bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combinatorial Antitumor Effect of Rapamycin andβ-Elemene in Follicular Thyroid Cancer Cells
Authors: Zhou Jun , He Li-Li , Ding Xiao-Fei , Yuan Qiu-Qi , Zhang Jian-Xin , Liu Shuang-Chun , Chen Guang
Published: May 2016

Background.mTOR signaling would be a promising target for thyroid cancer therapy. However, in clinical trials, objective response rate with mTOR inhibitor monotherapy in most cancer types was modest. A new focus on development of combinatorial strategies with rapalogs is increasing.Objective.Investigating the combinatorial antitumor effect of rapamycin andβ-elemene in follicular thyroid cancer cells.Methods.MTT assay was used to determine the FTC-133 cell proliferation after culturing with rapamycin and/orβ-elemene. To analyze their combinatorial effect, immunoblotting was performed to analyze the activation status of AKT. Moreover,β-elemene attenuated rapamycin-induced immunosuppression was tested in mice.Results.Combination of rapamycin andβ-elemene exerted significant synergistic antiproliferative effects in FTC-133 cell linesin vitro, based on inhibiting the AKT feedback activation induced by rapamycin.In vivo, theβ-elemene could attenuate rapamycin-induced immunosuppression via reversing imbalance of Treg/Th17, with the underlying mechanism needed to be declared.Conclusions. We demonstrate that the novel combination of mTOR inhibitor withβ-elemene synergistically attenuates tumor cell growth in follicular thyroid cancer, which requires additional preclinical validation.
Enhancing the Security of Customer Data in Cloud Environments Using a Novel Digital Fingerprinting Technique
Authors: Chidambaram Nithya , Raj Pethuru , Thenmozhi K. , Amirtharajan Rengarajan
Published: May 2016

With the rapid rise of the Internet and electronics in people’s life, the data related to it has also undergone a mammoth increase in magnitude. The data which is stored in the cloud can be sensitive and at times needs a proper file storage system with a tough security algorithm. Whereas cloud is an open shareable elastic environment, it needs impenetrable and airtight security. This paper deals with furnishing a secure storage system for the above-mentioned purpose in the cloud. To become eligible to store data a user has to register with the cloud database. This prevents unauthorized access. The files stored in the cloud are encrypted with RSA algorithm and digital fingerprint for the same has been generated through MD5 message digest before storage. The RSA provides unreadability of data to anyone without the private key. MD5 makes it impossible for any changes on data to go unnoticed. After the application of RSA and MD5 before storage, the data becomes resistant to access or modifications by any third party and to intruders of cloud storage system. This application is tested in Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud Web Services.
Phase II Study of Radiotherapy and Temsirolimus versus Radiochemotherapy with Temozolomide in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma without MGMT Promoter Hypermethylation (EORTC 26082)
Authors: Wick Wolfgang , Gorlia Thierry , Bady Pierre , Platten Michael , van den Bent Martin J. , Taphoorn Martin J.B. , Steuve Jonathan , Brandes Alba A. , Hamou Marie-France , Wick Antje , Kosch Markus , Weller Michael , Stupp Roger , Roth Patrick , Golfinopoulos Vassilis , Frenel Jean-Sebastien , Campone Mario , Ricard Damien , Marosi Christine , Villa Salvador , Weyerbrock Astrid , Hopkins Kirsten , Homicsko Krisztian , Lhermitte Benoit , Pesce Gianfranco , Hegi Monika E.
Published: May 2016

Purpose: EORTC 26082 assessed the activity of temsirolimus in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma harboring an unmethylated O6 methylguanine-DNA-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter.

Experimental Design: Patients (n = 257) fulfilling eligibility criteria underwent central MGMT testing. Patients with MGMT unmethylated glioblastoma (n = 111) were randomized 1:1 between standard chemo-radiotherapy with temozolomide or radiotherapy plus weekly temsirolimus (25 mg). Primary endpoint was overall survival at 12 months (OS12). A positive signal was considered >38 patients alive at 12 months in the per protocol population. A noncomparative reference arm of 54 patients evaluated the assumptions on OS12 in a standard-treated cohort of patients. Prespecified post hoc analyses of markers reflecting target activation were performed.

Results: Both therapies were administered per protocol with a median of 13 cycles of maintenance temsirolimus. Median age was 55 and 58 years in the temsirolimus and standard arms, the WHO performance status 0 or 1 for most patients (95.5%). In the per protocol population, 38 of 54 patients treated with temsirolimus reached OS12. The actuarial 1-year survival was 72.2% [95% confidence interval (CI), 58.2–82.2] in the temozolomide arm and 69.6% (95% CI, 55.8–79.9) in the temsirolimus arm [hazard ratio (HR) 1.16; 95% CI, 0.77–1.76; P = 0.47]. In multivariable prognostic analyses of clinical and molecular factors, phosphorylation of mTORSer2448 in tumor tissue (HR 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04–0.47; P = 0.002), detected in 37.6%, was associated with benefit from temsirolimus.

Conclusions: Temsirolimus was not superior to temozolomide in patients with an unmethylated MGMT promoter. Phosphorylation of mTORSer2448 in the pretreatment tumor tissue may define a subgroup benefitting from mTOR inhibition. Clin Cancer Res; 22(19); 4797–806. ©2016 AACR.
Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation for Treatment-Refractory Chronic Dysphagia in Tube-Fed Patients: A Prospective Case Series
Authors: Scarponi Letizia , Mozzanica Francesco , De Cristofaro Valeria , Ginocchio Daniela , Pizzorni Nicole , Bottero Alessandro , Schindler Antonio
Published: May 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) in tube-fed patients with severe and chronic dysphagia refractory to traditional swallowing therapy (TT). Patients and Methods: A total of 11 consecutive dysphagic patients with tube-dependent nutrition and who had not responded to 6 months of TT were enrolled. Each patient received NMES for 30 min and TT for 30 min, twice a day, 5 days per week for 4 weeks. In order to evaluate the swallowing impairment, each patient underwent a fiberoptic endoscopic examination of swallowing immediately before the beginning of the treatment, after 2 weeks and after 4 weeks. Results: All enrolled patients managed to complete the swallowing treatment protocol for at least 2 weeks. After the 4-week treatment, 6 of 11 enrolled patients passed to a total oral diet with single or multiple consistencies despite specific food limitations or special preparation or compensation. Five patients, all affected by the most severe form of dysphagia, maintained tube-dependent nutrition. Conclusion: NMES as adjunctive treatment to TT may offer a new possibility for the management of tube-fed patients who are refractory to TT.
Ultrasound Detection of Bladder-Uterovaginal Anastomoses in Morbidly Adherent Placenta
Authors: Calì Giuseppe , D'Antonio Francesco , Forlani Francesco , Timor-Tritsch Ilan E. , Palacios-Jaraquemada Jose M.
Published: May 2016

Vascular control is a fundamental step in the surgical management of morbidly adherent placenta (MAP), and this implies a precise knowledge of the vascular supply in the lower part of the genital tract. High degrees of MAP are sometimes characterised by the presence of a rich vascular anastomotic system between the bladder, uterus, and vagina involving the superior, medial, and inferior vaginal and the lower vesical arteries. This brief report shows that prenatal ultrasound assessment of bladder-uterovaginal anastomoses in MAP is feasible.
Complete Penetrance and Absence of Intrafamilial Variability in a Large Family with Hereditary Leiomyomatosis and Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Guinard Elisabeth , Legendre Laureline , Kramkimel Nora , Avril Marie Françoise , Chassaing Nicolas , Cabaret Odile , Guillaud-Bataille Marine , Mazereeuw Hautier Juliette
Published: May 2016

Background: Hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell carcinoma (HLRCC) is an autosomal dominant familial disorder due to FH mutation. Despite a considerable increase in information about the genetic background, inter- and intrafamilial phenotypic variability/penetrance are not well documented. Objective: To describe a large French HLRCC family and provide new data on penetrance and intrafamilial variability. Materials and Methods: The whole family was contacted for clinical examination, skin biopsy, uterine and kidney imagery and molecular analysis. Results: The family included 22 members in 3 generations. The second generation consisted of 13 members who were older than the expected age of onset of disease manifestations. Of the 12 available members of this second generation, 6 (1 man and 5 women, aged 44-57 years) had a novel FH mutation. All had the same mild phenotype with cutaneous asymptomatic leiomyomas, uterine fibroids (if women) and no kidney tumor. The other 6 members not bearing the familial mutation had normal clinical and radiological findings. In this second generation, the penetrance was therefore complete, and there was no intrafamilial variability in the clinical expression of the mutation. Conclusion: This study provides additional data on genotype/phenotype correlation, intrafamilial variability and penetrance that should help to improve prognosis and genetic counseling.
Limited Dorsal Myeloschisis: A Diagnostic Pitfall in the Prenatal Ultrasound of Fetal Dysraphism
Authors: Friszer Stéphanie , Dhombres Ferdinand , Morel Baptiste , Zerah Michel , Jouannic Jean-Marie , Garel Catherine
Published: May 2016

Objective: To determine the ultrasonographic characteristics of limited dorsal myeloschisis (LDM) at prenatal ultrasound (US) and to highlight the main features that may help differentiate LDM and myelomeningocele (MMC). Methods: In a tertiary reference center in fetal medicine, we prospectively collected the medical data and ultrasonographic characteristics of all patients referred for in utero prenatal repair of MMC between November 1, 2013 and April 30, 2015. Results: Among the 29 patients assessed, the diagnosis of MMC was revised in 7 cases. In 6 cases, the diagnosis of LDM was established. On US scan, LDM was characterized by a spinal saccular lesion with a thick peripheral lining in continuity with the adjacent skin. Within the saccular lesion, a thick hyperechoic well-delineated structure was present in continuity with the spinal cord. Cerebral structures were normal except for 2 cases showing a cisterna magna slightly decreased in size. In the remaining 22 cases MMC was confirmed, with cerebral anomalies present in 21/22 cases (95.5%). Conclusion: LDM is a form of closed dysraphism accessible to prenatal diagnosis by US that may mimic MMC. Considering the major difference in prognosis between these two entities, physicians should be aware of the existence and ultrasonographic characteristics of LDM.
Moda, Eventos e Turismo: contribuições do Festival da Moda de Fortaleza para o turismo de eventos na capital cearense
Authors: Camelo Priscila Medeiros , Costa Ewerton Reubens Coelho , Coriolano Luzia Neide Menezes
Published: May 2016

O artigo tem como objetivo analisar a contribuição do Festival da Moda de Fortaleza no desenvolvimento do turismo de eventos local. Trata-se de um estudo de caso, com base na revisão da literatura, pesquisa documental e pesquisa de campo, com levantamento de dados por meio de entrevistas e questionários. Dentre os achados têm-se que a grande maioria dos visitantes são mulheres, vindas da região Norte e Nordeste do Brasil, com faixa etária de 35 a 44 anos e renda mensal de 3 a 5 salários mínimos. Em relação ao comportamento na viagem, infere-se que a maioria utiliza o transporte aéreo para seu deslocamento, permanece de 2 a 3 dias na cidade, participa de atividades turísticas e apresenta gasto médio diário, com transporte, alimentação e hospedagem, de R$ 150,00 a R$200,00. Conclui-se que o Festival da Moda de Fortaleza incentiva a vinda de compradores atacadistas de diversos estados do país para Fortaleza-CE, movimentando a cadeia produtiva da moda e do turismo.
Baixa Gastronomia: caracterização e aproximações teórico-conceituais
Authors: Ferreira Marina Rossi , Valduga Vander , Bahl Miguel
Published: May 2016

A gastronomia pode se configurar num elemento de vivência da cultura local a partir da sua articulação com a atividade turística ou cultural de uma localidade. Neste aspecto, observa-se o crescimento da oferta de estabelecimentos no setor da alimentação comercial, assim como o interesse crescente pela temática gastronomia, especialmente em blogs e comunidades em redes sociais. Nesses meios, nota-se um crescente uso do termo “baixa gastronomia”. Ainda que com considerável popularidade, até o momento da pesquisa empreendida verificou-se não haver um número expressivo de discussões teóricas visando compreender suas características de consumo. Assim exposto, para elaboração do presente artigo, o ponto de partida surgiu da seguinte problemática: O que seria a baixa gastronomia e quais as suas características? Tendo como objetivo geral definir o termo baixa gastronomia a partir da discussão de suas características e identificação de aproximações teórico-conceituais. Para tanto, efetuou-se uma pesquisa exploratória de cunho bibliográfico. Ainda que consista em uma investigação inicial, os principais resultados apontaram a baixa gastronomia como um tipo de gastronomia que abrange comidas de caráter caseiro e popular, em porções bem servidas a um preço justo, em estabelecimentos simples, onde o atendimento, ainda que profissional, ocorre de forma mais fluída e informal. Sua dinâmica de consumo vincula-se fortemente à perspectiva da hospitalidade, sendo este possivelmente, um dos principais meios de aproximação com a atividade turística. Acredita-se assim que o tema possa representar uma possibilidade de refletir sobre novos modelos para a relação turismo-gastronomia em termos de pesquisa e até mesmo de planejamento da atividade.
Comparação da Acurácia de Previsões de Demanda Turística em Sedes Olímpicas
Authors: Bundchen Cristiane , Werner Liane
Published: May 2016

Boas previsões acerca da demanda turística de um local servem de apoio para corretas tomadas de decisão por parte dos gestores, especialmente quando se tem em vista a realização de um evento de grandes proporções que afeta diretamente no desenvolvimento urbano e econômico locais. Neste estudo, procurou-se compreender o comportamento da demanda turística em frente à realização de um dos maiores megaeventos da atualidade. Para tanto, a demanda turística de dois países que sediaram Jogos Olímpicos foi modelada e prevista através das duas metodologias, uma linear e outra não linear e as previsões obtidas foram combinadas por cinco métodos, sendo três lineares e dois não lineares. Em ambas as séries, as previsões individuais obtidas pelo modelo RNA foram mais acuradas que as geradas pelo modelo SARIMA e as combinações dessas previsões, sobretudo pelo método de regressão linear, aumentaram ainda mais a acurácia das previsões. Ambos os modelos selecionados se mostraram acurados para as previsões de julho de 2012 no Reino Unido e agosto de 2004 na Grécia. Todas as previsões combinadas apresentaram melhor desempenho que a previsão obtida pela modelagem ARIMA, sendo a combinação via regressão linear o método que proporcionou melhor acurácia às previsões. Não foi observado impacto na demanda devido à realização dos Jogos Olímpicos uma vez que o evento ocorreu em um período de alta temporada onde os modelos escolhidos mostraram-se mais precisos.
Temporal dynamics of intersexual conflict and the effect of male quality on female fecundity in the marine isopod Cleantiella isopus
Authors: Miura Y. , Goshima S.
Published: May 2016

Crustacean males grasp and/or guard females before copulation to ensure mating, but females typically resist males during pair formation. The benefit of resistance for females might allow (1) females to optimize mate quality, or (2) to avoid costs incurred during guarding. However, it has not been fully investigated which benefits actually improve female fitness. Here we investigated female resistance, temporal dynamics of intersexual conflict during reproduction, and the effect of male size and male mating frequency on female fecundity in the marine isopod,Cleantiella isopusto examine the relative importance of the two mechanisms mentioned before. Females resisted even after they had become receptive. Females which mated with small males showed lower fecundity than the ones with large males, and small males were frequently unable to form pairs. These results suggest that female resistance ofC. isopusagainst males can function as a way to optimize mate quality.
Giving Sense to it All: The Cosmological Myth in Pahlavi Literature
Authors: Weinreich Matthias
Published: May 2016

The article provides a literary analysis of three Middle Persian tales: the Story of Jōišt ī Friyān, the Memorial of Zarēr, and the Explanation of Chess and the Invention of Backgammon. Similar to most works of Zoroastrian narrative literature, composed in the late Sasanian and early Islamic era, they are based on oral traditions and contain numerous references to personalities and events also familiar from other Iranian sources. But, different from comparable stories belonging to the same context and time, they are thematically closely interwoven with the Zoroastrian cosmological myth. The reason for this striking intertextual connection is sought in their authors’ intent to provide didactic narratives for religious instruction to an audience hoping for eschatological deliverance from social oppression and spiritual evil.
Über zwei Akkadismen im Iranischen: Iranica mutuata I
Authors: Buyaner David B.
Published: May 2016

The paper deals with two Middle West-Iranian lexemes, namely  ‘copy, replica’ and  ‘contract’, borrowed into some adjacent languages, such as Classical Armenian and Aramaic. The existing explanations are reviewed, and a new etymology for either word is suggested on the basis of Akkadian source forms, namely šiknu(m) ‘original’ and šiṭru(m) ‘written document’ respectively, built in the same Iranian morphological pattern. For the first lexeme the transcription paččīn instead of the commonly accepted *pačēn is proposed, and the phonetics of the range of the loan forms in Hebrew, Old Aramaic and Classical Armenian is explained.
The North Caucasus between the Ottoman Empire and the Tsardom of Muscovy: The Beginnings, 1552-1570
Authors: Yaşar Murat
Published: May 2016

The present paper explores the hitherto unknown beginnings of the Ottoman-Russian imperial rivalry by focusing on the mid-16th-century encounter between the Ottoman Empire and the Tsardom of Muscovy over the North Caucasus, where the ambitions of these two asymmetric powers—the Ottomans being an established “super power” and the Muscovites a rising power—became entangled for the first time. This first encounter, which was the harbinger of many future engagements not only in this region but also in the broader steppe frontier around the Black Sea, was more of a “cold war” rather than a military confrontation, as both the Ottomans and the Muscovites rather preferred to establish spheres of influence and eventually their hegemony over the North Caucasus through their vassals and clients. In addition to demonstrating the Tsardom of Muscovy’s initial claims and policies over the North Caucasus, this study will shed light on the reasons of the Ottoman failure to transform their nominal claims over the region to a de facto hegemony similar to what they had established over Eastern European principalities.
ʻade, ich far dahinʼ: Zur Inszenierung und Semantisierung des Abschieds im Strassburger Eulenspiegelbuch
Authors: Coxon Sebastian
Published: May 2016

This article offers a close textual analysis of the Strassburger Eulenspiegelbuch, paying particular attention to the narrative motif of departures. As an outsider-figure par excellence Eulenspiegel is always travelling, always forced to leave one place and move on to the next. It will be shown here how certain very specific narrative techniques are developed in this text to describe these numerous moments of departure in ways which are both comically effective and thematically resonant.
Identitätsprobleme im Eselsroman und die humanistische ‘Lösung’ als Lügendichtung
Authors: Bässler Andreas
Published: May 2016

The antique ass novels create the problem if there is identity or not between author and narrator/protagonist, if it is an autobiographic text or not. The humanistic reception in Renaissance from Poggio to Sieder has to handle these problems and find one possibility to answer because they connect the ass novels to the lucianic tradition of the imaginary voyages and tall tales (Lügendichtung). Then the supposed autobiographic identity changes to what is called in modern theory of literature an autofiction.
Athanasius Kircher als Exeget ägyptischer Hieroglyphen und chinesischer Schriftzeichen
Authors: Klawitter Arne
Published: May 2016

In many of his lavishly illustrated books, the German Jesuit scholar Athanasius Kircher deals with foreign writing systems such as hieroglyphs and ideograms. He claimed to have deciphered the Egyptian hieroglyphs, and in the supposed iconicity of Chinese written characters he wanted to track down an original resemblance to the objects. In fact, his assumptions were based on serious misunderstandings that were typical of his time. This article explores Kircher’s ‘christological hallucinations’ as a form of the 17th century’s ‘semiotic ideology’ and shows how his views have been adapted until the 18th and 19th century.
A revision of American Trichilia (Meliaceae)
Authors: PENNINGTON TERENCE D. , CLARKSON JAMES J.
Published: May 2016

Vol. inner cover
A revision of American Trichilia (Meliaceae) TABLE OF CONTENTS
Authors: PENNINGTON TERENCE D. , CLARKSON JAMES J.
Published: May 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface to “A revision of American Trichilia (Meliaceae)”
Authors: PENNINGTON TERENCE D. , CLARKSON JAMES J.
Published: May 2016

Trichilia P.Browne is one of the largest genera of Meliaceae, containing 81 described species in tropical America, 20 species in Africa and 2 species in Madagascar. It is placed in the subfamily Melioideae (Pennington & Styles 1975, Muellner et al. 2003) where it is a well-defined genus with a distinctive floral and fruit structure. It is clearly separated from all other genera of the family by the flowers with a staminal tube of partially or completely fused stamens bearing the anthers at the apex of the filaments or on the margin of the staminal tube and by the fruit which is a 2–3-valved loculicidal capsule containing fleshy seeds partly or completely surrounded by an arillode or rarely a sarcotesta.
Blacklisted Businesses
Authors: McDonnell Mary-Hunter , Werner Timothy
Published: May 2016

This paper explores whether and how social activists’ challenges affect politicians’ willingness to associate with targeted firms. We study the effect of public protest on corporate political activity using a unique database that allows us to analyze empirically the impact of social movement boycotts on three proxies for associations with political stakeholders: the proportion of campaign contributions that are rejected, the number of times a firm is invited to give testimony in congressional hearings, and the number of government procurement contracts awarded to a firm. We show that boycotts lead to significant increases in the proportion of refunded contributions, as well as decreases in invited congressional appearances and awarded government contracts. These results highlight the importance of considering how a firm’s sociopolitical environment shapes the receptivity of critical non-market stakeholders. We supplement this analysis by drawing from social movement theory to extrapolate and test three key mechanisms that moderate the extent to which activists’ challenges effectively disrupt corporate political activity: the media attention a boycott attracts, the political salience of the contested issue, and the status of the targeted firm.
The Role of Epstein‐Barr Virus DNA Load and Serology as Screening Tools for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Tay Joshua K. , Chan Soh Ha , Lim Chwee Ming , Siow Chor Hiang , Goh Han Lee , Loh Kwok Seng
Published: May 2016

Objective

Screening for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) among family members has been advocated in endemic populations in view of significantly increased risks. We aimed to compare the role of Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) DNA load and EBV IgA serology as tools for screening patients with a first‐degree family history of NPC.

Study Design

Case‐control study.

Setting

Tertiary referral center.

Subjects and Methods

Serum samples were compared from 293 newly diagnosed NPC patients and 475 individuals with a first‐degree family history of NPC. EBV DNA load was measured by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, while EBV viral capsid antigen (VCA) IgA and EBV early antigen (EA) IgA titers were measured by immunofluorescence assays.

Results

NPC patients had a significantly higher median EBV DNA load as compared with unaffected family members (835.4 vs 18.8 copies/mL; P <. 001). At 100 copies/mL, EBV DNA load demonstrated a sensitivity of 76.8% and a specificity of 85.6%. A positive EBV‐EA IgA titer (≥1:10) gave a sensitivity of 85.0% and a specificity of 96.4%. There was good correlation between EBV DNA load and EBV serology titers (Spearman’s ρ =. 536 and. 594 for EBV‐VCA IgA and EBV‐EA IgA, respectively; P <. 001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis demonstrated that EBV‐VCA IgA and EBV‐EA IgA were better classifiers than EBV DNA load (areas under the curve: 0.942, 0.926, and 0.880, respectively) in distinguishing NPC patients and unaffected family members.

Conclusion

EBV DNA load and EBV IgA serology demonstrate good sensitivity and specificity as screening tools. EBV‐EA IgA gave the best sensitivity and specificity profile as a screening tool for NPC among high‐risk family members.
ß‐Tricalcium Phosphate Implants in the Surgical Treatment of Empty Nose Syndrome
Authors: Bastier Pierre‐Louis , Fierens Sylvestre , Champel Sylvain , Ribadeau‐Dumas Alix , de Gabory Ludovic
Published: May 2016

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy and morbidity of a β‐tricalcium phosphate implant in the treatment of empty nose syndrome after turbinectomy. Only patients with a history of inferior turbinectomy and a complaint of permanent paradoxical nasal obstruction were included. β‐Tricalcium phosphate ceramic implants were implanted under the mucoperiosteal plane of the lateral nasal wall to replace the head of the inferior turbinate. Symptoms and quality of life were assessed by 2 questionnaires: the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation and Rhinosinusitis Quality of Life. Fourteen patients were included. The mean follow‐up was 19.4 ± 13.4 months. Scores for the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation and Rhinosinusitis Quality of Life (frequency, bothersomeness, and impact) significantly improved after surgery (respectively, 73.9 ± 21.8 to 34.6 ± 28.6, 44.6 ± 17.1 to 34.8 ± 20.3, 43.6 ± 22.4 to 70.7 ± 21.5, and 59.9 ± 21.1 to 27.2 ± 25.3; P <. 05). The use of ß‐tricalcium phosphate seems efficient to repair empty nose syndrome by endonasal microplasty and shows a low complication rate.
Experiencing transnationalism at home: Open borders and the everyday narratives of non-migrants
Authors: Tonkiss Katherine
Published: May 2016

The normative migration rights literature has engaged with the situated experience of migration to a very limited extent, with particularly little attention paid to non-migrants living in receiving localities. This article argues that exploring the non-elite narratives of non-migrants provides valuable insights for normative theorising about migration rights. The discussion is illustrated with a description of research undertaken within rural migration-receiving communities in England, which shows how the narratives of non-migrants shape the experience of migration at a micro-level. This article discusses the implications of this research for normative theory in order to demonstrate the value of this methodological approach.
Comparison of the non-invasive Nexfin® monitor with conventional methods for the measurement of arterial blood pressure in moderate risk orthopaedic surgery patients
Authors: Balzer Felix , Habicher Marit , Sander Michael , Sterr Julian , Scholz Stephanie , Feldheiser Aarne , Müller Michael , Perka Carsten , Treskatsch Sascha
Published: May 2016

Objective

Continuous invasive arterial blood pressure (IBP) monitoring remains the gold standard for BP measurement, but traditional oscillometric non-invasive intermittent pressure (NIBP) measurement is used in most low-to-moderate risk procedures. This study compared non-invasive continuous arterial BP measurement using a Nexfin® monitor with NIBP and IBP monitors.

Methods

This was a single-centre, prospective, pilot study in patients scheduled for elective orthopaedic surgery. Systolic BP, diastolic BP and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were measured by Nexfin®, IBP and NIBP at five intraoperative time-points. Pearson correlation coefficients, Bland–Altman plots and trending ability of Nexfin® measurements were used as criteria for success in the investigation of measurement reliability.

Results

A total of 20 patients were enrolled in the study. For MAP, there was a sufficient correlation between IBP/Nexfin® (Pearson = 0.75), which was better than the correlation between IBP/NIBP (Pearson = 0.70). Bland–Altman analysis of the data showed that compared with IBP, there was a higher percentage error for MAPNIBP (30%) compared with MAPNexfin® (27%). Nexfin® and NIBP underestimated systolic BP; NIBP also underestimated diastolic BP and MAP. Trending ability for MAPNexfin® and MAPNIBP were comparable to IBP.

Conclusion

Non-invasive BP measurement with Nexfin® was comparable with IBP and tended to be more precise than NIBP.
Epidemiology of Sport-Related Concussion in an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Sample
Authors: Houck Zachary , Asken Breton , Bauer Russell , Pothast Jason , Michaudet Charlie , Clugston James
Published: May 2016

Background:

Concussions are common in football, and knowledge of their incidence rates across settings is needed to develop strategies to decrease occurrence.

Purpose:

To examine sports-related concussion rates in a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I Football Bowl Subdivision sample based on the activity setting where injuries occurred, during which type of play, and when relative to the 2010 NCAA concussion management policy.

Study Design:

Descriptive epidemiology study.

Methods:

Medical records from January 2006 to January 2015 for an NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision program were analyzed. Concussion rates (per 1000 athlete-exposures [AEs]) were compared among the following settings: spring practice, preseason training camp, regular season high-contact practice, regular season low-contact practice, bowl game practice, and game competition. Play-type analyses examined incidence rates during offensive, defensive, and special teams plays. Changes in concussion rate coinciding with the 2010 NCAA concussion management policy were also studied.

Results:

Of the 452 unique players on the roster during the 9-year study period, 118 (26.1%) were diagnosed with a concussion. The concussion rate during games was significantly higher than all practices combined ( P < .001). However, when game rate (4.46 per 1000 AEs) was compared with preseason training camp alone (3.81 per 1000 AEs), there was no significant difference ( P = .433). The concussion rate during special teams plays was significantly higher than that during offensive ( P < .001) or defensive plays ( P < .001). The concussion rate in the 4 seasons (2010-2014) after the 2010 NCAA concussion management policy was initiated was significantly higher than the 4 seasons (2006-2009) preceding the policy ( P = .036).

Conclusion:

Study results show that (1) based on activity type, games and preseason training camp present the greatest risk of sustaining a concussion; (2) based on play type, special teams plays pose the greatest risk of sustaining a concussion; and (3) the 2010 NCAA concussion management policy coincided with a significant increase in recognition of concussion.
Planning for Climate Adaptation
Authors: Kashem Shakil Bin , Wilson Bev , Van Zandt Shannon
Published: May 2016

While recent research has recognized the importance of considering social vulnerability, the changing patterns of social vulnerability within cities and the climate adaptation challenges these shifts pose have yet to receive much attention. In this article, we evaluate the changing patterns of social vulnerability in three coastal cities (Houston, New Orleans, and Tampa) over a thirty-year time period (1980–2010) and integrate neighborhood change theories with theories of social vulnerability to explain those patterns. Through this analysis, we highlight emerging dimensions of vulnerability that warrant attention in the future adaptation efforts of these cities.
Interaction between ambient pollutant exposure, CD14 (-159) polymorphism and respiratory outcomes among children in Kwazulu-Natal, Durban
Authors: Makamure MT , Reddy P , Chuturgoon A , Naidoo RN , Mentz G , Batterman S , Robins TG
Published: May 2016

The objective of this study was to determine if the association between exposure to ambient air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxde (NO2), nitrous oxide (NO), and PM10, and variation in lung function measures was modified by genotype. A validated questionnaire was administered to 71 African children to evaluate prevalence of respiratory symptoms. Atopy was evaluated by skin-prick testing and bihourly measures of lung function (spirometry) were collected. Gaseous air pollutant concentrations were monitored continuously. CD14 polymorphism was genotyped and plasma CD14 levels were measured. There was no statistically significant association between the CD14 (159) CT+TT polymorphism with any asthma-related phenotype. There was a significant association between lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 second intraday variability) and NO2 and NO among participants carrying the CD14 CT/TT genotype for lags 1, 2, and the 5-day average. Similarly, statistically significant gene–pollutant interactions ( p < 0.05) were found with NO and CD14 CT/TT at lag 2 and for the 5-day average. While there was no association with any respiratory phenotype (as determined by symptoms), the CD14 CT/TT genotype appeared to be protective to increased exposure to NO2 and NO.
Bayesian optimal response-adaptive design for binary responses using stopping rule
Authors: Komaki Fumiyasu , Biswas Atanu
Published: May 2016

Response-adaptive designs are used in phase III clinical trials to allocate a larger number of patients to the better treatment arm. Optimal designs are explored in the recent years in the context of response-adaptive designs, in the frequentist view point only. In the present paper, we propose some response-adaptive designs for two treatments based on Bayesian prediction for phase III clinical trials. Some properties are studied and numerically compared with some existing competitors. A real data set is used to illustrate the applicability of the proposed methodology where we redesign the experiment using parameters derived from the data set.
A Rubric for Evaluating Student Analyses of Business Cases
Authors: Riddle Emma Jane , Smith Marilyn , Frankforter Steven A.
Published: May 2016

This article presents a rubric for evaluating student performance on written case assignments that require qualitative analysis. This rubric is designed for three purposes. First, it informs students of the criteria on which their work will be evaluated. Second, it provides instructors with a reliable instrument for accurately measuring and grading student performance on written case assignments. Third, if the rubric is used multiple times during the semester, student progress can also be measured. In addition, we piloted an instrument, with statistically confirmed reliability, for measuring students’ perceptions of the benefits of the rubric.
Disrupting the Colonial Transgender/Law Nexus
Authors: Erni John Nguyet
Published: May 2016

Not long ago, clutched in colonial laws deployed to regulate dissident genders, the Hong Kong courts had never recognized the transgender person as a legitimate legal personality. Alongside powerful cultural transphobia that casts doubts on the corporeal authenticity of gender in post-operative transgender subjects, the laws held desperately onto the anachronistic and heterosexualized matrimonial framework that denies transgender subjects of their marriage rights—via the vastly productive hegemonic Judeo–Christian dogma of “one man and one woman” in marriage laws. All this was about to change because the disruptive pulse of cosmopolitan marriage laws began to vibrate in various national jurisdictions, causing ripples that spread through the legal disputes of rights first in non-procreative marriage and divorce rights, and subsequently in gay and transgender marriage legal challenges. Using the groundbreaking case of W v. Registrar of Marriages heard in Hong Kong’s various courts (2010-2013), this article attempts to work through the conceptual possibilities offered by a postcolonial legal approach to understand the contingent but real legal possibilities to advance an immanent politics of transgender justice in the 20th century.
Climate change: Sustainability and general practice
Authors: Ballard Tim
Published: May 2016

With our days as busy as they are in general practice, it can be difficult to find time to think about some of the bigger issues of our age; and they do not come much bigger than climate change and the sustainability of our environment. The GP curriculum is made up of many parts; however, there are some overarching themes that can help us to make sense of what it means to be a GP. Margaret Chan, the Director General of the World Health Organisation, has described climate change as the biggest threat to health in the 21st century. However, the implications for health will run for far longer than this century alone.
Numerical study on the flow characteristics of micro air vehicle wings at low Reynolds numbers
Authors: Xiao Tianhang , Li Zhengzhou , Deng Shuanghou , Ang Haisong , Zhou Xinchun
Published: May 2016

The aerodynamic characteristics around a micro air vehicle wing with an inverse-Zimmerman configuration are numerically investigated by an in-house programmed solver particularly dedicated for aircrafts operating in low Reynolds number regime. The complex three-dimensional aerodynamic performance was investigated in terms of force generation and flow structures visualization. Results show that the flow around the low aspect ratio MAV wing is characterized by complex three-dimensional separation-dominated flow. The flow fields exhibit separation, reattachment, secondary separation, secondary reattachment, and strong interaction between the separated boundary layer and wingtip vortices. In addition, the effect of tip-attached vertical stabilizers on flow structure and aerodynamic forces is addressed in this paper. The stabilizers significantly influence both the flow structure and aerodynamic forces via reducing the strength of wingtip vortices and shedding and interacting of wingtip vortices. Eventually, the unsteadiness of the aerodynamics revealed that higher angle of attack will result in stronger unsteady phenomena as demonstrated by the oscillating forces.
Intoxication with alcohol: An underestimated trigger of Brugada syndrome?
Authors: Achaiah Andrew , Andrews Neil
Published: May 2016

Alcohol intoxication is a potentially under-recognised precipitant of Brugada syndrome. Higher pre-cordial electrocardiogram lead placement increases sensitivity of detecting the Brugada pattern.
Programming of donor T cells using allogeneic δ-like ligand 4–positive dendritic cells to reduce GVHD in mice
Authors: Mochizuki Kazuhiro , Meng Lijun , Mochizuki Izumi , Tong Qing , He Shan , Liu Yongnian , Purushe Janaki , Fung Henry , Zaidi M. Raza , Zhang Yanyun , Reshef Ran , Blazar Bruce R. , Yagita Hideo , Mineishi Shin , Zhang Yi
Published: May 2016

Key Points

Establishing a novel Dll4hiDC-based programming approach that produces alloreactive T cells able to eliminate leukemic cells without GVHD. Dll4 induction of T-cell IFN-γ limits the expansion of Dll4hiDC-induced T cells in GVHD target tissues and development of GVHD.
HCK is a survival determinant transactivated by mutated MYD88, and a direct target of ibrutinib
Authors: Yang Guang , Buhrlage Sara J. , Tan Li , Liu Xia , Chen Jie , Xu Lian , Tsakmaklis Nicholas , Chen Jiaji G. , Patterson Christopher J. , Brown Jennifer R. , Castillo Jorge J. , Zhang Wei , Zhang Xiaofeng , Liu Shuai , Cohen Philip , Hunter Zachary R. , Gray Nathanael , Treon Steven P.
Published: May 2016

Key Points

HCK transcription and activation is triggered by mutated MYD88, and is an important determinant of pro-survival signaling. HCK is also a target of ibrutinib, and inhibition of its kinase activity triggers apoptosis in mutated MYD88 cells.
readat: An R package for reading and working with SomaLogic ADAT files
Authors: Cotton Richard J. , Graumann Johannes
Published: May 2016

Background

SomaLogic’s SOMAscan™ assay platform allows the analysis of the relative abundance of over 1300 proteins directly from biological matrices such as blood plasma and serum. The data resulting from the assay is provided in a proprietary text-based format not easily imported into R.

Results

readatis an R package for working with the SomaLogic file format. It provides functionality for importing, transforming and annotating data from these files. The package is free, open source, and available on Bioconductor and Bitbucket.

Conclusions

readatintegrates into both Bioconductor and traditional R workflows, rendering it easy to make use of files.
QUADrATiC: scalable gene expression connectivity mapping for repurposing FDA-approved therapeutics
Authors: O’Reilly Paul G. , Wen Qing , Bankhead Peter , Dunne Philip D. , McArt Darragh G. , McPherson Suzanne , Hamilton Peter W. , Mills Ken I. , Zhang Shu-Dong
Published: May 2016

Background

Gene expression connectivity mapping has proven to be a powerful and flexible tool for research. Its application has been shown in a broad range of research topics, most commonly as a means of identifying potential small molecule compounds, which may be further investigated as candidates for repurposing to treat diseases. The public release of voluminous data from the Library of Integrated Cellular Signatures (LINCS) programme further enhanced the utilities and potentials of gene expression connectivity mapping in biomedicine.

Results

We describe QUADrATiC (http://go.qub.ac.uk/QUADrATiC), a user-friendly tool for the exploration of gene expression connectivity on the subset of the LINCS data set corresponding to FDA-approved small molecule compounds. It enables the identification of compounds for repurposing therapeutic potentials. The software is designed to cope with the increased volume of data over existing tools, by taking advantage of multicore computing architectures to provide a scalable solution, which may be installed and operated on a range of computers, from laptops to servers. This scalability is provided by the use of the modern concurrent programming paradigm provided by the Akka framework. The QUADrATiC Graphical User Interface (GUI) has been developed using advanced Javascript frameworks, providing novel visualization capabilities for further analysis of connections. There is also a web services interface, allowing integration with other programs or scripts.

Conclusions

QUADrATiC has been shown to provide an improvement over existing connectivity map software, in terms of scope (based on the LINCS data set), applicability (using FDA-approved compounds), usability and speed. It offers potential to biological researchers to analyze transcriptional data and generate potential therapeutics for focussed study in the lab. QUADrATiC represents a step change in the process of investigating gene expression connectivity and provides more biologically-relevant results than previous alternative solutions.
Estimation of rock physics properties from seismic attributes — Part 1: Strategy and sensitivity analysis
Authors: Dupuy Bastien , Garambois Stéphane , Virieux Jean
Published: May 2016

The quantitative estimation of rock physics properties is of great importance in any reservoir characterization. We have studied the sensitivity of such poroelastic rock physics properties to various seismic viscoelastic attributes (velocities, quality factors, and density). Because we considered a generalized dynamic poroelastic model, our analysis was applicable to most kinds of rocks over a wide range of frequencies. The viscoelastic attributes computed by poroelastic forward modeling were used as input to a semiglobal optimization inversion code to estimate poroelastic properties (porosity, solid frame moduli, fluid phase properties, and saturation). The sensitivity studies that we used showed that it was best to consider an inversion system with enough input data to obtain accurate estimates. However, simultaneous inversion for the whole set of poroelastic parameters was problematic due to the large number of parameters and their trade-off. Consequently, we restricted the sensitivity tests to the estimation of specific poroelastic parameters by making appropriate assumptions on the fluid content and/or solid phases. Realistic a priori assumptions were made by using well data or regional geology knowledge. We found that (1) the estimation of frame properties was accurate as long as sufficient input data were available, (2) the estimation of permeability or fluid saturation depended strongly on the use of attenuation data, and (3) the fluid bulk modulus can be accurately inverted, whereas other fluid properties have a low sensitivity. Introducing errors in a priori rock physics properties linearly shifted the estimations, but not dramatically. Finally, an uncertainty analysis on seismic input data determined that, even if the inversion was reliable, the addition of more input data may be required to obtain accurate estimations if input data were erroneous.