bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the variation of friction coefficients of human skin as a function of skin hydration and interfacial water films
Authors: Derler S , Rossi RM , Rotaru G-M
Published: April 2014

Human skin is characterised by a complex and highly variable friction behaviour. Although the variation of friction coefficients measured for skin depends on numerous parameters related to the skin itself, the surface in contact as well as contact conditions, water or sweat – either bound in the stratum corneum and manifest as skin hydration or in form of liquid films lubricating the interface – is the most important factor. Here, we analyse the variation of previous experimental data on the basis of the adhesion friction model and show how lower and upper bounds, i.e. envelope functions, can be derived for measured skin-friction coefficients. From these envelope functions, essential tribological parameters such as the interfacial shear strength and the real contact area of skin are estimated.
Separating ‘emotion’ from ‘the science’: Exploring the perceived value of information for parents and families of children with autistic spectrum disorder
Authors: O’Reilly Michelle , Karim Khalid , Lester Jessica Nina
Published: April 2014

Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) is a life-long condition. In recent years, there has been a rise in the number of children diagnosed with ASD and a greater recognition that parents need clear, accessible information communicated through different modalities. The objective of this research was to explore the views of stakeholders regarding their information needs, current information modalities and the perceived barriers and complexities of information. Three focus groups with the same stakeholders were conducted with a range of individuals from a variety of backgrounds, all of whom had a personal and/or professional interest in ASD. The same stakeholders were included in all three groups to promote depth of analysis and to facilitate rapport. All focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Three main issues were identified, including (1) the value of particular information sources; (2) the vulnerability of families and (3) the need for validated evidence. It was concluded, therefore, that information should be available through a multitude of modalities, accounting for the educational ability and economic status of families. The information should also be communicated in an accessible style, should be presented as trustworthy and clinical professionals may play a key role in translating information. Such information also needs to account for practical problems inherent to having a child with ASD, including time constraints and fatigue.
Remembering Learning About America
Authors: Gale Ken
Published: April 2014

The article offers an autoethnographic inquiry into the influence of the imagery of the Western on the nascent becomings of self in immediate post–World War II United Kingdom. By sharing fragments and brief rememberings in terms of “concept, affect, and percept” the article will attempt to re-live the world of “Cowboys” and “Indians” in the fragile emergence of and continuing life of self.
Writing With Phineas
Authors: Wegener Charlotte
Published: April 2014

This article describes a collaborative writing strategy when you are alone. It is the story of how I came to bring Phineas, the protagonist in A. S. Byatt’s The Biographer’s Tale, into my writing process as a third voice in my dialogue with my data. It is a self-reflective text that shows how co-writers are always present, even when you might feel that you are writing all alone. In The Biographer’s Tale, the academic Phineas renounces his post-structural dissertation project in literature to search for “things” and “facts.” He decides to write a biography. However, Phineas discovers that “facts” are slippery and not easily “pieced together.” Phineas writes about his struggles, and so do I. Through co-writing with Phineas, I gradually found a voice of experience, which helped me to transforming my ethnographic data into research texts.
Feature Selection and Classification of Electroencephalographic Signals
Authors: Erguzel Turker Tekin , Ozekes Serhat , Tan Oguz , Gultekin Selahattin
Published: April 2014

Feature selection is an important step in many pattern recognition systems aiming to overcome the so-called curse of dimensionality. In this study, an optimized classification method was tested in 147 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) treated with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). The performance of the combination of a genetic algorithm (GA) and a back-propagation (BP) neural network (BPNN) was evaluated using 6-channel pre-rTMS electroencephalographic (EEG) patterns of theta and delta frequency bands. The GA was first used to eliminate the redundant and less discriminant features to maximize classification performance. The BPNN was then applied to test the performance of the feature subset. Finally, classification performance using the subset was evaluated using 6-fold cross-validation. Although the slow bands of the frontal electrodes are widely used to collect EEG data for patients with MDD and provide quite satisfactory classification results, the outcomes of the proposed approach indicate noticeably increased overall accuracy of 89.12% and an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.904 using the reduced feature set.
Separate Childhood Laws and the Future of Society
Authors: Hanson Karl
Published: April 2014

This article reflects upon the way how law and legal regulations on behalf of children have responded to childhood by setting up separate legal regimes. It looks at the origins of child protection and juvenile justice legislation and at the legal framework that deals with child labor. The differences between children and adults are deemed so fundamental that they have justified the setting up of different legal regimes for children, which are thought of as being better equipped to take children’s particularities into account and hence to better prepare them for the future. However, the establishment of separate childhood laws in order to better take into account children’s special needs, has in practice partially pushed children out of existing legal frameworks. This has prevented children from exercising a whole other set of fundamental rights and has not only strengthened but in some instances paradoxically also weakened their legal status.
Sociology, Culture and Energy: The Case of Wilhelm Ostwald’s ‘Sociological Energetics’ – A Translation and Exposition of a Classic Text
Authors: Stewart Janet
Published: April 2014

Sociology has largely ignored the contribution of the German Nobel-Prize-winning chemist Wilhelm Ostwald to the sociology of energy, mainly due to Max Weber’s (1909) dismissive reception of Ostwald’s ‘energetical thought’. This article reclaims Ostwald’s significance for contemporary sociology, through a translation and exposition of ‘Sociological Energetics’, first published in 1908 as the final chapter of a popular book on energy. Ostwald’s deliberations, which derive from his engagement in contemporary debates on thermodynamics and energetics, brought him into contact with classical sociologists, including Rudolf Goldscheid, Georg Simmel, Ferdinand Tönnies and Weber. Ostwald’s contribution to sociology lies in his focus on the cultural significance of energy relations and transformations. In their encounters with Ostwald and energetics, Simmel, Tönnies and Weber all reveal the potential importance of Ostwald’s work on energy relations in thinking productively about the relationship between technology and culture.
Pourquoi faut-il « apprivoiser » la confiance entre tous pour cultiver un processus de développement local durable ?
Authors: Decoster Dominique-Paule
Published: April 2014

Un processus de développement territorial durable représente une organisation sociale caractérisée par son unicité propre au territoire d’implémentation. Cette notion de territoire constitue un fait humain dont le développement intègre le bien-être collectif et individuel au travers d’une démarche intersectorielle et pluridisciplinaire.

Lors de la réalisation de projets communs, la dynamique partenariale peut transformer les relations interpersonnelles et favoriser l’émergence de liens de confiance au cœur du processus de développement local durable. Cette confiance engendre la constitution d’une intelligence territoriale collective basée sur les savoirs et savoir-faire individuels et sectoriels qui forme le patrimoine immatériel commun, pour chacun des sociétaires du processus de développement territorial durable. Mais cette confiance partenariale reste fragile car elle constitue un fait humain.
Les citoyens, alliés du système de santé
Authors: Venne Michel
Published: April 2014

De nombreuses déclarations internationales reconnaissent la participation citoyenne comme un levier important de succès des politiques de santé. Cependant, la mise en œuvre de ce principe tarde dans la plupart des pays. Des phénomènes bien connus, comme celui du vieillissement, et les coûts qu’ils engendrent, devraient pourtant inciter les décideurs à s’appuyer davantage sur les citoyens, en faire des alliés du système, en leur accordant un peu de pouvoir et de responsabilité. Cette responsabilité s’exerce d’abord dans la prévention et la promotion de la santé. Elle s’étend à l’entraide communautaire. Elle est sollicitée dans la détermination des nouvelles normes sociales. Elle est reconnue par la participation des citoyens aux instances décisionnelles du système de soins. Et elle s’applique lorsque vient le temps choisir quels services de santé seront couverts par le régime public et lesquels seront renvoyés à la prévoyance personnelle. Les raisons de faire une place aux citoyens dans nos systèmes de santé sont nombreuses. Les moyens pour le faire existent. Il faut une volonté politique et des ressources.
La recherche partenariale comme espace de soutien à l’innovation
Authors: Bernier Jocelyne
Published: April 2014

Une démarche d’évaluation partenariale impliquant plusieurs acteurs est traversée par un processus de négociations et d’ajustements entre des préoccupations, des responsabilités et des intérêts divers. Comment susciter un dialogue entre des savoirs d’expertise et des savoirs d’expérience afin de produire des connaissances scientifiquement fondées et utiles pour les acteurs impliqués dans les programmes ? Loin d’être un processus mécanique, cette démarche implique un travail délicat de recherche d’équilibre qui repose sur un cadre de partenariat négocié. La mise en place d’un comité de pilotage animé par une fonction d’interface entre les parties prenantes de l’intervention étudiée est de plus en plus reconnue comme une des conditions de réussite de la recherche partenariale. Ces conditions permettent de déployer un système réflexif qui peut soutenir l’innovation sociale, lorsque la formulation du problème et les actions qui en découlent continuent de s’enrichir au fur et à mesure que se développent les connaissances sur l’intervention.
Neglected lesser tuberosity avulsion in an adolescent elite gymnast
Authors: Paxinos Odysseas , Karavasili Alexandra , Manolarakis Manolis , Paxinos Thrasivoulos , Papavasiliou Athanasios
Published: April 2014

We report the case of a 16-year-old elite gymnast who presented with recurring pain in the left shoulder after training. The athlete recalled an injury to the shoulder 2 years ago. Clinically a localized tenderness to the anterior shoulder and loss of strength and range of motion was noted. Imaging investigation suggested a neglected lesser tuberosity avulsion. The athlete was treated with open excision of the deformed tuberosity and direct repair of the subscapularis to the humeral head. Following a careful postoperative rehabilitation protocol the athlete was able to return to unrestricted gymnastics after 6 months. After surgery the athlete followed a intense rehabilitation program that allowed him to return to sports at 6 months. At 5-years follow-up, the athlete was asymptomatic and competing at an international level. Avulsion fractures of the lesser tuberosity are extremely rare injuries with significant shoulder disability if left untreated. Anatomic repair can yield excellent results, even in neglected cases.
Pilot Study Using Mobile Health to Coordinate the Diabetic Patient, Diabetologist, and Ophthalmologist
Authors: Tsui Irena , Drexler Andrew , Stanton Annette L. , Kageyama Jennie , Ngo Elaine , Straatsma Bradley R.
Published: April 2014

Background:

In the United States, more than 25 million adults have diabetes, 40% of diabetics have diabetic retinopathy, and diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people 20 to 74 years of age. Clinical trials have shown that strict control of blood glucose level and other risk factors delays diabetic retinopathy onset, progression, and vision loss.

Methods:

Patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes mellitus, access to an Apple iPhone or iPad, and no psychological or medical condition that would interfere with the study participated in a nonrandomized clinical trial using SightBook™, a free mobile app that enables self-measurement of visual function and creates a password-protected web account for each patient.

Results:

Sixty patients enrolled in the clinical trial over a 6 month period. Twenty-six participants were men and 34 were women, with ages from 23 to 72 years (mean 45 ± 15) and diabetes duration of 1.5 to 50 years (mean 15.5 ± 11.5). Thirty-nine (65%) patients reported Type 1 diabetes and 21 (35%) patients reported Type 2 diabetes. Every patient established a personal web account on SightBook and invited participation of treating physicians; 51 (85%) patients completed the validated self-reported outcome assessments. Diabetologist examinations of 49 (82%) patients demonstrated systolic hypertension (≥140 mgHg) in 20% and hemoglobin A1c ≥ 7.0% in 56%. Ophthalmology examinations of 45 patients showed visual acuity in the worse-seeing eye of < 20/40 in 18% and diabetic retinopathy in 42% of patients.

Conclusions:

This clinical trial used a mobile health app to incorporate diabetic patient self-measurement of vision and coordinate the diabetic patient, diabetologist, and ophthalmologist for control of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy risk factors.
Gene promoter polymorphism of RUNX2 and risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal Indonesian women
Authors: Auerkari Elza I , Suryandari Dwi A , Umami Sri S , Kusdhany Lindawati S , Siregar Tut Wuri A , Rahardjo Tri Budi W , Talbot Christopher , Hogervorst Eef
Published: April 2014

Objectives:

Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease of reduced bone mass density (BMD) and elevated risk of fracture due to an imbalance in bone formation and resorption. The risk and incidence of osteoporosis increase towards advanced age, particularly in postmenopausal women, and the risk is known to be affected by the variation in the expression of the associated regulatory genes. This work aimed to clarify the impact of variation in RUNX2 (runt domain transcription factor 2), which is an osteoblast-specific transcription factor that normally stimulates bone formation and osteoblast differentiation, regarding single-nucleotide polymorphism within RUNX2 promoter (P1) and risk of osteoporosis in postmenopausal Indonesian women.

Methods:

Using DNA sampling from blood, the variation at the single-nucleotide polymorphism (-330, G→T, rs59983488) at the RUNX2 P1 promoter was investigated using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism for 180 consenting postmenopausal Indonesian women. The subjects were examined for bone mass density and classification to normal and those with osteopenia or osteoporosis by T-scoring with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Chi-square testing and logistic regression were mainly used for statistical assessment.

Results:

The results showed a general trend with increased risk of osteoporosis associated with the genotype TT (mutant type) and the corresponding T allele of the tested polymorphism of RUNX2 promoter P1. The trend was, however, not significant in multivariate testing adjusted for age and time after menopause.

Conclusion:

To confirm the potential risk with TT genotype would require testing of a much larger sample of subjects. As the tested single-nucleotide polymorphism only represents one of the relevant candidate locations of RUNX2, the results are taken nevertheless to suggest an impact by overall RUNX2 variation in the risk of osteoporosis in Indonesian postmenopausal women.
Genome-wide analysis and expression profile of the bZIP transcription factor gene family in grapevine (Vitis vinifera)
Authors: Liu Jinyi , Chen Nana , Chen Fei , Cai Bin , Dal Santo Silvia , Tornielli Giovanni Battista , Pezzotti Mario , Cheng Zong-Ming
Published: April 2014

Background

Basic leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factor gene family is one of the largest and most diverse families in plants. Current studies have shown that the bZIP proteins regulate numerous growth and developmental processes and biotic and abiotic stress responses. Nonetheless, knowledge concerning the specific expression patterns and evolutionary history of plant bZIP family members remains very limited.

Results

We identified 55 bZIP transcription factor-encoding genes in the grapevine (Vitis vinifera) genome, and divided them into 10 groups according to the phylogenetic relationship with those in Arabidopsis. The chromosome distribution and the collinearity analyses suggest that expansion of the grapevine bZIP (VvbZIP) transcription factor family was greatly contributed by the segment/chromosomal duplications, which may be associated with the grapevine genome fusion events. Nine intron/exon structural patterns within the bZIP domain and the additional conserved motifs were identified among all VvbZIP proteins, and showed a high group-specificity. The predicted specificities on DNA-binding domains indicated that some highly conserved amino acid residues exist across each major group in the tree of land plant life. The expression patterns of VvbZIP genes across the grapevine gene expression atlas, based on microarray technology, suggest that VvbZIP genes are involved in grapevine organ development, especially seed development. Expression analysis based on qRT-PCR indicated that VvbZIP genes are extensively involved in drought- and heat-responses, with possibly different mechanisms.

Conclusions

The genome-wide identification, chromosome organization, gene structures, evolutionary and expression analyses of grapevine bZIP genes provide an overall insight of this gene family and their potential involvement in growth, development and stress responses. This will facilitate further research on the bZIP gene family regarding their evolutionary history and biological functions.
Pyrosequencing for rapid detection of Tuberculosis resistance in clinical isolates and Sputum samples from re-treatment Pulmonary Tuberculosis patients
Authors: Zheng Ruijuan , Zhu Changtai , Guo Qi , Qin Lianhua , Wang Jie , Lu Junmei , Cui Haiyan , Cui Zhenling , Ge Baoxue , Liu Jinming , Hu Zhongyi
Published: April 2014

Background

Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is a major public health problem. Early diagnosis of MDR-TB patients is essential for minimizing the risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) transmission. The conventional drug susceptibility testing (DST) methods for detection of drug-resistant M.tuberculosis are laborious and cannot provide the rapid detection for clinical practice.

Methods

The aim of this study was to develop a pyrosequencing approach for the simultaneous detection of resistance to rifampin (RIF), isoniazid (INH), ethambutol (EMB), streptomycin (SM), ofloxacin (OFL) and amikacin (AMK) in M. tuberculosis clinical isolates and sputum samples from re-treatment pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients. We identified the optimum conditions for detection mutation of rpoB, katG, rpsl, embB, gyrA and rrs gene by pyrosequencing. Then this approach was applied to detect 205 clinical isolates and 24 sputum samples of M. tuberculosis from re-treatment PTB patients.

Results

The mutations of rpoB and gyrA gene were detected by pyrosequencig with the SQA mode, and the mutations of katG, rpsl, embB, gyrA and rrs gene were detected by pyrosequencing with SNP mode. Compared with the Bactec MGIT 960 mycobacterial detection system, the accuracy of pyrosequencing for the detection of RIF, INH, EMB, SM, AMK and OFL resistance in clinical isolates was 95.0%, 79.2%, 70.3%, 84.5%, 96.5% and 91.1%, respectively. In sputum samples the accuracy was 83.3%, 83.3%, 60.9%, 83.3%, 87.5% and 91.7%, respectively.

Conclusions

The newly established pyrosequencing assay is a rapid and high-throughput method for the detection of resistance to RIF, INH, SM, EMB, OFL and AMK in M.tuberculosis. Pyrosequencing can be used as a practical molecular diagnostic tool for screening and predicting the resistance of re-treatment pulmonary tuberculosis patients.
Socio-demographic determinants and access to prenatal care in Italy
Authors: Chiavarini Manuela , Lanari Donatella , Minelli Liliana , Salmasi Luca
Published: April 2014

Background

Many governments have made commitments to examine inequalities in healthcare access based on studies assessing the association between several socio-demographic factors and late initiation or fewer prenatal examinations. This study addressed the question of whether socio-demographic determinants were significant in explaining differences in prenatal care in one administrative region of Italy, Umbria.

Methods

Data were obtained from the administrative source of the regional Standard Certificate of Live Births between 2005 and 2010, and were merged with Census data to include a socio-economic deprivation index. Standard and multilevel logistic regression models were used to analyze the magnitude of various individual-level maternal characteristics and socio-demographic indicators, such as nationality, employment status, education with respect to late access to the first examination, and low number of medical visits.

Results

The study involved approximately 37,000 women. The heterogeneous effects of socio-demographic variables were documented on the prenatal care indicators analyzed. A multivariate model showed that women born outside Italy had a higher probability of making their first visit later than the 12th week of pregnancy and low numbers of prenatal medical visits; the estimated odds ratio for the analyzed indicators range from 2.25 to 3.05. Inadequate prenatal healthcare use was also observed in younger and pluriparous women and those with low education; in addition, having a job improved the use of services, possibly through transmission of information of negative consequences due to delayed or few prenatal visits. Interestingly, this study found a substantial reduction in the number of pregnant women who do not use prenatal healthcare services properly.

Conclusions

The aim of this research is to provide more accurate knowledge about the inadequate use of prenatal healthcare in Italy. Results highlight the existence of differences in healthcare use during pregnancy, especially for women from less advantaged social classes (i.e., unemployed or poorly educated). Such inequalities should be examined in all areas of public policy and public services, to ensure equal opportunity for their use.
Bimetallic non-alloyed NPs for improving the broadband optical absorption of thin amorphous silicon substrates
Authors: Tan Chee Leong , Jang Sung Jun , Song Young Min , Alameh Kamal , Lee Yong Tak
Published: April 2014

We propose the use of bimetallic non-alloyed nanoparticles (BNNPs) to improve the broadband optical absorption of thin amorphous silicon substrates. Isolated bimetallic NPs with uniform size distribution on glass and silicon are obtained by depositing a 10-nm Au film and annealing it at 600°C; this is followed by an 8-nm Ag film annealed at 400°C. We experimentally demonstrate that the deposition of gold (Au)-silver (Ag) bimetallic non-alloyed NPs (BNNPs) on a thin amorphous silicon (a-Si) film increases the film's average absorption and forward scattering over a broad spectrum, thus significantly reducing its total reflection performance. Experimental results show that Au-Ag BNNPs fabricated on a glass substrate exhibit resonant peaks at 437 and 540 nm and a 14-fold increase in average forward scattering over the wavelength range of 300 to 1,100 nm in comparison with bare glass. When deposited on a 100-nm-thin a-Si film, Au-Ag BNNPs increase the average absorption and forward scattering by 19.6% and 95.9% compared to those values for Au NPs on thin a-Si and plain a-Si without MNPs, respectively, over the 300- to 1,100-nm range.
Erratum to: Determining the degradation efficiency and mechanisms of ethyl violet using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS and GC-MS
Authors: Lu Chung-Shin , Lin Wan-Yu , Wang Jian-Xun , Wu Chia-Wei , Chen Chiing-Chang
Published: April 2014

This is a correction to the following paper: Determining the degradation efficiency and mechanisms of ethyl violet using HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS and GC-MS, Wen-Hsin Chung, Chung-Shin Lu, Wan-Yu Lin, Jian-Xun Wang, Chia-Wei Wu, Chiing-Chang Chen, Chemistry Central Journal 2012, 6:63 (30 June 2012).
Development of tartaric esters as bifunctional additives of methanol-gasoline
Authors: Zhang Jie , Yang Changchun , Tang Ying , Zhou Rui , Wang Xiaoli , Xu Lianghong
Published: April 2014

Background

Methanol has become an alternative fuel for gasoline, which is facing a rapidly rising world demand with a limited oil supply. Methanol-gasoline has been used in China, but phase stability and vapor lock still need to be resolved in methanol-gasoline applications. In this paper, a series of tartaric esters were synthesized and used as phase stabilizers and saturation vapor pressure depressors for methanol-gasoline.

Results

The results showed that the phase stabilities of tartaric esters for methanol-gasoline depend on the length of the alkoxy group. Several tartaric esters were found to be effective in various gasoline-methanol blends, and the tartaric esters display high capacity to depress the saturation vapor pressure of methanol-gasoline.

Conclusion

According to the results, it can be concluded that the tartaric esters have great potential to be bifunctional gasoline-methanol additives.
Molecular imaging of rheumatoid arthritis: emerging markers, tools, and techniques
Authors: Put Stéphanie , Westhovens René , Lahoutte Tony , Matthys Patrick
Published: April 2014

Early diagnosis and effective monitoring of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are important for a positive outcome. Instant treatment often results in faster reduction of inflammation and, as a consequence, less structural damage. Anatomical imaging techniques have been in use for a long time, facilitating diagnosis and monitoring of RA. However, mere imaging of anatomical structures provides little information on the processes preceding changes in synovial tissue, cartilage, and bone. Molecular imaging might facilitate more effective diagnosis and monitoring in addition to providing new information on the disease pathogenesis. A limiting factor in the development of new molecular imaging techniques is the availability of suitable probes. Here, we review which cells and molecules can be targeted in the RA joint and discuss the advances that have been made in imaging of arthritis with a focus on such molecular targets as folate receptor, F4/80, macrophage mannose receptor, E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, phosphatidylserine, and matrix metalloproteinases. In addition, we discuss a new tool that is being introduced in the field, namely the use of nanobodies as tracers. Finally, we describe additional molecules displaying specific features in joint inflammation and propose these as potential new molecular imaging targets, more specifically receptor activator of nuclear factor κB and its ligand, chemokine receptors, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, αVβ3 integrin, P2X7 receptor, suppression of tumorigenicity 2, dendritic cell-specific transmembrane protein, and osteoclast-stimulatory transmembrane protein.
High levels of memory B cells are associated with response to a first tumor necrosis factor inhibitor in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in a longitudinal prospective study
Authors: Daien Claire I , Gailhac Sarah , Mura Thibault , Combe Bernard , Hahne Michael , Morel Jacques
Published: April 2014

Introduction

Tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) therapy is effective for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Some researchers have suggested that TNFi therapy affects B-cell homeostasis. We studied the effect of TNFi therapy on the distribution of peripheral B-cell subsets to elucidate B-cell–related biomarkers to predict the TNFi response.

Methods

Peripheral B cells were analyzed for expression of CD19, CD27, CD38 and immunoglobulin D in 31 healthy donors and 96 RA patients, including 21 patients who were followed 3 months after TNFi initiation.

Results

Treatment with steroids significantly altered the distribution of B-cell subsets. After we adjusted for age, sex and steroid dose, we found that patients with RA had B-cell subset proportions similar to controls. B-cell subset distributions did not differ upon use of TNFi at baseline or before or after TNFi introduction. TNFi responders (according to European League Against Rheumatism criteria) at 3 months had significantly higher proportions of CD27+ memory B cells at baseline, and ≥26% CD27+ cells at inclusion was associated with a relative risk of 4.9 (1.3 to 18.6) for response to TNFi treatment. CD27+ cells produced three times more TNFα than did TNFi-naïve B cells and were correlated with interferon γ produced from CD4+ cells in patients without TNFi treatment.

Conclusions

In patients with RA, high levels of baseline memory B cells were associated with response to TNFi, which may be related to TNFα-dependent activation of the T helper type 1 cell pathway.
Predicting outcome from subacute unresponsive wakefulness syndrome or vegetative state
Authors: Bodart Olivier , Laureys Steven
Published: April 2014

Predicting recovery of consciousness in patients who survive their coma but evolve to a vegetative state (recently coined unresponsive wakefulness syndrome) remains a challenge. Most previous prognostic studies have focused on the acute coma phase. A novel outcome scale (combining behavioural, aetiology, electroencephalographic, sleep electroencephalographic and somatosensory evoked potential data) has been proposed for patients in subacute unresponsive wakefulness syndrome. The scale’s clinical application awaits validation in a larger population.
At the Bedside: Adoptive cell therapy for melanoma—clinical development
Authors: Weber Jeffrey S
Published: April 2014

Adoptive cell therapy for melanoma, particularly using TIL, consists of a complex and difficult set of procedures, although it has a strong preclinical background and justification and has been pursued clinically by one small group of investigators over the last 20 years. More recent developments and a better understanding of the molecular basis of the anti-tumor immune response have led to the conduct of clinical trials that use lymphoid depletion with chemotherapy and/or TBI to exploit the favorable immune milieu of homeostatic lymphoid reconstitution during transfer of effector T cells. Improved ways of propagating T cells ex vivo have also simplified and shortened the cell-growth process. Current TIL trials have now been expanded beyond the initial center where it was developed, reproducing excellent objective response rates of 40–50% in previously treated melanoma patients and more importantly, demonstrating that a significant proportion of patients will be alive and free of disease 3–5 years after treatment, raising the possibility that those patients may be cured of their disease. Newer methods for growing the infiltrating T cells using immune-checkpoint antibodies or other agents to condition the tumor before harvest and improved technology to simplify the complex and often cumbersome cell-growth process suggest that this technology may be able to be disseminated to a wide selection of cancer centers and may be a candidate for testing in a randomized Phase III trial to show definitively its benefit in patients with metastatic melanoma. In the accompanying review, the preclinical work that supports the idea of adoptive cell therapy with TIL and expands the concept in promising new ways will be explored.
Application of Isolation to High-Rise Buildings: A Japanese Design Case Study through a U.S. Design Code Lens
Authors: Becker Tracy C. , Yamamoto Shunji , Hamaguchi Hiroki , Higashino Masahiko , Nakashima Masayoshi
Published: April 2014

Base isolation of high-rise buildings has been growing in popularity in Japan, yet it is uncommon in most of the world. While tall buildings already have long periods and thus lower input accelerations, the addition of isolation can decrease inter-story drifts and greatly decrease floor acceleration, protecting building content. By protecting building content, high-rises can be kept fully operational and occupiable after earthquakes. The Japanese design code has clearly outlined procedures for designing isolated high-rises, facilitating the implementation of isolation; however, other design codes—and specifically the U.S. code—make the adoption of isolation difficult for these buildings. Using a design representative of typical isolated high-rises in Japan, it is shown that while isolation is feasible under U.S. design levels, requirements are much more stringent, and some changes from the Japanese design would be required to make the design acceptable under the U.S. code.
Dynamic Response of a Model Levee on Sherman Island Peat: A Curated Data Set
Authors: Reinert Edward , Stewart Jonathan P. , Moss Robb E. S. , Brandenberg Scott J.
Published: April 2014

A model levee resting atop soft compressible peaty organic soil in the Sacramento/San Joaquin Delta was shaken by forced vibration to study the seismic deformation potential of the underlying peat and measure dynamic levee–peat interaction. Forced vibration testing occurred over a frequency range of 0 Hz to 5 Hz and produced force amplitudes applied to the embankment crest that induced elastic to nonlinear levee-foundation responses. Available data include acceleration records from sensors mounted on the model levee and on the ground surface near the model levee, and acceleration and pore pressure measurements from sensors embedded in the underlying peat. A remote data acquisition system measured settlements and pore pressures over a span of more than a year, encompassing time before and after the dynamic testing. Small pore pressures were generated in the peat during testing although embankment settlements from cyclic loading were small.
Phase IIa Trial of Trastuzumab Emtansine With Pertuzumab for Patients With Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Positive, Locally Advanced, or Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Miller Kathy D. , Diéras Véronique , Harbeck Nadia , Andre Fabrice , Mahtani Reshma L. , Gianni Luca , Albain Kathy S. , Crivellari Diana , Fang Liang , Michelson Glenn , de Haas Sanne L. , Burris Howard A.
Published: April 2014

Purpose

Our phase IIa study characterized the safety and efficacy of two human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) –targeted agents, trastuzumab emtansine (T-DM1) and pertuzumab, in patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Patients and Methods

Patients with HER2-positive locally advanced breast cancer or MBC were treated with 3.6 mg/kg T-DM1 plus pertuzumab (840-mg loading dose, then 420 mg subsequently) once every 3 weeks. The primary efficacy end point was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR).

Results

Sixty-four patients (43 patients in the second-line or greater setting [advanced MBC]; 21 patients in the first-line setting [first-line MBC]) were enrolled. Patients with advanced MBC had received trastuzumab and a median of six prior nonhormonal treatments for MBC; 86% of first-line MBC patients had received trastuzumab in the (neo)adjuvant setting. The ORR was 41% overall, 33% in patients with advanced MBC, and 57% in first-line patients. Median progression-free survival was 6.6, 5.5, and 7.7 months, respectively. The most common adverse events were fatigue (61%), nausea (50%), and diarrhea (39%). The most frequent grade ≥ 3 adverse events were thrombocytopenia (13%), fatigue (11%), and liver enzyme elevations (increased ALT: 9%; increased AST: 9%). One patient had left ventricular ejection fraction of less than 40% after study drug discontinuation. Exploratory biomarker analyses demonstrated that patients with above-median tumor HER2 mRNA levels had a numerically higher ORR than patients with below-median levels (44% v 33%, respectively).

Conclusion

T-DM1 and pertuzumab can be combined at full doses with no unexpected toxicities. The preliminary efficacy in patients in the first-line and advanced MBC settings warrants further investigation.
Abnormal Response to the Anorexic Effect of GHS-R Inhibitors and Exenatide in Male Snord116 Deletion Mouse Model for Prader-Willi Syndrome
Authors: Lin Dahe , Wang Qi , Ran Haiying , Liu Kai , Wang Yao , Wang Juanjuan , Liu Yazhen , Chen Ruichuan , Sun Yuxiang , Liu Runzhong , Ding Feng
Published: April 2014

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disease characterized by persistent hunger and hyperphagia. The lack of the Snord116 small nucleolar RNA cluster has been identified as the major contributor to PWS symptoms. The Snord116 deletion (Snord116del) mouse model manifested a subset of PWS symptoms including hyperphagia and hyperghrelinemia. In this study, male Snord116del mice were characterized and tested for their acute and chronic responses to anorexic substances related to the ghrelin pathway. In comparison with their wild-type littermates, the food intake rate of Snord116del mice was 14% higher when fed ad libitum, and 32% to 49% higher within 12 hours after fasting. Fasted Snord116del mice were less sensitive to the acute anorexic effect of competitive antagonist [d-Lys3]-GHRP6, YIL-781, and reverse agonist [d-Arg1,d-Phe5,d-Trp7,9,Leu11]-substance P (SPA) of ghrelin receptor GHS-R. All 3 GHS-R inhibitors failed to inhibit chronic food intake of either Snord116del or wild-type mice due to rapid adaptation. Although fasted Snord116del mice had normal sensitivity to the acute anorexic effect of glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist exenatide, those fed ad libitum required a higher dose and more frequent delivery to achieve ∼15% suppression of long-term food intake in comparison with wild-type mice. Ghrelin, however, is unlikely to be essential for the anorexic effect of exenatide in fed mice, as shown by the fact that exenatide did not reduce ghrelin levels in fed mice and food intake of ghrelin−/− mice fed ad libitum could be suppressed by exenatide. In conclusion, this study suggests that GHS-R may not be an effective therapeutic target, and in contrast, exenatide may produce anorexic effect in PWS individuals.
Gas-Phase Acidity of Polyfluorinated Hydrocarbons. Effects of Fluorine and the Perfluoroalkyl Group on Acidity
Authors: Zhang Min , Badal Md Mizanur Rahman , Pasikowska Magdalena , Sonoda Takaaki , Mishima Masaaki , Fukaya Haruhiko , Ono Taizo , Siehl Hans-Ullrich , Abboud José-Luis M , Koppel Ilmar A
Published: April 2014

Gas-phase acidities of polyfluorinated hydrocarbons have been determined by measuring proton-transfer equilibria and by computing the free energies of deprotonated carbanions and the corresponding neutrals. An excellent linear relationship between acidities and the accumulated inductive effects of fluorine atoms contained in a molecule was observed for the perfluoroalkyl-substituted neopentanes, (Rf1)(Rf2)(Rf3)CCH3, and polyfluorinated bridgehead carbon acids where the contribution of negative hyperconjugation of the Cβ–F bond to the stability of the conjugate anions is absent or negligibly small. On the basis of this relationship, the extent of β-fluorine negative hyperconjugation involved in acidities of polyfluorinated hydrocarbons could be evaluated quantitatively. The negative hyperconjugation was found to be negligibly small in the stable tertiary polyfluorinated carbanions while in the less stable primary and secondary carbanions the contribution of this effect is present certainly, indicating that the negative fluorine hyperconjugation is complementary to the stabilization by the accumulated inductive effect of fluorine atoms. The extent of negative hyperconjugation was found to increase in order of CF3CH2− < C2F5CH2− ≈ C3F7CH2− < i-C3F7CH2−, being qualitatively consistent with the elongation of the Cβ–F bond by deprotonation. The effect of α-fluorine on acidity was found to change complicatedly with the carbanion, e.g., the α-fluorine substitution in CF3CH3 strengthens acidity, no effect in (CF3)2CH2, and strengthens again acidity in (i-C3F7)2CH2. Such varying effect of α-fluorine in the polyfluorinated hydrocarbons would be caused by a subtle balance of effective electronegativity of an anionic center carbon, a varying p–p lone pair repulsion depending on the net negative charge at the formal charge center carbon, and the change in ability of β-F negative hyperconjugation caused by α-F substitution.
Synthesis and Optical Properties of Flower- and Spiky-Ball-Like Silver–Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Kumagai Keisuke , Ishida Akito
Published: April 2014

Flower- and spiky-ball-like nanoparticles were selectively obtained by the reduction of H[AuCl4] and AgNO3 with ascorbic acid in the presence and absence of poly(vinylpyrrolidone) with sufficient reproducibility. The morphological switch is attributable to the selective passivation of the crystal facets of the initially grown core particles and growing nanostructures on the surfaces. The characteristic optical properties, which are due to the surface nanostructures, were studied via measurement of the extinction spectra and finite-difference time-domain simulations.
Effect of age on pulmonary embolism
Authors: Beule J. , Coldewey M. , Dippold W. , Balzer J. O. , Keller K.
Published: April 2014

Background: Age is an important and independent risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE) and pulmonary embolism (PE). The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of aging process on PE with regard to the severity of PE, symptoms, inhospital death, history of PE, ECG, echocardiographic, and laboratory findings.

Methods: 182 patients with confirmed PE were reviewed retrospectively and subdivided into 4 age groups (<60, 60–69, 70–79 and ≥ 80 years). Analysis of patients’ symptoms, history, echocardiographic, electrocardiographic and laboratory parameters was performed.

Results: Proportion of women increased with age (<60 years: 41.5 % vs. 80+ years: 73.1 %, P<0.05). Also percentage of right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) was highest in eldest age group (60–69 years: 42.4 % vs. 80+ years: 75 %, P<0.05). Systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) was significantly higher in the 80+ years age group. The sPAP was constant from the <60 years group (29.0 ± 17.4 mmHg) to the 60–69 years group (27.4 ± 19.3 mmHg), and increased from the 60–69 years and 70–79 years group (33.8 ± 17.5 mmHg) to the 80+ years groups (44.3 ± 14.3 mmHg) (<60 vs. 80+ and 60–69 vs. 80+ years: respectively P<0.001 and 70–79 vs. 80+ years: P<0.05).

Regression model for PE patients 80years showed an association between age 80+ and female gender (OR, 2.53; 95%CI: 1.07–5.99, p<0.05), right bundle branch block (OR, 3.07; 95%CI: 1.05–9.02, p<0.05), RVD (OR, 2.53; 95%CI: 1.07–6.00, p<0.05) and sPAP (OR, 1.05; 95%CI: 1.02–1.08, p<0.001). Pearson correlation matrix revealed a significant correlation between age and sPAP (r=0.30, P<0.001).

Conclusions: Right ventricular load at acute PE event, evident from RVD and elevated sPAP, increases with age. RVD is connected with higher mortality in PE patients. High sPAP at acute PE event is one of the well-known risk factors for the development of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension in long-term. Proportion of female PE patients increases with age.
Curious stories surrounding the discovery and development of conventional antithrombotics
Authors: Haug M.
Published: April 2014

Die Entdeckung eines therapeutischen Effektes war früher meist ein Zufallsereignis. Vielfach war der Weg bis zur Anwendung lang und steinig und nicht selten von merkwürdigen Geschichten begleitet, so bei den Antithrombotika Heparin, Aspirin und Warfarin.

Heparin: Wem gebührt die Anerkennung als Entdecker? Dem Studenten Jay McLean, der neben den gesuchten thromboplastisch wirksamen Cephalin-Komponenten zufällig eine gerinnungshemmende Komponente fand? Oder seinem Chef, der die „zufällige Entdeckung“ McLeans später aufgriff und eben-falls gerinnungshemmende Komponenten isolierte, die sich jedoch chemisch von den McLean´schen unterschieden und zur Ausgangssubstanz des heutigen Heparins wurden?

Aspirin: Als schmerz- und fiebersenkendes Mittel längst bekannt, erfuhr es eine zweite Karriere in der kardiovaskulären Medizin. Erst 1967 erkannte man, dass die Plättchenaktivität inhibiert wird. Die zweite Karriere begann mit der Zulassung für TIA und Herzinfarkt anfangs 1980. Bis dato unbekannt war die Geschichte des Dr. Craven, der bereits 1950 in „obskuren“ Zeitschriften seine Beobachtung publizierte, dass alle seine unter Aspirin stehenden Patienten von Herzinfarkt verschont blieben.

Warfarin:Um 1920 starben tausende Rinder in Nordamerika an inneren Blutungen. Die Ursache fand man im Verzehr des gelagerten „sweet clover“. Erst nach Jahren hatte man die Erklärung: die Umwandlung des ungiftigen Coumarin im Heu in das gerinnungshemmende Dicoumarol durch Pilzinfektion. Bald folgte die Synthese und damit auch der klinische Einsatz als Antithrombotikum. Viel größeren Erfolg aber hatte die Substanz als Rattengift mit dem Namen Warfarin. Die erneute Anwendung beim Menschen erfolgte erst wieder, nachdem ein Soldat seinen Suizidver-such durch Vitamin K-Gabe überstanden hatte.
The Dimensions of Experiential Learning in the Management of Activity Load
Authors: Castellaneta Francesco , Zollo Maurizio
Published: April 2014

Drawing on the attention-based view of the firm and the experiential learning literature, this paper develops and tests a theory on how firms learn to cope with the strains of activity load. We first empirically test the impact of activity load on the performance of a focal activity. We then study how this relationship is moderated by four dimensions of experiential learning: stock, homogeneity, pacing, and past success. We test our hypotheses on a proprietary database of 6,913 investments by 248 private equity firms in 77 countries between 1973 and 2008. We find that heavier activity loads exact a smaller toll on performance when firms have larger and more homogeneous stocks of prior experience. However, when firms’ prior experience is more rapidly paced or successful, the toll of heavier activity loads on performance grows. Taken together, these four dimensions of experiential learning provide an initial theoretical basis for the development of a capability that we term attention modulation capability.
Housework as ‘family practices’ in transnational couples: an exploratory study of middle-class Indians in the UK
Authors: Singha Lotika
Published: April 2014

Some recent scholarship has proposed analysing housework within ‘time’ and ‘space’ to better understand the persistent gender gap in the division of household labour. This article presents the findings of an exploratory study of housework over the lifecourse of marriage and migration in 17 transnational, middle-class, dual-career Indian couples, married for 10 to 30 years and living in the UK for nine to 24 years. By applying Morgan’s (2011) family practices approach (which includes themes of time and space and subthemes of the practical, symbolic and imaginary), the analysis revealed how the temporally and spatially changing (gendered) domestic practices of the sample were underpinned by decisions made by active agents and informed by, rather than just being a passive enactment of, normatively decreed roles, situated within a framework of ‘cooperative conflict’, as described by Amartya Sen. These findings have implications for how housework is both researched and theorised.