bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The significance of combined CK5/6 and p63 immunohistochemistry in predicting the risks of subsequent carcinoma development in intraductal papilloma of the breast
Authors: Yang Yang , Suzuki Koyu , Abe Eriko , Li Chihping , Uno Mieko , Akiyama Futoshi , Yamauchi Hideko , Kikuchi Mari , Ohde Sachiko , Deshpande Gautam , Shibahara Yukiko , Nakamura Yasuhiro , Sasano Hironobu
Published: January 2015

Prediction of subsequent risks of breast carcinoma (BC) development in intraductal papilloma (IDP) has remained controversial with the exception of atypical papilloma (AP). The potential value of immunohistochemistry (IHC) of cytokeratin 5/6 [CK5/6] and p63 have been proposed but its standardization has also remained controversial. We studied 17 patients initially diagnosed as IDP or AP who subsequently developed BC with 34 age‐matched controls. We compared histological features, results of IHC (estrogen receptor [ER], progesterone receptor [PR], human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2], p63, CK5/6, Ki67), and ultrasound findings. Univariate conditional logistic regression analysis revealed that the status of both CK5/6 and p63/CK5/6 were significantly associated with subsequent BC development (P < 0.05). BC development in CK5/6 positive patients was 17.9% and p63/CK5/6 double positive patients 8.6%, respectively. Ultrasound evaluation was not significantly associated with any of the parameters examined and subsequent carcinoma development. Despite CK5/6 positivity, the subsequent incidence of BC development was nearly 20%. However p63/CK5/6 double positive status could predict a significantly lower subsequent carcinoma incidence, indicating a more accurate prognostic utility. Combining p63/CK5/6 with histological findings could be easily applied and could predict the subsequent BC development of the patients diagnosed as IDP at biopsy.
Performance‐Related Pay and the Crowding Out of Motivation in the Public Sector: A Randomized Field Experiment
Authors: Bellé Nicola
Published: January 2015

This article advances our understanding of the effects of monetary rewards on public employee performance and of the contingencies that may moderate these effects. In a randomized control‐group experiment with nurses working at a local health authority in Italy, performance‐related pay (PRP) had a larger effect on task performance when the rewards were kept secret than when they were disclosed. The negative interaction between PRP and visibility was stronger among participants who were exposed to direct contact with a beneficiary of their efforts, which heightened their perception of making a positive difference in other people's lives. These results are consistent with theoretical predictions that monetary incentives for activities with a prosocial impact may crowd out employee image motivation. There were no crowding‐out effects when a symbolic reward was substituted for the monetary incentive.
Long‐Run Growth Differences and the Neoclassical Growth Model
Authors: Maynard Norman
Published: January 2015

This paper shows that allowing factor income share differences across countries in a modified Solow model can imply differences in output growth rates across countries. Using cross‐sectional data for 52 countries, an empirical illustration shows that the parameters of the modified model are intuitively plausible, jointly significant, and possess modest explanatory power (R2 around 0.25). The paper emphasizes the methodological importance of simplifying assumptions on applied theory.
Alveolar and serum concentrations of imipenem in two lung transplant recipients supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
Authors: Welsch C. , Augustin P. , Allyn J. , Massias L. , Montravers P. , Allou N.
Published: January 2015

Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is increasingly used in patients with respiratory failure who fail conventional treatment. Postoperative pneumonia is the most common infection after lung transplantation (40%). Imipenem is frequently used for empirical treatment of nosocomial pneumonia in the intensive care unit. Nevertheless, few data are available on the impact of ECMO on pharmacokinetics, and no data on imipenem dosing during ECMO. Currently, no guidelines exist for antibiotic dosing during ECMO support.

We report the cases of 2 patients supported with venovenous ECMO for refractory acute respiratory distress syndrome following single lung transplantation for pulmonary fibrosis, treated empirically with 1 g of imipenem intravenously every 6 h. Enterobacter cloacae was isolated from the respiratory sample of Patient 1 and Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from the respiratory sample of Patient 2. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of the 2 isolated strains were 0.125 and 0.25 mg/L, respectively. Both patients were still alive on day 28. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of imipenem concentrations in lung transplantation patients supported with ECMO. This study confirms high variability in imipenem trough concentrations in patients on ECMO and with preserved renal function. An elevated dosing regimen (4 g/24 h) is more likely to optimize drug exposure, and therapeutic drug monitoring is recommended, where available. Population pharmacokinetic studies are indicated to develop evidence‐based dosing guidelines for ECMO patients.
Alternative Approach to Convolution Term of Viscoelasticity in Equations of Unsteady Pipe Flow
Authors: Weinerowska-Bords Katarzyna
Published: January 2015

In the paper, the selected aspects concerning description of viscoelastic behavior of pipe walls during unsteady flow are analyzed. The alternative convolution expression of the viscoelastic term is presented and compared with the corresponding term referring to unsteady friction. Both approaches indicate similarities in the forms of impulse response functions and the parameter properties. The flow memory was introduced into convolution and its impact on the solution was analyzed. To reduce the influence of the numerical errors, implicit Preissmann scheme was applied. The calculation results were verified based on laboratory tests. The study indicated that the flow memory is related to pipe material properties and significantly influences the calculation results. It also showed the role of retardation time in calculations and its relation to flow memory. The proposed approach enabled more detailed analysis of viscoelasticity impact on the pressure characteristics.
Mechanical Platelet Activation Potential in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Authors: Hansen Kirk B. , Arzani Amirhossein , Shadden Shawn C.
Published: January 2015

Intraluminal thrombus (ILT) in abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has potential implications to aneurysm growth and rupture risk; yet, the mechanisms underlying its development remain poorly understood. Some researchers have proposed that ILT development may be driven by biomechanical platelet activation within the AAA, followed by adhesion in regions of low wall shear stress. Studies have investigated wall shear stress levels within AAA, but platelet activation potential (AP) has not been quantified. In this study, patient-specific computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models were used to analyze stress-induced AP within AAA under rest and exercise flow conditions. The analysis was conducted using Lagrangian particle-based and Eulerian continuum-based approaches, and the results were compared. Results indicated that biomechanical platelet activation is unlikely to play a significant role for the conditions considered. No consistent trend was observed in comparing rest and exercise conditions, but the functional dependence of AP on stress magnitude and exposure time can have a large impact on absolute levels of anticipated platelet AP. The Lagrangian method obtained higher peak AP values, although this difference was limited to a small percentage of particles that falls below reported levels of physiologic background platelet activation.
Nonlinear Dynamic Analysis of a New Antibacklash Gear Mechanism Design for Reducing Dynamic Transmission Error
Authors: Besharati S. R. , Dabbagh V. , Amini H. , Sarhan Ahmed A. D. , Akbari J. , Hamdi M.
Published: January 2015

In this study, a new antibacklash gear mechanism design comprising three pinions and a rack is introduced. This mechanism offers several advantages compared to conventional antibacklash mechanisms, such as lower transmission error as well as lower required preload. Nonlinear dynamic modeling of this mechanism is developed to acquire insight into its dynamic behavior. It is observed that the amount of preload required to diminish the backlash depends on the applied input torque and nature of periodic mesh stiffness. Then, an attempt is made to obtain an approximate relation to find the minimum requiring preload to preserve the system’s antibacklash property and reduce friction and wear on the gear teeth. The mesh stiffness of the mated gears, rack, and pinion is achieved via finite element method. Assuming that all teeth are rigid and static transmission error is negligible, dynamic transmission error (DTE) would be zero for every input torque, which is a unique trait, not yet proposed in previous research.
Improving Students' Functional Modeling Skills: A Modeling Approach and a Scoring Rubric
Authors: Nagel Robert L. , Bohm Matt R. , Linsey Julie S. , Riggs Marie K.
Published: January 2015

An engineering design curriculum that introduces functional modeling methods is believed to enhance the ability to abstract complex systems, assist during the concept generation phase of design, and reduce design fixation. To that end, a variety of techniques for considering function during design have been proposed in the literature, yet there are a lack of validated approaches for teaching students to generate functional models and no reliable method for the assessment of functional models. This paper presents a study investigating students' ability to generate functional models during a homework assignment; the study includes three different treatment conditions: (1) students who receive only a lecture on functional modeling, (2) students who receive a lecture on functional modeling as well as a step-by-step example, and (3) students who receive a lecture, a step-by-step example, and an algorithmic approach with grammar rules. The experiment was conducted in a cornerstone, undergraduate engineering design course, and consequently, was the students' first exposure to functional modeling. To assess student generated functional models across all three conditions, an 18 question functional model scoring rubric was developed based on flow-based functional modeling standards. Use of the rubric to assess the student generated functional models resulted in high inter-rater agreement for total score. Results show that students receiving the step-by-step example perform as well as students receiving the step-by-step example and an algorithmic approach with grammar rules; both groups perform better than the lecture-only group.
Demonstration of NOx gas sensing for Pd/ZnO/GaN heterojunction diodes
Authors: Miyoshi Makoto , Fujita Shu , Egawa Takashi
Published: January 2015

In this study, planar Pd/ZnO/GaN heterojunction diodes (HJDs) are fabricated and their capabilities for NOx (NO and NO2) gas-sensing is evaluated. The fabricated HJDs exhibit good rectifying properties at a high temperature of 250 °C and, in addition, they exhibit obvious current changes even under low-concentration 10 ppm NOx gases and respond to the on/off switching of the gas introduction. It is considered that the sensor action is owing to the electron depletion around the heterojunction caused by the absorbed gas molecules. The current changes reached relatively high values of approximately 1 mA even under exposure to a low-concentration 10 ppm NO2 gas.
Output calculation of electron therapy at extended SSD using an improved LBR method
Authors: Alkhatib Hassaan A. , Gebreamlak Wondesen T. , Tedeschi David J. , Mihailidis Dimitris , Wright Ben W. , Neglia William J. , Sobash Philip T. , Fontenot Jonas D.
Published: January 2015

Purpose:

To calculate the output factor (OPF) of any irregularly shaped electron beam at extended SSD.

Methods:

Circular cutouts were prepared from 2.0 cm diameter to the maximum possible size for 15 × 15 applicator cone. In addition, two irregular cutouts were prepared. For each cutout, percentage depth dose (PDD) at the standard SSD and doses at different SSD values were measured using 6, 9, 12, and 16 MeV electron beam energies on a Varian 2100C LINAC and the distance at which the central axis electron fluence becomes independent of cutout size was determined. The measurements were repeated with an ELEKTA Synergy LINAC using 14 × 14 applicator cone and electron beam energies of 6, 9, 12, and 15 MeV. The PDD measurements were performed using a scanning system and two diodes—one for the signal and the other a stationary reference outside the tank. The doses of the circular cutouts at different SSDs were measured using PTW 0.125 cm3 Semiflex ion‐chamber and EDR2 films. The electron fluence was measured using EDR2 films.

Results:

For each circular cutout, the lateral buildup ratio (LBR) was calculated from the measured PDD curve using the open applicator cone as the reference field. The effective SSD (SSDeff) of each circular cutout was calculated from the measured doses at different SSD values. Using the LBR value and the radius of the circular cutout, the corresponding lateral spread parameter [σR(z)] was calculated. Taking the cutout size dependence of σR(z) into account, the PDD curves of the irregularly shaped cutouts at the standard SSD were calculated. Using the calculated PDD curve of the irregularly shaped cutout along with the LBR and SSDeff values of the circular cutouts, the output factor of the irregularly shaped cutout at extended SSD was calculated. Finally, both the calculated PDD curves and output factor values were compared with the measured values.

Conclusions:

The improved LBR method has been generalized to calculate the output factor of electron therapy at extended SSD. The percentage difference between the calculated and the measured output factors of irregularly shaped cutouts in a clinical useful SSD region was within 2%. Similar results were obtained for all available electron energies of both Varian 2100C and ELEKTA Synergy machines.
Integrated allelic, transcriptional, and phenomic dissection of the cardiac effects of titin truncations in health and disease
Authors: Roberts Angharad M. , Ware James S. , Herman Daniel S. , Schafer Sebastian , Baksi John , Bick Alexander G. , Buchan Rachel J. , Walsh Roddy , John Shibu , Wilkinson Samuel , Mazzarotto Francesco , Felkin Leanne E. , Gong Sungsam , L. MacArthur Jacqueline A. , Cunningham Fiona , Flannick Jason , Gabriel Stacey B. , Altshuler David M. , Macdonald Peter S. , Heinig Matthias , Keogh Anne M. , Hayward Christopher S. , Banner Nicholas R. , Pennell Dudley J. , O’Regan Declan P. , San Tan Ru , de Marvao Antonio , W. Dawes Timothy J. , Gulati Ankur , Birks Emma J. , Yacoub Magdi H. , Radke Michael , Gotthardt Michael , Wilson James G. , O’Donnell Christopher J. , Prasad Sanjay K. , R. Barton Paul J. , Fatkin Diane , Hubner Norbert , Seidman Jonathan G. , Seidman Christine E. , Cook Stuart A.
Published: January 2015

Truncating variants of the giant protein titin cause dilated cardiomyopathy when they occur toward the protein’s carboxyl terminus and in highly expressed exons.
Tackling the Achilles’ Heel of Genetic Testing
Authors: Watkins Hugh
Published: January 2015

Assigning pathogenicity to rare genetic variants is at its hardest with the large
titin
gene, but comprehensive genomic analysis makes the task more tractable.
Draft Genome Sequence of Sphingomonas sp. Strain Ant20, Isolated from Oil-Contaminated Soil on Ross Island, Antarctica
Authors: Ronca Sandra , Frossard Aline , Guerrero Leandro D. , Makhalanyane Thulani P. , Aislabie Jackie M. , Cowan Don A.
Published: January 2015

Here, we present the draft genome of Sphingomonas sp. strain Ant20, isolated from oil-polluted soil near Scott Base, Ross Island, Antarctica. The genome of this aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium provides valuable information on the microbially mediated biodegradation of aromatic compounds in cold-climate systems.
Draft Genome Sequences of Vibrio fluvialis Strains 560 and 539, Isolated from Environmental Samples
Authors: de Oliveira Veras Adonney Allan , da Silva Miriam Lopes , Gomes Jaqueline Conceição Meireles , Dias Larissa Maranhão , de Sá Pablo Caracciolo Gomes , Alves Jorianne Thyeska Castro , Castro Wendel , Miranda Fábio , Kazuo Ehilton , Marinho Diogo , Rodrigues Mateus , Freire Matheus , Zahlouth Ramiro , Renan Wendel , Lopes Thiago Souza , Matté Maria Helena , da Silva Mayer Cintia Carolina , de Almeida Vasconcelos Barboni Suzi , Matté Glavur Rogério , Carneiro Adriana Ribeiro , Silva Artur , Ramos Rommel Thiago Jucá
Published: January 2015

Vibrio fluvialis
is a halophilic bacterium found in many environments and is mainly associated with sporadic cases and outbreaks of gastroenteritis in humans. Here, we describe the genome sequences of environmental strains of
V. fluvialis
560 (Vf560) and
V. fluvialis
539 (Vf539) possessing a variant of the integrative and conjugative element (ICE) SXT for the first time in Brazil and South America.
An Intracellular Nanotrap Redirects Proteins and Organelles in Live Bacteria
Authors: Borg Sarah , Popp Felix , Hofmann Julia , Leonhardt Heinrich , Rothbauer Ulrich , Schüler Dirk
Published: January 2015

Owing to their small size and enhanced stability, nanobodies derived from camelids have previously been used for the construction of intracellular “nanotraps,” which enable redirection and manipulation of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged targets within living plant and animal cells. By taking advantage of intracellular compartmentalization in the magnetic bacterium
Magnetospirillum gryphiswaldense
, we demonstrate that proteins and even entire organelles can be retargeted also within prokaryotic cells by versatile nanotrap technology. Expression of multivalent GFP-binding nanobodies on magnetosomes ectopically recruited the chemotaxis protein CheW
1
-GFP from polar chemoreceptor clusters to the midcell, resulting in a gradual knockdown of aerotaxis. Conversely, entire magnetosome chains could be redirected from the midcell and tethered to one of the cell poles. Similar approaches could potentially be used for building synthetic cellular structures and targeted protein knockdowns in other bacteria.

IMPORTANCE
   Intrabodies are commonly used in eukaryotic systems for intracellular analysis and manipulation of proteins within distinct subcellular compartments. In particular, so-called nanobodies have great potential for synthetic biology approaches because they can be expressed easily in heterologous hosts and actively interact with intracellular targets, for instance, by the construction of intracellular “nanotraps” in living animal and plant cells. Although prokaryotic cells also exhibit a considerable degree of intracellular organization, there are few tools available equivalent to the well-established methods used in eukaryotes. Here, we demonstrate the ectopic retargeting and depletion of polar membrane proteins and entire organelles to distinct compartments in a magnetotactic bacterium, resulting in a gradual knockdown of magneto-aerotaxis. This intracellular nanotrap approach has the potential to be applied in other bacteria for building synthetic cellular structures, manipulating protein function, and creating gradual targeted knockdowns. Our findings provide a proof of principle for the universal use of fluorescently tagged proteins as targets for nanotraps to fulfill these tasks.
Inactivation of a Foodborne Norovirus Outbreak Strain with Nonthermal Atmospheric Pressure Plasma
Authors: Ahlfeld Birte , Li Yangfang , Boulaaba Annika , Binder Alfred , Schotte Ulrich , Zimmermann Julia L. , Morfill Gregor , Klein Günter
Published: January 2015

Human norovirus (NoV) is the most frequent cause of epidemic nonbacterial acute gastroenteritis worldwide. We investigated the impact of nonthermal or cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAPP) on the inactivation of a clinical human outbreak NoV, GII.4. Three different dilutions of a NoV-positive stool sample were prepared and subsequently treated with CAPP for various lengths of time, up to 15 min. NoV viral loads were quantified by quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR). Increased CAPP treatment time led to increased NoV reduction; samples treated for the longest time had the lowest viral load. From the initial starting quantity of 2.36 × 10
4
genomic equivalents/ml, sample exposure to CAPP reduced this value by 1.23 log
10
and 1.69 log
10
genomic equivalents/ml after 10 and 15 min, respectively (
P
< 0.01). CAPP treatment of surfaces carrying a lower viral load reduced NoV by at least 1 log
10
after CAPP exposure for 2 min (
P
< 0.05) and 1 min (
P
< 0.05), respectively. Our results suggest that NoV can be inactivated by CAPP treatment. The lack of cell culture assays prevents our ability to estimate infectivity. It is possible that some detectable, intact virus particles were rendered noninfectious. We conclude that CAPP treatment of surfaces may be a useful strategy to reduce the risk of NoV transmission in crowded environments.

IMPORTANCE
  Human gastroenteritis is most frequently caused by noroviruses, which are spread person to person and via surfaces, often in facilities with crowds of people. Disinfection of surfaces that come into contact with infected humans is critical for the prevention of cross-contamination and further transmission of the virus. However, effective disinfection cannot be done easily in mass catering environments or health care facilities. We evaluated the efficacy of cold atmospheric pressure plasma, an innovative airborne disinfection method, on surfaces inoculated with norovirus. We used a clinically relevant strain of norovirus from an outbreak in Germany. Cold plasma was able to inactivate the virus on the tested surfaces, suggesting that this method could be used for continuous disinfection of contaminated surfaces. The use of a clinical strain of norovirus strengthens the reliability of our results as it is a strain relevant to outbreaks in humans.
Aortic dissection in children and adolescents with Turner syndrome: risk factors and management recommendations
Authors: Turtle E J , Sule A A , Webb D J , Bath L E
Published: January 2015

There is a general lack of awareness of the risk of aortic dissection in Turner syndrome (TS) from both patients with TS and their physicians. Patients often ignore symptoms for up to 24 h before seeking medical advice, significantly increasing their risk of death. A clinical profile of those at risk of dissection is emerging and includes the presence of congenital heart defects, aortic dilatation and hypertension. MRI has revolutionised the visualisation of cardiovascular anatomy in TS but remains underutilised, especially in children and adolescents, and there is currently little guidance on blood pressure (BP) assessment or hypertension management. Children and adolescents with TS at risk of dissection could be easily identified by timely imaging and BP assessment. This would allow medical management or surgical intervention to be put in place to reduce the risk of this major, and often fatal, complication. Since guidance is lacking, we have reviewed the literature on the risk factors for dissection in TS during childhood and adolescence, and make recommendations on the assessment and management of these patients.
Variation in local trust Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) policies: a review of 48 English healthcare trusts
Authors: Freeman Karoline , Field Richard A , Perkins Gavin D
Published: January 2015

Objectives

To explore Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) policies from English acute, community and ambulance service Trusts for evidence of consistency and variation in implementation of national guidelines between healthcare organisations.

Setting

Acute, community or ambulance National Health Service (NHS) Trusts in England.

Participants

48 NHS Trusts.

Interventions

Freedom of information requests for adult DNACPR policies were sent to a random sample of Trusts.

Outcomes

DNACPR policies were assessed on aspects identified from national guidelines including documentation, ethical and legal issues, decision-makers and involvement of others in DNACPR decisions as well as practical considerations such as validity, review and portability of decisions.

Results

Policies from 26 acute, 12 community and 10 ambulance service Trusts were reviewed. There was variation in terminology used (85% described documents as policies, 6% procedures and 8% guidelines). Only one quarter of Trusts used the recommended Resuscitation Council (UK) record form (or a modification of the form). There was variation in the terminology used which included DNAR, DNACPR, Not for CPR and AND (allow natural death). Accountability for DNACPR decisions rested with consultants at all acute Trusts and the most senior clinician at community Trusts. Most Trusts (74%) recommended discussion of decisions with a multidisciplinary team. Compliance with guidance requiring clinical staff to assess the patient for capacity and when to consult a lasting power of attorney or independent mental capacity advocate occurred less commonly. There was wide variation in the duration of time over which a DNACPR decision was considered valid as well as in the Trusts’ approach to reviewing DNACPR decisions. The level of portability of DNACPR decisions between healthcare organisations was one of the greatest sources of variation.

Conclusions

There is significant variation in the translation of the national DNACPR guidelines into English healthcare Trusts’ DNACPR policies.
Does prewarming the i-gel supraglottic airway device fit the larynx better compared to keeping it at room temperature for non-paralysed, sedated patients: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Komasawa Nobuyasu , Nishihara Isao , Tatsumi Shinichi , Minami Toshiaki
Published: January 2015

Objective

This study aimed to test the hypothesis that the i-gel supraglottic airway device would fit the larynx and provide better sealing pressure if prewarmed to 42°C relative to the device kept at room temperature in non-paralysed, sedated patients.

Methods

A total of 74 adult patients were assigned to the warm (i-gel prewarmed to 42°C; W group; 37 patients) or the control (i-gel kept at room temperature; C group; 37 patients) groups. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol and fentanyl. The i-gel was prewarmed to 42°C for 30 min before insertion in the W group, but kept at room temperature (approximately 23°C) for the C group. The number of attempts made until successful insertion and sealing pressure were compared between the two groups.

Results

Insertion was successful with one attempt in 35 cases each for the W and C groups. Two attempts were needed in two cases for the W group and one case for the C group. There was one failed attempt in the C group, but none in the W group. None of the differences between the two groups were significant (p=0.51). Sealing pressure was slightly, but not significantly, higher in the W group than in the C group (W group 22.6±6.1 cm H2O; C group 20.7±6.1 cm H2O; p=0.15).

Conclusions

Prewarming of the i-gel to 42°C did not increase the success rate of insertion, nor did it significantly increase sealing pressure in anaesthetised, non-paralysed patients. Our data suggest that we can keep the i-gel at room temperature for emergency airway management for non-paralysed, sedated patients.

Trial registration number

University Medical Information Network, Japan 000012287.
Prevalence and characteristics of tremor in the NARCOMS multiple sclerosis registry: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Rinker John R , Salter Amber R , Walker Harrison , Amara Amy , Meador William , Cutter Gary R
Published: January 2015

Objectives

(1)To describe the prevalence and severity of tremor in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) registered within a large North American MS registry; (2) to provide detailed descriptions on the characteristics and severity of tremor in a subset of registrants and (3) to compare several measures of tremor severity for strength of agreement.

Setting

The North American Research Committee on MS (NARCOMS) registry.

Participants

Registrants of NARCOMS reporting mild or greater tremor severity.

Outcome measures

We determined the cross-sectional prevalence of tremor in the NARCOMS registry over three semiannual updates between fall 2010 and fall 2011. A subset of registrants (n=552) completed a supplemental survey providing detailed descriptions of their tremor. Outcomes included descriptive characteristics of their tremors and correlations between outcome measures to determine the strength of agreement in assessing tremor severity.

Results

The estimated prevalence of tremor in NARCOMS ranged from 45% to 46.8%, with severe tremor affecting 5.5–5.9% of respondents. In the subset completing the supplemental survey, mild tremor severity was associated with younger age of MS diagnosis and tremor onset than those with moderate or severe tremor. However, tremor severity did not differ by duration of disease or tremor. Respondents provided descriptions of tremor symptoms on the Clinical Ataxia Rating Scale, which had a moderate to good (ρ=0.595) correlation with the Tremor Related Activities of Daily Living (TRADL) scale. Objectively scored Archimedes’ spirals had a weaker (ρ=0.358) correlation with the TRADL. Rates of unemployment, disability and symptomatic medication use increased with tremor severity, but were high even among those with mild tremor.

Conclusions

Tremor is common among NARCOMS registrants and severely disabling for some. Both ADL-based and symptom-descriptive measures of tremor severity can be used to stratify patients.
Theoretical evaluation of left-handed material parameters with cylindrical inclusions
Authors: Raza Muhammad
Published: January 2015

We studied the electric and magnetic responses from the infinite chain of circular metallic cylinders periodically engrossed in a dielectric matrix (wax). The study used the effective medium theory developed for the long-wavelength approximations of complex effective constants. The analytical results show that the presented metamaterial exhibits the phenomenon with negative effective parameters. Moreover, increase in volume fraction increases the negativity of the effective parameters. With an increase in gigahertz (GHz) frequencies, the effective dielectric constant approaches zero, and a minor increase in the negativity of the effective magnetic constant is observed.
NONDETERMINISTIC STATE COMPLEXITY OF PROPORTIONAL REMOVALS
Authors: GOČ DANIEL , PALIOUDAKIS ALEXANDROS , SALOMAA KAI
Published: January 2015

The language [Formula: see text] consists of first halfs of strings in L. Many other variants of a proportional removal operation have been considered in the literature and a characterization of removal operations that preserve regularity is known. We consider the nondeterministic state complexity of the operation [Formula: see text] and, more generally, of polynomial removals as defined by Domaratzki (J. Automata, Languages and Combinatorics 7(4), 2002). We give an O(n2) upper bound for the nondeterministic state complexity of polynomial removals and a matching lower bound in cases where the polynomial is a sum of a monomial and a constant, or when the polynomial has rational roots.
Real hypersurfaces in complex hyperbolic two-plane Grassmannians with commuting Ricci tensor
Authors: Suh Young Jin
Published: January 2015

In this paper we first introduce the full expression of the curvature tensor of a real hypersurface M in complex hyperbolic two-plane Grassmannians SU2,m/S(U2 ⋅ Um), m ≥ 2 from the equation of Gauss. Next we derive a new formula for the Ricci tensor of M in SU2,m/S(U2 ⋅ Um). Finally we give a complete classification of Hopf hypersurfaces in complex hyperbolic two-plane Grassmannians SU2,m/S(U2 ⋅ Um) with commuting Ricci tensor. Each can be described as a tube over a totally geodesic SU2,m-1/S(U2 ⋅ Um-1) in SU2,m/S(U2 ⋅ Um) or a horosphere whose center at infinity is singular.
Particle tunneling in a quantum corrected spacetime
Authors: Liu Cheng-Zhou , Cao Qiao-Jun
Published: January 2015

Particle tunneling from a quantum corrected black hole in the gravity's rainbow was investigated by the radial trajectory method of the tunneling framework. Using the thermodynamic property of the event horizon, a simpler method for calculating the tunneling probability was shown. In this method, the Painleve coordinate transformation of spacetime and the radial trajectory equation of the tunneling particles used in the previous radial trajectory method was not used. Using the simpler method, the tunneling probability of outgoing particles, regardless of whether they are massless or massive, were calculated in a unified way. The emission rates were related to the changes of the black hole entropies before and after the emission. This implies that the emission spectrum agrees with the underling unitary theory. In addition, the Bekenstein–Hawking area for the modified black hole was established and the emission spectrum with quantum corrections was discussed.
Quark elastic scattering as a source of high transverse momentum mesons
Authors: Field Rick
Published: January 2015

From 7 GeV /c pions to 600 GeV /c jets, the wonderful journey from the "old days" of Feynman–Field collider phenomenology to the Tevatron and the LHC.
Inverse monoids and immersions of 2-Complexes
Authors: Meakin John , Szakács Nóra
Published: January 2015

It is well known that under mild conditions on a connected topological space 𝒳, connected covers of 𝒳 may be classified via conjugacy classes of subgroups of the fundamental group of 𝒳. In this paper, we extend these results to the study of immersions into two-dimensional CW-complexes. An immersion f : 𝒟 → 𝒞 between CW-complexes is a cellular map such that each point y ∈ 𝒟 has a neighborhood U that is mapped homeomorphically onto f(U) by f. In order to classify immersions into a two-dimensional CW-complex 𝒞, we need to replace the fundamental group of 𝒞 by an appropriate inverse monoid. We show how conjugacy classes of the closed inverse submonoids of this inverse monoid may be used to classify connected immersions into the complex.
A computational approach to the Thompson group F
Authors: Haagerup Søren , Haagerup Uffe , Ramirez-Solano Maria
Published: January 2015

Let F denote the Thompson group with standard generators A = x0, B = x1. It is a long standing open problem whether F is an amenable group. By a result of Kesten from 1959, amenability of F is equivalent to [Formula: see text] and to [Formula: see text] where in both cases the norm of an element in the group ring ℂF is computed in B(ℓ2(F)) via the regular representation of F. By extensive numerical computations, we obtain precise lower bounds for the norms in (i) and (ii), as well as good estimates of the spectral distributions of (I+A+B)*(I+A+B) and of A+A-1+B+B-1 with respect to the tracial state τ on the group von Neumann Algebra L(F). Our computational results suggest, that [Formula: see text] It is however hard to obtain precise upper bounds for the norms, and our methods cannot be used to prove non-amenability of F.
FUNCTIONALIZATION OF BIOMOLECULES WITH NANOSTRUCTURED POROUS SILICON FOR BIOMEDICAL APPLICATION
Authors: JEYAKUMAR P. , SARAVANAKUMAR S. S. , KULATHURAAN K. , RAMADAS V. , NATARAJAN B.
Published: January 2015

Porous silicon (PS) fabrication, changes in the optical properties and surface modification in the oxidized PS (dipped into the Glucose oxide) due to the infiltration of biomolecules using Luminescence Spectrophotometer [Photoluminescence (PL)], Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) were studied. The surface morphology of oxidized PS (OPS) and treated with Glucose have been studied by SEM. Spontaneous imbibition weight was calculated theoretically using imbibition equation for the porous medium using glucose solution as the wetting liquid. FTIR analysis revealed that, the strong Si–H, Si–O–Si bonds which covered most of the OPS surface. In the glucose treated PS layer, the amide I (C=O) stretch and amide II (C=N) stretch (1690 cm−1 and 1551 cm−1) groups were appeared in the spectrum which confirmed the coupling reaction. Efficient visible Photoluminescence was obtained at around 624 nm from glucose treated porous silicon. The functionalization of glucose with nano structured PS, changes light emission over the surface of OPS. It can be applied in optical biosensor and which can be used in biomedical applications.
Strong quasi-ideals and complete semilattice decompositions of an ordered semigroup
Authors: Bhuniya A. K. , Jana K.
Published: January 2015

There are quasi-ideals of an ordered semigroup which cannot be expressed as an intersection of a left ideal and a right ideal. A quasi-ideal with this intersection property is called strong quasi-ideal. We show that strong quasi-simplicity is equivalent to t-simplicity of an ordered semigroup; and hence it turns out to be the case that the ordered semigroups which are complete semilattices (chains) of t-simple subsemigroups can be characterized by their strong quasi-ideals. An ordered semigroup S is complete semilattice (chain) of t-simple subsemigroups if and only if every strong quasi-ideal of S is a completely semiprime (prime) ideal. Also we introduce and characterize the minimal strong quasi-ideals.
On Ramanujan's general theta function and a generalization of the Borweins' cubic theta functions
Authors: Adiga Chandrashekar , Bulkhali Nasser Abdo Saeed
Published: January 2015

The Borwein brothers have introduced and studied three cubic theta functions. Many generalizations of these functions have been studied as well. In this paper, we introduce a new generalization of these functions and establish general formulas that are connecting our functions and Ramanujan's general theta function. Many identities found in the literature follow as a special case of our identities. We further derive general formulas for certain products of theta functions.
On some classes of reflexive rings
Authors: Chakraborty Uday Shankar
Published: January 2015

The concept of central reflexive rings is introduced in this paper as a generalization of reflexive rings. Since every reflexive ring is central reflexive, we study the sufficient condition for a central reflexive ring to be a reflexive one. It is shown that every central reversible and hence every central symmetric ring is central reflexive, however converse implications are wrong. It is also proven that the polynomial ring R[x] is central reflexive if R is central reflexive and quasi-Armendariz. We have given some characterizations for an α-reflexive ring and also improved some of the results given by Zhao and Zhu [Extensions of α-reflexive rings, Asian-European J. Math.5(1) (2012) 1–10]. Finally we introduced the concept of central α-reflexive rings as a generalization of α-reflexive rings.
On the invariants of Mannheim offsets of timelike ruled surfaces with spacelike rulings
Authors: Önder Mehmet , Uğurlu H. Hüseyin
Published: January 2015

In this paper, we give the characterizations for Mannheim offsets of timelike ruled surfaces with spacelike rulings in dual Lorentzian space [Formula: see text]. We obtain the relations between terms of their integral invariants and also we give new characterization for the Mannheim offsets of developable timelike ruled surface. Moreover, we find relations between the area of projections of spherical images for Mannheim offsets of timelike ruled surfaces and their integral invariants.
Synthesis and physical properties of quasi-one-dimensional magnetic material Ca3LiRuO6
Authors: Wu Dapeng , Qi Yang
Published: January 2015

Ca 3 LiRuO 6 single crystals were grown using the flux method, magnetic properties measurement results along different directions of needle-like single crystals are reported for the first time and show Ca 3 LiRuO 6 occurs a paramagnetic (PM)-weak ferromagnetic (FM) transition at a temperature Tc = 120 K , also the magnetic moment aligns in the ab plane. Although Ca 3 LiRuO 6 is characterized by one-dimensional configuration in crystallographic structure, it has three-dimensional (3D) magnetic order, the value of Tc is far below the magnitude of Curie–Weiss temperature. Θcw ≈ -306 K indicates complex nature of the magnetism is in this compound.
High-precision U–Pb zircon age constraints on the duration of rapid biogeochemical events during the Ludlow Epoch (Silurian Period)
Authors: Cramer Bradley D. , Schmitz Mark D. , Huff Warren D. , Bergström Stig M.
Published: January 2015

Precise determinations of the rates and durations of Palaeozoic biogeochemical events are largely unavailable. Here, we present two new high-precision U–Pb (zircon) dates from volcanic ash deposits from the Ludlow Series (Silurian System) of Podolia, Ukraine, that yielded weighted mean
206
Pb/
238
U dates of 424.08 ± 0.20 (0.29) [0.53] Ma and 422.91 ± 0.07 (0.21) [0.49] Ma (analytical, tracer and total uncertainties). These new dates bracket the largest post-Cambrian global carbon cycle perturbation (Lau Excursion) and constrain the ‘Ludlow Rise’ in
87
Sr/
86
Sr. These chronostratigraphically well-controlled dates improve the calibration of the Silurian time scale and provide the first determinations of the rates of biogeochemical change during the Ludlow Epoch.

Supplementary material:

U–Pb geochemical methods, data and CL imagery are available at
http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18798
.
Targeting HER2 for the Treatment of Breast Cancer
Authors: Rimawi Mothaffar F. , Schiff Rachel , Osborne C. Kent
Published: January 2015

HER2 (ErbB2), a member of the HER family of tyrosine kinase receptors (HER1–4), is a major driver of tumor growth in 20% of breast cancers. Treatment with the anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody trastuzumab has revolutionized the outcome of patients with this aggressive breast cancer subtype, but intrinsic and acquired resistance is common. Growing understanding of the biology and complexity of the HER2 signaling network and of potential resistance mechanisms has guided the development of new HER2-targeted agents. Combinations of these drugs to more completely inhibit the HER receptor layer, or combining HER2-targeted agents with agents that target downstream signaling, alternative pathways, or components of the host immune system, are being vigorously investigated in the preclinical and clinical settings. As a result, the list of more effective and well tolerated FDA-approved new regimens for patients with HER2+ tumors is constantly growing.
Obesity and Cancer: Local and Systemic Mechanisms
Authors: Iyengar Neil M. , Hudis Clifford A. , Dannenberg Andrew J.
Published: January 2015

Obesity is a leading modifiable risk factor for the development of several epithelial malignancies. In addition to increasing risk, obesity also confers worse prognosis for many cancers. Obesity represents an overall state of energy imbalance frequently associated with systemic effects including insulin resistance, altered hormone signaling, and high circulating levels of proinflammatory mediators. In addition to its systemic effects, obesity causes subclinical white adipose inflammation including increased tissue levels of proinflammatory mediators. Both local and systemic effects are likely to contribute to the development and progression of cancer. An understanding of the interplay between local and systemic alterations involved in the obesity–cancer link provides the basis for developing interventions aimed at mitigating the protumorigenic effects.
The Gut Microbial Endocrine Organ: Bacterially Derived Signals Driving Cardiometabolic Diseases
Authors: Brown J. Mark , Hazen Stanley L.
Published: January 2015

The human gastrointestinal tract is home to trillions of bacteria, which vastly outnumber host cells in the body. Although generally overlooked in the field of endocrinology, gut microbial symbionts organize to form a key endocrine organ that converts nutritional cues from the environment into hormone-like signals that impact both normal physiology and chronic disease in the human host. Recent evidence suggests that several gut microbial-derived products are sensed by dedicated host receptor systems to alter cardiovascular disease (CVD) progression. In fact, gut microbial metabolism of dietary components results in the production of proatherogenic circulating factors that act through a meta-organismal endocrine axis to impact CVD risk. Whether pharmacological interventions at the level of the gut microbial endocrine organ will reduce CVD risk is a key new question in the field of cardiovascular medicine. Here we discuss the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in targeting meta-organismal endocrinology for CVD prevention.
Cardiovascular Disease in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer
Authors: Lipshultz Steven E. , Franco Vivian I. , Miller Tracie L. , Colan Steven D. , Sallan Stephen E.
Published: January 2015

Treatment advances have increased survival in children with cancer, but subclinical, progressive, irreversible, and sometimes fatal treatment-related cardiovascular effects may appear years later. Cardio-oncologists have identified promising preventive and treatment strategies. Dexrazoxane provides long-term cardioprotection from doxorubicin-associated cardiotoxicity without compromising the efficacy of anticancer treatment. Continuous infusion of doxorubicin is as effective as bolus administration in leukemia treatment, but no evidence has indicated that it provides long-term cardioprotection; continuous infusions should be eliminated from pediatric cancer treatment. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors can delay the progression of subclinical and clinical cardiotoxicity. All survivors, regardless of whether they were treated with anthracyclines or radiation, should be monitored for systemic inflammation and the risk of premature cardiovascular disease. Echocardiographic screening must be supplemented with screening for biomarkers of cardiotoxicity and perhaps by identification of genetic susceptibilities to cardiovascular diseases; optimal strategies need to be identified. The health burden related to cancer treatment will increase as this population expands and ages.
From De Novo Mutations to Personalized Therapeutic Interventions in Autism
Authors: Brandler William M. , Sebat Jonathan
Published: January 2015

The high heritability, early age at onset, and reproductive disadvantages of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are consistent with an etiology composed of dominant-acting de novo (spontaneous) mutations. Mutation detection by microarray analysis and DNA sequencing has confirmed that de novo copy-number variants or point mutations in protein-coding regions of genes contribute to risk, and some of the underlying causal variants and genes have been identified. As our understanding of autism genes develops, the spectrum of autism is breaking up into quanta of many different genetic disorders. Given the diversity of etiologies and underlying biochemical pathways, personalized therapy for ASDs is logical, and clinical genetic testing is a prerequisite.
Understanding HIV Latency: The Road to an HIV Cure
Authors: Dahabieh Matthew S. , Battivelli Emilie , Verdin Eric
Published: January 2015

Treatment with antiretroviral therapy dramatically increases the survival of HIV-infected individuals. However, treatment has to be continued for life because it does not lead to the full eradication of infection. HIV persists in resting CD4+ T cells, and possibly other cell types, and can reemerge from these cells when therapy is interrupted. Here, we review molecular mechanisms that have been proposed to contribute to HIV latency, as well as the relative roles of cis- and trans-acting mechanisms. We also discuss existing and future therapeutic opportunities regarding HIV latency that might lead to a future cure for HIV infection.