cortex bilaterally. The present study sought not only to update that meta‐analysis with recent work but to introduce an important distinction not present in the first study, namely the difference between ‘trait’ and ‘state’ stuttering. The analysis of trait stuttering compares people who stutter (PWS) with people who do not stutter when behaviour is controlled for, i.e., when speech is fluent in both groups. In contrast, the analysis of state stuttering examines PWS during episodes of stuttered speech compared with episodes of fluent speech. Seventeen studies were analysed using activation likelihood estimation. Trait stuttering was characterised by the well‐known rightward shift in lateralization for language and speech areas. State stuttering revealed a more diverse pattern. Abnormal activation of larynx and lip motor cortex was common to the two analyses. State stuttering was associated with overactivation in the right hemisphere larynx and lip motor cortex. Trait stuttering was associated with overactivation of lip motor cortex in the right hemisphere but underactivation of larynx motor cortex in the left hemisphere. These results support a large literature highlighting laryngeal and lip involvement in the symptomatology of stuttering, and disambiguate two possible sources of activation in neuroimaging studies of persistent developmental stuttering.