bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three new HLA‐C alleles (HLA‐C*14:02:13, HLA‐C*15:72 and HLA‐C*15:74) in Saudi bone marrow donors
Authors: Fakhoury H. A. , Jawdat D. , Alaskar A. S. , Al Jumah M. , Cereb N. , Hajeer A. H.
Published: August 2015

Three new HLA‐C alleles were identified by sequence‐based typing method (SBT) in donors for the Saudi Bone Marrow Donor Registry (SBMDR). HLA‐C*14:02:13 differs from HLA‐C*14:02:01 by a silent G to A substitution at nucleotide position 400 in exon 2, where lysine at position 66 remains unchanged. HLA‐C*15:72 differs from HLA‐C*15:22 by a nonsynonymous C to A substitution at nucleotide position 796 in exon 3, resulting in an amino acid change from phenylalanine to leucine at position 116. HLA‐C*15:74 differs from HLA‐C*15:08 by a nonsynonymous C to T substitution at nucleotide position 914 in exon 3, resulting in an amino acid change from arginine to tryptophan at position 156.
Role of targeted therapy in combination with surgery in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Bex Axel , Powles Thomas , Karam Jose A
Published: August 2015

Surgical complete resection is the only curative treatment of renal cell carcinoma including patients with locally advanced disease and those with limited metastatic disease. Patients at high risk of recurrence after complete resection might theoretically benefit from adjuvant and neoadjuvant systemic treatment strategies to prolong disease‐free survival and ultimately overall survival. Another rationale for using targeted therapy includes downsizing/downstaging of surgically complex locally advanced renal cell carcinoma to facilitate complete resection or primary tumors to allow for nephron‐sparing strategies. Unfortunately, a considerable percentage of patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease at first presentation. Although large population‐based studies consistently show a survival benefit after cytoreductive nephrectomy in the targeted therapy era, confounding factors preclude definite conclusions for this heterogeneous patient group until ongoing phase III trials are published. Presurgical targeted therapy has been proposed to identify patients with clinical benefit and potentially long‐term survival after cytoreductive nephrectomy. Recently, the use of targeted therapy before or after local treatment of metastases has been reported in small retrospective series. The present review revisits the current evidence base of targeted therapy in combination with surgery for the various disease stages in renal cell carcinoma.
The Influence of the Chicago School on the Commission's Guidelines, Notices and Block Exemption Regulations in EU Competition Policy
Authors: Bartalevich Dzmitry
Published: August 2015

Antitrust rules are fundamentally informed and shaped by economic theories. Given the significance of EU competition policy for the European integration process, it is essential to disentangle the economic theories underlying EU competition law. There is abundant theoretical and empirical literature examining the influence of ordoliberalism on EC/EU competition policy. However, in recent years, ordoliberal principles appear to have been replaced by neoliberalism and efficiency‐enhancing rationale in EU competition policy. This article puts forward the idea of clarifying whether the European Commission incorporates Chicago School theory into EU competition law provisions. The analysis is carried out on the basis of the European Commission's guidelines, notices and block exemption regulations. The analysis reveals that the Commission does, to a considerable extent, follow the Chicago School theory. The elements of the Chicago School theory hold strongest in vertical practices; they are somewhat weaker in horizontal practices and in unilateral exclusionary conduct.
Intralocus sexual conflict, adaptive sex allocation, and the heritability of fitness
Authors: Calsbeek R. , Duryea M. C. , Goedert D. , Bergeron P. , Cox R. M.
Published: August 2015

Intralocus sexual conflict arises when selection favours alternative fitness optima in males and females. Unresolved conflict can create negative between‐sex genetic correlations for fitness, such that high‐fitness parents produce high‐fitness progeny of their same sex, but low‐fitness progeny of the opposite sex. This cost of sexual conflict could be mitigated if high‐fitness parents bias sex allocation to produce more offspring of their same sex. Previous studies of the brown anole lizard (Anolis sagrei) show that viability selection on body size is sexually antagonistic, favouring large males and smaller females. However, sexual conflict over body size may be partially mitigated by adaptive sex allocation: large males sire more sons than daughters, whereas small males sire more daughters than sons. We explored the evolutionary implications of these phenomena by assessing the additive genetic (co)variance of fitness within and between sexes in a wild population. We measured two components of fitness: viability of adults over the breeding season, and the number of their progeny that survived to sexual maturity, which includes components of parental reproductive success and offspring viability (RSV). Viability of parents was not correlated with adult viability of their sons or daughters. RSV was positively correlated between sires and their offspring, but not between dams and their offspring. Neither component of fitness was significantly heritable, and neither exhibited negative between‐sex genetic correlations that would indicate unresolved sexual conflict. Rather, our results are more consistent with predictions regarding adaptive sex allocation in that, as the number of sons produced by a sire increased, the adult viability of his male progeny increased.
Mating behaviour of Dacus ciliatus (Loew) [Diptera:Tephritidae]: comparisons between a laboratory and a wild population
Authors: Rempoulakis P. , Nemny‐Lavy E. , Castro R. , Nestel D.
Published: August 2015

As part of the development of a sterile insect technique (SIT) application for the Ethiopian fruit fly, Dacus ciliatus, we studied the mating behaviour of a laboratory‐adapted strain (a 4‐year‐old colony kept for more than 40 generations) and a wild population. Effects of laboratory rearing and irradiation were assessed by carrying out mating compatibility and male mating competitiveness tests using a 1:1 ratio between irradiated (120 Gy) laboratory males and non‐irradiated wild males. Mating behaviour was studied on host and non‐host plants under field cage conditions. To assess the effect of mass rearing upon male performance, we repeated the mating competitiveness test using non‐irradiated laboratory insects. The findings indicated a high degree of compatibility among the two populations and satisfactory competitiveness of the irradiated laboratory males (ca. 35%). The competitiveness of non‐irradiated laboratory males was also ca. 35%, suggesting that no adverse effects resulted from their irradiation. Mating occurred only at twilight and mainly on the underside of leaves of non‐host plants (lemon trees). Findings are discussed in view of their implications for a future application of SIT against this fruit fly pest.
Variability in the efficacy of sex pheromone lures for monitoring oriental fruit moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
Authors: Knight A. L. , Basoalto E. , Stelinski L. L.
Published: August 2015

Studies were conducted in Chile and the United States to compare the attractiveness of various commercial sex pheromone lures and two experimental lures for oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta (Busck), in peach orchards treated with or without sex pheromone dispensers. The experimental lures contained the three‐component sex pheromone blend of G. molesta: Z‐8‐dodecenyl acetate, E‐8‐dodecenyl acetate and Z‐8‐dodecenol (Z8‐12:OH), and the sex pheromone of codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), (E,E)‐8,10‐dodecadien‐1‐ol, (codlemone). Commercial lures varied in their substrate, initial loading and blend ratio of components. Significant differences in male catches were found among commercial lures in orchards treated with or without sex pheromone dispensers. Experimental lures with the addition of codlemone significantly increased the catches of G. molesta using lures loaded with 0%, 1% or 5% Z8‐12:OH in the G. molesta blend compared with the same ratio of components in just the G. molesta blend. The experimental lures were significantly more attractive than all commercial lures in the untreated orchard. However, moth catch with the experimental lures in the sex pheromone‐treated orchard was only intermediate among all of the lures tested. These findings highlight the need to develop more effective and standardized lures that can be used in trap‐based monitoring programme for this important pest.
Development of a valid simplified Chinese version of the Osteoarthritis of Knee and Hip Quality of Life (OAKHQOL) in patients with knee or hip osteoarthritis
Authors: Wang Wei , He Chong‐Ru , Zheng Wei , Li Jia , Xu Wei‐Dong
Published: August 2015

Rationale, aims and objectives

As the first specific questionnaire for knee or hip osteoarthritis (OA) patients' condition assessment, the Osteoarthritis of Knee and Hip Quality of Life (OAKHQOL) questionnaire is widely used and its original version is French. Although it has already been translated into multiple languages, a Chinese version is still unpublished, despite the fact that China has the largest population of OA patients in the world. The objectives of our study were to adapt the OAKHQOL questionnaire into simplified Chinese and to assess its psychometric properties in Chinese patients with knee or hip OA.

Methods

First, we developed the simplified Chinese version of OAKHQOL (SC‐OAKHOQL) in a five‐step procedure of translation and cross‐cultural adaptation. Next, we calculated the Cronbach's alpha, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), Pearson's correlation coefficient (r), effect size (ES) and standardized response mean (SRM) to evaluate the reliability, validity and responsiveness of the SC‐OAKHQOL, respectively. Unidimensionality of subscales was assessed by the principal component analysis (PCA) of residuals.

Results

Overall, 144 knee or hip OA patients successfully completed all of the questionnaires. Excellent or good internal consistency (alpha = 0.826–0.964) was found in the SC‐OAKHQOL, as well as excellent test‐retest reliability (ICC = 0.888–0.944). Good correlations were also obtained among physical subscales (r = 0.646–0.934), as well as mental subscales (r = 0.786–0.874) in the SC‐OAKHQOL and other questionnaires, on which excellent or good validity of the SC‐OAKHQOL shall be based. With the exception of the social support subscale, all others contained excellent or good responsiveness (ES, SRM = 1.02–2.92). The unidimensionality of five subscales was respected according to the PCA of residuals.

Conclusion

The SC‐OAKHQOL questionnaire is reliable, valid and responsive for the evaluation of Chinese osteoarthritis patients of the knee or hip, and it would be an effective instrument.
Hepatocytes in liver injury: Victim, bystander, or accomplice in progressive fibrosis?
Authors: Tu Thomas , Calabro Sarah R. , Lee Aimei , Maczurek Annette E. , Budzinska Magdalena A. , Warner Fiona J. , McLennan Susan V. , Shackel Nicholas A.
Published: August 2015

Chronic liver disease causes significant morbidity and mortality through progressive fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. The classical theory of fibrogenesis has hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) as the principal and only significant source of abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM). Further, HSCs have the major role in abnormal ECM turnover. It is the death of hepatocytes, as the initial target of injury, that initiates a sequence of events including the recruitment of inflammatory cells and activation of HSCs. Following this initial response, the ongoing insult to hepatocytes is regarded as perpetuating injury, but otherwise, hepatocytes are regarded as “victims” and “bystanders” in progressive fibrosis. Recent developments, however, challenge this view and suggest the concept of the hepatocyte being an active participant in liver injury. It is clear now that hepatocytes undergo phenotypic changes, adapt to injury, and react to the altered microenvironment. In this review, we describe studies showing that hepatocytes contribute to progressive fibrosis by direct manipulation of the surrounding ECM and through signaling to effector cells, particularly HSCs and intrahepatic immune cells. Together, these findings suggest an active “accomplice” role for the hepatocyte in progressive liver fibrosis and highlight novel pathways that could be targeted for development of future anti‐fibrotic therapies.
Public Health Control Measures in Response to Global Pandemics and Drug Resistance
Authors: Price Polly J.
Published: August 2015

These teaching materials explore the specific powers of governments to implement control measures in response to communicable disease, in two different contexts:

The first context concerns global pandemic diseases. Relevant legal authority includes international law, World Health Organization governance and the International Health Regulations, and regulatory authority of nations.

The second context is centered on U.S. law and concerns control measures for drug-resistant disease, using tuberculosis as an example. In both contexts, international and domestic, the point is to understand legal authority to address public health emergencies.
Analysis of putative mucosal SHIV susceptibility factors during repeated DMPA treatments in pigtail macaques
Authors: Butler Katherine , Ritter Jana , Ellis Shanon , Henning Tara R. , Montague Jeltley , Zaki Sherif , Garber David , McNicholl Janet M. , Kersh Ellen N.
Published: August 2015

Background

Depot‐medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) has been associated in some studies with increased HIV susceptibility in women. We used a pigtail macaque model to document the effects of repeated DMPA treatments and their potential contribution to increased SHIV susceptibility.

Methods

Nine pigtails were administered 2.5, 1.5, or 0.5 mg/kg DMPA in study weeks one and four. Menstrual cycling, vaginal epithelial thickness, and other SHIV susceptibility factors were monitored for a mean of 24 study weeks.

Results

All DMPA treatments suppressed menstrual cycling and increased vaginal pH. The vaginal epithelium thinned naturally during baseline menstrual cycles (from mean of 351 to 161 μm in late‐luteal phase). Following DMPA, the non‐nucleated layer was temporarily absent. Two weeks post‐second DMPA injection, mean epithelial thickness was 53, 45, and 167 μm for the descending doses, respectively.

Conclusions

All animals showed temporal vaginal epithelial thinning with loss of the non‐nucleated layer, and vaginal pH changes post‐DMPA injections.
Human sperm liver receptor homolog‐1 (LRH‐1) acts as a downstream target of the estrogen signaling pathway
Authors: Montanaro Daniela , Santoro Marta , Carpino Amalia , Perrotta Ida , De Amicis Francesca , Sirianni Rosa , Rago Vittoria , Gervasi Serena , Aquila Saveria
Published: August 2015

In the last decade, the study of human sperm anatomy, at molecular level, has revealed the presence of several nuclear protein receptors. In this work, we examined the expression profile and the ultrastructural localization of liver receptor homolog‐1 (LRH‐1) in human spermatozoa. We evidenced the presence of the receptor by Western blotting and real time‐RT‐PCR. Furthermore, we used immunogold electron microscopy to investigate the sperm anatomical regions containing LRH‐1. The receptor was mainly located in the sperm head, whereas its expression was reduced in the neck and across the tail. Interestingly, we observed the presence of LRH‐1 in different stages of testicular germ cell development by immunohistochemistry. In somatic cells, it has been suggested that the LRH‐1 pathway is tightly linked with estrogen signaling and the important role of estradiol has been widely studied in sperm cells. To assess the significance of LRH‐1 in male gametes and to deepen understanding of the role of estrogens in these cells, we investigated important sperm features such as motility, survival and capacitation. Spermatozoa were treated with 10 nm estradiol and the inhibition of LRH‐1 reversed the estradiol stimulatory action. From our data, we discovered that human spermatozoa can be considered a new site of expression for LRH‐1, evidencing its role in sperm motility, survival and cholesterol efflux. Furthermore, we may presume that in spermatozoa the LRH‐1 effects are closely integrated with the estrogen signaling, supporting LRH‐1 as a downstream effector of the estradiol pathway on some sperm functions.
Biological Control of Stem Canker and Black Scurf on Potato by Date Palm Compost and its Associated Fungi
Authors: El Khaldi Rabeb , Daami‐Remadi Majda , Cherif Mohamed
Published: August 2015

The suppressive effects of two different types of date palm composts and some of their indigenous microorganisms were evaluatedin vitroand on potato plants inoculated withRhizoctonia solani. Fungi isolated from composts screened againstR. solaniby dual cultural assays onPDAshowed a significant inhibition of pathogen mycelium growth as compared with untreated control. The type of hyphal interactions betweenR. solaniand each tested antagonist was observed by light microscopy. Microscopic observations carried out at the confrontation zone of both agents showed different mechanisms of actions: mycelia lyses, mycoparasitism and/or formation of mycelia cords via anatomosis between mycelia filaments. Unsterilized and sterilized compost extracts were tested for efficacy againstR. solaniusing agar‐well diffusion method or by pouring the extracts onPDA. Two sterilization methods were used: a filtration through a microfilter of 0.22 microns or autoclaving. Results showed that compost extract lost its activity after heating or filtration, confirming that chemical factors in compost had no direct inhibiting effect on the pathogen. The suppressiveness of composts was mainly due to their biotic component. Series of greenhouse trials showed that black scurf and stem canker incidence and severity were significantly reduced in peat–sand amended with compost compared with the untreated control. However, the potential suppressive effect of cattle manure and date palm compost (CMC) was higher than sheep manure and date palm compost (SMC). On potato seed tubers pre‐inoculated with the selected fungal isolates from compost, there was variability in the reduction of disease severity among treatments. Plant growth was unaffected by the application of fungal antagonists or byCMCamendment; however, an increase in the total yield was observed by theSMCpotting mix compared with untreated control.
A new molecular phylogeny of the Laurencia complex (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae) and a review of key morphological characters result in a new genus, Coronaphycus, and a description of C. novus
Authors: Metti Yola , Millar Alan J. K. , Steinberg Peter
Published: August 2015

Within the Laurencia complex (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae), six genera have been recognized based on both molecular analyses and morphology: Laurencia, Osmundea, Chondrophycus, Palisada, Yuzurua, and Laurenciella. Recently, new material from Australia has been collected and included in the current molecular phylogeny, resulting in a new clade. This study examined the generic delineations using a combination of morphological comparisons and phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast (rbcL) nucleotide sequence. The molecular phylogeny recovered eight (rather than six) clades; Yuzurua, Laurenciella, Palisada, and Chondrophycus showed as monophyletic clades each with strong support. However, the genera Osmundea and Laurencia were polyphyletic. Consequently, the new genus Coronaphycus is proposed, resulting in the new combination Coronaphycus elatus and a description of the new species C. novus.
Life history, excystment features, and growth characteristics of the Mediterranean harmful dinoflagellate Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax
Authors: Zmerli Triki Habiba , Laabir Mohamed , Kéfi Daly‐Yahia Ons
Published: August 2015

Studies considering the biology and ecology of the toxic bloom‐forming species, Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax, are rare. Our results highlight five features not described before in A. pseudogonyaulax life cycle: (i) A. pseudogonyaulax gametes showed two modes of conjugation, anisogamy and isogamy, (ii) sexual conjugation occurs either in the dark or in the light phase by engulfment or a fusion process, (iii) the presence of planozygote and newly formed cysts in monoclonal culture suggests homothallism, (iv) newly formed cysts have very dark vesicular content and are mostly unparatabulated when observed under light microscope and (v) natural resting cysts are able to give either a planomeiocyte or two vegetative cells. Cyst viability was enhanced after 5 months of cold storage (4°C), with excystment rate reaching 97% after 3 d of incubation. Excystment rate was highest (43%–79%) in Enriched Natural Sea Water diluted culture medium, whereas few germling cells were able to survive without the culture medium (0%–13%). Salinity‐irradiance experiments revealed that the highest cell concentrations occur at high irradiances for all the tested salinities. Vegetative growth rates generally increased with increasing irradiance, and were less dependent on salinity variations. The relatively low growth rate, low cell densities in the laboratory, and the notable capacity of producing cysts along growth phases of A. pseudogonyaulax could explain the occurrence of high resting cysts densities in the sediment of Bizerte lagoon and the relatively low abundances of vegetative cells in the water column.
Examination of the structures of several glycerolipids from marine macroalgae by NMR and GC‐MS
Authors: Logvinov Stepan , Gerasimenko Natalia , Esipov Andrey , Denisenko Vladimir A.
Published: August 2015

Several classes of glycerolipids were isolated from the total lipids of the algae Saccharina cichorioides, Eualaria fistulosa, Fucus evanescens, Sargassum pallidum, Silvetia babingtonii (Ochrophyta, Phaeophyceae), Tichocarpus crinitus, and Neorhodomela larix (Rhodophyta, Florideophyceae). The structures of these lipids were examined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, including 1D (1H and 13C) and 2D (COSY, HSQC and HMBC) experiments. All of the investigated algae included common galactolipids and sulfonoglycolipids as the major glycolipids. Minor glycolipids isolated from S. cichorioides, T. crinitus, and N. laris were identified as lyso‐galactolipids with a polar group consisted of the galactose. Comparison of the 1H NMR data of minor nonpolar lipids isolated from the extracts of the brown algae S. pallidum and F. evanescens with the 1H NMR data of other lipids allowed them to be identified as diacylglycerols. The structures of betaine lipids isolated from brown algae were confirmed by NMR for the first time. The fatty acid compositions of the isolated lipids were determined by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry.
Patterns of Care for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer in Appalachia, and the Clinical, Sociodemographic, and Service Provider Determinants
Authors: Fleming Steven T. , Mackley Heath B. , Camacho Fabian , Yao Nengliang , Gusani Niraj J. , Seiber Eric E. , Matthews Stephen A. , Yang Tse‐Chuan , Hwang Wenke
Published: August 2015

Background

Appalachia has high colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality, at least in part due to screening disparities. This paper examines patterns and determinants of metastatic colorectal cancer care.

Methods

CRC patients diagnosed in 2006‐2008 from 4 cancer registries (Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina) were linked to Medicare claims (2005‐2009.) The final sample after exclusions included 855 stage IV and 590 stages I‐III patients with metachronous or synchronous metastases. We estimate bivariate and multivariate analyses for several surgical and chemotherapeutic strategies of care using clinical, sociodemographic, and contextual determinants.

Results

Among 1,445 CRC patients, 84% had primary tumor resection and 44% received chemotherapy. Of the chemotherapy patients, 44% received newer systemic agents for at least 75% of the cycles. One year survivors with liver or lung metastases were more likely to have their primary tumor resected immediately (86.1% vs 69.5% for liver, and 78.2% vs 64.9% for lung) and have their metastases resected/ablated (15.7% vs 2.6% for liver and 15.0% vs 0.5% for lung). Patients with stages I‐III primary tumors (versus IV) were much more likely to be resected, but they were less likely to receive chemotherapy. Patients with comorbidities (congestive heart failure, dementia, or respiratory disease) had lower odds of chemotherapy. Smaller hospital size and surgical volume had higher odds of immediate versus delayed surgery. The newer chemotherapeutic agents were more common with higher surgical volume.

Conclusions

Metastatic colorectal cancer has clinical, sociodemographic, and service provider determinants.
Tungsten isotopes in bulk meteorites and their inclusions—Implications for processing of presolar components in the solar protoplanetary disk
Authors: Holst J. C. , Paton C. , Wielandt D. , Bizzarro M.
Published: August 2015

We present high precision, low‐ and high‐resolution tungsten isotope measurements of iron meteorites Cape York (IIIAB), Rhine Villa (IIIE), Bendego (IC), and the IVB iron meteorites Tlacotepec, Skookum, and Weaver Mountains, as well as CI chondrite Ivuna, a CV3 chondrite refractory inclusion (CAI BE), and terrestrial standards. Our high precision tungsten isotope data show that the distribution of the rare p‐process nuclide 180W is homogeneous among chondrites, iron meteorites, and the refractory inclusion. One exception to this pattern is the IVB iron meteorite group, which displays variable excesses relative to the terrestrial standard, possibly related to decay of rare 184Os. Such anomalies are not the result of analytical artifacts and cannot be caused by sampling of a protoplanetary disk characterized by p‐process isotope heterogeneity. In contrast, we find that 183W is variable due to a nucleosynthetic s‐process deficit/r‐process excess among chondrites and iron meteorites. This variability supports the widespread nucleosynthetic s/r‐process heterogeneity in the protoplanetary disk inferred from other isotope systems and we show that W and Ni isotope variability is correlated. Correlated isotope heterogeneity for elements of distinct nucleosynthetic origin (183W and 58Ni) is best explained by thermal processing in the protoplanetary disk during which thermally labile carrier phases are unmixed by vaporization thereby imparting isotope anomalies on the residual processed reservoir.
Indoxyl sulphate and kidney disease: Causes, consequences and interventions
Authors: Ellis Robert J , Small David M , Vesey David A , Johnson David W , Francis Ross , Vitetta Luis , Gobe Glenda C , Morais Christudas
Published: August 2015

In the last decade, chronic kidney disease (CKD), defined as reduced renal function (glomerular filtration rate (GFR) < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2) and/or evidence of kidney damage (typically manifested as albuminuria) for at least 3 months, has become one of the fastest‐growing public health concerns worldwide. CKD is characterized by reduced clearance and increased serum accumulation of metabolic waste products (uremic retention solutes). At least 152 uremic retention solutes have been reported. This review focuses on indoxyl sulphate (IS), a protein‐bound, tryptophan‐derived metabolite that is generated by intestinal micro‐organisms (microbiota). Animal studies have demonstrated an association between IS accumulation and increased fibrosis, and oxidative stress. This has been mirrored by in vitro studies, many of which report cytotoxic effects in kidney proximal tubular cells following IS exposure. Clinical studies have associated IS accumulation with deleterious effects, such as kidney functional decline and adverse cardiovascular events, although causality has not been conclusively established. The aims of this review are to: (i) establish factors associated with increased serum accumulation of IS; (ii) report effects of IS accumulation in clinical studies; (iii) critique the reported effects of IS in the kidney, when administered both in vivo and in vitro; and (iv) summarize both established and hypothetical therapeutic options for reducing serum IS or antagonizing its reported downstream effects in the kidney.
An independent association of prenatal depression with wheezing and anxiety with rhinitis in infancy
Authors: Cheng Tuck Seng , Chen Helen , Lee Theresa , Teoh Oon Hoe , Shek Lynette P. , Lee Bee Wah , Chee Cornelia , Godfrey Keith M. , Gluckman Peter D. , Kwek Kenneth , Saw Seang Mei , Chong Yap‐Seng , Meaney Michael , Broekman Birit F. P. , Chay Oh Moh , Van Bever Hugo , Goh Anne
Published: August 2015

Background

Different maternal psychological states during pregnancy have been associated with wheeze–rhinitis–eczema symptoms in children. However, previous studies were limited and it was unclear whether the type of prenatal psychological state was associated with a particular symptom. We examined the association of maternal depression and anxiety during pregnancy with wheeze–rhinitis–eczema symptoms in infancy.

Methods

In a longitudinal birth cohort (GUSTO) of 1152 mother–child pairs, wheeze–rhinitis–eczema symptoms in the infants during the first year of life were collected by parental report. Maternal depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed at 26 weeks of gestation using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Logistic regression analyses were performed with adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

An increased risk of wheezing was found in infants of pregnant women with probable depression (EPDS ≥ 15) [odds ratio (OR) = 1.85 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–3.12)], and an increased risk of rhinitis was associated with maternal anxiety [STAI state ≥ 41: OR = 1.42 (95% CI 1.04–1.93); STAI trait ≥ 43: OR = 1.38 (95% CI 1.01–1.88)]. After adjusting for known risk factors for the development of allergic disease, these associations remained significant [EPDS ≥ 15: adjusted OR = 2.09 (95% CI 1.05–4.19); STAI state ≥ 41: adjusted OR = 1.82 (95% CI 1.17–2.82); STAI trait ≥ 43: adjusted OR = 1.70 (95% CI 1.10–2.61)]. However, maternal psychological states were not associated with infantile eczema.

Conclusion

This study suggests that there may be an independent effect of prenatal depression on wheezing and anxiety on rhinitis in infancy.
Pharmacodynamic interaction models in pediatric anesthesia
Authors: Hannam Jacqueline A. , Anderson Brian J.
Published: August 2015

Pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) models are important tools for summarizing drug dose, concentration, and effect relationships. Co‐administration of drugs may alter PK and PD relationships. Traditional methods of evaluating PD interactions include using isoboles, shifts in dose–response curves, or interaction indices based on parameters of potency derived from separate monotherapy and combination therapy analyses. These methods provide an estimation of the magnitude of effect for dose or concentration combinations, but they do not inform us on the time course of that effect, or its associated variability. A better way to investigate PD interactions is to use modeling, and to take advantage of the benefits of population analyses. A population analysis is a statistical method in which a model describing the typical (or population) response, and the variability between individuals within that population, is developed. Models for monotherapy, derived using a population approach, can be combined and extended to incorporate PD interactions between two or more drugs. The purpose of this article was to provide a general road map for understanding and interpreting PD interaction models, including the ‘response surface’ models. Several types of response surface models exist, and here we review these with examples taken from the literature. We also consider current and future applications for this type of analysis for clinical anesthesia and pediatrics.
Backing into Spinozism
Authors: Newlands Samuel
Published: August 2015

One vexing strand of Spinozism asserts that God's nature is more expansive than traditionally conceived and includes properties like being extended. In this paper, I argue that prominent early moderns embrace metaphysical principles about causation, mental representation, and modality that pressure their advocates towards such an expansive account of God's nature in similar ways. I further argue that the main early modern escape route, captured in notions like “eminent containment,” fails to adequately relieve the metaphysical pressures towards Spinozism. The upshot is that those sympathetic with these early modern projects must embrace a costlier option if they are to successfully escape the orbit of Spinoza.
Learning to fly with broken wings – forcing a reappraisal of time and space
Authors: Flensner Gullvi , Rudolfsson Gudrun
Published: August 2015

Background

When living with a chronic disease, the whole human being is affected and his/her experience of health challenged.

Aim

This study had a dual aim: to obtain a new understanding of experiences of the body among persons suffering from the chronic neurological disease multiple sclerosis (MS) and how they come to terms with such experiences.

Method

A total of ten interviews were re‐analysed using a hermeneutic approach.

Results

The experiences of the body were revealed as ‘Learning to fly with broken wings’, comprising two themes: ‘Getting to know the foreign body’ and ‘Building a new living space’, both requiring reappraisal of time and space.

Conclusion

Living with a chronic disease such as MS means learning to fly with broken wings, which involves subordination to the body leading to a higher level of integration in the process of becoming towards health and well‐being.
Minimum Scoring Rule Inference
Authors: Dawid A. Philip , Musio Monica , Ventura Laura
Published: August 2015

Proper scoring rules are devices for encouraging honest assessment of probability distributions. Just like log‐likelihood, which is a special case, a proper scoring rule can be applied to supply an unbiased estimating equation for any statistical model, and the theory of such equations can be applied to understand the properties of the associated estimator. In this paper, we discuss some novel applications of scoring rules to parametric inference. In particular, we focus on scoring rule test statistics, and we propose suitable adjustments to allow reference to the usual asymptotic chi‐squared distribution. We further explore robustness and interval estimation properties, by both theory and simulations.
Helping Callers to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Who Are at Imminent Risk of Suicide: Evaluation of Caller Risk Profiles and Interventions Implemented
Authors: Gould Madelyn S. , Lake Alison M. , Munfakh Jimmie Lou , Galfalvy Hanga , Kleinman Marjorie , Williams Caitlin , Glass Andrew , McKeon Richard
Published: August 2015

Crisis lines are settings where identifying individuals at imminent risk of suicidal behavior and intervening to keep them safe are critical activities. We examined clinical characteristics of crisis callers assessed by telephone crisis helpers as being at imminent risk of suicide, and the interventions implemented with these callers. Data were derived from 491 call reports completed by 132 helpers at eight crisis centers in the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline network. Helpers actively engaged the callers in collaborating to keep themselves safe on 76.4% of calls and sent emergency services without the callers' collaboration on 24.6% of calls. Four different profiles of imminent risk calls emerged. Caller profiles and some helper characteristics were associated with intervention type. Our findings provide a first step toward an empirical formulation of imminent risk warning signs and recommended interventions.
Colonial and postcolonial museum collecting in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Lipset David
Published: August 2015

This essay contrasts early and later colonial collecting by anthropologists and museum scientists in Melanesia with the postcolonial collecting in which I participated in the 1980s under the auspices of the Australian Museum (1987). My contention is that museum collections made during early colonialism took place in a relatively hierarchical and androcentric context of moral difference. In subsequent phases of the colonial era, as well as in the ongoing postcolonial period, anthropological collecting sought, and continues to seek, egalitarian and gender inclusive dialogue with vendors; in part by drawing from local metaphors and idioms to express status inclusivity.
Bloody time revisited: New observations on time in a Papua New Guinea Village
Authors: Smith Michael French
Published: August 2015

In a 1982 paper I argued that perceptions of time scarcity in Kragur Village, Papua New Guinea, in the mid‐1970s were best understood as a reaction to new forms of authority characteristic of the growth of capitalism and calls for greater time order were grounded largely in its perceived ritual significance. More than forty years later, villagers are much more familiar with Western time, but less likely to perceive time as scarce. As in the 1970s, aspiring leaders still press for greater time order. Millenarian illusions informed advocacy of time order in the 1970s. Although today these illusions are, if not extinct, then dormant, unquestioned assumptions mirroring Western capitalist views of time inspire many of today's advocates. Yet, lacking the authority to impose new forms of time order, they have little effect on the rhythms of village life, and economic incentives to abandon comparative indifference to time remain weak.
Strategic Interactions and Contagion Effects under Monetary Unions
Authors: Canofari Paolo , Di Bartolomeo Giovanni , Piersanti Giovanni
Published: August 2015

This paper applies game theory and a cost‐benefit analysis to study voluntary exits and contagion effects in countries joined to a monetary union. The paper looks at two non‐core or periphery countries of a large union and examines the role of structural asymmetries and strategic interactions as determinants of equilibrium outcomes, following both country‐specific and common shocks. The paper finds that under almost symmetry between countries, country‐specific shocks are never associated with multiple equilibria and, if large enough, can spread to other countries leading to contagion. By contrast, common shocks are seen to sustain multiple equilibria if almost‐symmetric countries are considered and to have implications similar to those found in the country‐specific case if large structural asymmetries are admitted.
Uncertainty Quantification of Turbulence Measurements in a Fully Pulsed Axisymmetric Subsonic Air Jet
Authors: Pratomo Hariyo P. S.
Published: August 2015

This paper reports the statistical accuracy evaluation of the implementation of ensemble-averaged equation used for the measurement of turbulence quantities in a fully pulsed, axisymmetric-subsonic air jet issuing into the still surrounding air. A constant mass flow rate and frequency of pulsation were used to generate the intermittent free jet, which physically contained a period of no flow between pulses due to a mechanical excitation. Time-history records of the random process were gained from a single normal hot-wire probe by a digital sampling technique, where the probe was operated in a constant temperature mode and placed at a fixed location in the jet field with the probe stems parallel to the mean flow direction. Within the framework of amplitude-domain analysis, the accuracy assessment was performed to which the uncertainties of mean value and higher-order moments were evaluated from the given values of sampling parameters, where the estimate of integral-time scale of the random process was the basis for determining the given sampling parameters. The present results suggest appropriate values of number of samples, sampling frequency, and sampling time of the hot-wire anemometer (HWA) technique for a repeatable turbulence measurement in the unsteady jet within a high degree of accuracy.
Computational Fluid Dynamics Prediction of Heat Transfer in Rod Bundles With Water at Supercritical Pressure
Authors: Pucciarelli Andrea , Ambrosini Walter
Published: August 2015

The paper further explores the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) codes for the study of the heat-transfer phenomena involved when working with fluids at supercritical pressure; bundle analysis is considered here in particular. As for previous simulations performed by the authors considering heat-transfer deterioration inside heated tubes, this application points out the limited capabilities of the most commonly used Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes models when approaching the heat-transfer deterioration phenomenon. It must be noted that some of the considered experimental conditions, which are very close to the pseudocritical temperature, represent at the same time one of the most challenging situations for the CFD codes and a very common situation if supercritical water-cooled reactors (SCWRs) will be developed. Improvements of the currently available turbulence models are then needed. The paper analyzes the most likely causes of the observed insufficient quality of the obtained predictions. In addition to comparing the measured and calculated wall temperature trends, the effect of the presence of the spacer grids on the turbulent flow is considered. Spacers are in fact very important to assure the structural stability of fuel, though they also affect the flow, generally improving the turbulence conditions in their neighborhood and slightly impairing it in the downstream region. A comparison between predictions performed including or not including the spacers is also performed.
Structural Characterization of a Novel Gas Foil Bearing With Nested Compression Springs: Analytical Modeling and Experimental Measurement
Authors: Feng Kai , Hu Jin , Liu Wanhui , Zhao Xueyuan , Li Wenjun
Published: August 2015

A novel nested compression spring gas foil bearing (NSFB), which used a series of nested compression springs as compliant supporting structure, was proposed and designed. NSFBs can be easily manufactured and are able to provide a support with high stiffness, high damping, and tunable structural characterization in turbomachinery. An analytical model, which considered the effects of interaction and friction between adjacent springs, was established to predict the structural characterization of the compliant structure. Static and dynamic tests were conducted to analyze the structural performance of NSFBs. The predicted hysteresis loop of the compliant structure corresponded well with the measured results from the pull–push tests. A static test result comparison between an NSFB and a bump-type gas foil bearing (BFB) showed that the NSFB had a larger loss factor, which implied its superior damping performance. The effects of spring number and axial preload between adjacent springs on bearing performance were investigated. The static and dynamic loss factors of bearings with nested structures (47 and 39 springs) were similar to each other, but greater than the loss factor of bearings without nested structures (31 springs). The estimated static and dynamic loss factors of bearings with axial preload were significantly improved compared with bearings without axial preload.
Quantitative Computational Fluid Dynamics Analyses of Particle Deposition on a Subsonic Axial Compressor Blade
Authors: Suman Alessio , Kurz Rainer , Aldi Nicola , Morini Mirko , Brun Klaus , Pinelli Michele , Ruggero Spina Pier
Published: August 2015

In literature, there are some studies related to the fouling phenomena in transonic compressors, but, in industrial applications (heavy-duty compressor, pumping stations, etc.) the subsonic compressors are widespread. It is of great interest to the manufacturer to discover the fouling phenomenon related to this type of compressor. This paper presents three-dimensional numerical simulations of the microparticle ingestion on a subsonic axial compressor rotor carried out by means of a commercial computational fluid dynamic code. Particle trajectory simulations use a stochastic Lagrangian tracking method that solves the equations of motion separate from the continuous phase. The number of particles, sizes, and concentrations are specified in order to perform a quantitative analysis of the particle impact on the blade surface. In this paper, the particle impact pattern and the kinematic characteristics (velocity and angle) of the impact are shown. Both of the blade zones affected by particle impact and the blade zones affected by particle deposition are analyzed. The particle deposition is established by using the quantity called sticking probability (SP). The SP links the kinematic characteristics of particle impact on the blade with fouling phenomenon. The results show that microparticles tend to follow the flow by impacting at full span with a higher impact concentration on the leading edge (LE). The suction side (SS) is affected only close to the LE and, at the hub, close to the trailing edge (TE). Particular fluid-dynamic phenomena such as separation, stagnation, and tip leakage vortex strongly influence the impact location of the particles. The kinematic analysis showed a high tendency of particle adhesion on the SS, especially for smaller particles for which the fluid dynamic phenomena play a key role regarding particle impact velocity and angle.
Estimation of the Particle Deposition on a Transonic Axial Compressor Blade
Authors: Suman Alessio , Morini Mirko , Kurz Rainer , Aldi Nicola , Brun Klaus , Pinelli Michele , Ruggero Spina Pier
Published: August 2015

Solid particle ingestion is one of the principal degradation mechanisms in the compressor section of heavy-duty gas turbines. Usually, foulants in the ppm range, not captured by the air filtration system, i.e., (0–2) μm cause deposits on blading and result in a severe performance drop of the compressor. It is of great interest to the industry to determine which areas of the compressor airfoils are interested by these contaminants as a function of the location of the power unit. The aim of this work is the estimation of the actual deposits on the blade surface in terms of location and quantity. The size of the particles, their concentrations, and the filtration efficiency are specified in order to perform a realistic quantitative analysis of the fouling phenomena in an axial compressor. This study combines, for the first time, the impact/adhesion characteristic of the particles obtained through a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and the real size distribution of the contaminants in the air swallowed by the compressor. The blade zones affected by the deposits are clearly reported by using easy-to-use contaminant maps realized on the blade surface in terms of contaminant mass. The analysis showed that particular fluid-dynamic phenomena such as separation, shock waves, and tip leakage vortex strongly influence the pattern deposition. The combination of the smaller particles (0.15 μm) and the larger ones (1.50 μm) determines the highest amounts of deposits on the leading edge (LE) of the compressor airfoil. From these analyses, some guidelines for proper installation and management of the power plant (in terms of filtration systems and washing strategies) can be drawn.