bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determination of Characteristic Shear Rate of a Liquid Bolus through the Pharynx during Swallowing
Authors: Zhu J.F. , Mizunuma H. , Michiwaki Y.
Published: October 2014

A method for determining the characteristic shear rates of fluids in the pharynx is advanced here using videofluorography on three healthy subjects. Bolus velocity (V) was measured for five Newtonian fluids (using different concentrations of glucose syrup), with viscosities in the range of 0.0089–0.657 Pa·s, and was expressed as a function of viscosity (η). Shear thinning liquid food (with four different thickener concentrations) was also used where the apparent viscosities were adjusted to match the Newtonian fluid viscosities in the shear rate range of 10–1,000/s. The Newtonian and shear thinning liquid bolus velocities were both assumed to follow the same function V = F(η), which gave the shear thinning liquid characteristic viscosities ηc [=F−1(V)]. Substituting ηc into the rheological model gave , the characteristic shear rate dominating bolus flow at the pharynx. values of 120 and 990/s were found at the meso‐ and hypopharynx, respectively, and these were approximately independent of ηc (and thickener concentration). V was found to be a function of both the characteristic viscosity and the differences between the individuals tested.

Practical Applications

The viscosity of liquid foods (e.g., in care homes) can be increased using a thickener, suppressing the effects of swallowing disorders. Thickened liquid food shows viscous shear thinning behavior, and the apparent viscosity depends on shear rate. When the viscosity of the food is adjusted for a patient with a swallowing disorder, the viscosity should be measured at the shear rate that dominates the liquid bolus flow at the pharynx. The measured viscosity is expected to correlate well with the bolus flow characteristics. The new experimental methodology proposed herein can be used to determine the characteristic shear rate at the pharynx.
Overexpression of Laccaria bicolor aquaporin JQ585595 alters root water transport properties in ectomycorrhizal white spruce (Picea glauca) seedlings
Authors: Xu Hao , Kemppainen Minna , El Kayal Walid , Lee Seong Hee , Pardo Alejandro G. , Cooke Janice E. K. , Zwiazek Janusz J.
Published: October 2014

The contribution of hyphae to water transport in ectomycorrhizal (ECM) white spruce (Picea glauca) seedlings was examined by altering expression of a major water‐transporting aquaporin in Laccaria bicolor.

Picea glauca was inoculated with wild‐type (WT), mock transgenic or L. bicolor aquaporin JQ585595‐overexpressing (OE) strains and exposed to root temperatures ranging from 5 to 20°C to examine the root water transport properties, physiological responses and plasma membrane intrinsic protein (PIP) expression in colonized plants.

Mycorrhization increased shoot water potential, transpiration, net photosynthetic rates, root hydraulic conductivity and root cortical cell hydraulic conductivity in seedlings. At 20°C, OE plants had higher root hydraulic conductivity compared with WT plants and the increases were accompanied by higher expression of P. glauca PIP GQ03401_M18.1 in roots. In contrast to WT L. bicolor, the effects of OE fungi on root and root cortical cell hydraulic conductivities were abolished at 10 and 5°C in the absence of major changes in the examined transcript levels of P. glauca root PIPs.

The results provide evidence for the importance of fungal aquaporins in root water transport of mycorrhizal plants. They also demonstrate links between hyphal water transport, root aquaporin expression and root water transport in ECM plants.
GLYCINE‐RICH RNA‐BINDING PROTEIN1 interacts with RECEPTOR‐LIKE CYTOPLASMIC PROTEIN KINASE1 and suppresses cell death and defense responses in pepper (Capsicum annuum)
Authors: Kim Dae Sung , Kim Nak Hyun , Hwang Byung Kook
Published: October 2014

Plants use a variety of innate immune regulators to trigger cell death and defense responses against pathogen attack.

We identified pepper (Capsicum annuum) GLYCINE‐RICH RNA‐BINDING PROTEIN1 (CaGRP1) as a RECEPTOR‐LIKE CYTOPLASMIC PROTEIN KINASE1 (CaPIK1)‐interacting partner, based on bimolecular fluorescence complementation and coimmunoprecipitation analyses as well as gene silencing and transient expression analysis.

CaGRP1 contains an N‐terminal RNA recognition motif and a glycine‐rich region at the C‐terminus. The CaGRP1 protein had DNA‐ and RNA‐binding activity in vitro. CaGRP1 interacted with CaPIK1 in planta. CaGRP1 and CaGRP1–CaPIK1 complexes were localized to the nucleus in plant cells. CaPIK1 phosphorylated CaGRP1 in vitro and in planta. Transient coexpression of CaGRP1 with CaPIK1 suppressed the CaPIK1‐triggered cell death response, accompanied by a reduced CaPIK1‐triggered reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst. The RNA recognition motif region of CaGRP1 was responsible for the nuclear localization of CaGRP1 as well as the suppression of the CaPIK1‐triggered cell death response. CaGRP1 silencing in pepper conferred enhanced resistance to Xanthomonas campestris pv vesicatoria (Xcv) infection; however, CaPIK1‐silenced plants were more susceptible to Xcv.

CaGRP1 interacts with CaPIK1 and negatively regulates CaPIK1‐triggered cell death and defense responses by suppressing ROS accumulation.
Floridoside and isofloridoside are synthesized by trehalose 6‐phosphate synthase‐like enzymes in the red alga Galdieria sulphuraria
Authors: Pade Nadin , Linka Nicole , Ruth Wolfgang , Weber Andreas P. M. , Hagemann Martin
Published: October 2014

Compatible solutes are small molecules that are involved in acclimation to various abiotic stresses, especially high salinity. Among the red algae, the main photosynthetic products floridoside and isofloridoside (galactosylglycerols) are known also to contribute to the osmotic acclimation of cells. However, the genes encoding (iso)floridoside biosynthetic enzymes are still unknown.

To identify candidate genes, we examined the genome of the floridoside‐ and isofloridoside‐accumulating extremophilic red alga Galdieria sulphuraria belonging to the Cyanidiales. We hypothesized that two candidate genes, Gasu_10960 and Gasu_26940, code for enzymes involved in floridoside and isofloridoside biosynthesis. These proteins comprise a sugar phosphate synthase and a sugar phosphate phosphatase domain. To verify their biochemical activity, both genes were in vitro translated into the entire proteins.

The protein translation mixture containing Gasu_10960 synthesized small amounts of isofloridoside, whereas the Gasu_26940 translation mix also produced small amounts of floridoside. Moreover, the expression of Gasu_10960 in a salt‐sensitive mutant of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 resulted in increased salt tolerance as a consequence of the presence of isofloridoside in the complemented cells.

Thus, our experiments suggest that the Gasu_26940 and Gasu_10960 genes of G. sulphuraria encode the enzymatically active floridoside and isofloridoside phosphate synthase/phosphatase fusion proteins, respectively, crucial for salt acclimation.
Arithmetic and algebraic problem solving and resource allocation: The distinct impact of fluid and numerical intelligence
Authors: Dix Annika , van der Meer Elke
Published: October 2014

This study investigates cognitive resource allocation dependent on fluid and numerical intelligence in arithmetic/algebraic tasks varying in difficulty. Sixty‐six 11th grade students participated in a mathematical verification paradigm, while pupil dilation as a measure of resource allocation was collected. Students with high fluid intelligence solved the tasks faster and more accurately than those with average fluid intelligence, as did students with high compared to average numerical intelligence. However, fluid intelligence sped up response times only in students with average but not high numerical intelligence. Further, high fluid but not numerical intelligence led to greater task‐related pupil dilation. We assume that fluid intelligence serves as a domain‐general resource that helps to tackle problems for which domain‐specific knowledge (numerical intelligence) is missing. The allocation of this resource can be measured by pupil dilation.
Effect of a Single Dose of Cadmium on Pregnant Wistar Rats and their Offspring
Authors: Díaz M del C , González NV , Gómez S , Quiroga MA , Najle R , Barbeito CG
Published: October 2014

Contents

Cadmium (Cd) is a well‐known toxicant targeting many organs, among them placenta. This heavy metal also has embryonary and foetal toxicity. This study was undertaken to analyse the effect of a single Cd dose administered at 4, 7, 10 or 15 days of gestation on the offspring of pregnant rats sacrificed at 20 days of gestation. Cadmium chloride was administered subcutaneously at 10 mg/kg body weight to Wistar pregnant dams; control animals received a proportionate volume of sterile normal saline by the same route. Maternal uteri, livers, kidneys and lungs, and foetuses were examined at necropsy. Samples of maternal organs and whole foetuses were collected for histopathologic examination, determination of Cd levels and staining by the Alizarin red S technique. Results revealed a clear embryotoxic and a teratogenic effect of this heavy metal, the former as a significant increase in the number of resorptions, and the latter as significant decrease of the gestational sac weight, and the size and weight of foetuses of Cd‐treated dams as well as induced malformations in skull bones, vertebrae and thoracic, and pelvian limbs. The deleterious effects found were similar to those previously reported for other animal models suggesting a high conservation of the pathogenic mechanisms of Cd. Additionally, many of the addressed aspects showed a slight dependence on the time of administration of the toxic that might be due to the accumulation of the metal in different organs, as we were able to demonstrate by the analysis of its concentration.
Race, Religion, or Ethnicity?: Situating Jews in the American Scene
Authors: Glauz‐Todrank Annalise E.
Published: October 2014

For Jewish Americans and the scholars who study them, religion, race, and ethnicity make up fundamental components of American social location. In other words, they are immediately relevant to how Americans conceptualize their own identities and the identities of others, as well as to the distribution of social, political, and economic resources. In this article, I argue that scholarship on Jewish American identity is typically both attentive to and itself deeply shaped by the myths that comprise dominant American conceptions of identity, such as those that inform and construct the social categories religion, race, and ethnicity. I examine, in each of three sections, scholarship that analyzes Jewish identification in terms of religion, ethnicity, and race, respectively, highlighting how the studies engageAmericansocial categories as the framework for studyingJewishAmerican identification. The texts that use religion as the center of their analysis tend either to focus exclusively on Jewish Americans or to situate them in relation to the expectation of assimilation to (Christian) American social norms. Ethnicity‐oriented scholarship, in contrast, often examines Jewish Americans as one among many ethnic groups, focusing initially on post‐Civil Rights era multiculturalism and, in later work that accounts for race theory, on identity performance and representation. I argue that the turn to, or neglect of, race in contemporary studies reveals the varying levels of scholarly commitment to thinking through power, privilege, and the role of ‘whiteness’ in Jewish American experiences and in their relations with other groups.
Sudden Stops and Current Account Reversals: Potential Macroeconomic Consequences for South Africa
Authors: Smit Ben , Grobler Christelle , Nel Carmen
Published: October 2014

South Africa is one of the emerging market countries that have received a relatively large amount of foreign capital since the mid‐2000s. In South Africa's case, these inflows were partly used to build the country's foreign exchange reserves, but more particularly to finance continued large current account deficits. During the course of the past two years, however, adverse domestic political developments, combined with the potential negative impacts of the unwinding of quantitative easing policies and the normalising of monetary policy in the United States on emerging markets in general, has raised the spectre of a sharp slowdown in foreign capital flows to South Africa and an associated reversal of the current deficit. This paper explores the potential impact of such a development on macroeconomic conditions in South Africa. The analysis consists of macroeconometric model‐based alternative scenarios backed up by both the international evidence on the impact of such events and South Africa's own history.
Against Global Parliament
Authors: Kuyper Jonathan W.
Published: October 2014

Experimentation is often thought to be a key quality of any legitimate democratic system. Employing global parliamentary proposals as a heuristic, this article suggests that top‐down models for global democratization – proffered by liberal cosmopolitans and world government scholars – may create path‐dependencies which foreclose options for experimenting with alternative institutional designs in the future. Drawing upon historical institutionalism, the structure, sequence, and setting of top‐down proposals are outlined to show how experimentation with other forms of democracy may be constrained in problematic ways. Following this assessment, the article suggests that striving for democratic values under a pluralist arrangement of global governance may facilitate incremental institutional development and promote experimentation over time.
Measuring and relating aggregate and subaggregate total factor productivity change without neoclassical assumptions
Authors: Balk Bert M.
Published: October 2014

This article considers the relation between total factor productivity measures for individual production units and those for aggregates such as industries, sectors or economies. This topic has been treated in a number of influential publications, such as Hulten (1978), Gollop (1979) and Jorgenson et al. (1987). What distinguishes this article from other publications in this area is that I deliberately avoid the making of all kinds of (neoclassical) structural and behavioural assumptions, such as the existence of production frontiers with certain properties, or optimizing behaviour of the production units. In addition, I also treat dynamic ensembles of production units, characterized by entry and exit. Thus, a greater level of generality is achieved from which the earlier results follow as special cases.
Why has demand for platelet components increased? A review
Authors: Estcourt L. J.
Published: October 2014

Platelet transfusions are used in clinical practice to prevent and treat haemorrhage in thrombocytopenic patients or patients with severe platelet dysfunction. In the UK, and abroad there has been a recent rise in platelet component demand. The three largest patient groups that use platelet components are patients with haematological malignancies (up to 67%), patients receiving cardiac surgery (up to 10%) and patients receiving intensive care (up to 8%). This review has explored some of the factors that may explain this recent trend within these three main groups. These factors include a rise in the general population, an ageing population, an increase in the incidence and prevalence of haematological malignancies, and changes in the management of patients with haematological malignancies. However, the only data available that can be correlated directly with national component data are the size of the total population. There is no evidence to support the premise that use of platelet components in patients receiving cardiac surgery or intensive care treatment is rising over and above the general rise in the population, but the data are sparse.
Accuracy of cerebrospinal leucocyte count, protein and culture for the diagnosis of acute bacterial meningitis: a comparative study using Bayesian latent class analysis
Authors: Manning Laurens , Laman Moses , Mare Trevor , Hwaiwhanje Ilomo , Siba Peter , Davis Timothy M. E.
Published: October 2014

Objective

To examine the utility of laboratory methods other than bacterial culture in diagnosing acute bacterial meningitis (ABM).

Methods

Bayesian latent class analysis was used to estimate diagnostic precision of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture, leucocyte counts and protein concentrations for ABM in Melanesian children.

Results

With a cut‐off of ≥20 leucocytes/mm3, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC ROC) was >97.5% for leucocyte counts. A lower (93%) AUC ROC was observed for CSF protein concentrations ≥1 g/l. CSF culture had poor sensitivity and high specificity.

Conclusion

Leucocyte counts provide sufficient diagnostic precision to aid clinical decision‐making in ABM.
Safety study of capsular tension ring use in canine phacoemulsification andIOLimplantation
Authors: Wilkie David A. , Stone Hoy Sarah , Gemensky‐Metzler Anne , Colitz Carmen M. H.
Published: October 2014

Objective

To evaluate and compare surgical outcome and complications in canine eyes with stable, cataractous lenses undergoing routine phacoemulsification and intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with or without implantation of a capsular tension ring device (CTR).

Procedures

Dogs undergoing routine bilateral phacoemulsification andIOLimplantation had one eye randomly chosen to have aCTR(47 eyes) inserted while the contralateral eye served as a control (47 eyes). TheCTRwas placed in the capsular bag following phacoemulsification and immediately prior toIOLimplantation. All eyes received acrylic foldableIOLs. Patients were evaluated intra‐ and postoperatively, and complications were compared between eyes with and without aCTR.

Results

There were no intra‐operative complications associated with implantation of theCTR. Postoperatively, the overall incidences of glaucoma (6%), intraocular hemorrhage (4%), and retinal detachment (2%) were equal between control andCTReyes at the time of last follow‐up. There was no significant difference in overall incidence of immediate postoperative uveitis (35% vs. 38%) or fibrin (19% vs. 15%) between control andCTReyes. Follow‐up time ranged from 2 weeks to 21 months.

Conclusion

In canine eyes with stable cataractous lenses undergoing routine phacoemulsification andIOLimplantation placement of aCTRdoes not increase the risk of intra‐ or postoperative complications.
A Novel Low-Cost Stereolithography Process Based on Vector Scanning and Mask Projection for High-Accuracy, High-Speed, High-Throughput, and Large-Area Fabrication
Authors: Zhou Chi , Ye Hang , Zhang Feng
Published: October 2014

Photopolymerization based process is one of the most popular additive manufacturing (AM) processes. Two primary configurations for this process are laser based vector by vector scanning (0D) and projection based layer by layer exposing (2D). With the highly focused fine laser, the scanning based process can accomplish very high surface finishing and precision, however, due to the serial nature of scanning, this process suffers from the problem of slow speed. In contrast with laser scanning, projection based process can form the whole layer in one exposure, which leads to higher fabrication efficiency. However, due to the limited resolution of projection device and various optical defects, the surface quality will be significantly deteriorated for large area fabrication. To solve this problem, a novel hybrid process by integrating vector scanning and mask projection has been presented. In this process, laser is focused into a fine spot and used to scan the boundary of the layer, whereas the projector is focused onto a large platform surface and used to form the interior area of the layer. An efficient slicing method is proposed for extracting the contour for laser scanning. A slice to image conversion algorithm is also developed to convert the offset contour to grayscale image for mask projection. Experimental results have verified that the proposed hybrid process can significantly improve the fabrication speed without losing the surface quality.
Task Assignment and Trajectory Planning Algorithm for a Class of Cooperative Agricultural Robots
Authors: Li Ni , Remeikas Charles , Xu Yunjun , Jayasuriya Suhada , Ehsani Reza
Published: October 2014

Agricultural field operations, such as harvesting for fruits and scouting for disease, are labor intensive and time consuming. With the recent push toward autonomous farming, a method to rapidly generate trajectories for a group of cooperative agricultural robots becomes necessary. The challenging aspect of solving this problem is to satisfy realistic constraints such as changing environments, actuation limitations, nonlinear heterogeneous dynamics, conflict resolution, and formation reconfigurations. In this paper, a hierarchical decision making and trajectory planning method is studied for a group of agricultural robots cooperatively conducting certain farming task such as citrus harvesting. Within the algorithm framework, there are two main parts (cooperative level and individual level): (1) in the cooperative level, once a discrete reconfiguration event is confirmed and replanning is triggered, all the possible formation configurations and associated robot locations for specific farming tasks will be evaluated and ranked according to the feasibility condition and the cooperative level performance index; and (2) in the individual level, a local pursuit (LP) strategy based cooperative trajectory planning algorithm is designed to generate local optimal cooperative trajectories for agricultural robots to achieve and maintain their desired operation formation in a decentralized manner. The capabilities of the proposed method are demonstrated in a citrus harvesting problem.
Rheology of compatibilized immiscible blends with droplet-matrix and cocontinuous morphologies during coarsening
Authors: López-Barrón Carlos R. , Macosko Christopher W.
Published: October 2014

It is well known that addition of block copolymers to immiscible polymer blends may result in finer and more stable microstructures by reducing the driving force for coarsening, namely, the interfacial tension. This compatibilization is also reflected in the rheological behavior of the blends. We present an experimental study on the morphology and rheology of model blends composed of fluorescently labeled polystyrene and styrene-ran-acrylonitrile copolymer compatibilized with a polystyrene-b-polymethyl methacrylate diblock copolymer (BC). Three different weight ratios (wt/wt) are studied: 20/80, 35/65, and 50/50, with the following morphologies: Droplet/matrix, metastable cocontinuous, and abiding cocontinuous, respectively. It is found that regardless the type of initial morphology, the addition of BC reduces the characteristic size and increases the elastic modulus in the terminal regime, where the relaxation of the interface is probed. The relaxation spectra in the terminal zone are greatly affected by the presence of BC, which reflects the strong dependence of the viscoelastic behavior on the local microstructure (shape and area) of the interface. Furthermore, the addition of BC reduces the rate of coarsening, which is characterized by the time evolution of both the elastic modulus and the specific interfacial area. These effects are more pronounced when the molecular weight or concentration of the BC is higher. Finally, two regimes of coarsening in the symmetric (50/50) blends were identified and characterized by two different power laws.
Single-proton spin detection by diamond magnetometry
Authors: Loretz M. , Rosskopf T. , Boss J. M. , Pezzagna S. , Meijer J. , Degen C. L.
Published: October 2014

Extending magnetic resonance imaging to the atomic scale has been a long-standing aspiration, driven by the prospect of directly mapping atomic positions in molecules with three-dimensional spatial resolution. We report detection of individual, isolated proton spins by a nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center in a diamond chip covered by an inorganic salt. The single-proton identity was confirmed by the Zeeman effect and by a quantum coherent rotation of the weakly coupled nuclear spin. Using the hyperfine field of the NV center as an imaging gradient, we determined proton-NV distances of less than 1 nm.
Draft Genome Sequences of
Campylobacterales
(
Epsilonproteobacteria
) Obtained from Methanogenic Oil Sands Tailings Pond Metagenomes
Authors: Tan BoonFei , Foght Julia
Published: October 2014

Draft genome sequences of two
Campylobacterales
(
Sulfurospirillum
sp. strain SCADC and
Sulfuricurvum
sp. strain MLSB [Mildred Lake Settling Basin]) were obtained by taxonomic binning of metagenomes originating from an oil sands tailings pond. Both genomes contain
soxABXYZ
genes involved in sulfur oxidation, highlighting their potential roles in sulfur cycling in oil sands tailings ponds.
Complete Genome Sequence of
N
-Acylhomoserine Lactone-Producing
Pseudomonas
sp. Strain StFLB209, Isolated from Potato Phyllosphere
Authors: Morohoshi Tomohiro , Kato Taro , Someya Nobutaka , Ikeda Tsukasa
Published: October 2014

Pseudomonas
sp. strain StFLB209 is isolated from the potato leaf and produces
N
-acylhomoserine lactone quorum-sensing signal compounds. Here, we present the 6,332,373-bp complete genome sequence of StFLB209, with a G+C content of 60.7%, which carries 5,598 protein-coding genes, 6 rRNA operons, and 69 tRNA genes.
Draft Genome Sequence of Raoultella planticola, Isolated from River Water
Authors: Jothikumar Narayanan , Kahler Amy , Strockbine Nancy , Gladney Lori , Hill Vincent R.
Published: October 2014

We isolated
Raoultella planticola
from a river water sample, which was phenotypically indistinguishable from
Escherichia coli
on MI agar. The genome sequence of
R. planticola
was determined to gain information about its metabolic functions contributing to its false positive appearance of
E. coli
on MI agar. We report the first whole genome sequence of
Raoultella planticola
.
Impact of clinical decision support preventing the use of QT-prolonging medications for patients at risk for torsade de pointes
Authors: Sorita Atsushi , Bos J Martijn , Morlan Bruce W , Tarrell Robert F , Ackerman Michael J , Caraballo Pedro J
Published: October 2014

We developed and implemented a ‘CPOE-QT Alert’ system, that is, clinical decision support integrated in the computerized physician order entry system (CPOE), in 2011. The system identifies any attempts to order medications with risk of torsade de pointes (TdP) for patients with a history of significant QT prolongation (QTc ≥500 ms) and alerts the provider entering the order. We assessed its impact by comparing orders and subsequent medication administration before and after activation of the system. We found a significant decrease in the proportion of completed order per ordering attempt after system activation (94% (1293/1379) vs 77% (1888/2453), difference 16.8%; p<0.001). This resulted in a 13.9% reduction in the administration of those medications to patients. A significant decrease was observed across all provider types, educational levels, and specialties. The CPOE-QT Alert system successfully reduced exposure to QT-prolonging medications in high risk patients.
Intermittent facial swelling
Authors: Pope Charlie , Gopala Pillai Suresh Kumar
Published: October 2014

Intermittent facial swelling is an unusual presentation in the emergency department. The differential diagnosis may range from a variety of causes. Most common differential diagnosis is angio-oedema. However, more serious presentations such as superior venacaval obstruction must not be ignored. This case report presents a patient who was investigated in the hospital for 2 weeks (2 admissions) with intermittent facial swelling. He presented to the emergency department (3rd admission) and was diagnosed to have superior venacaval obstruction secondary to metastatic bronchogenic carcinoma. He underwent emergency endovascular stenting; however, he died within a few weeks.
Mesenteric pseudocyst of the transverse colon: unusual presentation of more common pathology
Authors: Park Seong Eun , Jeon Tae Joo , Park Ji Young
Published: October 2014

A 72-year-old man presented to the hospital with a cyst in the abdominal cavity as the main finding obtained by abdominal CT. The cyst measured 13.5×9 cm and was located near the proximal wall of the body of the stomach. Endoscopic ultrasonography revealed that, the size of the cyst was 8.6×8.8 cm and that most of it was anechoic. However, partially heterogeneous and hypoechoic solid portions and a septum were detected. This cystic lesion was separated from the stomach wall and pancreas. Surgical resection was performed. The final histopathological test results showed that the cystic mass originated from the mesentery of the transverse colon, and the cyst was diagnosed as mesenteric pseudocyst because the cystic wall was composed of granulation tissue without lining epithelial cells.
Bulk muscles, loose cables
Authors: Liyanage Chamari R D G , Kodali Venkata
Published: October 2014

The accessibility and usage of body building supplements is on the rise with stronger internet marketing strategies by the industry. The dangers posed by the ingredients in them are underestimated. A healthy young man came to the emergency room with palpitations and feeling unwell. Initial history and clinical examination were non-contributory to find the cause. ECG showed atrial fibrillation. A detailed history for any over the counter or herbal medicine use confirmed that he was taking supplements to bulk muscle. One of the components in these supplements is yohimbine; the onset of symptoms coincided with the ingestion of this product and the patient is symptom free after stopping it. This report highlights the dangers to the public of consuming over the counter products with unknown ingredients and the consequential detrimental impact on health.
Overwhelming hypercalcaemia in mandibular ameloblastoma
Authors: Lo Tom Edward Ngo , Villafuerte Cesar Vincent , Acampado Laura Trajano
Published: October 2014

Ameloblastoma is considered to be a benign odontogenic tumour of epithelial in origin that is slow growing but recurrent and invasive in nature. Some of its features have been sources of debate among experts regarding its benign or malignant character. We report a case of a 20-year-old Filipino woman with right mandibular ameloblastoma presenting with overwhelming hypercalcaemia. Work ups for hypercalcaemia eventually revealed tumoral hypercalcaemia, which was initially controlled with intravenous bisphosphanate. The patient eventually underwent tumour excision and mandibular reconstruction, which totally corrected hypercalcaemia. This case will highlight the rare association of hypercalcaemia among patients with ameloblastoma.
Recovery of chylous pulmonary congestion in tuberous sclerosis complex-associated lymphangioleiomyomatosis
Authors: Kinoshita Yoshiaki , Sakamoto Atsuhiko , Hidaka Kouko
Published: October 2014

Chyloptysis and chylous pulmonary congestion are extremely rare complications of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM). We report a case of a 50-year-old woman with tuberous sclerosis complex-associated LAM, who presented with expectorating milky-white bronchial casts. She was diagnosed with chyloptysis and chylous pulmonary congestion by sputum analysis. Her symptoms and lung infiltration were improved by oral sirolimus therapy; moreover, serum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) levels paralleled the symptoms and lung infiltration of these complications. We suggest that serum KL-6 may be a useful monitoring biomarker of chyloptysis and chylous pulmonary congestion in LAM.
Cystic glioblastoma multiforme masquerading as a cerebral tuberculoma
Authors: Hasan Mahboob , Siddiqui Bushra , Qadri Shagufta , Faridi Shahbaz
Published: October 2014

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is by far the most common and most aggressive malignant neoplasm of the primary brain tumours. It arises from the astrocytes and classified as WHO grade 4 astrocytoma. Diagnosis of GBM is sometimes difficult as radiological picture sometimes mimic with cerebral tuberculoma. In both the cases contrast-enhanced CT may show similar finding of a mass lesion with a hypodense centre surrounded by a ring of enhancement and any cyst if present. In the present case, a 45-year-old male patient presented with seizures and headache, a provisional diagnosis of tuberculoma was made on the basis of clinical and CT findings. However, on grounds of suspicion the patient was operated and fluid from the cyst was sent peroperatively for cytopathological examination which suggested the diagnosis of cystic GBM. This helped the surgeon to do maximum debulking of the tumour. Diagnosis was further confirmed by histopathology.
Factors affecting the health-related quality of life of patients with cervical dystonia and impact of treatment with abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport): results from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study
Authors: Mordin Margaret , Masaquel Catherine , Abbott Chandra , Copley-Merriman Catherine
Published: October 2014

Objective

To describe the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) burden of cervical dystonia (CD) and report on the HRQOL and patient perception of treatment benefits of abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport).

Design

The safety and efficacy of a single injection of abobotulinumtoxinA for CD treatment were evaluated in a previously reported international, multicenter, double-blind, randomised trial. HRQOL measures were assessed in the trial and have not been previously reported.

Setting

Movement disorder clinics in the USA and Russia.

Participants

Patients had to have a diagnosis of CD with symptoms for at least 18 months, as well as a total Toronto Western Spasmodic Torticollis Rating Scale (TWSTRS) score of at least 30; a Severity domain score of at least 15; and a Disability domain score of at least 3. Key exclusion criteria included treatment with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) or botulinum toxin type B (BoNT-B) within 16 weeks of enrolment.

Interventions

Patients were randomised to receive either 500 U abobotulinumtoxinA (n=55) or placebo (n=61).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Efficacy assessments included TWSTRS total (primary end point) and subscale scores at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12; a pain visual analogue scale at weeks 0 and 4; and HRQOL assessed by the SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36; secondary end point) at weeks 0 and 8.

Results

Patients with CD reported significantly greater impairment for all SF-36 domains relative to US norms. Patients treated with abobotulinumtoxinA reported significantly greater improvements in Physical Functioning, Role Physical, Bodily Pain, General Health and Role Emotional domains than placebo patients (p≤0.03 for all). The TWSTRS was significantly correlated with Physical Functioning, Role Physical and Bodily Pain scores, for those on active treatment.

Conclusions

CD has a marked impact on HRQOL. Treatment with a single abobotulinumtoxinA injection results in significant improvement in patients’ HRQOL.

Trial registration number

The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, numbersNCT00257660andNCT00288509.
Rationale and design of the Pan African Pulmonary hypertension Cohort (PAPUCO) study: implementing a contemporary registry on pulmonary hypertension in Africa
Authors: Thienemann Friedrich , Dzudie Anastase , Mocumbi Ana O , Blauwet Lori , Sani Mahmoud U , Karaye Kamilu M , Ogah Okechukwu S , Mbanze Irina , Mbakwem Amam , Udo Patience , Tibazarwa Kemi , Ibrahim Ahmed S , Burton Rosie , Damasceno Albertino , Stewart Simon , Sliwa Karen
Published: October 2014

Introduction

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a devastating, progressive disease with increasingly debilitating symptoms and usually shortened overall life expectancy due to a narrowing of the pulmonary vasculature and consecutive right heart failure. Little is known about PH in Africa, but limited reports suggest that PH is more prevalent in Africa compared with developed countries due to the high prevalence of risk factors in the region.

Methods and analysis

A multinational multicentre registry-type cohort study was established and tailored to resource-constraint settings to describe disease presentation, disease severity and aetiologies of PH, comorbidities, diagnostic and therapeutic management, and the natural course of PH in Africa. PH will be diagnosed by specialist cardiologists using echocardiography (right ventricular systolic pressure >35 mm Hg, absence of pulmonary stenosis and acute right heart failure), usually accompanied by shortness of breath, fatigue, peripheral oedema and other cardiovascular symptoms, ECG and chest X-ray changes in keeping with PH as per guidelines (European Society of Cardiology and European Respiratory Society (ESC/ERS) guidelines). Additional investigations such as a CT scan, a ventilation/perfusion scan or right heart catheterisation will be performed at the discretion of the treating physician. Functional tests include a 6 min walk test and the Karnofsky Performance Score. The WHO classification system for PH will be applied to describe the different aetiologies of PH. Several substudies have been implemented within the registry to investigate specific types of PH and their outcome at up to 24 months. Data will be analysed by an independent institution following a data analyse plan.

Ethics and dissemination

All local ethics committees of the participating centres approved the protocol. The data will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journals at national and international conferences and public events at local care providers.
Screening for gonorrhoea using samples collected through the English National Chlamydia Screening Programme and risk of false positives: a national survey of Local Authorities
Authors: Field Nigel , Kennedy Iain , Folkard Kate , Duffell Stephen , Town Katy , Ison Catherine A , Hughes Gwenda
Published: October 2014

Objectives

To investigate use of dual tests forChlamydia trachomatisandNeisseria gonorrhoeaeon samples collected through the National Chlamydia Screening Programme (NCSP) in England.

Design and setting

During May–July 2013, we delivered an online survey to commissioners of sexual health services in the 152 upper-tier English Local Authorities (LAs) who were responsible for commissioning chlamydia screening in people aged 15–24 years.

Main outcome measures

(1) The proportion of English LAs using dual tests on samples collected by the NCSP; (2) The estimated number of gonorrhoea tests and false positives from samples collected by the NCSP, calculated using national surveillance data on the number of chlamydia tests performed, assuming the gonorrhoea prevalence to range between 0.1% and 1%, and test sensitivity and specificity of 99.5%.

Results

64% (98/152) of LAs responded to this national survey; over half (53% (52/98)) reported currently using dual tests in community settings. There was no significant difference between LAs using and not using dual tests by chlamydia positivity, chlamydia diagnosis rate or population screening coverage. Although positive gonorrhoea results were confirmed with supplementary tests in 93% (38/41) of LAs, this occurred after patients were notified about the initial positive result in 63% (26/41). Approximately 450–4500 confirmed gonorrhoea diagnoses and 2300 false-positive screens might occur through use of dual tests on NCSP samples each year. Under reasonable assumptions, the positive predictive value of the screening test is 17–67%.

Conclusions

Over half of English LAs already commission dual tests for samples collected by the NCSP. Gonorrhoea screening has been introduced alongside chlamydia screening in many low prevalence settings without a national evidence review or change of policy. We question the public health benefit here, and suggest that robust testing algorithms and clinical management pathways, together with rigorous evaluation, be implemented wherever dual tests are deployed.
Comparative validation of assessment criteria for Crohn-like lymphoid reaction in colorectal carcinoma
Authors: Kim Jung Ho , Kim Kyung-Ju , Bae Jeong Mo , Rhee Ye-Young , Cho Nam-Yun , Lee Hye Seung , Kang Gyeong Hoon
Published: October 2014

Aims

Crohn-like lymphoid reaction (CLR) in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) is associated with a favourable prognosis and microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) status. However, there is a lack of consensus on optimal criteria for CLR assessment. The aim of this study was to comparatively validate traditional and novel assessment criteria for CLR.

Methods

CLR status in 212 MSI-H CRCs was assessed independently by two pathologists using three different criteria: (1) traditional semiquantitative criteria (Graham–Appelman criteria), (2) the largest lymphoid aggregate (LA) size-based criteria (Ueno criteria) and (3) LA density-based criteria (Väyrynen–Mäkinen criteria).

Results

Among the three criteria, the Väyrynen–Mäkinen criteria-based CLR assessment showed the best interobserver agreement (κ value, 0.71; intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.76). Pathologically, intense CLR (grade 2) by Graham–Appelman criteria, active CLR (largest LA size ≥1 mm) by Ueno criteria and high-density CLR (≥0.38 LAs/mm) by Väyrynen–Mäkinen criteria significantly correlated with an early cancer stage (stage I/II). In Kaplan–Meier analysis, both CLR statuses determined by Ueno criteria and Väyrynen–Mäkinen criteria were associated with significant differences in disease-free survival in MSI-H CRC patients (p=0.005 and p=0.001, respectively). In multivariable analysis, both active CLR and high-density CLR proved to be independent favourable prognostic factors in MSI-H CRC (HR, 0.47; 95% CI 0.24 to 0.9 for active CLR and HR, 0.5; 95% CI 0.28 to 0.89 for high-density CLR).

Conclusions

Our study confirms that the two recently suggested criteria (Ueno criteria and Väyrynen–Mäkinen criteria) for CLR assessment are fairly reproducible methods and can serve as superior prognosticators in CRC.
Finiteness problem of meromorphic functions sharing four small functions regardless of multiplicities
Authors: Quang Si Duc
Published: October 2014

This paper has twofolds. The first is to prove that there are at most two meromorphic functions sharing a small function with multiplicities truncated by 2 and other three small functions regardless of multiplicities, where all zeros with multiplicities more than a certain number are not counted. This result is an improvement of the four-value theorems of Nevanlinna, Gundersen, Fujimito, Thai–Tan and others. The second purpose of this paper is to prove that there are at most three meromorphic functions sharing four small functions ignoring multiplicity, where all zeros with multiplicities more than a certain number are omitted.
Family number, Wilson line phases and hidden supersymmetry
Authors: Goto Yuhei , Kawamura Yoshiharu , Miura Takashi
Published: October 2014

We study the relationship between the family number of chiral fermions and the Wilson line phases, based on the orbifold family unification. We find that flavor numbers are independent of the Wilson line phases relating extra-dimensional components of gauge bosons, as far as the standard model gauge symmetry is respected. This feature originates from a hidden quantum-mechanical supersymmetry.
Thermal stability evaluation of microstructures and mechanical properties of tungsten vanadium alloys
Authors: Arshad Kameel , Zhao Ming-Yue , Yuan Yue , Zhang Ying , Zhou Zhang-Jian , Lu Guang-Hong
Published: October 2014

The thermal stability is important for tungsten based alloys as plasma facing materials to survive against high heat flux in fusion reactors. In this work, the thermal stability of W-5%V alloy fabricated following a powder metallurgy route by spark plasma sintering technique has been studied. To investigate the impact of temperature on the mechanical properties and microstructures, the alloy was subjected to heat treatment for 2 h over the temperature range 900–1500°C in a pure argon furnace. The micro-hardness values of the heat treated alloys were highly stable as compared to pure tungsten. A slight decrease flexural strength was observed with increasing annealing temperature. The maximum change flexural strength at the highest treated temperature was noted about 14% lower. The morphology analyses of the crack surfaces by scanning electron microscopy did not identify a drastic change in tungsten grain size, after heat treatment. The results indicate that the addition of vanadium in tungsten improves the overall thermal stability of microstructures and mechanical properties.
Properties of Cu2ZnSnS4 thin films prepared by magnetron sputtering and sulfurizing the precursors with different stacking sequences
Authors: Hua Zhong , Meng Xiangcheng , Sun Yaming , Yu Wanqiu , Long Dong
Published: October 2014

The stacked precursors were deposited on glass substrates from Cu , Sn and ZnS targets by magnetron sputtering with six kinds of stacking sequences. The precursors were sulfurized at 500°C for 2 h in an atmosphere of sulfur. The properties of thin films such as microstructure, morphology, chemical composition, electrical and optical properties of the films were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning election microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), Hall effect measurements and UV-visible spectrophotometer (UV-VIS). The results show that the thin film after sulfurizing at 500°C using the stacking order of Cu / Sn / ZnS /glass is the best absorber layer for Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 thin films solar cell among the six kinds of stacking sequences.
Modeling of Crosstalk Induced Effects in Copper-Based Nanointerconnects: An ABCD Parameter Matrix-Based Approach
Authors: Sahoo Manodipan , Rahaman Hafizur
Published: October 2014

Aggressive miniaturization has led to severe performance and signal integrity issues in copper-based interconnects in the nanometric regime. As a consequence, development of a proper analytical model for such interconnects is extremely important. In this work, an ABCD parameter matrix-based model is presented for fast and accurate estimation of crosstalk delay and noise for identically coupled copper-based nanointerconnect systems. Using the proposed model, the crosstalk delay and noise are estimated in copper based nanointerconnects for intermediate and global interconnects at the future integrated circuit technology nodes of 21 and 15 nm, respectively. Proposed model has been compared with SPICE and it is found that this model is almost 100% accurate as SPICE with respect to both the crosstalk delay as well as noise. Moreover, this model is as much as ~ 63 and ~ 155 times faster, respectively. From the crosstalk delay and noise analysis of unrepeated interconnects, it is observed that both delay and noise contribution will increase in scaled technology nodes. The same trend is observed also for the repeated interconnects. Also more number of repeaters and higher repeater sizes will be needed for delay minimization as we scale deeper. So as far as crosstalk induced effects are concerned, the copper interconnects will face a huge challenge to overcome in nanometer technology nodes.
Comparative Analysis of Median and Average Filters in Impulse Noise Suppression
Authors: Shi Luyao , Chen Yang , Yuan Wenlong , Zhang Libo , Yang BenQiang , Shu Huazhong , Luo Limin , Coatrieux Jean-Louis
Published: October 2014

Median type filters coupled with the Laplacian distribution assumption have shown a high efficiency in suppressing impulse noise. We however demonstrate in this paper that the Gaussian distribution assumption is more preferable than Laplacian distribution assumption in suppressing impulse noise, especially for high noise densities. This conclusion is supported by numerical experiments with different noise densities and filter models.