bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methylglyoxal as a new biomarker in patients with septic shock: an observational clinical study
Authors: Brenner Thorsten , Fleming Thomas , Uhle Florian , Silaff Stephan , Schmitt Felix , Salgado Eduardo , Ulrich Alexis , Zimmermann Stefan , Bruckner Thomas , Martin Eike , Bierhaus Angelika , Nawroth Peter P , Weigand Markus A , Hofer Stefan
Published: December 2014

Introduction

The role of reactive carbonyl species, such as methylglyoxal (MG), has been overlooked within the context of the sepsis syndrome. The aims of this study were to assess the impact of MG formation in different inflammatory settings and to evaluate its use for early diagnosis as well as prognosis of the sepsis syndrome.

Methods

In total, 120 patients in three groups were enrolled in this observational clinical pilot study. The three groups included patients with septic shock (n = 60), postoperative controls (n = 30), and healthy volunteers (n = 30). Plasma samples from patients with septic shock were collected at sepsis onset and after 24 hours and 4, 7, 14, and 28 days. Plasma samples from postoperative controls were collected prior to surgery, immediately following the end of the surgical procedure as well as 24 hours later and from healthy volunteers once. Plasma levels of MG were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Additionally, plasma levels of procalcitonin, C-reactive protein, soluble CD14 subtype, and interleukin-6 were determined.

Results

Patients with septic shock showed significantly higher plasma levels of MG at all measured times, compared with postoperative controls. MG was found to identify patients with septic shock more effectively—area under the curve (AUC): 0.993—than procalcitonin (AUC: 0.844), C-reactive protein (AUC: 0.791), soluble CD14 subtype (AUC: 0.832), and interleukin-6 (AUC: 0.898) as assessed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Moreover, plasma levels of MG in non-survivors were significantly higher than in survivors (sepsis onset: *P = 0.018 for 90-day survival; **P = 0.008 for 28-day survival). Plasma levels of MG proved to be an early predictor for survival in patients with septic shock (sepsis onset: ROC-AUC 0.710 for 28-day survival; ROC-AUC 0.686 for 90-day survival).

Conclusions

MG was identified as a marker for monitoring the onset, development, and remission of sepsis and was found to be more useful than routine diagnostic markers. Further studies are required to determine the extent of MG modification in sepsis and whether targeting this pathway could be therapeutically beneficial to the patient.

Trial registration

German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00000505. Registered 8 November 2010.
Luminal breast cancer metastases and tumor arousal from dormancy are promoted by direct actions of estradiol and progesterone on the malignant cells
Authors: Ogba Ndiya , Manning Nicole G , Bliesner Brian S , Ambler S Kelly , Haughian James M , Pinto Mauricio P , Jedlicka Paul , Joensuu Kristiina , Heikkilä Päivi , Horwitz Kathryn B
Published: December 2014

Introduction

Luminal, estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers can metastasize but lie dormant for years before recurrences prove lethal. Understanding the roles of estrogen (E) or progestin (P) in development of luminal metastases or in arousal from dormancy is hindered by few preclinical models. We have developed such models.

Methods

Immunocompromised, ovariectomized (ovx’d) mice were intracardiac-injected with luminal or basal human breast cancer cells. Four lines were tested: luminal ER+PR+ cytokeratin 5-negative (CK5−) E3 and MCF-7 cells, basal ER−PR−CK5+ estrogen withdrawn-line 8 (EWD8) cells, and basal ER−PR−CK5− MDA-MB-231 cells. Development of micrometastases or macrometastases was quantified in ovx’d mice and in mice supplemented with E or P or both. Metastatic deposits were analyzed by immunohistochemistry for luminal, basal, and proliferation markers.

Results

ER−PR− cells generated macrometastases in multiple organs in the absence or presence of hormones. By contrast, ovx’d mice injected with ER+PR+ cells appeared to be metastases-free until they were supplemented with E or E+P. Furthermore, unlike parental ER+PR+CK5− cells, luminal metastases were heterogeneous, containing a significant (6% to 30%) proportion of non-proliferative ER−PR−CK5+ cells that would be chemotherapy-resistant. Additionally, because these cells lack receptors, they would also be endocrine therapy-resistant. With regard to ovx’d control mice injected with ER+PR+ cells that appeared to be metastases-free, systematic pathologic analysis of organs showed that some harbor a reservoir of dormant micrometastases that are ER+ but PR−. Such cells may also be endocrine therapy- and chemotherapy-resistant. Their emergence as macrometastases can be triggered by E or E+P restoration.

Conclusions

We conclude that hormones promote development of multi-organ macrometastases in luminal disease. The metastases display a disturbing heterogeneity, containing newly emergent ER−PR− subpopulations that would be resistant to endocrine therapy and chemotherapy. Similar cells are found in luminal metastases of patients. Furthermore, lack of hormones is not protective. While no overt metastases form in ovx’d mice, luminal tumor cells can seed distant organs, where they remain dormant as micrometastases and sheltered from therapies but arousable by hormone repletion. This has implications for breast cancer survivors or women with occult disease who are prescribed hormones for contraception or replacement purposes.
Deciphering miRNA transcription factor feed-forward loops to identify drug repurposing candidates for cystic fibrosis
Authors: Liu Zhichao , Borlak Jürgen , Tong Weida
Published: December 2014

Background

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a fatal genetic disorder caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene that primarily affects the lungs and the digestive system, and the current drug treatment is mainly able to alleviate symptoms. To improve disease management for CF, we considered the repurposing of approved drugs and hypothesized that specific microRNA (miRNA) transcription factors (TF) gene networks can be used to generate feed-forward loops (FFLs), thus providing treatment opportunities on the basis of disease specific FFLs.

Methods

Comprehensive database searches revealed significantly enriched TFs and miRNAs in CF and CFTR gene networks. The target genes were validated using ChIPBase and by employing a consensus approach of diverse algorithms to predict miRNA gene targets. STRING analysis confirmed protein-protein interactions (PPIs) among network partners and motif searches defined composite FFLs. Using information extracted from SM2miR and Pharmaco-miR, an in silico drug repurposing pipeline was established based on the regulation of miRNA/TFs in CF/CFTR networks.

Results

In human airway epithelium, a total of 15 composite FFLs were constructed based on CFTR specific miRNA/TF gene networks. Importantly, nine of them were confirmed in patient samples and CF epithelial cells lines, and STRING PPI analysis provided evidence that the targets interacted with each other. Functional analysis revealed that ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis and protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum dominate the composite FFLs, whose major functions are folding, sorting, and degradation. Given that the mutated CFTR gene disrupts the function of the chloride channel, the constructed FFLs address mechanistic aspects of the disease and, among 48 repurposing drug candidates, 26 were confirmed with literature reports and/or existing clinical trials relevant to the treatment of CF patients.

Conclusion

The construction of FFLs identified promising drug repurposing candidates for CF and the developed strategy may be applied to other diseases as well.
Organ Donation and Transplantation in Canada: Insights from the Canadian Organ Replacement Register
Authors: Kim Sang Joseph , Fenton Stanley SA , Kappel Joanne , Moist Louise M , Klarenbach Scott W , Samuel Susan M , Singer Lianne G , Kim Daniel H , Young Kimberly , Webster Greg , Wu Juliana , Ivis Frank , de Sa Eric , Gill John S
Published: December 2014

Purpose of review:

To provide an overview of the transplant component of the Canadian Organ Replacement Register (CORR).

Findings:

CORR is the national registry of organ failure in Canada. It has existed in some form since 1972 and currently houses data on patients with end-stage renal disease and solid organ transplants (kidney and/or non-kidney). The transplant component of CORR receives data on a voluntary basis from individual transplant centres and organ procurement organizations across the country. Coverage for transplant procedures is comprehensive and complete. Long-term outcomes are tracked based on follow-up reports from participating transplant centres. The longitudinal nature of CORR provides an opportunity to observe the trajectory of a patient's journey with organ failure over their life span. Research studies conducted using CORR data inform both practitioners and health policy makers alike.

Implications:

The importance of registry data in monitoring and improving care for Canadian transplant candidates/recipients cannot be over-stated. This paper provides an overview of the transplant data in CORR including its history, data considerations, recent findings, new initiatives, and future directions.
MAP kinase p38α regulates type III interferon (IFN-λ1) gene expression in human monocyte-derived dendritic cells in response to RNA stimulation
Authors: Jiang Miao , O¨sterlund Pamela , Fagerlund Riku , Rios Diana N , Hoffmann Alexander , Poranen Minna M , Bamford Dennis H , Julkunen Ilkka
Published: December 2014

Recognition of viral nucleic acids leads to type I and type III IFN gene expression and activation of host antiviral responses. At present, type III IFN genes are the least well-characterized IFN types. Here, we demonstrate that the p38 MAPK signaling pathway is involved in regulating IFN-λ1 gene expression in response to various types of RNA molecules in human moDCs. Inhibition of p38 MAPK strongly reduced IFN gene expression, and overexpression of p38α MAPK enhanced IFN-λ1 gene expression in RNA-stimulated moDCs. The regulation of IFN gene expression by p38 MAPK signaling was independent of protein synthesis and thus, a direct result of RNA stimulation. Moreover, the RIG-I/MDA5-MAVS-IRF3 pathway was required for p38α MAPK to up-regulate IFN-λ1 promoter activation, whereas the MyD88-IRF7 pathway was not needed, and the regulation was not involved directly in IRF7-dependent IFN-α1 gene expression. The stimulatory effect of p38α MAPK on IFN-λ1 mRNA expression in human moDCs did not take place directly via the activating TBK1/IKKɛ complex, but rather, it occurred through some other parallel pathways. Furthermore, mutations in ISRE and NF-κB binding sites in the promoter region of the IFN-λ1 gene led to a significant reduction in p38α MAPK-mediated IFN responses after RNA stimulation. Altogether, our data suggest that the p38α MAPK pathway is linked with RLR signaling pathways and regulates the expression of early IFN genes after RNA stimulation cooperatively with IRF3 and NF-κB to induce antiviral responses further.
Why Public Scholarship Matters for Graduate Education
Authors: Bartha Miriam , Burgett Bruce
Published: December 2014

Drawing on nearly a decade of experience at the University of Washington, the authors argue for a reorientation of graduate curricula and pedagogy through publicly engaged forms of scholarship. Recognizing that the claims mobilized around public scholarship are necessarily local and situational, they suggest that public scholarship is best understood as organizing language that can align and articulate convergent interests rather than standardize or normalize them. This approach to public scholarship cuts against the disciplinary-professional mandates of most graduate curriculum since it requires both diversified forms of professionalization and pragmatic commitments to institutional change.
Journal Space 2.0
Authors: Rohrbach Augusta
Published: December 2014

This article explores how one writing initiative—ESQ’s “The Year in Conferences”—draws on the best practices of the writing classroom to train emerging PhDs in new ways to contribute to a profession that values depth and precision by developing a greater degree of collaboration.
The PhD Dissertation
Authors: Cassuto Leonard , Jay Paul
Published: December 2014

The authors call for more flexible dissertation projects but also argue that problems with graduate education range far wider than the doctoral dissertation. Many faculty resist the idea that the humanities can train students in skills that are useful, even marketable, outside of higher education. Graduate programs must find ways to stress these transferable skills and do better at preparing students for nonprofessorial jobs within and outside academia—including taking new approaches to the dissertation requirement. Humanists who take refuge in the seemingly high-minded idea that the humanities are only valuable for their own sake, or because they lack utility, make it harder to address these issues.
Contested Bodies
Authors: Faunce Rob
Published: December 2014

The renewed interest in personal essays in composition complicates the contested, tricky personal identity negotiations for students and faculty in first-year writing, particularly in manifestations and representations of the body in both the classroom and writing spaces. This is especially complex for minority subjects, including queer students and faculty. Such collections as The Teacher’s Body (edited by Freedman and Holmes) and Professions of Desire (edited by Haggerty and Zimmerman) explore the pedagogical underpinnings of the body, and Ellis Hanson’s essay in the Gay Shame collection (2009) further complicates and interrogates the ways queer bodies are represented and problematized in the classroom. This article explores our own experiences in first-year writing: as students within a mind/body binary exploring through the scaffolding of composition, and as faculty who are increasingly exposed through our body projections in the classroom and depictions of our body and sexuality in an increasingly savvy media in which Google, Facebook, and social networking sites create matrices of identifications and disidentifications that inform our classroom experiences. The article traces the ways our bodies are aligned with cultural norms, and the ways that first-year writing complicates, contests, reifies, or disrupts these norms—for both students and faculty.
NIR News 2014 Data Analysis Challenge
Authors: Downey Gerard
Published: December 2014

This year, to help all of you with time to fill over the Christmas and New Year break, we have decided to offer a data analysis challenge. The problem to be solved is described in the text below and the dataset may be downloaded from the Internet; see box at bottom of page. I would like to receive your answers to the problem described by 20 January 2015 ( gerard.downey@nirnews.com ) and I will forward them to a three-person committee with the necessary expertise to identify a winning entry. The winner will be the person who delivers the model with the highest accuracy and, in the case of a tie, the greatest elegance. Whilst the fame and glory that will come to the winner should be enough, we are pleased to offer a prize of a £200 Amazon Gift Card to help buy some chemometrics books (or whatever else you wish). So give it a try… and have some fun with it!
Introduction to the Interfaces Special Issue on Operations Research in Freight Transportation and Logistics
Authors: Gorman Michael F.
Published: December 2014

This special issue on operations research in freight transportation and logistics presents a survey and numerous applications in freight transportation and logistics. The issue opens with a comprehensive survey on the state of the practice in oceanic, rail, truck, and air freight transportation. The survey is followed by applications in rail, trucking, logistics, and ocean freight.
Book reviews — research techniques
Authors: Sandall Jane
Published: December 2014

Qualitative Research in Health Care

Measuring Health: A Guide to Rating Scales and Questionnaires 2nd edn

How to research

Insider/Outsider Team Research: Qualitative Research Methods Series 40
Letters
Authors: Charlton Helena , Greenacre Linda M
Published: December 2014

The Infant and Dietetic Foods Association (IDFA), which represents UK infant formula companies, rejects the alle-gations made by Interagency Group on Breastfeeding Monitoring (IGBM) in Cracking the Code, and is disappointed in the uncritical reporting of this report.
Disease facts: feline periodontal disease
Authors: Smithson Alex J
Published: December 2014

Periodontal disease is common in feline patients. It is often more challenging for owners to perform oral homecare in cats than dogs, and difficulty in examination of the mouth makes the role of the veterinary team essential. Regular oral examination is important, every six months being recommended for ‘healthy’ mouths, while an examination every three months is recommended where pathology is noted. This article will outline the aetiology, pathogenesis, staging and treatment options for feline periodontal disease.
Diagnosis and management of acute heart failure
Authors: Dickson Dave , Patteson Mark
Published: December 2014

Acute heart failure is a common presentation in small animal practice; patients are unstable, diagnosis can be challenging and successful management is often difficult. Knowledge of diagnostic steps and appropriate drug therapy combined with a thorough and rational approach to case management will improve patient outcomes. This article reviews the diagnosis and treatment of acute heart failure in the general practice setting.
The importance of intraoperative warming
Authors: Fitzgerald Mary A
Published: December 2014

The prevention of inadvertent hypothermia during the perioperative journey appears to be an area of ongoing research in clinical practice. This article reviews some of the available literature to confirm the importance of intraoperative warming. The physiology of thermoregulation is explored to clarify understanding of the risks of a hypothermic patient. The use of different methods of patient warming and the effectiveness is supported in current guidelines and trusts' policies ( National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), 2008 ). The expense of postoperative complications in relation to the expense of patient-warming equipment is minimal ( Scott and Buckland, 2006 ). It was found that more current and specific research was required including the best warming methods and temperature monitors ( Hart et al, 2011 ). This would confirm the best effective method of practice within the operating department.
Exploring the professional development of the ODP role
Authors: Robinson Deborah , Straughan Rebecca
Published: December 2014

Considering the evolution of the contemporary operating department practitioner (ODP), this paper will explore the barriers and developments that have led to the ODP profession's current occupational position. Consideration and engagement with primary research will highlight perceptions of the role of the ODP from other health professions and the detrimental effect a practitioner's perspective can have on a profession as a whole. Further, changes to educational standards will be considered in relation to their application and the perceptional challenges from the healthcare community considered. A brief reflective approach to the challenges for developing roles, such as physician's assistant anaesthesia, will also be outlined in consideration of what lies ahead.
Travel health resources for practice nurses
Authors: Gawthrop Mary
Published: December 2014

In the UK, practice nurses provide the majority of travel health advice. Mary Gawthrop outlines the wide range of travel health resources the practice nurse can use when advising travellers on vaccination, protection and treatment for infectious diseases
Measles: A tale of birth cohorts and herd immunity
Authors: Lang Sarah
Published: December 2014

Sarah Lang reviews the effect of measles infection and the impact of measles vaccination since its introduction in the UK in 1988. She discusses the implications for practice nurses and requirements for practice
Formal Language Decomposition into Semantic Primes
Authors: FÄhndrich Johannes , Ahrndt Sebastian , Albayrak Sahin
Published: December 2014

This paper describes an algorithm for semantic decomposition. For that we surveys languages used to enrich contextual information with semantic descriptions. Such descriptions can be e.g. applied to enable reasoning when collecting vast amounts of information. In particular, we focus on the elements of the languages that make up their semantic. To do so, we compare the expressiveness of the well-known languages OWL, PDDL and MOF with a theory from linguistic called the Natural Semantic Metalanguage. We then analyze how the semantic of the language is build up and describe how semantic decomposition based on the semantic primes can be used for a so called mental lexicon. This mental lexicon can be used to reason upon semantic service description in the research domain of service match making.
Measurement errors in the use of smartphones as low-cost forestry hypsometers
Authors: Villasante Antonio , Fernandez Cristina
Published: December 2014

Various applications currently available for Android allow the estimation of tree heights by using the 3D accelerometer on smartphones. Some make the estimation using the image on the screen, while in others, by pointing with the edges of the terminal. The present study establishes the measurement errors obtained with HTC Desire and Samsung Galaxy Note compared to those from Blume Leiss and Vertex IV. Six series of 12 measurements each were made with each hypsometer (for heights of 6 m, 8 m, 10 m and 12 m). A Kruskall Wallis test is applied to the relative errors to determine whether there are significant differences between the devices. The results indicate that the errors of the uncalibrated smartphones significantly exceed those of traditional forestry apparatus. However, calibration is a very easy procedure that can be done by means of a linear regression line between real angles (obtained with a Digital Angle Finder or with a series of measurements taken independently of the experiment), and the angles of the accelerometer. With this adjustment, the smartphones achieve adequate quality levels although the bias was not totally eliminated. The relative errors when pointing with the edges of the terminal show no significant differences compared to Blume Leiss. Applications that use the screen image give better results (no significant differences were detected with Vertex). There is currently no application that offers calibration of the linear regression slope, which is an essential requirement for ensuring the accuracy of height measurements obtained with smartphones.
Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (Levitra): possibility of correction of erectile dysfunction in obese patients
Authors: Popova A Yu , Kondrat'eva L V , Ametov A S
Published: December 2014

Obesity is the cause of a number of diseases such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease [1]. Obesity is associated with the development of a number of hormone-dependent tumors (breast cancer, uterine cancer) and colon cancer [2]. Metabolic and hormonal disorders that accompany obesity and underlying a number of diseases, including may have an impact on erectile function. Despite the fact that in the literature there are few publications on the relationship of obesity and erectile dysfunction (ED), we could not find work on the effectiveness of treatment of patients with erectile dysfunction and obesity. These large-scale research on the role of weight loss in the treatment of other diseases, such as such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary heart disease, suggest that weight control and related metabolic disorders are able to provide a significant improvement in erectile quality function and effectiveness of the treatment of ED [3, 4, 5, 6].
Comparative evaluation of different operative methods for treating obesity
Authors: Yashkov Yu I , Lutsevich O E , Nikol'skiy A V , Bekuzarov D K
Published: December 2014

Obesity is one of the most urgent problems of modern medicine. This is - one of the most common chronic diseases in the world, was characterized by WHO as "non-infectious epidemic of the late XX - early XXI century." According to data presented at the Consensus Conference of the National Institutes of Health and the American Society of Bariatric Surgeons in 2004, as well as the WHO European Conference on Obesity in 2006, 1.7 billion people on the planet, including 2/3 of the US population are overweight (MT), with one in five adults and one in seven teen - morbid obesity, ie, has a body mass index greater than 40 kg / m2. More than 700 000 deaths in the United States, and 1 million in Europe each year can be attributed to obesity, and in the structure of mortality in 13% of Europeans reasons anyway associated with obesity. Life expectancy at morbid obesity is reduced by 9 years for women and 12 years for men. According to forecasts of epidemiologists, 2025 will double the number of patients suffering from obesity.
Carbohydrate metabolism and quality of life in patients after surgical treatment of insulinoma
Authors: Dedov Ivan Ivanovich , Melnichenko Galina Afanas'evna , Krivko Alena Anatol'yevna , Kuznetsov Nikolay Sergeevich , Troshina Ekaterina Anatol'evna
Published: December 2014

Objectives. T study the quality of life and status of carbohydrate metabolism in patients after surgical treatment insulinoma. Methods: The study involved 20 patients divided in two groups: the first group with a catamnesis duration of up to five years; the second group with a catamnesis duration of more than five years. We studied anthropometric parameters and carbohydrate metabolism as well as psychological questioning of patients using SF-36 questionnaire, the data was considered statistically significant at p0.05. Results. severe combined postoperative complications were more frequent in the first group (63.6% vs. 22.2%, p=0.07), due to extend of the performed surgery. Adrenergic symptoms prior to the surgery were detected in 90.9% of cases in the first group and in 77.7% of cases in the second group. After treatment these numbers decreased to 36.4% and 11.1% respectively (p=0.039 and 0.026). Neuroglycopeniс symptoms before treatment were detected in 90.9% of cases in the first group and for all patients in the second, while after treatment persisted only in 45.5% and 33.3% of cases respectively (p=0.045 and 0.036). Carbohydrate metabolism have normalized for the majority of patients. Two patients (18.2%) of the first group showed impaired glucose tolerance. Improved carbohydrate metabolism was associated with a decrease in body weight in both groups. Results of psychological questionnaires were comparable with the survey data obtained in general population in the Russian Federation. Conclusion. Surgical treatment of insulinomas is highly effective. Physical and psychological status of patients in most cases corresponds with those typical for this age-sex group of the population of the Russian Federation. Long-term treatment results do not depend on duration of the catamnesis. Complications that developed from surgical treatment have the main influence on the health of patients.
Efficacy and comparative analysis of consumer qualities of the Desmopressin intranasal drops in patients with central diabetes insipidus
Authors: Pigarova Ekaterina Aleksamdrovna , Dzeranova Larisa Konstantinovna , Rozhinskaya Lyudmila Yakovlevna
Published: December 2014

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and conduct a comparative analysis of consumer qualities of desmopressin intranasal drops 0.01% 5ml ("Biopharm", Georgia) in patients with central diabetes insipidus (CDI). Materials and Methods: The study included 9 patients (3 men and 6 women, mean age 44 ± 12 years) diagnosed with CDI. Patients for 7 days were switched to desmopressin intranasal drops 0.01% (JSC "Biopharm" Georgia) from there basal desmopressin preparations by means of recalculating daily dose by proposed formular: 10 mg (2 drops) of desmopressin intranasal drops = 0.2 mg of desmopressin tableted = 10 micrograms (one dose) of intranasal spray metered desmopressin = 120 mcg sublingual tablets of desmopressin. Safety biochemical parameters, efficiency to control of the main manifestations of CDI, increase in urine specific gravity, quality of life, basic consumer properties of different desmopressin preparation were evaluates at baseline and after treatment period. Results: Desmopressin nasal drops 0.01% showed to be an effective drug for the treatment of patients with CDI. Dose calculation algorithm daily was adequate in most patients. Hyponatremia was detected in 2 out of 9 patients during the study period but has been related to study drug alone in one case. The investigational drug was marked convenient to use by less than 25% of patients which may be associated with the pharmacological form of the drug as intranasal drops with special storage conditions (refrigerator). Conclusions: The drug desmopressin intranasal drops can be recommended as a second line (reserve) therapy in the treatment of patients CDI. Sodium levels should be checked during initiation of therapy.
Primary hyperparathyroidism in combination with metabolic syndrome and sleep apnea
Authors: Shvangiradze Teona Albertovna , Burchakov Denis Igorevich , Dzeranova Larisa Konstantinovna , Kim Ilya Victorovich , Kuznetsov Sergey Nikolaevich , Soldatova Tatyana Vasil'evna , Mokrysheva Natal'ya Nikolaevna , Pigarova Ekaterina Aleksandrovna
Published: December 2014

This paper presents a case of primary hyperparathyroidism with a broad spectrum of metabolic disturbances and concomitant sleep apnea syndrome. As shown a timely surgical treatment helps to improve the mineral parameters and alleviate the risk of possible cardiovascular complications in future.
Metformin and male reproduction: effects on Sertoli cell metabolism
Authors: Shvangiradze Teona Albertovna
Published: December 2014

Metformin, widely used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, is increasingly becoming the subject of research in other areas of medicine. Apart form antihyperglycemic effect of metformin has an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of various tumor cells both in vivo and in vitro. Metformin is well established in the treatment of anovulatory infertility in polycystic ovary syndrome, while its influence male reproductive function are poorly understood.
Quantification of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma cells using simple four-color flow cytometry
Authors: Ishigaki Tomohiro , Zaike Yuji , Nojima Masanori , Kobayashi Seiichiro , Ohno Nobuhiro , Uchimaru Kaoru , Tojo Arinobu , Nakauchi Hiromitsu , Watanabe Nobukazu
Published: December 2014

The absolute number of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) cells in peripheral blood is an essential indicator to evaluate disease status. However, microscopically counting ATL cells based on morphology requires experience and tends to be inaccurate due to the rarity of ATL.

Based on our research showing that acute-type ATL cells are specifically enriched in the CD4+/CD7- (CD7N) fraction, a new analytical method to accurately quantify ATL cells was established using an internal bead standard and simple four-color flow cytometry. This method was verified by comparison with microscopic examination of 49 peripheral blood samples and used to follow up patients.

A strong correlation was observed between the number of CD7N cells measured by flow cytometry and the number of abnormal lymphocytes measured microscopically by experienced technicians [Pearson’s R, 0.963; Spearman’s rho, 0.921; intercorrelation coefficient, 0.962]. The linear regression coefficient was close to 1 (β=1.013). Our method could detect 1 cell/μL, and the limit of quantitation was between 2.9 and 9.8 cells/μL. The frequency of CD7N cells among CD4+ cells changed during chemotherapy, which reflected differences between chemosensitive and chemoresistant cases. Kaplan-Meier analysis with a log-rank test showed that patients with decreased CD7N proportion after chemotherapy had significantly longer disease-specific survival (p=0.003).

Our newly established method quantified tumor cells in patients with acute-type ATL. Furthermore, this method was useful for assessing the efficacy of chemotherapy, and the change of the CD7N proportion could be more important to predict prognosis.
Nitrogen Removal to Minimize Energy Consumption of the Two WWTPs Choutrana II and Menzel Bourguiba in Tunisia
Authors: Hajji Slim , Shayeb Hedi , Marouani Mohamed Lotfi
Published: December 2014

The control of the aeration time and the dissolved oxygen in a reactor plays an important role in the management of the plant and the reduction of energy consumption. For this, two full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plants were chosen. The first plant (Choutrana II) designed for 600,000 population-equivalents (p.e), consists of a primary treatment step (screening, grit and grease removal), followed by four parallel oxidation ditches with a total volume of 60,000 m3. Aeration is ensured by air diffuser. The second plant (Menzel Bourguiba) designed for 140,000 p.e consists of a primary treatment stage (screening, grit and grease removal), followed by anoxic tanks and two aerobic reactors with a total volume of 14,000 m3. Aeration is ensured by six surface aerators which are operated episodically to create aerobic and anoxic conditions. Currently, the aeration management is controlled by a timer with a maintained oxygen concentration at a given level in the aerobic reactor. The nitrogen removal is done during air-on and air-off periods. The process can be seen as a succession of aeration periods followed by an anoxic period. This category of plant operation is far from the optimal and raises energy consumption and operative costs. The purpose of this study is to implement a new strategy to control aeration taking into account the variation of the daily organic load received by plants (feedforward control) and to create favorable conditions for nitrification and denitrification steps (feedback control). The Activated Sludge Model 1, which is calibrated and validated by respirometry tests, is used. Simulation results show the potentialities of the chosen strategy, which could save 28% of aeration energy and could adjust the aerobic and anoxic times. As first results, daily aeration time could be considered enough to produce treated water conform to standard terms. For Choutrana II plant, the results obtained have allowed to achieve a nitrogen removal rate of 85% and an output concentration between 6 and 12 mg/L. Rates of nitrification and denitrification were estimated at 4 mg NO3-N/L/h and 6 mg NH4-N/L/h, respectively. At the same time, aeration periods (on/off) are connected with daily organic load received by the plant and created favorable conditions for nitrification–denitrification. A good agreement between input biological loads, aeration profile and nitrogen removal is approved.
Tonal Processes in the Setswana Verb
Authors: Monich Irina
Published: December 2014

The present article offers an account of how tonal contours of individual verbal forms are generated in Setswana. Its main proposal is that verbal forms have complex structure with internal boundaries that are relevant to tonal processes. The framework of the account, Distributed Morphology (DM), distinguishes between word-building operations that take place in Syntax, in Morphology, and in Phonology, and it is argued that constituency created in the course of these operations is reflected in the tonal melody of individual forms. The present analysis accounts for tonal contours of all forms that posed difficulty under previous treatments while presenting a number of significant theoretical advantages. Most importantly, it offers an insight into Setswana clause structure and defines in precise terms the role that tone plays in making morphosyntactic and prosodic structures phonologically explicit.
Anti-inflammatory effects of aqueous extract of Mangifera indica in Wistar rats
Authors: Oluwole Oluwafemi Gabriel , Esume Celestine
Published: December 2014

Background: Recent studies in standard laboratories have indicated that a typical mango stem bark aqueous extract (Magnifera indica Linn) possess anti-malaria and anti-fever properties. Recent information also exists in the literature, suggesting its potency as a very effective anti-inflammatory plant extract. This study will therefore contribute immensely to the systemic search for a useful, less toxic and natural bioactive medicinal compound.

Objectives: This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous extract of Mangifera indica (MI) in a carrageenin-induced rat paw oedema model of acute inflammation.

Methods: Rats (n=5) were treated orally with MI (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg), acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg) or distilled water (3 mL). Thirty minutes later, acute inflammation was induced with a sub-plantar injection of 0.1 mL of 1% carrageenin solution into the right hind paw of the rats. The paw oedema sizes were measured with the aid of a Vernier calliper over a period of 3 hours.

Results: The aqueous extract of MI (50–200 mg/kg, p.o.) produced a dose-dependent and significant inhibition of the acute inflammation induced by the carrageenin in rats when compared with controls. The percentage inhibition of oedema formation produced by MI (200 mg/kg, p.o.) was similar to that elicited by acetylsalicylic acid (100 mg/kg, p.o.).

Conclusions: The results of this preliminary investigation suggest that MI contains active compounds with an anti-inflammatory activity. However, more detailed studies using additional models are necessary to further characterise the effects of MI in inflammatory disorders.
Tamanho de parcela e número de repetições em feijão de porco
Authors: Cargnelutti Filho Alberto , Toebe Marcos , Burin Cláudia , Alves Bruna Mendonça , Neu Ismael Mario Márcio , Casarotto Gabriele , Facco Giovani
Published: December 2014

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram determinar o tamanho ótimo de parcela e o número de repetições para avaliar caracteres de feijão de porco (Canavalia ensiformis). Foram realizados seis ensaios de uniformidade de 5m×5m (25m2). Cada ensaio foi dividido em 25 unidades experimentais básicas (UEB) de 1m×1m, totalizando 150UEB. Foi pesada a massa verde de vagens (MVV) e a massa verde de parte aérea sem vagens (MVPASV) e calculada a massa verde de parte aérea (MVPA=MVV+MVPASV) das plantas de cada UEB. Foi determinado o tamanho ótimo de parcela e comparadas as médias entre os caracteres MVV, MVPASV e MVPA. Após, foi calculado o número de repetições. Os tamanhos ótimos de parcela para avaliar a massa verde de vagens, a massa verde de parte aérea sem vagens e a massa verde de parte aérea são, respectivamente, 8,59m2, 6,14m2 e 5,85m2. Quatro repetições, para avaliar até 50 tratamentos, no delineamento blocos ao acaso, são suficientes para identificar, como significativas a 5% de probabilidade, pelo teste de Tukey, diferenças entre médias de tratamentos de 55,48%, 39,66% e 37,78% das médias de massa verde de vagens, de massa verde de parte aérea sem vagens e de massa verde de parte aérea do experimento, respectivamente
Reatividade e desempenho em cordeiros cruzados Suffolk x Île-de-France
Authors: Tamioso Priscilla Regina , Dias Laila Talarico , Teixeira Rodrigo de Almeida , Nascimento Bárbara Mazetti , Silva Gisele Ferreira da , Portes Juliana Varchaki
Published: December 2014

Objetivou-se estimar as correlações fenotípicas (r) entre os escores comportamentais de reatividade aplicados durante e após a pesagem e os ganhos médios diários de peso (GMD) de cordeiros cruzados Suffolk x Île-de-France, aos 30, 60 e 90 dias de idade, bem como estudar o efeito da habituação dos animais ao manejo. As variáveis avaliadas por meio de escores foram: interferência do avaliador para o animal entrar na balança (INT), vocalização (VOC), movimentação (MOV), tensão (TEN), movimentos exploratórios (ME), postura de orelhas (ORE) e o teste de tipos de marcha (TM). Os resultados das correlações de Spearman obtidos entre os escores indicam que VOC, MOV e TEN podem ser consideradas como características importantes na expressão da reatividade de ovinos em ambiente de restrição. Já o GMD parece não estar associado com a reatividade dos cordeiros avaliados. Por fim, aos 90 dias de idade, os cordeiros apresentaram-se menos reativos, em função do aprendizado por habituação
Estabilidade dimensional e resistência à tração perpendicular de painéis fabricados com partículas termorretificadas oriundas de embalagens de Pinus sp.
Authors: Vital Benedito Rocha , Andrade Paulo Ivan Lima , Carneiro Angélica de Cássia Oliveira , Cabral Carla Priscilla Távora , Carvalho Ana Márcia Macêdo
Published: December 2014

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do tratamento térmico em algumas propriedades de painéis de partículas, produzidos com resíduos de embalagens de Pinus sp. Foi utilizado o adesivo à base de ureia-formaldeído, na quantidade de 8%. O experimento foi desenvolvido em um fatorial 4 x 3 x 3, sendo quatro proporções de partículas (25, 50, 75 e 100%), termorretificadas, três temperaturas de tratamento térmico (180, 200 e 220 ºC) e três repetições, totalizando 36 painéis. Foram produzidos mais três painéis com partículas sem tratamento térmico (testemunhas), totalizando 39 painéis. A absorção de água, inchamento em espessura e resistência à tração perpendicular foram determinadas de acordo com a Norma ABNT/NBR 14810-3 (2002). Os resultados desses testes foram comparados com os valores estabelecidos nas Normas ABNT/NBR 14810-3 (2002) e DIN 68 761 (1) (1961). A estabilidade dimensional dos painéis aumentou com a adição de partículas termorretificadas, enquanto as propriedades mecânicas foram reduzidas. O efeito da adição de partículas termorretificadas nas propriedades dos painéis é maior à medida que se utilizam maiores temperaturas de tratamento térmico.
As catadoras de mangaba no Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos - PAA: um estudo de caso em Sergipe¹
Authors: Mota Dalva Maria da , Schmitz Heribert , Silva Júnior Josué Francisco da , Porro Noemi Miyasaka , Oliveira Tânia Carolina Viana de
Published: December 2014

O artigo trata da experiência de um grupo de mulheres extrativistas na comercialização de frutas silvestres, no âmbito do Programa de Aquisição de Alimentos (PAA), no estado de Sergipe. O quadro de análise insere-se no debate sobre pobreza e políticas públicas para grupos específicos no espaço rural. O foco aqui são as autodenominadas "catadoras de mangaba", que assumiram uma identidade coletiva baseada no uso comum de recursos com baixo impacto ambiental e pertencem ao Movimento das Catadoras de Mangaba (MCM). Embora tenham sido recentemente reconhecidas como sujeitos de direitos específicos, vivenciam a diminuição dos recursos, sobre os quais praticam o extrativismo, e as dificuldades de comercialização resultantes da insegurança relativa ao acesso aos frutos e à sazonalidade. A pesquisa foi realizada entre 2008 e 2011 por meio de observação direta e entrevistas abertas e semiestruturadas. Os principais resultados mostram que o PAA tem influenciado no aumento da renda, do consumo e da autoestima. Houve reordenamento da rotina diária das catadoras de mangaba que, para participar do programa, relegaram atividades tradicionais a segundo plano. As regras do programa foram ressignificadas e adaptadas localmente. Constata-se o aumento da solidariedade entre as catadoras participantes, paralelamente à intensificação da concorrência pelos frutos.
Análisis bibliométrico mundial de la categoría 'remote sensing' de la web of science (1997-2012)
Authors: Rojas-Sola José Ignacio , Aguilera-García Ángel Inocencio
Published: December 2014

El objetivo principal del trabajo ha sido analizar la evolución de la investigación en la categoría 'Remote Sensing', revisándose en la Web of Science, las revistas que se encuentran en dicha categoría, y analizándose bibliométricamente las publicaciones de dichas revistas para la serie temporal 1997-2012. Para ello, se han analizado para los diferentes países y centros de investigación, diversos indicadores bibliométricos como el número de documentos, y mostrándose por documento, la productividad, el número medio de citas, de autores, de centros de investigación, la colaboración nacional e internacional incluidas sus redes, el factor de impacto ponderado y relativo, así como el h-index. Asimismo, se ha analizado la difusión internacional de las investigaciones de los países a través de las revistas y la relación con el factor de impacto, para detectar las revistas de publicación de cada país. Por otro lado, se muestra cómo el inglés es el lenguaje de publicación por excelencia, consolidándose USA como el país más productivo aunque con un factor de impacto relativo bajo. También se muestra cómo la Chinese Academy of Sciences junto a la National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) son las instituciones más productivas y el gran crecimiento de publicaciones de algunas universidades chinas.
Letramento acadêmico/científico e participação periférica legítima: estudo etnográfico em comunidades de prática jurídica
Authors: Kraemer Márcia Adriana Dias
Published: December 2014

Este estudo apresenta uma reflexão acerca das práticas de letramento acadêmico/científico em contextos específicos, delimitando o escopo, em particular, na participação periférica legítima de aprendizes nas práticas concretas de especialistas em um escritório de prática jurídica de um curso de Direito. No âmbito teórico, de perspectiva multidisciplinar, associamos, dentre outras, a Teoria Sócio-Cultural, no tocante à atividade social na aprendizagem da linguagem e desta na formação de conceitos, relacionando-a ao construto da perspectiva sociológica da linguagem, de cunho bakhtiniano, sobre o aspecto heterogêneo, dialógico e intertextual dos enunciados. A pesquisa busca compreender o processo de construção do conhecimento no contexto disciplinar do âmbito jurídico, expondo um recorte da geração de dados a partir de uma entrevista com discentes e com a coordenação do laboratório delimitado. Explicitamos a situação de produção de textos do entorno e a percepção desses partícipes em relação a essa prática social.
Variable input parameter influence on river corridor prediction
Authors: Zerfu Tegenu , Beevers Lindsay , Crosato Alessandra , Wright Nigel
Published: December 2014

This paper considers the erodible river corridor, which is the area in which the main river channel is free to migrate over a period of time. Due to growing anthropogenic pressure, predicting the corridor width has become increasingly important for the planning of development along rivers. Several approaches can be used to predict the future erodible corridor width but the results possess a large degree of uncertainty in all cases. The work presented here addresses prediction of the erodible corridor width of a reach of the River Irwell, UK, taking into account the uncertainty that arises from input parameters such as representative discharge, channel width, sediment and so on. The work adopts a probabilistic framework for assessment using Monte Carlo type simulations. Future river corridor width predictions, based on a model calibrated on past observations, are presented in a probabilistic manner using confidence levels. The results indicate the necessity of capturing input variability in the modelling process. Furthermore, the understanding gained from a relatively simple model used in a probabilistic framework is greater than a more complex one where only a few runs are feasible.