bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stent-assisted coil embolization of a recurrent posterior cerebral artery aneurysm following surgical clipping
Authors: Takeshita Tomonori , Nagamine Tomoaki , Ishihara Kohei , Kaku Yasuhiko
Published: December 2016

Posterior cerebral artery (PCA) aneurysms are rare, and direct surgery of these is considered difficult. Coil embolization of PCA aneurysms is becoming popular. However, it is difficult to completely obliterate the aneurysm while preserving the flow of the parent artery in large or giant PCA aneurysms with a wide neck with this technique. We report a case of a large and wide-necked PCA aneurysm with multiple recurrences following successful surgical clipping and coil embolization.

A 77-year-old man with a large unruptured right PCA (P2) aneurysm was successfully treated by surgical clipping. Postoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) showed complete aneurismal occlusion. Four years afterward, the aneurysm recurred and grew toward the contralateral. Surgical retreatment of this complicated aneurysm was considered difficult, with a substantial risk of complications. Therefore, the aneurysm was treated with an endovascular procedure. Because simple coil embolization was not expected to achieve satisfactory obliteration of the aneurysm with preservation of parent artery patency, we used stent-assisted coil embolization. The patient tolerated the treatment well. On DSA obtained six months after the first endovascular treatment, coil compaction and recanalization of the aneurysm were detected. A second coil embolization was successfully performed without any complications. The aneurysm was stable during the next six-month follow-up. Stent-assisted coil embolization may be feasible and effective for such postoperatively complicated aneurysms.
Maintenance therapy in multiple myeloma
Authors: Mewawalla Prerna , Chilkulwar Abhishek
Published: December 2016

Despite recent advances, multiple myeloma remains an incurable disease. Induction therapy followed by autologous transplantation has become the standard of care. The idea of maintenance therapy in multiple myeloma is not new. Starting with chemotherapy in 1975, to interferon in 1998, to novel agents recently, a multitude of agents have been explored in patients with multiple myeloma. In spite of the novel agents, multiple myeloma continues to be an incurable disease with the progression-free survival after autologous transplant rarely exceeding 3 years. The goal of using maintenance therapy has been to improve the outcomes following autologous transplantation by increasing the progression-free survival, deepening remissions and perhaps increasing overall survival. It has been shown that patients with a stringent complete response (CR) have a better outcome [Kapoor et al. 2013]. It is becoming increasingly common to check minimal residual disease (MRD) as a means of assessing depth of response. It has also been shown that patients with no MRD have not only a better progression-free survival but also a better overall survival compared with patients who are MRD positive. This makes it even more important to find agents for maintenance therapy, which can further deepen and maintain responses. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the agents studied as maintenance for multiple myeloma and their efficacy, both in terms of overall survival, progression-free survival and toxicity.
A wearable soft-robotic glove enables hand support in ADL and rehabilitation: A feasibility study on the assistive functionality
Authors: Radder Bob , Prange-Lasonder Gerdienke B , Kottink Anke IR , Gaasbeek Liesbeth , Holmberg Johnny , Meyer Thomas , Melendez-Calderon Alejandro , Ingvast Johan , Buurke Jaap H , Rietman Johan S
Published: December 2016

Background

Elderly people frequently experience a decline in hand function, due to ageing or diseases. This leads to decreased independence in activities of daily living (ADL). Assistive technology may enhance independence.

Objectives

The objective of this paper was to explore user acceptance of an affordable wearable soft-robotic glove (ironHand (iH) system), that supports grip and hand opening in ADL. In addition, functional performance with the iH system was explored.

Methods

For this study 28 elderly people used the iH system across two sessions. During these sessions, participants performed six functional tasks with and without the iH system. Outcome measures were System Usability Scale (SUS), Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (IMI) and performance time of the functional tasks.

Results

User acceptance scored highly, with a mean SUS score of at least 63.4 (SD = 19.0) and a mean IMI score of 5.1 points (SD = 0.97 points). Functional task performance improved across repetitions both with and without the glove ( p ≤ 0.017), but all functional tasks were performed faster without the glove ( p ≤ 0.032).

Conclusion

Participants perceived the iH system as useful, pleasant and meaningful. The learning curve in functional performance time (improvements across repetitions) is promising, since it suggests there is room for improved performance when a longer acquaintance period is applied.
The effect of ‘device-in-charge’ versus ‘patient-in-charge’ support during robotic gait training on walking ability and balance in chronic stroke survivors: A systematic review
Authors: Haarman Juliet AM , Reenalda Jasper , Buurke Jaap H , van der Kooij Herman , Rietman Johan S
Published: December 2016

This review describes the effects of two control strategies – used in robotic gait-training devices for chronic stroke survivors – on gait speed, endurance and balance. Control strategies are classified as ‘patient-in-charge support’, where the device ‘empowers’ the patient, and ‘device-in-charge support’, where the device imposes a pre-defined movement trajectory on the patient. Studies were collected up to 24 June 2015 and were included if they presented robotic gait training in chronic stroke survivors and used outcome measures that were indexed by the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. In total, 11 articles were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the PEDro scale. Outcome measures were walking speed, endurance and balance. Pooled mean differences between pre and post measurements were calculated. No differences were found between studies that used device-in-charge support and patient-in-charge support. Training effects were small for both groups of control strategies, and none were considered to be clinically relevant as defined by the Minimal Clinically Important Difference. However, an important confounder is the short training duration among all included studies. As control strategies in robotic gait training are rapidly evolving, future research should take the recommendations that are made in this review into account.
Utility of photodynamic therapy for the management of oral potentially malignant disorders and oral cancer
Authors: Andreadis Dimitrios , Pavlou Achilleia-Maria , Sotiriou Eleni , Vrani Fani , Ioannides Dimitrios , Kolokotronis Alexandros
Published: December 2016

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), defined as “the light-induced inactivation of cells, microorganisms, or molecules,” combines the use of a photosensitive agent or photosensitizer (PS) activated by irradiation with a light source to produce reactive oxygen species and highly reactive singlet oxygen. PDT has been used for the treatment of different oral diseases with promising results. This review describes the basic principles of PDT, including the nature of PS and the light sources, and focuses on evaluating the efficacy of this method, according to the existing data, for the treatment of different oral diseases. PubMed was used as the source of the relevant literature, about the clinical application of PDT in actinic cheilitis (AC), leukoplakia, oral lichen planus, oral lichenoid lesions, and oral cancer. Complete response to PDT as high as 100% has been reported not only in cases of AC but also in dysplasias/carcinomas in situ, T1N0, and T2N0. According to the available data, PDT appears to be a safe, well-tolerated therapy with limited adverse effects and excellent cosmetic outcome. Although PDT is a very promising therapy, further research is needed in order to investigate the cases that fail to respond, to examine the long-term prognosis for cases of reported complete response and thus avoid the future recurrence of diseases.
Effect of comorbidities on the management and prognosis in patients with oral cancer
Authors: Yang Yi-Hsin , Warnakulasuriya Saman
Published: December 2016

Background:

The presence of comorbidities may play an important role in the way treatment plans are developed for management of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and impact of comorbidities in a retrospective nationwide population-based study of patients with oral cavity cancers.

Material and methods:

A total of 16,676 oral cavity cancer patients diagnosed in the period 2007–2010 were identified through the Taiwan Cancer Registry database. By linking this data set to the National Health Insurance Research Database and the death registry, information on comorbidity and cause of death was obtained and adapted to the Charlson’s comorbidity index. The influence of comorbidity on overall survival and cancer-related death was evaluated by Kaplan–Meier estimates and Cox regressions.

Results:

In total, 21.3% of patients had some comorbidity during the year before cancer diagnosis. Diabetes mellitus was found to be the most common comorbidity (10%). Methods of management were significantly different in patients with stages 2, 3 and 4 of the disease. Those with severe comorbidity conditions received less surgical interventions (5–13%) compared with the patients without any comorbidity. Differences in the survival rates were only significant in all-cause death, but not in cancer-related death in the early stages (stages 1 and 2). Two-year survival rates for patients with severe comorbidity conditions were lower by 10–22% given the same stage of disease and treatment modality.

Conclusion:

The survival rates of oral cancer patients in early stages are lower in patients with comorbidity conditions and this may be due to the less aggressive cancer treatment offered to this group of patients. Comorbidities affect the decision on cancer treatment modality and thereby outcomes.
Myocardial Bridge and Acute Plaque Rupture
Authors: Perl Leor , Daniels David , Schwartz Jonathan , Tanaka Shige , Yeung Alan , Tremmel Jennifer A. , Schnittger Ingela
Published: December 2016

A myocardial bridge (MB) is a common anatomic variant, most frequently located in the left anterior descending coronary artery, where a portion of the coronary artery is covered by myocardium. Importantly, MBs are known to result in a proximal atherosclerotic lesion. It has recently been postulated that these lesions predispose patients to acute coronary events, even in cases of otherwise low-risk patients. One such mechanism may involve acute plaque rupture. In this article, we report 2 cases of patients with MBs who presented with acute coronary syndromes despite having low cardiovascular risk. Their presentation was life-risking and both were treated urgently and studied with coronary angiographies and intravascular ultrasound. This latter modality confirmed a rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque proximal to the MB as a likely cause of the acute events. These cases, of unexplained acute coronary syndrome in low-risk patients, raise the question of alternative processes leading to the event and the role MB play as an underlying cause of ruptured plaques. In some cases, an active investigation for this entity may be warranted, due to the prognostic implications of the different therapeutic modalities, should an MB be discovered.
Characterizing Patients with Very-Low-Level HIV Viremia: A Community-Based Study
Authors: Helou Elie , Shenoi Sheela , Kyriakides Tassos , Landry Marie-Louise , Kozal Michael , Barakat Lydia Aoun
Published: December 2016

Objective:

Very-low-level viremia (VLLV) is a relatively new concept in the realm of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care. Newer generation assays are now able to detect plasma HIV RNA Viral Load (VL) levels as low as 20 copies/mL. The authors characterized patients with VLLV (VL between 20 and 50 copies/mL) in order to identify possible risk factors associated with virologic failure and poor clinical outcomes.

Methods:

The authors reviewed 119 consecutive charts of patients with VLLV. Sociodemographic data were extracted and viral load and CD4 counts were trended over a 12 month period (February 2013-February 2014). Regression analysis was used to assess the role of different factors on virologic failure at 1 year.

Results:

Of the study participants with evaluable data (n = 100), the median age was 53 years (interquartile range: 43-57.5), 67% were nonwhite, 34% were women, 58% were smokers, 47% were alcoholics, 58% had a history of intravenous drug use, and 40% were coinfected with hepatitis C virus. More than half of the participants had 3 or more comorbidities and their HIV pill burden was high (more than 2 pills daily). After 12 months, 65 participants achieved undetectable viral load levels, whereas 15 experienced virologic failure (2 consecutive viral loads > 50 copies/mL) and the remaining 20 had persistent VLLV. In the virologic failure group, there was a predominance of white males (66%) with a significant number of comorbidities and pill burden. Univariate logistic regression suggested that there was a difference between the failure versus nonfailure groups in terms of race, ethnicity, and alcohol use. Multivariate regression with virological failure as the outcome suggested a trend only in terms of participant’s alcohol use.

Conclusion:

Most patients with initial VLLV (70%) achieved virologic suppression at 1 year with no antiretroviral therapy changes. Thus, VLLV does not necessarily predict virologic failure and should not prompt more frequent clinic visits or antiretroviral regimen changes. Further research is needed in order to determine the predictors of virologic failure in this subset of patients and the clinicians’ attitude toward VLLV.
Shout-It-Now: A Mobile HCT Model Employing Technology and Edutainment in South Africa
Authors: Daniels Joseph , Komarek Arnost , Forgreive Bruce , Pahl Kathryn , Stafford Stephen , Bruns Laurie Campbell , Coates Thomas
Published: December 2016

Background:

Mobile HIV counseling and testing (HCT) has been effective in reaching men, women, and adolescents in South Africa. However, there is limited understanding of effective mobile HCT programs utilizing tools like technology and edutainment to increase HIV counseling and testing rates. The authors examine data from the Shout-It-Now (S-N) program that uses such tools in South Africa.

Methods:

The S-N program utilizes various forms of technology and ongoing telephonic counseling within a 6-step program of HIV testing and linkage-to-care support, and program data were analyzed over an 18-month period. Data were analyzed from women, men, and adolescent program participants. Summative statistics was conducted on participant registration, HIV risk assessment, and HIV testing profiles. HIV prevalence were estimated along with the related 95% confidence intervals using the Clopper-Pearson method.

Results:

Over an 18-month period, there were 72 220 program participants with high representation of men, women, and adolescents and 40% of the participants being men at each site. There were 3343 participants who tested HIV positive, and a higher proportion of women tested positive.

Discussion:

Integrating technology, quality assurance measures, and edutainment with mobile HCT has the potential to increase the number of those who test within communities. Research is needed to understand the effectiveness of this model in facilitating regular testing and linkage to care.
Experiences of noninvasive ventilation in adults with hypercapnic respiratory failure: a review of evidence
Authors: Ngandu Hamadziripi , Gale Nichola , Hopkinson Jane B.
Published: December 2016

Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) has been shown to be beneficial for patients with respiratory failure; however, many patients fail to tolerate it and require other interventions. The objective of this thematic synthesis was to describe the nature of NIV experiences in adults with hypercapnic respiratory failure. A systematic, computerised literature search of English-language databases was undertaken with no restriction on date of publication. A total of 99 papers was identified and screened for eligibility from databases including CINAHL, Medline and PsycINFO, and some were hand searched. 45 papers were critically appraised and 32 met our inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis identified six key themes: benefits of NIV; fear (of various categories, namely, fear of technology/mask, fear of death and dying, and fear of pain and suffering); adaptation to NIV machine; decision making; need for information; and relationship with healthcare professionals. For people using NIV treatment, the experience of being on the NIV machine is unexpected and can be stressful. Findings from this review offer healthcare professionals insights and understanding into the patient experience of NIV. Healthcare professionals may use these findings to implement new strategies in NIV provision and the exploration of the applicability of age-specific supportive care NIV guidelines.
Practical considerations for therapies targeting the prostacyclin pathway
Authors: Farber Harrison W. , Gin-Sing Wendy
Published: December 2016

Therapies that target the prostacyclin pathway play a key role in the treatment of both early- and late-stage pulmonary arterial hypertension, and provide significant clinical benefits for patients. A number of agents have been approved, which are administeredviaintravenous, subcutaneous, inhaled or oral routes. The use of these therapies is associated with practical challenges, relating to the need for up-titration and their routes of administration. We discuss here a number of measures that can be taken to support patients and healthcare professionals in order to address the complexities of using these therapies and to encourage compliance. Providing patients with timely information and education, together with practical advice on managing their medication and associated equipment, assists patients with day-to-day management of therapy. Referral to patient associations and support groups can be of further benefit. With an effective management plan and an experienced multidisciplinary team, the use of therapies that target the prostacyclin pathway can be optimised.
Pulmonary hypertension: the importance of correctly diagnosing the cause
Authors: Mehta Sanjay , Vachiéry Jean-Luc
Published: December 2016

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a complex condition that can occur as a result of a wide range of disorders, including left heart disease, lung disease and chronic pulmonary thromboembolism. Contemporary PH patients are older and frequently have a multitude of comorbidities that may contribute to or simply coincide with their PH. Identifying the cause of PH in these complicated patients can be challenging but is essential, given that the aetiology of the disease has a significant impact on the management options available. In this article, we present two cases that highlight the difficulties involved in obtaining a precise diagnosis of the cause of PH within the setting of multiple comorbidities. The importance of performing a comprehensive, multidimensional diagnostic work-up is demonstrated, in addition to the need to specifically consider cardiopulmonary haemodynamic data in the context of the wider clinical picture. The article also illustrates why achieving an accurate diagnosis is necessary for optimal patient management. This may involve treatment of comorbidities as a priority, which can ameliorate the severity of PH, obviating the need to consider PH-targeted medical treatment.
The Lair: a resource for exploratory analysis of published RNA-Seq data
Authors: Pimentel Harold , Sturmfels Pascal , Bray Nicolas , Melsted Páll , Pachter Lior
Published: December 2016

Increased emphasis on reproducibility of published research in the last few years has led to the large-scale archiving of sequencing data. While this data can, in theory, be used to reproduce results in papers, it is difficult to use in practice. We introduce a series of tools for processing and analyzing RNA-Seq data in the Sequence Read Archive, that together have allowed us to build an easily extendable resource for analysis of data underlying published papers. Our system makes the exploration of data easily accessible and usable without technical expertise. Our database and associated tools can be accessed at The Lair: http://pachterlab.github.io/lair.
Mesenchymal stem cells/multipotent stromal cells (MSCs) are glycolytic and thus glucose is a limiting factor of in vitro models of MSC starvation
Authors: Nuschke Austin , Rodrigues Melanie , Wells Albin W. , Sylakowski Kyle , Wells Alan
Published: December 2016

Background

Mesenchymal stem/multipotent stromal cells (MSCs) contribute to tissue repair but are challenged during wound healing when the blood supply is disrupted, thereby limiting nutrient delivery. Survival mechanisms against ‘starvation’ include autophagy, which we previously found to enhance differentiation efficiency. MSC response to models of in vitro nutrient deprivation are of great interest for improving MSC survival and therapeutic efficacy; however, the rate-limiting nutrients are unknown.

Methods

MSC responses to culture nutrient and/or serum deprivations were assessed through light microscopy, cell survival, and measurements of metabolic levels. Glucose uptake was determined through conditioned media analyses over 3 days of culture. The Seahorse XF24 Flux analysis system was used to determine oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification for glycolytic metabolism. MSC autophagic response to these conditions was assessed via immunoblots for LC3-I and LC3-II, markers of autophagosome turnover.

Results

We more closely examined limiting nutritional factors to MSC survival in vitro, finding that glucose is rapidly utilized/depleted whereas amino acids and other required nutrients were used sparingly. This finding concurred with metabolic analyses that showed a primarily glycolytic character to the MSCs at steady state. MSC autophagy, previously linked to MSC function through a unique accumulated autophagosome phenotype, also responded quickly to changes in glucose concentration, with drastic LC3-II changes within 24 h of glucose concentration shifts.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated a rapid uptake of glucose in MSC cultures that was due to a highly glycolytic phenotype for the cells; MSC starvation with serum or other nutrients appears to have a less notable effect on the cells. These findings highlight the importance of glucose and glucose metabolism on MSC function. The conditions and cellular responses outlined here may be essential in modeling MSC nutrient deprivation.
Umbilical cord blood-derived non-hematopoietic stem cells retrieved and expanded on bone marrow-derived extracellular matrix display pluripotent characteristics
Authors: Wu Junjie , Sun Yun , Block Travis J. , Marinkovic Milos , Zhang Zhi-Liang , Chen Richard , Yin Yixia , Song Juquan , Dean David D. , Lu Zhongding , Chen Xiao-Dong
Published: December 2016

Background

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) not only contains hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but also non-hematopoietic stem cells (NHSCs) that are able to differentiate into a number of distinct cell types. Based on studies published to date, the frequency of NHSCs in UCB is believed to be very low. However, the isolation of these cells is primarily based on their adhesion to tissue culture plastic surfaces.

Methods and results

In the current study, we demonstrate that this approach overlooks some of the extremely immature NHSCs because they lack the ability to adhere to plastic. Using a native extracellular matrix (ECM), produced by bone marrow (BM) stromal cells, the majority of the UCB-NHSCs attached within 4 h. The colony-forming unit fibroblast frequency of these cells was 1.5 × 104/108mononuclear cells, which is at least 4000-fold greater than previously reported for UCB-NHSCs. The phenotype of these cells was fibroblast-like and different from those obtained by plastic adhesion; they formed embryonic body-like clusters that were OCT4-positive and expressed other human embryonic stem cell-related markers. Importantly, when implanted subcutaneously for 8 weeks into immunocompromised mice, these ECM-adherent and expanded NHSCs generated three germ layer-derived human tissues including muscle, fat, blood vessel, bone, gland, and nerve. Moreover, injection of these cells into muscle damaged by cryoinjury significantly accelerated muscle regeneration.

Conclusions

These results indicate that UCB may be a virtually unlimited source of NHSCs when combined with isolation and expansion on ECM. NHSCs may be a practical alternative to embryonic stem cells for a number of therapeutic applications.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: microRNA -140-5p inhibits colorectal cancer invasion and metastasis by targeting ADAMTS5 and IGFBP5
Authors: Yu Lihui , Lu Ying , Han Xiaocui , Zhao Wenyue , Li Jiazhi , Mao Jun , Wang Bo , Shen Jie , Fan Shujun , Wang Lu , Wang Mei , Li Lianhong , Tang Jianwu , Song Bo
Published: December 2016

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in the world. microRNA-140-5p (miR-140) has been shown to be involved in cartilage development and osteoarthritis (OA) pathogenesis. Some contradictions still exist concerning the role of miR-140 in tumor progression and metastasis, and the underlying mechanism is uncertain.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the expressions of ADAMTS5 and IGFBP5 in CRC tissues. Human CRC cell lines HCT116 and RKO were transfected with miR-140 mimic, inhibitor, or small interfering RNA (siRNA) against ADAMTS5 or IGFBP5, respectively, using oligofectamine or lipofectamine 2000. Scratch-wound assay and transwell migration and invasion assays were used to evaluate the effects of miR-140 on the capabilities of migration and invasion. The levels of miR-140 and ADAMTS5 and IGFBP5 mRNA were measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Western blot was performed to examine the expression of ADAMTS5 and IGFBP5 proteins.

Results

miR-140 was significantly reduced, whereas ADAMTS5 and IGFBP5 were upregulated, in the human CRC tissues compared to the corresponding normal colorectal mucosa. miR-140 downregulation and ADAMTS5 or IGFBP5 overexpression were associated with the advanced TNM stage and distant metastasis of CRC. There was a reverse correlation between miR-140 levels and ADAMTS5 and IGFBP5 expression in CRC tissues. ADAMTS5 and IGFBP5 were downregulated by miR-140 at both the protein and mRNA levels in the CRC cell lines. The gain-of- and loss-of-function studies showed that miR-140 inhibited CRC cell migratory and invasive capacities at least partially via downregulating the expression of ADAMTS5 and IGFBP5.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that miR-140 suppresses CRC progression and metastasis, possibly through downregulating ADAMTS5 and IGFBP5. miR-140 might be a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of CRC.
Foundation News
Authors: Burk Katie
Published: December 2016

The end of each year marks a critical time for the SEG Foundation and other charitable organizations as donors prepare to make year-end donations. This year, we ask you to join fellow colleagues and members in supporting SEG student and professional development programs. As you have experienced personally and have read in The Leading Edge over the past year, donations through the SEG Foundation help to support 15 different SEG programs. These programs are designed to advance the SEG mission of “Connecting the world of applied geophysics.”
Joint migration inversion: Simultaneous determination of velocity fields and depth images using all orders of scattering
Authors: Verschuur D. J. , Staal X. R. , Berkhout A. J.
Published: December 2016

The future in seismic exploration and seismic monitoring is the inclusion of all orders of scattering in the imaging and inversion algorithms. Using the full wavefield in an inversion process allows us to surpass imprints provided by incomplete acquisition and provide more accurate information on the subsurface, as noise becomes signal. We describe an inversion process that does not use the standard parameters from finite-difference-type modeling (being local velocity and density) but that describes the seismic data in terms of elastic reflectivity operators and propagation operators. With these operators, our full-wavefield modeling process builds the complete two-way seismic response. A major advantage of our alternative to the traditional full-waveform inversion methodology is that reflectivity operators are traveltime-free and propagation operators are scattering-free, making the inversion problem significantly more linear. A major advantage of our algorithm is (1) that multiples are utilized to improve both image and velocity accuracy, and (2) that both image and velocities are utilized to make a contribution in the nonlinear migration process. Hence, in joint migration inversion, multiples have a twofold active role.
Toward an automatic full-wave inversion: Synthetic study cases
Authors: Kormann Jean , Rodríguez Juan Esteban , Gutierrez Natalia , Ferrer Miguel , Rojas Otilio , de la Puente Josep , Hanzich Mauricio , Cela José María
Published: December 2016

Full-waveform inversion (FWI) in seismic scenarios continues to be a complex procedure for subsurface imaging that might require extensive human interaction in terms of model setup, constraints, and data preconditioning. The underlying reason is the strong nonlinearity of the problem that forces the addition of a priori knowledge (or bias) in order to obtain geologically sound results. In particular, when the use of a long-offset receiver is not possible or may not favor the reconstruction of the fine structure of the model, one needs to rely on reflection data. As a consequence, the inversion process is more prone to becoming stuck in local minima. Nevertheless, misfit functionals can be devised that can either cope with missing long-wavenumber features of initial models (e.g., cross-correlation-based misfit) or invert reflection-dominated data whenever the models are sufficiently good (e.g., normalized offset-limited least-squares misfit). By combining both, high-frequency data content with poor initial models can be successfully inverted. If one can figure out simple parameterizations for such functionals, the amount of uncertainty and manual work related to tuning FWI would be substantially reduced. Thus, FWI might become a semiautomatized imaging tool.
A recipe for practical full-waveform inversion in orthorhombic anisotropy
Authors: Alkhalifah Tariq , Masmoudi Nabil , Oh Ju-Won
Published: December 2016

Multiparameter full-waveform inversion (FWI) usually suffers from the inherent tradeoff in the multiparameter nature of the model space. In orthorhombic anisotropy, such tradeoff is magnified by the large number of parameters involved in representing the elastic or even the acoustic approximation of such a medium. However, using a new parameterization with distinctive scattering features, we can condition FWI to invert for the parameters to which the data are sensitive at different stages, scales, and locations in the model. Specifically, with a combination made up of a velocity and particular ratios of the elastic coefficients, the scattering potential of the anisotropy parameters has stationary scattering radiation patterns as a function of the type of anisotropy. With our new parameterization, P-wave data are mainly sensitive to the scattering potential of four parameters: the horizontal velocity in the x1 direction, vh; ∊, which provides scattering mainly near zero offset in the x1-x3 vertical plane; ∊d, which is the ratio of the horizontal velocity squared in the x1 and x2 directions; and δ3 describing the anellipticity in the horizontal plane. Since, with this parameterization, the radiation pattern for the horizontal velocity and ∊ is azimuthally independent, we can perform an initial VTI inversion for these two parameters, and then use the other two parameters to fit the azimuthal variation in the data. This can be done at the reservoir level or any region of the model. Including the transmission from reflections, the migration velocity analysis (MVA) component, into the picture, multiazimuth surface seismic data are mainly sensitive to the long-wavelength components of vh, two dimensionless parameters through the diving waves, and three other dimensionless parameters in the transmission to or from reflectors (especially, in the presence of large offsets). They are also sensitive to the short-wavelength component of vh and ∊.
Cortisol as a predictor of psychological therapy response in depressive disorders: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Fischer Susanne , Strawbridge Rebecca , Vives Andres Herane , Cleare Anthony J.
Published: December 2016

Background

Many patients with depressive disorders demonstrate resistance to psychological therapy. A frequent finding is hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis alterations. As cortisol is known to modulate cognitive processes, those patients may be less likely to profit from psychological therapy.

Aims

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis on cortisol as a predictor of psychological therapy response.

Method

The Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE and PsycINFO databases were searched. Records were included if they looked at patients with any depressive disorder engaging in psychological therapy, with a pre-treatment cortisol and a post-treatment symptom measure.

Results

Eight articles satisfied our selection criteria. The higher the cortisol levels before starting psychological therapy, the more symptoms patients with depression experienced at the end of treatment and/or the smaller their symptom change.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that patients with depression with elevated HPA functioning are less responsive to psychological therapy.
Protecting the Prestige of the Traditional Family
Authors: Ginsberg Raphael
Published: December 2016

This article tracks shifts in domestic violence discourse, examining changing ideas of who and what is culpable for domestic violence, from the norms and inequality of the traditional family to the aberrant deviance of male aggressors. It examines four historical moments: (1) a 1978 US Civil Rights Commission event featuring comprehensive critiques of the traditional family, (2) the 1980 conservation reaction to critiques of the traditional family in Senate debates, (3) a Reagan administration report about domestic violence that glorified the traditional family and blamed domestic violence on bad actors, and (4) 1994's Violence against Women Act, which attributed domestic violence to deviance rather than the traditional family, thereby protecting the prestige of the traditional family, a bedrock conservative principle.
Four Images of False Positives
Authors: Morán Luis , Salamanca Claudia
Published: December 2016

This article examines a case of illegal state violence known as False Positives—extrajudicial executions of civilians, whose corpses were then made to look like guerrillas or members of illegal groups killed in combat—carried out by the Colombian Army during the years of the Democratic Security and Defense policy (2002–10). The corpses of victims of False Positives were dressed in fatigues and weapons were placed next to their bodies in order to take a photograph as proof of military success. This article analyzes four of these images as media objects of war to understand how an enemy is represented in these fabrications made by members of the security apparatus of the state. This article poses the following questions to those images: is this how an enemy should look, and if so, why?
Empire, Nature, and the Labor of Coal: Colombia in the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Chomsky Aviva
Published: December 2016

A twenty-first-century coal mine in Colombia reveals much about labor and empire in Latin America. To the extent that modern empire has been a project of extraction of mineral and agricultural commodities, it has also been a project of exerting imperial control over labor and nature. This essay puts nature at the center of the study of labor and empire, to examine how humans’ relationships with the natural world shaped, and were shaped by, imperial projects of extraction. Extractive industry workers have a long, radical history of resistance to foreign control of natural resources, positioning their unions as defenders of the nation as embodied by its natural environment, its natural resources, and its people, both workers and local residents, that are being exploited by a foreign oppressor. At the Cerrejón coal mine, labor environmentalism and the association of natural resources with the nation are embedded in militant anti-imperialism.
The Entrapment of Migrant Workers in Servile Labour: The Case of Live-in Domestic Workers from Ukraine in Greece
Authors: Xypolitas Nikos
Published: December 2016

The article presents an effort to analyze the entrapment of migrant domestic workers in their low-status jobs. This will be done by looking at the consequences of live-in domestic work on migrant women from Ukraine working as servants in Athens. The study utilizes a Marxo-Weberian framework that focuses on both working conditions and perceptions of migrant workers. It is argued that the emotional demands of domestic work result in migrants perceiving their tasks as an extension of familial relationships and obligations. These employment relationships are defined as ‘pseudo-familial’ and form the basis of deference in domestic work. Combined with the structural barriers in the labour market, deference represents the subjective element of the entrapment of migrants in their job.
Le travail tringulaire en Grece: Certains cas de travail tringulaire dans la fonction publique
Authors: Petraki Georgia
Published: December 2016

Our work hypothesis is that the hegemonic employment model in Greece, which safeguarded employment and strong legal protection for the majority of employees, is in a process of transformation to the opposite direction. In the special conditions created by the policies of internal devaluation under the supervision of the troika, work relations are in a process of change in both the private and the public sector: The institutional protection of employment is “freezing”, and its place is occupied by special regimes, created through the application laws following the successive memoranda imposed by the governments of the last few years. Thus, the employment model tending to generalise in Greece at present, i.e. work with little or no institutional rights, was already in existence during the previous period, but concerned a small part of the active population. The consequence of the abolition of fundamental work rights, is the renewal of the larger part of wage labour through precarious work regimes. 
A data-driven approach to estimating the number of clusters in hierarchical clustering
Authors: Zambelli Antoine E.
Published: December 2016

DNA microarray and gene expression problems often require a researcher to perform clustering on their data in a bid to better understand its structure. In cases where the number of clusters is not known, one can resort to hierarchical clustering methods. However, there currently exist very few automated algorithms for determining the true number of clusters in the data. We propose two new methods (mode and maximum difference) for estimating the number of clusters in a hierarchical clustering framework to create a fully automated process with no human intervention. These methods are compared to the established elbow and gap statistic algorithms using simulated datasets and the Biobase Gene ExpressionSet. We also explore a data mixing procedure inspired by cross validation techniques. We find that the overall performance of the maximum difference method is comparable or greater to that of the gap statistic in multi-cluster scenarios, and achieves that performance at a fraction of the computational cost. This method also responds well to our mixing procedure, which opens the door to future research. We conclude that both the mode and maximum difference methods warrant further study related to their mixing and cross-validation potential. We particularly recommend the use of the maximum difference method in multi-cluster scenarios given its accuracy and execution times, and present it as an alternative to existing algorithms.
Comparative study of computer-assisted total knee arthroplasty after opening wedge osteotomyversusafter unicompartmental arthroplasty
Authors: Pailhé R. , Cognault J. , Massfelder J. , Sharma A. , Rouchy R-C. , Rubens-Duval B. , Saragaglia D.
Published: December 2016

Aims

The role of high tibial osteotomy (HTO) is being questioned by the use of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) in the treatment of medial compartment femorotibial osteoarthritis. Our aim was to compare the outcomes of revision HTO or UKA to a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using computer-assisted surgery in matched groups of patients.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a retrospective study to compare the clinical and radiological outcome of patients who underwent revision of a HTO to a TKA (group 1) with those who underwent revision of a medial UKA to a TKA (group 2). All revision procedures were performed using computer-assisted surgery. We extracted these groups of patients from our database. They were matched by age, gender, body mass index, follow-up and pre-operative functional score. The outcomes included the Knee Society Scores (KSS), radiological outcomes and the rate of further revision.

Results

There were 20 knees in 20 patients in each group. The mean follow-up was 4.1 years (2 to 18.7). The mean total KSS at last follow-up was 185.7 (standard deviation (sd) 5) in group 1 compared with 176.5 (sd 11) for group 2 (p = 0.003). The mean hip-knee-ankle angle was 180.2° (sd 3.2°) in group 1 and 179.0° (sd 2.2°) in group 2. No revision was required.

Conclusion

We found that good functional and radiological outcomes followed revision of both HTO and UKA to TKA. Revision of HTO showed significantly better functional outcomes. These results need to be further investigated by a prospective randomised controlled trial involving a larger group of patients. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1620–4.
New radiological parameters for the assessment of atlantoaxial instability in children with Down syndrome
Authors: Nakamura N. , Inaba Y. , Aota Y. , Oba M. , Machida J. , N. Aida  , Kurosawa K. , Saito T.
Published: December 2016

Aims

To determine the normal values and usefulness of the C1/4 space available for spinal cord (SAC) ratio and C1 inclination angle, which are new radiological parameters for assessing atlantoaxial instability in children with Down syndrome.

Patients and Methods

We recruited 272 children with Down syndrome (including 14 who underwent surgical treatment), and 141 children in the control group. All were aged between two and 11 years. The C1/4 SAC ratio, C1 inclination angle, atlas-dens interval (ADI), and SAC were measured in those with Down syndrome, and the C1/4 SAC ratio and C1 inclination angle were measured in the control group.

Results

The mean C1/4 SAC ratio in those requiring surgery with Down syndrome, those with Down syndrome not requiring surgery and controls were 0.63 (standard deviation (sd) 0.1), 1.15 (sd 0.13) and 1.29 (sd 0.14), respectively, and the mean C1 inclination angles were -3.1° (sd 10.7°), 15.8° (sd 7.3) and 17.2° (sd 7.3), in these three groups, respectively. The mean ADI and SAC in those with Down syndrome requiring surgery and those with Down syndrome not requiring surgery were 9.8 mm (sd 2.8) and 4.3 mm (sd 1.0), and 11.1 mm (sd 2.6) and 18.5 mm (sd 2.4), respectively.

Conclusion

The normal values of the C1/4 SAC ratio and the C1 inclination angle were found to be about 1.2° and 15º, respectively. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1704–10.
Impact of a learning curve on the survivorship of 4802 cementless total hip arthroplasties
Authors: Magill P. , Blaney J. , Hill J. C. , Bonnin M. P. , Beverland D. E.
Published: December 2016

Aims

Our aim was to report survivorship data and lessons learned with the Corail/Pinnacle cementless total hip arthroplasty (THA) system.

Patients and Methods

Between August 2005 and March 2015, a total of 4802 primary cementless Corail/Pinnacle THAs were performed in 4309 patients. In March 2016, we reviewed these hips from a prospectively maintained database.

Results

A total of 80 hips (1.67%) have been revised which is equivalent to a cumulative risk of revision of 2.5% at ten years. The rate of revision was not significantly higher in patients aged ≥ 70 years (p = 0.93). The leading indications for revision were instability (n = 22, 0.46%), infection (n = 20, 0.42%), aseptic femoral loosening (n = 15, 0.31%) and femoral fracture (n = 6, 0.12%). There were changes in the surgical technique with respect to the Corail femoral component during the ten-year period involving a change to collared components and a trend towards larger size. These resulted in a decrease in the rate of iatrogenic femoral fracture and a decrease in the rate of aseptic loosening.

Conclusion

The rate of revision in this series is comparable with the best performing THAs in registry data. Most revisions were not directly related to the implants. Despite extensive previous experience with cemented femoral components, the senior author noted a learning curve requiring increased focus on primary stability. The number of revisions related to the femoral component is reducing. Any new technology has a learning curve that may be independent of surgical experience. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2016;98-B:1589–96.
Water consumption rate of konkan kanyal goats (Capra hircus) fed finger millet straw supplemented with varying levels of dried poultry dropping based diets
Authors: Bello Abdulwaheed Adeyemi , Desai Balakrishna Gunaji , Burte Ramesh Ganu , Dandekar Vishnu Sakhoram , Dhekale Janarda Shamroa , Kumar Shalu , Gebremedhin Weldegerima Kide
Published: December 2016

This study was conducted to estimate the water intake of konkan kanyal goats fed finger millet straw supplemented with varying levels of dried poultry droppings based diet. Thirty konkan kanyal goats aged above 12 months weighing 14.00-14.67 Kg were used in a randomized block design (RBD) experiment. The experimental goats were randomly assigned to five treatments (TI-T5). T1 were goats fed with 0 % dried poultry droppings based diets (DPDBD), T2 were fed with 20 % dried poultry droppings based diets (DPDBD), T3 were fed with 40 % dried poultry droppings based diets (DPDBD), T4 were fed with 60 % dried poultry droppings based diets (DPDBD), T5 were fed with 80 % dried poultry droppings based diets (DPDBD. Water was offered at 5 L per goats daily. Water and feed refusal were recorded on a daily basis before feeding in the morning. Feed and feaces samples were analyzed for proximate constituents. Live weight changes were also measured. Results revealed that treatment groups supplemented with dried poultry droppings based diets had superior water intake compared to the control group. Daily water intake of the experimental goats was 1.4, 2.2, 3.5, 2.7, and 1.7 L per head, respectively. Konkan kanyal goats fed finger millet straw supplemented with varying levels of dried poultry dropping based diets requires up to 3.5 L of water per head per day for optimum utilization of the feed.