bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Apolipoprotein E (epsilon) genotype has a greater impact on apoB‐48 than apoB‐100 responses to dietary fat manipulation—insights from the SATgenε study
Authors: Jackson Kim G. , Lockyer Stacey , Carvalho‐Wells Andrew L. , Williams Christine M. , Minihane Anne M. , Lovegrove Julie A.
Published: December 2016

Scope

To determine the contribution of intestinally and liver‐derived lipoproteins to the postprandial plasma triacylglycerol (TAG) response in APOE3/E3 and E3/E4 individuals following chronic dietary fat manipulation.

Methods and results

In sequential order, participants (n = 12 E3/E3, n = 11 E3/E4) followed low fat; high‐fat, high‐saturated fat (HSF); and HSF with 3.45 g/day docosahexaenoic acid (HSF‐DHA) diets, each for 8 weeks. After each dietary period, an acute test meal with a macronutrient profile representative of the dietary intervention was consumed. Apolipoprotein (apo)B isoforms were determined in isolated TAG‐rich lipoprotein fractions (Svedberg flotation rate (Sf) > 400, Sf 60–400, and Sf 20–60) by specific ELISA. A genotype × meal/diet interaction for the Sf > 400 fraction apoB‐48 response (p < 0.05) was observed, with higher concentrations reached after the low fat than HSF‐DHA meal in E4 carriers. This finding was associated with a lower TAG content of the Sf > 400 particles. Fasting Sf 60–400 and 20–60 apoB‐48 concentrations were also significantly higher in E4 carriers. No impact of genotype on the apoB‐100 responses was evident.

Conclusion

Our study revealed marked effects of dietary fat composition on the Sf > 400 apoB‐48 response and particle TAG content in E4 carriers relative to the “wild‐type” E3/E3 genotype, which suggest APOE genotype is a potential modulator of chylomicron particle synthesis.
Stabilized sulforaphane for clinical use: Phytochemical delivery efficiency
Authors: Fahey Jed W. , Wade Kristina L. , Wehage Scott L. , Holtzclaw Walter David , Liu Hua , Talalay Paul , Fuchs Edward , Stephenson Katherine K.
Published: December 2016

Scope

The isothiocyanate sulforaphane (SF) from broccoli is one of the most potent known inducers of the cytoprotective phase 2 response. Its role in a host of biochemical pathways makes it a major component of plant‐based protective strategies for enhancing healthspan. Many nutritional supplements are now marketed that purport to contain SF, which in plants exists as a stable precursor, a thioglucoside hydroxysulfate. However, SF in pure form must be stabilized for use in supplements.

Methods and results

We evaluated the stability and bioavailability of two stabilized SF preparations—an α‐cyclodextrin inclusion (SF‐αCD), and an SF‐rich, commercial nutritional supplement. SF‐αCD area‐under‐the‐curve peak serum concentrations occurred at 2 h, but six of ten volunteers complained of mild stomach upset. After topical application it was not effective in upregulating cytoprotective enzymes in the skin of SKH1 mice whereas pure SF was effective in doing so. Both of these “stabilized” SF preparations were as potent as pure SF in inducing the cytoprotective response in cultured cells, and they were more stable and as bioavailable.

Conclusion

Our studies of a stabilized phytochemical component of foods should encourage further examination of similar products for their utility in chronic disease prevention and therapy.
Polyphenols from Lonicera caerulea L. berry attenuate experimental nonalcoholic steatohepatitis by inhibiting proinflammatory cytokines productions and lipid peroxidation
Authors: Wu Shusong , Yano Satoshi , Hisanaga Ayami , He Xi , He Jianhua , Sakao Kozue , Hou De‐Xing
Published: December 2016

Scope

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a common disease, which is closely associated with inflammation and oxidative stress, and Lonicera caerulea L. polyphenols (LCP) are reported to possess both antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of LCP on NASH in a high‐fat diet plus carbon tetrachloride (CCL4) induced mouse model.

Methods and results

Mice were fed with high‐fat diet containing LCP (0.5–1%) or not, and then administrated with CCL4 to induce NASH. Liver sections were stained by hematoxylin–eosin stain, serum transaminases and lipids were measured by clinical analyzer, insulin was examined by ELISA, cytokines were determined by multiplex technology, and hepatic proteins were detected by Western blotting. LCP improved histopathological features of NASH with lower levels of lipid peroxidation and cytokines including granulocyte colony‐stimulating factor, IL‐3, IL‐4, macrophage inflammatory protein‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐5, keratinocyte‐derived cytokine, tumor necrosis factor‐alpha, IL‐2, IL‐1β, monocytes chemotactic protein‐1, IL‐13, IFN‐γ, IL‐10, IL‐12(p70), IL‐1α, eotaxin, granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor, macrophage inflammatory protein‐1α, IL‐17, and RANTES. Further molecular analysis revealed that LCP increased the expression of nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2 and manganese‐dependent superoxide dismutase, but decreased forkhead box protein O1 and heme oxygenase‐1 in the liver of NASH mice.

Conclusion

Dietary supplementation of LCP ameliorates inflammation and lipid peroxidation by upregulating nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)‐like 2 and manganese‐dependent superoxide dismutase, and downregulating forkhead box protein O1 and heme oxygenase‐1 in NASH.
Method of B0 mapping with magnitude‐based correction for bipolar two‐point Dixon cardiac MRI
Authors: Liu Junmin , Peters Dana C. , Drangova Maria
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The conventional two‐point (2pt) Dixon technique explicitly estimates B0 map by performing phase unwrapping. When signal loss, phase singularity, artifacts, or spatially isolated regions corrupt the measured phase images, this unwrapping‐based technique will face difficulty. This work aims to improve the reliability of B0 mapping by performing unwrapping error correction.

Method

To detect the unwrapping‐caused phase errors, we determined a magnitude‐based fat/water mask and used it as reference to identify pixels being mismatched by the phase‐based mask, which was derived from the B0‐corrected phase term of the Hermitian product between echoes. Then, we corrected the afore‐determined phase error on a region‐by‐region basis. We tested the developed method with nine patients’ data, and the results were compared with a well‐established region‐growing technique.

Results

By adding the step to correct unwrapping‐caused error, we improved the robustness of B0 mapping, resulting in better fat–water separation when compared with the conventional 2pt and the phasor‐based region‐growing techniques.

Conclusion

We showed the feasibility of B0 mapping with bipolar 2pt human cardiac data. The software is freely available to the scientific community. Magn Reson Med 78:1862–1869, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Severe murine limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy type 2C pathology is diminished by FTY720 treatment
Authors: Heydemann Ahlke
Published: December 2016

Introduction

Limb‐girdle muscular dystrophy type 2C (LGMD‐2C) is caused by mutations in γ‐sarcoglycan and is a devastating, progressive, and fully lethal human muscle‐wasting disease that has no effective treatment. This study examined the efficacy of the sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptor modulator FTY720 in treating Sgcg−/−DBA2/J, a severe mouse model of LGMD‐2C. FTY720 treatment was expected to target LGMD‐2C disease progression at 2 key positions by reducing chronic inflammation and fibrosis.

Methods

The treatment protocol was initiated at age 3 weeks and was continued with alternate‐day injections for 3 weeks.

Results

The treatment produced significant functional benefit by plethysmography and significant reductions of membrane permeability and fibrosis. Furthermore, the protocol elevated protein levels of δ‐sarcoglycan, a dystrophin–glycoprotein family member.

Conclusion

This study showed that FTY720 is an effective muscular dystrophy treatment when therapy is initiated early in the disease progression. Muscle Nerve 56: 486–494, 2017
Ischemic myopathy revealing systemic calciphylaxis
Authors: Aouizerate Jessie , Valleyrie‐Allanore Laurence , Limal Nicolas , Ayache S. Samar , Gherardi Romain K. , Audard Vincent , Jerôme Authier François
Published: December 2016

Introduction

Patients with renal failure who are being treated with dialysis frequently develop neuromuscular manifestations. Renal failure–associated calciphylaxis, also termed calcific uremic arteriolopathy (CUA), is a life‐threatening condition usually observed in patients with end‐stage renal disease on chronic dialysis or after renal transplantation.

Methods

We describe a hemodialyzed patient who presented with rapidly progressive unexplained systemic vasculopathy, muscle atrophy, and proximal weakness, that unexpectedly proved to be caused by calciphylaxis.

Results

Quadriceps muscle biopsy disclosed diffuse vascular calcific deposits on medium‐ and small‐sized vessels, characteristic of CUA. Other changes included ischemic myopathy, focal intracellular calcium accumulation within myofibers, and calcium deposits in endomysial capillaries associated with marked complement activation and C5b9 formation.

Conclusion

There are only a few descriptions of muscle involvement in the context of CUA, a condition with a prognosis that depends on early diagnosis and treatment. This report underscores the usefulness of muscle biopsy in the diagnosis of systemic calciphylaxis. Muscle Nerve 56: 529–533, 2017
High‐resolution manometry in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy: Elevated prevalence of esophageal involvement and differences according to autoantibody status and clinical subset
Authors: Casal‐Dominguez Maria , Pinal‐Fernandez Iago , Mego Marianela , Accarino Anna , Jubany Lluis , Azpiroz Fernando , Selva‐O'callaghan Albert
Published: December 2016

Introduction

In this study we assessed high‐resolution manometry (HRM) findings in patients with dermatomyositis and polymyositis.

Methods

From 2008 to 2015, we performed a cross‐sectional study of myositis patients. A survey of esophageal symptoms and HRM data were analyzed and compared among different clinical and serologic groups.

Results

Twenty‐four (45%) of the 53 patients included in the study had manometric involvement that was not correlated with any esophageal symptom (P = 0.8). Failed waves (34% vs. 0%, P = 0.004) and decreased upper esophageal sphincter pressure (50 vs. 70 mm Hg, P = 0.03) were more common in polymyositis than in dermatomyositis patients. Jackhammer esophagus was more common in anti–TIF1‐γ patients (30% vs. 9%, P = 0.04), and lower esophageal sphincter involvement (47% vs. 25%, P = 0.03) was more prevalent in patients with the antisynthetase syndrome.

Conclusions

Esophageal involvement is common in myositis patients, but it correlates poorly with esophageal symptoms. Specific clinical and serologic groups have different manometric features. Muscle Nerve 56: 386–392, 2017
Muscle activation during resistance exercise at 70% and 90% 1‐repetition maximum in resistance‐trained men
Authors: Gonzalez Adam M. , Ghigiarelli Jamie J. , Sell Katie M. , Shone Edward W. , Kelly Christopher F. , Mangine Gerald T.
Published: December 2016

Introduction

Muscle activation was investigated during resistance exercise with 2 relatively high‐intensity loads.

Methods

Ten resistance‐trained men performed the leg press exercise to repetition failure: a set at 70% of 1‐repetition maximum (1RM) and a set at 90% of 1RM. Surface electromyography (EMG) was used to assess peak and mean muscle activation of the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, and vastus medialis.

Results

Peak and mean EMG remained greater at 90% than 70% 1RM across all repetitions (P =  0.03 and P = 0.02, respectively). Main effects for trial were also significant for mean EMG activity of the final common repetitions (P = 0.03) favoring 90% 1RM; however, peak EMG activity was similar during the final common repetitions of the 70% and 90% 1RM sets.

Conclusions

Across all repetitions, 90% 1RM appears to produce greater muscle activation during the leg press exercise, but similar peak EMG was observed during the final common repetitions of each set. Muscle Nerve 56: 505–509, 2017
Association of Temporal Variations in Staffing With Hospital‐Acquired Pressure Injury in Military Hospitals
Authors: Patrician Patricia A. , McCarthy Mary S. , Swiger Pauline , Raju Dheeraj , Breckenridge‐Sproat Sara , Su Xiaogang , Randall Kelly H. , Loan Lori A.
Published: December 2016

To more precisely evaluate the effects of nurse staffing on hospital‐acquired pressure injury (HAPI) development, data on nursing care hours per patient day (NCHPPD), nursing skill mix, patient turnover (i.e., admissions, transfers, and discharges), and patient acuity were merged with patient information from pressure injury prevalence surveys that were collected annually for the Military Nursing Outcomes Database (MilNOD) project. The MilNOD included staffing and adverse events from 56 medical‐surgical, stepdown, and critical care units in 13 military hospitals over a 4‐year‐period. Data on 1,643 patients were analyzed with Cox proportional hazards models and generalized estimating equations. Staffing was not associated with pressure injuries in stepdown or critical care patients. However, among the 1,104 medical‐surgical patients, higher licensed practical nurse (LPN) nursing care hours per patient day (NCHPPD) 3 days and 1 week prior to the HAPI discovery date were associated with fewer HAPI (HR 0.27, p < .001), after controlling for patient age, Braden mobility score, and albumin level. Neither total staff number, nor RN NCHPPD, nor the proportion of staff who were RNs (RN skill mix) were associated with HAPI. These findings suggest that on military medical‐surgical units, LPNs play a major role in HAPI prevention. Although the national trend in acute care is to staff hospital units with more RNs and patient care technicians, and fewer LPNs, hospitals should reconsider LPNs as valuable members of the nursing care team. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of extensional flow on properties of polyamide‐66/poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) blends: A study of morphology, mechanical properties, and rheology
Authors: Yang Kunxiao , Xin Chunling , Huang Ying , Jiang Lilong , He Yadong
Published: December 2016

In this study, polyamide‐66/poly(2,6‐dimethyl‐1,4‐phenylene oxide) (PA66/PPO) blends with high viscosity ratio were processed by a self‐designed triangle‐arrayed triple‐screw extruder (TTSE, which simulates extensional flow) and a commercial twin‐screw extruder (TSE), respectively. Furthermore, in order to improve the mechanical properties of the immiscible PA66/PPO blends, PPO‐grafted maleic anhydride (PPO‐g‐MA) and styrene–ethylene–butylene–styrene (SEBS) block copolymer were used. The mechanical properties, phase morphology, and rheological properties of both binary PA66/PPO blends and toughened PA66/PPO/PPO‐g‐MA blends were comprehensively investigated to compare the above mentioned two processing method. Samples processed with TTSE exhibited better mechanical properties than the TSE‐processed blends. The morphologies of the blends were examined by scanning electron microscopy, exhibiting smaller particles sizes and narrower particle size distributions, which were attributed to the significant effects of extensional flow in TTSE. The toughening mechanism of compatibilized blends was investigated through morphology analysis, dynamic mechanical, and rhelogical analysis. Thus, TTSE with an extensional effect was proved to be efficient in the blending of high viscosity ratio polymers. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 57:1090–1098, 2017. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Cycles of silence: First Nations women overcoming social and historical barriers in supportive cancer care
Authors: Hammond Chad , Thomas Roanne , Gifford Wendy , Poudrier Jennifer , Hamilton Ryan , Brooks Carolyn , Morrison Tricia , Scott Tracy , Warner Doris
Published: December 2016

Background

First Nations people with cancer in Canada confront several critical inequities in physical and psychosocial domains. First Nations women are at a particular disadvantage as they are disproportionately affected by social determinants of health, but how they navigate these challenges within their communities is poorly understood.

Objective

Our study explores survivorship experiences of First Nations women with cancer and their caregivers. Drawing from a larger data set on survivorship, we identify several major barriers to cancer communication and support in First Nations communities.

Methods

Our team conducted a participatory, arts‐based study using several data collection methods (interviews, sharing sessions, photovoice, and other creative activities) with 43 participants (24 cancer survivors and 19 caregivers) from four First Nations communities in Canada.

Results

Two major themes have emerged out of our data analyses: (1) suffering without support leads to cycles of silence and (2) community‐based supports can disrupt these cycles. We identified several social, historical, and institutional barriers to speaking about cancer and finding/providing support; however, communities met the challenge of silence through voluntary and unsolicited provision of support.

Conclusions

Widespread silence around cancer reflects both the limited access First Nations people have to formal, supportive programs and services, as well as the creative ways they provide emotional, social, and financial support within their informal networks. Beyond the support of their communities, they also required institutional provision of care that is culturally safe, addressing the colonial impacts on cancer communication and the disproportionate burdens of disease in First Nations communities.
Stochastic parametrization of subgrid‐scale processes in coupled ocean–atmosphere systems: benefits and limitations of response theory
Authors: Demaeyer Jonathan , Vannitsem Stéphane
Published: December 2016

A stochastic subgrid‐scale parametrization based on the Ruelle's response theory and proposed by Wouters and Lucarini is tested in the context of a low‐order coupled ocean–atmosphere model for which a part of the atmospheric modes is considered as unresolved. A natural separation of phase‐space into an invariant set and its complement allows for an analytical derivation of the different terms involved in the parametrization, namely the average, fluctuation and long memory terms. In this case, the fluctuation term consists of additive stochastic noise. Its application to the low‐order system reveals that a considerable correction of the low‐frequency variability along the invariant subset can be obtained, provided that the coupling is sufficiently weak. This new approach of scale separation opens new avenues of subgrid‐scale parametrizations in multiscale systems used for climate forecasts.
Performance comparison of electrospray ionization and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization in untargeted and targeted liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry based metabolomics analysis of grapeberry metabolites
Authors: Commisso Mauro , Anesi Andrea , Dal Santo Silvia , Guzzo Flavia
Published: December 2016

Rationale

Electrospray ionization (ESI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) are both used to generate ions for the analysis of metabolites by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). We compared the performance of these methods for the analysis of Corvina grapevine berry methanolic extracts, which are complex mixtures of diverse metabolites.

Methods

Corvina berries representing three ripening stages (veraison, early‐ripening and full‐ripening) were collected during two growing seasons, powdered and extracted with methanol. Untargeted metabolomic analysis was carried out by LC/ESI‐MS and LC/APCI‐MS. Processed data files were assembled into a data matrix for multivariate statistical analysis. The limits of detection (LODs), limits of quantification (LOQs), linear ranges, and matrix effects were investigated for strongly polar metabolites such as sucrose and tartaric acid and for moderately polar metabolites such as caftaric acid, epicatechin and quercetin 3‐O‐glucoside.

Results

Multivariate statistical analysis of the 608 features revealed that APCI was particularly suitable for the ionization of strongly polar metabolites such as sugars and organic acids, whereas ESI was more suitable for moderately polar metabolites such as flavanols, flavones and both glycosylated and acylated anthocyanins. APCI generated more fragment ions whereas ESI generated more adducts. ESI achieved lower LODs and LOQs for sucrose and tartaric acid but featured narrower linear ranges and greater matrix effects.

Conclusions

ESI and APCI are not complementary ion sources. Indeed, ESI can be exploited to analyze moderately polar metabolites, whereas APCI can be used to investigate weakly polar/non‐polar metabolites and, as demonstrated by our results, also strongly polar metabolites. ESI and APCI can be used in parallel, exploiting their strengths to cover the plant metabolome more broadly than either method alone. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MREA: a minimum resource expenditure node capture attack in wireless sensor networks
Authors: Lin Chi , Qiu Tie , Obaidat Mohammad S. , Yu Chang Wu , Yao Lin , Wu Guowei
Published: December 2016

Because of the stochastic key pre‐distribution and complicated network topology, designing an energy‐efficient node capture attack algorithm is of great challenge. Although many algorithms have been proposed for node capture attack, previous methods lack of concerning minimizing resource expenditure in modeling attacking behavior. In this paper, we propose a novel way of modeling the node capture attack. First, we transform the problem into a set covering problem with a shortest Hamiltonian cycle problem, which has been shown to be NP‐hard. Consequently, we also develop a heuristic called minimum resource expenditure node capture attack (MREA) to maximize destructiveness while minimizing resource expenditure. Moreover, extensive simulations are conducted to show the performance of MREA. Simulation results show that MREA outperforms other algorithms in reducing the attack rounds and saving resource expenditure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Shape Controlled Plasmonic Sn Doped CdO Colloidal Nanocrystals: A Synthetic Route to Maximize the Figure of Merit of Transparent Conducting Oxide
Authors: Ghosh Sirshendu , Saha Manas , Paul Sumana , De S. K.
Published: December 2016

The synthesis of different anisotropic shaped (eight different shapes) Sn4+ doped CdO (Sn:CdO) colloidal nanocrystals (NCs) by precise tuning of precursor reactivity and proper choice of capping agent is reported. In all these systems, formation of Sn:CdO quantum dots (QDs) of 2–3 nm is identified at very early stage of reaction. The colloidally stable QDs act as a continuous source for the formation of primary nanoparticles that can be transformed selectively into specific type of nanoparticle morphology. The specific facet stabilization of fcc (face centered cubic)CdO is predicted by particular choice of ligand. Fine tuning of plasmonic absorbance band can be achieved by variation of Sn4+ doping concentration. Different anisotropic Sn:CdO NCs exhibit interesting shape dependent plasmonic absorbance features in NIR region. High quality crack free uniform dense thin film has been deposited on glass substrate to make high quality transparent conducting oxide (TCO) coatings. figure of merit of TCO can be maximized as high as 0.523 Ω−1 with conductivity of 43 600 S cm−1 and visible transmittance of ≈85% which is much higher than commercially available tin doped indium oxide and other transparent electrodes.
Inferring population size: extending the multiplier method to incorporate multiple traits with a likelihood‐based approach
Authors: Meng Vivian Yun , Gustafson Paul
Published: December 2016

Estimating population size is an important task for resource planning and policy making. One method is the “multiplier method” that uses information about a binary trait to infer the size of a population. This paper presents a likelihood‐based estimator that generalizes the multiplier method to accommodate multiple traits as well as any number of categories in a trait. To provide guidelines for study design, we quantify the advantage of using multiple traits (multiple multipliers) by studying the estimator's asymptotic standard deviation (ASD). Inclusion of multiple traits reduces the ASD most effectively when the traits are uncorrelated and of low prevalence (roughly less than 10%), but the amount of reduction in ASD diminishes when the number of traits becomes large. A Bayesian implementation of our method is applied to both simulated data and real data pertaining to an injection‐drug user population. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Selected physicochemical properties of starches isolated from ten cassava varieties reveal novel industrial uses
Authors: Justamante Händel Schmitz Gabriela , Gonçalves Peroni‐Okita Fernanda Helena , Oliveira do Nascimento João Roberto , Bombarda Campanha Raquel , Losada Valle Teresa , Landi Franco Célia Maria , Cordenunsi‐Lysenko Beatriz Rosana
Published: December 2016

Although cassava is of great importance as a starch source for industrial purposes or food consumption, the evaluation of different varieties is an under‐investigated topic. Thus, in order to contribute to the identification of cassava starches more suitable for use and application in the food industry, this study aimed to analyze and compare the physicochemical properties of starches from ten different cassava varieties of household consumption, industrial use, and mixed use. In order to accomplish this goal, analyses were performed into the thermal and pasting properties, granule size, and amylopectin branch‐chain‐length distribution and amylose and phosphorus contents, as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the starches. In addition, a principal component analysis (PCA) biplot was generated, as one of the most useful methods to analyze multidimensional datasets with quantitative variables. Significant differences in phosphorus and amylose contents, branch‐chain‐length distribution of amylopectin, starch granule diameter, gelatinization and retrogradation temperatures, and pasting properties were obtained. Therefore, this study adds to the literature regarding the physicochemical properties of starches of these cassava varieties, contributing to improving their uses in the food industry by novel applications these starches, and adding and corroborating uses of some varieties studied.
Customized vs population‐based growth charts to identify neonates at risk of adverse outcome: systematic review and Bayesian meta‐analysis of observational studies
Authors: Chiossi G. , Pedroza C. , Costantine M. M. , Truong V. T. T. , Gargano G. , Saade G. R.
Published: December 2016

Objective

To compare the effectiveness of customized vs population‐based growth charts for the prediction of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Methods

MEDLINE, ClinicalTrials.gov and The Cochrane Library were searched up to 31 May 2016 to identify interventional and observational studies comparing adverse outcomes among large‐ (LGA) and small‐ (SGA) for‐gestational‐age neonates, when classified according to customized vs population‐based growth charts. Perinatal mortality and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of both SGA and LGA neonates, intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) and neonatal mortality of SGA neonates, and neonatal shoulder dystocia and hypoglycemia as well as maternal third‐ and fourth‐degree perineal lacerations in LGA pregnancies were evaluated.

Results

The electronic search identified 237 records that were examined based on title and abstract, of which 27 full‐text articles were examined for eligibility. After excluding seven articles, 20 observational studies were included in a Bayesian meta‐analysis. Neonates classified as SGA according to customized growth charts had higher risks of IUFD (odds ratio (OR), 7.8 (95% CI, 4.2–12.3)), neonatal death (OR, 3.5 (95% CI, 1.1–8.0)), perinatal death (OR, 5.8 (95% CI, 3.8–7.8)) and NICU admission (OR, 3.6 (95% CI, 2.0–5.5)) than did non‐SGA cases. Neonates classified as SGA according to population‐based growth charts also had increased risk for adverse outcomes, albeit the point estimates of the pooled ORs were smaller: IUFD (OR, 3.3 (95% CI, 1.9–5.0)), neonatal death (OR, 2.9 (95% CI, 1.2–4.5)), perinatal death (OR, 4.0 (95% CI, 2.8–5.1)) and NICU admission (OR, 2.4 (95% CI, 1.7–3.2)). For LGA vs non‐LGA, there were no differences in pooled ORs for perinatal death, NICU admission, hypoglycemia and maternal third‐ and fourth‐degree perineal lacerations when classified according to either the customized or the population‐based approach. In contrast, both approaches indicated that LGA neonates are at increased risk for shoulder dystocia than are non‐LGA ones (OR, 7.4 (95% CI, 4.9–9.8) using customized charts; OR, 8.0 (95% CI, 5.3–10.1) using population‐based charts).

Conclusions

Both customized and population‐based growth charts can identify SGA neonates at risk for adverse outcomes. Although the point estimates of the pooled ORs may differ for some outcomes, the overlapping CIs and lack of direct comparisons prevent conclusions from being drawn on the superiority of one method. Future clinical trials should compare directly the two approaches in the management of fetuses of abnormal size. Copyright © 2016 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Future liquefied natural gas business structure: a review and comparison of oil and liquefied natural gas sectors
Authors: Nikhalat‐Jahromi Hamed , Fontes Dalila B.M.M. , Cochrane Robert A.
Published: December 2016

The liquefied natural gas (LNG) trade provides the means of trading gas globally and represents about 10% of the gas trade. The forecasts show the LNG business will grow, over the next 20 years, at about twice the rate of the whole gas trade. Although the current state of LNG trade is well studied, the literature on the future business structure of it is limited and conflictual. This work considers the future LNG business structure by comparing the development trajectories of the oil and LNG sectors. In addition, it assesses the conclusions drawn by researchers against this background and the current pattern of change in the industry. The comparison involves three stages: (1) trade flows—oil and LNG trade flows are very similar, mainly due to the common distribution of the oil and gas reserves. (2) Supply chain configuration—the international trade for both fuels is tanker based thus allowing for a similar market responsive trade policy, i.e., real‐time destination selection (spot sale) at a global scale. (3) Institutional developments—the current transparent and competitive global oil trade, with prices dominated by physical and paper markets, was driven previously by long‐term contracts, in the same manner as the current LNG business. This analysis, together with transaction cost economics, supports the argument that, in future, LNG spot trade will increase and give rise to a competitive and globally
unified LNG market. Furthermore, LNG pricing will become transparent and would be dominated by physical and paper markets benchmark prices. WIREs Energy Environ 2017, 6:e240. doi: 10.1002/wene.240

This article is categorized under:

Energy Policy and Planning > Economics and Policy

Energy Policy and Planning > Systems and Infrastructure

Energy and Development > Economics and Policy
LJM716 in Japanese patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma or HER2-overexpressing breast or gastric cancer
Authors: Takahashi Shunji , Kobayashi Takayuki , Tomomatsu Junichi , Ito Yoshinori , Oda Hisanobu , Kajitani Tatsuhiro , Kakizume Tomoyuki , Tajima Takeshi , Takeuchi Hiromi , Maacke Heiko , Esaki Taito
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) has been identified as an important component of many receptor tyrosine kinase-driven cancers. LJM716 is a human IgG monoclonal antibody that binds HER3, trapping it in an inactive conformation. In this study, a phase I dose escalation was performed with a primary objective to establish the maximum tolerated dose and/or the recommended dose of LJM716 in Japanese patients with selected advanced solid tumors. Secondary objectives included the evaluation of the safety and tolerability, preliminary antitumor activity, and pharmacokinetics of LJM716 in Japanese patients.

Methods

LJM716 was administered intravenously at doses of 10, 20, or 40 mg/kg once weekly, in 28-day cycles, to 12 patients with HER2-amplified breast cancer or gastric cancer, or with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, regardless of HER2 status.

Results

The maximum tolerated dose was not reached, and the recommended dose was established at 40 mg/kg. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed in the first cycle. The most frequently reported adverse events were diarrhea, fatigue, stomatitis, pyrexia, and paronychia. One unconfirmed partial response was observed in a patient with breast cancer, and 50% of the patients achieved stable disease as the best overall response. Exposure increased with ascending dose, and half-life was estimated to be 11–14 days. No anti-LJM716 antibodies were detected.

Conclusions

LJM716 was well tolerated in Japanese patients, and a degree of tumor shrinkage was observed.

Clinical trial information

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01911936.
Association of plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 and vitamin D receptor expression with the risk of keloid disease in a Chinese population
Authors: Gong Zhen‐Hua , Ji Jian‐Feng , Yang Jun , Xiang Tie , Zhou Chang‐Kai , Pan Xuan‐Liang , Yao Jian
Published: December 2016

Keloid disease (KD) is a benign fibroproliferative scarring condition of unknown etiopathogenesis. Plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1 (PAI‐1) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) have been shown to play important roles in the progression of tissue fibrosis; therefore, both these genes are potential susceptibility genes for KD. We aimed to determine whether the gene expression levels of PAI‐1 and VDR are altered in Chinese KD patients. We measured the expression of PAI and VDR in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in 236 patients with keloid and 219 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. We found that PAI‐1 expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes was significantly higher in patients with KD than in control individuals (p < 0.0001), while VDR expression was significantly lower in KD patients than in control individuals (p < 0.0001). High levels of PAI‐1 and low levels of VDR expression were significantly associated with an increased risk for KD. PAI‐1 and VDR might play important roles in keloid development. Gene expression levels of PAI‐1 and VDR may, therefore, be used as potential markers for the prediction of keloid development after scarring.
Pain reduction due to novel sensory-motor training in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome I – A pilot study
Authors: Schmid Anne-Christine , Schwarz Anja , Gustin Sylvia M. , Greenspan Joel D. , Hummel Friedhelm C. , Birbaumer Niels
Published: December 2016

Background and aims

Patients suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) of the upper limb show a changed cortical representation of the affected hand. The lip area invades the former hand area contralateral to the affected hand. This change in cortical representation is correlated to the intensity of ongoing pain in patients with CRPS. Further studies revealed that restoration of the original representation coincides with a decrease of pain. Sensory-motor training protocols can increase and/or relocate cortical somatosensory and motor representation areas of the fingers, as shown, for example, in Braille reading individuals and professional violin players. Further, there is evidence that sensory-motor discrimination training has a beneficial effect on both the intensity of pain and the mislocalization of sensory-motor cortical areas in CRPS patients. Based on these propositions, we developed a novel sensory-motor self-training paradigm for CRPS patients to use in a home-based manner.

Methods

Ten CRPS patients performed the sensory-motor training for 2 weeks. The training consists of a braille-like haptic task with different training modes (bi-manual, speed and memory training). During the training, as well as 1 week before and after, patients were asked to fill out pain diaries. Furthermore, measures of impairment were acquired at baseline and post training.

Results

Patients showed significant pain reduction after the 2 week training period. The overall disability as well as the depression scores showed a trend to improve after the 2 week training. The reduction in pain was correlated with the total amount of training performed.

Conclusions

This is a first proof of principle study of a novel sensory-motor self-training protocol to reduce pain in CRPS patients. The more consistent the patients trained the larger the pain reduction. Sensory-motor training, which can be performed on a regular basis at home might provide a novel interventional strategy to improve symptoms of CRPS.

Implications

Although a larger study needs to be conducted to confirm our findings, including long-term follow-up, the results show, that a sensory-motor home-based training is a strategy worth exploring further for the reduction of pain as well as high frequency training for patients with CRPS.
The Boolean model in the Shannon regime: three thresholds and related asymptotics
Authors: Anantharam Venkat , Baccelli François
Published: December 2016

Consider a family of Boolean models, indexed by integers n≥1. The nth model features a Poisson point process in ℝn of intensity e{nρn}, and balls of independent and identically distributed radii distributed like X̅n√n. Assume that ρn→ρ as n→∞, and that X̅n satisfies a large deviations principle. We show that there then exist the three deterministic thresholds τd, the degree threshold, τp, the percolation probability threshold, and τv, the volume fraction threshold, such that, asymptotically as n tends to ∞, we have the following features. (i) For ρ<τd, almost every point is isolated, namely its ball intersects no other ball; (ii) for τd<ρ<τp, the mean number of balls intersected by a typical ball converges to ∞ and nevertheless there is no percolation; (iii) for τp<ρ<τv, the volume fraction is 0 and nevertheless percolation occurs; (iv) for τd<ρ<τv, the mean number of balls intersected by a typical ball converges to ∞ and nevertheless the volume fraction is 0; (v) for ρ>τv, the whole space is covered. The analysis of this asymptotic regime is motivated by problems in information theory, but it could be of independent interest in stochastic geometry. The relations between these three thresholds and the Shannon‒Poltyrev threshold are discussed.
A stochastic two-stage innovation diffusion model on a lattice
Authors: Coletti Cristian F. , de Oliveira Karina B. E. , Rodriguez Pablo M.
Published: December 2016

We propose a stochastic model describing a process of awareness, evaluation, and decision making by agents on the d-dimensional integer lattice. Each agent may be in any of the three states belonging to the set {0, 1, 2. In this model 0 stands for ignorants, 1 for aware, and 2 for adopters. Aware and adopters inform its nearest ignorant neighbors about a new product innovation at rate λ. At rate α an agent in aware state becomes an adopter due to the influence of adopters' neighbors. Finally, aware and adopters forget the information about the new product, thus becoming ignorant, at rate 1. Our purpose is to analyze the influence of the parameters on the qualitative behavior of the process. We obtain sufficient conditions under which the innovation diffusion (and adoption) either becomes extinct or propagates through the population with positive probability.
Detailed computational analysis of queueing-time distributions of the BMAP/G/1 queue using roots
Authors: Singh Gagandeep , Gupta U. C. , Chaudhry M. L.
Published: December 2016

In this paper we present closed-form expressions for the distribution of the virtual (actual) queueing time for the BMAP/R/1 and BMAP/D/1 queues, where `R' represents a class of distributions having rational Laplace‒Stieltjes transforms. The closed-form analysis is based on the roots of the underlying characteristic equation. Numerical aspects have been tested for a variety of arrival and service-time distributions and results are matched with those obtained using the matrix-analytic method (MAM). Further, a comparative study of computation time of the proposed method with the MAM has been carried out. Finally, we also present closed-form expressions for the distribution of the virtual (actual) system time. The proposed method is analytically quite simple and easy to implement.
On a coalescence process and its branching genealogy
Authors: Grosjean Nicolas , Huillet Thierry
Published: December 2016

We define and analyze a coalescent process as a recursive box-filling process whose genealogy is given by an ancestral time-reversed, time-inhomogeneous Bienyamé‒Galton‒Watson process. Special interest is on the expected size of a typical box and its probability of being empty. Special cases leading to exact asymptotic computations are investigated when the coalescing mechanisms are either linear fractional or quadratic.
Asymptotics for randomly reinforced urns with random barriers
Authors: Berti Patrizia , Crimaldi Irene , Pratelli Luca , Rigo Pietro
Published: December 2016

An urn contains black and red balls. Let Zn be the proportion of black balls at time n and 0≤L<U≤1 random barriers. At each time n, a ball bn is drawn. If bn is black and Zn-1L, then bn is replaced together with a random number Rn of red balls. Otherwise, no additional balls are added, and bn alone is replaced. In this paper we assume that Rn=Bn. Then, under mild conditions, it is shown that Zn→a.s.Z for some random variable Z, and Dn≔√n(Zn-Z)→𝒩(0,σ2) conditionally almost surely (a.s.), where σ2 is a certain random variance. Almost sure conditional convergence means that ℙ(Dn∈⋅|𝒢n)→w 𝒩(0,σ2) a.s., where ℙ(Dn∈⋅|𝒢n) is a regular version of the conditional distribution of Dn given the past 𝒢n. Thus, in particular, one obtains Dn→𝒩(0,σ2) stably. It is also shown that L<Z<U a.s. and Z has nonatomic distribution.
A generalization of the Mabinogion sheep problem of D. Williams
Authors: Lin Yi-Shen
Published: December 2016

In his well-known textbook Probability with Martingales, David Williams (1991) introduces the Mabinogion sheep problem in which there is a magical flock of sheep, some black, some white. At each stage n=1,2,..., a sheep (chosen randomly from the entire flock, independently of previous events) bleats; if this bleating sheep is white, one black sheep (if any remain) instantly becomes white; if the bleating sheep is black, one white sheep (if any remain) instantly becomes black. No births or deaths occur. Suppose that one may remove any number of white sheep from the flock at (the end of) each stage n=0,1,.... The object is to maximize the expected final number of black sheep. By applying the martingale optimality principle, Williams showed that the problem is solvable and admits a simple nice solution. In this paper we consider a generalization of the Mabinogion sheep problem with two parameters 0≤p, q≤1, denoted M(p,q), in which at each stage, when the bleating sheep is white (black, respectively), a black (white, respectively) sheep (if any remain) instantly becomes white (black, respectively), with probability p (q, respectively) and nothing changes with probability 1-p (1-q, respectively). Note that the original problem corresponds to (p,q)=(1,1). Following Williams' approach, we solve the two cases (p,q)=(1,1/2) and (1/2,1) which admit simple solutions.
A pathology of progress? Locating the historiography of cancer
Authors: Arnold-Forster Agnes
Published: December 2016

Despite its prominent position in today's medical research, popular culture and everyday life, cancer's history is relatively unwritten. Compared to the other great ‘plagues’ – cholera, tuberculosis or tropical fevers, to name but a scant handful – cancer has few dedicated pages in the general surveys, and its specialists have largely failed to convince the broader community of medical historians – or indeed historians of anything at all – that histories of the disease can tell us fundamental things about the science and practice of medicine, both past and present. Moreover, cancer has a remarkably stable profile over time, at least in terms of its definition, language and terminology – a detail that only makes the disease's absence from historical literature more surprising.
Conscientious Objection in Healthcare and Moral Integrity
Authors: WICCLAIR MARK
Published: December 2016

There are several reasons for accommodating health professionals’ conscientious objections. However, several authors have argued that among the most important and compelling reasons is to enable health professionals to maintain their moral integrity. Accommodation is said to provide “moral space” in which health professionals can practice without compromising their moral integrity. There are, however, alternative conceptions of moral integrity and corresponding different criteria for moral-integrity-based claims. It is argued that one conception of moral integrity, the identity conception, is sound and suitable in the specific context of responding to health professionals’ conscientious objections and their requests for accommodation. According to the identity conception, one maintains one’s moral integrity if and only if one’s actions are consistent with one’s core moral convictions. The identity conception has been subject to a number of criticisms that might call into question its suitability as a standard for determining whether health professionals have genuine moral-integrity-based accommodation claims. The following five objections to the identity conception are critically examined: (1) it does not include a social component, (2) it is a conception of subjective rather than objective integrity, (3) it does not include a reasonableness condition, (4) it does not include any substantive moral constraints, and (5) it does not include any intellectual integrity requirement. In response to these objections, it is argued that none establishes the unsuitability of the identity conception in the specific context of responding to health professionals’ conscientious objections and their requests for accommodation.
Tolerance, Professional Judgment, and the Discretionary Space of the Physician
Authors: SULMASY DANIEL P.
Published: December 2016

Arguments against physicians’ claims of a right to refuse to provide tests or treatments to patients based on conscientious objection often depend on two premises that are rarely made explicit. The first is that the protection of religious liberty (broadly construed) should be limited to freedom of worship, assembly, and belief. The second is that because professions are licensed by the state, any citizen who practices a licensed profession is required to provide all the goods and services determined by the profession to fall within the scope of practice of that professional specialty and permitted by the state, regardless of any personal religious, philosophical, or moral objection. In this article, I argue that these premises ought to be rejected, and therefore the arguments that depend on them ought also to be rejected. The first premise is incompatible with Locke’s conception of tolerance, which recognizes that fundamental, self-identifying beliefs affect public as well as private acts and deserve a broad measure of tolerance. The second premise unduly (and unrealistically) narrows the discretionary space of professional practice to an extent that undermines the contributions professions ought to be permitted to make to the common good. Tolerance for conscientious objection in the public sphere of professional practice should not be unlimited, however, and the article proposes several commonsense, Lockean limits to tolerance for physician claims of conscientious objection.