bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic engineering of carbon and redox flow in the production of small organic acids
Authors: Thakker Chandresh , Martínez Irene , Li Wei , San Ka-Yiu , Bennett George N
Published: December 2014

The review describes efforts toward metabolic engineering of production of organic acids. One aspect of the strategy involves the generation of an appropriate amount and type of reduced cofactor needed for the designed pathway. The ability to capture reducing power in the proper form, NADH or NADPH for the biosynthetic reactions leading to the organic acid, requires specific attention in designing the host and also depends on the feedstock used and cell energetic requirements for efficient metabolism during production. Recent work on the formation and commercial uses of a number of small mono- and diacids is discussed with redox differences, major biosynthetic precursors and engineering strategies outlined. Specific attention is given to those acids that are used in balancing cell redox or providing reduction equivalents for the cell, such as formate, which can be used in conjunction with metabolic engineering of other products to improve yields. Since a number of widely studied acids derived from oxaloacetate as an important precursor, several of these acids are covered with the general strategies and particular components summarized, including succinate, fumarate and malate. Since malate and fumarate are less reduced than succinate, the availability of reduction equivalents and level of aerobiosis are important parameters in optimizing production of these compounds in various hosts. Several other more oxidized acids are also discussed as in some cases, they may be desired products or their formation is minimized to afford higher yields of more reduced products. The placement and connections among acids in the typical central metabolic network are presented along with the use of a number of specific non-native enzymes to enhance routes to high production, where available alternative pathways and strategies are discussed. While many organic acids are derived from a few precursors within central metabolism, each organic acid has its own special requirements for high production and best compatibility with host physiology.
Effect of donor chimerism to reduce the level of glycosaminoglycans following bone marrow transplantation in a murine model of mucopolysaccharidosis type II
Authors: Yokoi Kentaro , Akiyama Kazumasa , Kaneshiro Eiko , Higuchi Takashi , Shimada Yohta , Kobayashi Hiroshi , Akiyama Masaharu , Otsu Makoto , Nakauchi Hiromitsu , Ohashi Toya , Ida Hiroyuki
Published: December 2014

Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by deficient activity of the iduronate‐2‐sulfatase. This leads to accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in the lysosomes of various cells. Although it has been proposed that bone marrow transplantation (BMT) may have a beneficial effect for patients with MPS II, the requirement for donor‐cell chimerism to reduce GAG levels is unknown. To address this issue, we transplanted various ratios of normal and MPS II bone marrow cells in a mouse model of MPS II and analyzed GAG accumulation in various tissues. Chimerism of whole leukocytes and each lineage of BMT recipients’ peripheral blood was similar to infusion ratios. GAGs were significantly reduced in the liver, spleen, and heart of recipients. The level of GAG reduction in these tissues depends on the percentage of normal‐cell chimerism. In contrast to these tissues, a reduction in GAGs was not observed in the kidney and brain, even if 100 % donor chimerism was achieved. These observations suggest that a high degree of chimerism is necessary to achieve the maximum effect of BMT, and donor lymphocyte infusion or enzyme replacement therapy might be considered options in cases of low‐level chimerism in MPS II patients.
Comparison of Acellular Nerve Allograft Modification with Schwann Cells or VEGF
Authors: Hoben Gwendolyn , Yan Ying , Iyer Nisha , Newton Piyaraj , Hunter Dan A. , Moore Amy M. , Sakiyama-Elbert Shelly E. , Wood Matthew D. , Mackinnon Susan E.
Published: December 2014

Background

Individual contributions of exogenous Schwann cells (SCs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were evaluated in acellular nerve allografts (ANAs). ANA processing removes SCs and vasculature, likely contributing to reduced regeneration compared to autografts. Exogenous SCs may improve the regenerative microenvironment, and VEGF has been shown to stimulate angiogenesis. Replacing these components in ANAs may improve regeneration.

Methods

A rat sciatic nerve transection model was used to study 20-mm grafts. Four graft types were studied: (1) isograft, (2) ANA, (3) ANA-SCs, and (4) ANA-VEGF. After 10 weeks in vivo, the midgraft and distal nerve to the grafts were analyzed for axonal regeneration using histomorphometry to assess total myelinated axon counts, density, width, and percent neural tissue.

Results

The most axons in the distal nerve were regenerated in the isograft followed by the ANA- SC group, with 9171±1822 and 7103±1576 regenerated axons respectively. Both the ANA and ANA-VEGF groups had significantly fewer regenerated axons compared to the isograft ( p<0.05) with 5225±2994 and 5709±2657 regenerated axons, respectively. The ANA and ANA-VEGF groups also had significantly reduced fiber density and percent nerve compared to the isograft; the isograft and ANA-SC groups were not significantly different ( p<0.05).

Conclusions

These results show that SCs improve axonal regeneration in a 20 mm ANA to a greater extent than VEGF. VEGF treatment showed a trend toward increased axonal regeneration but was not significantly different compared to the untreated ANA. The role of VEGF may be clearer in longer grafts where ischemia is a greater factor.
Risk factors of incomplete response to proton pump inhibitor therapy in patients with mild erosive esophagitis
Authors: Kao Sung‐Shuo , Wu Deng‐Chyang , Chuah Seng‐Kee , Kuo Chao‐Hung , Lu Ching‐Liang , Tai Wei‐Chen , Lai Kwok‐Hung , Chen Wen‐Chi , Tsay Feng‐Woei , Wang Huay‐Min , Tsai Tzung‐Jiun , Ling Kung‐Hung , Shih Chih‐An , Hsu Ping‐I
Published: December 2014

Background

Incomplete symptom resolution to proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy is a common problem in the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The aims of this study were (1) to examine the rate of incomplete symptom response following 8‐week PPI therapy in patients with mild erosive esophagitis (Los Angeles Grade A/B erosive esophagitis) and (2) to determine the independent factors predicting incomplete symptom response in patients with mild erosive esophagitis.

Methods

From January 2010 to July 2012, symptomatic GERD patients with endoscopic findings of Los Angeles Grade A or B erosive esophagitis were recruited for the study and received esomeprazole 40 mg daily for 8 weeks. The characteristics of eligible patients including clinical factors, endoscopic findings, Helicobacter pylori status, and CYP2C19 (cytochrome P450 2C19) genotype were checked on enrollment. Patients were asked to record symptoms with diary cards during the follow‐up period. The major outcome measurement was incomplete symptom response.

Results

In total, 232 patients (male/female, 126/106) participated in this study. Following 8‐week esomeprazole therapy, 50 (21.6%) of the patients had incomplete symptom response. Univariate analysis showed that sex, alcohol consumption, underlying diseases, regurgitation of food, chest pain, globus, and insomnia were associated with incomplete symptom response (p = 0.049, p = 0.006, p = 0.023, p = 0.010, p = 0.013, p = 0.009, and p < 0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis with stepwise logistic regression revealed that only globus [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.185–4.897; p = 0.015] and insomnia (95% CI: 1.289–3.018; p = 0.002) were independent risk factors for incomplete symptom response with odds ratio (OR) = 2.4 and OR = 2.0, respectively.

Conclusion

Of the patients with Los Angeles Grade A/B erosive esophagitis, 21.6% failed to have complete symptom resolution following 8‐week PPI therapy. Globus and insomnia are two independent factors predicting incomplete symptom response in patients with mild erosive esophagitis.
Información para la calidad del sistema de salud en Colombia: una propuesta de revisión basada en el modelo israelí
Authors: Jaramillo Mejía Marta Cecilia , Chernichovsky Dov
Published: December 2014

El objetivo del estudio es contribuir a mejorar la salud en Colombia mediante el desarrollo de un sistema nacional de indicadores de desempeño del sector salud. Para ello se utilizó un análisis descriptivo de datos secundarios de Colombia e Israel que, como Colombia, tiene un modelo de competencia regulada. Se observó que Israel tiene un sistema sencillo, pero eficaz, que incluye: indicadores de calidad y rendimiento previamente definidos y aceptados a nivel nacional; un mecanismo de supervisión, un proceso de comparación, para establecer buenas prácticas, y un mecanismo de difusión de estas prácticas. El modelo israelí puede ser fácilmente adaptado a Colombia, debido a la similitud de las estructura y a la naturaleza de los 2 sistemas.
Influence of birth cohort on age of onset cluster analysis in bipolar I disorder
Authors: Bauer M. , Glenn T. , Alda M. , Andreassen O.A. , Angelopoulos E. , Ardau R. , Baethge C. , Bauer R. , Bellivier F. , Belmaker R.H. , Berk M. , Bjella T.D. , Bossini L. , Bersudsky Y. , Cheung E.Y.W. , Conell J. , Del Zompo M. , Dodd S. , Etain B. , Fagiolini A. , Frye M.A. , Fountoulakis K.N. , Garneau-Fournier J. , Gonzalez-Pinto A. , Harima H. , Hassel S. , Henry C. , Iacovides A. , Isometsä E.T. , Kapczinski F. , Kliwicki S. , König B. , Krogh R. , Kunz M. , Lafer B. , Larsen E.R. , Lewitzka U. , Lopez-Jaramillo C. , MacQueen G. , Manchia M. , Marsh W. , Martinez-Cengotitabengoa M. , Melle I. , Monteith S. , Morken G. , Munoz R. , Nery F.G. , O’Donovan C. , Osher Y. , Pfennig A. , Quiroz D. , Ramesar R. , Rasgon N. , Reif A. , Ritter P. , Rybakowski J.K. , Sagduyu K. , Scippa A.M. , Severus E. , Simhandl C. , Stein D.J. , Strejilevich S. , Hatim Sulaiman A. , Suominen K. , Tagata H. , Tatebayashi Y. , Torrent C. , Vieta E. , Viswanath B. , Wanchoo M.J. , Zetin M. , Whybrow P.C.
Published: December 2014

Purpose:

Two common approaches to identify subgroups of patients with bipolar disorder are clustering methodology (mixture analysis) based on the age of onset, and a birth cohort analysis. This study investigates if a birth cohort effect will influence the results of clustering on the age of onset, using a large, international database.

Methods:

The database includes 4037 patients with a diagnosis of bipolar I disorder, previously collected at 36 collection sites in 23 countries. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to adjust the data for country median age, and in some models, birth cohort. Model-based clustering (mixture analysis) was then performed on the age of onset data using the residuals. Clinical variables in subgroups were compared.

Results:

There was a strong birth cohort effect. Without adjusting for the birth cohort, three subgroups were found by clustering. After adjusting for the birth cohort or when considering only those born after 1959, two subgroups were found. With results of either two or three subgroups, the youngest subgroup was more likely to have a family history of mood disorders and a first episode with depressed polarity. However, without adjusting for birth cohort (three subgroups), family history and polarity of the first episode could not be distinguished between the middle and oldest subgroups.

Conclusion:

These results using international data confirm prior findings using single country data, that there are subgroups of bipolar I disorder based on the age of onset, and that there is a birth cohort effect. Including the birth cohort adjustment altered the number and characteristics of subgroups detected when clustering by age of onset. Further investigation is needed to determine if combining both approaches will identify subgroups that are more useful for research.
Muslim Midwives
Authors: Giladi Avner
Published: December 2014

This book reconstructs the role of midwives in medieval to early modern Islamic history through a careful reading of a wide range of classical and medieval Arabic sources. The author casts the midwife's social status in premodern Islam as a privileged position from which she could mediate between male authority in patriarchal society and female reproductive power within the family. This study also takes a broader historical view of midwifery in the Middle East by examining the tensions between learned medicine (male) and popular, medico-religious practices (female) from early Islam into the Ottoman period and addressing the confrontation between traditional midwifery and Western obstetrics in the first half of the nineteenth century.
French Colonial Soldiers in German Captivity during World War II
Authors: Scheck Raffael
Published: December 2014

This book discusses the experience of nearly 100,000 French colonial prisoners of war captured by Nazi Germany during World War II. Raffael Scheck shows that the German treatment of French colonial soldiers improved dramatically after initial abuses, leading the French authorities in 1945 to believe that there was a possible German plot to instigate a rebellion in the French empire. Scheck illustrates that the colonial prisoners' contradictory experiences with French authorities, French civilians, and German guards created strong demands for equal rights at the end of the war, leading to clashes with a colonial administration eager to reintegrate them into a discriminatory routine.
The Other Saudis
Authors: Matthiesen Toby
Published: December 2014

Toby Matthiesen traces the politics of the Shia in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia from the nineteenth century until the present day. This book outlines the difficult experiences of being Shia in a Wahhabi state, and casts new light on how the Shia have mobilised politically to change their position. Shia petitioned the rulers, joined secular opposition parties and founded Islamist movements. Most Saudi Shia opposition activists profited from an amnesty in 1993 and subsequently found a place in civil society and the public sphere. However, since 2011 a new Shia protest movement has again challenged the state. The Other Saudis shows how exclusionary state practices created an internal Other and how sectarian discrimination has strengthened Shia communal identities. The book is based on little-known Arabic sources, extensive fieldwork in Saudi Arabia and interviews with key activists. Of immense geopolitical importance, the oil-rich Eastern Province is a crucial but little known factor in regional politics and Gulf security.
Ritual, Performance, and Politics in the Ancient Near East
Authors: Ristvet Lauren
Published: December 2014

In this book, Lauren Ristvet rethinks the narratives of state formation by investigating the interconnections between ritual, performance, and politics in the ancient Near East. She draws on a wide range of archaeological, iconographic, and cuneiform sources to show how ritual performance was not set apart from the real practice of politics; it was politics. Rituals provided an opportunity for elites and ordinary people to negotiate political authority. Descriptions of rituals from three periods explore the networks of signification that informed different societies. From circa 2600 to 2200 BC, pilgrimage made kingdoms out of previously isolated villages. Similarly, from circa 1900 to 1700 BC, commemorative ceremonies legitimated new political dynasties by connecting them to a shared past. Finally, in the Hellenistic period, the traditional Babylonian Akitu festival was an occasion for Greek-speaking kings to show that they were Babylonian and for Babylonian priests to gain significant power.
The Renaissance in Italy
Authors: Ruggiero Guido
Published: December 2014

This book offers a rich and exciting new way of thinking about the Italian Renaissance as both a historical period and a historical movement. Guido Ruggiero's work is based on archival research and new insights of social and cultural history and literary criticism, with a special emphasis on everyday culture, gender, violence and sexuality. The book offers a vibrant and relevant critical study of a period too long burdened by anachronistic and outdated ways of thinking about the past. Familiar, yet alien; pre-modern, but suggestively post-modern; attractive and troubling, this book returns the Italian Renaissance to center stage in our past and in our historical analysis.
The Computing Universe
Authors: Hey Tony , Pápay Gyuri
Published: December 2014

Computers now impact almost every aspect of our lives, from our social interactions to the safety and performance of our cars. How did this happen in such a short time? And this is just the beginning. In this book, Tony Hey and Gyuri Pápay lead us on a journey from the early days of computers in the 1930s to the cutting-edge research of the present day that will shape computing in the coming decades. Along the way, they explain the ideas behind hardware, software, algorithms, Moore's Law, the birth of the personal computer, the Internet and the Web, the Turing Test, Jeopardy's Watson, World of Warcraft, spyware, Google, Facebook and quantum computing. This book also introduces the fascinating cast of dreamers and inventors who brought these great technological developments into every corner of the modern world. This exciting and accessible introduction will open up the universe of computing to anyone who has ever wondered where his or her smartphone came from.
Energy and Spectrum Efficient Wireless Network Design
Authors: Miao Guowang , Song Guocong
Published: December 2014

Covering the fundamental principles and state-of-the-art cross-layer techniques, this practical guide provides the tools needed to design MIMO- and OFDM-based wireless networks that are both energy- and spectrum-efficient. Technologies are introduced in parallel for both centralized and distributed wireless networks to give you a clear understanding of the similarities and differences between their energy- and spectrum-efficient designs, which is essential for achieving the highest network energy saving without losing performance. Cutting-edge green cellular network design technologies, enabling you to master resource management for next-generation wireless networks based on MIMO and OFDM, and detailed real-world implementation examples are provided to guide your engineering design in both theory and practice. Whether you are a graduate student, a researcher or a practitioner in industry, this is an invaluable guide.
Ovid's Early Poetry
Authors: Thorsen Thea S.
Published: December 2014

Ovid is one of the greatest poets in the Classical tradition and Western literature. This book represents the most comprehensive study to date of his early output as a unified literary production. Firstly, the book proposes new ways of organising this part of Ovid's poetic career, the chronology of which is notoriously difficult to establish. Next, by combining textual criticism with issues relating to manuscript transmission, the book decisively counters arguments levelled against the authenticity of Heroides 15, which consequently allows for a revaluation of Ovid's early output. Furthermore, by focusing on the literary device of allusion, the book stresses the importance of Ovid's single Heroides 1-15 in relationship with his Amores I-III, Ars amatoria I-III and Remedia amoris. Finally, the book identifies three kinds of Ovidian poetics that are found in his early poetry and that point towards the works of myth and exile that followed in his later career.
How Social Movements Die
Authors: Davenport Christian
Published: December 2014

How do social movements die? Some explanations highlight internal factors like factionalization, whereas others stress external factors like repression. Christian Davenport offers an alternative explanation where both factors interact. Drawing on organizational, as well as individual-level, explanations, Davenport argues that social movement death is the outgrowth of a coevolutionary dynamic whereby challengers, influenced by their understanding of what states will do to oppose them, attempt to recruit, motivate, calm, and prepare constituents while governments attempt to hinder all of these processes at the same time. Davenport employs a previously unavailable database that contains information on a black nationalist/secessionist organization, the Republic of New Africa, and the activities of authorities in the US city of Detroit and state and federal authorities.
Just Satisfaction under the European Convention on Human Rights
Authors: Ichim Octavian
Published: December 2014

How effective is the European Court of Human Rights in dispensing justice? With over 17,000 judgments handed down, it is undoubtedly the most prolific international court but is it the most efficient when compensating the victims of a violation? This crucial but often overlooked question is the focus of this important new monograph which gives a clear, comprehensive and convincing demonstration of the negative impact, in terms of unpredictability and legal uncertainty, of the discretion used by the Court when it comes to the regime of reparation. It reveals the adverse influence of such a high discretion on the quality of its rulings - ultimately on the coherence of the system and on the Court's authority, and makes suggestions for improvement.
Access to Justice in Iran
Authors: Maranlou Sahar
Published: December 2014

This book offers a critical and in-depth analysis of access to justice from international and Islamic perspectives. Existing Western models have highlighted the mechanisms by which individuals can access justice; however, access to justice incorporates various conceptions of justice and of its users. This book evaluates the historical development of the justice sector in Iran and discusses issues including the performance of the justice sector, judicial independence, efficiency and accessibility, and normative protection, together with an analysis of barriers. It explores the legal empowerment of users, with a specific focus on women, and presents the findings of a survey study on the perceptions of Iranian women. This study is designed to focus on women's basic legal knowledge, their familiarity with legal procedure, perceptions of cultural barriers, issues that influence their preference for mechanisms of formal or alternative dispute solutions, and their level of satisfaction with their chosen courses of action.
The Structure and Performance of Euripides' Helen
Authors: Marshall C. W.
Published: December 2014

Using Euripides' play Helen as the main point of reference, C. W. Marshall's detailed study expands our understanding of Athenian tragedy and provides new interpretations of how Euripides created meaning in performance. Marshall focuses on dramatic structure to show how assumptions held by the ancient audience shaped meaning in Helen and to demonstrate how Euripides' play draws extensively on the satyr play Proteus, which was part of Aeschylus' Oresteia. Structure is presented not as a theoretical abstraction, but as a crucial component of the experience of performance, working with music, the chorus and the other plays in the tetralogy. Euripides' Andromeda in particular is shown to have resonances with Helen not previously described. Arguing that the role of the director is key, Marshall shows that the choices that a director can make about role doubling, gestures, blocking, humour, and masks play a crucial part in forming the meaning of Helen.
Credit to Capabilities
Authors: Sanyal Paromita
Published: December 2014

Credit to Capabilities focuses on the controversial topic of microcredit's impact on women's empowerment and, especially, on the neglected question of how microcredit transforms women's agency. Based on interviews with hundreds of economically and socially vulnerable women from peasant households, this book highlights the role of the associational mechanism - forming women into groups that are embedded in a vast network and providing the opportunity for face-to-face participation in group meetings - in improving women's capabilities. This book reveals the role of microcredit groups in fostering women's social capital, particularly their capacity of organizing collective action for public goods and for protecting women's welfare. It argues that, in the Indian context, microcredit groups are becoming increasingly important in rural civil societies. Throughout, the book maintains an analytical distinction between married women in male-headed households and women in female-headed households in discussing the potentials and the limitations of microcredit's social and economic impacts.
UNIVERSAL SUBGROUPS OF POLISH GROUPS
Authors: BEROS KONSTANTINOS A.
Published: December 2014

Given a class${\cal C}$of subgroups of a topological groupG, we say that a subgroup$H \in {\cal C}$is auniversal${\cal C}$subgroupofGif every subgroup$K \in {\cal C}$is a continuous homomorphic preimage ofH. Such subgroups may be regarded as complete members of${\cal C}$with respect to a natural preorder on the set of subgroups ofG. We show that for any locally compact Polish groupG, the countable powerGωhas a universalKσsubgroup and a universal compactly generated subgroup. We prove a weaker version of this in the nonlocally compact case and provide an example showing that this result cannot readily be improved. Additionally, we show that many standard Banach spaces (viewed as additive topological groups) have universalKσand compactly generated subgroups. As an aside, we explore the relationship between the classes ofKσand compactly generated subgroups and give conditions under which the two coincide.
GROUPES FINS
Authors: MILLIET CÉDRIC
Published: December 2014

We investigate some common points between stable structures and weakly small structures and define a structureMto befineif the Cantor-Bendixson rank of the topological space${S_\varphi }\left( {dc{l^{eq}}\left( A \right)} \right)$is an ordinal for every finite subsetAofMand every formula$\varphi \left( {x,y} \right)$wherexis of arity 1. By definition, a theory isfineif all its models are so. Stable theories and small theories are fine, and weakly minimal structures are fine. For any finite subsetAof a fine groupG, the traces on the algebraic closure$acl\left( A \right)$ofAof definable subgroups ofGover$acl\left( A \right)$which are boolean combinations of instances of an arbitrary fixed formula can decrease only finitely many times. An infinite field with a fine theory has no additive nor multiplicative proper definable subgroups of finite index, nor Artin-Schreier extensions.
DP-MINIMALITY: INVARIANT TYPES AND DP-RANK
Authors: SIMON PIERRE
Published: December 2014

This paper has two parts. In the first one, we prove that an invariant dp-minimal type is either finitely satisfiable or definable. We also prove that a definable version of the (p,q)-theorem holds in dp-minimal theories of small or medium directionality.

In the second part, we study dp-rank in dp-minimal theories and show that it enjoys many nice properties. It is continuous, definable in families and it can be characterised geometrically with no mention of indiscernible sequences. In particular, if the structure expands a divisible ordered abelian group, then dp-rank coincides with the dimension coming from the order.
GENERIC AUTOMORPHISMS WITH PRESCRIBED FIXED FIELDS
Authors: AFSHORDEL BIJAN
Published: December 2014

This article addresses the question which structures occur as fixed structures of stable structures with a generic automorphism. In particular we give a Galois theoretic characterization. Furthermore, we prove that any pseudofinite field is the fixed field of some model ofACFA, any one-free pseudo-differentially closed field of characteristic zero is the fixed field of some model ofDCFA, and that any one-free PAC field of finite degree of imperfection is the fixed field of some model ofSCFA.
Wheat bran extract alters colonic fermentation and microbial composition, but does not affect faecal water toxicity: a randomised controlled trial in healthy subjects
Authors: Windey Karen , De Preter Vicky , Huys Geert , Broekaert Willem F. , Delcour Jan A. , Louat Thierry , Herman Jean , Verbeke Kristin
Published: December 2014

Wheat bran extract (WBE), containing arabinoxylan-oligosaccharides that are potential prebiotic substrates, has been shown to modify bacterial colonic fermentation in human subjects and to beneficially affect the development of colorectal cancer (CRC) in rats. However, it is unclear whether these changes in fermentation are able to reduce the risk of developing CRC in humans. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of WBE on the markers of CRC risk in healthy volunteers, and to correlate these effects with colonic fermentation. A total of twenty healthy subjects were enrolled in a double-blind, cross-over, randomised, controlled trial in which the subjects ingested WBE (10 g/d) or placebo (maltodextrin, 10 g/d) for 3 weeks, separated by a 3-week washout period. At the end of each study period, colonic handling of NH3was evaluated using the biomarker lactose[15N,15N′]ureide, colonic fermentation was characterised through a metabolomics approach, and the predominant microbial composition was analysed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. As markers of CRC risk, faecal water genotoxicity was determined using the comet assay and faecal water cytotoxicity using a colorimetric cell viability assay. Intake of WBE induced a shift from urinary to faecal15N excretion, indicating a stimulation of colonic bacterial activity and/or growth. Microbial analysis revealed a selective stimulation ofBifidobacterium adolescentis. In addition, WBE altered the colonic fermentation pattern and significantly reduced colonic protein fermentation compared with the run-in period. However, faecal water cytotoxicity and genotoxicity were not affected. Although intake of WBE clearly affected colonic fermentation and changed the composition of the microbiota, these changes were not associated with the changes in the markers of CRC risk.
The Identity of Indiscernibles
Authors: Wreen Michael
Published: December 2014

A number of distinctions are needed to assess The Identity of Indiscernibles. The first concerns its purported status as true or, more strongly, necessarily true. The second concerns the nature of the properties the principle ranges over. One way to divide up properties is in terms of those that entail the existence of a particular object, those that entail the existence of an object but no particular object, and those that don't entail the existence of an object at all. A second way is divide up properties is in terms of ‘indicative’ and ‘counterfactual’ properties. Combining these three distinctions yields twelve different versions of the Identity of Indiscernibles. In the long run, however, four more are needed to do the principle justice. Sixteen different versions of the principle, then, need to be, and in this paper are, assessed. Particular attention is paid to methodology and to constraints on the generation of properties needed to support various versions of the principle. Bottom-up reasoning is found sufficient to vindicate the great majority of them, but there does not appear to be a good bottom-up or top-down argument for the two most interesting and important versions of the Identity of Indiscernibles, and there is some reason to think both false. An open mind needs to be kept, however, for definitively establishing or refuting them probably requires a relatively complete and plausible metaphysics.
Closeness to singularities of robotic manipulators measured by characteristic angles
Authors: Bu Wanghui
Published: December 2014

Singularities have a great influence on kinematics and dynamics of both serial and parallel robots. In order to prevent a robot from entering singular configurations, it needs to measure the “distance” between the robot current configuration and the singular configuration. This paper presents a novel approach based on characteristic angles to measure closeness to singularities. For the problem of inconsistent dimensions in the scalar product of screws, the physical meanings of twists and wrenches are reinterpreted. For the problem of the metric invariant to origin selection, the origin of the screw frame is required to coincide with the origin of the robotic tool frame. The major merit of the proposed metric lies in the identical result of measuring similar mechanisms with different sizes. Moreover, the measurement is insensitive to screw magnitude, since the metric expression is dimensionless. Furthermore, the geometrical meaning of the determinant of a screw matrix is clarified.
Differential Diagnosis of Parkinsonism
Authors: Stoessl A. Jon , Rivest Jean
Published: December 2014

The diagnosis of Parkinson's disease is predominantly clinical, based on a combination of the cardinal features of tremor, bradykinesia and rigidity. The differential essentially lies between other conditions resulting in tremor, of which essential tremor is the commonest, and other akinetic-rigid syndromes. These include progressive supranuclear palsy, multiple system atrophy, toxins and other degenerative disorders, including diffuse Lewy body disease and corticobasal degeneration. The key clinical features of these disorders and a practical diagnostic approach are briefly reviewed in this article.
Etiology of Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Stoessl A. Jon
Published: December 2014

Controversy over the etiology and pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) has continued for many years and while the details have changed, the uncertainty persists. Although heritability was most emphatically refuted a decade ago by many investigators, recent progress firmly indicates that genetic factors at least play a role, although probably to a variable degree from one individual to another. Evidence for a variety of other etiological factors is amassed from epidemiological studies, animal models, molecular and cellular biology. Genetic factors, infectious and immunological abnormalities, the effects of ageing, toxins (endogenous as well as exogenous) and other environmental factors may all contribute to the development of PD. Loss of nigral dopaminergic neurons may be mediated by varying combinations of oxidative free radical toxicity, impaired mitochondrial function, “weak excitotoxicity” and abnormal handling of cytoskeletal proteins, all of which may shift the balance regulating apoptotic cell death.
Parkinson's Disease - Levodopa Complications
Authors: King David B.
Published: December 2014

Parkinson's disease is a readily recognized clinical syndrome, characterized by resting tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia and loss of postural reflexes. The introduction of levodopa transformed our management of this disease. As our experience has increased the long term side effects of levodopa have become more apparent. Levodopa complications comprise: wearing off, motor fluctuations, and psychiatric complications. The complexity of these clinical phenomena has been worked out with time and is now well-recognized. A number of management strategies can ameliorate these long-term complications. This article reviews the current management of late-stage Parkinson's disease.
Ropinirole and Pramipexole, the New Agonists
Authors: Hobson Douglas E. , Pourcher Emmanuelle , Martin W.R. Wayne
Published: December 2014

Ropinirole and pramipexole are non-ergoline dopamine agonists which are relatively specific for the D2 family of dopamine receptors. They have side-effect profiles linked to peripheral and central dopaminergic stimulation, amenable to tolerance through a slow titration or the addition of domperidone in sensitive patients. They do not have the uncommon but problematic ergot-related side effects of bromocriptine and pergolide. Ropinirole and pramipexole have both been shown to be efficacious when used as monotherapy in early Parkinson's disease (PD), and have been suggested as being less likely than levodopa to lead to the early development of motor fluctuations and dyskinesias in this clinical setting. They have also been shown to be useful as adjunctive therapy to levodopa in advanced PD and to have a levodopa-sparing effect in these patients. Dose equivalents amongst the available dopamine agonists is difficult to know with certainty but has been estimated as follows: 30 mg of bromocriptine, 15 mg of ropinirole, 4.5 mg of pramipexole, and 3.0 mg of pergolide
Treatment of Early Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Grimes David A. , Lang Anthony E.
Published: December 2014

The early treatment of Parkinson's disease continues to be controversial as our understanding of the etiology of the disease remains incomplete. Ideally an intervention that reverses or protects against further damage to dopaminergic neurons would be initiated once the symptoms of the disease are recognized. Unfortunately, there are no currently available therapies that have been shown to have a major impact on the progression of the disease. However, delaying effective symptomatic therapy beyond a point of significant disability does result in increased mortality. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential toxicity of levodopa on remaining nigral neurons. Although there is little support for this concept, levodopa is associated with important complications. The development of new symptomatic treatments has made the management of early Parkinson's disease even more complex and requires that many different factors be considered prior to initiating therapy in an attempt to minimize current and future disability caused by the disease and its treatment.
Clinical Psychology Issues in Migraine Headaches
Authors: McGrath Patrick J.
Published: December 2014

The important developments in our understanding and harnessing the biology of migraine have not diminished the need to consider the psychology of migraine. Psychological treatments especially relaxation training and biofeedback have been well validated as effective in treating frequent migraine. When the frequency and severity of migraine warrants more than analgesics, these treatments are the first line treatment for adults who cannot or do not wish to take abortive or prophylactic medications and for adolescents. The use of psychological interventions to enhance compliance to treatment or treatment effects is an underutilized resource. Psychological measurement is also critical in development and understanding of quality of life scales and the examination of decision-making by patients in taking medication. Modern clinical psychology has much to offer in the study of migraine and the amelioration of suffering from this common problem.
Endovascular Occlusion of Basilar Bifurcation Aneurysms With Electrolytically Detachable Coils
Authors: Redekop Gary , Willinsky Robert , Montanera Walter , TerBrugge Karel , Tymianski Michael , Wallace M. Christopher
Published: December 2014

Object:

To describe the clinical and angiographic results of endovascular occlusion of basilar bifurcation aneurysms with electrolytically detachable coils, and to identify factors which should be considered in deciding upon surgical or endovascular treatment.

Methods:

We report our experience with 40 patients in whom occlusion of basilar bifurcation aneurysms with electrolytically detachable coils was attempted. All patients underwent superselective angiography and attempted embolization with Guglielmi detachable coils (GDCs). Angiographic and clinical results were prospectively recorded. Twenty-eight aneurysms presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), 2 were symptomatic and 10 were incidental.

Results:

Coils were not placed in 10 patients (25%) because of unfavorable anatomy. Complete aneurysm occlusion was achieved at the time of the initial procedure in 13 (32.5%), small neck remnants were present in 13 (32.5%), and in 4 (10.0%) there was obvious residual contrast filling of the aneurysm body. Of 23 patients successfully coiled after SAH, 20 were Grade 1 to 3 and 3 were grade 4 or 5 at the time of treatment. Eighteen (78%) made a good recovery. Procedural mortality was 2.5% and permanent morbidity was 7.5%. There were no permanent complications in patients with unruptured aneurysms. Complete aneurysm occlusion was possible in 10 (56%) of 18 aneurysms with small necks and 3 (14%) of 22 with large necks. Follow-up angiography in 25 of 28 surviving patients (mean, 12 months) demonstrated stability of all completely occluded aneurysms. Incompletely coiled aneurysms had variable results on follow-up angiograms: 15.4% improved, 69.2% worsened, and 15.4% were stable. No aneurysm bled after treatment during clinical follow-up averaging 22 months.

Conclusion:

Endovascular treatment of basilar bifurcation aneurysms appears to prevent early aneurysm rebleeding with acceptable rates of morbidity and mortality, but long-term follow-up is required.
Clinical and Electrophysiological Study in French-Canadian Population with Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease Type 1A Associated with 17p11.2 Duplication
Authors: Dupré Nicolas , Bouchard Jean-Pierre , Cossette Louise , Brunet Denis , Vanasse Michel , Lemieux Benard , Mathon Gilles , Puymirat Jack
Published: December 2014

Background:

The aim of the present study was to examine the frequency and the phenotypic manifestations in a French-Canadian population with a chromosome 17p11.2 duplication (Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A, CMT-1A).

Methods:

Molecular analysis were performed by Southern blot using pVAW409R3a probe. Clinical evaluation was carried out according to the scale defined by the European HMSN Consortium.

Results:

The frequency of duplication was found to be similar in the adult (70.8%) and pediatric (72.7%) populations. Onset of symptoms occurred before 20 years of age in 85.7% of adult cases and before the age of 5 in 80% of the pediatric cases. The classical CMT syndrome was observed in 77% of the cases and the syndrome was associated with additional features in 15% of cases in the adult population. All the children presented with classical CMT syndrome with no additional features. There was a significant correlation between the disability score and the duration of the disease but no correlation was found between median nerve conduction velocity and the functional handicap, the age at onset or the duration of the disease. In one family, there was a very conspicuous anticipation over five observed generations.

Conclusion:

This study reveals that the age at onset, the clinical and electrophysiological variability as well as the functional disability variations in a French-Canadian population did not differ from those reported in other populations.
Pseudo-Myasthenia Gravis and Thymic Hyperplasia in Graves’ Disease
Authors: Nicolle Michael W.
Published: December 2014

Background:

Diagnostic confusion between thyroid disease and myasthenia gravis (MG) can arise because the two may have similar clinical features, and also because of the more frequent coexistence of these autoimmune disorders in the same individual. In MG, autoantibodies directed against the acetylcholine receptor result in muscle weakness. Thymic pathology is well recognized in MG, with thymic hyperplasia frequent in early onset MG and thymoma more common in later onset MG. In Graves’ disease, autoantibodies against thyroid antigens result in hyperthyroidism. A seldom-recognized feature of Grave’s disease is the occurrence of an enlarged thymus (thymic hyperplasia) on chest CT, or of thymic lymphoid hyperplasia pathologically.

Case study:

This report describes a case in which the discovery of a mediastinal mass during imaging of the thyroid, and the presence of myasthenic-like symptoms, in a patient with Graves’ disease prompted investigations into whether the patient also had MG.

Results:

Despite symptoms which strongly suggested MG, subsequent investigations did not confirm the diagnosis, and treatment of Grave’s lead to a resolution of the symptoms and regression of the thymic enlargement seen on CT.

Conclusion:

The case study highlighted clinical similarities between Grave’s disease and myasthenia gravis which might cause diagnostic confusion, and also the investigations which are useful in order to differentiate the two diseases. In addition to common clinical features, the autoimmune diseases Grave’s disease and myasthenia gravis may both produce radiological thymic enlargement.
Isolated Trigeminal Neuropathy due to Trigeminal Nerve Root Hemorrhage
Authors: Almeida S. , Chalk C. , Minuk J. , Carpio R. Del , Guerin M. , Levental M.
Published: December 2014

Background:

Isolated trigeminal neuropathy is uncommon; causes include trauma, inflammation, or neoplasm.

Methods:

We report a patient who fell and struck his head during a myocardial infarction, was treated with streptokinase, and developed symptoms and signs of an isolated trigeminal sensory neuropathy.

Results:

Imaging showed hemorrhage in the trigeminal nerve root; follow-up imaging showed resolution of the hemorrhage, but no underlying structural lesion.

Conclusion:

A combination of head trauma plus thrombolysis resulted in an isolated trigeminal neuropathy.
Ganglioglioneurocytoma of the Posterior Fossa
Authors: Alkhani Ahmed M. , Bilbao Juan M. , Medline Paul , Ogundimu Fadegbola A.
Published: December 2014

Objective and Importance:

Ganglioglioneurocytoma is not yet a well defined clinical and histopathological entity; recent reports outline the histopathological features of this very rare trimorphous tumor, under different names with its basic components of gangliocytoma, neurocytoma and glioma. Four previous reports described this tumor in eleven patients. This is the first case report describing ganglioglioneurocytoma in the posterior fossa.

Clinical Presentation and Intervention:

A 31-year old male with midline posterior fossa ganglioglioneurocytoma is described, providing the neuroimages and histopathological studies.

Conclusion:

Ganglioglioneurocytoma is a rare mixed neuronal and glial tumor that can also occur in the posterior fossa.
Acute Quadriplegic Myopathy Unrelated to Steroids or Paralyzing Agents: Quantitative EMG Studies
Authors: Höke Ahmet , Zochodne Douglas W. , Rewcastle N. B.
Published: December 2014

Background:

Quadriplegic myopathy (QM) and its variants generally are described in critically ill patients who are exposed to steroids and nondepolarizing muscle blocking agents (NDMBAs).

Methods:

A patient with sepsis who was not exposed to steroids or an NDMBA infusion developed QM and was studied using serial quantitative electromyography.

Results:

Clinical and electrophysiological studies identified evidence of a severe myopathy and muscle biopsy showed necrosis, calcifications and selective loss of myosin filaments in non-necrotic fibers. Her clinical recovery paralleled rises in motor unit action potential (MUAP) amplitudes studied by serial automatic decomposition electromyography (ADEMG).

Conclusion:

QM can develop with sepsis and without significant exposure to steroids and NDMBAs. ADEMG can be a useful tool in electrophysiological evaluation of critically ill patients with weakness.