bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Comparative Study of Activation Functions of NAR and NARX Neural Network for Long‐Term Wind Speed Forecasting in Malaysia
Authors: Sarkar Rasel , Julai Sabariah , Hossain Sazzad , Chong Wen Tong , Rahman Mahmudur
Published: March 2019

Since wind power is directly influenced by wind speed, long‐term wind speed forecasting (WSF) plays an important role for wind farm installation. WSF is essential for controlling, energy management and scheduled wind power generation in wind farm. The proposed investigation in this paper provides 30‐days‐ahead WSF. Nonlinear Autoregressive (NAR) and Nonlinear Autoregressive Exogenous (NARX) Neural Network (NN) with different network settings have been used to facilitate the wind power generation. The essence of this study is that it compares the effect of activation functions (namely, tansig and logsig) in the performance of time series forecasting since activation function is the core element of any artificial neural network model. A set of wind speed data was collected from different meteorological stations in Malaysia, situated in Kuala Lumpur, Kuantan, and Melaka. The proposed activation functions tansig of NARNN and NARXNN resulted in promising outcomes in terms of very small error between actual and predicted wind speed as well as the comparison for the logsig transfer function results.
Epstein-Barr Virus- (EBV-) Immortalized Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines (LCLs) Express High Level of CD23 but Low CD27 to Support Their Growth
Authors: Yap Hooi-Yeen , Siow Thin-Sam , Chow Sook-Khuan , Teow Sin-Yeang
Published: March 2019

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of the common human herpesvirus types in the world. EBV is known to infect more than 95% of adults in the world. The virus mainly infects B lymphocytes and could immortalize and transform the cells into EBV-bearing lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Limited studies have been focused on characterizing the surface marker expression of the immortalized LCLs. This study demonstrates the generation of 15 LCLs from sixteen rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and a healthy volunteer using B95-8 marmoset-derived EBV. The success rate of LCL generation was 88.23%. All CD19+ LCLs expressed CD23 (16.94-58.9%) and CD27 (15.74-80.89%) on cell surface. Our data demonstrated two distinct categories of LCLs (fast- and slow-growing) (p<0.05) based on their doubling time. The slow-growing LCLs showed lower CD23 level (35.28%) compared to fast-growing LCLs (42.39%). In contrast, the slow-growing LCLs showed higher percentage in both CD27 alone and CD23+CD27+ in combination. Overall, these findings may suggest the correlations of cellular CD23 and CD27 expression with the proliferation rate of the generated LCLs. Increase expression of CD23 may play a role in EBV immortalization of B-cells and the growth and maintenance of the EBV-transformed LCLs while CD27 expression might have inhibitory effects on LCL proliferation. Further investigations are warranted to these speculations.
Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Meningitis and Cerebral Abscess in a Neonate: Therapeutic Challenge
Authors: Puvabanditsin Surasak , Jacob Marianne , Jalil Maaz , Bhattarai Samhita , Patel Qaiser , Sadiq Mehrin , Mehta Rajeev
Published: March 2019

We report a case of a 12-day-old term neonate with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) meningitis and cerebral abscess. The patient received a 7-day course of antibiotics just few days prior to the infection. The incidence of infections from ESBL-producing E. coli is increasingly emerging. Antimicrobial agents must be vigilantly utilized to prevent the new highly resistant bacteria.
Regulation of (Pro)Renin Receptor in Renin-Positive Smooth Muscle Cells of Kidney Arterioles in Rats with STZ-Induced Diabetes
Authors: Razga Zsolt , Kovacs Gabor , Bódi Nikolett , Talapka Petra , Bagyánszki Mária
Published: March 2019

Objective.The nephron (pro)renin receptor may play a pathophysiological role in renal disorders in hypertension or diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of (pro)renin receptors and transdifferentiation between the renin-negative and renin-positive SMCs in the afferent arteriole by estimating the distribution of (pro)renin receptors in renin-positive and renin-negative SMCs of the afferent arteriole of kidneys in normal and streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats. Therefore in diabetes the renin granulation of afferent arterioles is different as in normal, the diabetes model for finding the differences to normal in distribution of (pro)renin receptors of afferent arterioles was used.Method.To estimate the number of (pro)renin receptors in arteriolar SMCs a special protocol of immunohistochemistry to stereology was followed.Results.Our results showed that on the surface of renin-positive SMCs the number of (pro)renin receptors was upregulated, while in the cytoplasm of SMCs there was downregulation in comparison to renin-negative SMCs. There is a significant difference between the number of (pro)renin receptors on the surface and in the cytoplasm of renin-positive SMCs in normal rats. These differences in the number of (pro)renin receptors were not present in rats with STZ-induced diabetes. Any other differences in the number of (pro)renin receptors between the STZ-induced diabetic and normal rats were not detected. The tissue level of angiotensin II did not change in the kidneys of STZ-induced diabetic rats.Conclusion.The distribution of (pro)renin receptors in afferent arteriolar SMCs is related to renin granulation of SMCs, but independent of angiotensin II plasma or tissue levels in the kidney.
De Novo Iron Oxide Hydroxide, Ferrihydrite Produced by Comamonas testosteroni Exhibiting Intrinsic Peroxidase-Like Activity and Their Analytical Applications
Authors: Ahmed Amany , Abagana Adam , Cui Daizong , Zhao Min
Published: March 2019

Natural enzyme mimics have attracted considerable attention due to leakage of enzymes and their easy denaturation during their storage and immobilization procedure. Here in this study, for the first time, a new iron oxide hydroxide, ferrihydrite – Fe1.44O0.32 (OH) 3.68 magnetic nanoparticles were synthesized by bacterial strain named Comamonas testosteroni. The characterization of the produced magnetic nanoparticles was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and magnetization hysteresis loops. Further, these extracted nanoparticles were proven to have biogenic magnetic behavior and to exhibit enhanced peroxidase-like activity. It is capable of catalyzing the oxidation of 3, 3′, 5, 5′-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by H2O2 to produce blue color (typical color reactions). Catalysis was examined to follow Michaelis-Menton kinetics and the good affinity to both H2O2 and TMB. The Km value of the Fe1.44O0.32 (OH) 3.68 with H2O2 and TMB as the substrate was 0.0775 and 0.0155 mM, respectively, which were lower than that of the natural enzyme (HRP). Experiments of electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy proved that the BMNPs could catalyze H2O2 to produce hydroxyl radicals. As a new peroxidase mimetic, the BMNPs were exhibited to offer a simple, sensitive, and selective colorimetric method for determination of H2O2 and glucose and efficiently catalyze the detection of glucose in real blood samples.
Synthetic Seismic Reflection Modelling in a Supercritical Geothermal System: An Image of the K-Horizon in the Larderello Field (Italy)
Authors: de Franco R. , Petracchini L. , Scrocca D. , Caielli G. , Montegrossi G. , Santilano A. , Manzella A.
Published: March 2019

We tested synthetic seismic reflection modelling along a seismic line (CROP-18A) in the geothermal field at Larderello (Italy). This seismic line is characterized by a discontinuous but locally very bright seismic marker, named K-horizon, which has been associated with various geological processes, including the presence of fluids at supercritical conditions. Geological and geophysical data were integrated in order to develop a 3D subsurface model of a portion of the Larderello field, where extremely high heat flow values have been recorded. In the study area, the K-horizon is particularly shallow and supercritical deep conditions were accessed at depth. The 2D model of the main geological units up to the K-horizon was extracted from the 3D model along the CROP-18A and used to generate the synthetic TWT stacked seismic sections which were then compared with the observed stacked CROP-18A seismic section. To build the synthetic sections, generated through the exploding reflector approach, a 2D velocity model was created assigning to each pixel of the model a constant P-wave velocity corresponding to the related geological unit. The geophysical parameters and the geological model reconstructions used in the modelling process derive from a multidisciplinary integration process including geological outcrop analogues, core samples, and geophysical and laboratory information. Two geophysical models were used to test the seismic response of the K-horizon, which is associated with (1) a lithological discontinuity or (2) a physically perturbed layer, represented by a randomized velocity distribution in a thin layer. For the latter geophysical model (i.e., the physically perturbed layer), we have tested three different scenarios changing the shape and the thickness of the modelled layer. Despite the reliable calibration implied by the use of homogeneous units, the seismic modelling clearly shows that the physically perturbed layer provides a better explanation of the reflectivity features associated with the K-horizon.
Oral Health in Relation to Pancreatic Cancer Risk in African American Women
Authors: Gerlovin Hanna , Michaud Dominique S. , Cozier Yvette C. , Palmer Julie R.
Published: March 2019

Background:

Incidence of pancreatic cancer is higher in African Americans than in U.S. whites. We hypothesized that poor oral health, disproportionately common in African Americans and associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer in several studies of predominantly white populations, may play a role in this disparity.

Methods:

We examined the relation of self-reported measures of oral health (periodontal disease and adult tooth loss) in relation to pancreatic cancer incidence in the prospective Black Women's Health Study (BWHS). Cox proportional hazard analyses were used to calculate HRs of pancreatic cancer for women with periodontal disease, tooth loss, or both, relative to women who reported neither. Multivariable models adjusted for age, cigarette smoking, body mass index (BMI), type 2 diabetes, and alcohol consumption.

Results:

Participants aged 33 to 81 were followed for an average of 9.85 years from 2007 through 2016, with occurrence of 78 incidence cases of pancreatic cancer. Multivariable HRs for pancreatic cancer incidence were 1.77 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.57–5.49] for periodontal disease with no tooth loss, 2.05 (95% CI, 1.08–3.88) for tooth loss without report of periodontal disease, and 1.58 (95% CI, 0.70–3.57) for both tooth loss and periodontal disease. The HR for loss of at least five teeth, regardless of whether periodontal disease was reported, was 2.20 (95% CI, 1.11–4.33).

Conclusions:

The poor oral health experienced by many African Americans may contribute to their higher incidence of pancreatic cancer.

Impact:

Future research will assess associations between the oral microbiome and pancreatic cancer risk in this population.
Association between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Muscle Strength in Older Age
Authors: Cheval Boris , Chabert Clovis , Sieber Stefan , Orsholits Dan , Cooper Rachel , Guessous Idris , Blane David , Kliegel Matthias , Courvoisier Delphine S. , Kelly-Irving Michelle , Boisgontier Matthieu P. , Cullati Stéphane
Published: March 2019

Background: Muscle weakness – a biomarker of health – may have its origins in early life and be related to factors such as adverse childhood experiences (ACE), which refer to a set of early-life traumatic and stressful psychosocial events out of the child’s control. To date, evidence of an association between ACE and muscle strength in older age is lacking. ­Objective: Here, we assessed the associations between ACE during the first 15 years of life and the risk of low muscle strength (LMS) later in life. We also examined whether adult-life socioeconomic circumstances (i.e., educational attainment, main occupational position, and satisfaction with household financial situation) and unhealthy behaviors (i.e., physical inactivity, unhealthy eating, smoking, and high level of alcohol consumption) explained this association. Methods: We used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe, a 12-year cohort study with 6 ­repeated measurements between 2004 and 2015. Muscle strength was measured using a handheld dynamometer. Confounder-adjusted logistic mixed-effect models were used to examine the associations between ACE (child in care, parental death, parental mental illness, parental drinking, period of hunger, or property taken away) and the risk of LMS in older age. ­Results: 24,179 participants (96,372 observations; 13,477 women; aged 50–96 years) living in 14 countries were included. LMS increased with age for both genders. For women, there was a gradual increase in the risk of LMS with the number of experienced ACE (ORs = 1.22 for 1 ACE, 1.74 for ≥2 ACE compared to no ACE). However, there was no significant association among men. This association was only slightly attenuated when adjusting for socioeconomic circumstances and unhealthy behaviors in adulthood. Conclusions: ACE are associated with later-life muscle weakness among women. These associations were not compensated by the adoption of healthy behaviors or an improvement in socioeconomic circumstances in adulthood. These results suggest that tackling these early-life risk factors in women could promote long-term grip strength, a biomarker of aging.
Assessment of Duodenal Adenomas and Strategies for Curative Therapy
Authors: Pavlovic-Markovic Aleksandra , Dragasevic Sanja , Krstic Miodrag , Stojkovic Lalosevic Milica , Milosavljevic Tomica
Published: March 2019

Background: The increasing incidence of duodenal neoplasm has underlined different methods of resection depending on the clinical presentation, endoscopic features and histopathology. In this comprehensive review, we systematically describe the current knowledge concerning the diagnosis and management of duodenal adenomas (DAs) and discuss data considering all possible therapeutic approaches. Summary: Among a variety of duodenal lesions, including neuroendocrine tumors and gastrointestinal stromal tumors, DAs present precancerous lesions of the duodenal papilla or non-ampullary region necessitating removal. DAs can occur sporadically (SDA) as rare lesions or relatively common in polyposis syndromes. The endoscopic resections of DA are associated with an increased degree of complexity due to distinctive anatomical properties of the duodenal wall, luminal diameter and the presence of ampulla with pancreatic and biliary drainage. The endoscopic techniques including cold snare polypectomy (CSP), endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR), and argon plasma coagulation ablation are suggested to be less invasive than surgical treatment, associated with shorter hospital stay and lower cost. According to the current clinical practice, surgery has been accepted as standard therapeutic approach in familial adenomatous polyposis patients with severe polyposis or DA not amenable to endoscopic resection. Key Messages: The strategy for endoscopic resection of DAs depends on the lesion size, morphology, location, and histopathology findings. Small adenomas are most frequently diagnosed and removed by standard CSP techniques, while large laterally spreading lesions and ampullary adenoma are referred for EMR or endoscopic papillectomy respectively. Screening colonoscopy is indicated in patients with SDA. Additional studies for new endoscopic strategies and techniques for curative therapy of DAs are needed to refine future management decisions. Complete resection of DA is considered curative, but nevertheless, long-term endoscopic follow-up is still required to detect and treat any recurrent arising lesions.
Discontinuing Psychotropic Drugs from Participants in Randomized Controlled Trials: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cohen David , Recalt Alexander
Published: March 2019

Background and Objective: Methods and justifications for discontinuing psychotropic drugs in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and RCTs’ acknowledgement of possible withdrawal symptoms following discontinuation, have not been examined systematically, which this review aims to do. Study Eligibility, Data Extraction, and Synthesis: Publications in MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycINFO (2000–2017) randomly assigning participants diagnosed with mental disorders to discontinue antipsychotic, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, antimanic, mood-stabilizing, benzodiazepine, or stimulant drugs. Authors independently extracted data, devised a typology of trials, and assessed trials’ recognition of with­drawal symptoms. Results: Eighty RCTs (70% with industry participation) discontinued drugs from 5,757 participants to investigate relapse prevention (44%), successful dis­continuation (26%), architecture of withdrawal (14%), and practicality of discontinuation (10%). RCTs of stimulants, antidepressants, and antipsychotics mostly aimed to reach conclusions about relapse prevention by testing abrupt or rapid discontinuations; RCTs of benzodiazepines mostly aimed to reduce drug use by testing longer-lasting, supportive discontinuations. In 67% of RCTs, no justification was given for the specific discontinuation strategy, which lasted under 2 weeks in 60% of RCTs. Possible withdrawal confounding of trial outcomes was addressed in 14% of eligible RCTs. Limitations: Only the published literature was searched. Conclusions and Implications: RCTs use drug discontinuation to study several key issues in psychopharmacology but infrequently justify how they implement it or acknowledge that possible withdrawal symptoms may threaten internal validity. Reappraising the use of drug discontinuation and the recognition of withdrawal symptoms in RCTs is required.
Electro-Natural Stimulation in Partial Deafness Treatment of Adult Cochlear Implant Users: Long-Term Hearing Preservation Results
Authors: Skarzynski Henryk , Lorens Artur , Dziendziel Beata , Rajchel Joanna J. , Matusiak Monika , Skarzynski Piotr H.
Published: March 2019

Background: Due to the constant development of technology and medicine, the eligibility criteria for cochlear implantation (CI) are undergoing gradual expansion. Objectives: To provide long-term hearing preservation (HP) results for partial deafness treatment (PDT) of a group of adults using electro-natural stimulation (ENS). Methods: We examined a database of medical records of patients who underwent CI in a single ENT center. We identified 12 adults (3 men and 9 women) who fitted the PDT-ENS classification. To calculate HP, we used the ­HEARRING consensus and conducted statistical analyses using SPSS v24. Results: In the long-term follow-up, 7 of 12 patients had complete HP and the remaining 5 had partial HP. None of the patients experienced significant hearing impairment. A significant improvement in speech understanding in both quiet and noise conditions was also observed. Conclusions: The use of minimally invasive surgery leads to excellent HP results in PDT-ENS patients, enabling them to enjoy the benefits of good speech discrimination which they would be unable to get from traditional hearing aids. Our findings support extending the inclusion criteria for CI to include this new group of patients who would otherwise obtain only limited benefit from conventional hearing aids.
Clinical and Economic Benefits of Upper Airway Stimulation for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in a European Setting
Authors: Pietzsch Jan Benjamin , Richter Ann-Kathrin , Randerath Winfried , Steffen Armin , Liu Shan , Geisler Benjamin P. , Wasem Jürgen , Biermann-Stallwitz Janine
Published: March 2019

Background: Upper airway stimulation (UAS) is a treatment approach for patients with moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea who cannot adhere to continuous positive airway pressure therapy. Objective: The objective was to evaluate added patient benefit and cost-effectiveness of UAS in the German health care system. Methods: We used a decision-analytic Markov model to project major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events (myocardial infarction [MI] or stroke), motor vehicle collision (MVC), mortality, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and costs. The assumed reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index with UAS compared to no treatment is based on German real-world data. Other input data were derived from the literature, public statistics, and multivariate regression. Cost-effectiveness was evaluated in Euros per QALY gained, both discounted at 3%. Results: UAS was projected to reduce event risks (10-year relative risk for stroke, MI, cardiovascular death, and MVC: 0.76, 0.64, 0.65, and 0.34, respectively), and to increase survival by 1.27 years. While the UAS strategy incurred an additional 1.02 QALYs within the patient lifetime, there were also additional costs of EUR 45,196, resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of EUR 44,446 per QALY gained. ­Conclusions: In the present model-based analysis, UAS therapy provides meaningful benefit to patient-relevant endpoints and is a cost-effective therapy in the German setting.
Chorioamnionitis in Rats Precipitates Extended Postnatal Inflammatory Lymphocyte Hyperreactivity
Authors: Yellowhair Tracylyn R. , Noor Shahani , Mares Brittney , Jose Clement , Newville Jessie C. , Maxwell Jessie R. , Northington Frances J. , Milligan Erin D. , Robinson Shenandoah , Jantzie Lauren L.
Published: March 2019

Preterm birth is an important cause of perinatal brain injury (PBI). Neurological injury in extremely preterm infants often begins in utero with chorioamnionitis (CHORIO) or inflammation/infection of the placenta and concomitant placental insufficiency. Studies in humans have shown dysregulated inflammatory signaling throughout the placental-fetal brain axis and altered peripheral immune responses in children born preterm with cerebral palsy (CP). We hypothesized that peripheral immune responses would be altered in our well-established rat model of CP. Specifically, we proposed that isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) would be hyperresponsive to a second hit of inflammation throughout an extended postnatal time course. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley dams underwent a laparotomy on embryonic day 18 (E18) with occlusion of the uterine arteries (for 60 min) followed by intra-amniotic injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 4 μg/sac) to induce injury in utero. Shams underwent laparotomy only, with equivalent duration of anesthesia. Laparotomies were then closed, and the rat pups were born at E22. PBMCs were isolated from pups on postnatal day 7 (P7) and P21, and subsequently stimulated in vitro with LPS for 3 or 24 h. A secreted inflammatory profile analysis of conditioned media was performed using multiplex electrochemiluminescent immunoassays, and the composition of inflammatory cells was assayed with flow cytometry (FC). Results indicate that CHORIO PBMCs challenged with LPS are hyperreactive and secrete significantly more tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and C-X-C chemokine ligand 1 at P7. FC confirmed increased intracellular TNFα in CHORIO pups at P7 following LPS stimulation, in addition to increased numbers of CD11b/c immunopositive myeloid cells. Notably, TNFα secretion was sustained until P21, with increased interleukin 6, concomitant with increased expression of integrin β1, suggesting both sustained peripheral immune hyperreactivity and a heightened activation state. Taken together, these data indicate that in utero injury primes the immune system and augments enhanced inflammatory signaling. The insidious effects of primed peripheral immune cells may compound PBI secondary to CHORIO and/or placental insufficiency, and thereby render the brain susceptible to future chronic neurological disease. Further understanding of inflammatory mechanisms in PBI may yield clinically important biomarkers and facilitate individualized repair strategies and treatments.
Technical Considerations in the Freezing, Low-Temperature Storage and Thawing of Stem Cells for Cellular Therapies
Authors: Hunt Charles J.
Published: March 2019

The commercial and clinical development of cellular therapy products will invariably require cryopreservation and frozen storage of cellular starting materials, intermediates and/or final product. Optimising cryopreservation is as important as optimisation of the cell culture process in obtaining maximum yield and a consistent end-product. Suboptimal cryopreservation can lead not only to batch-to-batch variation, lowered cellular functionality and reduced cell yield, but also to the potential selection of subpopulations with genetic or epigenetic characteristics divergent from the original cell line. Regulatory requirements also impact on cryopreservation as these will require a robust and reproducible approach to the freezing, storage and thawing of the product. This requires attention to all aspects of the application of low temperatures: from the choice of freezing container and cryoprotectant, the cooling rate employed and its mode of de­livery, the correct handling of the frozen material during storage and transportation, to the eventual thawing of the product by the end-user. Each of these influences all of the others to a greater or lesser extent and none should be ignored. This paper seeks to provide practical insights and alternative solutions to the technical challenges faced during cryopreservation of cells for use in cellular therapies.
Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate the Pancreatic Changes of Chemically Induced Hypothyroidism by Carbimazole in Male Rats
Authors: Arafa Mona A.A. , Gouda Zienab A. , El-naseery Nesma I. , Abdel-Nour  Hanim M. , Hanafy  Safaa M. , Mohamed Amany F. , Abo-Ouf  Amany M.
Published: March 2019

We induced hypothyroidism (HT) in male rats through chronic oral administration of carbimazole and then tested whether an i.v. injection of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) could ameliorate the HT-induced changes in pancreatic structure and function. The thyroid and pancreatic function tests, as well as total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were estimated. The pancreatic structure was evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain. Insulin protein and cleaved caspase-3 were detected immunohistochemically. The degree of apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL assay. The morphometric measurements were done by an image analyzer system and the obtained data were statistically analyzed. HT rats showed hyperglycemia associated with insulin deficiency, decreased TAC and increased MDA levels. H&E-stained sections showed that the pancreatic septa were infiltrated with acidophilic material. Some acini were vacuolated while others showed depleted acidophilia and dilated lumina. Spindle-shaped cells were accumulated within deformed islets in HT rats. The positive reaction with anti-cleaved caspase-3 was exclusively noted in the cytoplasm of islet cells with no immunostaining reaction in the acinar and ductal cells, whereas the positively stained nuclei with TUNEL were demonstrated in the islet and acinar cells. A significant increase in the apoptotic index % of both markers was detected. Injection of BM-MSCs in HT rats restored all biochemical indicators of disturbed pancreatic function to normal level and improved pancreatic structure, resulting in a clear septa and normal appearance of acini and islets. In conclusion, many of the significant structural and func tional pancreatic alterations detected in HT rats were ameliorated after the injection of BM-MSCs. These data demonstrate the ability of BM-MSCs to repair pancreatic disturbances. Further studies on humans are necessary to determine the potential clinical applications of BM-MSCs.
Single-Incision Laparoscopic versus Open Sigmoidectomy for Diverticular Disease: A Disease-Stratified Matched-Pair Analysis
Authors: Galetin Amelie , Rink Andreas D. , Vestweber Boris , Vestweber Karl-Heinz , Galetin Thomas
Published: March 2019

Background: Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) is a variant of laparoscopic surgery, especially for diverticular disease (DD), but there are very little data comparing SILS to standard surgical procedures for DD, and most studies on DD surgery do not declare the disease stage. We compared SILS to open sigmoidectomy for DD in a stage-stratified matched-pair analysis to validate the significance of SILS. Methods: All patients with SILS or conventional sigmoidectomy for diverticulitis of a single visceral surgery department were subject to a matched-pair analysis stratified by age, sex, body mass index, previous abdominal surgery, and the stage of DD. Results: Fifty-five pairs were included. In total, 84/110 (76%) had complicated stages of DD. ASA stages were higher in the laparotomy group; the proportion of elective operations was similar (SILS 78%, open: 71%). In the SILS group, length of hospital stay (LoS; 10.2 vs. 16.7 days) and duration of intensive or intermediate care (IMC; 1.8 vs. 3.7 days) were shorter, blood transfusions were reduced (0.1 vs. 0.4 units) and less patients received opioids postoperatively (75 vs. 98%). The day of first defecation, stoma rate, and rates of morbidity and mortality were similar. Conclusions: SILS equals open sigmoidectomy regarding complications with advantages regarding pain, LoS, IMC/intensive care unit treatment, and blood transfusion.
Acral Amelanotic Melanoma Mimicking a Non-Healing Arterial Ulcer
Authors: Cantwell Phillip , Van Dam Helena
Published: March 2019

Acral melanomas contribute to approximately 2–3% of melanomas but are commonly misdiagnosed due to their rarity, subtlety at onset and tendency to display amelanotic features. This case report describes a 70-year-old male with an amelanotic melanoma misdiagnosed as a non-healing arterial ulcer. Histopathology demonstrated a Breslow 2.3 mm, Clark level IV acral lentiginous melanoma, which was definitively managed with surgical intervention. This case report highlights the importance of considering melanoma in the differential diagnosis of non-healing ulcers.
Hidden in plain sight: the identity of the white-leaved snakewood species from southeastern Brazil, Cecropia candida Snethl. and Cecropia hololeuca Miq. (Urticaceae)
Authors: DA SILVA MARCUS FELIPPE OLIVEIRA , DOS SANTOS MAIA VITOR HUGO , DE FREITAS MANSANO VIDAL
Published: March 2019

The identity of Cecropia candida, a misidentified snakewood species from Brazil, are also discussed. Its relationships to Cecropia hololeuca, another white-leaved species from Brazil, are also discuted.
Typification of the name Centaurea deusta Ten. (Asteraceae)
Authors: STINCA ADRIANO , CONTI FABIO , BARTOLUCCI FABRIZIO
Published: March 2019

Centaurea Linnaeus (1753: 909) (Asteraceae) is a widely distributed genus from the Mediterranean region to southwest Asia which includes approximately 250 species (Susanna & Garcia-Jacas 2009). It contains annual, biennial and perennial herbs, less often shrubs, with usually unarmed leaves and very variable scarious or spiny bract appendages that represent the first trait used for systematics within the genus.
Pectinariidae (Annelida, Terebelliformia) from off southeastern Brazil, southwestern Atlantic
Authors: DE MATOS NOGUEIRA JOÃO MIGUEL , RIBEIRO WILLIAM M. G. , CARRERETTE ORLEMIR , HUTCHINGS PAT
Published: March 2019

Two of the species of Pectinariidae previously reported from the Brazilian coast are herein described, together with a new species and also new record for the genus Petta Malmgren, 1866 for the southern Atlantic. Amphictene catharinensis (Grube, 1870) was described from material from off Santa Catarina, southern Brazil, but the most recent description for these animals comes from Nilsson (1928); a redescription for A. catharinensis is herein provided. Pectinaria nonatoi n. sp. was informally described as P. (Pectinaria) laelia nomen nudum in an unpublished thesis and a formal description has never been provided, although the species has been reported from several other localities off the Brazilian shoreline, mostly in ecological studies; the species is formally described herein and compared to the most similar congeners. Petta alissoni n. sp. is also described and compared to the most similar congeners and this is the first record for animals of this genus from southern Atlantic. There are also records for Pectinaria gouldii (Verrill, 1874) and P. regalis Verrill, 1901 from off the Brazilian coast, and a doubtful record for Lagis pseudokoreni (Day, 1955), but we did not find any material belonging to those taxa.
In search of the real Pseudomallada prasinus (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae)
Authors: DUELLI PETER , OBRIST MARTIN K.
Published: March 2019

Three sympatric morphs of Pseudomallada prasinus (Burmeister, 1839) were hybridized in search of reproductively     separated species. In addition, 26 morphological and biological traits were recorded for living and preserved specimens of the three morphotypes.                                                                                                         Cross-breeding experiments showed that the prasinoid morph “marianus” is a different species from either the “greenhead” or “sulfurhead” morphs. All three are morphologically and biologically distinct. “Greenhead” and “sulfurhead” are small to medium sized and deposit eggs singly, without obligatory diapause in the second instar. In most specimens of these two smaller “prasinus” morphs there is a red or brown suture below the antennae, which can fade with age or preservation. P. “marianus” is a large species, depositing bundled eggs, with an obligatory diapause in about half of the L2. In none of the collected or reared P. “marianus” was a red or brown suture below the eyes observed. The forewing sizes of the type specimens of Chrysopa prasina Burmeister, 1839, C. coerulea Brauer, 1851, and C. marianus Navás, 1915 differ significantly from those of C. aspersa Wesmael, 1841 and other, later synonymized type specimens such as C. sachalinensis Matsumura, 1911, C. burri Navás, 1914, C. caucasica Navás, 1914, or C. vernalis Navás, 1926. This strongly suggests that the “marianus” morph is the real P. prasinus and the “greenhead” and “sulfurhead” morphs correspond to P. aspersus or one of the later synonymized species with smaller wing size.Pseudomallada marianus (Navás, 1905) is confirmed as a synonym of P. prasinus, depositing bundled eggs, whereas smaller prasinoid morphs, depositing single eggs, are not P. prasinus—and are morphologically distinct from P. abdominalis (Brauer, 1856). Pseudomallada aspersus (Wesmael, 1841) is a valid species, but at this point it is not possible to assign it to one of the prasinoid morphs because most of the live color traits are not discernible in old type specimens. A diagnostic description of the “real” P. prasinus can separate almost all P. prasinus specimens, even in museum collections, from P. aspersus (likely to be the “greenhead” morph) and the Mediterranean “sulfurhead”.
Chloral Hydrate Sedation in a Dexmedetomidine Era
Authors: Farr Kimberley M. , Moffett Brady S. , Jones Jennifer L. , Rogers Amber P. , Chumpitazi Corrie E.
Published: March 2019

Brief Overview: The use of chloral hydrate as the primary sedation agent has declined across the nation after commercial production of the liquid formulation ceased. Although alternative sedatives have gained popularity, some pharmacies have continued to provide oral chloral hydrate by compounding it from raw ingredients. Thus, oral chloral hydrate use has continued in children despite the availability of alternative effective agents. Objective: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate institutional chloral hydrate utilization as the primary agent for procedural sedation. Design/Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients given chloral hydrate for procedural sedation from October 2010 to December 2016. The hospital pharmacy database of chloral hydrate use at our 2 free-standing children’s hospitals was reviewed and matched to procedure billing data. Results: There were 5874 chloral hydrate administrations for procedural sedation during the study period. The highest rates of use occurred in 2014, when there were 1420 chloral hydrate orders within our hospital. The large majority of sedations were for cardiac studies/procedures (n = 4250, 72.4%). Conclusions: Despite significant declines in use of chloral hydrate for procedural sedation across the country, local utilization of oral chloral hydrate remains high. Recent declines may be due to high-use clinical sites transitioning to alternative sedatives such as intranasal dexmedetomidine.
Further study of linear PMSM driven ropeless lifts with consideration of imperfections by simulation
Authors: So Albert , Chan WL
Published: March 2019

To provide a satisfactory lift service to super high-rise buildings (while maintaining a small footprint for the lift hoistways), ropeless multi-car per hoistway system may be the trend. In our previous paper, a simplified machine model and two primitive controllers were adopted and various features of such a ropeless lift car driven by a linear permanent magnet synchronous motor were illustrated by simulation. In this paper, imperfections including pole saliency, various types of friction such as Coulomb, viscous and Stribeck friction, cogging force and end-effect, etc. were considered. The controllers, control interval and simulation interval were improved in both quantity and quality to arrive at a controllably stable operation. For safety during a genuine power failure, the free-falling terminal speed was estimated both by analytical calculation and computer simulation with consideration of such imperfections. It was confirmed that a desirable operation could be achieved by having smaller and practical winding resistance and inductances, larger and practical permanent magnet magnetic flux, and an optimal pole pitch. This paper could be considered an enhanced version of the pervious paper in that the illustration is more realistic when imperfections are considered. It is hoped that experimenters would further verify the findings in this paper so that such technology could become popularly employed in the future lift industry.

Practical application: Multi-dimensional multi-car in a hoistway configuration involving linear permanent magnet synchronous machines would become popular in the near future. This paper introduces a more comprehensive mathematical framework by taking into account of the imperfections in the design and evaluation of controllers as well as the drive performance for a multi-car lift system. The results may give lift designers and researchers a hint on how to design the machines and the controllers with the consideration of imperfections in terms of winding design with variation in resistance, inductance, magnetic field strength, pole pitch, saliency and different types of friction. The paper is aimed at providing lift designers and researchers with a more realistic picture to welcome the new age of multi-car multi-dimensional lift technology.
Preparing Preservice Teachers to Manage Behavior Problems in the Classroom: The Feasibility and Acceptability of Using a Mixed-Reality Simulator
Authors: Larson Kristine E. , Hirsch Shanna E. , McGraw Jillian P. , Bradshaw Catherine P.
Published: March 2019

Given the high percentage of new teachers who struggle with classroom management, preservice educators need more opportunities to develop their skills in managing challenging student behaviors prior to entering the classroom. There is growing interest in using mixed-reality simulators to provide educators opportunities to receive guided practice in implementing a variety of techniques, including classroom management strategies. Yet these technologies may be difficult for preservice programs to integrate into the curriculum and may be perceived as stressful for some student teachers. The current article presents findings from a feasibility and acceptability study of the TeachLive™ mixed-reality teaching simulator, which was used as a supplemental guided practice opportunity for preservice student teachers enrolled in classroom management and special education methods classes. Data from 62 preservice teachers suggest there is potential for acceptability among teachers in training, particularly if adjustments are made to reduce their stress and performance anxiety. Recommendations for using mixed-reality simulators in preservice training are provided.
Thyroid cancer in Friuli Venezia Giulia, northeastern Italy: incidence, overdiagnosis, and impact of type of surgery on survival
Authors: Panato Chiara , Serraino Diego , De Santis Emilia , Forgiarini Ornella , Angelin Tiziana , Bidoli Ettore , Zanier Loris , Del Zotto Stefania , Vaccarella Salvatore , Franceschi Silvia , Dal Maso Luigino
Published: March 2019

Background:

Incidence rates of thyroid cancer (TC) increased in the last decades worldwide. This study aimed to describe TC incidence in the Friuli Venezia Giulia (FVG) region, to estimate the quota of overdiagnosis, and to investigate the impact of surgery on long-term survival after TC diagnosis.

Methods:

TC cases reported to the FVG population-based cancer registry during 2002–2013, aged <85 years, were included. Age standardized rates (ASR) on the European population were computed, while proportion of TC overdiagnosis was estimated in comparison with expected age-specific incidence rates from published time series. Adjusted hazard ratios of death, with 95% confidence intervals, were also estimated.

Results:

During 2002–2013, 1701 TC cases were reported to the FVG cancer registry, with papillary TC (78.2%) as the most frequent histologic type. ASR increased from 12.4 to 16.5 in women and from 4.3 to 6.2 in men (+33.1% and +44.2%, respectively). Overdiagnosis was estimated as 79% of TC cases in women and 64% in men. Almost all TC cases (97.1%) underwent surgery, including 84.6% of women and 78.9% of men who underwent total thyroidectomy. Up to 10 years after TC diagnosis, the type of surgery did not appear to influence survival.

Conclusions:

This study documented an increase in TC incidence in FVG in the last decade, with overdiagnosis accounting for a large proportion of TC diagnoses and total thyroidectomy in more than 80% of cases. These findings suggest reconsidering thyroid screening practice and aggressive therapeutic strategies, as recommended by new TC guidelines.
Cancer incidence and mortality trends from 2003 to 2014 in Italy
Authors: Buzzoni Carlotta , Crocetti Emanuele , Guzzinati Stefano , Dal Maso Luigino , Francisci Silvia , Mazzoleni G , Ferrara MA , Caputo E , Coviello E , Galasso R , Citarella A , Sampietro G , Magoni M , Ardizzone A , D’Argenzio A , Sutera Sardo A , Giorno A , La Greca G , Ricci P , Ferretti S , Palma F , Serraino D , Iacovacci S , Melcarne A , Puppo A , Sciacca S , Russo AG , Caruso Bianca , Cavalieri d’Oro L , D’Orsi G , Fusco M , Usala M , Vitale F , Cusimano R , Michiara M , Boschetti L , Chiaranda G , Rosso S , Tumino R , Mangone L , Valenti Clemente S , Falcini F , Caiazzo AL , Cesaraccio R , Tisano F , Fanetti AC , Minerba S , Caldarella A , Candela G , Piffer S , Cania A , Castelli M , Pisani M , Tagliabue G , Bovo E , Brustolin A
Published: March 2019

Objective:

To evaluate short-term (2003–2014) cancer incidence and mortality trends in Italy.

Methods:

Italian Cancer Registries data, available in the AIRTUM database, from 17 out of 20 regions were used. The number of incident cases and deaths were estimated for those registries and those years with incomplete information. Age-standardized rates, overall and stratified by geographic area, region, sex, cancer site, and major age group, were computed. Time trends were expressed as annual percent change of rates.

Results:

In Italy, among males, incidence rates for all cancers showed during 2003–2014, a significant decrease (−0.9%/year), with stronger reductions in the northwest (−1.3%/year) and northeast (−2.0%/year since 2006) than in central (−0.7%/year) and southern (−0.4%/year) areas. Among females, a weak but significant overall reduction was detected (−0.1%/year), with a stronger decrease in the northwest (−0.5%/year). Incidence increased among women in the south (0.3%/year) of Italy. Mortality decreased in both sexes (−1.0%/year among males and −0.5%/year among females), but not in the south, where rates had a stable tendency.

Conclusions:

Incidence among males decreased, supported by trends for prostate, lung, colorectal, and urinary bladder cancers; among females the. The overall cancer incidence trend was stable, or even decreasing, in the northern and central areas and increasing in the southern areas, due to lung, thyroid, and melanoma rising trends. Study results provided information on the outcomes, in terms of cancer incidence and mortality, of primary and secondary prevention measures employed by regional health systems.
Fat, Cartilage, and Bone Metaplasia in Lungs of Cattle With Caudal Pleural Lesions and Subjacent Interstitial Fibrosis
Authors: Ramírez-Hernández Cecilia , García-Márquez Luis Jorge , Decanini-Arcaute Horacio , Martínez-Burnes Julio , Ramírez-Romero Rafael
Published: March 2019

The changes associated with condemned lungs in cattle with chronic pleural lesions of the caudal lobes were characterized by histology and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Fibroproliferative pleural lesions were microscopically confirmed. Occasionally, the pleural lesions also included adipose, chondroid, and osseous metaplasia that were covered by mesothelial cells, mostly in the absence of inflammation. Other lungs also showed fibrosis in the subpleural interstitium and interlobular septa. In both condemned and noncondemned lungs, immunoreactivity to Wilms tumor 1 (WT1) was normally observed on surface mesothelial cells but not on the submesothelial fibroblasts and myofibroblasts. Conversely, the myofibroblasts beneath the pleura, but not the mesothelial cells, showed immunoreactivity to alpha smooth muscle actin and calponin. However, in the lungs with myofibroblastic foci in the pleura, the proliferated cells maintained WT1 immunoreactivity similar to those of some metaplastic cells. These findings may reflect the plasticity of mesothelial cells in vivo.
Value–rent–finance
Authors: Purcell Thomas F. , Loftus Alex , March Hug
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we develop a novel interpretation of the internal relationship between value, rent and finance, thereby enabling a new reading of the process of financialisation. As we argue, responding to the important question of how best to conceptualise the relationship between value and finance necessitates an understanding of the internal relations with a third moment, that of rent. We therefore develop a triadic understanding of these three interrelated moments. Crucially, we demonstrate that fictitious capital now actively pursues forms of rent, deepening the interrelationship between value, rent and finance. We conclude with a critical review of the literature on the financialisation of water, showing how the conceptual framework we develop sheds light upon the relations out of which water infrastructure has been financialised, as well as suggesting strategic entry points for its contestation.