bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved Surgical Outcomes With Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release in Patients With Severe Median Neuropathy
Authors: Calotta Nicholas A. , Lopez Joseph , Deune E. Gene
Published: July 2016

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) can be treated with open carpal tunnel release (OCTR) or endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR). Our goal was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ECTR versus OCTR in patients with severe CTS. We hypothesized that ECTR would be as safe and effective as OCTR in these patients. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with severe CTS who underwent ECTR or OCTR by E. G. Deune between 2001 and 2014. Variables were patient age, sex, relevant medical history, alcohol and tobacco use, and preoperative electromyography and physical examination results. The primary outcome was patient-reported resolution of neuropathic symptoms at last follow-up. Secondary outcomes were surgical complications and need for reoperation. We compared the cohorts using Student’s t tests and chi-square tests. Results: We identified 138 cases of severe CTS in 126 patients who met our inclusion criteria. Thirty-nine cases were treated with ECTR and 99 with OCTR. Mean ages were 59 years (ECTR group) and 56 years (OCTR group). The population was 68% women, and 56% of cases involved the dominant hand. The distributions of age, sex, hand dominance, presence of relevant medical history, and alcohol and tobacco use did not differ significantly between groups. Treatment completely resolved CTS symptoms in 82% of ECTR cases and 39% of OCTR cases. Complication rates (all causes) were similar for both procedures. Recurrence was observed in 2.6% of ECTR cases and 10% of OCTR cases. Conclusions: ECTR is a safe and effective alternative to OCTR for patients with severe CTS.
Ex-vivo release of Pipeline Embolization Device polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sleeves for improved distal landing zone accuracy in-vivo: A technical note
Authors: Griessenauer Christoph J , Gupta Raghav , Moore Justin , Thomas Ajith J , Ogilvy Christopher S
Published: July 2016

Background

Distal landing zone accuracy is critical in some intracranial aneurysms treated with the Pipeline Embolization Device (PED), and delayed opening of the distal end of the device can complicate the procedure. Here, we report a technical nuance that facilitates accurate placement of the distal end of the PED by ex-vivo, pre-implantation release of the PED Flex polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) sleeves.

Technical note

The PED Flex is partially pushed out of the introducer sheath ex-vivo, pre-implantation until the distal PED opens entirely and the PTFE sleeves are located distal to the device. Without inverting the PTFE sleeves, the PED is carefully pulled back into the introducer sheath placing the PTFE sleeves inside the device. The PED is loaded into the microcatheter and advanced toward the site of implantation. When the PED is initially deployed and pushed out of the microcatheter, it opens immediately and provides an anchor for the remainder of the deployment process. We present a video (supplementary material) that illustrates the technique along with an illustrative case.

Conclusion

Ex-vivo, pre-implantation release of the PTFE sleeves is an option in aneurysm treatment where distal landing accuracy is critical. Even without the protection of the PTFE sleeves, our clinical observation shows that the PED can be advanced safely through the microcatheter in selected cases.
A new image deconvolution method with fractional regularisation
Authors: Williams Bryan M , Zhang Jianping , Chen Ke
Published: July 2016

Image deconvolution is an important pre-processing step in image analysis which may be combined with denoising, also an important image restoration technique, and prepares the image to facilitate diagnosis in the case of medical images and further processing such as segmentation and registration. Considering the variational approach to this problem, regularisation is a vital component for reconstructing meaningful information and the problem of defining appropriate regularisation is an active research area. An important question in image deconvolution is how to obtain a restored image which has sharp edges where required but also allows smooth regions. Many of the existing regularisation methods allow for one or the other but struggle to obtain good results with both. Consequently, there has been much work in the area of variational image reconstruction in finding regularisation techniques which can provide good quality restoration for images which have both smooth regions and sharp edges. In this paper, we propose a new regularisation technique for image reconstruction in the blind and non-blind deconvolution problems where the precise cause of blur may or may not be known. We present experimental results which demonstrate that this method of regularisation is beneficial for restoring images and blur functions which contain both jumps in intensity and smooth regions.
An updated systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy and tolerability of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease
Authors: Singh-Franco Devada , Harrington Catherine , Tellez-Corrales Eglis
Published: July 2016

Objective:

This updated meta-analysis determines the effect of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors on glycemic and tolerability outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease with glomerular filtration rate of ⩽60 mL/min or on dialysis.

Methods:

In all, 14 citations were identified from multiple databases. Qualitative assessments and quantitative analyses were performed.

Results:

There were 2261 participants, 49–79 years of age, 49% men and 44% Caucasians. In seven placebo-comparator studies, reduction in hemoglobin A1c at weeks 12–24 was 0.55% (95% confidence interval: −0.68 to −0.43), P < 0.00001). In three sulfonylurea-comparator studies, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors did not significantly reduce hemoglobin A1c at weeks 52–54 (−0.15% (95% confidence interval: −0.32 to 0.02)). In one sitagliptin versus albiglutide study, albiglutide significantly reduced hemoglobin A1c in patients with moderate renal impairment (−0.51%). A similar reduction in hemoglobin A1c was seen with sitagliptin versus vildagliptin (−0.56% vs −0.54%). Compared with placebo or sulfonylurea, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors did not significantly reduce hemoglobin A1c after 12 and 54 weeks in patients on dialysis. Hypoglycemia was reported by ~30% of patients in both dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors and placebo groups over 24–52 weeks. While hypoglycemia was more common with a sulfonylurea at 52–54 weeks (risk ratio: 0.46 (95% confidence interval: 0.18 to 1.18)), there was significant heterogeneity ( I2  = 87%). Limitations included high drop-out rate from most studies and small number of active-comparator studies.

Conclusions:

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in patients with chronic kidney disease caused a modest reduction in hemoglobin A1c versus placebo, but not when compared with sulfonylureas or albiglutide, or when used in patients on dialysis. Additional active-comparator studies are needed to further elucidate the role of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in patients with chronic kidney disease stages 3–5 or on dialysis.
Knowledge translation lessons from an audit of Aboriginal Australians with acute coronary syndrome presenting to a regional hospital
Authors: Haynes Emma , Hohnen Harry , Katzenellenbogen Judith M , Scalley Benjamin D , Thompson Sandra C
Published: July 2016

Objective:

Translation of evidence into practice by health systems can be slow and incomplete and may disproportionately impact disadvantaged populations. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death among Aboriginal Australians. Timely access to effective medical care for acute coronary syndrome substantially improves survival. A quality-of-care audit conducted at a regional Western Australian hospital in 2011–2012 compared the Emergency Department management of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal acute coronary syndrome patients. This audit is used as a case study of translating knowledge processes in order to identify the factors that support equity-oriented knowledge translation.

Methods:

In-depth interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of the audit team and further key stakeholders with interest/experience in knowledge translation in the context of Aboriginal health. Interviews were analysed for alignment of the knowledge translation process with the thematic steps outlined in Tugwell’s cascade for equity-oriented knowledge translation framework.

Results:

In preparing the audit, groundwork helped shape management support to ensure receptivity to targeting Aboriginal cardiovascular outcomes. Reporting of audit findings and resulting advocacy were undertaken by the audit team with awareness of the institutional hierarchy, appropriate timing, personal relationships and recognising the importance of tailoring messages to specific audiences. These strategies were also acknowledged as important in the key stakeholder interviews. A follow-up audit documented a general improvement in treatment guideline adherence and a reduction in treatment inequalities for Aboriginal presentations.

Conclusion:

As well as identifying outcomes such as practice changes, a useful evaluation increases understanding of why and how an intervention worked. Case studies such as this enrich our understanding of the complex human factors, including individual attributes, experiences and relationships and systemic factors that shape equity-oriented knowledge translation. Given the potential that improving knowledge translation has to close the gap in Aboriginal health disparities, we must choose strategies that adequately take into account the unique contingencies of context across institutions and cultures.
Inhibiting TLR9 and other UNC93B1-dependent TLRs paradoxically increases accumulation of MYD88L265P plasmablasts in vivo
Authors: Wang James Q. , Beutler Bruce , Goodnow Christopher C. , Horikawa Keisuke
Published: July 2016

Key Points

Inhibiting endosomal TLRs suppresses MYD88L265P B-cell proliferation in vitro. Inhibition of endosomal TLRs paradoxically enhances accumulation of MYD88L265P B cells as plasmablasts in vivo.
Prediction of bleeding events in patients with venous thromboembolism on stable anticoagulation treatment
Authors: Klok Frederikus A. , Hösel Volker , Clemens Andreas , Yollo Wilfrid D. , Tilke Clemens , Schulman Sam , Lankeit Mareike , Konstantinides Stavros V.
Published: July 2016

Attempts at identifying patients with an elevated risk of bleeding while on anticoagulation following acute venous thromboembolism (VTE) have largely been unsuccessful thus far. We sought to develop a clinical prediction score for bleeding during stable anticoagulation treatment after acute VTE.

We performed apost hocanalysis of the pooled RE-COVER studies, two double-blind randomised “sister” trials evaluating dabigatranversusstandard treatment in 5107 VTE patients.

A score was derived from patients randomised to dabigatran using logistic regression analysis covering the complete follow-up period. The final model, named VTE-BLEED, included six variables and yielded a c-statistic of 0.72 (95% CI 0.67–0.76). Patients from the derivation cohort in the low-risk group (<2 points; 74% of the derivation population) had a bleeding incidence of 2.8% compared to 12.6% in the elevated-risk group (OR 5.0; 95% CI 3.5–7.1). The score proved accurate for our primary end-point,i.e.prediction of major bleeding after day 30 (“stable” anticoagulation), both in patients on dabigatran (c-statistic 0.75, 95% CI 0.61–0.89) and those on warfarin (0.78, 95% CI 0.68–0.86; p=0.77 for difference).

The new VTE-BLEED score accurately predicted major bleeding events in VTE patients on stable anticoagulation with both dabigatran and warfarin.
RevEcoR: an R package for the reverse ecology analysis of microbiomes
Authors: Cao Yang , Wang Yuanyuan , Zheng Xiaofei , Li Fei , Bo Xiaochen
Published: July 2016

Background

All species live in complex ecosystems. The structure and complexity of a microbial community reflects not only diversity and function, but also the environment in which it occurs. However, traditional ecological methods can only be applied on a small scale and for relatively well-understood biological systems. Recently, a graph-theory-based algorithm called the reverse ecology approach has been developed that can analyze the metabolic networks of all the species in a microbial community, and predict the metabolic interface between species and their environment.

Results

Here, we present RevEcoR, an R package and a Shiny Web application that implements the reverse ecology algorithm for determining microbe–microbe interactions in microbial communities. This software allows users to obtain large-scale ecological insights into species’ ecology directly from high-throughput metagenomic data. The software has great potential for facilitating the study of microbiomes.

Conclusions

RevEcoR is open source software for the study of microbial community ecology. The RevEcoR R package is freely available under the GNU General Public License v. 2.0 athttp://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/RevEcoR/with the vignette and typical usage examples, and the interactive Shiny web application is available athttp://yiluheihei.shinyapps.io/shiny-RevEcoR, or can be installed locally with the source code accessed fromhttps://github.com/yiluheihei/shiny-RevEcoR.
Frontline Science: Coincidental null mutation of Csf2rα in a colony of PI3Kγ−/− mice causes alveolar macrophage deficiency and fatal respiratory viral infection
Authors: Schneider Christoph , Nobs Samuel P , Heer Alex K , Hirsch Emilio , Penninger Josef , Siggs Owen M , Kopf Manfred
Published: July 2016

PI3Ks have been identified as key signaling proteins involved in many basic biologic processes in health and disease. Transgenic animals have been essential tools to study the underlying molecular mechanisms in this context and therefore, have been widely used to elucidate the role of these factors in many different settings. More specifically, PI3Kγ, a subunit highly expressed in the hematopoietic system, has been implicated to play an important role in many inflammatory diseases as well as cancer. Here, we report identification of multiple, additional, previously unknown mutations in the genome of a widely used PI3Kγ-deficient (PI3Kγ−/−) mouse colony. These include a STOP mutation in the GM-CSFRα chain, leading to a complete and specific deficiency in GM-CSF signaling. PI3Kγ−/− animals consequently lacked alveolar macrophages (AMs) and succumbed rapidly to influenza virus infection. Furthermore, PI3Kγ−/− mice carried an additional mutation that affects mucin 2 (Muc2) transcripts. This protein is strongly involved in the regulation of colorectal cancer, and indeed, conflicting reports have indicated that PI3Kγ−/− animals spontaneously develop colorectal tumors. Thus, we uncover previously unknown, confounding factors present in a strain of PI3Kγ−/− mice, leading to additional deficiencies in important signaling pathways with potentially wide-ranging implications for the interpretation of previous studies. By separating the mutations, we established a unique Csf2ra−/− mouse model that allows us to study the role of cell intrinsic GM-CSFR signaling in vivo without confounding variables introduced by defective IL-5R and IL-3R signaling in mice lacking the common β chain (Csf2rb).
Reservoir property mapping and monitoring from joint inversion of time-lapse seismic, electromagnetic, and production data
Authors: Liang Lin , Abubakar Aria , Habashy Tarek M.
Published: July 2016

We have developed a deterministic multiphysics joint inversion approach integrating seismic, electromagnetic (EM), and production data to map relevant reservoir properties, such as permeability and porosity, and the time evolution of the flooding front movement, i.e., saturation changes with time. These measurements are complementary in terms of their sensitivity to individual reservoir properties and their coverage of reservoir volumes. As a consequence, integration reduces ambiguities in the interpretation. In the workflow, a reservoir model is first built based on prior information. The production data are simulated by evolving the model in time based on the known well-control strategy. Simultaneously, the temporal and spatial distribution of fluid properties, such as saturation, salt concentration, density, and pressure are also obtained from the forward modeling. These properties, together with in situ rock properties, are transformed to formation resistivity and elastic properties using prescribed petrophysical relationships, such as Archie’s law and effective medium rock-physics models. From the transformation results, synthetic EM and full-waveform seismic data can be subsequently simulated. A Gauss-Newton optimization scheme is used to iteratively update the reservoir permeability and porosity fields until the mismatch between the synthetic data and the observed data becomes less than a predefined threshold. This inverse problem is usually highly underdetermined; hence, it is necessary to bring in prior information to further constrain the inversion. Different regularization approaches are investigated to facilitate incorporation of prior information into the joint inversion algorithm.
La Falsification D'identité En France, Du Règne Personnel de Louis XIV à La Veille de La Révolution
Authors: Abad Reynald
Published: July 2016

Précis

Jusqu'ici, la falsification d'identité sous l'Ancien Régime n'a guère été abordée qu'à travers la biographie des imposteurs célèbres ou l'étude des progrès de l'identification, ce qui revient à envisager la question à partir de cas particuliers ou du point de vue de l'autorité publique. Cet article se propose, au contraire, d'offrir un panorama aussi complet que possible de la falsification d'identité, en partant de la réalité du phénomène, c'est-à-dire des motivations et des méthodes des fraudeurs. Ce panorama, qui oblige à embrasser des aspects étonnamment variés de la vie sociale, s'accompagne de deux développements indispensables : l'un, préalable, pour définir rigoureusement la falsification d'identité ; l'autre, postérieur, pour analyser la législation pénale dans ce domaine. Il ressort de cette étude qu'il serait réducteur d'envisager exclusivement la falsification d'identité comme une catégorie de crime, plus ou moins nourrie par les progrès de l'identification : par la diversité de ses manifestations sociales, cette fraude dépasse à la fois la question de la criminalité et celle de la construction de l'Etat.
Drinking and Rebelling
Authors: Plack Noelle
Published: July 2016

This article presents a rereading of the largest and most notorious tax revolt of the French Revolution: the attacks on the customs wall in Paris, July 11–14, 1789. It also explores the subsequent trial of those arrested and the celebrations that took place on May 1, 1791, to mark the end of indirect taxation on consumer goods. It argues that the popular classes of Paris were politicized by their actions against consumption taxes during 1789–91. Wine was central to this campaign, as it became an object of protest and a symbol of liberty. Historians have shied away from examining these events, perhaps because of the influence of Hippolyte Taine's characterization of the inebriated, deranged crowd, but this movement against taxes on wine was essential to Parisian popular engagement with the Revolution in its early years.
Transsphenoidal Endoscopic Approach in the Treatment of Rathke's Cleft Cyst
Authors: Frank Giorgio , Sciarretta Vittorio , Mazzatenta Diego , Farneti Giovanni , Modugno Giovanni Carlo , Pasquini Ernesto
Published: July 2016

OBJECTIVE:

In this study, the usefulness of the transsphenoidal endoscopic approach in the treatment of a Rathke's cleft cyst is reported.

METHODS:

Between June 1998 and December 2002, 22 patients affected by sellar-suprasellar Rathke's cleft cysts were treated using a transsphenoidal endoscopic approach. Fourteen patients experienced pituitary dysfunction (64%), five experienced visual impairment (23%), and three reported headaches (14%).

RESULTS:

The patient follow-up ranged from 8 to 60 months (mean, 33 mo). Pituitary function was restored only in the four patients with hyperprolactinemia, whereas visual impairment and headache improved in all patients. However, when present before surgery, hypopituitarism was unaffected by surgery. Two patients experienced permanent diabetes insipidus (one of them before surgery). Only one recurrence was observed in a 13-year-old girl at 12 months after surgery, and it was treated using a new transsphenoidal endoscopic approach.

CONCLUSION:

The transsphenoidal endoscopic approach represents a straightforward and mini-invasive approach for the drainage and biopsy of a Rathke's cleft cyst.
Perfusion-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Patients with Vasospasm: A Useful New Tool in the Management of Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Hertel Frank , Walter Christof , Bettag Martin , Mörsdorf Maria , Macdonald R. Loch , Schackert Gabriele , Findlay J. Max
Published: July 2016

OBJECTIVE:

Cerebral vasospasm (VSP) is one of the most important risk factors for the development of a delayed neurological deficit after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (pwMRI) provides the possibility of detecting tissue at risk for infarction. The objective of our study was to evaluate the feasibility and impact of pwMRI in the management of SAH patients.

METHODS:

From a consecutive series of 180 patients experiencing SAH and treated at our institution over a 3-year period, we identified 20 who underwent pwMRI during their acute illness. For these 20 patients, the results of pwMRI were compared with the results of diffusion-weighted MRI, transcranial Doppler sonography, and neurological examinations performed at the same time and with repeated pwMRI examinations of the same patient at different times.

RESULTS:

Nineteen of 20 patients showed perfusion changes predominantly in the time maps. Fifteen of 19 patients with changes in pwMRI had a neurological deficit at the same time. In 7 of 15 patients with neurological deterioration, transcranial Doppler sonography showed signs of VSP, whereas all 15 patients showed alterations in pwMRI. The areas of perfusion changes in pwMRI correlated well with the neurological deficits of the patients and were larger than the areas of changed diffusion in diffusion-weighted MRI performed at the same time. There were no clinical complications with regard to the pwMRI examinations.

CONCLUSION:

pwMRI is safe and helpful in the management of patients with VSP after SAH. The sensitivity of pwMRI is higher than that of transcranial Doppler sonography in the detection of decreased perfusion as a result of VSP. pwMRI can detect tissue at risk before definitive infarction occurs and therefore may lead to a change of therapy in those patients.
Implanted Ventricular Shunts in the United States: The Billion-dollar-a-year Cost of Hydrocephalus Treatment
Authors: Patwardhan Ravish V. , Nanda Anil
Published: July 2016

OBJECTIVE:

To characterize admissions related to ventricular shunts in the year 2000 in terms of diagnoses, procedures, socioeconomic status, and other related data.

METHODS:

The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database (year 2000) was analyzed retrospectively. We reviewed 7.45 million patient admissions for primary International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, procedure codes 023 to 0243 (ventricular shunts to peritoneal, atrial, pleural, and urinary systems for initial placement, revision, and removal); admissions listing ventriculostomy placement (code 022) were excluded from analysis.

RESULTS:

Five thousand five hundred seventy-four admissions were identified. Admission sources primarily were routine (58.8%) and the emergency department (32.4%). Admission types primarily were elective (43.3%), emergent (33.2%), and urgent (21.9%). The top three primary diagnoses treated were shunt malfunction (40.7%), noncommunicating hydrocephalus (16.6%), and communicating hydrocephalus (13.2%). Shunt infection was the primary diagnosis in 7.2% of admissions. Age frequency of admissions was nonparametric, being highest for infants; the average stay was 8.4 ± 0.2 days (standard error range, 0–243 d). The most common procedures were ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement (43.4%) and ventricular shunt replacement (42.8%); ventricular shunt removal occurred in 7.3% of admissions, whereas ventricle-to-thorax (0.6%), ventricle-to-circulatory system (0.5%), and ventricle-to-urinary system (0.05%) shunts were rare. Average cost was $35,816 ± $810 (standard error range, $137–$814,748). Primary payers primarily were private insurers (43.8%), Medicare (26.0%), and Medicaid (24.5%). Disposition mainly was routine (78.4%, with home health care in 6.5%), and inpatient mortality was 2.7%. There was no socioeconomic disproportion in treatment with respect to average household income.

CONCLUSION:

Ventricular shunts as primary procedures constitute a significant medical and economic problem.
Rotational Vertebrobasilar Ischemia: Hemodynamic Assessment and Surgical Treatment
Authors: Vilela Marcelo D. , Goodkin Robert , Lundin David A. , Newell David W.
Published: July 2016

OBJECTIVE:

Rotational vertebrobasilar insufficiency is a severe and incapacitating condition. Proper investigation and management are essential to reestablish normal posterior circulation hemodynamics, improve symptoms, and prevent stroke. We present a series of 10 patients with rotational vertebrobasilar ischemia who were treated surgically and emphasize the importance of transcranial Doppler in the diagnosis and management of this condition.

METHODS:

All patients presented with symptoms of vertebrobasilar insufficiency induced by head turning. Transcranial Doppler documented a significant decrease in the posterior cerebral artery velocities during head turning that correlated with the symptoms in all patients. A dynamic cerebral angiogram was performed to demonstrate the site and extent of vertebral artery compression.

RESULTS:

The surgical technique performed was tailored to each individual patient on the basis of the anatomic location, pathogenesis, and mechanism of the vertebral artery compression. Five patients underwent removal of osteophytes at the level of the subaxial cervical spine, one patient had a discectomy, two patients had a decompression only at the level of C1–C2, and two patients had a decompression and fusion at the C1–C2 level.

CONCLUSION:

The transcranial Doppler is extremely useful to document the altered hemodynamics preoperatively and verify the return of normal posterior circulation velocities after the surgical decompression in patients with rotational vertebrobasilar ischemia. Surgical treatment is very effective, and excellent long-term results can be expected in the vast majority of patients after decompression of the vertebral artery.
Escargot and Scratch regulate neural commitment by antagonizing Notch activity in Drosophila sensory organs
Authors: Ramat Anne , Audibert Agnès , Louvet-Vallée Sophie , Simon Françoise , Fichelson Pierre , Gho Michel
Published: July 2016

During Notch (N)-mediated binary cell fate decisions, cells adopt two different fates according to the levels of N pathway activation: an Noff-dependent or an Non-dependent fate. How cells maintain these N activity levels over time remains largely unknown. We address this question in the cell lineage that gives rise to the Drosophila mechanosensory organs. In this lineage a primary precursor cell undergoes a stereotyped sequence of oriented asymmetric cell divisions and transits through two neural precursor states before acquiring a neuron identity. Using a combination of genetic and cell biology strategies, we show that Escargot and Scratch, two transcription factors belonging to the Snail superfamily, maintain Noff neural commitment by directly blocking the transcription of N target genes. We propose that Snail factors act by displacing proneural transcription activators from DNA binding sites. As such, Snail factors maintain the Noff state in neural precursor cells by buffering any ectopic variation in the level of N activity. Since Escargot and Scratch orthologs are present in other precursor cells, our findings are fundamental for understanding precursor cell fate acquisition in other systems.
Sall4 controls differentiation of pluripotent cells independently of the Nucleosome Remodelling and Deacetylation (NuRD) complex
Authors: Miller Anzy , Ralser Meryem , Kloet Susan L. , Loos Remco , Nishinakamura Ryuichi , Bertone Paul , Vermeulen Michiel , Hendrich Brian
Published: July 2016

Sall4 is an essential transcription factor for early mammalian development and is frequently overexpressed in cancer. Though it is reported to play an important role in embryonic stem cell self-renewal, whether it is an essential pluripotency factor has been disputed. Here we show that Sall4 is dispensable for ES cell pluripotency. Sall4 is an enhancer-binding protein that prevents precocious activation of the neural gene expression programme in ES cells but is not required for maintenance of the pluripotency gene regulatory network. While a proportion of Sall4 protein physically associates with the Nucleosome Remodelling and Deacetylase (NuRD) complex, Sall4 neither recruits NuRD to chromatin nor influences transcription via NuRD; rather free Sall4 protein regulates transcription independently of NuRD. We propose a model whereby enhancer binding by Sall4 and other pluripotency-associated transcription factors is responsible for maintaining the balance between transcriptional programmes in pluripotent cells.
Tmem2 regulates cell-matrix interactions that are essential for muscle fiber attachment
Authors: Ryckebüsch Lucile , Hernandez Lydia , Wang Carole , Phan Jenny , Yelon Deborah
Published: July 2016

Skeletal muscle morphogenesis depends upon interactions between developing muscle fibers and the extracellular matrix (ECM) that anchors fibers to the myotendinous junction (MTJ). The pathways that organize the ECM and regulate its engagement by cell-matrix adhesion complexes (CMACs) are therefore essential for muscle integrity. Here, we demonstrate the impact of transmembrane protein 2 (tmem2) on cell-matrix interactions during muscle morphogenesis in zebrafish. Maternal-zygotic tmem2 mutants (MZtmem2) exhibit muscle fiber detachment, in association with impaired laminin organization and ineffective fibronectin degradation at the MTJ. Similarly, disorganized laminin and fibronectin surround MZtmem2 cardiomyocytes, which could account for their hindered movement during cardiac morphogenesis. In addition to ECM defects, MZtmem2 mutants display hypoglycosylation of α-dystroglycan within the CMAC, which could contribute to the observed fiber detachment. Expression of the Tmem2 ectodomain can rescue aspects of the MZtmem2 phenotype, consistent with a possible extracellular function of Tmem2. Together, our results suggest that Tmem2 regulates cell-matrix interactions by affecting both ECM organization and CMAC activity. These findings evoke possible connections between the functions of Tmem2 and the etiologies of congenital muscular dystrophies, particularly dystroglycanopathies.
Making Snowflakes Like Stocks: Stretching, Bending, and Positioning to Make Financial Market Analogies Work in Online Advertising
Authors: Glaser Vern L. , Fiss Peer C. , Kennedy Mark Thomas
Published: July 2016

Analogies to financial markets have proven powerful in establishing novel or potentially controversial business concepts, even in contexts that deviate significantly from financial markets. This phenomenon challenges theory that suggests analogies work best when elements from a source and target domain map closely to each other. To develop a theory that explains how organizations make initially imperfect analogies “work,” we use a case study of online advertising exchanges, a market-inspired model for buying and selling online advertising space. We find that as organizations stretch an initially misfitting exchange analogy from financial markets to online advertising, they iteratively bend their activities in superficial, structural, and generative ways to match the analogy and position themselves for advantage in the new space being created. Whereas prior studies emphasize shared cognition about familiar domains as the reason why analogies work, our study offers a dynamic account in which stretching, bending, and positioning combine to not only establish the financial market analogy but also subtly change the understanding of markets.
O TESOURO ROMANO-REPUBLICANO DO CASAL ASCENSO ANTUNES (FERREIRA DO ZÊZERE, SANTARÉM, PORTUGAL)
Authors: Ruivo José , Sales Pedro , Lourenço Sandra , Barros Pedro
Published: July 2016

Descoberto ocasionalmente em 2008 à beira das águas da albufeira de Castelo do Bode, este conjunto monetário composto presentemente por 15 denários romano-republicanos vem engrossar o lote dos achados localizados na fachada litoral entre o Tejo e o Douro, ao que tudo indica ocultados durante as guerras sertorianas ou nos anos subsequentes.
Gamo Pazos, Emilio, Corpus de Inscripciones Latinas de la Provincia de Guadalajara, Diputación Provincial de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, 2012, 367 pp., ilustrado [ISBN. 978-84-92502-26-4].
Authors: Matias Vasco Gil
Published: July 2016

http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/1647-8657_54_9
Catálogo da Coleção de Pergaminhos do Hospital de São Lázaro de Coimbra (1197-1723)
Authors: Queirós Abílio , Bandeira Ana Maria Leitão
Published: July 2016

No fundo documental do Hospital de São Lázaro de Coimbra, originalmente designado por Gafaria de Coimbra, existente no Arquivo da Universidade de Coimbra, está inserida uma Coleção de Pergaminhos que é divulgada no presente trabalho. Foi elaborado o seu catálogo, permitindo, através deste instrumento de descrição documental, conhecer cada uma das 121 unidades pergamináceas que formam esta Coleção, datadas de 1197 a 1723. Entre as diversas tipologias documentais avultam, sobremaneira, as Cartas de aforamento e de emprazamento de propriedades do Hospital, mas também Cartas régias de D. Afonso IV, D. Fernando, D. João I, D. Afonso V e D. João V, Cartas de doações de bens ao Hospital, pelos seus doentes gafos, Cartas de compra e venda, bem como Sentenças de diversos juízes de Coimbra e de outras instâncias judiciais. http://dx.doi.org/10.14195/2182-7974_29_1
Effect of methotrexate and doxorubicin cumulative doses on superoxide dismutase levels in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Ningsih Khalida Fetriyani , Mulatsih Sri , Nugroho Sasmito
Published: July 2016

Background Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the mostcommon malignancy in children. Chemotherapeutic drugs forALL such as methotrexate (Mtx) and doxorubicin producereactive oxygen species (ROS), a type of free radical. The ROScan reduce levels of antioxidants in the body, including superoxidedismutase (SOD). Decreased SOD levels can cause DNA, lipid,and protein damage, which in turn may lead to adverse effectsand treatment failure.Objective To determine the effect of Mtx and doxorubicincumulative doses on SOD levels in children with ALL.Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study in childrenwith ALL who underwent chemotherapy in Dr. Sardjito Hospitalin October 2011 who had completed the induction phase. Riskfactors for decreased SOD levels were analyzed by Cox regressionand hazard ratio, with a significant level of P <0.05.Results Of 40 patients enrolled, Mtx ≥ 3000 mg/m2 significantlydecreased SOD levels (HR 9.959; 95%CI 2.819 to 35.183; P=0.001). However, doxorubicin ≥90 mg/m2 did not significantlydecrease SOD levels (HR 0.59 95%CI 0.194 to 1.765; P=0.34).Conclusion Methotrexate is associated with decreased SOD levelsin children with ALL. However, doxorubicin is not associated withdecreased SOD levels in the same patient population.
Sich einen Begriff vom Leiden Anderer machen
Authors: Schuchter Patrick
Published: July 2016

Sorge-Beziehungen in Medizin und Pflege sind geprägt von existenzieller Auseinandersetzung mit entscheidenden Fragen des Menschseins. Was kann die antike Philosophie hierzu beitragen? Patrick Schuchter hat die antiken philosophischen Praktiken der Sorge um sich für die Praktiken der Sorge für Andere (»Care«) in der Gegenwart aufbereitet. Ausgehend von einem weiten und hermeneutisch fundierten Begriff der Sorge mündet die Schrift in eine radikale Neubegründung der Ethik und liefert so einen Impuls für eine aufgeklärte philosophische Praxis und Lebenskunst mitten im Alltag des Lebens und Arbeitens.
Separation and Quantitation of Plant and Insect Carbohydrate Isomers Found on the Surface of Cotton
Authors: Peralta Donna V. , Fortier Chanel A. , Delhom Christopher D. , Rodgers James E. , Thibodeaux Devron P.
Published: July 2016

Certain levels of the carbohydrates melezitose and trehalulose deposited on cotton surfaces are indicative of either whitefly or aphid contamination, which may cause problems during cotton processing. Raffinose and sucrose are isomers of melezitose and trehalulose, respectively, making it difficult to fully separate them via ion chromatography (IC), especially when analysis time is shortened. We have successfully developed an IC method to separate the retention peaks of melezitose from raffinose and trehalulose from sucrose, with baseline resolution and improved quantitation of these sugars. This improved separation may elucidate useful information about constituent sugars on cotton, aiding in the identification of carbohydrates possibly contributing to stickiness.
Sustainability of Sustainable Fashion Products and Impact of Brand Names and Cause-Related Marketing on Purchase Intention
Authors: Kim Sookhyun
Published: July 2016

The purpose of this study is to measure the equity of sustainability of sustainable fashion product types, to examine consumers’ purchase intentions, and to study the effect of brand names and cause-related marketing on the product types. The differences among benefit-sought segments on the above variables were also tested. The results show that the highest equity of sustainability did not generate the highest purchase intention. Cause-related marketing significantly influenced the purchase intention on some selected product types regardless of brand names. Benefit-sought groups showed significantly different equities of sustainability, purchase intention, and effects of brand names and cause-related marketing.
Demographic insights into the Jat population of Haryana
Authors: Chandiok Ketaki , Brar Gurjinder Kaur , Murry Benrithurg , Mondal Prakash Ranjan
Published: July 2016

Demography is the science of populations that seeks to understand population dynamics in light of the population structure and its socio-economic makeup. The present study was conducted to understand the demographic profile of Jat community of Haryana. The data were collected from 15 Jat dominated villages in different months of the year 2011-2013 from 1158 households comprising 7162 individuals using pretested interview schedules. The research included various parameters like sex ratio, literacy rate, occupational status, marital status, socio-economic status of the studied population. The results revealed that the Jat population has experienced decline in fertility rate in the past few years. Median age of present population comes out to be 25 years which is lesser than national population, showing that population of Haryana is a young population. The sex ratio of the presently studied population was found to be low as compared to the state and country’s estimate. Almost one fourth of the population was found to be illiterate (23.87%) with a higher percentage of females (35.58%) as compared to the males (11.1%). Majority of the women participate in agriculture (31.4%) or home makers (40.82%) and almost half of the males (43.87 %) are practicing agriculture.
On the control of the difference between two
Brownian motions: a dynamic copula
approach
Authors: Deschatre Thomas
Published: July 2016

We propose new copulae to model the dependence between two Brownian motions and to control
the distribution of their difference. Our approach is based on the copula between the Brownian motion and
its reflection. We show that the class of admissible copulae for the Brownian motions are not limited to the
class of Gaussian copulae and that it also contains asymmetric copulae. These copulae allow for the survival
function of the difference between two Brownian motions to have higher value in the right tail than in the
Gaussian copula case. Considering two Brownian motions B1t and B2t, the main result is that the range of
possible values for is the same for Markovian pairs and all pairs of Brownian
motions, that is
with φ being the cumulative distribution function of a standard Gaussian
random variable.
On subordinate random walks
Authors: Mimica Ante
Published: July 2016

In this article subordination of random walks in

ℝ
d

${{\mathbb{R}}^{d}}$

is considered. We prove that subordination of random walks in the sense of [4] yields the same process as subordination in the sense of Lévy processes. Furthermore, we prove that appropriately scaled subordinate random walk converges to a multiple of a rotationally

2
⁢
α

${2\alpha}$

-stable process if and only if the Laplace exponent of the corresponding subordinator varies regularly at zero with index

α
∈

(
0
,
1
]

${\alpha\in(0,1]}$

.
Current state of the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) and view on the future development of MSUS training and services in Hong Kong: Results of a survey among the members of the Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology
Authors: Pui-Yan Wong Stella , Ho-Tze Kwan Carmen
Published: July 2016

Objective

To document the current state of the use of musculoskeletal US (MSUS) and view on the future development of MSUS training and services among the members of the Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology.

Methods

A three-page anonymous questionnaire, divided into three sections (demographics, current state of the MSUS service, and view on future development of MSUS training and services), was sent (either in electronic format or in hardcopy) to 79 members (70 full members and 9 ordinary members) of the Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology. The aim is to inquire about the use of MSUS by rheumatologists, their views on the future development of MSUS training and service in Hong Kong.

Results

28 (35%) out of 79 members responded to the questionnaire (including 25 fellows and 3 trainees working in public hospitals and private sector). 25 responders (89.3%; 25/28) were using MSUS in their daily practice for making diagnoses, guiding interventions or follow-up disease. Although 90% (25/28) of the responders’ institutes provided the MSUS service by the Radiology Department, 70% of them got long waiting time, and the Radiology Department did not provide the MSUS service to every joint region. Despite the widespread use of MSUS among rheumatologists, more than 90% of the responders could only do less than 10 scans per week. Lack of time and manpower, lack of expertise, high cost of equipment, and lack of support for training were important obstacles in developing the MSUS service. 18 (64%) responders in our survey tended to agree that MSUS training should be incorporated in the rheumatology training.

Conclusions

In conclusion, this is the first survey demonstrating the current state of the use of MSUS in Hong Kong and a huge growth in demand for the service development and formal training in MSUS. A number of challenges in terms of lack of time and manpower, lack of expertise, high cost of equipment, and lack of support for training is evident.
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Therapy for rheumatic diseases
Authors: Yeung Winnie Wan-Yin , Lau Chak-Sing
Published: July 2016

Mesenchymal stem cell therapy (MSCT) is an innovative treatment for rheumatic diseases. Underlying mechanism of how MSCT works in rheumatic diseases are still uncertain and with various hypotheses. Animal studies in MSCT show conflicting results mainly attributed by the differences in administration methods of MSCT, types of MSC use and randomization procedures. Human studies of MSCT are so far small scale but with satisfactory results in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Human studies of MSCT, however, showed less rewarding results in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic sclerosis (SSc). Larger scale studies are needed to confirm the efficiency of MSCT as well as the safety profile in human use.
Effect of Combined Air-Drying-Osmotic Dehydration on Kinetics of Techno-functional Properties, Color and Total Phenol Contents of Lemon (Citrus limon. v. lunari) Peels
Authors: Ghanem Romdhane N. , Djendoubi N. , Bonazzi C. , Kechaou N. , Boudhrioua Mihoubi N.
Published: July 2016

Combined osmotic dehydration (sucrose solution: 50–70 % w/w, 30–50 °C for 2 h followed by air drying at 40 and 60 °C) is an appropriate process for preservation of oil retention capacity, lightness and yellowness of lemon peels (Citrus limon. v. lunari). Incorporation of sugars to lemon cuboids pieces increased drying rate during the first falling rate phase of the air dehydration step and improved their color stability. Osmotic dehydration process allows protective effect against further total phenol loss during air drying: significant loss of total phenol content (70–80 %) was recorded during osmotic dehydration and then it remains constant during air drying at 40 and 60 °C. For the investigated temperature of osmotic pre-treatment (30–50 °C), water retention capacities were reduced by up to 70 % and were maintained constant during air drying.
Impact of severe cracked germanium (111) substrate on aluminum indium gallium phosphate light-emitting-diode’s electro-optical performance
Authors: Annaniah Luruthudass , Devarajan Mutharasu
Published: July 2016

Cracked die is a serious failure mode in the Light Emitting Diode (LED) industry – affecting LED quality and long-term reliability performance. In this paper an investigation has been carried out to find the correlation between severe cracked germanium (Ge) substrate of an aluminum indium gallium phosphate (AlInGaP) LED and its electro-optical performance after the Temperature Cycle (TC) test. The LED dice were indented at several bond forces using a die bonder. The indented dice were analysed using a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The result showed that severe cracks were observed at 180 gF onward. As the force of indentation increases, crack formation also becomes more severe thus resulting in the chipping of the substrate. The cracked dies were packaged and the TC test was performed. The results did not show any electro-optical failure or degradation, even after a 1000 cycle TC test. Several mechanically cross-sectioned cracked die LEDs, were analysed using SEM and found that no crack reached the active layer. This shows that severely cracked Ge substrate are able to withstand a −40°C/+100°C TC test up to 1000 cycles and LED optical performance is not affected. A small leakage current was observed in all of the cracked die LEDs in comparison to the reference unit. However, this value is smaller than the product specification and is of no concern.