bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Knowledge of machines: review and forward look
Authors: Veres S M
Published: July 2011

This paper looks at the possibility of knowledge development of machines from an engineer’s point of view. First, the increasing need for autonomous operations of vehicles, manufacturing facilities, utility networks, and robots is reviewed. From the point of view of operational design, five desirable ingredients are identified that can facilitate control autonomy. Most of these facilitators can be enabled by using the methodology of natural language programming and writing of documents that machines can read and utilize to improve their feedback control skills, their knowledge of the environment, and also their decision-making skills. A forward look outlines the benefits of ‘publishing for machines’, to manufacturing, vehicle operations, utility networks, and robots.
Sexual Agreement Classifications for Gay and Bisexual Men and Implications for Harm Reduction HIV Prevention
Authors: Wilkerson J. Michael , Smolenski Derek J. , Morgan Richard , Rosser B. R. Simon
Published: July 2011

HIV prevention educators frequently encourage gay and bisexual men (GBM) to negotiate condom use prior to sexual engagement. Identifying groups of GBM based on their presexual agreements can aid efforts to tailor interventions. Using cross-sectional data from 1,188 GBM who reported having sex with a nonprimary sex partner in the 90 days prior to the survey, the authors identified presexual agreement patterns. For both HIV-positive and HIV-negative GBM, two groups existed: men agreeing to no anal sex and men agreeing to anal sex with condoms. Among HIV-negative participants, there was a group agreeing to anal sex without specifying condom use. Among HIV-positive participants, there was a group agreeing to anal sex without condoms; this was the largest group of HIV-positive participants. Despite a presexual agreement to use condoms, substance use during sex increased the risk of unprotected anal sex. Suggestions for applying harm reduction to HIV prevention based on agreement classifications are discussed.
Return to Sports after Articular Cartilage Repair in the Football (Soccer) Player
Authors: Mithoefer Kai , Della Villa Stefano
Published: July 2011

Background: The ability to return to football (soccer) presents a critical aspect for successful treatment of articular cartilage injury in the football (soccer) player. Methods: Information about sports participation after articular cartilage repair was collected from the literature. Special focus was placed on data in football athletes with information on return rate, timing of return, level of postoperative competition, and the ability to compete in the sport over time. Results: Twenty studies describing 1,469 athletes including football players with articular cartilage injury were reviewed. Average return to sport was 79% without a significant difference in return rate or postoperative level of play between cartilage repair techniques. Time to return varied between 7 to 17 months, with the longest time for autologous chondrocyte transplantation (ACI). Advanced sport-specific rehabilitation was able to reduce recovery time. Durability of results was best after ACI, with up to 96% continued sport participation after more than 3 years. Player age, time between injury and treatment, competitive level, defect size, and repair tissue morphology affected the ability to return to play. Sports participation after cartilage repair generally promoted joint restoration and functional recovery. Conclusions: Articular cartilage repair allows for a high rate of return to high-impact sports including football, often at the preinjury competitive level. The time of return and durability can be variable and depend on repair technique and athlete-specific factors. Advanced, sport-specific rehabilitation can facilitate return to football.
Exome sequencing identifies GATA-2 mutation as the cause of dendritic cell, monocyte, B and NK lymphoid deficiency
Authors: Dickinson Rachel Emma , Griffin Helen , Bigley Venetia , Reynard Louise N. , Hussain Rafiqul , Haniffa Muzlifah , Lakey Jeremy H. , Rahman Thahira , Wang Xiao-Nong , McGovern Naomi , Pagan Sarah , Cookson Sharon , McDonald David , Chua Ignatius , Wallis Jonathan , Cant Andrew , Wright Michael , Keavney Bernard , Chinnery Patrick F. , Loughlin John , Hambleton Sophie , Santibanez-Koref Mauro , Collin Matthew
Published: July 2011

The human syndrome of dendritic cell, monocyte, B and natural killer lymphoid deficiency presents as a sporadic or autosomal dominant trait causing susceptibility to mycobacterial and other infections, predisposition to myelodysplasia and leukemia, and, in some cases, pulmonary alveolar proteinosis. Seeking a genetic cause, we sequenced the exomes of 4 unrelated persons, 3 with sporadic disease, looking for novel, heterozygous, and probably deleterious variants. A number of genes harbored novel variants in person, but only one gene, GATA2, was mutated in all 4 persons. Each person harbored a different mutation, but all were predicted to be highly deleterious and to cause loss or mutation of the C-terminal zinc finger domain. Because GATA2 is the only common mutated gene in 4 unrelated persons, it is highly probable to be the cause of dendritic cell, monocyte, B, and natural killer lymphoid deficiency. This disorder therefore constitutes a new genetic form of heritable immunodeficiency and leukemic transformation.
Product Positioning in a Two-Dimensional Vertical Differentiation Model: The Role of Quality Costs
Authors: Lauga Dominique Olié , Ofek Elie
Published: July 2011

We study a duopoly model where consumers are heterogeneous with respect to their willingness to pay for two product characteristics and marginal costs are increasing with the quality level chosen on each attribute. We show that although firms seek to manage competition through product positioning, their differentiation strategies critically depend on how costly it is to provide higher quality. When the cost of providing quality is not too high, firms use only one attribute to differentiate their products: they maximally differentiate on one dimension and minimally differentiate on the other (a Max-Min equilibrium). Furthermore, they always differentiate along the dimension with the greater attribute range. As for the dimension with the smaller range and along which they agglomerate, firms either choose the highest quality level or the lowest quality level possible, depending on whether the marginal costs of quality provision are low or intermediate, respectively. However, for larger quality provision costs, firms exploit both dimensions to differentiate their products. In particular, we characterize a maximal differentiation equilibrium in which one firm chooses the highest quality level on both attributes while its rival offers the lowest quality level on both attributes (a Max-Max equilibrium). We discuss the managerial implications of our findings and explain how they enrich and qualify previous results reported in the literature on two-dimensional differentiation models.
Active Machine Learning for Consideration Heuristics
Authors: Dzyabura Daria , Hauser John R.
Published: July 2011

We develop and test an active-machine-learning method to select questions adaptively when consumers use heuristic decision rules. The method tailors priors to each consumer based on a “configurator.” Subsequent questions maximize information about the decision heuristics (minimize expected posterior entropy). To update posteriors after each question, we approximate the posterior with a variational distribution and use belief propagation (iterative loops of Bayes updating). The method runs sufficiently fast to select new queries in under a second and provides significantly and substantially more information per question than existing methods based on random, market-based, or orthogonal-design questions.

Synthetic data experiments demonstrate that adaptive questions provide close-to-optimal information and outperform existing methods even when there are response errors or “bad” priors. The basic algorithm focuses on conjunctive or disjunctive rules, but we demonstrate generalizations to more complex heuristics and to the use of previous-respondent data to improve consumer-specific priors. We illustrate the algorithm empirically in a Web-based survey conducted by an American automotive manufacturer to study vehicle consideration (872 respondents, 53 feature levels). Adaptive questions outperform market-based questions when estimating heuristic decision rules. Heuristic decision rules predict validation decisions better than compensatory rules.
The Labor Illusion: How Operational Transparency Increases Perceived Value
Authors: Buell Ryan W. , Norton Michael I.
Published: July 2011

Aubiquitous feature of even the fastest self-service technology transactions is the wait. Conventional wisdom and operations theory suggest that the longer people wait, the less satisfied they become; we demonstrate that because of what we term the labor illusion, when websites engage in operational transparency by signaling that they are exerting effort, people can actually prefer websites with longer waits to those that return instantaneous results—even when those results are identical. In five experiments that simulate service experiences in the domains of online travel and online dating, we demonstrate the impact of the labor illusion on service value perceptions, demonstrate that perceptions of service provider effort induce feelings of reciprocity that together mediate the link between operational transparency and increased valuation, and explore boundary conditions and alternative explanations.

This paper was accepted by Pradeep Chintagunta and Preyas Desai, special issue editors.

This paper was accepted by Pradeep Chintagunta and Preyas Desai, special issue editors.
Predictors of Survival and Causes of Death in Japanese Patients with Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: HASHIMOTO ATSUSHI , TEJIMA SATOKO , TONO TOSHIHIRO , SUZUKI MAIKO , TANAKA SUMIAKI , MATSUI TOSHIHIRO , TOHMA SHIGETO , ENDO HIRAHITO , HIROHATA SHUNSEI
Published: July 2011

Objective.

To clarify the mortality rates, causes of death, and contributing clinical factors in Japanese patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Methods.

A cohort of 405 patients with SSc, who attended our institution during the period 1973 to 2008, was retrospectively analyzed until the end of 2009. Clinical data were obtained from medical records or autopsy reports.

Results.

The 405 patients with SSc consisted of 310 (76.5%) survivors, 86 (21.2%) who died, and 9 who were lost to followup. Diffuse cutaneous SSc and involvement of organs other than the gastrointestinal tract were more frequent in patients who died, and were associated with a worse prognosis according to Kaplan-Meier analysis. Female sex, limited cutaneous SSc, anticentromere antibody (ACA), and overlap with Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) were factors favoring a better prognosis, while overlap with myositis contributed to a poor prognosis. The overall 10-year survival rate was 88%. The patients with SSc had a significantly higher mortality than the general population (standardized mortality ratio 2.76), but the patients with ACA or overlapping SS did not. The most common causes of death were unknown ones including sudden death, followed by malignancy and infection. In patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, sudden death was the most common cause of mortality.

Conclusion.

The overall mortality rate of patients with SSc was higher than that of the general population, probably because of poor prognostic factors including organ involvement. These factors should be carefully monitored during followup.
Altered JS‐2 expression in colorectal cancers and its clinical pathological relevance
Authors: Lam Alfred King-Yin , Gopalan Vinod , Nassiri Mohammad Reza , Kasim Kais , Dissanayake Jayampathy , Tang Johnny Chuek-On , Smith Robert Anthony
Published: July 2011

JS‐2 is a novel gene located at 5p15.2 and originally detected in primary oesophageal cancer. There is no study on the role of JS‐2 in colorectal cancer. The aim of this study is to determine the gene copy number and expression of JS‐2 in a large cohort of patients with colorectal tumours and correlate these to the clinicopathological features of the cancer patients. We evaluated the DNA copy number and mRNA expression of JS‐2 in 176 colorectal tissues (116 adenocarcinomas, 30 adenomas and 30 non‐neoplastic tissues) using real‐time polymerase chain reaction. JS‐2 expression was also evaluated in two colorectal cancer cell lines and a benign colorectal cell line. JS‐2 amplification was noted in 35% of the colorectal adenocarcinomas. Significant differences in relative expression levels for JS‐2 mRNA between different colorectal tissues were noted (p = 0.05). Distal colorectal adenocarcinoma had significantly higher copy number than proximal adenocarcinoma (p = 0.005). The relative expression level of JS‐2 was different between colonic and rectal adenocarcinoma (p = 0.007). Mucinous adenocarcinoma showed higher JS‐2 expression than non‐mucinous adenocarcinoma (p = 0.02). Early T‐stage cancers appear to have higher JS‐2 copy number and lower expression of JS‐2 mRNA than later stage cancers (p = 0.001 and 0.03 respectively). Colorectal cancer cell lines showed lower expression of JS‐2 than the benign colorectal cell line. JS‐2 copy number change and expression were shown for the first time to be altered in the carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer. In addition, genetic alteration of JS‐2 was found to be related to location, pathological subtypes and staging of colorectal cancer.
Surface charge transfer properties of high-performance Ag-decorated ZnO photocatalysts
Authors: Lu Yongchun , Lin Yanhong , Wang Dejun , Wang Lingling , Xie Tengfeng , Jiang Tengfei
Published: July 2011

Silver-decorated ZnO (Ag/ZnO) chain-like nanoparticle aggregates were prepared by a facile nonaqueous sol–gel method. The influence of Ag decoration on the surface photo-induced charge transfer behaviour of ZnO was investigated by means of surface photovoltage spectroscopy, electric field-induced surface photovoltage spectroscopy and transient photovoltage techniques. The photovoltage spectra revealed that an electronic interaction between Ag and ZnO formed. Ag acted as electron acceptors and effectively inhibited the charge recombination in ZnO with UV light illumination, while under the illumination of visible light a redshift was observed due to the appearance of a plasmon-induced band resulting from the formation of Ag nanoparticle clusters. These were responsible for the significant enhancement in the photocatalytic activity of the Ag/ZnO sample. The results also suggested that the high-performance visible light photocatalytic activity could be manipulated by external biases.
Rapid-Viability PCR Method for Detection of Live, Virulent Bacillus anthracis in Environmental Samples
Authors: Létant Sonia E. , Murphy Gloria A. , Alfaro Teneile M. , Avila Julie R. , Kane Staci R. , Raber Ellen , Bunt Thomas M. , Shah Sanjiv R.
Published: July 2011

In the event of a biothreat agent release, hundreds of samples would need to be rapidly processed to characterize the extent of contamination and determine the efficacy of remediation activities. Current biological agent identification and viability determination methods are both labor- and time-intensive such that turnaround time for confirmed results is typically several days. In order to alleviate this issue, automated, high-throughput sample processing methods were developed in which real-time PCR analysis is conducted on samples before and after incubation. The method, referred to as rapid-viability (RV)-PCR, uses the change in cycle threshold after incubation to detect the presence of live organisms. In this article, we report a novel RV-PCR method for detection of live, virulent
Bacillus anthracis
, in which the incubation time was reduced from 14 h to 9 h, bringing the total turnaround time for results below 15 h. The method incorporates a magnetic bead-based DNA extraction and purification step prior to PCR analysis, as well as specific real-time PCR assays for the
B. anthracis
chromosome and pXO1 and pXO2 plasmids. A single laboratory verification of the optimized method applied to the detection of virulent
B. anthracis
in environmental samples was conducted and showed a detection level of 10 to 99 CFU/sample with both manual and automated RV-PCR methods in the presence of various challenges. Experiments exploring the relationship between the incubation time and the limit of detection suggest that the method could be further shortened by an additional 2 to 3 h for relatively clean samples.
Global Biogeography and Quantitative Seasonal Dynamics of Gemmatimonadetes in Soil
Authors: DeBruyn Jennifer M. , Nixon Lauren T. , Fawaz Mariam N. , Johnson Amy M. , Radosevich Mark
Published: July 2011

Bacteria belonging to phylum
Gemmatimonadetes
comprise approximately 2% of soil bacterial communities. However, little is known of their ecology due to a lack of cultured representation. Here we present evidence from biogeographical analyses and seasonal quantification of
Gemmatimonadetes
in soils, which suggests an adaptation to low soil moisture.
Distinct Microbial Communities within the Endosphere and Rhizosphere of Populus deltoides Roots across Contrasting Soil Types
Authors: Gottel Neil R. , Castro Hector F. , Kerley Marilyn , Yang Zamin , Pelletier Dale A. , Podar Mircea , Karpinets Tatiana , Uberbacher Ed , Tuskan Gerald A. , Vilgalys Rytas , Doktycz Mitchel J. , Schadt Christopher W.
Published: July 2011

The root-rhizosphere interface of
Populus
is the nexus of a variety of associations between bacteria, fungi, and the host plant and an ideal model for studying interactions between plants and microorganisms. However, such studies have generally been confined to greenhouse and plantation systems. Here we analyze microbial communities from the root endophytic and rhizospheric habitats of
Populus deltoides
in mature natural trees from both upland and bottomland sites in central Tennessee. Community profiling utilized 454 pyrosequencing with separate primers targeting the V4 region for bacterial 16S rRNA and the D1/D2 region for fungal 28S rRNA genes. Rhizosphere bacteria were dominated by
Acidobacteria
(31%) and
Alphaproteobacteria
(30%), whereas most endophytes were from the
Gammaproteobacteria
(54%) as well as
Alphaproteobacteria
(23%). A single
Pseudomonas
-like operational taxonomic unit (OTU) accounted for 34% of endophytic bacterial sequences. Endophytic bacterial richness was also highly variable and 10-fold lower than in rhizosphere samples originating from the same roots. Fungal rhizosphere and endophyte samples had approximately equal amounts of the
Pezizomycotina
(40%), while the
Agaricomycotina
were more abundant in the rhizosphere (34%) than endosphere (17%). Both fungal and bacterial rhizosphere samples were highly clustered compared to the more variable endophyte samples in a UniFrac principal coordinates analysis, regardless of upland or bottomland site origin. Hierarchical clustering of OTU relative abundance patterns also showed that the most abundant bacterial and fungal OTUs tended to be dominant in either the endophyte or rhizosphere samples but not both. Together, these findings demonstrate that root endophytic communities are distinct assemblages rather than opportunistic subsets of the rhizosphere.
Distinct Cell Surface Appendages Produced by Sinorhizobium fredii USDA257 and S. fredii USDA191, Cultivar-Specific and Nonspecific Symbionts of Soybean
Authors: Krishnan Hari B. , Natarajan Savithiry S. , Kim Won-Seok
Published: July 2011

Sinorhizobium fredii
USDA257 and
S. fredii
USDA191 are fast-growing rhizobia that form nitrogen-fixing nodules on soybean roots. In contrast to USDA191, USDA257 exhibits cultivar specificity and can form nodules only on primitive soybean cultivars. In response to flavonoids released from soybean roots, these two rhizobia secrete
n
odulation
o
uter
p
roteins (Nop) to the extracellular milieu through a type III secretion system. In spite of the fact that Nops are known to regulate legume nodulation in a host-specific manner, very little is known about the differences in the compositions of Nops and surface appendages elaborated by USDA191 and USDA257. In this study we compared the Nop profiles of USDA191 and USDA257 by one-dimensional (1D) and 2D gel electrophoresis and identified several of these proteins by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem MS (LC-MS/MS). Examination of the surface appendages elaborated by these two strains of soybean symbionts by transmission electron microscopy revealed distinct differences in their morphologies. Even though the flagella produced by USDA191 and USDA257 were similar in their morphologies, they differed in their flagellin composition. USDA257 pili resembled long thin filaments, while USDA191 pili were short, rod shaped, and much thinner than the flagella. 2D gel electrophoresis of pilus-like appendages of USDA191 and USDA257 followed by mass spectrometry resulted in the identification of several of the Nops along with some proteins previously undetected in these strains. Some of the newly identified proteins show homology to putative zinc protease and a LabA-like protein from
Bradyrhizobium
sp. ORS278, fimbrial type 4 assembly proteins from
Ralstonia solanacearum
, and the type III effector Hrp-dependent protein from
Rhizobium leguminosarum
bv.
trifolii
.
A Fail-Safe Mechanism in the Septal Ring Assembly Pathway Generated by the Sequential Recruitment of Cell Separation Amidases and Their Activators
Authors: Peters Nick T. , Dinh Thuy , Bernhardt Thomas G.
Published: July 2011

During cytokinesis in
Escherichia coli
, the peptidoglycan (PG) layer produced by the divisome must be split to promote cell separation. Septal PG splitting is mediated by the amidases: AmiA, AmiB, and AmiC. To efficiently hydrolyze PG, the amidases must be activated by LytM domain factors. EnvC specifically activates AmiA and AmiB, while NlpD specifically activates AmiC. Here, we used an exportable, superfolding variant of green fluorescent protein (GFP) to demonstrate that AmiB, like its paralog AmiC, is recruited to the division site by an N-terminal targeting domain. The results of colocalization experiments indicate that EnvC is recruited to the division site well before its cognate amidase AmiB. Moreover, we show that EnvC and AmiB have differential FtsN requirements for their localization. EnvC accumulates at division sites independently of this essential division protein, whereas AmiB localization is FtsN dependent. Interestingly, we also report that AmiB and EnvC are recruited to division sites independently of one another. The same is also true for AmiC and NlpD. However, unlike EnvC, we find that NlpD shares an FtsN-dependent localization with its cognate amidase. Importantly, when septal PG synthesis is blocked by cephalexin, both EnvC and NlpD are recruited to septal rings, whereas the amidases fail to localize. Our results thus suggest that the order in which cell separation amidases and their activators localize to the septal ring relative to other components serves as a fail-safe mechanism to ensure that septal PG synthesis precedes the expected burst of PG hydrolysis at the division site, accompanied by amidase recruitment.
Overexpression of Cloned
RhsA
Sequences Perturbs the Cellular Translational Machinery in Escherichia coli
Authors: Aggarwal Kunal , Lee Kelvin H.
Published: July 2011

RhsA
is a member of the multigene
Rhs
family and consists of a complex genetic sequence. This sequence consists of several distinct components, including a GC-rich core (core open reading frame [ORF]), an AT-rich extension (ext-a1) of the core ORF and an AT-rich region following the core extension (dsORF-a1). The functions of
RhsA
and the different distinct components, which can include open reading frames, are not well understood. Here, we study the effect of overexpression of the ext-a1 sequence and the ext-a1 3′ region, which includes a partial sequence of dsORF-a1, on
Escherichia coli
cells. Cells expressing these sequences show reduced cell growth and cell viability. The expression of these sequences dramatically affects different components of the transcription and translation machinery. Transcriptomic analysis reveals an increase in the expression of genes involved in transcription, RNA processing, and nucleotide biosynthesis and metabolism and a decrease in the expression of amino acid biosynthesis genes and transfer RNAs. Further, expression of the above-mentioned
RhsA
components increases ribosomal gene expression, as well as rRNA and ribosome abundance. Proteomic analysis reveals an overall reduction of protein expression at the genome-wide level in cells expressing the above-mentioned
RhsA
components. Based on these observations, we suspect a translation product of ext-a1 affects different regulatory mechanisms that control rRNA synthesis.
Sources of spiritual well-being in advanced cancer
Authors: Lo Christopher , Zimmermann Camilla , Gagliese Lucia , Li Madeline , Rodin Gary
Published: July 2011

Objective

To test a conceptual model of sources of spiritual well-being in patients facing life-limiting disease.

Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Setting

Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada.

Participants

747 patients with stage IV gastrointestinal, breast, genitourinary or gynaecological cancer, or stage IIIA, IIIB or IV lung cancer, recruited from 2002 to 2008.

Main outcome measure

Spiritual well-being as assessed by the FACIT-Sp-12.

Results

Using structural equation modelling, spiritual well-being was specified as being predicted by religiosity, self-esteem, social relatedness and the physical burden of disease. The model had a good fit, Comparative Fit Index=0.96, Non-normed Fit Index=0.94, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation=0.057. Standardised path coefficients relating each factor to spiritual well-being were as follows: religiosity 0.50, social relatedness 0.28, self-esteem 0.26 and physical burden −0.11.

Conclusions

The authors confirmed our theoretical model in which spiritual well-being is positively associated with religiosity, self-esteem and social relatedness, and is negatively associated with physical suffering. Our findings support a multidimensional approach to spiritual well-being that addresses not only religious issues, but also pain and symptom control, and the potentially damaging effects of advanced disease on self-worth and close relationships. The spiritually informed clinical encounter may be one in which sufficient time and opportunity for reflection are afforded to consider illness trajectories and treatment decisions in the context of religious beliefs and personal values, self-worth, support systems and concerns about dependency.
Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug Use and Risk of Adenomatous and Hyperplastic Polyps
Authors: Murff Harvey J. , Shrubsole Martha J. , Chen Zhi , Smalley Walter E. , Chen Heidi , Shyr Yu , Ness Reid M. , Zheng Wei
Published: July 2011

Adenomatous polyps are known precursor lesions for colorectal cancer and some hyperplastic polyps also have malignant potential. The use of aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) is associated with a reduced risk of adenomatous polyps; however, less evidence exists with regard to NSAID use and hyperplastic polyp risk. We conducted a colonoscopy-based case–control study including 2,028 polyp cases (1,529 adenomatous and 499 hyperplastic) and 3,431 polyp-free controls. Multivariate logistic regression models were constructed to derived adjusted ORs and 95% CIs as the measure of the association between NSAID use and polyp risk. Use of baby aspirin, regular aspirin, and nonaspirin NSAIDs, were associated with a reduced risk of adenomatous polyps (OR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.66–0.93, OR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.58–0.90, and OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.53–0.86, respectively). Baby aspirin was also associated with a reduced risk of hyperplastic polyps (OR = 0.74, 0.56–0.97). Although a dose response was seen with adenoma risk and regular use of any NSAIDs (less than 7 doses per week, 7 doses per week, and greater than 7 doses per week), a dose response was not seen with hyperplastic polyps. We found no evidence of interaction between NSAID dose and duration and polyp risk. The use of any NSAID regardless of type was associated with a reduced risk of adenomatous polyps; however, regular aspirin and COX-2 inhibitors use was not associated with hyperplastic polyp risk. Cancer Prev Res; 4(11); 1799–807. ©2011 AACR.
Increased 90-Day Mortality in Patients With Acute Heart Failure With Elevated Copeptin
Authors: Maisel Alan , Xue Yang , Shah Kevin , Mueller Christian , Nowak Richard , Peacock W. Frank , Ponikowski Piotr , Mockel Martin , Hogan Christopher , Wu Alan H.B. , Richards Mark , Clopton Paul , Filippatos Gerasimos S. , Di Somma Salvatore , Anand Inder S. , Ng Leong , Daniels Lori B. , Neath Sean-Xavier , Christenson Robert , Potocki Mihael , McCord James , Terracciano Garret , Kremastinos Dimitrios , Hartmann Oliver , von Haehling Stephan , Bergmann Andreas , Morgenthaler Nils G. , Anker Stefan D.
Published: July 2011

Background—

In patients with heart failure (HF), increased arginine vasopressin concentrations are associated with more severe disease, making arginine vasopressin an attractive target for therapy. However, AVP is difficult to measure due to its in vitro instability and rapid clearance. Copeptin, the C-terminal segment of preprovasopressin, is a stable and reliable surrogate biomarker for serum arginine vasopressin concentrations.

Methods and Results—

The Biomarkers in Acute Heart Failure (BACH) trial was a 15-center, diagnostic and prognostic study of 1641 patients with acute dyspnea; 557 patients with acute HF were included in this analysis. Copeptin and other biomarker measurements were performed by a core laboratory at the University of Maryland. Patients were followed for up to 90 days after initial evaluation for the primary end point of all-cause mortality, HF-related readmissions, and HF-related emergency department visits. Patients with copeptin concentrations in the highest quartile had increased 90-day mortality (
P
<0.001; hazard ratio, 3.85). Mortality was significantly increased in patients with elevated copeptin and hyponatremia (
P
<0.001; hazard ratio, 7.36). Combined end points of mortality, readmissions, and emergency department visits were significantly increased in patients with elevated copeptin. There was no correlation between copeptin and sodium (
r
=0.047).

Conclusions—

This study showed significantly increased 90-day mortality, readmissions, and emergency department visits in patients with elevated copeptin, especially in those with hyponatremia. Copeptin was highly prognostic for 90-day adverse events in patients with acute HF, adding prognostic value to clinical predictors, ser um sodium, and natriuretic peptides.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.clinicaltrials.gov
. Unique identifier: NCT00537628.
Nociceptive blink reflex and pain-related evoked potentials in hypnic headache
Authors: Holle Dagny , Gaul Charly , Krebs Sarah , Naegel Steffen , Diener Hans-Christoph , Kaube Holger , Katsarava Zaza , Obermann Mark
Published: July 2011

Background: Central facilitation of trigeminal pain processing and deficient habituation was observed in different headache and facial pain disorders. This overactivation seems to be primarily associated with chronic pain states.

Objective: To investigate the function of the trigeminal nociceptive system in patients with hypnic headache (HH).

Methods: Fifteen HH patients according International Classification of Headache Disorders II criteria and 15 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were investigated using the nociceptive blink reflex (nBR) and trigeminal pain-related evoked potentials (PREP).

Results: nBR and PREP responses showed no significant differences comparing HH patients and healthy controls. Moreover, no habituation deficit was detected in HH patients.

Conclusion: Central facilitation and change in habituation do not seem to be a crucial part in the pathophysiology of HH despite the chronic nature of this disease. Facilitation or habituation deficit does not seem to be exclusively related to chronic pain disorders in general. Further research is needed to illuminate the pathophysiology of HH.
Microvascular decompression of the pterygopalatine ganglion in patients with refractory cluster headache
Authors: Oomen KPQ , Wijck AJM van , Hordijk GJ , Ru JA de
Published: July 2011

Background: Cluster headache is an invalidating form of headache. Although cluster headache can be managed pharmacologically, some patients require surgical treatment with varying results. Microvascular decompression of the pterygopalatine ganglion could be an alternative to traditional surgical management in patients with cluster headache.

Methods: Microvascular decompression of the pterygopalatine ganglion was performed in three patients with refractory cluster headache. The pterygopalatine artery was ligated and a temporal muscle graft was placed between the artery and the ganglion.

Results: No differences were found between the presurgical period and 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively with respect to attack duration and frequency, visual analogue scale score during attacks and in remission periods, duration of remissions, and quality of life.

Conclusion: These preliminary data suggest that microvascular decompression of the pterygopalatine ganglion does not provide pain reduction or improvement of quality of life in patients with refractory cluster headache.
100,000 Sex Offenders Missing . . . or Are They? Deconstruction of an Urban Legend
Authors: Levenson Jill S. , Harris Andrew J.
Published: July 2011

It is frequently reported by the media and public officials that 100,000 registered sex offenders (RSOs) in the United States are “missing.” This policy note first describes the origin of this figure, which was initially derived from a 2003 informal survey of state registries conducted by a grassroots advocacy organization. Then, we explore the definitional ambiguities that complicate the process of calculating the national number of fugitive sex offenders. Finally, we present emerging research efforts to develop reliable estimates of the number and proportion of RSOs officially recorded by states as absconded, whereabouts unknown, or noncompliant with registration requirements. While such data remain limited, we find little evidence to support that 100,000 sex offenders are “missing,” using even the most inclusive definitions. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.
The Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus with Autologous Osteochondral Transplantation and Bone Marrow Aspirate Concentrate
Authors: Kennedy John G. , Murawski Christopher D.
Published: July 2011

Objective:

To present the functional results after autologous osteochondral transplantation with bone marrow aspirate concentrate in 72 patients, while placing an emphasis on the surgical technique.

Methods:

Between 2005 and 2009, 72 patients underwent autologous osteochondral transplantation under the care of the senior author. The mean patient age at the time of surgery was 34.19 years (range, 16-85 years). All patients were followed for a minimum of 1 year after surgery. The mean follow-up time was 28.02 months (range, 12-64 months). Patient-reported outcome measures were taken preoperatively and at final follow-up using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and Short Form–12 (SF-12) general health questionnaire. Identical questionnaires were used in all instances.

Results:

The mean FAOS scores improved from 52.67 points preoperatively to 86.19 points postoperatively (range, 71-100 points). The mean SF-12 scores also improved from 59.40 points preoperatively to 88.63 points postoperatively (range, 52-98 points). Three patients reported donor site knee pain after surgery, and one patient required the decompression of a cyst that developed beneath the graft site approximately 2 years after the index procedure.

Conclusion:

Autologous osteochondral transplantation is a reproducible and primary treatment strategy for large osteochondral lesions of the talus.
Chondral Defect Repair with Particulated Juvenile Cartilage Allograft
Authors: Farr Jack , Yao Jian Q
Published: July 2011

Objective:

This case study of 4 patients followed for at least 2 years was conducted to evaluate a cartilage repair procedure that involves transplanting particulated juvenile allograft cartilage.

Design:

A multicenter, prospective, single-arm, 25-subject case study was designed to evaluate clinical outcomes such as IKDC and KOOS scores as well as the extent and quality of repair with MRI. In addition, there is an option for the transplants to be biopsied at various time points after implantation (up to 5 years). Currently, 25 patients with 1 or 2 chondral lesions on the femoral condyles and trochlea have been enrolled and treated in the prospective study.

Results:

The first 4 patients have completed an evaluation at 24 months postoperative follow-up. Improvements in clinical outcomes over the preoperative baseline data have been observed.

Conclusions:

The present report describes, for the first time, clinical intermediate-term results of a novel cartilage repair procedure that involves transplanting particulated juvenile cartilage tissue allograft into prepared cartilage lesions of the femoral condyles and/or trochlea. Clinical outcome data of 4 patients who have reached the 24-month postimplantation milestone indicate early positive outcomes and suggest that this technique is capable of improving clinical symptoms. MRI data suggest that defect filling is possible and persists to at least 2 years. Continued clinical evaluation of this technique is needed with extended follow-up of all 25 patients in the series.
Management of the Retired Athlete with Osteoarthritis of the Knee
Authors: Kirkendall Donald T. , Garrett William E.
Published: July 2011

Purpose: Osteoarthritis of the knee is a complex interaction of biological, mechanical, and biochemical factors that are further complicated by injury, which accelerates pathological processes within the joint. As a result, athletes, particularly those with a history of knee injury, have an earlier onset and higher prevalence of osteoarthritis that would be expected based on their age. This can present a clinical dilemma to the physician managing the patient who, despite the presence of radiologically confirmed disease, has few symptoms and wishes to maintain an active lifestyle. Methods: We reviewed meta-analyses and systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials about clinical management of knee osteoarthritis with special interest on effect sizes. Results: Numerous management options have undergone the rigor of clinical trials and subsequently have been summarized in meta-analyses and systematic reviews, the results of which offer evidence regarding varying degrees of effect. Based on the available evidence, most summaries and clinical practice guidelines suggest a regimen of patient education, self-management, weight control, and exercise supported by individualized pain management strategies. Other noninvasive or less invasive strategies are available that have varying degrees of effect. Conclusions: Although the evidence supporting many of the clinical management options might be considered modest, those effects are sufficient to permit an active lifestyle and have, given the prevalence of the disease, a public health impact.
Note: A Reply to “New Product Diffusion Decisions Under Supply Constraints”
Authors: Ho Teck-Hua , Savin Sergei , Terwiesch Christian
Published: July 2011

In our prior work on product diffusions in presence of a capacity constraint, we postulated that a firm operating in such an environment should always attempt to fulfill as much of the present demand as is possible with the capacity constraint. In other words, the firm would never have demand backlogged while accumulating inventory. In this note, we derive a sufficient condition for the optimality of such fulfillment policy.

This paper was accepted by Candace A. Yano, operations management.
Determinants of High Schools' Advanced Course Offerings
Authors: Iatarola Patrice , Conger Dylan , Long Mark C.
Published: July 2011

This article examines the factors that determine a high school's probability of offering Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. The likelihood that a school offers advanced courses, and the number of sections that it offers, is largely driven by having a critical mass of students who enter high school with eighth-grade test scores that are far above average. The number and qualifications of the instructional staff, in contrast, play a very small role. The results suggest that the willingness of schools to offer advanced courses is driven by real, perceived, or created student demand and that there may be few resource constraints that prevent schools from supplying advanced courses.
On multivariate calibration with unlabeled data
Authors: Gujral Paman , Amrhein Michael , Ergon Rolf , Wise Barry M. , Bonvin Dominique
Published: July 2011

In principal component regression (PCR) and partial least‐squares regression (PLSR), the use of unlabeled data, in addition to labeled data, helps stabilize the latent subspaces in the calibration step, typically leading to a lower prediction error. For using unlabeled data in PLSR, a non‐sequential approach based on optimal filtering (OF) has been proposed in the literature. In this work, a sequential version of the OF‐based PLSR and a PCA‐based PLSR (PLSR applied to PCA‐preprocessed data) are proposed. It is shown analytically that the sequential version of the OF‐based PLSR is equivalent to that of PCA‐based PLSR, which leads to a new interpretation of OF. Simulated and experimental data sets are used to point out the usefulness and pitfalls of using unlabeled data. Unlabeled data can replace labeled data to some extent, thereby leading to an economic benefit. However, in the presence of drift, the use of unlabeled data can result in an increase in prediction error compared to that obtained with a model based on labeled data alone. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Oncologic outcomes of partial versus radical nephrectomy for unilateral Wilms Tumor
Authors: Cost Nicholas G. , Lubahn Jessica D. , Granberg Candace F. , Schlomer Bruce J. , Wickiser Jonathan E. , Rakheja Dinesh , Gargollo Patricio C. , Leonard David , Raj Ganesh V. , Baker Linda A. , Margulis Vitaly
Published: July 2011

Background

Radical nephrectomy (RN) is the recommended surgical management as part of multi‐modality therapy for unilateral Wilms tumor (UWT). Based on recent data demonstrating that renal preserving surgery decreases the likelihood of chronic renal disease and associated co‐morbidities, we analyzed oncologic outcomes of patients after partial nephrectomy (PN) for UWT.

Methods

We identified all published cases of PN for UWT. Cases of elective PN for UWT were analyzed for tumor stage, presence, timing and location of disease recurrence, and overall survival (OS). Eighty‐two patients had adequate data for analysis. For comparison, these endpoints were collected on consecutive children undergoing RN for UWT from 1985 to 2010 at our institution.

Results

Of the 82 PN patients, tumor stage was: I—64, II—10, III—6, IV—2. Of the 121 RN patients, the staging was: I—24, II—45, III—29, IV—23. In the PN group, at a median of 48 months (3–372), the recurrence‐free survival (RFS), local RFS and OS were 89.1%, 92.7%, and 95.1%, respectively. In the RN group, at a median of 69 months (0–214), the RFS, local RFS, and OS were 83.1%, 95.0%, and 95.0%, respectively. After controlling for stage, there were no statistically significant differences in the above oncologic outcomes between the groups.

Conclusion

Based on reported data, the oncologic outcomes of PN for UWT in selected patients do not appear to differ from those of RN. PN for appropriately selected patients with UWT should be studied in prospective, co‐operative group trials. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2012; 58: 898–904. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Efficient and Specific Conversion of 9‐Lipoxygenase Hydroperoxides in the Beetroot. Formation of Pinellic Acid
Authors: Hamberg Mats , Olsson Ulrika
Published: July 2011

The linoleate 9‐lipoxygenase product 9(S)‐hydroperoxy‐10(E),12(Z)‐octadecadienoic acid was stirred with a crude enzyme preparation from the beetroot (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris var. vulgaris) to afford a product consisting of 95% of 9(S),12(S),13(S)‐trihydroxy‐10(E)‐octadecenoic acid (pinellic acid). The linolenic acid‐derived hydroperoxide 9(S)‐hydroperoxy‐10(E),12(Z),15(Z)‐octadecatrienoic acid was converted in an analogous way into 9(S),12(S),13(S)‐trihydroxy‐10(E),15(Z)‐octadecadienoic acid (fulgidic acid). On the other hand, the 13‐lipoxygenase‐generated hydroperoxides of linoleic or linolenic acids failed to produce significant amounts of trihydroxy acids. Short‐time incubation of 9(S)‐hydroperoxy‐10(E),12(Z)‐octadecadienoic acid afforded the epoxy alcohol 12(R),13(S)‐epoxy‐9(S)‐hydroxy‐10(E)‐octadecenoic acid as the main product indicating the sequence 9‐hydroperoxide → epoxy alcohol → trihydroxy acid catalyzed by epoxy alcohol synthase and epoxide hydrolase activities, respectively. The high capacity of the enzyme system detected in beetroot combined with a simple isolation protocol made possible by the low amounts of endogenous lipids in the enzyme preparation offered an easy access to pinellic and fulgidic acids for use in biological and medical studies.
Nuclear receptors: TH17 cell control from within
Authors: Klotz L. , Knolle P.
Published: July 2011

IL‐17 producing T helper (TH17) cells have recently been identified as a new subset involved in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune diseases. Exogenous factors promoting TH17 induction have been intensely characterized, whereas the T cell‐intrinsic mechanisms influencing TH17 development are less established. The transcription factor RORγt, which belongs to the nuclear receptor superfamily, serves as master transcription factor essential for TH17 differentiation, whereas other members of the nuclear receptor family control TH17 differentiation and contribute to protection from TH17‐mediated autoimmunity. In this review, we will highlight the most recent understandings about the regulatory function of nuclear receptors during TH17 cell differentiation.
A small cytoplasmic region adjacent to the fourth transmembrane segment of the α7 nicotinic receptor is essential for its biogenesis
Authors: Criado Manuel , Mulet José , Gerber Susana , Sala Salvador , Sala Francisco
Published: July 2011

Deletion of a small cytoplasmic fragment close to the fourth transmembrane segment of the nicotinic α7 receptor (Glu437 to Arg447) abolished membrane expression. Different single mutants showed moderate to strong decreases in expression whereas the latter was totally abolished upon proline substitutions. We hypothesize that preservation of an α‐helix formed by the fourth transmembrane segment and the adjacent cytoplasmic region is essential for membrane receptor expression. Moreover, in selected mutants with low or null membrane expression, a significant proportion of mature receptors was present inside the cell. Hence, elements in this cytoplasmic fragment might influence receptor transport to the membrane.