bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Endoscopic approach for management of biliary strictures in liver transplant recipients: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Aparício Dayse Pereira da Silva , Otoch José Pinhata , Montero Edna Frasson de Souza , Khan Muhammad Ali , Artifon Everson Luiz de Almeida
Published: November 2016

The most common biliary complication after liver transplantation is anastomotic stricture (AS) and it can occur isolated or in combination with other complications. Liver graft from a cadaveric donor or a living donor has an influence on the incidence of biliary strictures as well as on the response to endoscopic treatment. Endoscopic treatment using balloon dilation and insertion of biliary stents by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is the initial approach to these complications.

Aim

The aim of this article is to compare different endoscopic techniques to treat post‐liver transplantation biliary strictures.

Methods

The search was carried out on MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scielo‐LILACS and Cochrane Library databases through June 2015. A total of 1100 articles were retrieved. Ten clinical trials were analyzed, and seven were included in the meta‐analysis.

Conclusions

The endoscopic treatment of AS was equally effective when compared the use of fully covered self‐expandable metal stents (FCSEMS) vs. plastic stents, but the use of FCSEMS was associated with a lower complication risk. The treatment of AS with balloon dilation or balloon dilation associated with plastic stents presented similar results. Deceased donor liver transplantation reduced the risk of biliary stenosis and the endoscopic treatment in these patients was more effective when compared with Living donor liver transplantation.
The diagnosis and treatment of Rapunzel syndrome
Authors: Wang Zhe , Cao Feng , Liu Diangang , Fang Yu , Li Fei
Published: November 2016

Trichobezoars are hairballs or hair-like fibers formed by chewing and swallowing hair or any other indigestible materials. Trichobezoars usually form in the gastric body and are thus prepyloric. However, trichobezoars may rarely pass through the pylorus into the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and even the colon, in a condition referred to as Rapunzel syndrome. Here, we present a case of a 13-year-old girl with this rare syndrome and discuss the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Diagnostic Care Pathways in Dementia
Authors: Wells Christine E. , Smith Sarah J.
Published: November 2016

Objectives: Increasing diagnostic rates of dementia is a national health priority; to meet this priority, improvement needs to be made to diagnostic services. It has been increasingly recognized that primary can play a significant role in the diagnostic journey for people with dementia, with some diagnostic services entirely located in primary care. This article reviews the extent of the involvement of primary care in diagnostic care pathways for people presenting with memory complaints within England, and presents examples of innovative approaches, which may be of interest to practitioners. Method: A rapid review was undertaken to identify articles outlining diagnostic care pathways for dementia involving primary care in England. Results: Six articles relating to pathway evaluations and innovative approaches involving primary care were deemed suitable for inclusion in the review. Conclusions: The review found examples of diagnostic pathways and innovative practices being implemented in in primary care. These practices aligned to the strategic ambitions of the National Dementia Strategy. However, it was widely acknowledged that there is a need to improve postdiagnostic pathways; in particular, access to postdiagnostic support. This issue is being reflected in contemporary policy initiatives such as the Department of Health’s 2016 Joint Declaration on postdiagnostic dementia care and support.
A Rare Presentation of Peritoneal Tuberculosis Mimicking Malignancy
Authors: Swe Thein , Naing Akari Thein , Phyo Zaw Win , Thwin Malar
Published: November 2016

Our search of literature revealed combined elevations of serum cancer antigen 125 levels and rheumatoid factor levels in a patient with peritoneal tuberculosis has rarely been reported. Thus, we describe the case of a 63-year-old female with large abdominal ascites and malignancy was ruled out with biopsy. High levels of serum cancer antigen and rheumatoid factor were noted. Physicians should be aware that tuberculosis infection could induce elevation of rheumatoid factor levels in the absence of rheumatologic symptoms or disease. A high index of suspicion is required because peritoneal tuberculosis is a great mimicker of other abdominal pathology, especially intraabdominal malignancies and can mislead physicians to undergo unnecessary interventions.
The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam and Muslim secularism
Authors: Cole Juan
Published: November 2016

The fact that quatrains known as Rubiyat of Omar Khayyam were not really composed by the twelfth century astronomer of that name, but composed by various hands and made into collections later, is widely accepted. This paper examines under what political and social atmosphere in later times, the collections began to be compiled, and what elements of scepticism, irreligion, mysticism and even rationalism entered into them. It is argued that the collections retained their popularity and freely circulated wherever Persian was cultivated down to modern times.
Scientific potential of chitosan blending with different polymeric materials: A review
Authors: Kausar Ayesha
Published: November 2016

Chitosan, the second most abundant natural fiber after cellulose, is a partially deacetylated polymer of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine. Chitosan is nontoxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible. It also has film-forming properties. Chitosan is blended with many polymeric materials such as: poly(methyl methacrylate), epoxy, polystyrene, polyaniline, polysulfone, and polycarbonate. Chitosan has been used as a filler as well as a fiber material in thermoplastic polymers. However, polymer/chitosan blends may show incompatibility owing to repulsion between polar chitosan functional groups and hydrophobic polymeric matrices. Other limitations associated with the using chitosan in blends are high moisture absorption, low processing temperature, low heat stability, and low flame resistance. Consequently, the fabrication techniques, miscibility, mechanical strength, morphology, and structural features of polymer/chitosan blends have been investigated. Moreover, chitosan addition as a compatibilizer in blended systems has been explored. There are many potential applications for polymer/chitosan in membrane technology, dye removal, packaging materials, drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biochemical relevance.
Unexpected role for p19INK4d in posttranscriptional regulation of GATA1 and modulation of human terminal erythropoiesis
Authors: Han Xu , Zhang Jieying , Peng Yuanliang , Peng Minyuan , Chen Xiao , Chen Huiyong , Song Jianhui , Hu Xiao , Ye Mao , Li Jianglin , Sankaran Vijay G. , Hillyer Christopher D. , Mohandas Narla , An Xiuli , Liu Jing
Published: November 2016

Key Points

Knockdown of CDKI p19INK4d impairs human terminal erythroid differentiation by decreasing GATA1 protein levels. GATA1 protein level is regulated by p19INK4d via the PEBP1-p-ERK-HSP70-GATA1 pathway.
Hemoglobin variants identified in the Uganda Sickle Surveillance Study
Authors: Schaefer Beverly A. , Kiyaga Charles , Howard Thad A. , Ndeezi Grace , Hernandez Arielle G. , Ssewanyana Isaac , Paniagua Mary C. , Ndugwa Christopher M. , Aceng Jane R. , Ware Russell E.
Published: November 2016

Key Points

Five Hb variants were identified in the Uganda Sickle Surveillance Study with nonuniform distribution across the country. Recognition of IEF patterns and molecular techniques provide an algorithm for the diagnosis of hemoglobin variants in sub-Saharan Africa.
Liposomal delivery systems for intestinal lymphatic drug transport
Authors: Ahn Hyeji , Park Ji-Ho
Published: November 2016

Intestinal lymphatic drug delivery has been widely studied because drugs can bypass the first-pass metabolism in the liver via the lymphatic route, which increases oral bioavailability. Various lipid-based nanoparticles have been used to deliver hydrophobic drugs to the lymphatic pathway. This review focuses on the liposomal delivery systems used for intestinal lymphatic drug transport. Liposomal formulations have attracted particular attention because they can stimulate the production of chylomicrons and the incorporated drugs readily associate with enterocyte-derived chylomicrons, enhancing lymphatic drug transport. We believe that a full understanding of their contribution to intestinal drug translocation will lead to effective oral delivery with liposomal formulations.
Estimation of quality factor based on peak frequency-shift method and redatuming operator: Application in real data set
Authors: Oliveira Francisco de S. , de Figueiredo Jose J. S. , Oliveira Andrei G. , Schleicher Jörg , Araújo Iury C. S.
Published: November 2016

Quality factor estimation and correction are necessary to compensate the seismic energy dissipated during acoustic-/elastic-wave propagation in the earth. In this process, known as [Formula: see text]-filtering in the realm of seismic processing, the main goal is to improve the resolution of the seismic signal, as well as to recover part of the energy dissipated by the anelastic attenuation. We have found a way to improve [Formula: see text]-factor estimation from seismic reflection data. Our methodology is based on the combination of the peak-frequency-shift (PFS) method and the redatuming operator. Our innovation is in the way we correct traveltimes when the medium consists of many layers. In other words, the correction of the traveltime table used in the PFS method is performed using the redatuming operator. This operation, performed iteratively, allows a more accurate estimation of the [Formula: see text] factor layer by layer. Applications to synthetic and real data (Viking Graben) reveal the feasibility of our analysis.
Azimuthal AVO for tilted TI medium
Authors: Wang Hongwei , Peng Suping , Du Wenfeng
Published: November 2016

With the incident P-wave, we derive approximate formulas for amplitudes and polarizations of waves reflected from and transmitted through a planar, horizontal boundary between an overlying isotropic medium and an underlying tilted transversely isotropic (TTI) medium assuming that the directions of the phase and group velocities are consistent. Provided that the velocities in the isotropic medium are equal to the velocities along the symmetry axis direction, we derive the relational expression between the propagation angle in the TTI medium and the propagation angle in the hypothetical isotropic medium, under the condition that the horizontal slowness is the same, and then we update the approximate formula of the polarization in the TTI medium. Provided that the slow and fast transverse waves (qS and SH) are generated simultaneously in the anisotropic interface, we linearize for a six-order Zoeppritz equation, derive the azimuthal formula of longitudinal and S-waves, and determine their detailed expressions within the symmetry axis plane. According to the derived azimuthal AVO formula, we establish medium models, compare the derived AVO with the precision, and obtain the following conclusions: (1) The dip angle for the symmetry axis with respect to the vertical may have a sufficiently large impact on AVO, and the vertical longitudinal wave can generate an S-wave. (2) For the derived AVO formula, within the symmetry axis plane, the fitting effect of the approximate and exact formulas is good; however, within the other incident planes, taking the azimuth angle 45° as an example, the approximation is suitable for the large impedance contrast if the anisotropic parameters are set properly. (3) The error between the approximation and precision is mainly caused by the difference between the reflected and transmitted angles, the velocities’ derivation with respect to azimuth, and the division of approximation into isotropic and anisotropic parts.
Generalized staining algorithm for seismic modeling and migration
Authors: Li Qihua , Jia Xiaofeng
Published: November 2016

The staining algorithm is introduced to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of poorly illuminated subsurface structures in seismic imaging. However, the amplitudes of the original and the stained wavefield, i.e., the real and the imaginary wavefields, differ by several orders of magnitude, and the waveform of the stained wavefield may be greatly distorted. We have developed a generalized staining algorithm (GSA) to achieve amplitude preservation in the stained wavefield. The real wavefield and the stained wavefield propagate in the same velocity model. A source wavelet is used as the source of the real wavefield; however, the real wavefield is extracted from the stained area as the source of the stained wavefield. The GSA maintains some properties of the original staining algorithm. The stained wavefield is synchronized with the real wavefield, and it contains only information relevant to the target region. By imaging with the stained wavefield, we obtain higher S/Ns in images of target structures. The most significant advantage of our method is the amplitude preservation of the stained wavefield, which means that this method could potentially be used in quantitative illumination analysis and velocity model building. The GSA could be adopted easily for frequency-domain wavefield propagators and time-domain propagators. Furthermore, the GSA can generate any number of stained wavefields. Numerical experiments demonstrate these features of the GSA, and we apply this method in target-oriented modeling and imaging as well as obtaining amplitude-preserved stained wavefields and higher S/Ns in images of target structures.
Applications of high-resolution time-frequency transforms to attenuation estimation
Authors: Tary Jean Baptiste , van der Baan Mirko , Herrera Roberto Henry
Published: November 2016

Attenuation estimates quantify the loss of energy of propagating seismic waves due to anelastic processes. It is often carried out in the frequency domain. The most well-known methods for attenuation estimation, such as the spectral ratio and frequency-shift methods, compare spectral shapes of waveforms along a given raypath. They require broad spectra such as those obtained with the Fourier transform and the continuous wavelet transform. These methods are incompatible with high-resolution time-frequency transforms, which drastically localize time-frequency information. On the other hand, these transforms indicate stronger resistance to noise and can be used in combination with the peak frequency method to estimate attenuation. We have applied high-resolution transforms, namely the synchrosqueezing transform, basis pursuit, and complete ensemble empirical-mode decomposition, to a synthetic wedge example and two seismic data set examples, a seismic reflection profile, and a vertical seismic profile (VSP). Results for the synthetic example find that most high-resolution transforms are able to reliably estimate quality factors. Using centroid frequencies, the seismic reflection profile exhibits local increases in centroid frequencies, which likely indicates imprints from apparent attenuation over intrinsic attenuation. Centroid frequencies and effective quality factors for the VSP are consistent for the different spectral estimation techniques. These three examples illustrate the value of high-resolution transforms for frequency and quality factor measurements.
Application of thin-bed indicator and sweetness attribute in the evaluation of sediment composition and depositional geometry in coast-perpendicular subbasins, South Texas Gulf Coast
Authors: Ogiesoba Osareni C.
Published: November 2016

My focus of study is the nature of sediments within late Eocene to middle Oligocene, coast-perpendicular subbasins located on the southwest side of the San Marcos Arch in Refugio County, near the South Texas Gulf Coast. Methods of investigation consist of 3D seismic interpretation, seismic attribute, and isochron mapping. Depositional geometry, inferred sediment composition, and bed-thickness data are examined by extraction of amplitude-envelope, sweetness, and thin-bed-indicator (TBI) attributes from the 3D seismic volume. Four subbasins, numbered SB1 through SB4 from northeast to southwest, are recognized. Although the coast-perpendicular subbasins formed at the same time and by the same processes, the sediment distribution, basin-fill history, and tectonics differ from subbasin to subbasin within the Jackson, Vicksburg, and Frio Formations. Amplitude envelopes extracted at base Jackson and at near-base Vicksburg Formation show that, although the distribution pattern of interpreted sandstone-prone sediments within each subbasin is mainly of sheet geometry, SB2 displays a pattern of short, narrow, linear features. Based on available well control, the sweetness and TBI attributes correlate well with [Formula: see text]. Crossplots between [Formula: see text] and sweetness exhibit a strong, linear, negative relationship — the sweetness value increases as the [Formula: see text] value decreases, suggesting an increasing sandstone content. In contrast, crossplots between [Formula: see text] and TBI exhibit a positive linear relationship — the TBI value increases as the [Formula: see text] value increases, suggesting an increasing shale content. Because the sweetness attribute may in some cases not detect some thin shale bed within a stratigraphic interval, it may overestimate the net:gross ratio. Therefore, a combined TBI and sweetness procedure is required to determine the net:gross ratio. The results show that the net:gross ratio decreases from SB1 closest to the San Marcos Arch, to SB4 farthest into the Rio Grande Embayment. The approach adopted in this study can be used to estimate net:gross ratios in frontier areas.
Before and beyond Masculinity after Trujillo: A Critical Return
Authors: Horn Maja
Published: November 2016

This essay is a response to Carlos Ulises Decena's and Dixa Ramírez's reading of Masculinity after Trujillo: The Politics of Gender in Dominican Literature (2014). As both discussants note, the study emphasizes the important task of multiplying the archives of Dominican literature and history. Engaging with Ramírez's essay, Horn critically revisits her historical argument about how the Trujillo dictatorship (1930–61) and the preceding US occupation (1916–24) reshaped Dominican gender formations and masculinity in particular. In dialogue with Decena's essay, Horn discusses how entrenched relations between gender, postdictatorship politics, and the Dominican intellectual culture call for conventional political responses as well as an embrace of political potentialities that lie beyond these. The essay emphasizes that postcolonial contexts invariably require grappling with questions of justice and political redress in multiple ways because of how longstanding histories of colonialism, imperialism, and unequal global power structures always already refract these across places and borders.
Rethinking the “Transnational” Caribbean Curatorial: Politics of Space in “Caribe insular: Exclusión, fragmentación y paraíso”
Authors: Castellano Carlos Garrido
Published: November 2016

Through a critical interpretation of “Caribe insular: Exclusión, fragmentación y paraíso,” one of the major Caribbean art exhibitions showcased in the 1990s, this essay examines the spatial politics of Caribbean art curatorship taking place abroad. It argues that any understanding of the spatial politics regulating the display of Caribbean art outside the region has to be approached from an ambivalent point of view. In this case, this implies recognizing how “Caribe insular” was inscribed within two different logics: one linked to the regional panorama of democratic Spain, marked by the anxiety of reframing a “postcolonial” image of the country within an European context, and other attentive to the distance from essentialist and “identity-oriented” views of artistic practice that Caribbean creators were developing at the end of the decade. Being burdened by the first conditioning, “Caribe insular” sketched, nevertheless, a new conceptualization for the large-scale Caribbean art shows of the 2000s.
Air Compared to Nitrogen as Nebulizing and Drying Gases for Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Mielczarek P. , Silberring J. , Smoluch M.
Published: November 2016

In the present study we tested the application of compressed air instead of pure nitrogen as the nebulizing and drying gas, and its influence on the quality of electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectra. The intensities of the signals corresponding to protonated molecules were significantly (twice) higher when air was used. Inspection of signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios revealed that, in both cases, sensitivity was comparable. A higher ion abundance after the application of compressed air was followed by a higher background. Another potential risk of using air in the ESI source is the possibility for sample oxidation due to the presence of oxygen. To test this, we selected five easily oxidizing compounds to verify their susceptibility to oxidation. In particular, the presence of methionine was of interest. For all the compounds studied, no oxidation was observed. Amodiaquine oxidizes spontaneously in water solutions and its oxidized form can be detected a few hours after preparation. Direct comparison of the spectra where nitrogen was used with the corresponding spectra obtained when air was applied did not show significant differences. The only distinction was slightly different patterns of adducts when air was used. The difference concerns acetonitrile, which forms higher signals when air is the nebulizing gas. It is also important that the replacement of nitrogen with air does not affect quantitative data. The prepared calibration curves also visualize an intensity twice as high (independent of concentration within tested range) of the signal where air was applied. We have used our system continuously for three months with air as the nebulizing and drying gas and have not noticed any unexpected signal deterioration caused by additional source contamination from the air. Moreover, compressed air is much cheaper and easily available using oil-free compressors or pumps.
MYTHBUSTERS: A Universal Procedure for Sample Preparation for Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Drabik Anna , Ner-Kluza Joanna , Bodzon-Kulakowska Anna , Suder Piotr
Published: November 2016

Improvements in proteomic strategies from the development of new and robust separation and identification techniques have led to broad applications of proteomics to solve numerous biological questions. For all analyses, sample quality is unquestionably a critical factor; therefore protein extraction is of outmost importance. The ideal extraction method should provide reproducible spectra of the most comprehensive repertoire of proteins, while minimizing sample loss and degradation. It is already known that to capture the whole proteome is an unenforceable task. Many protein extraction protocols have been described, yet there is no “one perfect procedure” taking into account the vast diversity of biological and physical properties of proteins, including their charge, size, hydrophobicity, interactions and sub-cellular localization. The research presented here reflects the main obstacle occurring in proteomic experimental design; i.e. the lack of reproducibility as a result of alterations in protein extraction methods. We have performed a series of experiments, aimed towards identification of the aptamer-binding partners in cancerous cells. Aptamers are chemically synthesized, short, single-stranded nucleic acids with a strictly defined three-dimensional structure, which allows them to interact with a target molecule with high affinity. The low immunogenicity and cellular-targeting properties of aptamers might facilitate design of suitable drugs with low side-effects. Aptamers can be used for identification of molecules associated with a pathogenic state of a cell. Aptamers can be considered as a powerful tool, since they possess unique properties to benefit cancer diagnosis, prevention and treatment. We have used different types of protein extraction methods prior to analyses of complex biological samples by mass spectrometry, based on slight changes of homogenization buffers, and have observed the changes in the identified compounds. These results should prove to be very useful for future proteomic studies and the design of studies in terms of sample preparation, especially sample homogenization and protein extraction.
Quantum Chemical Calculations of Basic Molecules: Alcohols and Carboxylic Acids
Authors: Beć Krzysztof B. , Wójcik Marek J. , Nakajima Takahito
Published: November 2016

This second part of the review series on quantum chemical methods in near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy covers the practical aspects involving applications of generalised second-order vibrational perturbation theory (GVPT2). Basic considerations are discussed here, with the aim of introducing experimental spectroscopists to the topic. The specifics of fully anharmonic calculations, the notably increased computational cost (when compared to routine harmonic vibrational calculations), the choice of software suite and hardware considerations, and various other factors with high importance for practical use of discussed theoretical methods are covered. These deliberations are directly compared to recent reports on the applications of anharmonic theoretical studies to the experimental NIR spectra of aliphatic alcohols and carboxylic acids.
Federal state educational standards as an element of anti-corruption policy
Authors: Рашева Наталья , Rasheva Natal'ya
Published: November 2016

In this paper the author draws attention to the role of the federal state educational standards as the element of the anti-corruption state policy. Elements of anti-corruption behavior are reflected in the education plans of educational institutions, are becoming the part of the education plans for the secondary and higher educational institutions. They play the important role in the federal state educational standards.
A Theory of Responsive Design: A Field Study of Corporate Engagement with Open Source Communities
Authors: Germonprez Matt , Kendall Julie E. , Kendall Kenneth E. , Mathiassen Lars , Young Brett , Warner Brian
Published: November 2016

Although our general knowledge about open source communities is extensive, we are only beginning to understand the increasingly common practices by which corporations design software through engagement with these communities. In response, we combine design theorizing with field-study research (1) to analyze rich qualitative data from over 40 corporations participating in the Linux open source community and (2) to synthesize the observed corporate-open source community engagements into a new type of information systems design theory that we call responsive design. Empirically, we document how corporate participants in these contexts respond to market decisions, interdependent ideologies, and distributed relationships by continuously establishing and maintaining connections with community members; connections that stem from the social and material rules inherent in the open source community. Based on these observations, we create the theory of responsive design as a particular form of corporate software design which, beyond the inclusion of external participants, distinguishes itself from traditional monocentric design in which one corporation controls a dedicated team of software designers focused on solving an isolated and singular organizational problem. Guided by the principles of interconnection, opportunism, and domestication, we define responsive design as the kind of design approach that enables corporate participants to create and maintain productive design practices in response to the complex and dynamic landscapes of activities that are the foundation of corporate-communal engagements. We conclude with a discussion of the theoretical and practical implications of this new form of corporate software design.
Proportional Switching in First-in, First-out Networks
Authors: Bramson Maury , D’Auria Bernardo , Walton Neil
Published: November 2016

We consider a family of discrete time multihop switched queueing networks where each packet moves along a fixed route. In this setting, BackPressure is the canonical choice of scheduling policy; this policy has the virtues of possessing a maximal stability region and not requiring explicit knowledge of traffic arrival rates. BackPressure has certain structural weaknesses because implementation requires information about each route, and queueing delays can grow super-linearly with route length. For large networks, where packets over many routes are processed by a queue, or where packets over a route are processed by many queues, these limitations can be prohibitive.

In this article, we introduce a scheduling policy for first-in, first-out networks, the ProportionalScheduler, which is based on the proportional fairness criterion. We show that, like BackPressure, the ProportionalScheduler has a maximal stability region and does not require explicit knowledge of traffic arrival rates. The ProportionalScheduler has the advantage that information about the network’s route structure is not required for scheduling, which substantially improves the policy’s performance for large networks. For instance, packets can be routed with only next-hop information and new nodes can be added to the network with only knowledge of the scheduling constraints.
Why, whose, what and how? A framework for knowledge mobilisers
Authors: Ward Vicky
Published: November 2016

Knowledge mobilisers (people who move knowledge into action) face a number of challenges. These include making sense of diverse definitions, navigating through fragmented literature and identifying helpful models and tools. This paper presents a framework designed to help. Based on a review of 47 knowledge mobilisation models, it consists of four questions: Why is knowledge being mobilised? Whose knowledge is being mobilised? What type of knowledge is being mobilised? How is knowledge being mobilised? These questions and accompanying categories can help knowledge mobilisers reflect on, communicate and evaluate their aims and objectives, increasing clarity and understanding across the field.
Triple Staining Including FOXA2 Identifies Stem Cell Lineages Undergoing Hepatic and Biliary Differentiation in Cirrhotic Human Liver
Authors: Rogler Charles E. , Bebawee Remon , Matarlo Joe , Locker Joseph , Pattamanuch Nicole , Gupta Sanjeev , Rogler Leslie E.
Published: November 2016

Recent investigations have reported many markers associated with human liver stem/progenitor cells, “oval cells,” and identified “niches” in diseased livers where stem cells occur. However, there has remained a need to identify entire lineages of stem cells as they differentiate into bile ducts or hepatocytes. We have used combined immunohistochemical staining for a marker of hepatic commitment and specification (FOXA2 [Forkhead box A2]), hepatocyte maturation (Albumin and HepPar1), and features of bile ducts (CK19 [cytokeratin 19]) to identify lineages of stem cells differentiating toward the hepatocytic or bile ductular compartments of end-stage cirrhotic human liver. We identified large clusters of disorganized, FOXA2 expressing, oval cells in localized liver regions surrounded by fibrotic matrix, designated as “micro-niches.” Specific FOXA2-positive cells within the micro-niches organize into primitive duct structures that support both hepatocytic and bile ductular differentiation enabling identification of entire lineages of cells forming the two types of structures. We also detected expression of hsa-miR-122 in primitive ductular reactions expected for hepatocytic differentiation and hsa-miR-23b cluster expression that drives liver cell fate decisions in cells undergoing lineage commitment. Our data establish the foundation for a mechanistic hypothesis on how stem cell lineages progress in specialized micro-niches in cirrhotic end-stage liver disease.
Actividades metodológicas para fomentar el aprendizaje activo en estudiantes de enseñanza de las ciencias naturales en la modalidad a distancia
Authors: Arguedas Matarrita Carlos A , Barahona Aguilar Oscar A.
Published: November 2016

Este artículo hace referencia a cuatro talleres realizados por estudiantes de profesoradoen la enseñanza de las ciencias, donde debieron satisfacer actividades metodológicas varias(experimentos, demostraciones e incluso presentaciones orales) en la Universidad Estatala Distancia de Costa Rica. Con ellos se intentó dinamizar el trabajo de futuros docentesempleando tanto herramientas tradicionales como tecnológicas en el proceso de enseñanzay aprendizaje de las ciencias. Asimismo son evidente las falencias en conceptos técnicosespecíficos, propios de área de ciencias duras (física, química y biología) y el desarrollo deguías de trabajo que propicien entornos de aprendizaje de una forma didáctica.
CC and CXC Chemokines Patterns in Psoriasis Determined by Protein Array Method Were Influenced by Goeckerman’s Therapy
Authors: Pohl David , Andrýs Ctirad , Borská Lenka , Fiala Zdeněk , Hamáková Květoslava , Ettler Karel , Krejsek Jan
Published: November 2016

Goeckerman’s therapy (GT) of psoriasis is based on daily application of pharmacy grade coal tar on affected skin with subsequent exposure to UV light. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of Goeckerman’s therapy of psoriasis on the levels of proangiogenic chemokines ENA-78 (CXCL5, Epithelial Cell Derived Neutrophil Attractant- 78), GRO alpha (CXCL1, Growth-Related Oncogene), IL-8 (CXCL8, Interleukin-8), MCP-1 (CCL2, Monocyte Chemotactic (Chemoattractant) Protein 1) and RANTES (CCL5, Regulated on Activation of Normal T Cell Expressed and Secreted) in peripheral blood of 22 children’s patients with psoriasis. 22 otherwise healthy children serve as a control group. The serum levels of chemokines were determined by commercial membrane protein array technique (RayBiotech, USA). Efficacy of Goeckerman’s therapy was delineated by PASI score. Disease activity was significantly diminished by Goeckerman’s therapy (p<0.001). Serum levels of GRO alpha and MCP-1 in patients before GT were significantly higher than those measured in healthy blood donors (GRO alpha: p=0.0128 and MCP-1: p=0.0003). Serum levels of GRO alpha, MCP-1 and RANTES were significantly diminished by GT (GRO alpha: p=0.002, MCP-1: p=0.048 and RANTES: p=0.0131). Compared to the healthy controls, serum level of MCP-1 remained significantly increased in psoriasis patients after GT (p<0.0001). In conclusion, we found that the GT of psoriasis influenced the serum levels of proinflammatory and proangiogenic chemokines, especially GRO alpha, MCP-1 and RANTES. It could be the cause for decreased proangiogenic activity which is described after GT of psoriasis.
Mood Stabilizer Therapy and Pravastatin: Higher Risk for Adverse Skin Reactions?
Authors: Walder Alice , Baumann Pierre
Published: November 2016

We report on a serious side effect in a severely depressed 55-year-old woman, who presented an erythematous pigmented skin rash on the whole body under combination treatment with antidepressants, atypical antipsychotic drugs, the mood stabilizer lithium and the lipid-lowering drug pravastatin. The skin rash effect was most probably due, in first line, to olanzapine, but the cutaneous skin condition was triggered and aggravated by pravastatin, a 3-hydoxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A-(HMG-CoA)-reductase inhibitor, and lithium medication. The allergic reaction started to develop after co-administration of pravastatin. Therefore, the combination of atypical antipsychotics with statins should be carefully monitored and the benefits and disadvantages should be balanced.
Biological Prognostic Markers in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Authors: Vroblová Vladimíra , Smolej Lukáš , Vrbacký Filip , Jankovičová Karolína , Hrudková Monika , Malý Jaroslav , Krejsek Jan
Published: November 2016

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most frequent leukemic disease of adults in the Western world. It is remarkable by an extraordinary heterogeneity of clinical course with overall survival ranging from several months to more than 15 years. Classical staging sytems by Rai and Binet, while readily available and useful for initial assessment of prognosis, are not able to determine individual patient’s ongoing clinical course of CLL at the time of diagnosis, especially in early stages. Therefore, newer biological prognostic parameters are currently being clinically evaluated. Mutational status of variable region of immunoglobulin heavy chain genes (IgVH), cytogenetic aberrations, and both intracellular ZAP- 70 and surface CD38 expression are recognized as parameters with established prognostic value. Molecules regulating the process of angiogenesis are also considered as promising markers. The purpose of this review is to summarize in detail the specific role of these prognostic factors in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Partial regularity up to the boundary for solutions of subquadratic elliptic systems
Authors: Tan Zhong , Wang Yanzhen , Chen Shuhong
Published: November 2016

In this paper, we are concerned with the nonlinear elliptic systems
in divergence form under controllable growth condition. We prove
that the weak solution u is locally Hölder continuous besides
a singular set by using the direct method and classical Morrey-type
estimates. Here the Hausdorff dimension of the singular set is less
than

n
-
p

{n-p}

. This result not only holds in the interior, but also
holds up to the boundary.
Role of non-motile microtubule-associated proteins in virus trafficking
Authors: Portilho Débora M. , Persson Roger , Arhel Nathalie
Published: November 2016

Viruses are entirely dependent on their ability to infect a host cell in order to replicate. To reach their site of replication as rapidly and efficiently as possible following cell entry, many have evolved elaborate mechanisms to hijack the cellular transport machinery to propel themselves across the cytoplasm. Long-range movements have been shown to involve motor proteins along microtubules (MTs) and direct interactions between viral proteins and dynein and/or kinesin motors have been well described. Although less well-characterized, it is also becoming increasingly clear that non-motile microtubule-associated proteins (MAPs), including structural MAPs of the MAP1 and MAP2 families, and microtubule plus-end tracking proteins (+TIPs), can also promote viral trafficking in infected cells, by mediating interaction of viruses with filaments and/or motor proteins, and modulating filament stability. Here we review our current knowledge on non-motile MAPs, their role in the regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics and in viral trafficking during the early steps of infection.
A Fundamental Equivalence between Randomized Experiments and Observational Studies
Authors: Cole Stephen R. , Hudgens Michael G. , Edwards Jessie K.
Published: November 2016

A fundamental probabilistic equivalence between randomized experiments and observational studies is presented. Given a detailed scenario, the reader is asked to consider which of two possible study designs provides more information regarding the expected difference in an outcome due to a time-fixed treatment. A general solution is described, and a particular worked example is also provided. A mathematical proof is given in the appendix. The demonstrated equivalence helps to clarify common ground between randomized experiments and observational studies, and to provide a foundation for considering both the design and interpretation of studies.
Phosphorus Segregation in Meta-Rapidly Solidified Carbon Steels
Authors: Li Na , Qiao Jun , Zhang Junwei , Sha Minghong , Li Shengli
Published: November 2016

Twin-roll strip casters for near-net-shape manufacture of steels have received increased attention in the steel industry. Although negative segregation of phosphorus occurred in twin-roll strip casting (TRSC) steels in our prior work, its mechanism is still unclear. In this work, V-shaped molds were designed and used to simulate a meta-rapid solidification process without roll separating force during twin roll casting of carbon steels. Experimental results show that no obvious phosphorus segregation exist in the V-shaped mold casting (VMC) steels. By comparing TRSC and the VMC, it is proposed that the negative phosphorus segregation during TRSC results from phosphorus redistribution driven by recirculating and vortex flow in the molten pool. Meanwhile, solute atoms near the advancing interface are overtaken and incorporated into the solid because of the high solidification speed. The high rolling force could promote the negative segregation of alloying elements in TRSC.
Medical student attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in medical education: a critical review
Authors: Joyce Paul , Wardle Jon , Zaslawski Chris
Published: November 2016

Background

This paper aims to remedy a gap in the knowledge by presenting the first critical review of the literature on major themes relating to medical students perceptions and attitudes towards the exponentially growing field of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Methods

After a comprehensive database search of the literature, 21 papers were chosen as suitable for the review. The results from these papers were tabled and discussed.

Results

The results indicated that medical students lacked knowledge of CAM and are generally positive towards CAM education (especially in the preclinical years, if it provided evidence of efficacy and post-placement). Medical students thought that CAM should generally be incorporated into the medical curriculum mainly so they can confidently undertake referral to CAM practitioners. Being able to communicate with future patients about their CAM use was a major motivation for medical students to learn about CAM and a factor for medical student support of further incorporation of CAM content in the medical curricula. Educational exposure to CAM in many forms and in many papers was shown to significantly affect medical student attitudes to CAM. This may be reflective of the fact that, outside direct CAM training, there may be limited accessible opportunities for medical students and if integration is to occur, educational exposure is most important.

Conclusions

The rise of CAM as a social and clinical phenomenon necessitates consideration of further inclusion of these topics in the medical curriculum, if future physicians are to be able to fully discharge their role as care providers in an increasingly medically pluralistic world. However, the inclusion of CAM needs to be done in an objective and critical manner, which is relevant to the learner.
DLBS3233, a combined bioactive fraction of Cinnamomum burmanii and Lagerstroemia speciosa, in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients inadequately controlled by metformin and other oral antidiabetic agents
Authors: Tjokroprawiro Askandar , Murtiwi Sri , Tjandrawinata Raymond R.
Published: November 2016

Background

DLBS3233, a combined bioactive fraction of Cinnamomum burmanii and Lagerstroemia speciosa, has preclinically demonstrated its beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism through the upregulation of insulin-signal transduction. This study evaluated the clinical efficacy of an add-on therapy with DLBS3233 in type-2 diabetes mellitus subjects inadequately controlled by metformin and other oral antidiabetes.

Methods

This was an open and prospective clinical study for 12 weeks of therapy, involving type-2 diabetes mellitus patients who had been treated with two oral antidiabetic agents for at least 3 months prior to screening, yet, with HbA1c level was still beyond 7.0 %. DLBS3233 was given orally at the dose of 100 mg once daily in addition to their baseline oral antidiabetes medication. The primary end point was the reduction of HbA1c level; and the secondary end points were changes of fasting and 1-h postprandial glucose, homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance, adiponectin, and lipid profile, from their respective baseline.

Results

After 12 weeks of treatment, the HbA1c level was reduced by 0.65±1.58 % (p=0.001) from baseline (9.67±2.11 %); while the 1-h-PG level was reduced by –1.45±3.89 mmol/L (p=0.021) from baseline (15.29±4.49 mmol/L). Insulin sensitivity, lipid profile and adiponectin level were improved to a considerable extent. DLBS3233 did not adversely affect body weight, liver, and renal function. Most adverse events observed were tolerably mild and they all had been resolved by the end of the study.

Conclusions

The add-on oral antidiabetes therapy with DLBS3233 at the dose of 100 mg once daily helped type-2 diabetes mellitus patients to improve their glycemic control, enhance insulin sensitivity, lipid profile, and adiponectin level. In addition, DLBS3233 treatment concomitantly with other oral antidiabetic agents was proven safe and tolerable in type-2 diabetes subjects.
From Science to Survival: Using Virtual Exhibits to Communicate the Significance of Polar Heritage Sites in the Canadian Arctic
Authors: Dawson Peter , Levy Richard
Published: November 2016

Many of Canada’s non-Indigenous polar heritage sites exist as memorials to the Heroic Age of
arctic and Antarctic Exploration which is associated with such events as the First International Polar Year,
the search for the Northwest Passage, and the race to the Poles. However, these and other key messages of
significance are often challenging to communicate because the remote locations of such sites severely limit
opportunities for visitor experience. This lack of awareness can make it difficult to rally support for costly
heritage preservation projects in arctic and Antarctic regions. Given that many polar heritage sites are being
severely impacted by human activity and a variety of climate change processes, this raises concerns. In
this paper, we discuss how virtual heritage exhibits can provide a solution to this problem. Specifically, we
discuss a recent project completed for the Virtual Museum of Canada at Fort Conger, a polar heritage site
located in Quttinirpaaq National Park on northeastern Ellesmere Island (http://fortconger.org).