bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incidence, risk factors and severity of retinopathy of prematurity in Turkey (TR-ROP study): a prospective, multicentre study in 69 neonatal intensive care units
Authors: Bas Ahmet Yagmur , Demirel Nihal , Koc Esin , Ulubas Isik Dilek , Hirfanoglu İbrahim Murat , Tunc Turan
Published: March 2018

Background

To evaluate the prevalence, risk factors and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in Turkey and to establish screening criteria for this condition.

Methods

A prospective cohort study (TR-ROP) was performed between 1 April 2016 and 30 April 2017 in 69 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Infants with a birth weight (BW)≤1500 g or gestational age (GA)≤32 weeks and those with a BW>1500 g or GA>32 weeks with an unstable clinical course were included in the study. Predictors for the development of ROP were determined by logistic regression analyses.

Results

The TR-ROP study included 6115 infants: 4964 (81%) with a GA≤32 weeks and 1151 (19%) with a GA>32 weeks. Overall, 27% had any stage of ROP and 6.7% had severe ROP. A lower BW, smaller GA, total days on oxygen, late-onset sepsis, frequency of red blood cell transfusions and relative weight gain were identified as independent risk factors for severe ROP in infants with a BW≤1500 g. Of all infants, 414 needed treatment and 395 (95.4%) of the treated infants had a BW≤1500 g. Sixty-six (16%) of the treated infants did not fulfil the Early Treatment for Retinopathy of Prematurity requirements for treatment.

Conclusions

Screening of infants with a GA≤34 weeks or a BW<1700 g appears to be appropriate in Turkey. Monitoring standards of neonatal care and conducting quality improvement projects across the country are recommended to improve neonatal outcomes in Turkish NICUs.

Trial registration number

NCT02814929, Results.
Using HTA and guideline development as a tool for research priority setting the NICE way: reducing research waste by identifying the right research to fund.
Authors: Sharma Tarang , Choudhury Moni , Rejón-Parrilla Juan Carlos , Jonsson Pall , Garner Sarah
Published: March 2018

Background

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) was established in 1999 and provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care. Several steps in the research cycle have been identified that can support the reduction of waste that occurs in biomedical research. The first step in the process is ensuring appropriate research priority setting occurs so only the questions that are needed to fill existing gaps in the evidence are funded. This paper summarises the research priority setting processes at NICE.

Methods

NICE uses its guidance production processes to identify and prioritise research questions through systematic reviews, economic analyses and stakeholder consultations and then highlights those priorities by engagement with the research community. NICE also highlights its methodological areas for research to ensure the appropriate development and growth of the evidence landscape.

Results

NICE has prioritised research questions through its guidance production and methodological work and has successfully had several research products funded through the National Institute for Health Research and Medical Research Council. This paper summarises those activities and results.

Conclusions

This activity of NICE therefore reduces research waste by ensuring that the research it recommends has been systematically prioritised through evidence reviews and stakeholder input.
‘Abortion’ or ‘termination of pregnancy’? Views from abortion care providers in Scotland, UK
Authors: Kavanagh Aine , Wielding Sally , Cochrane Rosemary , Sim Judith , Johnstone Anne , Cameron Sharon
Published: March 2018

Background

The phrase ‘termination of pregnancy’ has recently been adopted by a number of British medical institutions as a preferred descriptor of induced abortion. How it is used by abortion care providers is unclear, although the ongoing stigmatisation of abortion may play a role.

Methods

A mixed methods study of the views of abortion care providers in Scotland, UK. Self-administered anonymous questionnaires were distributed to abortion care providers at a national conference (Scottish Abortion Care Providers). The main outcomes measured were the proportion of respondents reporting that they found the terms ‘abortion’ and ‘termination of pregnancy’ to be distressing, and their preferred terminology for use in consultations with women. In-depth interviews were conducted with 19 providers from a single clinic in Scotland to contextualise use of the terminology.

Results

The questionnaire was completed by 90/118 delegates (76%). More respondents indicated they found the term ‘abortion’ distressing (28%), compared with those who found ‘termination of pregnancy’ distressing (6%; P<0.0001). Interview participants reported that ‘termination of pregnancy’ was the default phrase used in consultations. Some respondents stated that they occasionally purposely used ‘abortion’ in consultations to emphasise the seriousness of the procedure (morally, physically and/or emotionally).

Conclusions

‘Termination of pregnancy’ is the most commonly used term to describe induced abortion in patient consultations in Scotland. This and the term ‘abortion’ appear to play different roles, with the former being used euphemistically, and the latter as a more emphatic term. Further research is warranted to investigate how this interacts with patient care, service provision, and abortion stigma.
Intramyocardial Block in Patients with Atrioventricular Block
Authors: Li Guoliang , Saguner Ardan M , Akdis Deniz , Fontaine Guy H
Published: March 2018

Atrioventricular (AV) block has been extensively studied. However, conduction inside the myocardium in patients with AV block has not been reported. In this study, we aimed to demonstrate the presence of intramyocardial block in patients with AV block. Five consecutive patients with spontaneous high-grade AV block and Torsades de pointes (TdP) were prospectively studied with standard United States Catheter Instruments (USCI) endocardial temporary catheter located at the right ventricle (RV) apex. The morphology of endocardial potentials observed in the basic QRS complexes as well as during episodes of TdP was studied. The electrogram (EGM) of the basic rhythm showed a sharp deflection of high amplitude preceded and/or followed by a smooth potential of low amplitude interpreted as far-field potentials in all patients. The sharp potential can be observed at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of the smooth potential. All these potentials were reproduced from beat to beat and were falling inside the QRS complex of the surface ECG. Therefore, these aspects are zones of electrically depressed or silent myocardium larger than the interelectrode distance of 12 mm. This situation is in agreement with recent genetic factors. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time that patients with spontaneous AV block also have trouble in ventricular activation located on the AV conduction system and inside the myocardium. It is then possible to speculate that the presence of diffuse non-conducting myocardium explains why most TdPs do not degenerate into ventricular fibrillation (VF) and generally stop spontaneously.
Collateral status affects the onset-to-reperfusion time window for good outcome
Authors: Kim Byung Moon , Baek Jang-Hyun , Heo Ji Hoe , Nam Hyo Suk , Kim Young Dae , Yoo Joonsang , Kim Dong Joon , Jeon Pyoung , Baik Seung Kug , Suh Sang Hyun , Lee Kyung Yol , Kwak Hyo Sung , Roh Hong Gee , Lee Young-Jun , Kim Sang Heum , Ryu Chang-Woo , Ihn Yon-Kwon , Kim Byungjoon , Jeon Hong Jun , Kim Jin Woo , Byun Jun Soo , Suh Sangil , Park Jeong Jin , Lee Woong Jae , Roh Jieun , Shin Byoung-Soo , Bang Oh Young
Published: March 2018

Objective

To characterise the time window in which endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) is associated with good outcome, and to test the differential relationship between functional outcome and onset-to-reperfusion time (ORT), depending on collateral status.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of clinical and imaging data of 554 consecutive patients, who had recanalisation success by EVT for anterior circulation large artery occlusion, from the prospectively maintained registries of 16 comprehensive stroke centres between September 2010 and December 2015. The patients were dichotomised into good and poor collateral groups, based on CT angiography. We tested whether the likelihood of good outcome (modified Rankin Scale, 0–2) by ORT was different between two groups.

Results

ORT was 298 min±113 min (range, 81–665 min), and 84.5% of patients had good collaterals. Age, diabetes mellitus, previous infarction, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, good collaterals (OR 40.766; 95% CI 10.668 to 155.78; p<0.001) and ORT (OR 0.926 every 30 min delay; 95% CI 0.862 to 0.995; p=0.037) were independently associated with good outcome. The drop in likelihood of good outcome associated with longer ORT was significantly faster in poor collateral group (OR 0.305 for every 30 min; 95% CI 0.113 to 0.822) than in good collateral group (OR 0.926 for every 30 min; 95% CI 0.875 to 0.980).

Conclusions

Earlier successful recanalisation was strongly associated with good outcome in poor collateral group; however, this association was weak during the tested time window in good collateral group. This suggests that the ORT window for good outcome can be adjusted according to collateral status.
Syphilis the great pretender: when is cancer not cancer?
Authors: Rockwood Neesha , Nwokolo Nneka
Published: March 2018

The number of cases of syphilis continues to rise in the UK, USA and elsewhere and may present to a variety of clinical specialties. We report a complex case of early acquired disseminated syphilis causing an ulceronodular rash (lues maligna), orchitis, osteitis and lung nodules in an immunocompetent man who has sex with men who presented to the genitourinary medicine clinic. Syphilis should be considered in the differential diagnoses of multiple clinical presentations and optimal management should involve multidisciplinary care.
Variability in daily urinary nitrogen excretion of gestating gilts does not affect estimates of nitrogen retention
Authors: Miller E.G. , Huber L. , Levesque C.L. , de Lange C.F.M.
Published: March 2018

Daily urinary nitrogen excretion (UN, g d−1) was quantified in gestating gilts during 5 d nitrogen (N) balance periods. Abbreviated collection days (<22 h) can be used in N balance calculations when extrapolated to reflect a complete 24 h collection. Variation in daily UN did not affect overall N retention calculations.
Synthesis, structural characterization, and reactivity of (thiolato)bismuth complexes as potential water-tolerant Lewis acid catalysts
Authors: Briand Glen G. , Decken Andreas , Shannon Whitney E.M.M. , Trevors Eric E.
Published: March 2018

We have synthesized bismuth complexes incorporating polydentate mono- and di-thiolate ligands and examined their utility as water-tolerant Lewis acid catalysts. The reaction of Bi(OAc)3 or Bi(NO3)3·5H2O and the corresponding mono- or di-thiol(ate) yielded the compounds [(SNNS)Bi(OAc)] (4), [(SNNSPr)Bi(OAc)] (5), [(NNS2)Bi(OAc)] (6), [(ONS2)Bi(OAc)] (7), [(ONS2)Bi(NO3)] (8), and [(NNS)2Bi][NO3] (9) [H2(SNNS) = N,N′-dimethyl-N,N′-bis(2-mercaptoethyl)ethylenediamine; H2(SNNSPr) = N,N′-diethyl-N,N′-bis(2-mercaptoethyl)propanediamine; H2(NNS2) = N,N-diethyl-N′,N′-bis(2-mercaptoethyl)ethanediamine; H2(ONS2) = 2-methoxyethyl-bis(2-mercaptoethyl)amine; H(NNS) = N,N-diethyl-N′-(2-mercaptoethyl)ethanediamine]. The solid-state structures of 4–8 show similar distorted pentagonal pyramidal geometries at the bismuth centre with a thiolate sulfur atom in the axial site, whereas 8 shows second structural arrangement with a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry at bismuth. The cation of 9 shows two NNS-bonded ligands and a distorted octahedral geometry at bismuth. Two-dimensional NMR studies of 4–8 show geminal 1H coupling in –SCH2CH2N– groups and suggests strong dative Bi–N intramolecular interactions. Bi(NO3)3·5H2O and BiCl3 show high activity toward the esterification of stearic acid, Bi(NO3)3·5H2O, and 4–7 and 9 show high activity toward the transesterification of methyl stearate in butanol, and 7 shows moderate activity as a catalyst for the transesterification of glyceryl trioctanoate in methanol.
RETAIL INVESTORS’ BIASED BELIEFS ABOUT STOCKS THAT THEY HOLD: EVIDENCE FROM CHINA’S SPLIT SHARE STRUCTURE REFORM
Authors: LUO YAN , QIAN XIAOLIN , REN JINJUAN , ZHU YANJIAN
Published: March 2018

We investigate the compensation plans during China’s split share structure reform, a unique event that affected the entire market and in which investors’ opinions over stock values can be measured. We find that anchoring effects and accruals biased investors’ valuations. Although previous studies have observed investor’s biased belief from their irrational trading behavior, our study provides direct evidence of their biases regarding stock values. In particular, the compensation ratio was lower for stocks with prices closer to the historical high and further from the 52-week high, for stocks with higher accruals and for stocks with higher misvaluations relative to industry peers. In addition, we find a strong herding effect for the compensation ratios of firms that had already completed the reform. These results are robust to control for the effects of risk sharing, differences in bargaining power, the price impact from the increased number of tradable shares and liquidity.
Repeated-root constacyclic codes of arbitrary lengths over the Galois ring GR(p2,m)
Authors: Sharma Anuradha , Sidana Tania
Published: March 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be a prime, [Formula: see text] be a positive integer, and let GR[Formula: see text] be the Galois ring of characteristic [Formula: see text] and cardinality [Formula: see text]. In this paper, all repeated-root constacyclic codes of arbitrary lengths over GR[Formula: see text] their sizes and their dual codes are determined. As an application, some isodual constacyclic codes over GR[Formula: see text] are also listed. To illustrate the results, all cyclic and negacyclic codes of length 10 over [Formula: see text] are obtained.
An SLC-Like Programming Scheme for MLC Flash Memory
Authors: Ho Chien-Chung , Chang Yu-Ming , Chang Yuan-Hao , Kuo Tei-Wei
Published: March 2018

Although the multilevel cell (MLC) technique is widely adopted by flash-memory vendors to boost the chip density and lower the cost, it results in serious performance and reliability problems. Different from past work, a new cell programming method is proposed to not only significantly improve chip performance but also reduce the potential bit error rate. In particular, a single-level cell (SLC)-like programming scheme is proposed to better explore the threshold-voltage relationship to denote different MLC bit information, which in turn drastically provides a larger window of threshold voltage similar to that found in SLC chips. It could result in less programming iterations and simultaneously a much less reliability problem in programming flash-memory cells. In the experiments, the new programming scheme could accelerate the programming speed up to 742% and even reduce the bit error rate up to 471% for MLC pages.
Rhinovirus infection induces distinct transcriptome profiles in polarized human macrophages
Authors: Rajput Charu , Walsh Megan P. , Eder Breanna N. , Metitiri Ediri E. , Popova Antonia P. , Hershenson Marc B.
Published: March 2018

Infections with rhinovirus (RV) cause asthma exacerbations. Recent studies suggest that macrophages play a role in asthmatic airway inflammation and the innate immune response to RV infection. Macrophages exhibit phenotypes based on surface markers and gene expression. We hypothesized that macrophage polarization state alters gene expression in response to RV infection. Cells were derived from human peripheral blood derived monocytes. M1 and M2 polarization was carried out by using IFN-γ and IL-4, respectively, and RNA was extracted for Affymetrix Human Gene ST2.1 exon arrays. Selected genes were validated by quantitative (q)PCR. Treatment of nonactivated (M0) macrophages with IFN-γ and IL-4 induced the expression of 252 and 153 distinct genes, respectively, including previously-identified M1 and M2 markers. RV infection of M0 macrophages induced upregulation of 232 genes; pathway analysis showed significant overrepresentation of genes involved in IFN-α/β signaling and cytokine signaling in the immune system. RV infection induced differential expression of 195 distinct genes in M1-like macrophages but only seven distinct genes in M2-like-polarized cells. In a secondary analysis, comparison between M0-, RV-infected, and M1-like-polarized, RV-infected macrophages revealed differential expression of 227 genes including those associated with asthma and its exacerbation. qPCR demonstrated increased expression of CCL8, CXCL10, TNFSF10, TNFSF18, IL6, NOD2, and GSDMD and reduced expression of VNN1, AGO1, and AGO2. Together, these data show that, in contrast to M2-like-polarized macrophages, gene expression of M1-like macrophages is highly regulated by RV.
On Synchronizing Coupled Retinogeniculocortical Pathways: A Toy Model
Authors: Mayer B. L. , Monteiro L. H. A.
Published: March 2018

A Newman-Watts graph is formed by including random links in a regular lattice. Here, the emergence of synchronization in coupled Newman-Watts graphs is studied. The whole neural network is considered as a toy model of mammalian visual pathways. It is composed by four coupled graphs, in which a coupled pair represents the lateral geniculate nucleus and the visual cortex of a cerebral hemisphere. The hemispheres communicate with each other through a coupling between the graphs representing the visual cortices. This coupling makes the role of the corpus callosum. The state transition of neurons, supposed to be the nodes of the graphs, occurs in discrete time and it follows a set of deterministic rules. From periodic stimuli coming from the retina, the neuronal activity of the whole network is numerically computed. The goal is to find out how the values of the parameters related to the network topology affect the synchronization among the four graphs.
Roles of C-Repeat Binding Factors-Dependent Signaling Pathway in Jasmonates-Mediated Improvement of Chilling Tolerance of Postharvest Horticultural Commodities
Authors: Wang Libin , Sun Xiuxiu , Luo Weiqi , Qian Chunlu
Published: March 2018

C-repeat binding factor- (CBF-) dependent signaling pathway is proposed to be a key responder to low temperature stress in plant. Jasmonates (JAs), the endogenous signal molecules in plant, participate in plant defense against (a)biotic stresses; however, the mechanism has not been fully clarified so far. With the progress made in JAs biopathway, signal transduction, and their relationship with CBF-dependent signaling pathway, our knowledge of the roles of the CBF-dependent signaling pathway in JAs-mediated improvement of chilling tolerance accumulates. In this review, we firstly briefly review the chilling injury (CI) characteristics of postharvest horticultural commodities, then introduce the biopathway and signal transduction of JAs, subsequently summarize the roles of the CBF-dependent signaling pathway under low temperature stress, and finally describe the linkage between JAs signal transduction and the CBF-dependent signaling pathway.
Numerical Simulation of Thermoacoustic Wave Induced by Thermal Effects by Using Discontinuous Galerkin Method
Authors: Pranowo Pranowo , Widyaparaga Adhika
Published: March 2018

This paper describes a numerical model based on discontinuous Galerkin method for thermoacoustic investigation. Numerical investigation was conducted to study the behaviour of thermoacoustic wave propagations induced by thermal effects in 2-dimensional enclosure. The compressible Navier-Stokes equations are used as the governing equations. The spatial domain was discretized by using unstructured discontinuous Galerkin method and the explicit fourth-order Runge-Kutta was used to integrate the temporal domain. The accuracy of the numerical results was assessed against other numerical methods and linear solutions. The comparisons with linear solutions show excellent agreement and comparisons with flux corrected transport (FCT) method show fair agreement.
Barrier Performance of CVD Graphene Films Using a Facile P3HT Thin Film Optical Transmission Test
Authors: Nemani Srinivasa Kartik , Sojoudi Hossein
Published: March 2018

The barrier performance of CVD graphene films was determined using a poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) thin film optical transmission test. P3HT is a semiconducting polymer that photo-oxidatively degrades upon exposure to oxygen and light. The polymer is stable under ambient conditions and indoor lighting, enabling P3HT films to be deposited and encapsulated in air. P3HT’s stability under ambient conditions makes it desirable for an initial evaluation of barrier materials as a complimentary screening method in combination with conventional barrier tests. The P3HT test was used to demonstrate improved barrier performance for polymer substrates after addition of CVD graphene films. A layer-by-layer transfer method was utilized to enhance the barrier performance of monolayer graphene. Another set of absorption measurements were conducted to demonstrate the barrier performance of graphene and the degradation mechanism of graphene/P3HT over multiple wavelengths from 400 to 800 nm. The absorption spectra for graphene/polymer composite were simulated by solving Fresnel equations. The simulation results were found to be in good agreement with the measured absorption spectra. The P3HT degradation results qualitatively indicate the potential of graphene films as a possible candidate for medium performance barriers.
Tanshinone IIA Sodium Sulfonate Attenuates LPS-Induced Intestinal Injury in Mice
Authors: Yang Xin-Jing , Qian Jin-Xian , Wei Yao , Guo Qiang , Jin Jun , Sun Xue , Liu Sheng-Lan , Xu Chun-Fang , Zhang Guo-Xing
Published: March 2018

Background. Tanshinone IIA sodium sulfonate (TSS) is known to possess anti-inflammatory effects and has exhibited protective effects in various inflammatory conditions; however, its role in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) induced intestinal injury is still unknown. Objective. The present study is designed to explore the role and possible mechanism of TSS in LPS-induced intestinal injury. Methods. Male C57BL/6J mice, challenged with intraperitoneal LPS injection, were treated with or without TSS 0.5 h prior to LPS exposure. At 1, 6, and 12 h after LPS injection, mice were sacrificed, and the small intestine was excised. The intestinal tissue injury was analyzed by HE staining. Inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in the intestinal tissue were examined by ELISA and RT-PCR. In addition, expressions of autophagy markers (microtubule-associated light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin-1) were detected by western blot and RT-PCR. A number of autophagosomes were also observed under electron microscopy. Results. TSS treatment significantly attenuated small intestinal epithelium injury induced by LPS. LPS-induced release of inflammatory mediators, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, were markedly inhibited by TSS. Furthermore, TSS treatment could effectively upregulate LPS-induced decrease of autophagy levels, as evidenced by the increased expression of LC3 and Beclin-1, and more autophagosomes. Conclusion. The protective effect of TSS on LPS-induced small intestinal injury may be attributed to the inhibition of inflammatory factors and promotion of autophagy levels. The present study may provide novel insight into the molecular mechanisms of TSS on the treatment of intestinal injury.
Clinical and Biomarker Evaluations of Sunitinib in Patients with Grade 3 Digestive Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
Authors: Pellat Anna , Dreyer Chantal , Couffignal Camille , Walter Thomas , Lombard-Bohas Catherine , Niccoli Patricia , Seitz Jean François  , Hentic Olivia , André Thierry , Coriat Romain , Faivre Sandrine , Zappa Magaly , Ruszniewski Philippe , Pote Nicolas , Couvelard Anne , Raymond Eric
Published: March 2018

Background/Aims: Angiogenesis is extensively developed in well-differentiated pancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (PanNET) where sunitinib was shown to prolong progression-free survival, leading to nationwide approval. However, clinical experience in patients with grade 3 gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEPNEN-G3) remains limited. This prospective phase II trial evaluated potential predictive biomarkers of sunitinib activity in patients with advanced GEPNEN-G3. Methods: Sunitinib was given at a dose of 37.5 mg/day as a continuous daily dosing until progression or unacceptable toxicity. Evaluation of activity was based on RECIST1.1. Safety was evaluated according to NCI-CTCAE v4. Pharmacokinetics of sunitinib and its main active metabolite SU12662 were evaluated. All tumour samples were reviewed histologically for tumour differentiation. PDGFRβ, carbonic anhydrase 9, Ki-67, VEGFR2, and p-AKT were quantified using immunohistochemistry and their expression correlated with response by RECIST1.1. Results: Thirty-one patients were included and 26 had available histological tissue. Six and 20 patients presented well-differentiated tumours (NET-G3) and neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), respectively. Eighteen patients responded to sunitinib (4 experienced partial responses and 14 tumour stabilization). A high p-AKT expression correlated with lower response to sunitinib (OR 0.94, 95% CI 0.89–0.99, p = 0.04). Safety and PK exposure to sunitinib and SU12662 in these patients were consistent with that reported in PanNET. Conclusion: Sunitinib showed evidence of activity in patients with GEPNEN-G3 with expected toxicity profile. In the NET-G3 and NEC groups, 4/6 and 11/20 patients were responders, respectively. High p-AKT expression predicted a lower response to sunitinib. Our study allowed the identification of a potential biomarker of resistance/sensitivity to sunitinib in aggressive GEPNEN-G3.
A Novel PORCN Frameshift Mutation Leading to Focal Dermal Hypoplasia: A Case Report
Authors: Durmaz Ceren D. , McGrath John , Liu Lu , Karabulut Halil G.
Published: March 2018

Focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH), also known as Goltz-Gorlin syndrome, is a rare, multisystemic, X-linked dominant genodermatosis characterized by defective development of mesodermal and ectodermal tissues. Major clinical features of the disorder are skin manifestations, skeletal defects, and developmental eye abnormalities. FDH is caused by heterozygous mutations in the PORCN gene located at Xp11.23, and 90% of individuals with FDH are females. Here, we report a female patient with cutaneous changes, multiple eye anomalies, short stature, and ectrodactyly of the right foot. These clinical findings were compatible with the diagnosis of FDH, and a novel mutation, NM_022825.3:c.488delG was found in the PORCN gene causing a premature stop codon.
Overexpression of Long Non-Coding RNA NNT-AS1 Correlates with Tumor Progression and Poor Prognosis in Osteosarcoma
Authors: Ye Hui , Lin Jinkuang , Yao Xuedong , Li Yizhong , Lin Xiaobin , Lu Hai
Published: March 2018

Background/Aims: Increasing evidence demonstrates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical regulatory roles in cancers, including osteosarcoma. A previous study showed that Nicotinamide Nucleotide Transhydrogenase-antisense RNA1 (NNT-AS1) was aberrantly expressed in several types of cancer. However, the potential biological roles and regulatory mechanisms of NNT-AS1 in osteosarcoma progression remain unknown. Methods: Quantitative RT-PCR was performed to examine the expression of NNT-AS1 in human tissues and cells. The biological functions of NNT-AS1 were determined by CCK-8, colony formation, Flow cytometry and Transwell assays in vitro. A mouse xenograft model was performed to investigate the effect of NNT-AS1 on tumor growth in vivo. Results: In this study, we found the expression of NNT-AS1 was significantly increased in tumor tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues. Furthermore, upregulated NNT-AS1 expression predicted poor prognosis and was an independent and significant risk factor for osteosarcoma patient survival. Further experiments revealed that NNT-AS1 knockdown significantly inhibited cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest and promoting apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells. Moreover, NNT-AS1 silencing suppressed cell migration and invasion in vitro. In a tumor xenograft model, knockdown of NNT-AS1 suppressed tumor growth of OS-732 cells in vivo. Conclusions: Taken together, these findings indicate that NNT-AS1 functions as an oncogene in osteosarcoma and could be a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for osteosarcoma.
Sestrin-Mediated Inhibition of Stress-Induced Intervertebral Disc Degradation Through the Enhancement of Autophagy
Authors: Tu Ji , Li Wentian , Li Shuai , Liu Wei , Zhang Yukun , Wu Xinghuo , Luo Rongjin , Hua Wenbin , Wang Kun , Song Yu , Kang Liang , Yang Wen , Yang Shuhua , Yang Cao
Published: March 2018

Background/Aims: Intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) is a pathological process that is the primary cause of low back pain and is potentially mediated by compromised stress defense. Sestrins (Sesn) promote cell survival under stress conditions and regulate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. Here, we investigated the expression of Sesn in normal and degraded nucleus pulposus (NP) cells and its potential roles during IDD pathogenesis. Methods: Sesn expression in normal and degraded NP cells was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Sesn function was investigated by using Sesn knockdown and overexpression techniques with analysis of extracellular matrix (ECM), cell apoptosis, autophagy, AMPK, and mTOR activation. Results: In human cultured NP cells, Sesn expression was significantly decreased in degraded NP cells at both the RNA and protein levels. The expression of Sesn1, 2, and 3 increased after stimulation by 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG), an endoplasmic reticulum stress inducer. 2-DG could also increase cell apoptosis, promote extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, and positively regulate autophagy in NP cells. Sesn knockdown by small interfering RNA increased NP cell apoptosis and ECM degradation under basal culture conditions and in the presence of 2DG. Conversely, Sesn overexpression mediated by plasmid transfection repressed IDD by enhancing autophagy, which was associated with changes in mTOR but not AMPK activation. Conclusions: Sesn expression is suppressed in degraded NP cells. In addition, Sesn inhibits stress-induced cell apoptosis and ECM degradation by enhancing autophagy, which is modulated though mTOR activity. Suppression of Sesn might therefore represent an important cellular dysfunction mechanism in the process of IDD.
“O mundo tá chato”: algumas notas sobre a dimensão sociocognitiva do politicamente correto na linguagem
Authors: Morato Edwiges , Bentes Anna Christina
Published: March 2018

Tendo por escopo questões que se colocam na interação entre linguagem, cognição e sociedade, este ensaio tem o objetivo de refletir sobre os sentidos sociocognitivos do politicamente correto, considerando determinadas práticas discursivas no contexto brasileiro contemporâneo. A tese que defendemos neste ensaio é a de que o politicamente correto, como regulador de práticas discursivas e sociais, pode ser tomado num sentido fraco – como um recurso pragmático fundamentalmente associado à tentativa de promover um grau alto de reflexividade dos atores sociais em relação à produção de determinadas categorizações e/ou enunciados – ou num sentido forte – tanto como um sistema normativo, capaz de assinalar regimes simbólicos desejáveis da vida em sociedade, quanto um norteador de situações a serem superadas, como a desigualdade social, a injustiça, o preconceito, a discriminação, a violência.
Metamorfoses dos direitos humanos
Authors: Lindgren-Alves José A.
Published: March 2018

Modificações do conceito de direitos humanos, associadas a exageros do “politicamente correto” voltado para minorias, depreciam ambas as expressões. Historicamente de esquerda, seu abuso serve de munição às posições de direita, absorvidas por cidadãos inseguros. Diante de criminalidade, em cultura de sedução consumista sobre estrutura econômica profundamente desigual, direitos particularistas, em substituição à política, são contrários à integração com progresso. Para evitar derrotas eleitorais é melhor regressar à defesa dos direitos de todos.
O último refúgio do indivíduo: o ideal de autonomia na crítica de Álvaro Lins
Authors: Maia Eduardo Cesar
Published: March 2018

Um dos valores fundamentais preconizados pelo crítico pernambucano Álvaro Lins, desde o princípio de sua carreira, foi o de colocar a autonomia individual como centro e fundamento da crítica literária. Ele seguia, portanto, na contracorrente das tendências de valorização, por um lado, da rigidez metodológica ou, por outro, da militância ideológica como norte da atividade crítica. O indivíduo seria, nessa perspectiva, o último refúgio contra todas as formas totalizantes e dogmáticas de compreensão da realidade.
As armas do invasor: Luiz Ruffato e as disputas do campo literário brasileiro
Authors: Cerqueira Rodrigo
Published: March 2018

O presente artigo busca analisar certas disputas que formam o campo literário brasileiro atual. Para isso, levantamos algumas tomadas de posição do escritor mineiro radicado em São Paulo, Luiz Ruffato, em especial posicionamentos extraliterários, entrevistas e depoimentos que de algum modo desenham uma imagem singular de intelectual ao passo que reflete sobre as lutas no interior do campo contemporâneo, apontando inimigos e caminhos possíveis.
Trends in Hospitalizations and Survival of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure in Four US Communities (2005–2014)
Authors: Chang Patricia P. , Wruck Lisa M. , Shahar Eyal , Rossi Joseph S. , Loehr Laura R. , Russell Stuart D. , Agarwal Sunil K. , Konety Suma H. , Rodriguez Carlos J. , Rosamond Wayne D.
Published: March 2018

Background:

Community trends of acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in diverse populations may differ by race and sex.

Methods:

The ARIC study (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) sampled heart failure-related hospitalizations (≥55 years of age) in 4 US communities from 2005 to 2014 using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes. ADHF hospitalizations were validated by standardized physician review and computer algorithm, yielding 40 173 events after accounting for sampling design (unweighted n=8746).

Results:

Of the ADHF hospitalizations, 50% had reduced ejection fraction, and 39% had preserved EF (HFpEF). HF with reduced ejection fraction was more common in black men and white men, whereas HFpEF was most common in white women. Average age-adjusted rates of ADHF were highest in blacks (38.1 per 1000 black men, 30.5 per 1000 black women), with rates differing by HF type and sex. ADHF rates increased over the 10 years (average annual percentage change: black women +4.3%, black men +3.7%, white women +1.9%, white men +2.6%), mostly reflecting more acute HFpEF. Age-adjusted 28-day and 1-year case fatality proportions were ≈10% and 30%, respectively, similar across race-sex groups and HF types. Only blacks showed decreased 1-year mortality over time (average annual percentage change: black women –5.4%, black men –4.6%), with rates differing by HF type (average annual percentage change: black women HFpEF –7.1%, black men HF with reduced ejection fraction –4.7%).

Conclusions:

Between 2005 and 2014, trends in ADHF hospitalizations increased in 4 US communities, primarily driven by acute HFpEF. Survival at 1 year was poor regardless of EF but improved over time for black women and black men.
Phosphatidylinositol 3‐Kinase–DNA Methyltransferase 1–miR‐1281–Histone Deacetylase 4 Regulatory Axis Mediates Platelet‐Derived Growth Factor–Induced Proliferation and Migration of Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Li Yanjiao , Li Li , Qian Zhengjiang , Lin Boya , Chen Jidong , Luo Yixuan , Qu Junle , Raj J. Usha , Gou Deming
Published: March 2018

Background

Platelet‐derived growth factor
BB
, a potent mitogen of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (
PASMC
s), has been implicated in pulmonary arterial remodeling, which is a key pathogenic feature of pulmonary arterial hypertension. Previous micro
RNA
profiling in platelet‐derived growth factor BB–treated
PASMC
s found a significantly downregulated micro
RNA
, miR‐1281, but it has not been associated with any cellular function, and we investigated the possibility.

Methods and Results

Real‐time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay proved that downregulation of miR‐1281 was a conserved phenomenon in human and rat
PASMC
s. Overexpression and inhibition of miR‐1281 in
PASMC
s promoted and suppressed, respectively, the cell proliferation and migration. Bioinformatic prediction and 3′‐untranslated region reporter assay identified histone deacetylase 4 to be a direct target of miR‐1281. Supporting this, proliferation and migration assay demonstrated the cellular function of histone deacetylase 4 is inversely correlated with that of miR‐1281. Mechanistically, it is found that platelet‐derived growth factor BB activates the phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase pathway, which then induces the expression of
DNA
methyltransferase 1, leading to enhanced methylation of a flanking CpG island and repressed miR‐1281 expression. Finally, a reduced miR‐1281 level was consistently identified in hypoxic
PASMC
s in vitro, in pulmonary arteries of rats with monocrotaline‐induced pulmonary arterial hypertension, and in serum of patients with coronary heart disease–pulmonary arterial hypertension. These data suggest that there may be a diagnostic and therapeutic use for miR‐1281.

Conclusions

Herein, we report a novel regulatory axis, phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase–
DNA
methyltransferase 1–miR‐1281–histone deacetylase 4, integrating multiple epigenetic regulators that participate in platelet‐derived growth factor
BB
–stimulated
PASMC
proliferation and migration and pulmonary vascular remodeling.
« J’ai été longtemps minoritaire »
Authors: Genin Vincent
Published: March 2018

The legitimation process of international labour law in Belgium (1888-1938), Legitimity, experiences and memories of the Belgian Ernest Mahaim. 

The aim of this contribution is to explain and understand the emergence of international labour law in Belgium in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. First a marginal discipline disputed by the doxa of lawyers, diplomats, and politicians, international labour law is a direct result of the social evolution of the country. This paper focuses on the process of legitimation of this particular branch of law between 1888 to 1938 through the prism of one of his main specialist in Belgium, and also a key-figure of a worldwide network, Ernest Mahaim , professor at the University of Liège.
Poétique du bilinguisme et l’ enjeu de l’ entre-deux
Authors: Collinge-Germain Linda
Published: March 2018

L’ étude de la traduction du “Bateau ivre” par Beckett et la confrontation de cette traduction aux trois nouvelles de Nouvelles et Textes pour rien (“L’ Expulsé,” “Le Calmant” et “La Fin”) révèlent une écriture de l’ exil fondée sur l’ hésitation. Le “bateau ivre,” figure de l’ exil, est pour Beckett une ‘invitation au voyage,’ aux sens propre et figuré, et les résurgences du “Bateau ivre” et de sa traduction dans ses écrits ultérieurs sont une clé pour appréhender sa poétique du bilinguisme.
Un chemin cernant le poème
Authors: Margarit Lucas
Published: March 2018

L’ objet de ce travail est d’ analyser deux poèmes écrits par Samuel Beckett à la fin des années 1930 : « elles viennent » et « Dieppe ». Ils furent publiés premièrement dans Les Temps modernes en 1946 puis en anglais dans les recueils Poems in English (1961) et Collected Poems (1977). L’ un des traits distinctifs de l’ écriture de ces textes réside dans l’ alternance réitérée de ces deux langues dans l’ écriture. Et à ce déplacement des imprimés, on peut en ajouter un autre : les traductions de ces deux poèmes réalisées à la main par Beckett lui-même sur son exemplaire de Poèmes, publié chez Minuit en 1968 et conservé aujourd’ hui dans le Beckett Archive à Reading. En ce sens, nous analyserons également certaines versions de son dernier poème « Comment dire » / « What is the word ». D’ une certaine façon, l’ alternance linguistique deviendra ainsi une pratique beckettienne habituelle tendant à concevoir un texte inachevé.
Between “Little Latitude” and a “Discreet Liberty”
Authors: Fernández José Francisco
Published: March 2018

As with any other author, the contradiction between fidelity and license is an important issue to take into account when translating Beckett. However, working with a Beckett text presents a unique characteristic, in that he himself provided versions of his novels and plays into English and French. This article examines the position of the translator as regards Beckett’s bilingualism and considers the effects that this situation may have in the translator’s practice. Additionally, a minimum set of principles are suggested as guidelines when translating Beckett into a third language.
Diurnal Cycle of the ITCZ in DYNAMO
Authors: Ciesielski Paul E. , Johnson Richard H. , Schubert Wayne H. , Ruppert James H.
Published: March 2018

During the 2011 special observing period of the Dynamics of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (DYNAMO) field experiment, two sounding arrays were established over the central Indian Ocean, one north and one south of the equator, referred to here as the NSA and SSA, respectively. Three-hourly soundings from these arrays augmented by observations of radiation and rainfall are used to investigate the diurnal cycle of ITCZ convection during the MJO suppressed phase. During the first half of October, when convection was suppressed over the NSA but prominent over the SSA, the circulation over the sounding arrays could be characterized as a local Hadley cell. Strong rising motion was present within the ITCZ extending across the SSA with compensating subsidence over the NSA. A prominent diurnal pulsing of this cell was observed, impacting conditions on both sides of the equator, with the cell running strongest in the early morning hours (0500–0800 LT) and notably weakening later in the day (1700–2000 LT). The declining daytime subsidence over the NSA may have assisted the moistening of the low to midtroposphere there during the pre-onset stage of the MJO. Apparent heating Q1 within the ITCZ exhibited a diurnal evolution from early morning bottom-heavy profiles to weaker daytime top-heavy profiles, indicating a progression from convective to stratiform precipitation. Making use of the weak temperature gradient approximation, results suggest that both horizontal radiative heating gradients and direct cloud radiative forcing have an important influence on diurnal variations of vertical motion and convection within the ITCZ.
Retrieving Mean Temperature of Atmospheric Liquid Water Layers Using Microwave Radiometer Measurements
Authors: Matrosov Sergey Y. , Turner David D.
Published: March 2018

A remote sensing method to retrieve the mean temperature of cloud liquid using ground-based microwave radiometer measurements is evaluated and tested by comparisons with direct cloud temperature information inferred from ceilometer cloud-base measurements and temperature profiles from radiosonde soundings. The method is based on the dependence of the ratio of cloud optical thicknesses at W-band (~90 GHz) and Ka-band (~30 GHz) frequencies on cloud liquid temperature. This ratio is obtained from total optical thicknesses inferred from radiometer measurements of brightness temperatures after accounting for the contributions from oxygen and water vapor. This accounting is done based on the radiometer-based retrievals of integrated water vapor amount and temperature and pressure measurements at the surface. The W–Ka-band ratio method is applied to the measurements from a three-channel (90, 31.4, and 23.8 GHz) microwave radiometer at the U.S. Department of Energy Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Mobile Facility at Oliktok Point, Alaska. The analyzed events span conditions from warm stratus clouds with temperatures above freezing to mixed-phase clouds with supercooled liquid water layers. Intercomparisons of radiometer-based cloud liquid temperature retrievals with estimates from collocated ceilometer and radiosonde measurements indicated on average a standard deviation of about 3.5°C between the two retrieval types in a wide range of cloud temperatures, from warm liquid clouds to mixed-phase clouds with supercooled liquid and liquid water paths greater than 50 g m−2. The three-channel microwave radiometer–based method has a broad applicability, since it requires neither the use of active sensors to locate the boundaries of liquid cloud layers nor information on the vertical profile of temperature.
Normalized Convective Characteristics of Tropical Cyclone Rapid Intensification Events in the North Atlantic and Eastern North Pacific
Authors: Fischer Michael S. , Tang Brian H. , Corbosiero Kristen L. , Rozoff Christopher M.
Published: March 2018

The relationship between tropical cyclone (TC) convective characteristics and TC intensity change is explored using infrared and passive microwave satellite imagery of TCs in the North Atlantic and eastern North Pacific basins from 1989 to 2016. TC intensity change episodes were placed into one of four groups: rapid intensification (RI), slow intensification (SI), neutral (N), and weakening (W). To account for differences in the distributions of TC intensity among the intensity change groups, a normalization technique is introduced, which allows for the analysis of anomalous TC convective characteristics and their relationship to TC intensity change.

A composite analysis of normalized convective parameters shows anomalously cold infrared and 85-GHz brightness temperatures, as well as anomalously warm 37-GHz brightness temperatures, in the upshear quadrants of the TC are associated with increased rates of TC intensification, including RI. For RI episodes in the North Atlantic basin, an increase in anomalous liquid hydrometeor content precedes anomalous ice hydrometeor content by approximately 12 h, suggesting convection deep enough to produce robust ice scattering is a symptom of, rather than a precursor to, RI. In the eastern North Pacific basin, the amount of anomalous liquid and ice hydrometeors increases in tandem near the onset of RI.

Normalized infrared and passive microwave brightness temperatures can be utilized to skillfully predict episodes of RI, as the forecast skill of RI episodes using solely normalized convective parameters is comparable to the forecast skill of RI episodes by current operational statistical models.