bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using direct visual augmentation to provide people with low vision equal access to information
Authors: Zhao Yuhang
Published: January 2018

Low vision is a visual impairment that cannot be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. Low vision people have functional vision and prefer using that vision instead of relying on audition and touch. Existing approaches to low vision accessibility enhance people's vision using simple "signal-to-signal" techniques that do not take into account the user's context. There is thus a major gap between low vision people's needs and existing low vision technologies. My doctorial research aims to address this gap by augmenting low vision people's visual experience with direct and optimal visual feedback based on the user's context. I will design and study novel methods for
visual augmentation
, which involves visual feedback beyond simple enhancements. My research considers two dimensions: visual condition and task. By understanding the visual perception of people with different visual abilities and exploring their needs in different visual tasks, I will design applications with visual feedback that is optimal for specific context to maximize people's access to information. My research will yield design insights and novel applications for people with all visual abilities.
Choroid plexus epithelial cells express the adhesion protein P-cadherin at cell-cell contacts and syntaxin-4 in the luminal membrane domain
Authors: Christensen Inga Baasch , Mogensen Esben Nees , Damkier Helle Hasager , Praetorius Jeppe
Published: January 2018

The choroid plexus epithelial cells (CPECs) belong to a small group of polarized cells, where the Na+-K+-ATPase is expressed in the luminal membrane. The basic polarity of the cells is, therefore, still debated. We investigated the subcellular distribution of an array of proteins known to play fundamental roles either in establishing and maintaining basic cell polarity or in the polarized delivery and recycling of plasma membrane proteins. Immunofluorescence histochemical analysis was applied to determine the subcellular localization of apical and basolateral membrane determinants. Mass spectrometry analysis of CPECs isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting was applied to determine the expression of specific forms of the proteins. CPECs mainly express the cell-adhesive P-cadherin, which is localized to the lateral membranes. Proteins belonging to the Crumbs and partitioning defective (Par) protein complexes were all localized to the luminal membrane domain. Par-1 and the Scribble complex were localized to the basolateral membrane domain. Lethal(2) giant larvae homolog 2 (Lgl2) labeling was preferentially observed in the luminal membrane domain. Phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3) was immunolocalized to the basolateral membrane domain, while phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) staining was most prominent in the luminal membrane domain along with the PIP3 phosphatase, Pten. The apical target-SNARE syntaxin-3 and the basolateral target-SNARE syntaxin-4 were both localized to the apical membrane domain in CPECs, which lack cellular expression of the clathrin adaptor protein AP-1B for basolateral protein recycling. In conclusion, the CPECs are conventionally polarized, but express P-cadherin at cell-cell contacts, and Lgl2 and syntaxin-4 in the luminal plasma membrane domain.
Defective interplay between mTORC1 activity and endoplasmic reticulum stress-unfolded protein response in uremic vascular calcification
Authors: Panda Dibyendu K. , Bai Xiuying , Sabbagh Yves , Zhang Yan , Zaun Hans-Christian , Karellis Angeliki , Koromilas Antonis E. , Lipman Mark L. , Karaplis Andrew C.
Published: January 2018

Vascular calcification increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Increased activity of mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-unfolded protein response (UPR) are independently reported to partake in the pathogenesis of vascular calcification in CKD. However, the association between mTORC1 activity and ER stress-UPR remains unknown. We report here that components of the uremic state [activation of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and hyperphosphatemia] potentiate vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) calcification by inducing persistent and exaggerated activity of mTORC1. This gives rise to prolonged and excessive ER stress-UPR as well as attenuated levels of sestrin 1 ( Sesn1) and Sesn3 feeding back to inhibit mTORC1 activity. Activating transcription factor 4 arising from the UPR mediates cell death via expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (c/EBP) homologous protein (CHOP), impairs the generation of pyrophosphate, a potent inhibitor of mineralization, and potentiates VSMC transdifferentiation to the osteochondrocytic phenotype. Short-term treatment of CKD mice with rapamycin, an inhibitor of mTORC1, or tauroursodeoxycholic acid, a bile acid that restores ER homeostasis, normalized mTORC1 activity, molecular markers of UPR, and calcium content of aortas. Collectively, these data highlight that increased and/or protracted mTORC1 activity arising from the uremic state leads to dysregulated ER stress-UPR and VSMC calcification. Manipulation of the mTORC1-ER stress-UPR pathway opens up new therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of vascular calcification in CKD.
High-definition transcranial direct-current stimulation of the right M1 further facilitates left M1 excitability during crossed facilitation
Authors: Cabibel Vincent , Muthalib Makii , Teo Wei-Peng , Perrey Stephane
Published: January 2018

The crossed-facilitation (CF) effect refers to when motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) evoked in the relaxed muscles of one arm are facilitated by contraction of the opposite arm. The aim of this study was to determine whether high-definition transcranial direct-current stimulation (HD-tDCS) applied to the right primary motor cortex (M1) controlling the left contracting arm [50% maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC)] would further facilitate CF toward the relaxed right arm. Seventeen healthy right-handed subjects participated in an anodal and cathodal or sham HD-tDCS session of the right M1 (2 mA for 20 min) separated by at least 48 h. Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used to elicit MEPs and cortical silent periods (CSPs) from the left M1 at baseline and 10 min into and after right M1 HD-tDCS. At baseline, compared with resting, CF (i.e., right arm resting, left arm 50% MVIC) increased left M1 MEP amplitudes (+97%) and decreased CSPs (−11%). The main novel finding was that right M1 HD-tDCS further increased left M1 excitability (+28.3%) and inhibition (+21%) from baseline levels during CF of the left M1, with no difference between anodal and cathodal HD-tDCS sessions. No modulation of CSP or MEP was observed during sham HD-tDCS sessions. Our findings suggest that CF of the left M1 combined with right M1 anodal or cathodal HD-tDCS further facilitated interhemispheric interactions during CF from the right M1 (contracting left arm) toward the left M1 (relaxed right arm), with effects on both excitatory and inhibitory processing.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY This study shows modulation of the nonstimulated left M1 by right M1 HD-tDCS combined with crossed facilitation, which was probably achieved through modulation of interhemispheric interactions.
S100B, Homocysteine, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid, and Procalcitonin Serum Levels in Remitters to Electroconvulsive Therapy: A Pilot Study
Authors: Maier Hannah , Helm Saskia , Toto Sermin , Moschny Nicole , Sperling Wolfgang , Hillemacher Thomas , Kahl Kai G. , Jakubovski Ewgeni , Bleich Stefan , Frieling Helge , Neyazi Alexandra
Published: January 2018

Background. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is one of the most effective treatment options for refractory depressed patients. To date, there are only a few predictors of response. Aim. The aim was to identify predictive biomarkers of remission to ECT on a molecular level. Methods. 11 patients suffering from a major depressive episode—according to the Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)—underwent 10 ECT sessions. Blood samples were taken, and the depression severity was assessed before, one hour and 24 hours after sessions 1, 4, 7, and 10 using the Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). A MADRS total score < 12 was interpreted as remission. Results. Patients remitting under ECT had significantly higher homocysteine (p<0.001), S100B (p<0.001), and procalcitonin (PCT) (p=0.027) serum levels. On the contrary, serum levels of vitamin B12 (p<0.001) and folic acid (p=0.007) were significantly lower in remitters compared to those in nonremitters. Levels remained unchanged throughout the whole ECT course. Conclusions. Our findings indicate that lower levels of vitamin B12 and folic acid associated with higher levels of homocysteine, S100B, and PCT point to a subgroup of depressed patients sensitive to ECT. Due to the limited sample size, further studies are required to replicate our findings.
Comparison of Two Toric IOL Calculation Methods
Authors: Kern C. , Kortüm K. , Müller M. , Kampik A. , Priglinger S. , Mayer W. J.
Published: January 2018

Purpose. To compare two calculators for toric intraocular lens (IOL) calculation and to evaluate the prediction of refractive outcome. Methods. Sixty-four eyes of forty-five patients underwent cataract surgery followed by implantation of a toric intraocular lens (Zeiss Torbi 709 M) calculated by a standard industry calculator using front keratometry values. Prediction error, median absolute error, and refractive astigmatism error were evaluated for the standard calculator. The predicted postoperative refraction and toric lens power values were evaluated and compared after postoperative recalculation using the Barrett calculator. Results. We observed a significant undercorrection in the spherical equivalent (0.19 D) by using a standard calculator (p≤0.05). According to the Baylor nomogram and the refractive influence of posterior corneal astigmatism (PCA), undercorrection of the cylinder was lower for patients with WTR astigmatism, because of the tendency of overcorrection. An advantage of less residual postoperative SE, sphere, and cylinder for the Barrett calculator was observed when retrospectively comparing the calculated predicted postoperative refraction between calculators (p≤0.01). Conclusion. Consideration of only corneal front keratometric values for toric lens calculation may lead to postoperative undercorrection of astigmatism. The prediction of postoperative refractive outcome can be improved by using appropriate methods of adjustment in order to take PCA into account.
Development of a System Architecture for Evaluation and Training of Proprioceptive Deficits of the Upper Limb
Authors: Colombo Roberto , Mazzone Alessandra , Delconte Carmen , Pisano Fabrizio
Published: January 2018

Proprioception plays a fundamental role in maintaining posture and executing movement, and the quantitative evaluation of proprioceptive deficits in poststroke patients is important. But currently it is not widely performed due to the complexity of the evaluation tools required for a reliable assessment. The aims of this pilot study were to (a) develop a system architecture for upper limb evaluation and training of proximal and distal sense of position in the horizontal plane and (b) test the system in healthy and pathological subjects. Two robotic devices for evaluation and training of, respectively, wrist flexion/extension and shoulder-elbow manipulation were employed. The system we developed was applied in a group of 12 healthy subjects and 10 patients after stroke. It was able to quantitatively evaluate upper limb sense of position in the horizontal plane thanks to a set of quantitative parameters assessing position estimation errors, variability, and gain. In addition, it was able to distinguish healthy from pathological conditions. The system could thus be a reliable method to detect changes in the sense of position of patients with sensory deficits after stroke and could enable the implementation of novel training approaches for the recovery of normal proprioception.
UPLC-QTOF MS-Based Serum Metabolomic Profiling Analysis Reveals the Molecular Perturbations Underlying Uremic Pruritus
Authors: Wu Qiong , Zhang Huan , Ding Jia-rong , Hong Zhan-ying , Wu Hao , Zhu Zhen-yu , Guo Zhi-yong , Chai Yi-feng
Published: January 2018

As one of the most troublesome complications in patients with chronic renal disease, the etiology of uremic pruritus remains unknown, and the current therapeutic approaches are limited and unsatisfactory. To identify potential biomarkers for improving diagnosis and treatment and obtain a better understanding of the pathogenesis of uremic pruritus, we compared serum metabolome profiles of severe uremic pruritus (HUP) patients with mild uremic pruritus (LUP) patients using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadruple time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF MS). Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) showed that the metabolic profiles of HUP patients are distinguishable from those of LUP patients. Combining multivariate with univariate analysis, 22 significantly different metabolites between HUP and LUP patients were identified. Nine of the 22 metabolites in combination were characterized by a maximum area-under-receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC = 0.899) with a sensitivity of 85.1% and a specificity of 83.0% distinguishing HUP and LUP. Our results indicate that serum metabolome profiling might serve as a promising approach for the diagnosis of uremic pruritus and that the identified biomarkers may improve the understanding of pathophysiology of this disorder. Because the 9 metabolites were phospholipids, uremic toxins, and steroids, further studies may reveal their possible role in the pathogenesis of uremic pruritus.
The Stability of the Solutions for a Porous Medium Equation with a Convection Term
Authors: Zhan Huashui , Ouyang Miao
Published: January 2018

This paper studies the initial-boundary value problem of a porous medium equation with a convection term. If the equation is degenerate on the boundary, then only a partial boundary condition is needed generally. The existence of the weak solution is proved by the monotone convergent method. Moreover, according to the different boundary value conditions, the stability of the solutions is studied. In some special cases, the stability can be proved without any boundary value condition.
Matrine Ameliorates Colorectal Cancer in Rats via Inhibition of HMGB1 Signaling and Downregulation of IL-6, TNF-α, and HMGB1
Authors: Fan Huizhen , Jiang Chunyan , Zhong Baoyuan , Sheng Jianwen , Chen Ting , Chen Qingqing , Li Jingtao , Zhao Hongchuan
Published: January 2018

Matrine may be protective against colorectal cancer (CRC), but how it may work is unclear. Thus, we explored the underlying mechanisms of matrine in CRC. Matrine-related proteins and CRC-related genes and therapeutic targets of matrine in CRC were predicted using a network pharmacology approach. Five targets, including interleukin 6 (IL-6), the 26S proteasome, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and p53, and corresponding high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) signaling and T helper cell differentiation were thought to be associated with matrine’s mechanism. Expression of predicted serum targets were verified in a 1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride-induced CRC model rats that were treated with matrine (ip) for 18 weeks. Data show that matrine suppressed CRC growth and decreased previously elevated expression of IL-6, TNF-α, p53, and HMGB1. Matrine may have had a therapeutic effect on CRC via inhibition of HMGB1 signaling, and this occurred through downregulation of IL-6, TNF-α, and HMGB1.
Preconditioned ADMM for a Class of Bilinear Programming Problems
Authors: Liang Xiaobo , Bai Jianchao
Published: January 2018

We design a novel preconditioned alternating direction method for solving a class of bilinear programming problems, where each subproblem is solved by adding a positive-definite regularization term with a proximal parameter. By the aid of the variational inequality, the global convergence of the proposed method is analyzed and a worst-case O(1/t) convergence rate in an ergodic sense is established. Several preliminary numerical examples, including the Markowitz portfolio optimization problem, are also tested to verify the performance of the proposed method.
Primary Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of Rectum Diagnosed by Boring Biopsy in Combination with Endoscopic Mucosal Resection
Authors: Hirata Yoshito , Kanno Keishi , Kishikawa Nobusuke , Tomoda Shinji , Kimura Kazuki , Kobayashi Tomoki , Miyamori Daisuke , Otani Yuichiro , Mizooka Masafumi , Arihiro Koji , Oka Shiro , Tanaka Shinji , Tazuma Susumu
Published: January 2018

A 46-year-old man with severe back pain visited our hospital. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed extensive bone metastasis and rectal wall thickness. Colonoscopy revealed circumferential stenosis with edematous mucosa, suggesting colon cancer. However, histological findings of biopsy specimens revealed inflammatory cells but no malignant cells. The patient underwent endoscopic ultrasound, which demonstrated edematous wall thickness without destruction of the normal layer structure. After unsuccessful detection of neoplastic cells by boring biopsies, we performed endoscopic mucosal resection followed by boring biopsies that finally revealed signet ring cell carcinoma. Herein, we present a case and provide a review of the literature.
Lévy Process-Driven Asymmetric Heteroscedastic Option Pricing Model and Empirical Analysis
Authors: Zhang Gaoxun , Zheng Yi , Zhang Honglei , Xie Xinchen
Published: January 2018

This paper describes the peak, fat tail, and skewness characteristics of asset price via a Lévy process. It applies asymmetric GARCH model to depict asset price’s random volatility characteristics and builds a GARCH-Lévy option pricing model with random jump characteristics. It also uses circular maximum likelihood estimation technology to improve the stability of model parameter estimation. In order to test the model’s pricing results, we use Hong Kong Hang Seng Index (HSI) price data and its option data to carry out empirical studies. Results prove that the pricing bias of EGARCH-Lévy model is lower than that of standard Heston-Nandi (HN) model in the financial industry. For short-term, middle-term, and long-term European-style options, the pricing error of EGARCH-Lévy model is the lowest.
Permeability Evolution and Particle Size Distribution of Saturated Crushed Sandstone under Compression
Authors: Chen Yanlong , Yu Bangyong , Zhang Kai , Zhang Mingwei , Xu Guang , Chen Zhanqing
Published: January 2018

In this research, the particle size distribution and permeability of saturated crushed sandstone under variable axial stresses (0, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16 MPa) were studied. X-ray Computed Tomography results revealed that particle crushing is likely to occur considerably as the axial stress is approaching 4 MPa, which results in the change of pore structure greatly. During compression, the particle size distribution satisfies the fractal condition well, and the fractal dimension of particle size distribution is an effective method for describing the particle crushing state of saturated crushed sandstone. When the axial stress increases from 0 MPa to 4 MPa, the fractal dimension of the particle size distribution increases rapidly by over 60% of the total increase (0–16 MPa), and the permeability decreases sharply by about 85% of the total decrease. These results indicate that 4 MPa is a key value in controlling the particle size distribution and the permeability of the saturated crushed sandstone under axial compression. The permeability is influenced by the initial gradation of the specimens, and a larger Talbot exponent corresponds to a larger permeability.
RADB: Random Access with Differentiated Barring for Latency‐Constrained Applications in NB‐IoT Network
Authors: Miao Yiming , Tian Yuanwen , Cheng Jingjing , Hossain M. Shamim , Ghoneim Ahmed
Published: January 2018

With the development of LPWA (Low Power Wide Area) technology, the emerging NB‐IoT (Narrowband Internet of Things) technology is becoming popular with wide area and low‐data‐rate services. In order to achieve objectives such as huge amount of connection and wide area coverage within NB‐IoT, the problem of network congestion generated by random access of numerous devices should be solved. In this paper, we first introduce the background of NB‐IoT and investigate the research on random access optimization algorithm. Then we summarize relevant features of NB‐IoT uplink and narrowband physical random access channel and design random access with differentiated barring (RADB), which can improve the insufficiency of traditional dynamic access class barring method. At last, the algorithms proposed in this paper are realized with established NB‐IoT model using OPNET Modeler platform, and simulations are conducted. The simulation results show that RADB is able to effectively solve preamble request conflict generated by random access of numerous devices and preferentially provide efficient and reliable random access for latency‐sensitive devices.
Ensemble Methods with Voting Protocols Exhibit Superior Performance for Predicting Cancer Clinical Endpoints and Providing More Complete Coverage of Disease-Related Genes
Authors: Jing Runyu , Liang Yu , Ran Yi , Feng Shengzhong , Wei Yanjie , He Li
Published: January 2018

In genetic data modeling, the use of a limited number of samples for modeling and predicting, especially well below the attribute number, is difficult due to the enormous number of genes detected by a sequencing platform. In addition, many studies commonly use machine learning methods to evaluate genetic datasets to identify potential disease-related genes and drug targets, but to the best of our knowledge, the information associated with the selected gene set was not thoroughly elucidated in previous studies. To identify a relatively stable scheme for modeling limited samples in the gene datasets and reveal the information that they contain, the present study first evaluated the performance of a series of modeling approaches for predicting clinical endpoints of cancer and later integrated the results using various voting protocols. As a result, we proposed a relatively stable scheme that used a set of methods with an ensemble algorithm. Our findings indicated that the ensemble methodologies are more reliable for predicting cancer prognoses than single machine learning algorithms as well as for gene function evaluating. The ensemble methodologies provide a more complete coverage of relevant genes, which can facilitate the exploration of cancer mechanisms and the identification of potential drug targets.
Photoperiodic Programming of the SCN and Its Role in Photoperiodic Output
Authors: Tackenberg Michael C. , McMahon Douglas G.
Published: January 2018

Though the seasonal response of organisms to changing day lengths is a phenomenon that has been scientifically reported for nearly a century, significant questions remain about how photoperiod is encoded and effected neurobiologically. In mammals, early work identified the master circadian clock, the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), as a tentative encoder of photoperiodic information. Here, we provide an overview of research on the SCN as a coordinator of photoperiodic responses, the intercellular coupling changes that accompany that coordination, as well as the SCN’s role in a putative brain network controlling photoperiodic input and output. Lastly, we discuss the importance of photoperiodic research in the context of tangible benefits to human health that have been realized through this research as well as challenges that remain.
Microstructure and Damping Property of Polyurethane Composites Hybridized with Ultraviolet Absorbents
Authors: Chang Jiang , Tian Bing , Li Li , Zheng Yufeng
Published: January 2018

This article investigated the microstructure and damping property of TPU composites with different contents of ultraviolet absorbents. It can be found that the ultraviolet absorbents formed fiber‐shaped precipitations in the TPU matrix. The UV‐328 was randomly distributed in the matrix and exhibited a weak interfacial bonding with the matrix. In comparison, the UV‐329 was well embedded in the matrix and formed a relatively better interfacial bonding and compatibility with the TPU matrix. The damping factor tanδ of both 328‐composites and 329‐composites had been reduced gradually with increasing content of ultraviolet absorbents at the glass transition temperature range due to the fact that the ultraviolet absorbents were in the crystalline state which decreased the volume content of the viscoelastic TPU matrix. But the tanδ increased at the temperature range of higher than the glass transition temperature, which should be related to the dominance of interfacial frictions between the ultraviolet absorbents and the matrix on the energy absorption.
Perianal Infections in the Phase before Engraftment after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantations: A Study of the Incidence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Outcomes
Authors: Mo Xiao-Dong , Yan Xia , Hu Wei , Zhang Xiao-Hui , Xu Lan-Ping , Wang Yu , Xu Xiao-Dong , Wang Lin-Nan , He Xin-Xin , Yan Chen-Hua , Chen Huan , Chen Yu-Hong , Liu Kai-Yan , Huang Xiao-Jun
Published: January 2018

In this study, we aimed to investigate the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of perianal infections during the pre-engraftment phase after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Consecutive patients who underwent non-T-cell-depleted allo-HSCT at the Peking University Institute of Hematology from January 1 to December 31, 2016 were enrolled (n = 646). Ninety-nine patients were found to have perianal infections during the pre-engraftment phase, and 80 were found to have neutropenia on perianal infection diagnosis. The cumulative incidence of perianal infection during the pre-engraftment phase after allo-HSCT was 15.3%. A history of perianal infection (hazard ratio [HR] = 15.28, p < 0.001) or hemorrhoids before allo-HSCT (HR = 3.09, p = 0.001) was significantly associated with the new occurrence of perianal infection after allo-HSCT. All patients received empirical broad-spectrum antimicrobial therapies, and 97 were cured after treatment. The clinical outcomes at 100 days after allo-HSCT were comparable in patients with and without perianal infections. In summary, patients who had perianal infection or hemorrhoids before allo-HSCT had a higher risk of new occurrence of perianal infection after allo-HSCT. With appropriate treatment, perianal infection during the pre-engraftment phase did not influence the clinical outcomes.
Emerging Treatment Options in Atopic Dermatitis: Systemic Therapies
Authors: Nygaard Uffe , Vestergaard Christian , Deleuran Mette
Published: January 2018

The pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD) is multifactorial and intricate, and the clinical presentation of the condition varies greatly. Symptoms and severity depend on individual trigger factors and stage of the disease. The majority of AD patients are sufficiently treated with emollients in combination with existing topical or systemic therapies. Yet treatment failure with existing drugs and treatment options can be a significant clinical problem. New treatments are under development, and the majority of these new drugs focus on targeting a skewed immune response in AD. Novel therapeutic approaches, which target the pathways involved in the pathogenesis of AD, may provide a potentially more effective and less harmful approach to systemic therapy. These pharmaceutical agents are designed to narrowly modify or directly block a specific cellular signal or pro-inflammatory pathway. We review systemic drugs in the pipeline for AD. To make the review as current and pertinent as possible, we selected to focus on AD-related therapies available in the clinicaltrials.gov database with a first received date after January 1, 2014, up until May 31, 2017. We excluded therapies that could be categorized as either traditional Chinese medicine, herbal medicine, probiotics, histamine/leukotriene blockers, immuno-adsorption, or immunostimulants.
Usefulness of Mean Corpuscular Volume for Detection of Advanced Colorectal Cancer in Patients Older than 85 Years
Authors: Kato Motohiko , Kubosawa Yoko , Hiarai Yuichiro , Abe Keiichiro , Hirata Tetsu , Takada Yoshiaki , Wada Michiko , Takatori Yusaku , Kinoshita Satoshi , Takabayashi Kaoru , Kikuchi Masahiro , Ohishi Takashi , Uraoka Toshio
Published: January 2018

Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to elucidate clinical indicators for the detection of advanced colorectal cancer (ACRC). Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at a tertiary hospital. This study included 333 patients older than 85 years who underwent colonoscopy from April 2006 to May 2010. The detection rate of ACRC was assessed. Then, we analyzed the association between the detection of ACRC and various background factors including mean corpuscular volume (MCV). We also analyzed the cumulative overall survival of patients with detected ACRC. Results: ACRC was found in 37 patients, resulting in a detection rate of 15%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that a decreased MCV was an independent predictor for the detection of ACRC (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.84–0.94), whereas symptoms such as abdominal pain, hematochezia, or anemia were not independent predictors. MCV was an independent predictor irrespective of the location of the tumor. The cumulative survival rates at 3 and 5 years after diagnosis were 78 and 58%, respectively, during a median observational period of 30.3 months. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the usefulness of MCV as an indicator of the necessity of colonoscopy for older patients.
WT1 Gene Mutation, p.R462W, in a 46,XY DSD Patient from Egypt with Gonadoblastoma and Review of the Literature
Authors: Mazen Inas , Hassan Heba , Kamel Alaa , Mekkawy Mona , McElreavey Ken , Essawi Mona
Published: January 2018

WT1 gene mutations have been described in 46,XY patients with ambiguous genitalia or complete gonadal dysgenesis with or without Wilms' tumor, nephropathy, gonadoblastoma, and other defects, e.g., cryptorchidism or hypospadias. p.R462W is a hot spot mutation in exon 9 and is the most common mutation in patients with Denys-Drash syndrome. However, in this study we report an Egyptian patient with a novel phenotype carrying the p.R462W mutation. We also review the heterogeneity of phenotypes of previously reported patients with the p.R462W (previously referred to as Arg394Trp) mutation.
A de novo 50-bp GNAS Intragenic Duplication in a Patient with Pseudohypoparathyroidism Type 1a
Authors: Suzuki Erina , Bo Ryosuke , Sue Kaori , Awano Hiroyuki , Ogata Tsutomu , Narumi Satoshi , Kagami Masayo , Sano Shinichiro , Fukami Maki
Published: January 2018

Germline intragenic mutations in the GNAS locus result in pseudohypoparathyroidism type 1a (PHP1a) and related conditions. Nearly half of the previously reported GNAS intragenic mutations were structural variants, including 3 tandem duplications of 12-25 bp. However, the precise mutation spectrum and the genomic basis of GNAS structural variants remain to be clarified. Here, we report a de novo 50-bp tandem duplication in GNAS (c.723_772dup50, p.Glu259Leufs*29) identified in a patient with typical clinical features of PHP1a. The mutant transcript was predicted to undergo mRNA decay or encode a nonfunctional protein. The 2 breakpoints of the duplication shared a 1-bp microhomology but were not associated with long homology or nucleotide stretches. We also examined the breakpoint structures of 3 previously reported GNAS duplications and found that 1 had a structure similar to that of our case, while the remaining 2 had blunt-ended breakpoints without microhomologies. In silico analyses revealed that the GNAS-flanking region was not enriched with repeats, palindromes, noncanonical DNA motifs, or GC content. This study expands the mutation spectrum of GNAS and provides the first indication that GNAS intragenic structural variants are induced by multiple processes, including nonhomologous end-joining and/or microhomology-mediated break-induced replication, independently of known rearrangement-inducing DNA features.
Long-Term Survivor Characteristics in Hemodialysis Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Triebswetter Susanne , Gutjahr-Lengsfeld Lena J. , Schmidt Kay-Renke , Drechsler Christiane , Wanner Christoph , Krane Vera
Published: January 2018

Background: Data concerning long-term mortality predictors among large, purely diabetic hemodialysis collectives are scarce. Methods: We used data from a multicenter, prospective, randomized trial among 1,255 hemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its observational follow-up study. The association of 10 baseline candidate variables with mortality was assessed by Cox proportional hazards regression. Results: Overall, 103 participants survived the median follow-up of 11.5 years. Significant predictors of mortality were age (hazard ratio [HR] 1.03, 95% CI 1.02–1.04), cardiovascular (HR 1.42, 95% CI 1.25–1.62) and peripheral vascular disease (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.36–1.76), higher hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c; HR 1.08, 95% CI 1.03–1.14), and loss of self-dependency (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.03–1.39). Higher albumin (HR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59–0.89) and body mass index (BMI; HR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96–0.99) had protective associations. There was no significant association with sex, diabetes duration, and cerebrovascular diseases. Subgroup analyses by age and diabetes duration showed stronger associations of cardiovascular disease, HbA1c, albumin, BMI, and loss of self-dependency in younger patients and/or shorter diabetes duration. Loss of self-dependency and energy resources (albumin, BMI) increased mortality more severely in women, whilst the impact of cardiovascular and peripheral vascular diseases was more pronounced in men. Conclusion: Long-term mortality risk in patients with T2DM on hemodialysis was associated with higher age, vascular diseases, HbA1c, loss of self-dependency, and low energy resources. Interestingly, it does not vary between sexes. Further individualized prognosis estimation and therapy should strongly depend on age, diabetes duration, and gender.
Association between Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Enterovirus-Infected Type 1 Diabetic Children
Authors: Abdel-Moneim Adel , El-Senousy Waled M. , Abdel-Latif Mahmoud , Khalil Rehab G.
Published: January 2018

Objective: To examine the effect of infection with Enterovirus (EV) in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) on the activities of serum antioxidant enzymes in diabetic and nondiabetic controls. Subjects and Methods: Three hundred and eighty-two diabetic and 100 nondiabetic children were tested for EV RNA using reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR. The activities of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) were also estimated in diabetic patients infected with EV (T1D-EV+), those not infected with EV (T1D-EV–), and in nondiabetic controls. Results: The frequency of EV was higher in diabetic children (100/382; 26.2%) than in healthy controls (0/100). Levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly higher but C-peptide was significantly lower in diabetic children than in controls. CRP levels were higher in the T1D-EV+ group than in the T1D-EV– group, and higher in all diabetic children than in nondiabetic controls. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes GPx, SOD, and CAT decreased significantly in diabetic children compared to in controls. Moreover, the activities of the enzymes tested were significantly reduced in the T1D-EV+ group compared to in the T1D-EV– group. Conclusion: Our data indicate that EV infection correlated with a decrease in the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the T1D-EV+ group compared to in the T1D-EV– group; this may contribute to β cell damage and increased inflammation.
Culture-specific and individual affective factors in professional communication
Authors: Anderson Robin , Lehman Iga Maria
Published: January 2018

In this paper we set out to consider the place of the English language in globalised communities. The hegemony, which English enjoys, has ramifications for how it is taught, how and why it is learned and how it is used. We argue that there is a need to consider more socio-cultural and individual factors in the learning and use of English as a lingua franca as these factors constitute crucial aids to successful cross-cultural interactions in professional environments. The latest research on lingua franca English (LFE) (Firth & Wagner, 1997; Kramsch, 2002; Larsen-Freeman, 2002; Block, 2003; House, 2003; Canagarajah, 2006a; Lantolf & Thorne, 2006; Atkinson, Churchill, Nishino & Okada, 2007) confirms our position since it reveals what has always been the experience of multilingual speakers, i.e., “Language learning and use succeed through performance strategies, situational resources, and social negotiations in fluid communicative contexts. Proficiency is therefore practice-based, adaptive, and emergent” (Canagarajah, 2007: 923).
Distinctions in procedural meaning
Authors: Bardzokas Valandis
Published: January 2018

The current paper aims to investigate the distinctions in meaning between two prototypical markers of contrast in Modern Greek, i.e. alla and ma, from a relevance-theoretic viewpoint. At first sight, the two markers seem freely interchangeable across contexts, creating the impression that they basically share the same meaning. However, a more careful exploration of the contextual occurrences of these markers unravels their finely grained distinctions in meaning. This type of exploration requires a detailed categorization of the types of context that license or preclude the application of the markers at hand. In this sense, specific contexts highlight aspects of interpretation that motivate the use of one of the markers but not the other. Specifically, as it turns out, while the use of alla is chiefly associated with contexts of procedural elimination, in standard relevance-theoretic terms, the use of ma is justified in relation to expressing the speaker’s attitude of surprise to a contextual assumption constructed by the hearer, in addition to effecting procedural elimination. In this sense, ma proves to encode a dual constraint on the implicitly communicated content of an utterance, explained univocally in procedural terms.
Online News Media, Religious Identity and Their Influence on Gendered Politics: Observations from Malawi’s 2014 Elections
Authors: Gunde Anthony M.
Published: January 2018

The rise of the internet has offered the opportunity for the news media to communicate with audiences in many significant ways that may have profound consequences in the shaping of public opinion and transforming lives in the global sphere. Through a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this article examines ways in which online news media could be used to reinforce gender stereotypes by promoting patriarchal religious beliefs and how this may have huge implications on women’s empowerment with regard to political leadership roles in developing democracies.

The analysis is drawn from the 2014 Malawi elections, in which a major opposition party used a campaign slogan peppered with sexist religious and cultural connotations to ridicule and vote out of office southern Africa’s first ever female President – Joyce Banda and her People Party (PP). In May 2014, Malawi held national elections and the main contestants were former President Banda representing the PP, Peter Mutharika of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Lazarus Chakwera of the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and Atupele Muluzi of the United Democratic Front (UDF). Mutharika and the DPP won the elections to wrestle away the presidency from Banda and her People’s Party. This article discusses the campaign slogan – Sesa Joyce Sesa – created by the DPP to attack former President Banda in which Malawi’s significant online news media sites played a critical role in the diffusion of the gendered campaign mantra to resonate with the religious identity of majority the electorate. The article reflects on the potential of new media to consolidate deep-rooted religious and cultural beliefs that marginalise women for leadership positions and the effect this may have on bridging gender inequalities, particularly in political representation in developing democracies.
Lexical Elements of Slavic Origin in Judezmo on South Slavic Territory, 16–19th Centuries: Uriel Weinreich and the History of Contact Linguistics
Authors: Bunis David M.
Published: January 2018

From the 19th–20th-century beginnings of modern linguistics, scholars reported on various results of interactions between diverse language speakers; but it was only with Uriel Weinreich’sLanguages in Contact(1953) that a solid theoretical basis for the systematic study of contact linguistics was elaborated. The present article studies lexical influences from South Slavic on Judezmo (Ladino/Judeo-Spanish) resulting from contact during the 16th–19th centuries between speakers of these two languages in the regions that, between 1918 and 1992, were known jointly as Yugoslavia. During the Ottoman and then Austro-Hungarian periods, borrowings in local Judezmo from South Slavic were relatively few compared with Turkisms. But from the nineteenth century, when the South Slavs gained political independence, Serbo-Croatian exerted an ever-increasing influence on Judezmo in this region. The case of Judezmo there differs considerably from Yiddish in Slavic Eastern Europe throughout the same period, as described by Uriel Weinreich and others.
Detectability of Decadal Anthropogenic Hydroclimate Changes over North America
Authors: Zhang Honghai , Delworth Thomas L.
Published: January 2018

Regional hydroclimate changes on decadal time scales contain substantial natural variability. This presents a challenge for the detection of anthropogenically forced hydroclimate changes on these spatiotemporal scales because the signal of anthropogenic changes is modest, compared to the noise of natural variability. However, previous studies have shown that this signal-to-noise ratio can be greatly improved in a large model ensemble where each member contains the same signal but different noise. Here, using multiple state-of-the-art large ensembles from two climate models, the authors quantitatively assess the detectability of anthropogenically caused decadal shifts in precipitation-minus-evaporation (PmE) mean state against natural variability, focusing on North America during 2000–50. Anthropogenic forcing is projected to cause detectable (signal larger than noise) shifts in PmE mean state relative to the 1950–99 climatology over 50%–70% of North America by 2050. The earliest detectable signals include, during November–April, a moistening over northeastern North America and a drying over southwestern North America and, during May–October, a drying over central North America. Different processes are responsible for these signals. Changes in submonthly transient eddy moisture fluxes account for the northeastern moistening and central drying, while monthly atmospheric circulation changes explain the southwestern drying. These model findings suggest that despite the dominant role of natural internal variability on decadal time scales, anthropogenic shifts in PmE mean state can be detected over most of North America before the middle of the current century.
The Shallow Overturning Circulation in the Indian Ocean
Authors: Nagura Motoki , McPhaden Michael J.
Published: January 2018

The number of in situ observations in the Indian Ocean has dramatically increased over the past 15 years thanks to the implementation of the Argo profiling float program. This study estimates the mean circulation in the Indian Ocean using hydrographic observations obtained from both Argo and conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) observations. Absolute velocity at the Argo float parking depth is used so there is no need to assume a level of no motion. Results reveal previously unknown features in addition to well-known currents and water masses. Some newly identified features include the lack of an interior pathway to the equator from the southern Indian Ocean in the pycnocline, indicating that water parcels must transit through the western boundary to reach the equator. High potential vorticity (PV) intrudes from the western coast of Australia in the depth range of the Subantarctic Mode Water, which leads to a structure similar to a PV barrier. The subtropical anticyclonic gyre retreats poleward with depth, as happens in the subtropical Atlantic and Pacific. An eastward flow was found in the eastern basin along 15°S at the depth of the Antarctic Intermediate Water—a feature expected from property distributions but never before detected in velocity estimates. Meridional mass transport indicates about 10 Sv (1 Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) southward flow at 6°S and 18 Sv northward flow at 20°S, which results in meridional convergence of currents and thermocline depression at about 16°–20°S. These estimated absolute velocities agree well with those of an ocean reanalysis, which lends credibility to the strictly databased analysis.
A Barotropic Model of Eddy Saturation
Authors: Constantinou Navid C.
Published: January 2018

Eddy saturation refers to a regime in which the total volume transport of an oceanic current is insensitive to the wind stress strength. Baroclinicity is currently believed to be the key to the development of an eddy-saturated state. In this paper, it is shown that eddy saturation can also occur in a purely barotropic flow over topography, without baroclinicity. Thus, eddy saturation is a fundamental property of barotropic dynamics above topography. It is demonstrated that the main factor controlling the appearance or not of eddy-saturated states in the barotropic setting is the structure of geostrophic contours, that is, the contours of f/H (the ratio of the Coriolis parameter to the ocean’s depth). Eddy-saturated states occur when the geostrophic contours are open, that is, when the geostrophic contours span the whole zonal extent of the domain. This minimal requirement for eddy-saturated states is demonstrated using numerical integrations of a single-layer quasigeostrophic flow over two different topographies characterized by either open or closed geostrophic contours with parameter values loosely inspired by the Southern Ocean. In this setting, transient eddies are produced through a barotropic–topographic instability that occurs because of the interaction of the large-scale zonal flow with the topography. By studying this barotropic–topographic instability insight is gained on how eddy-saturated states are established.
Health System Financial Trends and Their Impact on Pharmacy Departments
Authors: Wilson C. Nick
Published: January 2018

Managed health care has changed the way health services are provided and paid for. It is still evolving. Many pharmacists have already felt the impact of these changes. This continuing feature illuminates the many facets of managed care with special emphasis on how these changes may affect pharmacists working in health systems. The expertise provided by pharmacists will be needed to fulfill the potential of affordable, comprehensive, and quality health care as promised by managed care. Pharmacists must understand what is happening, why it is happening, and what is likely to happen in the future. To be an active and effective player, you must understand what is happening on the field.
Targeting Vaccines to Specific Clusters of People
Authors: Grabenstein John D.
Published: January 2018

With the rapid pace of immunologic research, it is more important than ever for readers to understand rational immunodiagnosis, immunopro-phylaxis, and immunotherapy. This column is intended to help you ensure proper immunologic drug use in your practice.
Specialized Nutrition Support in Patients with Severe Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
Authors: Dickerson Roland N. , Brown Rex O.
Published: January 2018

Nutrition Support Consultant features issues pertinent to the clinical aspects of pharmacy nutritional support practice.