bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of a Liquid Diet on the Temporomandibular Joint of Growing Rats
Authors: Kato Tsuyoshi , Takahashi Shigeru , Domon Takanori
Published: January 2015

Objective: The aim of the present study was to clarify the effects of a liquid diet on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in growing rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were weaned at 21 days and divided into control and experimental groups (12 in each group). Control rats were fed a solid diet and experimental rats were fed a liquid diet from 1 to 8 weeks. After injection with 5-bromo-2′-deoxyuridine (BrdU), the animals were perfused and the heads were removed. Serial coronal sections of the TMJ were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, or BrdU immunohistochemistry was done (12 rats in each group). Three dimensions and the thicknesses of the cartilage layers of the TMJ were measured, and cell proliferation in the TMJ was examined. Results: After 4 weeks, the height and width of the mandibular fossa and the width and length of the mandibular condyle were smaller in the experimental groups than in the control groups. The cartilage layer in these areas was also thinner at 4 weeks. The BrdU levels in the intermediate zone of the mandibular fossa (at 4 weeks) and the mandibular condyle (at 1 and 4 weeks) were lower in the experimental groups than in the controls. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the growth of the mandibular fossa and mandibular condyle of rats was inhibited by the low proliferative activity of intermediate zone cells induced by liquid feeding.
Exome Sequencing of a Family with Bardet-Biedl Syndrome Identifies the Common Russian Mutation c.1967_1968delTAinsC in BBS7
Authors: Suspitsin Evgeny N. , Sokolenko Anna P. , Lyazina Lydia V. , Preobrazhenskaya Elena V. , Lepenchuk Alla Y. , Imyanitov Evgeny N.
Published: January 2015

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare autosomal recessive ciliopathy characterized by obesity, postaxial polydactyly, retinitis pigmentosa, mental retardation, and kidney abnormalities. At least 19 genes have been shown to be associated with BBS, and therefore, genetic testing is highly complicated. We used an Illumina MiSeq platform for whole exome sequencing analysis of a family with strong clinical features of BBS. A homozygous c.1967_1968delTAinsC (p.Leu656fsX673; RefSeq NM_176824.2) mutation in BBS7 was identified in both affected children, while their healthy sibling and the non-consanguineous parents were heterozygous for this allele. Genotyping of 2,832 DNA samples obtained from Russian blood donors revealed 2 additional heterozygous subjects (0.07%) with the c.1967_1968delTAinsC mutation. These findings may facilitate the genetic diagnosis for Slavic BBS patients.
Reasons Underlying Non-Adherence to and Discontinuation of Anticoagulation in Secondary Stroke Prevention among Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Gumbinger Christoph , Holstein Timo , Stock Christian , Rizos Timolaos , Horstmann Solveig , Veltkamp Roland
Published: January 2015

Background: Although long-term oral anticoagulation (OAC) with vitamin K antagonists for secondary stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF) is highly effective, it is frequently not started or discontinued in clinical practice. We analyzed the reasons for stroke patients' and physician's nonadherence. Methods: In this prospective, observational, single-center cohort study, consecutive patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and AF presenting during a nine-month period were included. Adherence to OAC was evaluated at 15 ± 1 months after the event using a semi-structured telephone interview. In patients without anticoagulation, the primary care physician (PCP) was contacted to explore the reason. Associations between nonadherence to OAC therapy at follow-up and potential predictors were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Results: Of the 1,049 presenting stroke/TIA patients, 139 with a first (n = 101) or a continued recommendation (n = 38) of OAC were analyzed. After 15 months, 54 patients (39% of 85 patients with OAC at follow-up) were nonadherent. The main reasons for patients' nonadherence were fear of side effects (e.g., bleeding) and inconvenience of regular international normalized ratio measurements. In two-thirds (36/54) of cases, OAC was not prescribed by the PCP; the most important reasons were a putative high risk of falling and dementia. Risk factors for nonadherence were dementia, living in a nursing home, and the noninitiation of OAC during in-hospital stay. Treatment was temporarily discontinued in 21 (25%) of patients on OAC at follow-up. Conclusion: Nonadherence to OAC in stroke patients results from fear of potential complications or inconvenience and physicians' concerns regarding functional status. OAC should be initiated wherever possible during the in-hospital stay.
RNA Sequencing of Mouse Sinoatrial Node Reveals an Upstream Regulatory Role for Islet-1 in Cardiac Pacemaker Cells
Authors: Vedantham Vasanth , Galang Giselle , Evangelista Melissa , Deo Rahul C. , Srivastava Deepak
Published: January 2015

Rationale:

Treatment of sinus node disease with regenerative or cell-based therapies will require a detailed understanding of gene regulatory networks in cardiac pacemaker cells (PCs).

Objective:

To characterize the transcriptome of PCs using RNA sequencing and to identify transcriptional networks responsible for PC gene expression.

Methods and Results:

We used laser capture microdissection on a sinus node reporter mouse line to isolate RNA from PCs for RNA sequencing. Differential expression and network analysis identified novel sinoatrial node–enriched genes and predicted that the transcription factor
Islet
-1
is active in developing PCs. RNA sequencing on sinoatrial node tissue lacking
Islet-1
established that
Islet-1
is an important transcriptional regulator within the developing sinoatrial node.

Conclusions:

(1) The PC transcriptome diverges sharply from other cardiomyocytes; (2)
Islet-1
is a positive transcriptional regulator of the PC gene expression program.
MicroRNA Mediation of Endothelial Inflammatory Response to Smooth Muscle Cells and Its Inhibition by Atheroprotective Shear Stress
Authors: Chen Li-Jing , Chuang Li , Huang Yi-Hsuan , Zhou Jing , Lim Seh Hong , Lee Chih-I , Lin Wei-Wen , Lin Ting-Er , Wang Wei-Li , Chen Linyi , Chien Shu , Chiu Jeng-Jiann
Published: January 2015

Rationale:

In atherosclerotic lesions, synthetic smooth muscle cells (sSMCs) induce aberrant microRNA (miR) profiles in endothelial cells (ECs) under flow stagnation. Increase in shear stress induces favorable miR modulation to mitigate sSMC-induced inflammation.

Objective:

To address the role of miRs in sSMC-induced EC inflammation and its inhibition by shear stress.

Methods and Results:

Coculturing ECs with sSMCs under static condition causes initial increases of 4 anti-inflammatory miRs (146a/708/451/98) in ECs followed by decreases below basal levels at 7 days; the increases for miR-146a/708 peaked at 24 hours and those for miR-451/98 lasted for only 6 to 12 hours. Shear stress (12 dynes/cm
2
) to cocultured ECs for 24 hours augments these 4 miR expressions. In vivo, these 4 miRs are highly expressed in neointimal ECs in injured arteries under physiological levels of flow, but not expressed under flow stagnation. MiR-146a, miR-708, miR-451, and miR-98 target interleukin-1 receptor–associated kinase, inhibitor of nuclear factor–κB kinase subunit-γ, interleukin-6 receptor, and conserved helix-loop-helix ubiquitous kinase, respectively, to inhibit nuclear factor–κB signaling, which exerts negative feedback control on the biogenesis of these miRs. Nuclear factor-E2–related factor (Nrf)-2 is critical for shear-induction of miR-146a in cocultured ECs. Silencing either Nrf-2 or miR-146a led to increased neointima formation of injured rat carotid artery under physiological levels of flow. Overexpressing miR-146a inhibits neointima formation of rat or mouse carotid artery induced by injury or flow cessation.

Conclusions:

Nrf-2–mediated miR-146a expression is augmented by atheroprotective shear stress in ECs adjacent to sSMCs to inhibit neointima formation of injured arteries.
Three New Letters in the Thermouthas Dossier
Authors: Nachtergaele Delphine
Published: January 2015

In the present case study, I will discuss the so-called ‘dossier of Thermouthas’. It currently consists of six private letters, but I will argue in favor of the addition of three more letters to this collection: viz. P.Mich. viii 464 (tm 17238), P.Col. viii 215 (tm 17627) and P.Corn. 49 (tm 25711). My hypothesis is based on both internal arguments (linguistic and content related elements) and external ones (e.g. museum archaeology, onomastics and prosopography). This paper illustrates how idiolectic features and the close linguistic investigation of the letters’ phraseology can help the scholar reunite papyri in their original context. It refines the date of P.Corn. 49 and shows that some of the documents in this collection were preserved as an (archaeological) archive.
The Central Section of Catullus’ Attis
Authors: Bateson E.H.
Published: January 2015

The Attis of Catullus was described by Kenneth Quinn (1970, 282) as “perhaps the most remarkable poem in Latin.” However, the five lines of divine digression which split the poem into two sections (63.39-43) have remained barely commented upon. In this article, I will discuss not only the various elements of these lines and their significance for poem 63, but the poem’s link to other ‘marriage’ poems of Catullus—particularly poem 64. I will investigate this theme particularly with reference to the counterpoint between Sol and Cybele and to the Iliadic reference in the appearance of Pasithea.
Searching for ‘Digital Asia’ in its Networks: Where the Spatial Turn Meets the Digital Turn
Authors: Schneider Florian
Published: January 2015

This article examines how digital methods can provide a way to search for ‘Digital Asia’ in its networks, interfaces, and media contents. Using the example of higher education institutions in Beijing, Hong Kong, and Taipei, the paper explores how search engines, institutional homepages, and hyperlink networks provide access into the workings and representations of academia online. The article finds that even a seemingly cosmopolitan endeavour such as academia exists in rather parochial spheres, and that users that enter those spheres do so in highly biased ways. Further reviewing the digital tools that lead to these findings, the article also argues that while digital methods promise to bring together the ‘digital turn’ and the ‘spatial turn’ in the humanities and social sciences, they also pose new challenges. These include theoretical concerns, like the risk of implicitly reproducing views of neoliberal modernity, but also practical concerns related to digital literacy.
Regional tv: Affective Media Geographies
Authors: Lamarre Thomas
Published: January 2015

The rise of what has been called ‘new television’ or ‘media regionalism’ in East Asia has occurred in a context in which the production of media networks ‒ both infrastructures (broadcast and relay stations, satellites, cable systems) and media devices or platforms (tvsets,vcr,vcd, and mobile phones) ‒ outstrips the production of contents. The essay considers the question: what is coming into common through this emerging sense of media regionalism? Looking at the highly popular seriesHana yori dangoor ‘Boys over Flowers’, which has been formatted across media forms (such as manga, animatedtvseries, animated films, television dramas, and theatrical release cinema) and across nations (Japan, Taiwan, Korea, China, and the Philippines), this essay finds that the feeling of media regionalism is related to both the gap between infrastructures (of distribution and production) and the gap within media distribution (between mobility and privatization).
Different Styles Reach Different Kids: An empirical enquiry into Young Life Camping Outreach Programs in the USA and Europe
Authors: Barrett Justin L. , Porter Tenelle J. , Emmons Robert A. , Schnitker Sarah A.
Published: January 2015

part of a larger study on ‘spiritual fruit formation’ in adolescents, teenaged participants in Young Life outreach “camping” programs completed surveys immediately before and immediately after the camping experience. Participants were American teens attending standard Young Life camps in the United States (Lake Champion, New York and Sharp Top Cove, Georgia) in summer 2007 and teens from international schools from six European nations (primarily American and British by birth) attending a service-oriented Young Life camp in Kovachevzi, Bulgaria, spring 2007. The outreach components of both types of camps (including talks, small group discussions, special music, games and skits) were similar as they were conducted by American Young Life program staff. Nevertheless, personality inventories revealed that a different profile of teen was more likely to ‘make a commitment to God’ during the Young Life service trip as compared with the standard Young Life camp. ‘Making a decision’ at standard Young Life camps was predicted by high extroversion and high emotional instability; whereas those teens that made a decision during the service trip were high on introversion and intellectual curiosity. Results suggest that different types of outreach camping experiences may be better at preparing different types of kids to respond positively to the Gospel message.
Paul’s paideia: Creating a strong sense of self
Authors: Stirrup Andy
Published: January 2015

While youth ministers may argue over which ministry model is best or works best, one thing that all are agreed on is that the teenage years are tremendously important in terms of building a sense of personal identity. There are different ways in which young people can go about constructing a sense of who I am and where I fit, but not all of them are sturdy enough and sufficient enough to see them through the sometimes turbulent years of adolescence and to offer a secure platform from which to engage generously with the world. Written to provoke those who teach youth ministry to think about the models we assume within our teaching. This essay draws on the social sciences to look at two different ways in which we might think about ourselves and then turns to Paul’s letter to the Philippians to consider a robust and satisfying alternative.
Free as a Bird in the Path of the Plane: Youthful Liberty Amid Global Forces
Authors: Haitch Russell
Published: January 2015

This essay describes the desire for freedom found among youth on three continents. It contrasts the shape freedom takes when youth get sucked into prevailing global forces (individualism, consumerism, proteanism, etc.), versus the liberty promised by Christian faith. It proposes a vision for leading youth on the path of freedom in Christ, grounded in sacramental theology and halachic reasoning. This approach is offered as an alternative or supplement to approaches grounded in narrative theology.
Toward Whole-Making: The Power of Voice in the Faith Formation of Black Youth
Authors: Blount Reginald
Published: January 2015

What is the distinctive character of ministry among African-American youth, and to what particular circumstances should that ministry respond? Proceeding from W. E. B. Du Bois’ description of Black “double consciousness,” this article explores the challenges and hopes for identity formation with African American youth in response to the persistent realities of racism and conflicting cultural forces that impact their senses of self. The author proposes that the Church’s primary responsibility to these youth be informed by theologian Howard Thurman’s notion of “whole-making,” the foundational human desire to be in both interpersonal and intrapersonal community.
There am I in the midst of them: Qualitative research of Christian Youth Work Leader students’ professional relationship to Confirmation work
Authors: Saara Huhanantti Salla Poropudas
Published: January 2015

In Finland, Confirmation training is a phenomenon that reaches a significant proportion of the population. There are, however, signs of trends which might cause a downturn in the popularity. The aim of this study was to find out professional Christian Youth Work Leader students’ relationship to Confirmation work and their professional identity as church workers. The qualitative study consisted of 18 essays written by the students and the analysis was based on the concept of the teaching-studying-learning process and the pedagogic triangle by Johann Friedrich Herbart. In addition to the theoretical frame of reference and backround overview, this paper presents and analyses the findings of the study. Today, the idea of teaching and learning is based on the constructivist learning theory which is also the basis of the curriculum of Finnish Confirmation training. This paper shows that students with the most experience in Confirmation work and strong identity as Church workers have embraced the role of spiritual guide emphasised by the current Confirmation curriculum. This can be seen as socio-constructivist approach. Students with less experience represented a more old-fashioned, authoritarian and behavioral view of teaching.
Are We Losing a Generation or Were They Never There Before? An Exploration into the Under Representation of the 20’-40 in the UK Church
Authors: Montgomery Mark
Published: January 2015

Within the UK church there is a growing concern that there is a missing generation of people not attending regular worship. This is defined as young adults or people within the 18-39 age range.1 This article seeks to explore reasons for this decline through an ongoing research project that aims to help churches to understand this age ranges attitudes towards church and plan ministry accordingly. This article offers new insights into the generational make up of this age group as well as putting forward how these findings affect our youth ministry field.
Connecting Point-Level and Gridded Moments in the Analysis of Climate Data*
Authors: Director Hannah , Bornn Luke
Published: January 2015

The need to draw climate-related inferences from historical data makes understanding the biases and errors in these data critical. While climate data are collected at point-level monitoring sites, they are often postprocessed by averaging sites within a geographic area to align the data to a grid, easing analysis and visualization. Although this aggregation generally provides reasonable estimates of the mean, its use can be problematic for characterizing the full distribution of climate measures. Specifically, the process of averaging point-level data up to grid level can lead to inconsistencies, particularly when the grid box is heterogeneous and extremes are of interest. Point-level data are measured at individual points, while gridded data are the averaged product of many measurements within a larger spatial area. Because of this aggregation, point-level and grid-level distributions differ in many fundamental properties, such as their shape, skew, and tail behavior. This paper highlights these differences and their effects on analyses pertaining to current climatological questions. Mathematical relationships are derived to link the distributions of grid-level climate measures to the distributions of point-level climate measures using the notion of effective sample size. Then, these relationships are leveraged to propose a correction factor to use when modeling higher moments and extreme events.
Processes Leading to Double Intertropical Convergence Zone Bias in CESM1/CAM5
Authors: Wang Chia-Chi , Lee Wei-Liang , Chen Yu-Luen , Hsu Huang-Hsiung
Published: January 2015

The double intertropical convergence zone (ITCZ) bias in the eastern Pacific in the Community Earth System Model version 1 with Community Atmosphere Model version 5 (CESM1/CAM5) is diagnosed. In CAM5 standalone, the northern ITCZ is associated with inertial instability and the southern ITCZ is thermally forced. After air–sea coupling, the processes on both hemispheres are switched because the spatial pattern of sea surface temperature (SST) is changed.

Biases occur during boreal spring in both CAM5 and the ocean model. In CAM5 alone, weaker-than-observed equatorial easterly in the tropical eastern South Pacific leads to weaker evaporation and an increase in local SST. The shallow meridional circulation overly converges in the same region in the CAM5 standalone simulation, the planetary boundary layer and middle troposphere are too humid, and the large-scale subsidence is too weak at the middle levels. These biases may result from excessive shallow convection behavior in CAM5. The extra moisture would then fuel stronger convection and a higher precipitation rate in the southeastern Pacific.

In the ocean model, the South Equatorial Current is underestimated and the North Equatorial Countercurrent is located too close to the equator, causing a warm SST bias in the southeastern Pacific and a cold bias in the northeastern Pacific. These SST biases feed back to the atmosphere and further influence convection and the surface wind biases in the coupled simulation. When the convection in the tropical northeastern Pacific becomes thermally forced after coupling, the northern ITCZ is diminished due to colder SST, forming the so-called alternating ITCZ bias.
Platelet Arachidonic Acid Deficiency May Contribute to Abnormal Platelet Function During Parenteral Fish Oil Monotherapy in a Piglet Model
Authors: Turner Justine M. , Field Catherine J. , Goruk Sue , Wizzard Pamela , Dicken Bryan J. , Bruce Aisha , Wales Paul W.
Published: January 2015

Background: Fish oil monotherapy has been an advance for treating intestinal failure–associated liver disease (IFALD). However, such patients are at risk of bleeding complications from liver disease and because fish oil can inhibit thrombosis. We have previously reported abnormal platelet function in neonatal piglets given fish oil monotherapy during parenteral nutrition (PN). The purpose of this study was to determine if abnormal fatty acid composition of the platelets could explain the prior observed antiplatelet effect. Methods: Neonatal piglets were assigned to 2 treatments: PN with fish oil monotherapy (FO; n = 4) or PN with soy oil (SO; n = 5). On day 14, plasma was collected and platelets isolated by centrifuging. The fatty acid content in plasma and platelet plug were measured using gas liquid chromatography and compared with controls (CON; n = 5). Results: The arachidonic acid (AA) content in the FO group was on average half that of the SO group, in both the platelets (FO, 3.5% vs SO, 7.6%; P = .021; CON, 4.5%–11%) and the plasma (FO, 3.8% vs SO, 9.2%; P = .002; CON, 6.1%–9.5%). No bleeding complications were observed for any piglets during PN treatment. Conclusions: Using platelet mapping, we have previously shown that neonatal piglets given fish oil monotherapy have abnormal platelet function in the AA pathway. This report demonstrates that such an abnormality can be explained by platelet AA deficiency. Platelet mapping and platelet fatty acid analysis should be undertaken in human infants treated with fish oil monotherapy during PN.
Quantifying Parameter and Structural Uncertainty of Dynamic Disease Transmission Models Using MCMC
Authors: Bilcke Joke , Chapman Ruth , Atchison Christina , Cromer Deborah , Johnson Helen , Willem Lander , Cox Martin , Edmunds William John , Jit Mark
Published: January 2015

Background. Two vaccines (Rotarix and RotaTeq) are highly effective at preventing severe rotavirus disease. Rotavirus vaccination has been introduced in the United Kingdom and other countries partly based on modeling and cost-effectiveness results. However, most of these models fail to account for the uncertainty about several vaccine characteristics and the mechanism of vaccine action. Methods. A deterministic dynamic transmission model of rotavirus vaccination in the United Kingdom was developed. This improves on previous models by 1) allowing for 2 different mechanisms of action for Rotarix and RotaTeq, 2) using clinical trial data to understand these mechanisms, and 3) accounting for uncertainty by using Markov Chain Monte Carlo. Results. In the long run, Rotarix and RotaTeq are predicted to reduce the overall rotavirus incidence by 50% (39%−63%) and 44% (30%−62%), respectively but with an increase in incidence in primary school children and adults up to 25 y of age. The vaccines are estimated to give more protection than 1 or 2 natural infections. The duration of protection is highly uncertain but has only impact on the predicted reduction in rotavirus burden for values lower than 10 y. The 2 vaccine mechanism structures fit equally well with the clinical trial data. Long-term postvaccination dynamics cannot be predicted reliably with the data available. Conclusion. Accounting for the joint uncertainty of several vaccine characteristics resulted in more insight into which of these are crucial for determining the impact of rotavirus vaccination. Data for up to at least 10 y postvaccination and covering older children and adults are crucial to address remaining questions on the impact of widespread rotavirus vaccination.
Rencontre de service et rôle de la distance sociospatiale : le cas des restaurants
Authors: Clauzel Amélie , Riché Caroline
Published: January 2015

La recherche souligne les effets de la distance sociospatiale entre personnels, clients et co-clients sur la durée et les dépenses d’une expérience de consommation au restaurant. La situation dans laquelle l’ensemble des acteurs du service sont très proches les uns des autres (intrusion) induit une minimisation de la durée de consommation et des dépenses. Une préférence pour une position éloignée tant des personnels que des autres clients est notée, notamment lorsque les individus consomment en groupe. Quatre situations interactionnelles de service – intrusion, convivialité, discrétion et froideur – sont interprétées selon la taille du groupe de clients.
Investigation of the controller parameter optimisation for a servomechanism
Authors: Feng Bin , Zhang Dongsheng , Mei Xuesong , Mu Enxu , Huang Xiaoyong
Published: January 2015

A novel controller parameter optimisation method to effectively improve the motion accuracy of a servomechanism is proposed in this article. This method overcomes the drawbacks of conventional controller parameter optimisation methods, such as inefficiency and dependence on experience. The servomechanism model was established, and a performance analysis was performed. Moreover, the design requirements were developed. The robust stability was adopted to solve the problem induced by great variations in the modelling elements. Subsequently, a multi-objective nonlinear optimisation problem was developed and solved by an intelligent optimisation algorithm. To achieve the desired performance, the multi-objective optimisation function adopted a comprehensive command response performance function and an external disturbance rejection response function. To validate the effectiveness and feasibility of this method by simulation and experiment, an open servomechanism platform was established. The simulated and experimental results show that the tracking error, protrusion error and performance indicators are all reduced greatly under different working conditions. This method can effectively improve the motion accuracy and has the advantages of high efficiency, high practicality and high flexibility.
Political Turmoil in Egypt: Its Implications for the Region and India
Authors: Siddiqui Fazzur Rahman
Published: January 2015

The self-immolation of a vendor in December 2010 in a Tunisian town spurred a massive scale of uprising, inspiring the Arab youth to carve out a new Arab for them which was marred by decades-old political and cultural stagnation. The sentiments emerging on the streets following the chain of revolutions in different parts of the Arab world had promised not only a different Arab but had hoped for foundation of new democratic Arab which until now was a mirage.

But what followed later dashed all the hopes on the Arab streets and each country opted for a different trajectory which promised everything but the democracy. Except Tunisia, other revolution-infested countries veered to neo- authoritarianism like Egypt, while Libya and Yemen have been witnessing highest order of faction fighting and Syria is in midst of full-scale civil war. In the backdrop of present scenario, today’s Arab land is marred by complete instability, chaos and political anarchy. The cause of the present instability may be attributed to the different political and strategic context of each respective country. Egypt has taken a complete U-turn after army again came at the helm of the affairs after ousting a democratically elected Islamist government.

This article aims to explore the lineage of the Arab Spring in Egypt and how it unfolded in the span of two-three years. The study would also explore the lurching security scenario in Egypt and how it would impact the regional security architecture in the near future.

This article also aims to highlight the long term implications of unfolding political developments in Egypt on the entire region and India as well.
Comparative Effectiveness of Intravitreal Bevacizumab With or Without Triamcinolone Acetonide for Treatment of Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Jin Enzhong , Luo Ling , Bai Yujing , Zhao Mingwei
Published: January 2015

Background: Bevacizumab and triamcinolone acetonide (TA) are both common choices for treatment of diabetic macular edema (DME), but the comparative efficacy of combined or separate applications is still not determined. Objectives: To compare the treatment efficacy of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) and the combination of IVB and intravitreal triamcinolone (IVT) for DME patients. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library were systematically reviewed for randomized controlled trials comparing IVB with IVB/IVT. Data on visual acuity (VA) and central macular thickness (CMT) changes at 3 and 6 months were extracted and data on adverse events were collected. A meta-analysis was performed using the software RevMan 5.3. The methodological quality and bias risks were also evaluated. Results: VA improved more significantly in the IVB/IVT group compared with the IVB group at 3 months (mean difference [MD] = 0.07; 95% CI = 0.01 to 0.13), whereas there was no significant difference at 6 months (MD = −0.01; 95%CI = −0.11 to 0.09). The CMT reduction in the IVB/IVT group was significantly greater than that in the IVB group at 3 months (MD = 48.40; 95%CI = 30.23 to 66.57), but no statistically significant difference was found at 6 months (MD = 0.47; 95%CI = −24.11 to 25.04). Ocular hypertension was detected in 9/243 eyes in the IVB/IVT group but none of the IVB eyes. Conclusion: IVB/IVT is more effective for improving VA and decreasing CMT at 3 months in DME. A single injection of TA along with the first IVB could improve outcome within 3 months, but this is not sustained at 6 months. Continuous IVT/IVB treatment should be performed in further trials to clarify its long-term potential efficacy.
Controllability of nonlinear implicit neutral fractional Volterra integrodifferential systems
Authors: Balachandran K , Divya S , Rivero M , Trujillo JJ
Published: January 2015

In this paper, the control problem of nonlinear neutral fractional Volterra integrodifferential systems with implicit fractional derivative is established. Such kind of problems involve a number of problems on complex media. Sufficient conditions for controllability are obtained through the notions of a condensing map and measure of noncompactness of a set. A example to check the main results included in this paper is included.
The high cost of spasticity in multiple sclerosis to individuals and society
Authors: Stevenson VL , Gras A , Bárdos JI , Broughton J
Published: January 2015

Background:

Spasticity is an extremely common, distressing and disabling symptom of multiple sclerosis. Limited data suggest the associated health care costs correlate with increasing severity and place a high economic burden on individuals, health care systems and society.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to quantify the impact of multiple sclerosis spasticity on health care resources and the associated costs at different levels of severity in people with multiple sclerosis in the United Kingdom.

Methods:

An online survey was carried out to understand the resources used in the management of spasticity in multiple sclerosis. The questionnaire asked health care specialists to estimate their involvement and the resource use associated with different levels of spasticity, and the survey outputs were used to derive the resource costs.

Results:

The level and cost of care substantially increased with the degree of spasticity. Key factors contributing to high annual costs per patient were home care, hospital admissions and high-cost items, such as hospital beds.

Conclusions:

Based on the survey results, it can be assumed that managing spasticity early and effectively could result in substantial cost savings, in addition to the improvements in health-related quality of life.
Memory and preferred colours and the colour rendition of white light sources
Authors: Smet KAG , Hanselaer P
Published: January 2015

The application of memory and preferred colours to colour rendition evaluation of white light sources is reviewed. Four metrics are discussed: Sanders’ preferred colour index, Judd’s flattery index, Thornton’s colour preference index and Smet’s memory colour rendition index. Following a review of the metrics themselves, the paper continues with a discussion of their predictive performance in terms of agreement with psychophysical data on visual appreciation and naturalness perception. Their performance was also compared to that of several other colour rendition metrics and the impact on the predictive performance of a metric’s emphasis on chroma enhancement has been evaluated.
Anthropocene futures: People, resources and sustainability
Authors: Knight Jasper
Published: January 2015

The sustainable use of environmental resources is an important tenet guiding future governance and management in the Anthropocene. However, the concept of sustainability is based on underlying assumptions of how sustainable development policies are formulated and applied. This commentary describes some of the flaws of ‘sustainability’ which are that (1) it requires full knowledge of the workings of Earth’s multiple physical systems and their sensitivities; and (2) the structures and management tools used by societal actors have low adaptive capacity to address ongoing changes to the physical environment. This commentary considers that societal actors and their future roles are likely to emerge from changing economic patterns, community structures and geopolitical contexts over coming decades. This providing an alternative Anthropocene future to that which is commonly posited, and emphasizes the use and limitations of sustainable development and the societal actors that are concerned with it.
Solid solution strengthening of transient liquid phase bonded nickel based superalloy
Authors: Pouranvari M.
Published: January 2015

This paper aims at probing and quantifying the effect of filler alloy chemistry on solid solution strengthening mechanism of transient liquid phase bonded of a cast Ni–Fe–Nb based superalloy. Bonding was performed using three different nickel based filler alloys including Ni–4·5Si–3·2B, Ni–7Cr–4·5Si–3·2B–3Fe and Ni–15·2Cr–4B. The hardness of isothermal solidification zone was proved to be the controlling factor for the shear strength of the joints. It is concluded that the initial chromium content of the filler alloy and the extent of base metal dissolution, which in turn is controlled by the initial boron content of the filler alloy, play important roles in strengthening of the isothermal solidification zone. Bonding using Ni–15·2Cr–4B resulted in eutectic free joint with the highest shear strength.
Long-term outcome of Hurler syndrome patients after hematopoietic cell transplantation: an international multicenter study
Authors: Aldenhoven Mieke , Wynn Robert F. , Orchard Paul J. , O’Meara Anne , Veys Paul , Fischer Alain , Valayannopoulos Vassili , Neven Benedicte , Rovelli Attilio , Prasad Vinod K. , Tolar Jakub , Allewelt Heather , Jones Simon A. , Parini Rossella , Renard Marleen , Bordon Victoria , Wulffraat Nico M. , de Koning Tom J. , Shapiro Elsa G. , Kurtzberg Joanne , Boelens Jaap Jan
Published: January 2015

Key Points

Patients with Hurler syndrome show significant residual disease burden despite HCT. Early referral for HCT, using noncarrier donors and regimens designed to achieve full-donor chimerism, offers the best long-term prognosis.
Reduction of breakdown threshold by metal nanoparticle seeding in a DC microdischarge
Authors: Sawyer Jordan , Abboud Jacques , Zhang Zhili , Adams Steven F
Published: January 2015

Significant reduction of the breakdown threshold in a DC microdischarge via seeding metal nanoparticles has been demonstrated. Compared to standard Paschen curves in dry air, reductions in the breakdown voltage of 5% to 25% were obtained for PD values (the product of pressure and electrode gap distance) ranging from 20 to 40 Torr-cm by seeding aluminum and iron nanoparticles with mean sizes of 75 nm and 80 nm, respectively. No secondary energy source was required to achieve this breakdown threshold reduction. From high-speed chemiluminescence imaging of the discharge evolution, breakdown was shown to be initiated at reduced voltages. Following breakdown, the increase in temperature ignited some of the nanoparticles near the cathode. Results suggest that possible charging of the nanoparticles within the gap may reduce the effective transient distance, leading to the threshold reduction.
Chromosome 7 gain and DNA hypermethylation at the HOXA10 locus are associated with expression of a stem cell related HOX-signature in glioblastoma
Authors: Kurscheid Sebastian , Bady Pierre , Sciuscio Davide , Samarzija Ivana , Shay Tal , Vassallo Irene , Criekinge Wim V , Daniel Roy T , van den Bent Martin J , Marosi Christine , Weller Michael , Mason Warren P , Domany Eytan , Stupp Roger , Delorenzi Mauro , Hegi Monika E
Published: January 2015

Background

HOX genes are a family of developmental genes that are expressed neither in the developing forebrain nor in the normal brain. Aberrant expression of a HOX-gene dominated stem-cell signature in glioblastoma has been linked with increased resistance to chemo-radiotherapy and sustained proliferation of glioma initiating cells. Here we describe the epigenetic and genetic alterations and their interactions associated with the expression of this signature in glioblastoma.

Results

We observe prominent hypermethylation of the HOXA locus 7p15.2 in glioblastoma in contrast to non-tumoral brain. Hypermethylation is associated with a gain of chromosome 7, a hallmark of glioblastoma, and may compensate for tumor-driven enhanced gene dosage as a rescue mechanism by preventing undue gene expression. We identify the CpG island of the HOXA10 alternative promoter that appears to escape hypermethylation in the HOX-high glioblastoma. An additive effect of gene copy gain at 7p15.2 and DNA methylation at key regulatory CpGs in HOXA10 is significantly associated with HOX-signature expression. Additionally, we show concordance between methylation status and presence of active or inactive chromatin marks in glioblastoma-derived spheres that are HOX-high or HOX-low, respectively.

Conclusions

Based on these findings, we propose co-evolution and interaction between gene copy gain, associated with a gain of chromosome 7, and additional epigenetic alterations as key mechanisms triggering a coordinated, but inappropriate, HOX transcriptional program in glioblastoma.
Diffraction imaging of polygonal faults within a submarine volcanic terrain, Maverick Basin, south Texas
Authors: Ogiesoba Osareni C. , Klokov Alexander , Hernandez Rodolfo
Published: January 2015

Polygonal fault systems are common structural features of intracratonic continental margins. The map-view geometry of these faults became apparent with the use of powerful fault-imaging seismic attributes, such as coherence and curvature. However, these attributes lack the amplitude information necessary for lithological evaluation. We developed a 3D diffraction volume that not only imaged faults but also contained amplitude information. From the unmigrated stack volume, we extracted diffractions that were transformed into amplitude envelope and root-mean-square amplitude volumes. These attributes, together with clay volume ([Formula: see text]) data, were extracted along interpreted horizons and fault planes. Crossplots between seismic attributes and [Formula: see text] enabled linear relationships between the attributes and [Formula: see text], which were used to infer lithological composition within fault zones. Our results found that, although the fault zones were clay filled, some subvertically inclined clay-poor zones that could serve as permeable pathways were present along the fault planes. In map view, images from diffraction volume were comparable with those obtained from coherence and curvature attributes; however, diffraction images appeared to be busy because of the huge number of diffracted waves embedded in the data. In addition, we found that, although [Formula: see text] increases with increasing diffraction energy, no systematic relationship exists between [Formula: see text] and curvature, or between [Formula: see text] and coherence. As such, curvature and coherence cannot be used to predict lithological distribution within fault zones. Furthermore, we observed that the higher the diffraction energies, the higher the fluid saturation, suggesting higher impedance contrast at the diffraction points. Therefore, we determined that by analyzing diffraction data, it was possible to infer likely sediment variations that largely control permeability within fault zones.
Symptomatic Toxicities Experienced During Anticancer Treatment: Agreement Between Patient and Physician Reporting in Three Randomized Trials
Authors: Di Maio Massimo , Gallo Ciro , Leighl Natasha B. , Piccirillo Maria Carmela , Daniele Gennaro , Nuzzo Francesco , Gridelli Cesare , Gebbia Vittorio , Ciardiello Fortunato , De Placido Sabino , Ceribelli Anna , Favaretto Adolfo G. , de Matteis Andrea , Feld Ronald , Butts Charles , Bryce Jane , Signoriello Simona , Morabito Alessandro , Rocco Gaetano , Perrone Francesco
Published: January 2015

Purpose

Information about symptomatic toxicities of anticancer treatments is not based on direct report by patients, but rather on reports by clinicians in trials. Given the potential for under-reporting, our aim was to compare reporting by patients and physicians of six toxicities (anorexia, nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and hair loss) within three randomized trials.

Patients and Methods

In one trial, elderly patients with breast cancer received adjuvant chemotherapy; in two trials, patients with advanced non–small-cell lung cancer received first-line treatment. Toxicity was prospectively collected by investigators (graded by National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria [version 2.0] or Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [version 3]). At the end of each cycle, patients completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer quality-of-life questionnaires, including toxicity-related symptom items. Possible answers were “not at all,” “a little,” “quite a bit,” and “very much.” Analysis was limited to the first three cycles. For each toxicity, agreement between patients and physicians and under-reporting by physicians (ie, toxicity reported by patients but not reported by physicians) were calculated.

Results

Overall, 1,090 patients (2,482 cycles) were included. Agreement between patients and physicians was low for all toxicities. Toxicity rates reported by physicians were always lower than those reported by patients. For patients who reported toxicity (any severity), under-reporting by physicians ranged from 40.7% to 74.4%. Examining only patients who reported “very much” toxicity, under-reporting by physicians ranged from 13.0% to 50.0%.

Conclusion

Subjective toxicities are at high risk of under-reporting by physicians, even when prospectively collected within randomized trials. This strongly supports the incorporation of patient-reported outcomes into toxicity reporting in clinical trials.
Inherited NUDT15 Variant Is a Genetic Determinant of Mercaptopurine Intolerance in Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Yang Jun J. , Landier Wendy , Yang Wenjian , Liu Chengcheng , Hageman Lindsey , Cheng Cheng , Pei Deqing , Chen Yanjun , Crews Kristine R. , Kornegay Nancy , Wong F. Lennie , Evans William E. , Pui Ching-Hon , Bhatia Smita , Relling Mary V.
Published: January 2015

Purpose

Mercaptopurine (MP) is the mainstay of curative therapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify comprehensively the genetic basis of MP intolerance in children with ALL.

Patients and Methods

The discovery GWAS and replication cohorts included 657 and 371 children from two prospective clinical trials. MP dose intensity was a marker for drug tolerance and toxicities and was defined as prescribed dose divided by the planned protocol dose during maintenance therapy; its association with genotype was evaluated using a linear mixed-effects model.

Results

MP dose intensity varied by race and ethnicity and was negatively correlated with East Asian genetic ancestry (P < .001). The GWAS revealed two genome-wide significant loci associated with dose intensity: rs1142345 in TPMT (Tyr240Cys, present in *3A and *3C variants; P = 8.6 × 10−9) and rs116855232 in NUDT15 (P = 8.8 × 10−9), with independent replication. Patients with TT genotype at rs116855232 were exquisitely sensitive to MP, with an average dose intensity of 8.3%, compared with those with TC and CC genotypes, who tolerated 63% and 83.5% of the planned dose, respectively. The NUDT15 variant was most common in East Asians and Hispanics, rare in Europeans, and not observed in Africans, contributing to ancestry-related differences in MP tolerance. Of children homozygous for either TPMT or NUDT15 variants or heterozygous for both, 100% required ≥ 50% MP dose reduction, compared with only 7.7% of others.

Conclusion

We describe a germline variant in NUDT15 strongly associated with MP intolerance in childhood ALL, which may have implications for treatment individualization in this disease.
Normal families of meromorphic mappings of several complex variables for moving hypersurfaces in a complex projective space
Authors: Dethloff Gerd , Thai Do Duc , Thu Trang Pham Nguyen
Published: January 2015

The main aim of this article is to give sufficient conditions for a family of meromorphic mappings of a domain D in ℂn into ℙN(ℂ) to be meromorphically normal if they satisfy only some very weak conditions with respect to moving hypersurfaces in ℙN(ℂ), namely, that their intersections with these moving hypersurfaces, which moreover may depend on the meromorphic maps, are in some sense uniform. Our results generalize and complete previous results in this area, especially the works of Fujimoto, Tu, Tu-Li, Mai-Thai-Trang, and the recent work of Quang-Tan.
Queer Crip Sex and Critical Mattering
Authors: Cohen Jeffrey Jerome
Published: January 2015

This review essay maps the convergence of disability studies and queer theory in three recent scholarly volumes. It asks what happens when the models of intercorporeal embodiment they advance meet recent work in materialism and ecological studies.
N-Alkylation of Sulfonamides with Alcohols by Tf2O
Authors: Yu Ting Ting , Qi Lan-Jun , Cui Dong-Mei , Zhang Chen , Zhao Yan
Published: January 2015

N-sulfonylpyrrolidines and N-alkyl sulfonamides were efficiently prepared via alkylation of sulfonamides with 1,4-diols or alcohols by Tf2O. The reaction occurred under mild reaction conditions in moderate to high yields and tolerated aryl and aliphatic sulfonamides.