bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A DISCRETIZATION METHOD BASED ON MAXIMIZING THE AREA UNDER RECEIVER OPERATING CHARACTERISTIC CURVE
Authors: KURTCEPHE MURAT , GÜVENIR H. ALTAY
Published: January 2013

Many machine learning algorithms require the features to be categorical. Hence, they require all numeric-valued data to be discretized into intervals. In this paper, we present a new discretization method based on the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) Curve (AUC) measure. Maximum area under ROC curve-based discretization (MAD) is a global, static and supervised discretization method. MAD uses the sorted order of the continuous values of a feature and discretizes the feature in such a way that the AUC based on that feature is to be maximized. The proposed method is compared with alternative discretization methods such as ChiMerge, Entropy-Minimum Description Length Principle (MDLP), Fixed Frequency Discretization (FFD), and Proportional Discretization (PD). FFD and PD have been recently proposed and are designed for Naïve Bayes learning. ChiMerge is a merging discretization method as the MAD method. Evaluations are performed in terms of M-Measure, an AUC-based metric for multi-class classification, and accuracy values obtained from Naïve Bayes and Aggregating One-Dependence Estimators (AODE) algorithms by using real-world datasets. Empirical results show that MAD is a strong candidate to be a good alternative to other discretization methods.
A 0.0052 mm2 COMPACT DIGITAL PLL IN 65 nm CMOS
Authors: LUO ZHIHONG , AU YEUNG ON , LAU BENJAMIN , LAW HENRY
Published: January 2013

A novel structure of digital phase locked loop (PLL) is presented in this paper. It uses digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) to generate the clock. At the beginning of each reference clock cycle, the DCO is fully reset and restarts to oscillate to prevent the long term jitter accumulation and increase the loop stability. It uses three types of digital delay control methods, including delay cell number adjust, delay cell load adjust and in cycle load adjust to digitally control the DCO output clock frequency, in order to get wider frequency range and smaller jitter. This digital PLL uses NAND gate as the basic delay cell of ring oscillator, which can completely reset DCO in a very short time. It uses binary search to achieve fast lock and uses shift chain to get better input clock jitter tolerance. This digital PLL has been silicon validated in GLOBALFOUNDRIES 65 nm Generic process. Its chip area is only 0.0052 mm2. In typical condition, DCO's frequency has a wide range between 550 MHz and 2.45 GHz. Its total power is around 1.4 mW when DCO's frequency is 1.8 GHz. This PLL can be locked very fast in 25 divided reference clock cycles, and its output clock jitter is around 18 ps.
DDAB-MODIFIED TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) NANOPARTICLES AS ORAL ANTICANCER DRUG CARRIER FOR LUNG CANCER CHEMOTHERAPY
Authors: ZHAO TIEJUN , CHEN HEZHONG , YANG LIXIN , JIN HAI , LI ZHIGANG , HAN LIN , LU FANGLIN , XU ZHIYUN
Published: January 2013

Oral chemotherapy is a great way to cancer treatment because it is less stressful being that the patient will have less hospital visits and can still maintain a close relationship with health care professionals. In this research, three types of nanoparticle formulation from commercial PCL and self-synthesized TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) diblock copolymer were fabricated for oral delivery of antitumor agents, including DDAB-modified PCL nanoparticles, unmodified TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticles and DDAB-modified TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticles. Firstly, the TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) diblock copolymer was synthesized and characterized. DDAB was adopted to increase retention time at the cell surface, thus increasing the chances of nanoparticle uptake by the gastrointestinal mucosa and improving drug absorption. The TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticles were found by FESEM of spherical shape and around 200 nm in diameter. The surface charge of TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticles was reversed from anionic to cationic after DDAB modification. The DDAB-modified TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticles have significantly higher level of the cell uptake than that of DDAB-modified PCL nanoparticles and unmodified TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticles. In vitro cell viability studies showed advantages of the DDAB-modified TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticles over Taxotere®in terms of cytotoxicity against A549 cells. In conclusion, oral chemotherapy by DDAB-modified TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticle formulation may provide a promising outcome for lung cancer patients.
COMPLEX OPTICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF MESH IMPLANTS AND ENCAPSULATION AREA
Authors: ZAKHAROV VALERIY P. , BRATCHENKO IVAN A. , BELOKONEV VLADIMIR I. , KORNILIN DMITRY V. , MYAKININ OLEG O.
Published: January 2013

Complex investigation of mesh implants was performed involving laser confocal microscopy, backscattered probing and OCT imaging methods. The growth of endomysium and fat tissue with microcirculation vessels was observed in the mesh encapsulation region. Confocal microscopy analysis shows that such pathologies complications such as necrosis formation and microcavities were localized in the area near implant fibers with the size compatible with fiber diameter. And the number of such formations increase with the increase of the size, number and density of microdefects on the implant surface. Results of numerical simulations show that it is possible to control implant installation up to the depth to 4 mm with a help of backscattering probing. The applicability of OCT imaging for mesh implant control was demonstrated. Special two-stage OCT image noise-reduction algorithm, including empirical mode decomposition, was proposed for contrast increase and better abnormalities visualization by halving the signal-to-noise ratio. Joint usage of backscattered probing and OCT allows to accurately ascertain implant and surrounding tissue conditions, which reduces the risk of relapse probability.
PHOTONIC CRYSTAL WAVEGUIDE BIOSENSOR
Authors: ZANISHEVSKAYA A. A. , MALININ A. V. , TUCHIN V. V. , SKIBINA YU. S. , SILOKHIN I. YU.
Published: January 2013

The hollow core photonic crystal waveguide biosensor is designed and described. The biosensor was tested in experiments for artificial sweetener identification in drinks. The photonic crystal waveguide biosensor has a high sensitivity to the optical properties of liquids filling up the hollow core. The compactness, good integration ability to different optical systems and compatibility for use in industrial settings make such biosensor very promising for various biomedical applications.
NOISE REDUCTION METHOD FOR OCT IMAGES BASED ON EMPIRICAL MODE DECOMPOSITION
Authors: MYAKININ OLEG O. , KORNILIN DMITRY V. , BRATCHENKO IVAN A. , ZAKHAROV VALERIY P. , KHRAMOV ALEXANDER G.
Published: January 2013

In this paper, the new method for OCT images denoizing based on empirical mode decomposition (EMD) is proposed. The noise reduction is a very important process for following operations to analyze and recognition of tissue structure. Our method does not require any additional operations and hardware modifications. The basics of proposed method is described. Quality improvement of noise suppression on example of edge-detection procedure using the classical Canny's algorithm without any additional pre- and post-processing operations is demonstrated. Improvement of raw-segmentation in the automatic diagnostic process between a tissue and a mesh implant is shown.
OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY OF ADIPOSE TISSUE AT PHOTODYNAMIC/PHOTOTHERMAL TREATMENT IN VITRO
Authors: YANINA IRINA YU. , TRUNINA NATALIA A. , TUCHIN VALERY V.
Published: January 2013

Temporal changes in structure and refractive-index distribution of adipose tissue at photodynamic/photothermal treatment were studied with OCT in vitro. Ethanol–water solutions of indocyanine green (ICG) and brilliant green (BG) were used for fat tissue staining. CW laser diode (808 nm) and LED light source (442 and 597 nm) were used for irradiation of stained tissue slices. The data received supporting the hypothesis that photodynamic/photothermal treatment, induces fat cell lipolysis during a certain period of time after light exposure.
THE GEANT4 VISUALIZATION SYSTEM — A MULTI-DRIVER GRAPHICS SYSTEM
Authors: ALLISON JOHN , GARNIER LAURENT , KIMURA AKINORI , PERL JOSEPH
Published: January 2013

From the beginning, the GEANT4 Visualization System was designed to support several simultaneous graphics systems written to common abstract interfaces. Today, it has matured into a powerful diagnostic and presentational tool. It comes with a library of models that may be added to the current scene and which include the representation of the GEANT4 geometry hierarchy, simulated trajectories and user-written hits and digitizations. The workhorse is the OpenGL suite of drivers for X, Xm, Qt, and Win32. There is an Open Inventor driver. Scenes can be exported in special graphics formats for offline viewing in the DAWN, VRML, HepRApp and gMocren browsers. PostScript can be generated through OpenGL, Open Inventor, DAWN and HepRApp. GEANT4's own tracking algorithms are used by the Ray Tracer. Not all drivers support all features but all drivers bring added functionality of some sort. This paper describes the interfaces and details the individual drivers.
THE EFFECTS OF PRICE DYNAMICS ON OPTIMAL FUTURES HEDGING
Authors: LIEN DONALD , SHRESTHA KESHAB
Published: January 2013

In this paper, we analytically derive the adjustments needed for the conventional hedge ratio due to the presence of short-run and long-run dynamics. We also analytically show the performance impact of these dynamics. We apply the method discussed in the paper to eight different stock index futures contracts from seven different countries. It is found that the short-run dynamics has no effect whereas the long-run dynamics may produce significant effects on the optimal hedge ratio and the hedging performance.
A Case Report of Acute Myeloid Leukemia after Liver Transplantation
Authors: Liu Mingjuan , Liu Ji , Liu Lihui , Yu Li , Shi Bing , Ye Liping , Zhang Yongqing , Chen Hu
Published: January 2013

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare complication observed after liver transplantation and only a handful of cases have been reported until now. We report a case of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) after liver transplantation in a 50-year-old man. The case presentation was postodontectomy bleeding with an associative abnormal coagulation test 85 months after liver transplantation. A routine blood test, bone marrow test, chromosome analysis and examination of PML/RARα chimeric gene confirmed the diagnosis of APL and disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). Induction chemotherapy with all-trans retinoic acid, arsenic trioxide and daunorubicin was given to this patient and complete remission was achieved. The patient was subjected to DA (daunorubicin combined with cytarabine) and MA (mitoxantrone combined with cytarabine) regimens after remission induction to consolidate the chemotherapy for two courses of treatment, and subsequently subjected to arsenous acid chemotherapy on a periodic basis. Twenty-two months into the follow-up, sustained bone marrow remission was observed with the adapted treatment regimen.
Adopting Gayet’s Techniques of Totally Laparoscopic Liver Surgery in the United States
Authors: Gumbs Andrew A. , Gayet Brice
Published: January 2013

Professor Brice Gayet of the Institut Mutualiste Montsouris in Paris, France, has developed totally laparoscopic techniques for all segments of the liver. As a pioneer in the field of minimally invasive hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery, he started a Minimally Invasive Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Fellowship in 2006. A retrospective review of all hepatic cases performed by a single surgeon since completing this Fellowship was undertaken. From November 2007 to October 2012, a total of 80 liver resections were done, of which 73 were begun with the intention of completing the case laparoscopically. Of these, more than 90% were completed laparoscopically and 88% were for malignant disease. One of the foundations of Professor Gayet’s techniques is the low lithotomy or ‘French’ position and the utilization of a small robotically controlled laparoscope holder that is sterilizeable and considerably more economic than complete surgical systems. Prototypes exist of robotically controlled hand-held laparoscopic instruments that, unlike the complete surgical system, enable surgeons to maintain a sense of touch (haptics). Proper training in minimally invasive hepato-pancreato-biliary techniques can be obtained with surgeons able to independently perform laparoscopic major hepatectomies without senior minimally invasive backup. Furthermore, miniature and more affordable robotics may enable more surgeons to enjoy the benefits of minimally invasive surgery while maintaining patient safety and minimizing the rising burden of health-care costs worldwide.
Biomarkers: Evaluation of Screening for and Early Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Japan and China
Authors: Song Peipei , Gao Jianjun , Inagaki Yoshinori , Kokudo Norihiro , Hasegawa Kiyoshi , Sugawara Yasuhiko , Tang Wei
Published: January 2013

Over the past few decades, the screening for and early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has attracted attention worldwide, and especially in Asian countries such as Japan and China. Such approaches can help detecting HCC at an earlier stage when curable interventions can be offered to achieve long-term disease-free survival for patients. Biomarkers have been used to screen for and diagnose HCC in various countries. In Japan, the combined tests of des-γ-carboxyprothrombin (DCP) and α-fetoprotein (AFP) or Lens culinaris agglutinin-reactive fraction of AFP (AFP-L3) have been shown to achieve a high level of sensitivity and specificity. These tests have routinely been used to screen for HCC and are covered by Japan’s national health insurance. Due to the routine practice of screening for HCC among high-risk patients, HCC nodules have been detected in the early stages in more than 60% of patients in Japan. In contrast, although several remarkable advances in the management of HCC have been made in China over the past few decades, most HCC patients still present with advanced-stage disease. AFP is the only serum biomarker that has widely been used to screen for and diagnose HCC in China. In recent years, several molecular biological studies have further investigated the clinical usefulness of DCP, and they have found that it may facilitate the screening for and diagnosis of HCC and assist with the assessment of HCC progression. DCP can serve as a biomarker to detect HCC in an early stage and facilitate definitive treatment. The wide implementation of DCP is expected, especially in China where 55% of HCC cases worldwide live.
Laparoscopic Liver Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Korean Experiences
Authors: Han Ho-Seong , Yoon Yoo-Seok , Cho Jai Young , Hwang Dae Wook
Published: January 2013

The development of laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) has been slow due to technical difficulties. Therefore, LLR has been limited to easily accessible lesions. Recently, this procedure has been well applied to hepatocellular carcinoma. However, until now, the indications for LLR have been tumors in the peripheral portion of the anterolateral segments of the liver (segments II, III, V and VI and the inferior part of IV according to the classification of Couinaud). Due to the growing interest in LLR, there have been many attempts to apply this technique in difficult locations. The lesions in the posterior or superior part of the liver (segments I, VII, VIII and the superior part of IV), which are considered to be poor indications for LLR, have been reported to be successfully operated on by laparoscopic surgery. Accordingly, this laparoscopic approach has become similar to open surgery in many ways. One of the major advancements of LLR is anatomic liver resection including major and minor resection. Laparoscopic mono- and bisegmentectomies have also become possible with growing experience. There are a variety of monosegmentectomies and bisegmentectomies. The common representatives of bisegmentectomies are left lateral sectionectomy, right anterior sectionectomy and right posterior sectionectomy. The common operative types of monosegmentectomies are S4, S5, and S6 monosegmentectomies, etc. Central bi-sectionectomy will also be discussed. The Glissonian approach has been useful for these types of anatomic liver resection. The difficulty of controlling hemorrhage has been overcome by performing meticulous surgical techniques with newly developed instruments, and intraoperative sonography has been used to locate the lesions and guide the resection plane even for deep-seated or invisible lesions. Further accumulation of experience and technical refinements will make theses challenging procedures more reproducible and safer.
A Worldwide Survey of the Current Daily Practice in Liver Surgery
Authors: Mise Yoshihiro , Sakamoto Yoshihiro , Ishizawa Takeaki , Kaneko Junichi , Aoki Taku , Hasegawa Kiyoshi , Sugawara Yasuhiko , Kokudo Norihiro
Published: January 2013

Background: Liver resection remains the mainstay of curative treatment for liver malignancies. A variety of preoperative assessments and surgical techniques have improved the short- and long-term outcomes of liver resection in patients with liver tumors. Recently, laparoscopic hepatectomies have been increasingly performed. The aim of the present study is to survey the current practice of liver surgery in high-volume centers in the world. Methods: A questionnaire on the preoperative assessment for liver surgery, open hepatectomy, and laparoscopic hepatectomy was sent to 94 liver centers in the world. Results: Forty-two centers (45%) responded to this survey (29 Asian, 9 European, and 4 North American centers). All but one of the centers evaluated the future liver remnant (FLR) volume, and 95% of them performed preoperative portal vein embolization to increase the FLR volume. In half of the centers, the required FLR volume was over 30% in patients with normal liver and 50% in patients with cirrhotic liver. To reduce the intraoperative blood loss, half of the centers routinely used Pringle’s maneuver, and 85% restricted the intraoperative fluid infusion to reduce the central venous pressure. More than 10 laparoscopic hepatectomies were performed per year in 62% of the centers, and more than 30 were performed in 26%, respectively. Laparoscopic major hepatectomies were performed in 24%. Two-thirds answered that the laparoscopic approach would be feasible in donor hepatectomy. Conclusion: The evaluation of FLR volume in patients with normal or cirrhotic liver and the usage of preoperative portal vein embolization have become essential practice in more than 90% of the centers. Reduced blood loss has been achieved using Pringle’s maneuver, restriction of fluid infusion, and a variety of surgical devises. The laparoscopic approach is increasingly extended to major hepatectomy or donor hepatectomy.
A new species of Urodeta (Lepidoptera: Elachistidae: Elachistinae) from Nepal, the first record of the genus from Asia, showing an ancient distribution pattern
Authors: SRUOGA VIRGINIJUS , DE PRINS JURATE
Published: January 2013

A new species, Urodeta noreikai Sruoga & De Prins, is described from the Nepalese Himalayas. The habitus and genitalia of both sexes are diagnosed and illustrated in detail. This discovery constitutes the first record of the occurrence of the genus Urodeta Stainton, 1869 in Asia and its biogeographic significance is discussed.
Phylogenetic relationships of the family Sphaeromatidae Latreille, 1825 (Crustacea: Peracarida: Isopoda) within Sphaeromatidea based on 18S-rDNA molecular data
Authors: WETZER REGINA , PÉREZ-LOSADA MARCOS , BRUCE NIEL L.
Published: January 2013

Based on 18S-rDNA sequences of 97 isopods including 18 Sphaeromatidea, we show Sphaeromatidae, Valvifera, Serolidae, and Ancinidae is a well supported clade. The within clade relationships of these taxa are not as definitively demonstrated because taxon sampling for some groups is still limited. In our analyses the Sphaeromatidae are shown to be unequivocally monophyletic. This is contrary to the morphology-based analysis by A. Brandt and G. Poore in 2003, which included only five Sphaeromatidae and found the family to be paraphyletic. The Ancinidae are also upheld, and the Valvifera is the sister taxon to Serolidae. Surprisingly Plakarthrium (Plakarthiidae) is nested within the Sphaeromatidae in most analyses. We point out short-comings in our sampling and suggest areas which would benefit from better sampling. We also review the long and convoluted nomenclatural history of the Sphaeromatidea, Sphaeromatoidea, and Sphaeromatidae.
The Spanish indignados: A movement with two souls
Authors: Taibo Carlos
Published: January 2013

The Spanish indignados movement has forcefully erupted onto the political landscape of the country. Two different souls can be found at its core: one attached to activists from alternative social movements, the other emerging around the ‘young indignados’. In general terms, a drift can be found within the movement from merely citizenist positions towards others which are more clearly anticapitalist.
From Tahrir to the world: The camp as a political public space
Authors: Ramadan Adam
Published: January 2013

The year 2011 was when the camp defeated the dictator. At Tahrir Square, the camp was a space of freedom, resistance and liberation, beyond the control of the state and outside the normal political order, in which a more progressive politics was forged and made real. In the months that followed, political protesters across the Middle East, Europe and North America emulated the tactics of the Egyptian protest camp. In light of these transnational events, the protest camp deserves attention as a specific political act and vehicle for political change. The occupation of urban space, and subversion of the normal political order within those spaces, is a key strategy for protesters to articulate an alternative political future.
Mediterranean geographies of protest
Authors: Fregonese Sara
Published: January 2013

This special issue of Euro-commentaries tackles the question of what links unprecedented anti-regime uprisings in the MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region, with the largest protests in decades in several European cities. Beyond the specificities of individual cases, uprisings on both sides of the Mediterranean have highlighted strong and often violent collisions between resistance movements and state security. How are these collisions reshaping urban and political geographies in the Mediterranean? The papers presented here explore different aspects of the 2011 protests, and share the view that these are shaped by concerns for social justice, human rights and democracy, which are not a prerogative of the Arab world, but indicate instead more complex geographies.
Europe and an inter-dependent world: Uneven geo-economic and geo-political developments
Authors: Smith Adrian
Published: January 2013

This paper examines some of the main geo-economic and geo-political inter-dependencies which are structuring Europe’s relations with the wider world and how various European and European Union (EU) policy frameworks work to create relations of increasing yet uneven inter-dependency between Europe and that wider world. The paper begins with an examination of the economic and financial crisis and its role in transmitting crisis across inter-dependent space, and the consequences for political and urban struggles across Europe and beyond. This is followed by discussion of the entanglement of Europe with the forces which gave rise to the so-called “Arab Spring” in North Africa and the Middle East. The paper then turns to a discussion of the relocation of economic activity outside of Europe to “emerging economies”, of geographical shifts within Europe of elements of value chains in order to cope with increasing competitive pressures from other parts of the global economy by reducing labour costs but ensuring proximity to the main EU markets, and the emergence of new economic players with their origins in emerging economies within European value chains. The paper concludes with a consideration of the primary geo-economic and geo-political dimensions structuring Europe’s urban and regional inter-dependencies with the wider world.
More than just a battleground: Cairo’s urban space during the 2011 protests
Authors: Trombetta Lorenzo
Published: January 2013

This is a short urban recounting of the implicit dialogue developing between two opposing forces in Cairo during the popular protests between the end of January and the beginning of February 2011 that forced Muhammad Hosni Mubarak to leave the presidency after three decades of undisputed power. The first mass demonstration which threw the traditional system of repression into crisis took place on 25 January. During the night between 2 and 3 February, the army sided definitively with the protesters, ready to protect them from the armed loyalist gangs and plain-clothed security forces, who had replaced the regular uniformed police withdrawn from the streets from 29 January. Based on audio-visual documentation obtained by following the activists’ leaders and the police across different urban locations throughout the first 10 days of the Egyptian revolution, this reconstruction highlights the constantly adapting attitudes of both actors to each other.
Gender relations and cross-border small trading in the Ukrainian–Romanian borderlands
Authors: Cassidy Kathryn L
Published: January 2013

European Union (EU) enlargement and the later shaping of its relationships with its new Eastern neighbours through the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) have had a significant impact on communities outside the EU’s borders. As the EU has sought to control flows of people, money and goods through these new borders, it has also become a destination for irregular migrants and small-scale traders from its eastern neighbours. This article draws upon participant observation in one such community in western Ukraine, where continuing levels of high unemployment and low wages and pensions drive dependence on flows of remittances from migrants to southern Europe, but also revenues from small-scale trade with neighbouring EU members, such as Romania. New forms of transnational mobility have emerged, which are not gender-neutral. The article asserts that, while hegemonic masculinities exist in both Ukrainian and Romanian communities, gender relations in Romania are restricted by sexualised discourses. As male and female Ukrainian traders interact with Romanian border officials and local distributors and intermediaries, hegemonic masculinities in Ukraine are re-affirmed and female traders are unable to advance and develop their trade in the same way as their male counterparts. In doing so, the article expands research on gender and transnationalism in post-enlargement Europe beyond migration and demonstrates not only how encounters at the EU’s borders are shaping gender relations in communities outside the EU, but that involvement in cross-border economic activities is determined by the gendered discourses and performance that take place at the border.
Ecological anxiety disorder: diagnosing the politics of the Anthropocene
Authors: Robbins Paul , Moore Sarah A.
Published: January 2013

The quickly changing character of the global environment has predicated a number of crises in the sciences of biology and ecology. Specifically, the rapid rate of ecological change has led to the proliferation of novel ecologies. These unprecedented ecosystems and assemblages challenge the scientific, as well as cultural, core of many disciplines. This has led to divisive debates over what constitutes a ‘natural’ system state, and over what kinds of interventions, if any, should be advocated by scientists. In this paper, we review the nature of the recent discomfort, conflict, and ambivalence experienced in some sciences. In examining these, we stress emerging and conjoined concerns in ecological scientific communities. Specifically, we identify, on the one hand, an expressed concern that practitioners have been insufficiently persistent and explicit in proselytizing the current risks of human impacts, and on the other hand an obverse concern that many historically common scientific concepts and concerns (like ‘invasive’ species) are already overly normative and culturally freighted. We identify the resulting contradictory condition as ‘ecological anxiety disorder’, announced either as a fearful response to: 1) the negative normative influence of humans on the earth (anthrophobia) or 2) the inherent influence of normative human values within one’s own science (autophobia). We then argue, drawing on the psychoanalytic work of Jacques Lacan, that these paralyzing phobias are born of an inability to address more fundamental anxieties. Only by explicitly enunciating the object of scientific desire, we argue, as Lacan suggests, can scientific practitioners come to terms with these anxieties in a way that does not lead to dysfunction. Using a case example of island rewilding in the Indian Ocean, we provide an alternative mode of resolving and adjudicating human influences and normative aspects in ecology and biology, one that is explicitly political.
The contribution made by clinical biochemistry to the understanding and treatment of diabetes: a personal perspective
Authors: Marks Vincent
Published: January 2013

In the 60 years since I began my clinical studies the evolution or invention of methods for measuring key analytes, such as glucose, insulin, glucagon, GLP-1, GIP and C-peptide have not only increased our understanding but also enormously improved our treatment of diabetes and other metabolic and endocrine disorders. Some of the advances with which I have been involved personally over that period are briefly outlined and, with some temerity, proposals made as to how they might develop in the future.
Sixty years of established diabetic nephropathy - a personal perspective
Authors: Cameron J Stewart
Published: January 2013

It is both an honour and a pleasure to be asked to look again at diabetic renal disease 10 years after the review below, published in 2002 in the 50th year of the reign of Elizabeth II as Queen. I have altered the original text only here and there where infelicities or inaccuracies crept in, and I have then commented on this now “historic” text in a short addendum looking at the past decade, and bringing the story up to the Queen’s 60th jubilee.

This article is an updated version of ‘Fifty years of established diabetic nephropathy — a personal perspective’ by J Stewart Cameron, published in, Br J Diabetes Vasc Dis 2003;3:8-16, © 2003. DOI: 10.1177/14746514030030010201. http://www.bjdvd.com/content/3/1.toc
Melatonin enhances DNA repair capacity possibly by affecting genes involved in DNA damage responsive pathways
Authors: Liu Ran , Fu Alan , Hoffman Aaron E , Zheng Tongzhang , Zhu Yong
Published: January 2013

Background

Melatonin, a hormone-like substance involved in the regulation of the circadian rhythm, has been demonstrated to protect cells against oxidative DNA damage and to inhibit tumorigenesis.

Results

In the current study, we investigated the effect of melatonin on DNA strand breaks using the alkaline DNA comet assay in breast cancer (MCF-7) and colon cancer (HCT-15) cell lines. Our results demonstrated that cells pretreated with melatonin had significantly shorter Olive tail moments compared to non-melatonin treated cells upon mutagen (methyl methanesulfonate, MMS) exposure, indicating an increased DNA repair capacity after melatonin treatment. We further examined the genome-wide gene expression in melatonin pretreated MCF-7 cells upon carcinogen exposure and detected altered expression of many genes involved in multiple DNA damage responsive pathways. Genes exhibiting altered expression were further analyzed for functional interrelatedness using network- and pathway-based bioinformatics analysis. The top functional network was defined as having relevance for “DNA Replication, Recombination, and Repair, Gene Expression, [and] Cancer”.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that melatonin may enhance DNA repair capacity by affecting several key genes involved in DNA damage responsive pathways.
A large and functionally diverse family of Fad2 genes in safflower (Carthamus tinctoriusL.)
Authors: Cao Shijiang , Zhou Xue-Rong , Wood Craig C , Green Allan G , Singh Surinder P , Liu Lixia , Liu Qing
Published: January 2013

Background

The application and nutritional value of vegetable oil is highly dependent on its fatty acid composition, especially the relative proportion of its two major fatty acids, i.e oleic acid and linoleic acid. Microsomal oleoyl phosphatidylcholine desaturase encoded by FAD2 gene is known to introduce a double bond at the Δ12 position of an oleic acid on phosphatidylcholine and convert it to linoleic acid. The known plant FAD2 enzymes are encoded by small gene families consisting of 1-4 members. In addition to the classic oleate Δ12-desaturation activity, functional variants of FAD2 that are capable of undertaking additional or alternative acyl modifications have also been reported in a limited number of plant species. In this study, our objective was to identify FAD2 genes from safflower and analyse their differential expression profile and potentially diversified functionality.

Results

We report here the characterization and functional expression of an exceptionally large FAD2 gene family from safflower, and the temporal and spatial expression profiles of these genes as revealed through Real-Time quantitative PCR. The diversified functionalities of some of the safflower FAD2 gene family members were demonstrated by ectopic expression in yeast and transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. CtFAD2-1 and CtFAD2-10 were demonstrated to be oleate desaturases specifically expressed in developing seeds and flower head, respectively, while CtFAD2-2 appears to have relatively low oleate desaturation activity throughout the plant. CtFAD2-5 and CtFAD2-8 are specifically expressed in root tissues, while CtFAD2-3, 4, 6, 7 are mostly expressed in the cotyledons and hypocotyls in young safflower seedlings. CtFAD2-9 was found to encode a novel desaturase operating on C16:1 substrate. CtFAD2-11 is a tri-functional enzyme able to introduce a carbon double bond in either cis or trans configuration, or a carbon triple (acetylenic) bond at the Δ12 position.

Conclusions

In this study, we isolated an unusually large FAD2 gene family with 11 members from safflower. The seed expressed FAD2 oleate Δ12 desaturase genes identified in this study will provide candidate targets to manipulate the oleic acid level in safflower seed oil. Further, the divergent FAD2 enzymes with novel functionality could be used to produce rare fatty acids, such as crepenynic acid, in genetically engineered crop plants that are precursors for economically important phytoalexins and oleochemical products.
Independent association of HbA1c and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in an elderly Chinese population
Authors: Ma Han , Xu Chengfu , Xu Lei , Yu Chaohui , Miao Min , Li Youming
Published: January 2013

Background

To investigate the association between serum glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in an elderly Chinese population.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was performed among the 949 retired elderly employees of Zhenhai Refining & Chemical Company Ltd., Ningbo, China.

Results

A total of 257 (27.08%) subjects fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of NAFLD, and NAFLD patients had significantly higher serum HbA1c levels than controls (P <0.001). The prevalence of NAFLD was significantly higher in subjects with increased serum HbA1c level (HbA1c ≥6.5%) than in those with normal range of serum HbA1c level (51.71% vs. 25.20%; P <0.001), and the prevalence increased along with progressively higher serum HbA1c levels (P for trend <0.001). Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that serum HbA1c level was significantly associated with the risk for NAFLD (odds ratio: 1.547, 95% confidence interval: 1.054 – 2.270; P =0.026).

Conclusions

Our results suggest that serum HbA1c level is associated with NAFLD, and increased serum HbA1c level is an independent risk factor for NAFLD in elderly Chinese.
Southampton mealtime assistance study: design and methods
Authors: Roberts Helen C , Pilgrim Anna L , Elia Marinos , Jackson Alan A , Cooper Cyrus , Sayer Avan Aihie , Robinson Sian M
Published: January 2013

Background

Malnutrition is common in older people in hospital and is associated with adverse clinical outcomes including increased mortality, morbidity and length of stay. This has raised concerns about the nutrition and diet of hospital in-patients. A number of factors may contribute to low dietary intakes in hospital, including acute illness and cognitive impairment among in-patients. The extent to which other factors influence intake such as a lack of help at mealtimes, for patients who require assistance with eating, is uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of using trained volunteer mealtime assistants to help patients on an acute medical ward for older people at mealtimes.

Methods/design

The study design is quasi-experimental with a before (year one) and after (year two) comparison of patients on the intervention ward and parallel comparison with patients on a control ward in the same department. The intervention in the second year was the provision of trained volunteer mealtime assistance to patients in the intervention ward. There were three components of data collection that were repeated in both years on both wards. The first (primary) outcome was patients’ dietary intake, collected as individual patient records and as ward-level balance data over 24 hour periods. The second was clinical outcome data assessed on admission and discharge from both wards, and 6 and 12 months after discharge. Finally qualitative data on the views and experience of patients, carers, staff and volunteers was collected through interviews and focus groups in both years to allow a mixed-method evaluation of the intervention.

Discussion

The study will describe the effect of provision of trained volunteer mealtime assistants on the dietary intake of older medical in-patients. The association between dietary intake and clinical outcomes including malnutrition risk, body composition, grip strength, length of hospital stay and mortality will also be determined. An important component of the study is the use of qualitative approaches to determine the views of patients, relatives, staff and volunteers on nutrition in hospital and the impact of mealtime assistance.

Trial registration

Trial registered with ClinicalTrials.gov NCTO1647204
Influenza surveillance in the Pacific Island countries and territories during the 2009 pandemic: an observational study
Authors: Kool Jacobus Leen , Pavlin Boris Igor , Musto Jennie , Dawainavesi Akanisi
Published: January 2013

Background

Historically, Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs) have been more severely affected by influenza pandemics than any other part of the world. We herein describe the emergence and epidemiologic characteristics of pandemic influenza H1N1 in PICTs from 2009 to 2010.

Methods

The World Health Organization gathered reports of influenza-like-illness and laboratory-confirmed pandemic H1N1 cases from all 23 Pacific island countries and territories, from April 2009 through August 2010. Data were gathered through weekly email reports from Pacific island countries and territories and through email or telephone follow-up.

Results

Pacific island countries and territories started detecting pandemic H1N1 cases in June 2009, firstly in French Polynesia, with the last new detection occurring in August 2009 in Tuvalu. Nineteen Pacific island countries and territories reported 1,972 confirmed cases, peaking in August 2009. No confirmed pandemic H1N1 cases were identified in Niue, Pitcairn and Tokelau; the latter instituted strict maritime quarantine. Influenza-like-illness surveillance showed trends similar to surveillance of confirmed cases.

Seven Pacific island countries and territories reported 21 deaths of confirmed pandemic H1N1. Case-patients died of acute respiratory distress syndrome or multi-organ failure, or both. The most reported pre-existing conditions were obesity, lung disease, heart disease, and pregnancy.

Pacific island countries and territories instituted a variety of mitigation measures, including arrival health screening. Multiple partners facilitated influenza preparedness planning and outbreak response.

Conclusions

Pandemic influenza spread rapidly throughout the Pacific despite enormous distances and relative isolation. Tokelau and Pitcairn may be the only jurisdictions to have remained pandemic-free. Despite being well-prepared, Pacific island countries and territories experienced significant morbidity and mortality, consistent with other indigenous and low-resource settings.

For the first time, regional influenza-like-illness surveillance was conducted in the Pacific, allowing health authorities to monitor the pandemic’s spread and severity in real-time.

Future regional outbreak responses will likely benefit from the lessons learned during this outbreak.
Specific patterns of gyr A mutations determine the resistance difference to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin in Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli
Authors: Fu Yingmei , Zhang Wenli , Wang Hong , Zhao Song , Chen Yang , Meng Fanfei , Zhang Ying , Xu Hui , Chen Xiaobei , Zhang Fengmin
Published: January 2013

Background

Wide use of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin has often led to increased resistance. The resistance rate to these two agents varies in different clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae. Mutations of GyrA within the quinolone resistance-determining regions have been found to be the main mechanism for quinolone resistance in Enterobacteriaceae. It has been shown that only some of the mutations in the gyrA gene identified from clinical sources were involved in fluoroquinolone resistance. Whether different patterns of gyrA mutation are related to antimicrobial resistance against ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin is unclear.

Methods

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin were determined by the agar dilution method followed by PCR amplification and sequencing of the quinolone resistance determining region of gyrA to identify all the mutation types. The correlation between fluoroquinolone resistance and the individual mutation type was analyzed.

Results

Resistance differences between ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin were found in 327 isolates of K. pneumoniae and E. coli in Harbin, China and in the isolates reported in PubMed publications. GyrA mutations were found in both susceptible and resistant isolates. For the isolates with QRDR mutations, the resistance rates to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin were also statistically different. Among the 14 patterns of alterations, two single mutations (Ser83Tyr and Ser83Ile), and three double mutations (Ser83Leu+Asp87Asn, Ser83Leu+Asp87Tyr and Ser83Phe+Asp87Asn) were associated with both ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin resistance. Two single mutations (Ser83Phe and Ser83Leu) were related with ciprofloxacin resistance but not to levofloxacin. Resistance difference between ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin in isolates harboring mutation Ser83Leu+Asp87Asn were of statistical significance among all Enterobacteriaceae (P<0.001).

Conclusions

Resistance rate to ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin were statistically different among clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae harboring GyrA mutations. Ser83Leu+Asp87Asn may account for the antimicrobial resistance difference between ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin.
The development of anemia is associated to poor prognosis in NKF/KDOQI stage 3 chronic kidney disease
Authors: Portolés José , Gorriz Jose Luis , Rubio Esther , de Alvaro Fernando , García Florencio , Alvarez-Chivas Vicente , Aranda Pedro , Martinez-Castelao Alberto ,   NADIR-3 Study Group
Published: January 2013

Background

Anemia is a common condition in CKD that has been identified as a cardiovascular (CV) risk factor in end-stage renal disease, constituting a predictor of low survival. The aim of this study was to define the onset of anemia of renal origin and its association with the evolution of kidney disease and clinical outcomes in stage 3 CKD (CKD-3).

Methods

This epidemiological, prospective, multicenter, 3-year study included 439 CKD-3 patients. The origin of nephropathy and comorbidity (Charlson score: 3.2) were recorded. The clinical characteristics of patients that developed anemia according to EBPG guidelines were compared with those that did not, followed by multivariate logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier curves and ROC curves to investigate factors associated with the development of renal anemia.

Results

During the 36-month follow-up period, 50% reached CKD-4 or 5, and approximately 35% were diagnosed with anemia (85% of renal origin). The probability of developing renal anemia was 0.12, 0.20 and 0.25 at 1, 2 and 3 years, respectively. Patients that developed anemia were mainly men (72% anemic vs. 69% non-anemic). The mean age was 68 vs. 65.5 years and baseline proteinuria was 0.94 vs. 0.62 g/24h (anemic vs. non anemic, respectively). Baseline MDRD values were 36 vs. 40 mL/min and albumin 4.1 vs. 4.3 g/dL; reduction in MDRD was greater in those that developed anemia (6.8 vs. 1.6 mL/min/1.73 m2/3 years). These patients progressed earlier to CKD-4 or 5 (18 vs. 28 months), with a higher proportion of hospitalizations (31 vs. 16%), major CV events (16 vs. 7%), and higher mortality (10 vs. 6.6%) than those without anemia. Multivariate logistic regression indicated a significant association between baseline hemoglobin (OR=0.35; 95% CI: 0.24-0.28), glomerular filtration rate (OR=0.96; 95% CI: 0.93-0.99), female (OR=0.19; 95% CI: 0.10-0.40) and the development of renal anemia.

Conclusions

Renal anemia is associated with a more rapid evolution to CKD-4, and a higher risk of CV events and hospitalization in non-dialysis-dependent CKD patients. This suggests that special attention should be paid to anemic CKD-3 patients.
The influence of Antonovsky’s sense of coherence (SOC) and psychoeducational family intervention (PEFI) on schizophrenic outpatients’ perceived quality of life: a longitudinal field study
Authors: Gassmann Walter , Christ Oliver , Lampert Jana , Berger Hartmut
Published: January 2013

Background

Antonovsky’s sense of coherence (SOC) as well as psychoeducational interventions has a convincing impact on the quality of life (QOL) of patients suffering from schizophrenia. This study explores the influence of SOC on QOL among participants of a PEFI group (PG) compared to a control group (CG).

Methods

In a quasi-experimental field study 46 schizophrenic outpatients had an option to participate together with their family members the PG (n = 25) or the CG (n = 21). They were assessed amongst others with the Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF), the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29). The efficacy of the PG on QOL was compared to the CG within two different SOC levels.

Results

Before intervention patients with high SOC scores had significant higher levels in GAF and QOL and a trend of lower PANSS scores. The strongest relationship was found between SOC and QOL. Regarding the SOC level after intervention PG participants had higher QOL values than the CG within the last three measurements. The highest benefit due to QOL was observed within PG participants with high SOC scores.

Conclusions

The results of the study suggest that SOC is a good predictive variable for clinical outcomes including QOL. Generally, the influence of the SOC level on QOL was stronger than the effect of PEFI. Hence schizophrenic patients with high SOC scores did benefit most from participating in a PG regarding their QOL. To optimize the effect of PEFI more efforts are needed to enhance the SOC of the participants. Altogether PEFI seems to be an important completion to the standard treatment for schizophrenic outpatients.