bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A RuBisCO-mediated carbon metabolic pathway in methanogenic archaea
Authors: Kono Takunari , Mehrotra Sandhya , Endo Chikako , Kizu Natsuko , Matusda Mami , Kimura Hiroyuki , Mizohata Eiichi , Inoue Tsuyoshi , Hasunuma Tomohisa , Yokota Akiho , Matsumura Hiroyoshi , Ashida Hiroki
Published: January 2017

Two enzymes are considered to be unique to the photosynthetic Calvin–Benson cycle: ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO), responsible for CO2 fixation, and phosphoribulokinase (PRK). Some archaea possess bona fide RuBisCOs, despite not being photosynthetic organisms, but are thought to lack PRK. Here we demonstrate the existence in methanogenic archaea of a carbon metabolic pathway involving RuBisCO and PRK, which we term ‘reductive hexulose-phosphate’ (RHP) pathway. These archaea possess both RuBisCO and a catalytically active PRK whose crystal structure resembles that of photosynthetic bacterial PRK. Capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometric analysis of metabolites reveals that the RHP pathway, which differs from the Calvin–Benson cycle only in a few steps, is active in vivo. Our work highlights evolutionary and functional links between RuBisCO-mediated carbon metabolic pathways in methanogenic archaea and photosynthetic organisms. Whether the RHP pathway allows for autotrophy (that is, growth exclusively with CO2 as carbon source) remains unknown.
Mammary stem cells: angels or demons in mammary gland?
Authors: Chen Xueman , Liu Qiang , Song Erwei
Published: January 2017

A highly dynamic development process exits within the epithelia of mammary gland, featuring morphogenetic variation during puberty, pregnancy, lactation, and regression. The identification of mammary stem cells (MaSCs) via lineage-tracing studies has substantiated a hierarchical organization of the mammary epithelia. A single MaSC is capable of reconstituting the entirely functional mammary gland upon orthotopic transplantation. Although different mammary cell subpopulations can be candidate cells-of-origin for distinct breast tumor subtypes, it still lacks experimental proofs whether MaSCs, the most primitive cells, are the ‘seeds’ of malignant transformation during most, if not all, tumorigenesis in the breast. Here, we review current knowledge of mammary epithelial hierarchy, highlighting the roles of mammary stem/progenitor cells and breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) along with their key molecular regulators in organ development and cancer evolution. Clarifying these issues will pave the way for developing novel interventions toward stem/progenitor cells in either prevention or treatment of breast cancer (BrCa).
Etanercept-Synthesising Mesenchymal Stem Cells Efficiently Ameliorate Collagen-Induced Arthritis
Authors: Park Narae , Rim Yeri Alice , Jung Hyerin , Kim Juryun , Yi Hyoju , Kim Youngkyun , Jang Yeonsue , Jung Seung Min , Lee Jennifer , Kwok Seung-Ki , Park Sung-Hwan , Ju Ji Hyeon
Published: January 2017

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have multiple properties including anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects in various disease models and clinical treatments. These beneficial effects, however, are sometimes inconsistent and unpredictable. For wider and proper application, scientists sought to improve MSC functions by engineering. We aimed to invent a novel method to produce synthetic biological drugs from engineered MSCs. We investigated the anti-arthritic effect of engineered MSCs in a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model. Biologics such as etanercept are the most successful drugs used in anti-cytokine therapy. Biologics are made of protein components, and thus can be theoretically produced from cells including MSCs. MSCs were transfected with recombinant minicircles encoding etanercept (trade name, Enbrel), which is a tumour necrosis factor α blocker currently used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. We confirmed minicircle expression in MSCs in vitro based on GFP. Etanercept production was verified from the conditioned media. We confirmed that self-reproduced etanercept was biologically active in vitro. Arthritis subsided more efficiently in CIA mice injected with mcTNFR2MSCs than in those injected with conventional MSCs or etanercept only. Although this novel strategy is in a very early conceptual stage, it seems to represent a potential alternative method for the delivery of biologics and engineering MSCs.
Facile synthesis, microstructure and photophysical properties of core-shell nanostructured (SiCN)/BN nanocomposites
Authors: Zhang Qian , Jia Dechang , Yang Zhihua , Cai Delong , Laine Richard M. , Li Qian , Zhou Yu
Published: January 2017

Increasing structural complexity at nanoscale can permit superior control over photophysical properties in the precursor-derived semiconductors. We demonstrate here the synthesis of silicon carbonitride (SiCN)/boron nitride (BN) nanocomposites via a polymer precursor route wherein the cobalt polyamine complexes used as the catalyst, exhibiting novel composite structures and photophysical properties. High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy (HRTEM) analysis shows that the diameters of SiCN−BN core−shell nanocomposites and BN shells are 50‒400 nm and 5‒25 nm, respectively. BN nanosheets (BNNSs) are also observed with an average sheet size of 5‒15 nm. The photophysical properties of these nanocomposites are characterized using the UV-Vis and photoluminescence (PL) analyses. The as-produced composites have emission behavior including an emission lifetime of 2.5 ns (±20 ps) longer observed in BN doped SiCN than that seen for SiC nanoparticles. Our results suggest that the SiCN/BN nanocomposites act as semiconductor displaying superior width photoluminescence at wavelengths spanning the visible to near-infrared (NIR) spectral range (400‒700 nm), owing to the heterojunction of the interface between the SiC(N) nanowire core and the BN nanosheet shell.
Lessons from temporal and spatial patterns in global use of N and P fertilizer on cropland
Authors: Bouwman A. F. , Beusen A. H. W. , Lassaletta L. , van Apeldoorn D. F. , van Grinsven H. J. M. , Zhang J. , Ittersum van M. K.
Published: January 2017

In recent decades farmers in high-income countries and China and India have built up a large reserve of residual soil P in cropland. This reserve can now be used by crops, and in high-income countries the use of mineral P fertilizer has recently been decreasing with even negative soil P budgets in Europe. In contrast to P, much of N surpluses are emitted to the environment via air and water and large quantities of N are transported in aquifers with long travel times (decades and longer). N fertilizer use in high-income countries has not been decreasing in recent years; increasing N use efficiency and utilization of accumulated residual soil P allowed continued increases in crop yields. However, there are ecological risks associated with the legacy of excessive nutrient mobilization in the 1970s and 1980s. Landscapes have a memory for N and P; N concentrations in many rivers do not respond to increased agricultural N use efficiency, and European water quality is threatened by rapidly increasing N:P ratios. Developing countries can avoid such problems by integrated management of N, P and other nutrients accounting for residual soil P, while avoiding legacies associated with the type of past or continuing mismanagement of high-income countries, China and India.
Targeting pathogen metabolism without collateral damage to the host
Authors: Haanstra Jurgen R. , Gerding Albert , Dolga Amalia M. , Sorgdrager Freek J. H. , Buist-Homan Manon , du Toit François , Faber Klaas Nico , Holzhütter Hermann-Georg , Szöör Balázs , Matthews Keith R. , Snoep Jacky L. , Westerhoff Hans V. , Bakker Barbara M.
Published: January 2017

The development of drugs that can inactivate disease-causing cells (e.g. cancer cells or parasites) without causing collateral damage to healthy or to host cells is complicated by the fact that many proteins are very similar between organisms. Nevertheless, due to subtle, quantitative differences between the biochemical reaction networks of target cell and host, a drug can limit the flux of the same essential process in one organism more than in another. We identified precise criteria for this ‘network-based’ drug selectivity, which can serve as an alternative or additive to structural differences. We combined computational and experimental approaches to compare energy metabolism in the causative agent of sleeping sickness, Trypanosoma brucei, with that of human erythrocytes, and identified glucose transport and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase as the most selective antiparasitic targets. Computational predictions were validated experimentally in a novel parasite-erythrocytes co-culture system. Glucose-transport inhibitors killed trypanosomes without killing erythrocytes, neurons or liver cells.
SMIM1 variants rs1175550 and rs143702418 independently modulate Vel blood group antigen expression
Authors: Christophersen Mikael K. , Jöud Magnus , Ajore Ram , Vege Sunitha , Ljungdahl Klara W. , Westhoff Connie M. , Olsson Martin L. , Storry Jill R. , Nilsson Björn
Published: January 2017

The Vel blood group antigen is expressed on the red blood cells of most individuals. Recently, we described that homozygosity for inactivating mutations in SMIM1 defines the rare Vel-negative phenotype. Still, Vel-positive individuals show great variability in Vel antigen expression, creating a risk for Vel blood typing errors and transfusion reactions. We fine-mapped the regulatory region located in SMIM1 intron 2 in Swedish blood donors, and observed a strong correlation between expression and rs1175550 as well as with a previously unreported tri-nucleotide insertion (rs143702418; C > CGCA). While the two variants are tightly linked in Caucasians, we separated their effects in African Americans, and found that rs1175550G and to a lesser extent rs143702418C independently increase SMIM1 and Vel antigen expression. Gel shift and luciferase assays indicate that both variants are transcriptionally active, and we identified binding of the transcription factor TAL1 as a potential mediator of the increased expression associated with rs1175550G. Our results provide insight into the regulatory logic of Vel antigen expression, and extend the set of markers for genetic Vel blood group typing.
Fluorescence assay of dihydroorotate dehydrogenase that may become a cancer biomarker
Authors: Yin Sheng , Kabashima Tsutomu , Zhu Qinchang , Shibata Takayuki , Kai Masaaki
Published: January 2017

We developed an assay method for measuring dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) activity in cultured HeLa cells and fibroblasts, and in stage III stomach cancer and adjacent normal tissues from the same patient. The assay comprised enzymatic reaction of DHODH with a large amount of dihydroorotic acid substrate, followed by fluorescence (FL) detection specific for orotic acid using the 4-trifluoromethyl-benzamidoxime fluorogenic reagent. The DHODH activities in the biologically complex samples were readily measured by the assay method. Our data indicate significantly higher DHODH activity in HeLa cells (340 ± 25.9 pmol/105 cells/h) than in normal fibroblasts (54.1 ± 7.40 pmol/105 cells/h), and in malignant tumour tissue (1.10 ± 0.19 nmol/mg total proteins/h) than in adjacent normal tissue (0.24 ± 0.11 nmol/mg total proteins/h). This is the first report that DHODH activity may be a diagnostic biomarker for cancer.
Molecular phylogeny of a novel human adenovirus type 8 strain causing a prolonged, multi-state keratoconjunctivitis epidemic in Germany
Authors: Hage Elias , Espelage Werner , Eckmanns Tim , Lamson Daryl M. , Pantó Laura , Ganzenmueller Tina , Heim Albert
Published: January 2017

The German infectious disease surveillance system revealed an increase of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) from an average of 320 cases/year (2001 to 2010) up to 2146 and 1986 cases in 2012 and 2013, respectively. From November 2011 until December 2013 (epidemic period) 85% of typed isolates were human adenovirus type 8 (HAdV-D8), whereas only low level circulation (19%) of HAdV-D8 was observed outside the epidemic period. In order to investigate whether a novel monophyletic HAdV-D8 strain prevailed during the epidemic period, complete genomic sequences of 23 HAdV-D8 isolates were generated by deep sequencing and analyzed phylogenetically. For comparison, eight HAdV-D8 isolates from outside the epidemic period were sequenced. HAdV-D8 isolates of the epidemic period had a very high sequence identity of at least 99.9% and formed a monophyletic cluster with two subclusters. A single outlier was closely related to HAdV-D8 strains isolated prior to the epidemic period. Circulation of the epidemic strain was detected as early as 2010 but not after the epidemic period in 2014. In conclusion, molecular phylogeny of complete genomic sequences proved a monophyletic HAdV-D8 epidemic. However, co-circulation of other HAdV types as well as better reporting may have contributed to the huge increase of reported cases.
Fe(iii) cluster-grafted (BiO)2CO3 superstructures: in situ DRIFTS investigation on IFCT-enhanced visible light photocatalytic NO oxidation
Authors: Feng Xin , Zhang Wendong , Sun Yanjuan , Huang Hongwei , Dong Fan
Published: January 2017

The present work revealed the photocatalysis mechanism with Fe cluster-grafted (BiO)2CO3 under visible light for purification of NO in air.
Changes of structure and IgE binding capacity of shrimp (Metapenaeus ensis) tropomyosin followed by acrolein treatment
Authors: Lv Liangtao , Lin Hong , Li Zhenxing , Wang Jing , Ahmed Ishfaq , Chen Hairong
Published: January 2017

The changes of structure and IgE binding capacity of shrimp tropomyosin following acrolein treatment are explored at the molecular level.
Modular assembly of soft deployable structures and robots
Authors: Wang Wei , Kim Nam-Geuk , Rodrigue Hugo , Ahn Sung-Hoon
Published: January 2017

The first soft deployable robot, called DeployBot, capable of both deploying itself and of movement without additional motors is introduced. This robot can serve as the first step toward a new class of soft robots that is modular, self-deploying, and capable of locomotion “out of the box”.
Cp2TiCl2-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of alkynes with CO2: formation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids
Authors: Shao Peng , Wang Sheng , Du Gaixia , Xi Chanjuan
Published: January 2017

Cp2TiCl2-catalyzed hydrocarboxylation of alkynes with CO2 (atmospheric pressure) has been reported. A range of alkynes were transformed to the corresponding α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids in high yields with high regioselectivity.
Direct reuse of two deep-dewatered sludge cakes without a solidifying agent as landfill cover: geotechnical properties and heavy metal leaching characteristics
Authors: Yang Jiakuan , Zhang Shinan , Shi Yafei , Li Chao , Yu Wenbo , Guan Ruonan , Xiao Jun , Liang Sha , Hu Jingping , Hou Huijie , Hu Jiukun
Published: January 2017

The skeleton builders improve the geotechnical properties and heavy metal leaching characteristics of the dewatered sludge cakes which make them appropriate for re-use as landfill cover materials after a certain curing time.
Fine silver sulfide–platinum nanocomposites supported on carbon substrates for the methanol oxidation reaction
Authors: Tang Jiayi , Chen Dong , Li Chengyin , Yang Xianfeng , Liu Hui , Yang Jun
Published: January 2017

Carbon-supported Ag2S–Pt nanocomposites with fine sizes and uniform dispersions were synthesized for catalyzing methanol oxidation reaction.
HMGB1-induced autophagy: a new pathway to maintain Treg function during chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: Cheng Li-sha , Li Jing , Liu Yun , Wang Fu-ping , Wang Si-qi , She Wei-min , Wu Sheng-di , Qi Xiao-long , Zhou Yong-ping , Jiang Wei
Published: January 2017

High-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) protein, as one of the well-known damage-associated molecular pattern molecules (DAMPs), is enriched in chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and has a context-dependent role in autophagy, a highly conserved self-digestive process in response to environmental stress. Recent mouse studies indicate that autophagy is highly active in regulatory T (Treg)-cells. In the present study, we evaluated spontaneous and induced autophagy of peripheral Treg cells from 98 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB), by measuring levels of lipidated form of microtubule-associated light chain 3 (LC3-II, marker for closed autophagosomes) and observing autophagic vacuoles (AV) with transmission electron microscope. No significant difference was found in spontaneous autophagy of either Treg or CD4+ naive cells when comparing CHB patients with healthy subjects, apart from CHB-Treg showed significantly higher autophagic activity after activation by anti-CD3–CD28 beads. Besides, incubation of CHB-Treg cells with CHB-serum greatly maintained their autophagic behaviour, which could be significantly diminished by blocking HMGB1 with the neutralizing antibody. Further, we characterized time- and dose-dependent effects by recombinant HMGB1 protein on autophagy of CHB-Treg cells. We also documented a significant up-regulation of HMGB1 and its receptors [toll-like receptor (TLR4), receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE)] in both peripheral and intra-hepatic microenvironments of CHB patients. Moreover, the RAGE–extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) axis and rapamycin-sensitive components of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathways were demonstrated in vitro to be involved in HMGB1-induced autophagy of Treg cells. Additionally, HMGB1-induced autophagy could maintain cell survival and functional stability of CHB-Treg cells. Our findings could open new perspectives in developing therapeutic strategies to activate specific anti-HBV immunity by diminishing Treg autophagy.
The Effects of Directional Processing on Objective and Subjective Listening Effort
Authors: Picou Erin M. , Moore Travis M. , Ricketts Todd A.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

The purposes of this investigation were (a) to evaluate the effects of hearing aid directional processing on subjective and objective listening effort and (b) to investigate the potential relationships between subjective and objective measures of effort.

Method

Sixteen adults with mild to severe hearing loss were tested with study hearing aids programmed with 3 settings: omnidirectional, fixed directional, and bilateral beamformer. A dual-task paradigm and subjective ratings were used to assess objective and subjective listening effort, respectively, in 2 signal-to-noise ratios. Testing occurred in rooms with either low or moderate reverberation.

Results

Directional processing improved subjective and objective listening effort, although benefit for objective effort was found only in moderate reverberation. Subjective reports of work and tiredness were more highly correlated with word recognition performance than objective listening effort. However, subjective ratings about control were significantly correlated with objective listening effort.

Conclusions

Directional microphone technology in hearing aids has the potential to improve listening effort in moderately reverberant environments. In addition, subjective questions that probe a listener's desire to exercise control may be a viable method for eliciting ratings that are significantly related to objective listening effort.
Thermal response of tissue to RF exposure from canonical dipoles at frequencies for future mobile communication systems
Authors: Foster K. , Colombi D.
Published: January 2017

The level of protection against thermal hazard of the current RF EM field (EMF) exposure limits is estimated at the transition frequency where the basic restrictions change from specific absorption rate to power density. It is shown that the calculated steady‐state temperature increase in the skin generated by a nearby dipole transmitting at maximum power to meet compliance with the EMF limits presents a significant discontinuity at this frequency. The results suggest that for exposure to limited areas of the body at frequencies where basic restrictions are provided in terms of power density, the currently existing exposure guidelines need to be revised. These findings might have large implications on the development of future radio access technologies operating at the millimetre wave.
Power line communication transfer function computation in real network configurations for performance analysis applications
Authors: González‐Sotres Luis , Frías Pablo , Mateo Carlos
Published: January 2017

Despite power line communication is considered a cost‐effective solution to communicate electronic devices across the power system, the performance of this technology is highly affected by physical channel factors such as the presence of noise and signal attenuation. Such phenomena are mainly determined by the characteristics of the electrical infrastructure as well as by the network topology. This study presents an analytical approach to systematically compute the signal attenuation between any pair of nodes in real electric power distribution network topologies based on transmission‐line theory and graph theory. The proposed methodology has been applied to obtain the attenuation matrix of two representative networks for low and medium voltage. In addition, the results have been used to analyse the communication performance of these networks, where the low voltage network shows better results due to the reduced number of nodes and network length. The conclusions of this study motivate the application of this methodology to power line communication networks planning.
Non‐linear transceiver design for secure communications with artificial noise‐assisted MIMO relay
Authors: Zhang Lei , Cai Yunlong , Champagne Benoit , Zhao Minjian
Published: January 2017

This study investigates the problem of physical layer security for amplify‐and‐forward (AF) multiple‐input multiple‐output (MIMO) relay systems operating in the presence of a passive eavesdropper. Specifically, the authors consider the robust design of an artificial noise (AN)‐assisted non‐linear transceiver employing Tomlinson–Harashima precoding (THP), with imperfect knowledge of the legitimate channel states. The design problem can be reformulated as a two‐level optimisation, where the outer problem aims to optimise the source precoder as a function of the relay precoder, while the inner problem at the relay aims to jointly optimise the relay precoder as well as the power allocation between the AN and the information‐bearing signals. To solve the inner problem, the authors adopt a bisection method which attempts to maximise the AN power level, to confuse the eavesdropper, while satisfying the mean‐squared‐error requirement for the intended user. Some relaxation for the objective function is applied to transform the problem into a standard convex optimisation one. Regarding the outer problem, closed‐form solutions for the precoders can be derived by an iterative method based on the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker conditions. Simulation results illustrate the superior secrecy performance provided by the proposed non‐linear transceiver design with AN and THP.
Vergütung in Kliniken: 50 Prozent mehr als der Chef
Authors: Mau Jens
Published: January 2017

Chefärzte in Deutschland sind laut einer neuen Studie nach wie vor mit großem Abstand die Spitzenverdiener im Krankenhaus – und das völlig zu Recht, sagen Branchenkenner. Die meisten Klinikchefs haben damit auch kein Problem.
Amüsanter Einblick in den Krankenhauskosmos
Authors: Bovelet Joachim
Published: January 2017

Anlässlich des Gesundheitskongresses in Hamburg im Oktober dieses Jahres bin ich gebeten worden, in einem sogenannten Streitgespräch mit dem Autor sein Buch zu erörtern.
RSNA: Tanz der Giganten
Authors: Gaede Kirsten
Published: January 2017

Was für Romantiker Venedig, ist für Radiologen Chicago: Sie müssen den Kongress der Radiological Society of North America gesehen haben, zumindest einmal im Leben – die monumentalen Ausstellungshallen, die riesigen, weit oben in der Luft schwebenden Logos der Unternehmen, die uferlosen, dicht gedrängten Stände, das internationale Publikum.
Mohammad Al Natour: Jeder kann sich hier gleich gut behandeln lassen
Authors: Sickinger Nina
Published: January 2017

AUSLÄNDISCHE MITARBEITER BERICHTEN AUS DEUTSCHEN KLINIKEN Mohammad Al Natour (31) aus Jordanien kam vor fünf Jahren nach Deutschland und arbeitet derzeit als Arzt in Weiterbildung (Innere Medizin) in einem Klinikum in Schwelm. Er schwärmt vom deutschen Gesundheitssystem – im Unterschied zu dem in seiner Heimat sei es „fantastisch“.
Sozialmedizinische Folgen bei Uveitis im Kindes- und Jugendalter: Ergebnisse einer Pilotstudie
Authors: Böttner K. , Mussinghoff P. , Meyer zur Hörste M. , Heinz C. , Heiligenhaus A.
Published: January 2017

Hintergrund Chronische Erkrankungen – wie z. B. eine Uveitis – haben sozioökonomische Folgen und weitere Minderungen der Lebensqualität zur Folge.

Fragestellung In dieser Studie sollte der Einfluss einer Uveitis auf die Lebensqualität und berufliche Entwicklung ermittelt werden.

Material und Methodik Prospektive Evaluation von Uveitispatienten im Kindes- und Jugendalter (Alter < 18 Lebensjahren, Uveitisklassifikation nach den Kriterien der Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature [SUN]) mit ≥ 12 Monaten Erkrankungsdauer in einem tertiären Uveitiszentrum. Der Einfluss auf die Lebensqualität, Freizeitaktivitäten, schulische Entwicklung und Schwerbehinderungen wurden analysiert. Die Ergebnisse wurden mit klinischen Daten korreliert. Die Daten wurden mittels deskriptiver Statistik analysiert.

Ergebnisse 39 von 49 Patienten (80 %) hatten ein anteriore Uveitis (69,4 % beidseitig), 34 (69 %) eine assoziierte Systemerkrankung (juvenile idiopathische Arthritis n = 28), und 39 (80 %) hatten uveitisbedingte Komplikationen. 15 Patienten (31 %) waren wegen der Komplikationen bereits am Auge operiert worden. Viele Patienten wurden mit konventionellen (n = 37; 76 %) und biologischen (n = 18; 37 %) Disease-modifying antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) behandelt. Einschränkungen der Lebensqualität bestanden bei 41 % und der Freizeitgestaltung bei 23 %. Bei 32 Patienten (65 %) waren wegen der Uveitis wiederholt Fehltage in den letzten 12 Monaten in Kindergarten oder Schule aufgetreten (MW 12,5 Tage/Jahr; 15 % > 20 Tage). Die Uveitis beeinträchtigte die schulische Entwicklung (bei 29 %), führte zu Wiederholungen der Schulklasse (n = 3) oder auch zum Wechsel der Schulform (n = 3). Bei 30 % der Patienten bestand wegen der Uveitis bereits eine Schwerbehinderung.

Schlussfolgerung Uveitis im Kindes- und Jugendalter hat erhebliche Auswirkungen auf die soziale und berufliche Perspektive. Die Folgen einer Uveitis können bereits im frühen Lebensalter zu einer Schwerbehinderung führen.
Klassische ärztliche Fehlleistungen – die Verkennung psychologischer Komponenten
Authors: Burggraf M.
Published: January 2017

Eingehender Hinweis auf psychogene Überlagerungen nach einem Unfall anhand von 3 Gutachtenbeispielen.
Postoperative Lagerung nach intraokularen Operationen
Authors: Prahs P. , Märker D. , Helbig H.
Published: January 2017

Der Einsatz einer gasförmigen Tamponade gehört heute zu den Routineverfahren der intraokularen Chirurgie. Die hohe Oberflächenspannung an der intraokularen Grenzfläche wird sowohl in der Ablatio- und Makulachirurgie als auch im Rahmen von lamellären Hornhauttransplantationen eingesetzt. Die postoperative Lagerung bestimmt dabei deren intraokulare Position. Der folgende Artikel beschreibt die Entwicklung, physikalische Grundlagen und Messmethoden zur postoperativen Lagerung nach intraokularen Operationen.
Nonlinear density excitations in electron-positron-ion plasmas with trapping in a quantizing magnetic field
Authors: Iqbal M. J. , Masood W. , Shah H. A. , Tsintsadze N. L.
Published: January 2017

In the present work, we have investigated the effect of trapping as a microscopic phenomenon on the formation of solitary structures in the presence of a quantizing magnetic field in an electron-positron-ion (e-p-i) plasma having degenerate electrons and positrons, whereas ions are taken to be classical and cold. We have found that positron concentration, quantizing magnetic field, and finite electron temperature effects not only affect the linear dispersion characteristics of the electrostatic waves under consideration but also have a significant bearing on the propagation of solitary structures in the nonlinear regime. Importantly, the system under consideration has been found to allow the formation of compressive solitary structures only. The work presented here may be beneficial to understand the propagation of nonlinear electrostatic structures in dense astrophysical environments and in intense-laser plasma interactions.
Signatures of spatially correlated noise and non-secular effects in two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy
Authors: Lim James , Ing David J. , Rosskopf Joachim , Jeske Jan , Cole Jared H. , Huelga Susana F. , Plenio Martin B.
Published: January 2017

We investigate how correlated fluctuations affect oscillatory features in rephasing and non-rephasing two-dimensional (2D) electronic spectra of a model dimer system. Based on a beating map analysis, we show that non-secular environmental couplings induced by uncorrelated fluctuations lead to oscillations centered at both cross- and diagonal-peaks in rephasing spectra as well as in non-rephasing spectra. Using an analytical approach, we provide a quantitative description of the non-secular effects in terms of the Feynman diagrams and show that the environment-induced mixing of different inter-excitonic coherences leads to oscillations in the rephasing diagonal-peaks and non-rephasing cross-peaks. We demonstrate that as correlations in the noise increase, the lifetime of oscillatory 2D signals is enhanced at rephasing cross-peaks and non-rephasing diagonal-peaks, while the other non-secular oscillatory signals are suppressed. We discuss that the asymmetry of 2D lineshapes in the beating map provides information on the degree of correlations in environmental fluctuations. Finally we investigate how the oscillatory features in 2D spectra are affected by inhomogeneous broadening.
Three-dimensional dynamics of thin liquid films on vertical cylinders with Marangoni effect
Authors: Ding Zijing , Wong Teck Neng
Published: January 2017

The effects of thermocapillary force on the three dimensional dynamics of thin liquid films flowing down a uniformly heated vertical cylinder are investigated using a thin film model. Linear and nonlinear analyses predict the existence of a non-axisymmetric mode due to the Marangoni effect. Symmetry-breaking of axisymmetric steady traveling waves is observed when the Marangoni number exceeds a critical value. Linear stability analysis demonstrates that the steady traveling wave can be unstable to azimuthal disturbances due to the Marangoni effect, leading to the formation of non-axisymmetric patterns.
Distribution and diversity of Phytophthora across Australia
Authors: Burgess Treena I. , White Diane , McDougall Keith M. , Garnas Jeff , Dunstan William A. , Català Santiago , Carnegie Angus J. , Worboys Stuart , Cahill David , Vettraino Anna-Maria , Stukely Michael J. C. , Liew Edward C. Y. , Paap Trudy , Bose Tanay , Migliorini Duccio , Williams Briony , Brigg Frances , Crane Colin , Rudman Timothy , Hardy Giles E. St. J.
Published: January 2017

The introduction and subsequent impact of Phytophthora cinnamomi within native vegetation is one of the major conservation issues for biodiversity in Australia. Recently, many new Phytophthora species have been described from Australia’s native ecosystems; however, their distribution, origin, and potential impact remain unknown. Historical bias in Phytophthora detection has been towards sites showing symptoms of disease, and traditional isolation methods show variable effectiveness of detecting different Phytophthora species. However, we now have at our disposal new techniques based on the sampling of environmental DNA and metabarcoding through the use of high-throughput sequencing. Here, we report on the diversity and distribution of Phytophthora in Australia using metabarcoding of 640 soil samples and we compare the diversity detected using this technique with that available in curated databases. Phytophthora was detected in 65% of sites, and phylogenetic analysis revealed 68 distinct Phytophthora phylotypes. Of these, 21 were identified as potentially unique taxa and 25 were new detections in natural areas and/or new introductions to Australia. There are 66 Phytophthora taxa listed in Australian databases, 43 of which were also detected in this metabarcoding study. This study revealed high Phytophthora richness within native vegetation and the additional records provide a valuable baseline resource for future studies. Many of the Phytophthora species now uncovered in Australia’s native ecosystems are newly described and until more is known we need to be cautious with regard to the spread and conservation management of these new species in Australia’s unique ecosystems.
Modeling gene-wise dependencies improves the identification of drug response biomarkers in cancer studies
Authors: Nikolova Olga , Moser Russell , Kemp Christopher , Gönen Mehmet , Margolin Adam A
Published: January 2017

Motivation

In recent years, vast advances in biomedical technologies and comprehensive sequencing have revealed the genomic landscape of common forms of human cancer in unprecedented detail. The broad heterogeneity of the disease calls for rapid development of personalized therapies. Translating the readily available genomic data into useful knowledge that can be applied in the clinic remains a challenge. Computational methods are needed to aid these efforts by robustly analyzing genome-scale data from distinct experimental platforms for prioritization of targets and treatments.

Results

We propose a novel, biologically motivated, Bayesian multitask approach, which explicitly models gene-centric dependencies across multiple and distinct genomic platforms. We introduce a gene-wise prior and present a fully Bayesian formulation of a group factor analysis model. In supervised prediction applications, our multitask approach leverages similarities in response profiles of groups of drugs that are more likely to be related to true biological signal, which leads to more robust performance and improved generalization ability. We evaluate the performance of our method on molecularly characterized collections of cell lines profiled against two compound panels, namely the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia and the Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal. We demonstrate that accounting for the gene-centric dependencies enables leveraging information from multi-omic input data and improves prediction and feature selection performance. We further demonstrate the applicability of our method in an unsupervised dimensionality reduction application by inferring genes essential to tumorigenesis in the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma patient cohorts from The Cancer Genome Atlas.

Availability and Implementation

The code for this work is available at https://github.com/olganikolova/gbgfa

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Dexmedetomidine Disrupts the Local and Global Efficiencies of Large-scale Brain Networks
Authors: Hashmi Javeria A. , Loggia Marco L. , Khan Sheraz , Gao Lei , Kim Jieun , Napadow Vitaly , Brown Emery N. , Akeju Oluwaseun
Published: January 2017

Background

A clear understanding of the neural basis of consciousness is fundamental to research in clinical and basic neuroscience disciplines and anesthesia. Recently, decreased efficiency of information integration was suggested as a core network feature of propofol-induced unconsciousness. However, it is unclear whether this finding can be generalized to dexmedetomidine, which has a different molecular target.

Methods

Dexmedetomidine was administered as a 1-μg/kg bolus over 10 min, followed by a 0.7-μg · kg−1 · h−1 infusion to healthy human volunteers (age range, 18 to 36 yr; n = 15). Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data were acquired during baseline, dexmedetomidine-induced altered arousal, and recovery states. Zero-lag correlations between resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging signals extracted from 131 brain parcellations were used to construct weighted brain networks. Network efficiency, degree distribution, and node strength were computed using graph analysis. Parcellated brain regions were also mapped to known resting-state networks to study functional connectivity changes.

Results

Dexmedetomidine significantly reduced the local and global efficiencies of graph theory–derived networks. Dexmedetomidine also reduced the average brain connectivity strength without impairing the degree distribution. Functional connectivity within and between all resting-state networks was modulated by dexmedetomidine.

Conclusions

Dexmedetomidine is associated with a significant drop in the capacity for efficient information transmission at both the local and global levels. These changes result from reductions in the strength of connectivity and also manifest as reduced within and between resting-state network connectivity. These findings strengthen the hypothesis that conscious processing relies on an efficient system of information transfer in the brain.
Expanded Newborn Screening
Authors: Joseph Rachel A.
Published: January 2017

Background:

Newborn screening programs provide testing for all newborns born in this country for conditions that can potentially cause death or disability. Currently each state is responsible for its programs and the number of disorders screened varies from state to state. The current universal recommended metabolic screening panel may include 32 to 58 disorders. Expansion of the programs has impacted the role of nurses in the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Nurses are responsible for facilitating the screening process, educating the family, and assisting with follow-up. In addition, they are the first-line defense for emotional, spiritual, and social support.

Purpose:

To review of the expansion of this program over time and discuss challenges the NICU nurse encounters.

Methods/Search Strategy:

Research literatures along with the national recommendation by governmental and professional agencies were reviewed to obtain evidence on current practice recommendations.

Findings/Results/implications for Practice and Research:

NICU nurses face several challenges with the expansion of newborn screening programs. This includes gaining knowledge to answer questions posed by empowered parents and educate them appropriately; ensuring quality of the process that minimizes errors and optimal communication; and, addressing ethical concerns about the storage and subsequent use of specimens. New and ongoing research can measure and ensure provision of quality services provided through the NICUs globally.
INTEGRITY OF OUTER RETINAL LAYERS AFTER RESOLUTION OF CENTRAL INVOLVED DIABETIC MACULAR EDEMA
Authors: Muftuoglu Ilkay Kilic , Mendoza Nadia , Gaber Raouf , Alam Mostafa , You Qisheng , Freeman William R.
Published: January 2017

Purpose:

To evaluate the integrity of outer retina layers after resolution of central involved diabetic macular edema (DME) and to demonstrate the effect of various baseline factors for the final vision and final external limiting membrane (ELM) integrity.

Methods:

Fifty-nine eyes of 48 patients with resolved DME were included. Several optical coherence tomography parameters including central subfield thickness, maximum foveal thickness, foveal center point thickness, and the extent of the ellipsoidal (ISe) layer and ELM damage were assessed at the time of DME and after resolution of DME. Eyes having laser scars near the fovea were excluded. Final visual acuity was classified as good (Snellen≥20/40, logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution ≤0.3) or impaired (Snellen <20/40, logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution >0.3) for the logistic regression analysis. Zero Inflated Poison Regression model was used to find the best predictors for post-treatment ELM damage.

Results:

External limiting membrane and inner segment ellipsoidal band layers were disrupted in 16 eyes (27.2%) and 21 eyes (35.5%) at the final visit, respectively. Baseline ELM damage (p=0.001), baseline impaired vision (p= 0.013), and the most recent glycosylated hemoglobin level (p=0.018) were the best set of parameters for having impaired final visual acuity. Baseline vision, severity of diabetic retinopathy, absence of intravitreal injection, central subfield thickness, and history of extrafoveal macular laser (not within 1 mm of fovea) (p<0.001, for all parameters) were independent predictors for the final ELM damage.

Conclusion:

Outer retinal layers may be damaged even after complete resolution of DME, where inner segment ellipsoidal band layer damage appeared to be more common than ELM damage. Poorly controlled diabetic patients with damaged ELM and worse vision at the time of DME were more likely to have ELM damage and subsequent impaired vision after complete resolution of DME.
NATURAL COURSE OF PATIENTS DISCONTINUING TREATMENT FOR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH VISUAL PROGNOSIS
Authors: Kim Jae Hui , Chang Young Suk , Kim Jong Woo
Published: January 2017

Purpose:

To evaluate the 24-month natural course of visual changes in patients discontinuing treatment despite persistent or recurrent fluid and factors predictive of visual prognosis.

Methods:

This retrospective, observational study included 35 patients (35 eyes) who initially received anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), but discontinued treatment despite persistent or recurrent fluid. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at treatment discontinuation was determined and compared with the 24-month BCVA, which was then compared between polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and other neovascular age-related macular degeneration subtypes. Baseline characteristics predictive of visual outcome and the degree of visual change were also analyzed.

Results:

The mean number of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections before treatment discontinuation was 4.0 ± 1.6. The mean logarithm of minimal angle of resolution of BCVA at treatment discontinuation and that at 24 months were 1.02 ± 0.20 (Snellen equivalents = 20/209) and 1.60 ± 0.56 (20/796), respectively (P < 0.001). The 24-month BCVA was not different between polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy and other neovascular age-related macular degeneration subtypes (P = 0.803). The type of fluid (intraretinal fluid vs. no intraretinal fluid) was predictive of 24-month BCVA (P = 0.004) and the degree of changes in BCVA (P = 0.043).

Conclusion:

Marked deterioration in visual acuity was noted in patients discontinuing treatment, regardless of neovascular age-related macular degeneration subtypes. The presence of intraretinal fluid was associated with worse visual prognosis, suggesting that patients with intraretinal fluid should be strongly warned about their poor prognosis before they decide to discontinue treatment.
Schwannoma of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve: A Rare Entity
Authors: de Heer Linda M. , van Berkhout Ferdinand Teding , Priesterbach-Ackley Loudy P. , Buijsrogge Marc P.
Published: January 2017

Neurogenic tumors are the most common posterior mediastinal tumors in adults. Schwannomas originating from the recurrent laryngeal nerve are rare. The present study describes a 46-year-old man with a tumor in the left superior mediastinum. Because of the narrow relationship with the aorta and the left pulmonary artery, the tumor was excised by left-sided minithoracotomy. The tumor, a schwannoma, originated from and encased the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. Six months after surgery, the patient was free of recurrence without symptoms other than hoarseness. “Additional imaging by magnetic resonance imaging could raise the probability of a neurogenic origin of the mass, eventually leading to collaboration with the neurosurgeon in this case.”
New insights into the gut as the driver of critical illness and organ failure
Authors: Meng Mei , Klingensmith Nathan J. , Coopersmith Craig M.
Published: January 2017

Purpose of review

The gut has long been hypothesized to be the ‘motor’ of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. This review serves as an update on new data elucidating the role of the gut as the propagator of organ failure in critical illness.

Recent findings

Under basal conditions, the gut absorbs nutrients and serves as a barrier that prevents approximately 40 trillion intraluminal microbes and their products from causing host injury. However, in critical illness, gut integrity is disrupted with hyperpermeability and increased epithelial apoptosis, allowing contamination of extraluminal sites that are ordinarily sterile. These alterations in gut integrity are further exacerbated in the setting of preexisting comorbidities. The normally commensal microflora is also altered in critical illness, with increases in microbial virulence and decreases in diversity, which leads to further pathologic responses within the host.

All components of the gut are adversely impacted by critical illness. Gut injury can not only propagate local damage, but can also cause distant injury and organ failure. Understanding how the multifaceted components of the gut interact and how these are perturbed in critical illness may play an important role in turning off the ‘motor’ of multiple organ dysfunction syndrome in the future.
Neonatal palliative care
Authors: Parravicini Elvira
Published: January 2017

Purpose of review

A significant number of newborns are affected by life-limiting or life-threatening conditions. When prolongation of survival is no longer a goal, or prognosis is uncertain, a plan of care focused on the infant's comfort is essential. The aim of this article is to review the most recent and relevant literature regarding neonatal palliative care (NPC).

Recent findings

A variety of perinatal and NPC programs are described, but most programs focus exclusively on end-of-life care. Moreover, there is a great need to standardize practices and obtain follow-up quality measures.

Guidelines to address infants’ basic needs, to achieve a state of comfort, are proposed. A multidisciplinary team addressing the infants’ medical and nonmedical needs, parental grieving process, and providers’ distress is recommended.

NPC is a unique multidisciplinary approach for the care of newborns affected by life-limiting or complex medical conditions with uncertain prognosis. Standardized guidelines should be implemented with the goal of achieving a state of comfort for newborns throughout the course of illness. Further studies are warranted to assess whether NPC effectively promotes newborns’ comfort and parents and providers’ satisfaction.