bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
China’s Statist Energy Relations with Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan
Authors: Amineh Mehdi P. , van Driel Melanie
Published: March 2018

During the last decade, China’s diplomatic, economic, security and multilateral relations with Resource-Rich Countries (rrcs) in general, and with Central Asia and the Caspian Region (cacr) in particular, created a regional web of complementarity connecting states and societies. This trend reflects a dimension of the “statist globalization” of the Chinese economy. Chinese National Oil Companies (cnocs) are powerful actors within this emerging network. This comes as no surprise, as China’s domestic power-wealth structure relies on uninterrupted foreign (energy) supplies. The main aim of this paper will be to present a geopolitical economic reflection on China’s post-Cold War energy relations with the rrcs of Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan. Our theoretical framework, which stems from critical geopolitics, tries to conceptualize the geopolitical economic policy tools used by China’s ruling class in rrcs in general and the two cases in particular.
Inclusive Development and Climate Change: The Geopolitics of Fossil Fuel Risks in Developing Countries
Authors: Gupta Joyeeta , Chu Eric
Published: March 2018

This conceptual paper brings together two previously disparate strands of scholarship on climate change and development together with emerging studies of stranded assets. It addresses the question: What are the lessons learnt from this literature for the way developing countries should ‘develop’ in a post-Paris Agreement world? The paper argues that instead of a blind neo-colonial process of rapidly replicating the development paths of already industrialized countries – especially in the context of the fossil fuel sector – developing countries must adopt their own unique development strategies that are more inclusive and transformative. The foregone economic gains from not investing in fossil fuels maybe compensated by the reduced risks of stranded assets and climate change impacts in the future – as well as the reduced risks of climate change impacts on, for example, the agricultural sector – which may facilitate their own unique paths toward inclusive development.
The “Others” Coming to John the Baptist and the Text of Josephus
Authors: Rotman Marco
Published: March 2018

Josephus’s passage on John the Baptist (Ant. 18.116-119) contains a much-discussed crux interpretum: who are the “others” that are inspired by John’s words and ready to do everything he said (§118), and who are distinguished from those who gave heed to his message and were baptized (§117)? After a brief discussion of the textual witnesses, text, and translation of the passage in question, various interpretations of “the others” are discussed, none of which is entirely satisfactory. In this article a case will be made for accepting the conjecture originally proposed by Benedikt Niese, who assumed that Josephus originally wrote ἀνθρώπων “people” instead of ἄλλων “others.”
The Outermost Small Islands of the Indonesian Archipelago: A Legal Analysis
Authors: Sodik Dikdik Mohamad
Published: March 2018

This article analyses the Indonesian laws and regulations relating to the archipelago, including outermost small islands, according to 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The article discusses the role and function of the outermost small islands in delimiting Indonesian maritime boundaries with its neighbouring States, the aspects of defence and security, as well as its utilization for public welfare and marine environmental preservation. Research presented in this article indicates that challenges remain in the face of implementing the legal frameworks. It offers some recommendations to address these problems.
Competing Perceptions of Hybrid Justice: International v. National in the Extraordinary Chambers of the Courts of Cambodia
Authors: Christensen Mikkel Jarle , Kjeldgaard-Pedersen Astrid
Published: March 2018

Mixing insights from critical sociology and legal scholarship, this article analyses the diverging professional interests at play in the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (eccc) and examines how they affect the Chambers’ application of the law. The article shows that judicial interpretation in the eccc is influenced by two non-legal factors. One is the overall shared interest of the competing groups of professionals occupying the Chambers that the Khmer Rouge leaders are tried before an internationalised rather than purely a domestic court. The other is the profound power battle between the international and the national constituents of the eccc. In a broader context, the findings of the article point to a fundamental divide between an international market of criminal lawyers promoting a very specific idea of international criminal justice and the local context this market purports to cater to.
A Numerical Study of Aviation Turbulence Encountered on 13 February 2013 over the Yellow Sea between China and the Korean Peninsula
Authors: Lee Dan-Bi , Chun Hye-Yeong
Published: March 2018

At 0247 UTC 13 February 2013, a South Korean commercial aircraft encountered moderate-level clear-air turbulence at ~24 000 ft (~7.3 km) over the Yellow Sea (121.25°E, 38.55°N) en route from Incheon, South Korea, to Tianjin, China. Two crew members were severely injured by this event. To investigate the possible mechanisms of this event, a high-resolution numerical simulation using the Weather Research and Forecasting Model was conducted. In the synoptic-scale flow pattern, one of two bifurcated jet streams passed over the Yellow Sea, and strong horizontal and vertical gradients of the wind occurred on the northern edge of the jet stream near the flight route. An upper-level frontal system on the cyclonic shear side of the jet intensified as it moved northward toward a strengthening upper-level trough in northeastern China. The developed jet–frontal system induced strong vertical wind shear and tropopause folding, which extended down to about z = 5 km, near the observed turbulence region. Despite a relatively high stability with an intrusion of stratospheric air with tropopause folding, the strong vertical wind shear led to a small Richardson number in the incident region, which in turn induced the aviation turbulence through the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. Although small-scale mountain waves were evident during the passage of flight before the incident time, breaking of these waves was not likely the key factor for the observed turbulence, given that the wave amplitudes were weak and that the strong zonal wind on the upstream of the mountain waves prohibited wave saturation and breakdown.
GENIPAC: A Genomic Information Portal for Head and Neck Cancer Cell Systems
Authors: Lee B.K.B. , Gan C.P. , Chang J.K. , Tan J.L. , Fadlullah M.Z. , Abdul Rahman Z.A. , Prime S.S. , Gutkind J.S. , Liew C.S. , Khang T.F. , Tan A.C. , Cheong S.C.
Published: March 2018

Head and neck cancer (HNC)–derived cell lines represent fundamental models for studying the biological mechanisms underlying cancer development and precision therapies. However, mining the genomic information of HNC cells from available databases requires knowledge on bioinformatics and computational skill sets. Here, we developed a user-friendly web resource for exploring, visualizing, and analyzing genomics information of commonly used HNC cell lines. We populated the current version of GENIPAC with 44 HNC cell lines from 3 studies: ORL Series, OPC-22, and H Series. Specifically, the mRNA expressions for all the 3 studies were derived with RNA-seq. The copy number alterations analysis of ORL Series was performed on the Genome Wide Human Cytoscan HD array, while copy number alterations for OPC-22 were derived from whole exome sequencing. Mutations from ORL Series and H Series were derived from RNA-seq information, while OPC-22 was based on whole exome sequencing. All genomic information was preprocessed with customized scripts and underwent data validation and correction through data set validator tools provided by cBioPortal. The clinical and genomic information of 44 HNC cell lines are easily assessable in GENIPAC. The functional utility of GENIPAC was demonstrated with some of the genomic alterations that are commonly reported in HNC, such as TP53, EGFR, CCND1, and PIK3CA. We showed that these genomic alterations as reported in The Cancer Genome Atlas database were recapitulated in the HNC cell lines in GENIPAC. Importantly, genomic alterations within pathways could be simultaneously visualized. We developed GENIPAC to create access to genomic information on HNC cell lines. This cancer omics initiative will help the research community to accelerate better understanding of HNC and the development of new precision therapeutic options for HNC treatment. GENIPAC is freely available at http://genipac.cancerresearch.my/ .
The Landscapes of Early Automobile Registration and Licensing Laws: Creating New Jersey’s Department of Motor Vehicles, 1903 to 1957
Authors: Hostetter Ellen
Published: March 2018

The offices and facilities of New Jersey’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) are mundane boxes of concrete, glass, linoleum, and fluorescent lights, and yet they have a backstory to tell about the slow incorporation of the automobile into everyday American life at the turn of the twentieth century. Urban historians and geographers have attended to the development of everything from asphalt to stop signs, gas stations to automobile dealerships, motels to restaurants, bypass roads to the federal highway system, but not the government offices and facilities developed to service automobile regulation. The goal of this article is to detail the creation and evolution of DMV offices and facilities in the state of New Jersey, between 1903 and 1957: why they took the form they did and how they changed over time. These landscapes, perceived today as utterly ordinary and banal, are the tangible, physical expression of how people in the early 1900s struggled to live safely and fairly with the automobile.
Adiponectin receptor 1-mediated micro RNA-323-3p regulates functions of the MIN6 cell line via the AMP-activated protein kinase/sirtuin-1 pathway
Authors: Wang Xiaojuan , Li Jun , Tang Wei , Zhao Yiqiao , Li Xing
Published: March 2018

Background

The development of an effective treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus is urgently needed. This study aimed to investigate the role of micro RNA (miR)-323-3p in regulating the expression of adiponectin receptor 1 (AdipoR1), as well as the insulin secretion and cell function of pancreatic MIN6 β-cells.

Methods

MIN6 cells were treated with miR-323-3p mimics or inhibitors, and the effects on cell growth, proliferation, mitosis, and insulin secretion were studied. The expression levels of sirtuin-1 (SIRT-1) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) genes were also assessed.

Results

miR-323-3p directly targeted AdipoR1, and suppressed its expression at mRNA and protein levels. It also regulated the protein expression of SIRT-1 and AMPK, which are downstream target genes of the AdipoR1 signaling pathway. miR-323-3p suppressed cell growth, proliferation, mitosis, and insulin secretion of MIN6 cells.

Conclusions

miR-323-3p appears to be a crucial diabetes factor that mediates its functions by inhibiting the AdipoR1/AMPK/SIRT-1 signaling pathway. Our findings suggest that targeting AdipoR1 with inhibitors of miR-323-3p is a potential approach to improve the function of islet cells.
General practitioners: Between integration and co-location. The case of primary care centers in Tuscany, Italy
Authors: Barsanti Sara , Bonciani Manila
Published: March 2018

Healthcare systems have followed several strategies aimed at integrating primary care services and professionals. Medical homes in the USA and Canada, and primary care centres across Europe have collocated general practitioners and other health and social professionals in the same building in order to boost coordination among services and the continuity of care for patients. However, in the literature, the impact of co-location on primary care has led to controversial results. This article analyses the possible benefits of the co-location of services in primary care focusing on the Italian model of primary care centres (Case della Salute) in terms of general practitioners’ perception. We used the results of a web survey of general practitioners in Tuscany to compare the experiences and satisfaction of those general practitioners involved and not involved in a primary care centre, performed a MONAVA and ANOVA analysis. Our case study highlights the positive impact of co-location on the integration of professionals, especially with nurses and social workers, and on organizational integration, in terms of frequency of meeting to discuss about quality of care. Conversely, no significant differences were found in terms of either clinical or system integration. Furthermore, the collaboration with specialists is still weak. Considering the general practitioners’ perspective in terms of experience and satisfaction towards primary care, co-location strategies is a necessary step in order to facilitate the collaboration among professionals and to prevent unintended consequences in terms of an even possible isolation of primary care as an involuntary ‘disintegration of the integration’.
Inventory Replenishment for Profit Maximization over a Finite Horizon under One-time Cost Changes
Authors: Arcelus F. J. , Pakkala T. P. M. , Srinivasan G.
Published: March 2018

This article considers the optimal inventory ordering, purchasing and holding policies of the profit-maximization problem, as against the well-known cost-minimization case, over a finite horizon of length H, under two special conditions. First, there is change in at least one of the inventory costs, that is, in the cost of ordering and/or purchasing/holding, at some point, Tc < H, during the planning horizon. Second, it is not necessary to satisfy the demand, at a rate of R units per year, for the entire horizon. Rather, the objective is to meet the demand for a period of length H1 ≤ H. In fact, if the retailer does not have the obligation to meet the entire demand, this article shows the conditions wherein it may be more profitable to meet only a portion or may be even none of the demand. Further, such a determination can be made up front, with H1 as a decision variable and the optimal policies of the cost-minimization models, by fulfilling the entire demand, will result in lower profits. Numerical examples are included to identify the demand fulfilment and the profit differences between the cost-minimization and profit-maximization optimal policies, under the different one-time cost changes.
Enhancing Students’ Segmentation Skills and Targeting Knowledge: Using the Gains Tables, Lift Charts and the Gini Coefficient
Authors: Greene Henry
Published: March 2018

“You build a killer direct advertising response model. Ready to make some decisions on mailing depth? Budget be damned! Make your decisions based on PROFIT. Mail too deep and throw money away. Stop too short and leave money on the table. You know what you have to do … decisions come straight from your Gains Table! There you will measure the profitability of each population decile. If you do it right, decisions on future advertising campaigns will be easy to make.” – Rich Gee, President, Rich Gee Coaching, Oxford, CT April 30, 2008
Teaching Students how to Create Viral Advertising/Marketing: A Case Study
Authors: Czepiec Helena , Bryant Frank , Roxas Juanita , Whitson Debbora
Published: March 2018

This paper presents an example of a class project where students are required to use viral advertising/marketing to promote a product for a client. Students were required to first submit a paper on viral marketing. Then in groups, they were given a product to promote using viral advertising/marketing. Students evaluated the project in terms of the usefulness of the exercise.
The Impact of Extrinsic Incentives on Students’ Willingness to Volunteer as Peer Mentors: Implications for Advertising Education
Authors: Anghelcev George , Eighmey John
Published: March 2018

Using motivation crowding theory, the study examined the possibility that low monetary incentives may reduce (rather than increase) students’ motivation to volunteer as mentors, compared to situations when no incentives are offered. Data from an experiment supported this counter-intuitive proposition. Advertising students exposed to an ad promising a small monetary reward experienced a significant drop in intrinsic motivation and were overall less likely to volunteer as peer mentors than those exposed to an ad promising no reward. The impact of high incentives on motivation was studied also. Students exposed to an ad that promised a large monetary reward were more likely to volunteer than the low-incentive and no-incentive groups, but their intrinsic motivation to help was replaced by the desire for monetary gain. The study has theoretical and practical implications for the use of incentives in advertising education to promote peer mentorship and for motivating volunteers in general.
Geo-Tagging and Mapping in the Cloud to Foster Research Readiness and Ethical Cognizance in Advertising Students
Authors: Sandlin Jean Kelso
Published: March 2018

GPS-enabled devices, such as tablets and smartphones, have created opportunities to send students into communities to capture and geo-tag visual data easily and accurately. Free, cloud-based tools facilitate collaboration to map and share data. These new technologies enabled students to build a visual representation of local outdoor advertising and analyze it in relation to census data. Integrating a technology-driven, community-based, experiential learning project in an introductory advertising course helped sensitize students to visual advertising images in their community, fostered research readiness skills and ethical cognizance and boosted student interaction with new technologies.
Does cultural heritage monetary value have an impact on visits? An assessment using official Italian data
Authors: Guccio Calogero , Lisi Domenico , Mignosa Anna , Rizzo Ilde
Published: March 2018

In this article, we try to investigate which factors affect the visits to cultural heritage (CH), using Italy as a case study. We adopt a broad definition of CH including archaeological and historical sites, historical buildings and museums, focusing our attention on State CH. In our empirical analysis, we use a rather innovative indicator of CH value, that is, the monetary value of State CH, officially provided by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. Using these data, this article aims at evaluating if such monetary value has a significant role in stimulating visits to cultural sites for the years 1996–2010. We also control for other factors potentially affecting the number of visits to cultural sites, such as alternative tourist attractors and the regional performance in the tourism sector. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that attempts to investigate the effect of CH monetary value on cultural participation.
Characterization of anti-interferon-γ antibodies in HIV-negative immunodeficient patients infected with unusual intracellular microorganisms
Authors: Wipasa Jiraprapa , Chaiwarith Romanee , Chawansuntati Kriangkrai , Praparattanapan Jutarat , Rattanathammethee Kritsadee , Supparatpinyo Khuanchai
Published: March 2018

A major characteristic of immunodeficiency associated with life-threatening intracellular infection in adults is the presence of anti-interferon-γ antibodies. Although little is known about the mechanism underlying this syndrome, it is believed that the antibodies inhibit the activity of downstream signaling pathway of interferon-γ. In this study, the characteristics of these antibodies in patients who presented, or have a history of, intracellular infection and were positive to anti-interferon-γ antibodies were investigated. The antibodies exhibited mainly the IgG1 and the IgG4 subtypes and recognized the C-terminal of the interferon-γ linear epitope containing the KRKR motif, which is required for the biological activity of interferon-γ. The antibodies bound to recombinant interferon-γ with significantly lower avidity than antibodies to a recall antigen, tetanus toxoid, suggesting that the antibodies might have not undergone affinity maturation. The data from this study may provide fundamental information to better understand the properties of anti-interferon-γ antibodies, which can be useful for future studies.

Impact statement

An increase in the number of immunodeficient patients related to autoantibodies to interferon (IFN)-γ has been observed particularly in East Asian adults. These patients are often presented with opportunistic infections caused by intracellular pathogens, including non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), Cryptococcus neoformans, Penicillium marneffei (now called Talaromyces marneffei), and non-typhoidal Salmonella spp. The mortality rate for this syndrome is relatively high with 32% patients dying at the median time of 25 months after diagnosis. Characterization of these autoantibodies may promote better understanding of the syndrome, an emerging health problem affecting East Asia populations and impeding their welfare and economic development.
Madagascan Day Geckos (Phelsuma spp.) Exhibit Differing Responses Along a Gradient of Land-Use Change
Authors: Humphrey Jacinta E. , Ward Caroline F. M.
Published: March 2018

Madagascar is a key priority for global conservation efforts, as much of its diverse and highly endemic biota is threatened by deforestation. Despite this threat, there are limited data on the responses and tolerances of herpetofaunal species to landscape change. This study investigated the response of Madagascan day geckos ( Phelsuma spp.) to deforestation in Nosy Be, Madagascar. We selected six sites along a gradient of land-use change: two in Sambirano rainforest (“Forest”), two in secondary, fragmented forest (“Fragment”), and two in agricultural plantations (“Orchard” and “Cropland”). We conducted a series of time-constrained searches at each site. The mean encounter rate of Phelsuma geckos (geckos detected per person/hour) was greater in agricultural sites than Forest sites, but no difference was detected between Forest and Fragment or Fragment and agricultural areas. Three species were encountered more frequently in agricultural land than forested sites, but this was not true for Phelsuma seippi, an endangered species on the IUCN Red List. These results suggest that adaptive, generalist species may benefit from anthropogenic land-use change, whereas specialist species will suffer. Our study emphasizes the importance of extending research beyond the borders of protected forests to include anthropogenically disturbed areas.
Pruritus and postoperative nausea and vomiting after intrathecal morphine in spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section: Prospective cohort study
Authors: Thay Yu Jia , Goh Qing Yuan , Han Reena Nianlin , Sultana Rehena , Sng Ban Leong
Published: March 2018

Background:

Spinal anaesthesia is a common anaesthetic technique for caesarean sections. Neuraxial opioids such as intrathecal morphine may cause common adverse effects (pruritus, post-operative nausea and vomiting).

Objectives:

We investigated the incidence, severity and need for treatment of pruritus and post-operative nausea and vomiting following administration of intrathecal morphine in spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Singapore.

Methods:

We conducted a prospective study involving 124 parturients who received intrathecal morphine in spinal anaesthesia for caesarean section from October 2012 to October 2014.

Results:

Seventy patients (56.5%) had moderate or severe pruritus (score 4–10), while 54 patients (43.5%) had no or mild pruritus (score 0–3). Mean (SD) value of the worst pruritus score reported on a scale of 0–10 was 4 (2.59). Only seven out of the 124 patients (5.6%) required treatment for pruritus. With respect to distress and bother from itching in the past 24 hours on a score of 0–4, the mean score reported was 1.7 (1.23). Fourteen (11.2%) patients reported vomiting, dry-retching and nausea. Six (4.8%) patients had nausea that interfered with activities of daily living. Four (3.2%) patients had clinically significant post-operative nausea and vomiting. Seven (5.6%) patients received anti-emetics. The average Overall Benefit of Analgesia Score was 3.8 (SD 2.6, min–max: 0–15). The average (SD) maternal satisfaction with pain relief and side effects was 84.9% (9.9%).

Conclusion:

There is a high incidence of pruritus, with most women reporting moderate to severe pruritus. The incidence of post-operative nausea and vomiting is low, and women reported good maternal satisfaction.
Apical Takotsubo syndrome versus anterior acute myocardial infarction: findings from the Tokyo Cardiovascular Care Unit network registry
Authors: Isogai Toshiaki , Yoshikawa Tsutomu , Ueda Tetsuro , Yamaguchi Tetsuo , Imori Yoichi , Maekawa Yuichiro , Sakata Konomi , Murakami Tsutomu , Mochizuki Hiroki , Arao Kenshiro , Kimura Akihisa , Nagao Ken , Yamamoto Takeshi , Takayama Morimasa
Published: March 2018

Background:

Although the typical apical form of Takotsubo syndrome and anterior acute myocardial infarction have similar electrocardiographic and echocardiographic presentations, data on the clinical differences between the two disorders are limited.

Methods:

Using the Tokyo Cardiovascular Care Unit network registry, we identified patients hospitalised with apical Takotsubo syndrome ( n=540; 2010–2014) or anterior acute myocardial infarction ( n=2,806; 2013–2014) and created 522 age and sex-matched pairs (mean age 74.1 years; women 78.5%). We compared the clinical characteristics and inhospital outcomes between the two groups.

Results:

On admission, patients with apical Takotsubo syndrome showed a lower body mass index, less frequent chest pain/tightness, lower systolic blood pressure, higher heart rate, lower creatine kinase, higher C-reactive protein and brain natriuretic peptide, and less frequent ST-elevation than patients with anterior acute myocardial infarction. Patients with apical Takotsubo syndrome received catecholamine (12.8% vs. 24.5%, P<0.001) and intra-aortic balloon pumping (5.9% vs. 15.1%, P<0.001) less frequently. Despite similar all-cause mortality (5.4% vs. 7.9%, P=0.134), patients with apical Takotsubo syndrome showed lower cardiac mortality (2.1% vs. 6.7%, P<0.001; risk difference −4.6% (95% confidence interval −7.1% to −2.1%)) but higher non-cardiac mortality (3.3% vs. 1.1%, P=0.033; 2.1% (0.3%–3.9%)). In subgroup comparisons, patients with physically triggered Takotsubo syndrome had higher non-cardiac mortality (7.0%) than those with non-physically triggered Takotsubo syndrome (1.2%, P=0.001) or anterior acute myocardial infarction (1.1%, P<0.001).

Conclusions:

This study found that cardiac and non-cardiac mortality risks differed significantly between apical Takotsubo syndrome and anterior acute myocardial infarction. Our findings underscore the importance of differentiating between the two disorders for appropriate management.
The School Counselor's Role in Addressing the Advanced Placement Equity and Excellence Gap for African American Students
Authors: Davis Pamela , Davis Michael P. , Mobley Jerry A.
Published: March 2018

This study describes the collaboration among a school counselor, a school counselor intern, an Advanced Placement Psychology teacher, and a counselor educator to improve African American access to Advanced Placement (AP) coursework and increase success on the AP Psychology national examination. The team initiated a process that recruited African American students into AP Psychology and supported them through group and individual counseling to create an achievement-minded cohort that emphasized peer relationships and academic success.
The MYC oncogene is a global regulator of the immune response
Authors: Casey Stephanie C. , Baylot Virginie , Felsher Dean W.
Published: March 2018

The MYC proto-oncogene is a gene product that coordinates the transcriptional regulation of a multitude of genes that are essential to cellular programs required for normal as well as neoplastic cellular growth and proliferation, including cell cycle, self-renewal, survival, cell growth, metabolism, protein and ribosomal biogenesis, and differentiation. Here, we propose that MYC regulates these programs in a manner that is coordinated with a global influence on the host immune response. MYC had been presumed to contribute to tumorigenesis through tumor cell–intrinsic influences. More recently, MYC expression in tumor cells has been shown to regulate the tumor microenvironment through effects on both innate and adaptive immune effector cells and immune regulatory cytokines. Then, MYC was shown to regulate the expression of the immune checkpoint gene products CD47 and programmed death-ligand 1. Similarly, other oncogenes, which are known to modulate MYC, have been shown to regulate immune checkpoints. Hence, MYC may generally prevent highly proliferative cells from eliciting an immune response. MYC-driven neoplastic cells have coopted this mechanism to bypass immune detection. Thus, MYC inactivation can restore the immune response against a tumor. MYC-induced tumors may be particularly sensitive to immuno-oncology therapeutic interventions.
An algorithmic approach for the treatment of severe uncontrolled asthma
Authors: Zervas Eleftherios , Samitas Konstantinos , Papaioannou Andriana I. , Bakakos Petros , Loukides Stelios , Gaga Mina
Published: March 2018

A small subgroup of patients with asthma suffers from severe disease that is either partially controlled or uncontrolled despite intensive, guideline-based treatment. These patients have significantly impaired quality of life and although they constitute <5% of all asthma patients, they are responsible for more than half of asthma-related healthcare costs. Here, we review a definition for severe asthma and present all therapeutic options currently available for these severe asthma patients. Moreover, we suggest a specific algorithmic treatment approach for the management of severe, difficult-to-treat asthma based on specific phenotype characteristics and biomarkers. The diagnosis and management of severe asthma requires specialised experience, time and effort to comprehend the needs and expectations of each individual patient and incorporate those as well as his/her specific phenotype characteristics into the management planning. Although some new treatment options are currently available for these patients, there is still a need for further research into severe asthma and yet more treatment options.
Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells as induction therapy are safe and feasible in renal allografts: pilot results of a multicenter randomized controlled trial
Authors: Sun Qipeng , Huang Zhengyu , Han Fei , Zhao Ming , Cao Ronghua , Zhao Daqiang , Hong Liangqing , Na Ning , Li Heng , Miao Bin , Hu Jianmin , Meng Fanhang , Peng Yanwen , Sun Qiquan
Published: March 2018

Background

Kidneys from deceased donors are being used to meet the growing need for grafts. However, delayed graft function (DGF) and acute rejection incidences are high, leading to adverse effects on graft outcomes. Optimal induction intervention should include both renal structure injury repair and immune response suppression. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) with potent anti-inflammatory, regenerative, and immune-modulatory properties are considered a candidate to prevent DGF and acute rejection in renal transplantation. Thus, this prospective multicenter paired study aimed to assess the clinical value of allogeneic MSCs as induction therapy to prevent both DGF and acute rejection in deceased donor renal transplantation.

Methods

Forty-two renal allograft recipients were recruited and divided into trial and control groups. The trial group (21 cases) received 2 × 106/kg human umbilical-cord-derived MSCs (UC-MSCs) via the peripheral vein before renal transplantation, and 5 × 106 cells via the renal artery during the surgical procedure. All recipients received standard induction therapy. Incidences of DGF and biopsy-proven acute rejection were recorded postoperatively and severe postoperative complications were assessed. Graft and recipient survivals were also evaluated.

Results

Treatment with UC-MSCs achieved comparable graft and recipient survivals with non-MSC treatment (P = 0.97 and 0.15, respectively). No increase in postoperative complications, including DGF and acute rejection, were observed (incidence of DGF: 9.5% in the MSC group versus 33.3% in the non-MSC group, P = 0.13; Incidence of acute rejection: 14.3% versus 4.8%, P = 0.61). Equal postoperative estimated glomerular filtration rates were found between the two groups (P = 0.88). All patients tolerated the MSCs infusion without adverse clinical effects. Additionally, a multiprobe fluorescence in situ hybridization assay revealed that UC-MSCs administered via the renal artery were absent from the recipient’s biopsy sample.

Conclusions

Umbilical-cord-derived MSCs can be used as clinically feasible and safe induction therapy. Adequate timing and frequency of UC-MSCs administration may have a significant effect on graft and recipient outcomes.

Trial registrationNCT02490020. Registered on June 29 2015
Reducing health care-associated infections by implementing separated environmental cleaning management measures by using disposable wipes of four colors
Authors: Wong Swee Siang , Huang Cheng Hua , Yang Chiu Chu , Hsieh Yi Pei , Kuo Chen Ni , Chen Yi Ru , Chen Li Ching
Published: March 2018

Background

Environmental cleaning is a fundamental principle of infection control in health care settings. We determined whether implementing separated environmental cleaning management measures in MICU reduced the density of HAI.

Methods

We performed a 4-month prospective cohort intervention study between August and December 2013, at the MICU of Cathay General hospital. We arranged a training program for all the cleaning staff regarding separated environmental cleaning management measures by using disposable wipes of four colors to clean the patients’ bedside areas, areas at a high risk of contamination, paperwork areas, and public areas. Fifteen high-touch surfaces were selected for cleanliness evaluation by using the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence test. Then data regarding HAI densities in the MICU were collected during the baseline, intervention, and late periods.

Results

A total of 120 ATP readings were obtained. The total number of clean high-touch surfaces increased from 13% to 53%, whereas that of unclean high-touch surface decreased from 47% to 20%. The densities of HAI were 14.32‰ and 14.90‰ during the baseline and intervention periods, respectively. The HAI density did not decrease after the intervention period, but it decreased to 9.07‰ during the late period.

Conclusion

Implementing separated environmental cleaning management measures by using disposable wipes of four colors effectively improves cleanliness in MICU environments. However, no decrease in HAI density was observed within the study period. Considering that achieving high levels of hand-hygiene adherence is difficult, improving environmental cleaning is a crucial adjunctive measure for reducing the incidence of HAIs.
Antimicrobials in small-scale urban pig farming in a lower middle-income country – arbitrary use and high resistance levels
Authors: Ström G. , Boqvist S. , Albihn A. , Fernström L.-L. , Andersson Djurfeldt A. , Sokerya S. , Sothyra T. , Magnusson U.
Published: March 2018

Background

Administration of antimicrobials to food-producing animals is regarded as a major contributor to the overall emergence of resistance in bacteria worldwide. However, few data are available on global antimicrobial use and resistance (AMR) in livestock, especially from low- and middle-income countries.

Methods

We conducted a structured survey of 91 small-scale pig farms in the urban and peri-urban areas of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, to assess the farmers’ knowledge, attitudes and practices related to antimicrobial use in their pig production. Commensal Escherichia coli was isolated from three healthy pigs from each farm (n = 261) and susceptibility testing was performed against 14 antimicrobials, using broth microdilution. Univariable logistic regression and generalized linear mixed models were used to investigate potential associations between farm characteristics, management factors and resistance to different types of antimicrobials.

Results

We found a widespread and arbitrary use of antimicrobials, often based on the farmer’s own judgment. Around 66% of the farmers reported frequently self-adjusting treatment duration and dosage, and 45% had not heard about the term ‘antimicrobial resistance’. The antimicrobials most commonly mentioned or kept by the farmers were amoxicillin, tylosin, gentamicin and colistin. Around 37% used a feed concentrate that contained antimicrobials, while antimicrobials for humans were used as a last-line treatment by 10% of the farmers. Commensal E. coli exhibited high prevalence of resistance to several antimicrobials considered to be of critical importance for human medicine, including ampicillin, ciprofloxacin and colistin, and multidrug-resistance was found in 79% of the samples. Higher prevalence of resistance was observed on farms that administered prophylactic antimicrobials and on farms that treated the entire group or herd in the event of disease.

Conclusion

The widespread and arbitrary use of antimicrobials in pig farming in Cambodia is highly worrisome. Overall, farmers had a low awareness of the risks and consequences related to antimicrobial use and AMR. The results presented in this study confirm the hypothesis that non-rational use of antimicrobials results in higher prevalence of AMR and highlight the need for professional animal health systems that involve medically rational use of antimicrobials in emerging economies such as Cambodia.
Introduction to this special section: The Permian Basin
Authors: Nunn Jeffrey , Scolman David , Winters Glenn
Published: March 2018

The Permian Basin of west Texas and New Mexico currently contains many of the most actively pursued unconventional plays in the world. The 75,000-square-mile continental depocenter is split into the Delaware Basin on the west and the Midland Basin to the east and is the largest petroleum-producing area in the United States. According to IHS Markit, the basin produced a record 815 million barrels of oil last year, 97 years after its first discovery. What is even more astounding is that as many as 1 million additional wells may remain to be drilled in the foreseeable future. Though production is on land and relatively shallow, the Permian Basin presents technical challenges in terms of complex stratigraphy, multiple play types, variable rock properties, and multiple periods of faulting, fracturing, and diagenesis.
Bringing multidisciplinary geosciences into quantitative inversion: A Midland Basin case study
Authors: Winter Olivier , Mohamed Ahmed , Leslie Anna , Castillo Gabino , Odhwani Hassan , Coulman Trevor , Brito Francisco , Perez Adriana , Pandey Vishnu , Marin Cesar , Ly Chi Vinh
Published: March 2018

Over the last two decades, the driver behind the boom in unconventional reservoirs has been the development of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. More recently, the fall in oil prices has resulted in the industry refocusing on the shale market and its most profitable plays, a notable example being the Permian Basin. We argue that this refocusing should also take place in the technology domain and that seismic and its derivatives should provide reservoir and completion engineers with the means to optimize well planning. This is illustrated with a case study of an advanced quantitative interpretation workflow tailored for a seismic multiclient program in the Wolfberry Play of the Midland Basin. Seismic imaging begins by providing a structural interpretation basis, then quantitative interpretation provides 3D elastic and geomechanical attributes through prestack inversion and azimuthal inversion, respectively. This 3D canvas of elastic attributes is combined with petrophysical, mineralogical, geomechanical, and geochemical properties measured at the wells. The challenge of reconciling such data sets with different scales and spatial sampling is overcome using physical, empirical, or statistical relationships within the data. The adjunction of rock data to the 3D elastic attributes provides calibration and validation of the inversion results. More interestingly, it allows for quantitative prediction of lithology, facies, porosity, and geochemical properties away from the wells. The purpose of the resulting calibrated reservoir model is to assist in optimizing drilling plans and executing completion designs.
Application of supergrouping to enhance 3D prestack seismic data from a desert environment
Authors: Bakulin Andrey , Golikov Pavel , Dmitriev Maxim , Neklyudov Dmitry , Leger Pierre , Dolgov Viktor
Published: March 2018

Fit-for-purpose enhancement remains a critical task for processing land seismic data, especially with the increasing popularity of high-channel-count and single-sensor data. We describe here a flexible scheme called smart supergrouping that performs summation of traces from neighboring shots and receivers. Supergrouping enhances desired reflection signals while suppressing ground roll and other noise. It also delivers prestack data of significantly high quality, critical for deriving velocities, deconvolution operators, scalars, and statics, as well as for improved imaging. While similar in concept to field source/receiver array forming, supergrouping may be applied to data already acquired with field arrays. Unlike field arrays, supergrouped data have kinematic corrections applied with overlapping apertures. We also have the ability to compensate for intra-array statics and wavelet variations. We demonstrate the signal-enhancing abilities of such generalized supergroups with normal-moveout corrections on challenging land and ocean-bottom-cable seismic data from Saudi Arabia. Applications of supergrouped data cover various steps of land seismic processing from first-break picking to deconvolution to statics to full-waveform inversion and imaging.
D3Oncoprint: Stand-Alone Software to Visualize and Dynamically Explore Annotated Genomic Mutation Files
Authors: Palmisano Alida , Zhao Yingdong , Simon Richard M.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Advances in next-generation sequencing technologies have led to a reduction in sequencing costs, which has increased the availability of genomic data sets to many laboratories. Increasing amounts of sequencing data require effective analysis tools to use genomic data for biologic discovery and patient management. Available packages typically require advanced programming knowledge and system administration privileges, or they are Web services that force researchers to work on outside servers.

Methods

To support the interactive exploration of genomic data sets on local machines with no programming skills required, we developed D3Oncoprint, a standalone application to visualize and dynamically explore annotated genomic mutation files. D3Oncoprint provides links to curated variants lists from CIViC, My Cancer Genome, OncoKB, and Food and Drug Administration–approved drugs to facilitate the use of genomic data for biomedical discovery and application. D3Oncoprint also includes curated gene lists from BioCarta pathways and FoundationOne cancer panels to explore commonly investigated biologic processes.

Results

This software provides a flexible environment to dynamically explore one or more variant mutation profiles provided as input. The focus on interactive visualization with biologic and medical annotation significantly lowers the barriers between complex genomics data and biomedical investigators. We describe how D3Oncoprint helps researchers explore their own data without the need for an extensive computational background.

Conclusion

D3Oncoprint is free software for noncommercial use. It is available for download from the Web site of the Biometric Research Program of the Division of Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis at the National Cancer Institute ( https://brb.nci.nih.gov/d3oncoprint ). We believe that this tool provides an important means of empowering researchers to translate information from collected data sets to biologic insights and clinical development.
Challenges in Lung Cancer Screening in Latin America
Authors: Raez Luis E. , Nogueira Amanda , Santos Edgardo S. , dos Santos Ricardo Sales , Franceschini Juliana , Ron David Arias , Block Mark , Yamaguchi Nise , Rolfo Christian
Published: March 2018

Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer worldwide and is of particular concern for Latin America. Its rising incidence in this area of the world poses myriad challenges for the region’s economies, which are already struggling with limited resources to meet the health care needs of low- and middle-income populations. In this environment, we are concerned that regional governments are relatively unaware of the pressing need to implement effective strategies for the near future. Low-dose chest computed tomography (LDCT) for screening, and routine use of minimally invasive techniques for diagnosis and staging remain uncommon. According to results of the National Lung Screening Trial, LDCT lung cancer screening provided a 20% relative reduction in mortality rates among at-risk individuals. Nevertheless, this issue is still a matter of debate, particularly in developing countries, and it is not fully embraced in developing countries. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of what the standard of care is for lung cancer computed tomography screening around the world and to aid understanding of the challenges and potential solutions that can help with the implementation of LDCT in Latin America.