bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A single‐center retrospective study of pregnancy outcomes after emergency cerclage for cervical insufficiency
Authors: Wang Sheng , Feng Ling
Published: June 2017

Objective

To compare maternal and perinatal outcomes after emergency cerclage with those after elective cerclage.

Methods

In a retrospective review, data were assessed from women with a viable singleton pregnancy who underwent elective or emergency cerclage for cervical insufficiency at the Tongji Hospital, Wuhan, China, between January 2010 and July 2015. Subgroup analyses based on cervical length (CL; ≤15, 15–25, and 25–30 mm) were also conducted among women undergoing emergency cerclage.

Results

In total, 68 women underwent elective cerclage and 53 underwent emergency cerclage. The suture‐to‐delivery interval was significantly longer in the elective group (19.17 ± 5.86 weeks) than in the emergency group (11.29 ± 7.27 weeks; P<0.001). There was no difference between the elective and emergency groups in mean pregnancy length at delivery, frequency of Apgar score below 7 at 5 minutes (live births only), or birth weight (live births only). An inverse trend in the degree of CL shortening with pregnancy outcomes was observed; women with a CL of 25–30 mm had the best outcomes.

Conclusion

Pregnancy outcomes were similar after emergency and elective cerclage. There was an inverse trend in the degree of CL shortening with pregnancy outcomes in the emergency cerclage group, with better outcomes observed for women with longer CL.
Transferrin‐conjugated magnetic dextran‐spermine nanoparticles for targeted drug transport across blood‐brain barrier
Authors: Ghadiri Maryam , Vasheghani‐Farahani Ebrahim , Atyabi Fatemeh , Kobarfard Farzad , Mohamadyar‐Toupkanlou Farzaneh , Hosseinkhani Hossein
Published: June 2017

Application of many vital hydrophilic medicines have been restricted by blood–brain barrier (BBB) for treatment of brain diseases. In this study, a targeted drug delivery system based on dextran‐spermine biopolymer was developed for drug transport across BBB. Drug loaded magnetic dextran‐spermine nanoparticles (DS‐NPs) were prepared via ionic gelation followed by transferrin (Tf) conjugation as targeting moiety. The characteristics of Tf conjugated nanoparticles (TDS‐NPs) were analyzed by different methods and their cytotoxicity effects on U87MG cells were tested. The superparamagnetic characteristic of TDS‐NPs was verified by vibration simple magnetometer. Capecitabine loaded TDS‐NPs exhibited pH‐sensitive release behavior with enhanced cytotoxicity against U87MG cells, compared to DS‐NPs and free capecitabine. Prussian‐blue staining and TEM‐imaging showed the significant cellular uptake of TDS‐NPs. Furthermore, a remarkable increase of Fe concentrations in brain was observed following their biodistribution and histological studiesin vivo,after 1 and 7 days of post‐injection. Enhanced drug transport across BBB and pH‐triggered cellular uptake of TDS‐NPs indicated that these theranostic nanocarriers are promising candidate for the brain malignance treatment. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2851–2864, 2017.
Ultrasound‐assisted green economic synthesis of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles using eggshell biowaste and study of mechanical and biological properties for orthopedic applications
Authors: Ingole Vijay H. , Hany Hussein Kamal , Kashale Anil A. , Ghule Kalyani , Vuherer Tomaž , Kokol Vanja , Chang Jia‐Yaw , Ling Yong‐Chien , Vinchurkar Aruna , Dhakal Hom N. , Ghule Anil V.
Published: June 2017

Nanostructured hydroxyapatite (HAp) is the most favorable candidate biomaterial for bone tissue engineering because of its bioactive and osteoconductive properties. Herein, we report for the first time ultrasound‐assisted facile and economic approach for the synthesis of nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2) using recycled eggshell biowaste referred as EHAp. The process involves the reaction of eggshell biowaste as a source of calcium and ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate as a phosphate source. Ultrasound‐mediated chemical synthesis of hydroxyapatite (HAp) is also carried out using similar approach wherein commercially available calcium hydroxide and ammonium dihydrogen orthophosphate were used as calcium and phosphate precursors, respectively and referred as CHAp for better comparison. The prepared materials were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy to determine crystal structure, particle morphology, and the presence of chemical functional groups. The nanocrystalline EHAp and CHAp were observed to have spherical morphology with uniform size distribution. Furthermore, mechanical properties such as Vickers hardness, fracture toughness, and compression tests have been studied of the EHAp and CHAp samples showing promising results. Mechanical properties show the influence of calcination at 600°C EHAp and CHAp material. After calcination, in the case of EHAp material an average hardness, mechanical strength, elastic modulus, and fracture toughness were found 552 MPa, 46.6 MPa, 2824 MPa, and 3.85 MPa m1/2, respectively, while in the case of CHAp 618 MPa, 47.5 MPa, 2071 MPa, and 3.13 MPa m1/2. In vitro cell studies revealed that the EHAp and CHAp nanoparticles significantly increased the attachment and proliferation of the hFOB cells. Here, we showed that EHAp and CHAp provide promising biocompatible materials that do not affect the cell viability and proliferation with enhancing the osteogenic activity of osteoblasts. Moreover, hFOB cells are found to express Osteocalcin, Osteopontin, Collagen I, Osteonectin, BMP‐2 on the EHAp and CHAp bone graft. This study demonstrates the formation of pure nanocrystalline HAp with promising properties justifying the fact that the eggshell biowaste could be successfully used for the synthesis of HAp with good mechanical and osteogenic properties. These findings may have significant implications for designing of biomaterial for use in orthopedic tissue regeneration. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 2935–2947, 2017.
Muscle mass as a target to reduce fatigue in patients with advanced cancer
Authors: Neefjes Elisabeth C.W. , van den Hurk Renske M. , Blauwhoff‐Buskermolen Susanne , van der Vorst Maurice J.D.L. , Becker‐Commissaris Annemarie , de van der Schueren Marian A.E. , Buffart Laurien M. , Verheul Henk M.W.
Published: June 2017

Background

Cancer‐related fatigue (CRF) reduces quality of life and the activity level of patients with cancer. Cancer related fatigue can be reduced by exercise interventions that may concurrently increase muscle mass. We hypothesized that low muscle mass is directly related to higher CRF.

Methods

A total of 233 patients with advanced cancer starting palliative chemotherapy for lung, colorectal, breast, or prostate cancer were studied. The skeletal muscle index (SMI) was calculated as the patient's muscle mass on level L3 or T4 of a computed tomography scan, adjusted for height. Fatigue was assessed with the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy‐fatigue questionnaire (cut‐off for fatigue <34). Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to study the association between SMI and CRF adjusting for relevant confounders.

Results

In this group of patients with advanced cancer, the median fatigue score was 36 (interquartile range 26–44). A higher SMI on level L3 was significantly associated with less CRF for men (B 0.447, P 0.004) but not for women (B − 0.401, P 0.090). No association between SMI on level T4 and the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy‐fatigue score was found (n = 82).

Conclusions

The association between SMI and CRF may lead to the suggestion that male patients may be able to reduce fatigue by exercise interventions aiming at an increased muscle mass. In women with advanced cancer, CRF is more influenced by other causes, because it is not significantly related to muscle mass. To further reduce CRF in both men and women with cancer, multifactorial assessments need to be performed in order to develop effective treatment strategies.
Molecular interactions of dioxins and DLCs with the xenosensors (PXR and CAR): An in silico risk assessment approach
Authors: Verma Garima , Khan Mohemmed Faraz , Shaquiquzzaman Mohammad , Akhtar Wasim , Akhter Mymoona , Hasan Syed Misbahul , Alam Mohammad Mumtaz
Published: June 2017

Dioxins and dioxin‐like compounds (DLCs) are known to cause endocrine disruption in humans and animals. Being lipophilic xenobiotic chemicals, they can be easily absorbed into the biological system from the surrounding environments, thereby causing various health dysfunctions. In the present study, a total of 100 dioxins and DLCs were taken, and their binding pattern was assessed with the xenosensors pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) in comparison with the corresponding known inhibitors and a well‐studied endocrine disrupting xenobiotic, bisphenol A (BPA). The nuclear receptors CAR and PXR are known to play a significant role in handling potential toxins by coordinating cellular transport and metabolic functions of the same. Among different endocrine‐disrupting chemicals used in the present study, DLCs (PCDFs and PCBs) elicited better interactions in comparison with the parent dioxin (polychlorinated dibenzodioxins) compounds. On comparing D scores of all the compounds against both the receptors, PCDF 8‐hydroxy‐3,4‐dichlorodibenzofuran (8‐OH‐DCDF) and PCB tetrachlorobenzyltoluene (TCBT) exhibited significant molecular interactions against PXR (−7.633 kcal mol−1) and CAR (−8.389 kcal mol−1), respectively. Predominant interactions were found to be H‐bonding, π‐π stacking, hydrophobic, polar, and van der Waals. By contrast, BPA and some natural ligands tested in this study showed lower binding affinities with these receptors than certain DLCs reported herein, ie, certain DLCs might be more toxic than the proven toxic agent, BPA. Such studies play a pivotal role in the risk assessment of exposure to dioxins and DLCs on human health.
Multiparametric MRI of the breast: A review
Authors: Marino Maria Adele , Helbich Thomas , Baltzer Pascal , Pinker‐Domenig Katja
Published: June 2017

During their development, cancers acquire several functional capabilities, which are defined as the hallmarks of cancer. For a deeper understanding of the hallmarks of cancer, and, consequently, improved personalized patient care, diagnostic tests must be multilayered and complex to identify the relevant underlying processes of cancer development and progression. In this context, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as an exceptionally powerful, versatile, and precise imaging technique. MRI of the breast is an essential tool in breast imaging, with multiple indications. Dynamic contrast‐enhanced MRI (CE‐MRI) is the most sensitive test for breast cancer detection, with a good specificity. CE‐MRI provides mainly morphological, and, to some extent, functional information about tumor perfusion and vascularity. Recently, several functional imaging techniques in MRI, such as diffusion‐weighted imaging and spectroscopy, have been assessed for breast imaging and this combined application is defined as multiparametric imaging. Furthermore, the application of higher field strengths (≥3T) has demonstrated improved sensitivity and specificity of breast cancer detection. Multiparametric imaging with different functional MRI parameters (mpMRI) visualizes and quantifies the functional processes of cancer development and progression at multiple levels, and provides specific information about the hallmarks of cancer. MpMRI of the breast improves diagnostic accuracy in breast cancer, obviates unnecessary breast biopsies, and enables an improved assessment and prediction of response to neoadjuvant therapy. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of the current possibilities and emerging techniques for mpMRI of the breast.

Level of Evidence: 5

Technical Efficacy: Stage 5

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:301–315.
Apparent diffusion coefficient in estrogen receptor‐positive and lymph node‐negative invasive breast cancers at 3.0T DW‐MRI: A potential predictor for an oncotype Dx test recurrence score
Authors: Thakur Sunitha B. , Durando Manuela , Milans Soledad , Cho Gene Y. , Gennaro Lucas , Sutton Elizabeth J. , Giri Dilip , Morris Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

To measure the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values in estrogen receptor‐positive (ER+) and axillary lymph node‐negative (LN–) invasive breast cancer and investigate the correlation of ADC with Oncotype Dx test recurrence scores (ODxRS).

Materials and Methods

This was a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)‐compliant single‐site retrospective study. Patients underwent preoperative 3.0T MRI scans with additional diffusion‐weighted imaging sequential scans (b = 0, 600 and b = 0, 1000 s/mm2) from January 2011 to 2013. The study population included 31 ER+/LN– invasive breast cancers, which underwent ODxRS genomic testing. ADC600 and ADC1000 parametric maps were generated, and ADC values were calculated from a user‐drawn region of interest. ODxRS predicts 10‐year recurrence risk in individual patients: low (RS <18), intermediate (RS: 18–30), or high (RS >30). All breast lesions, including subgroups of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) lesions and mass‐only lesions were dichotomized by RS scores, low‐risk versus intermediate/high‐risk, and statistical analysis was performed using Mann–Whitney's test (statistical significance at P < 0.05) and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Multivariate analysis was also performed.

Results

Invasive breast cancers, when scored as low‐risk by ODxRS, had significantly higher ADC values compared with intermediate/high‐risk lesions for both ADC600 (P = 0.007) and ADC1000 (P = 0.008) mean values. This was true both when analyzing only mass‐lesions (P = 0.03 and 0.01) or only IDCs (P = 0.001 and 0.009).

Conclusion

Preliminary findings suggest that lesion ADC values correlate with recurrence risk likelihood stratified using ODxRS. Hence, ADC is a potential surrogate biomarker for tumor aggressiveness.

Level of Evidence: 3

Technical Efficacy: Stage 5

J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2018;47:401–409.
Antecedents and consequences of satisfaction with work–family balance: A moderating role of perceived insider status
Authors: Choi Jaepil , Kim Andrea , Han Kyongji , Ryu Seongmin , Park Jong Gyu , Kwon Bora
Published: June 2017

This study developed a moderated mediation model to investigate how family‐supportive paid leave and supervision affect employees' satisfaction with work–family balance and in turn their affective organizational commitment and supervisor‐directed organizational citizenship behavior depending on their perceived insider status in the organization. Our analysis of data collected from 118 employee–supervisor dyads in Korean organizations revealed that satisfaction with work–family balance mediated the linkages from family‐supportive supervision to affective organizational commitment and supervisor‐directed organizational citizenship behavior, and the linkage from family‐supportive paid leave to affective organizational commitment. Results further showed that the entire mediational process for family‐supportive supervision was more pronounced for those who perceived themselves to be an insider of their organizations, while the same pattern was not found for the meditational process related to family‐supportive paid leave. Our findings provide theoretical implications for work–family balance research and offer practical suggestions to make employees satisfied with work–family balance.
Subthalamic beta dynamics mirror Parkinsonian bradykinesia months after neurostimulator implantation
Authors: Steiner Leon Amadeus , Neumann Wolf‐Julian , Staub‐Bartelt Franziska , Herz Damian M. , Tan Huiling , Pogosyan Alek , Kuhn Andrea A. , Brown Peter
Published: June 2017

Background

Exaggerated oscillatory activity in the beta frequency band in the subthalamic nucleus has been suggested to be related to bradykinesia in Parkinson's disease (PD). However, studies seeking correlations between such activity in the local field potential and motor performance have been limited to the immediate postoperative period, which may be confounded by a stun effect that leads to the temporary alleviation of PD deficits.

Methods

Local field potentials were recorded simultaneously with motor performance in PD patients several months after neurostimulator implantation. This was enabled by the chronic implantation of a pulse generator with the capacity to record and transmit local field potentials from deep brain stimulation electrodes. Specifically, we investigated oscillatory beta power dynamics and objective measures of bradykinesia during an upper limb alternating pronation and supination task in 9 patients.

Results

Although beta power was suppressed during continuously repeated movements, this suppression progressively diminished over time in tandem with a progressive decrement in the frequency and amplitude of movements. The relationship between changes within local field potentials and movement parameters was significant across patients, and not present for theta/alpha frequencies (5‐12 Hz). Change in movement frequency furthermore related to beta power dynamics within patients.

Conclusions

Changes in beta power are linked to changes in movement performance and the sequence effect of bradykinesia months after neurostimulator implantation. These findings provide further evidence that beta power may serve as a biomarker for bradykinesia and provide a suitable substrate for feedback control in chronic adaptive deep brain stimulation. © 2017 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
B0 concomitant field compensation for MRI systems employing asymmetric transverse gradient coils
Authors: Weavers Paul T. , Tao Shengzhen , Trzasko Joshua D. , Frigo Louis M. , Shu Yunhong , Frick Matthew A. , Lee Seung‐Kyun , Foo Thomas K‐F , Bernstein Matt A.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Imaging gradients result in the generation of concomitant fields, or Maxwell fields, which are of increasing importance at higher gradient amplitudes. These time‐varying fields cause additional phase accumulation, which must be compensated for to avoid image artifacts. In the case of gradient systems employing symmetric design, the concomitant fields are well described with second‐order spatial variation. Gradient systems employing asymmetric design additionally generate concomitant fields with global (zeroth‐order or B0) and linear (first‐order) spatial dependence.

Methods

This work demonstrates a general solution to eliminate the zeroth‐order concomitant field by applying the correct B0 frequency shift in real time to counteract the concomitant fields. Results are demonstrated for phase contrast, spiral, echo‐planar imaging (EPI), and fast spin‐echo imaging.

Results

A global phase offset is reduced in the phase‐contrast exam, and blurring is virtually eliminated in spiral images. The bulk image shift in the phase‐encode direction is compensated for in EPI, whereas signal loss, ghosting, and blurring are corrected in the fast‐spin echo images.

Conclusion

A user‐transparent method to compensate the zeroth‐order concomitant field term by center frequency shifting is proposed and implemented. This solution allows all the existing pulse sequences—both product and research—to be retained without any modifications. Magn Reson Med 79:1538–1544, 2018. © 2017 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Measurement and analysis of delivery van vibration levels to simulate package testing for parcel delivery in Hungary
Authors: Böröcz Péter , Singh S. Paul
Published: June 2017

In the past several decades, there continues to be an increase in both domestic and international online and catalogue shipments that requires an increase in shipments and handling of parcels by single parcel delivery companies. This study measured the vibration levels that occur in parcel delivery shipments from pickup to delivery, especially the sections involving delivery vans and small vehicles over ground road transportation in Hungary. Goods that were shipped in the regions studied almost always travel at least once by van on varying road conditions such as motorways, main, side or city roads to deliver parcels to the final destination. The aim of this paper was to provide an understanding of vibration levels that occur during van transportation that can be used to pre‐shipment test new packages to prevent damage. The measured acceleration‐time data were analyzed in terms of power spectral densities (PSDs) and presented with statistical data to provide an understanding of the variability of intensity. The separated and averaged vibration levels that were measured in this study were compared with the American Society of Testing and Materials and the International Safe Transit Association vibration profiles for pickup and delivery vehicle in the form of PSD spectrums. Based on the analyzed data of this study, PSD spectra were provided for various route conditions as well as composite spectra, which can be used to simulate the measured vibration conditions representing van shipments.
Out‐of‐Plane Strain Induced in a Moiré Superstructure of Monolayer MoS2 and MoSe2 on Au(111)
Authors: Yasuda Satoshi , Takahashi Ryosuke , Osaka Ryo , Kumagai Ryota , Miyata Yasumitsu , Okada Susumu , Hayamizu Yuhei , Murakoshi Kei
Published: June 2017

Making contact of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) with a metal surface is essential for fabricating and designing electronic devices and catalytic systems. It also generates strain in the TMDCs that plays significant role in both electronic and phonon structures. Therefore, detailed understanding of mechanism of the strain generation is important to fully comprehend the modulation effect for the electronic and phonon properties. Here, MoS2 and MoSe2 monolayers are grown on Au surface by chemical vapor deposition and it is demonstrated that the contact with a crystalline Au(111) surface gives rise to only out‐of‐plane strain in both MoS2 and MoSe2 layers, whereas no strain generation is observed on polycrystalline Au or SiO2/Si surfaces. Scanning tunneling microscopy analysis provides information regarding consequent specific adsorption sites between lower S (Se) atoms in the SMoS (SeMoSe) structure and Au atoms via unique moiré superstructure formation for MoS2 and MoSe2 layers on Au(111). This observation indicates that the specific adsorption sites give rise to out‐of‐plane strain in the TMDC layers. Furthermore, it also leads to effective modulation of the electronic structure of the MoS2 or MoSe2 layer.
Two‐stage approach for risk estimation of fetal trisomy 21 and other aneuploidies using computational intelligence systems
Authors: Neocleous A. C. , Syngelaki A. , Nicolaides K. H. , Schizas C. N.
Published: June 2017

Objective

To estimate the risk of fetal trisomy 21 (T21) and other chromosomal abnormalities (OCA) at 11–13 weeks' gestation using computational intelligence classification methods.

Methods

As a first step, a training dataset consisting of 72 054 euploid pregnancies, 295 cases of T21 and 305 cases of OCA was used to train an artificial neural network. Then, a two‐stage approach was used for stratification of risk and diagnosis of cases of aneuploidy in the blind set. In Stage 1, using four markers, pregnancies in the blind set were classified into no risk and risk. No‐risk pregnancies were not examined further, whereas the risk pregnancies were forwarded to Stage 2 for further examination. In Stage 2, using seven markers, pregnancies were classified into three types of risk, namely no risk, moderate risk and high risk.

Results

Of 36 328 unknown to the system pregnancies (blind set), 17 512 euploid, two T21 and 18 OCA were classified as no risk in Stage 1. The remaining 18 796 cases were forwarded to Stage 2, of which 7895 euploid, two T21 and two OCA cases were classified as no risk, 10 464 euploid, 83 T21 and 61 OCA as moderate risk and 187 euploid, 50 T21 and 52 OCA as high risk. The sensitivity and the specificity for T21 in Stage 2 were 97.1% and 99.5%, respectively, and the false‐positive rate from Stage 1 to Stage 2 was reduced from 51.4% to ∼1%, assuming that the cell‐free DNA test could identify all euploid and aneuploid cases.

Conclusion

We propose a method for early diagnosis of chromosomal abnormalities that ensures that most T21 cases are classified as high risk at any stage. At the same time, the number of euploid cases subjected to invasive or cell‐free DNA examinations was minimized through a routine procedure offered in two stages. Our method is minimally invasive and of relatively low cost, highly effective at T21 identification and it performs better than do other existing statistical methods. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
De‐novo abnormal uteroplacental circulation in third trimester: pregnancy outcome and pathological implications
Authors: Binder J. , Monaghan C. , Thilaganathan B. , Carta S. , Khalil A.
Published: June 2017

Objective

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are associated with impaired placentation, as evidenced by abnormal uterine artery (UtA) Doppler. In normal pregnancy, mean UtA pulsatility index (PI) shows a progressive decline with gestational age (GA). However, previous studies have reported that a proportion of pregnancies demonstrate worsening UtA Doppler in later pregnancy. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of HDP according to the change in mean UtA‐PI between the second and third trimesters.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies between March 1997 and March 2016 that underwent longitudinal UtA Doppler assessment in the second and third trimesters. All parameters were converted into centiles or multiples of the median (MoM), adjusting for GA. The study cohort was divided into two groups, according to change in mean UtA‐PI between the second and third trimesters (those with a decrease or no change and those with an increase). HDP included women who developed pre‐eclampsia and/or gestational hypertension. Logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for potential confounders.

Results

The analysis included 5887 pregnancies. The incidence of HDP was significantly higher in the group with increasing mean UtA‐PI compared with those without (7.9% vs 5.8%; P = 0.002). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that both third‐trimester UtA‐PI MoM (odds ratio (OR), 7.35; 95% CI, 4.66–11.6; P < 0.001) and stable or decrease in UtA‐PI MoM between the second and third trimesters (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.31–0.60; P < 0.001) were significant independent predictors for the development of HDP.

Conclusion

Worsening of UtA Doppler is associated with HDP, independent of the value recorded in the second trimester. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Mikroglia und Immuntherapien bei degenerativen Netzhauterkrankungen
Authors: Karlstetter Marcus , Dannhausen Katharina , Langmann Thomas
Published: June 2017

Bei allen bisher im Detail untersuchten erblichen Netzhautdegenerationen liegt eine dem Erkrankungsverlauf abträgliche chronische Aktivierung des angeborenen Immunsystems zugrunde. Vor allem residente Mikrogliazellen der Netzhaut und verschiedene Proteine des löslichen Komplementsystems tragen zu einer Schädigung von Photorezeptoren und retinalem Pigmentepithel bei. Sowohl spezifische Zielstrukturen auf reaktiven Immunzellen als auch fehlregulierte lösliche Immunmodulatoren bieten neue Ansatzpunkte für Therapien, um das Überleben der Netzhaut trotz genetischer Prädisposition zur Degeneration zu fördern. Dieser Beitrag gibt Einblick in die wesentlichen Regulationsmechanismen der Netzhautimmunologie, diskutiert die mögliche Verwendung immunologischer Biomarker für die Netzhautdiagnostik und zeigt immunmodulierende Therapieansätze durch Biologika und endogene Botenstoffe auf.
Geomarketing Techniques to Locate Retail Companies in Regulated Markets
Authors: Chacón-García Jorge
Published: June 2017

Our background is the investment when opening a retail business in a regulated market, such as the pharmaceutical sector in Spain, which involves many risks caused by external factors that hinder the choice of a new-business location process. To study this phenomenon, we optimized the choice of the location of a retail site in a regulated market via a methodology that entailed a combination of analytical methods of spatial geometry with geographic information systems (GIS) and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) multicriteria decision method. The integration of both methods shows great efficiency in the measurement of spatial reality in detail and its influence on decision-making in retail businesses. The study, conducted in Seville (Spain), showed how legal restrictions for the location of a new pharmacy greatly hindered the possibility of success for new retail businesses. However, by implementing both methods, we discovered a series of suitable spaces, which were assigned a score based on several criteria. The combination of GIS methods and AHP multicriteria decision method can be used to reduce the risk of opening a new retail business in a regulated market with space restrictions.
Determining the impact of psychosis on rates of false‐positive and false‐negative diagnosis in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Fischer Corinne E. , Qian Winnie , Schweizer Tom A. , Ismail Zahinoor , Smith Eric E. , Millikin Colleen P. , Munoz David G.
Published: June 2017

Introduction

The rate of clinical misdiagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and how psychosis impacts that clinical judgment is unclear.

Methods

Using data from National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center, we compared the clinical and neuropathologic diagnosis in patients with a diagnosis of AD with autopsy and in neuropathology‐confirmed AD cases (n = 961). We determined the rate of true positives, false positives, and false negatives in patients with and without psychosis.

Results

A total of 76% received a correct AD diagnosis, 11.9% had a false‐negative diagnosis, and 12.1% had a false‐positive diagnosis of AD. Psychotic patients had a higher rate of false‐negative diagnosis and a lower rate of false‐positive diagnosis of AD compared with nonpsychotic patients.

Discussion

Patients with psychosis were five times more likely to be misdiagnosed as dementia with Lewy bodies, whereas patients without psychosis were more likely to be falsely diagnosed with AD when vascular pathology is the underlying neuropathologic cause of dementia.
Constructing Corporate Identity before the Corporation: Fashioning the Face of the First English Joint Stock Banking Companies through Portraiture
Authors: BARNES VICTORIA , NEWTON LUCY
Published: June 2017

This article considers how the joint-stock banks established trust within the local marketplace. We undertake a new investigation of pictures of senior bank management. Building on the expansion of the art market in the nineteenth century, joint-stock banks used portraits as a public and visual mechanism to commemorate their successes and accomplishments. Portraiture, as a well-established art form, provided enterprises with a historical legacy that for many did not, as yet, exist. Through the use of portraiture, banks attempted to solidify their identity and add to the sitter’s social standing, as well as signal the new organization’s reputation for high culture, prestige, and professionalism to those who viewed these artworks. These illustrations personified the company and gave a human face to the early joint-stock economy.
Second-order limit laws for occupation times of fractional Brownian motion
Authors: Xu Fangjun
Published: June 2017

We prove a second-order limit law for additive functionals of a d-dimensional fractional Brownian motion with Hurst index H = 1 / d, using the method of moments and extending the Kallianpur–Robbins law, and then give a functional version of this result. That is, we generalize it to the convergence of the finite-dimensional distributions for corresponding stochastic processes.
Large deviations for the stochastic predator–prey model with nonlinear functional response
Authors: Suvinthra M. , Balachandran K.
Published: June 2017

In this paper we consider a diffusive stochastic predator–prey model with a nonlinear functional response and the randomness is assumed to be of Gaussian nature. A large deviation principle is established for solution processes of the considered model by implementing the weak convergence technique.
A spatial model for selection and cooperation
Authors: Czuppon Peter , Pfaffelhuber Peter
Published: June 2017

We study the evolution of cooperation in an interacting particle system with two types. The model we investigate is an extension of a two-type biased voter model. One type (called defector) has a (positive) bias α with respect to the other type (called cooperator). However, a cooperator helps a neighbor (either defector or cooperator) to reproduce at rate γ. We prove that the one-dimensional nearest-neighbor interacting dynamical system exhibits a phase transition at α = γ. A special choice of interaction kernels yield that for α > γ cooperators always die out, but if γ > α, cooperation is the winning strategy.
Coupling any number of balls in the infinite-bin model
Authors: Chernysh Ksenia , Ramassamy Sanjay
Published: June 2017

The infinite-bin model, introduced by Foss and Konstantopoulos (2003), describes the Markovian evolution of configurations of balls placed inside bins, obeying certain transition rules. We prove that we can couple the behaviour of any finite number of balls, provided at least two different transition rules are allowed. This coupling makes it possible to define the regeneration events needed by Foss and Zachary (2013) to prove convergence results for the distribution of the balls.
New maximal inequalities for N-demimartingales with scan statistic applications
Authors: Koutras Markos V. , Lyberopoulos Demetrios P.
Published: June 2017

In the present work, some new maximal inequalities for nonnegative N-demi(super)martingales are first developed. As an application, new bounds for the cumulative distribution function of the waiting time for the first occurrence of a scan statistic in a sequence of independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) binary trials are obtained. A numerical study is also carried out for investigating the behavior of the new bounds.
Cultivating Subjects: Opium and rule in post-colonial Vietnam
Authors: LENTZ CHRISTIAN C.
Published: June 2017

Swidden cultivators in the Southeast Asian highlands may work far from lowland centres, but certain crops attract powerful interests. During the First Indochina War (1946–54), French and Vietnamese political actors climbed the hills in pursuit of the Black River region's opium production and trade. Even after combat formally ended, opium contests continued into an independent Vietnam, intersecting with larger struggles over ethnic difference, state resource claims, and market organization. Using upland cultivators to examine post-colonial statemaking, this article tells a new story about opium's tangled relationship with socialist rule in Vietnam. Drawing on French and Vietnamese archival records, it traces the operation of successive opium regimes through war and into restive peace. Based on evidence of opium tax and purchase operations conducted by the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (DRV) from 1951 to 1960, it argues that regulating the commodity sensitized cultivators to their long, fraught relations with state power. Far from passive, cultivating subjects animated revolutionary ideals, engaged smuggling networks, negotiated resource rights, and mounted an oppositional social movement. Peaking in 1957, the movement and subsequent crackdown illustrate tensions embedded in post-colonial relations of exchange and rule.
Gender associated developmental trajectories of SDQ-dysregulation profile and its predictors in children
Authors: Kunze B. , Wang B. , Isensee C. , Schlack R. , Ravens-Sieberer U. , Klasen F. , Rothenberger A. , Becker A. ,   the BELLA-study group
Published: June 2017

Background

Severe mood dysregulation is common in childhood and can be highly impairing. The Dysregulation Profile (DP) can be considered as a broader phenotype of emotional dysregulation, including affect, cognition and behaviour. Since mood dysregulation may persist, but differently in boys and girls, the gender associated course needs to be considered longitudinally to gain a better insight in order to support the children more adequately. This study is focusing on gender associated subgroup trajectories of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire-Dysregulation Profile (SDQ-DP) in middle childhood (9–13 years of age) and includes the potential impact of clinical and psychosocial characteristics.

Method

The data set was available from the BELLA study on mental health and well-being in children and adolescents, which is the mental health module of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS). A representative epidemiological sample of 564 children living in Germany was examined at three assessment points over 2 years (data collection 2003–2006). The SDQ-DP of children aged 9–13 years was evaluated using Latent Class Growth Analysis (LCGA).

Results

For both genders three trajectories with low (girls 67.0% and boys 59.5%), moderate (girls 28.0% and boys 31.7%) and high SDQ-DP (girls 5.0% and boys 8.8%) scores were detected. The courses of low and moderate subgroups were stable, while in the high SDQ-DP subgroup boys showed a decreasing and girls an increasing trend in symptom severity on a descriptive level. The results of the multinomial logistic regression analyses revealed a significant influence of mainly externalising but also internalising problems both increasing the risk of moderate and high SDQ-DP in both genders. Good quality of life was a protective factor for the SDQ-DP course in all subgroups.

Conclusion

In addition to the known clinical and scientific value of the SDQ-DP, three distinguishable trajectories of SDQ-DP in boys and girls could be found. High externalising problems at the beginning of the trajectory were associated with an undesirable course of SDQ-DP. These findings might be helpful for better psychoeducation, counselling and monitoring in clinical cases and public health.
Inhomogeneous random coverings of topological Markov shifts
Authors: SEURET STÉPHANE
Published: June 2017

Let $\mathscr{S}$ be an irreducible topological Markov shift, and let μ be a shift-invariant Gibbs measure on $\mathscr{S}$. Let (Xn)n ≥ 1 be a sequence of i.i.d. random variables with common law μ. In this paper, we focus on the size of the covering of $\mathscr{S}$ by the balls B(Xn, n−s). This generalises the original Dvoretzky problem by considering random coverings of fractal sets by non-homogeneously distributed balls. We compute the almost sure dimension of lim supn →+∞B(Xn, n−s) for every s ≥ 0, which depends on s and the multifractal features of μ. Our results include the inhomogeneous covering of $\mathbb{T}^d$ and Sierpinski carpets.
X-ray diffraction powder data of ambroperuvin, a new pseudoguaianolide from Ambrosia peruviana
Authors: Bruno-Colmenárez Julia , Amaro-Luis Juan M. , Delgado José Miguel , Díaz de Delgado Graciela
Published: June 2017

Ambroperuvin is a new pseudoguaianolide isolated from Ambrosia peruviana Willd., a plant used in traditional medicine in Venezuela. The analysis of the X-ray powder pattern being reported led to an orthorhombic unit cell with space group P212121 and cell parameters a = 15.999(6) Å, b = 11.263(2) Å, c = 9.112(2) Å. No detectable impurities were observed.
REAL RIGIDITIES AND OPTIMAL STABILIZATION AT THE ZERO LOWER BOUND IN NEW KEYNESIAN ECONOMIES
Authors: Belgibayeva Adiya , Horvath Michal
Published: June 2017

The paper revisits the literature on real rigidities in New Keynesian models in the context of an economy at the zero lower bound. It identifies strategic interaction among price- and wage-setting agents in the economy as an important determinant of both optimal policy and economic dynamics in deep recessions. In particular, labor market segmentation is shown to have a significant influence on the length of the forward commitment to keep interest rates at zero, the magnitude of the fiscal policy responses as well as inflation volatility in the economy under optimal policy.
Mental health morbidity among people subject to immigration detention in the UK: a feasibility study
Authors: Sen P. , Arugnanaseelan J. , Connell E. , Katona C. , Khan A. A. , Moran P. , Robjant K. , Slade K. , Tan J. , Widyaratna K. , Youd J. , Forrester A.
Published: June 2017

Aims.

The UK has one of the largest systems of immigration detention in Europe.. Those detained include asylum-seekers and foreign national prisoners, groups with a higher prevalence of mental health vulnerabilities compared with the general population. In light of little published research on the mental health status of detainees in immigration removal centres (IRCs), the primary aim of this study was to explore whether it was feasible to conduct psychiatric research in such a setting. A secondary aim was to compare the mental health of those seeking asylum with the rest of the detainees.

Methods.

Cross-sectional study with simple random sampling followed by opportunistic sampling. Exclusion criteria included inadequate knowledge of English and European Union nationality. Six validated tools were used to screen for mental health disorders including developmental disorders like Personality Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disability, as well as for needs assessment. These were the MINI v6, SAPAS, AQ-10, ASRS, LDSQ and CANFOR. Demographic data were obtained using a participant demographic sheet. Researchers were trained in the use of the screening battery and inter-rater reliability assessed by joint ratings.

Results.

A total of 101 subjects were interviewed. Overall response rate was 39%. The most prevalent screened mental disorder was depression (52.5%), followed by personality disorder (34.7%) and post-traumatic stress disorder (20.8%). 21.8% were at moderate to high suicidal risk. 14.9 and 13.9% screened positive for ASD and ADHD, respectively. The greatest unmet needs were in the areas of intimate relationships (76.2%), psychological distress (72.3%) and sexual expression (71.3%). Overall presence of mental disorder was comparable with levels found in prisons. The numbers in each group were too small to carry out any further analysis.

Conclusion.

It is feasible to undertake a psychiatric morbidity survey in an IRC. Limitations of the study include potential selection bias, use of screening tools, use of single-site study, high refusal rates, the lack of interpreters and lack of women and children in study sample. Future studies should involve the in-reach team to recruit participants and should be run by a steering group consisting of clinicians from the IRC as well as academics.
MicroRNA-26a/cyclin-dependent kinase 5 axis controls proliferation, apoptosis and in vivo tumor growth of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cell lines
Authors: Farina Floriana Maria , Inguscio Alessandra , Kunderfranco Paolo , Cortesi Alice , Elia Leonardo , Quintavalle Manuela
Published: June 2017

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most frequent type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Despite a favorable therapeutic response to first-line chemo-immunotherapy, still 30–40% of patients is refractory, or relapse after this treatment. Thus, alternative strategies must be sought. Previous studies have indicated that cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), a serine/threonine protein kinase, is involved in tumor development and progression, and it may represent a potential therapeutic target. However, its role in modulating DLBCL growth and progression remains largely unexplored. In this study, we show that CDK5 and its activator, cyclin-dependent kinase 5 activator 1 (CDK5R1 or p35), are overexpressed in DLBCL cell lines and that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation and activity is dependent on CDK5 expression in DLBCL. Using public data sets, we also demonstrate that patients with DLBCL show a higher expression of CDK5 compared with healthy individuals. By using loss-of-function approaches, we demonstrate that CDK5’s activity regulates proliferation and survival of DLBCL cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are small noncoding RNAs that negatively regulating gene expression and are involved in cancer initiation and progression. We identify miR-26a as direct regulator of p35 expression and CDK5 activity. We show that miR-26a expression is lower in DLBCL cell lines compared to B lymphocytes and that its ectopic expression leads to a drastic reduction of DLBCL tumor growth in vivo and decreased proliferation, cell-cycle progression, and survival in vitro. Remarkably, concomitant overexpression of a 3′-UTR-truncated form of p35 promoted tumor growth in vivo and cell proliferation, cell-cycle progression, and cell survival in vitro. In conclusion, these results demonstrate an important role for miR-26a and CDK5 together in the survival and growth of DLBCL cells, suggesting the existence of potential novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of DLBCL.
Hybrid soliton dynamics in liquid-core fibres
Authors: Chemnitz Mario , Gebhardt Martin , Gaida Christian , Stutzki Fabian , Kobelke Jens , Limpert Jens , Tünnermann Andreas , Schmidt Markus A.
Published: June 2017

The discovery of optical solitons being understood as temporally and spectrally stationary optical states has enabled numerous innovations among which, most notably, supercontinuum light sources have become widely used in both fundamental and applied sciences. Here, we report on experimental evidence for dynamics of hybrid solitons—a new type of solitary wave, which emerges as a result of a strong non-instantaneous nonlinear response in CS2-filled liquid-core optical fibres. Octave-spanning supercontinua in the mid-infrared region are observed when pumping the hybrid waveguide with a 460 fs laser (1.95 μm) in the anomalous dispersion regime at nanojoule-level pulse energies. A detailed numerical analysis well correlated with the experiment uncovers clear indicators of emerging hybrid solitons, revealing their impact on the bandwidth, onset energy and noise characteristics of the supercontinua. Our study highlights liquid-core fibres as a promising platform for fundamental optics and applications towards novel coherent and reconfigurable light sources.
Elitist Binary Wolf Search Algorithm for Heuristic Feature Selection in High-Dimensional Bioinformatics Datasets
Authors: Li Jinyan , Fong Simon , Wong Raymond K. , Millham Richard , Wong Kelvin K. L.
Published: June 2017

Due to the high-dimensional characteristics of dataset, we propose a new method based on the Wolf Search Algorithm (WSA) for optimising the feature selection problem. The proposed approach uses the natural strategy established by Charles Darwin; that is, ‘It is not the strongest of the species that survives, but the most adaptable’. This means that in the evolution of a swarm, the elitists are motivated to quickly obtain more and better resources. The memory function helps the proposed method to avoid repeat searches for the worst position in order to enhance the effectiveness of the search, while the binary strategy simplifies the feature selection problem into a similar problem of function optimisation. Furthermore, the wrapper strategy gathers these strengthened wolves with the classifier of extreme learning machine to find a sub-dataset with a reasonable number of features that offers the maximum correctness of global classification models. The experimental results from the six public high-dimensional bioinformatics datasets tested demonstrate that the proposed method can best some of the conventional feature selection methods up to 29% in classification accuracy, and outperform previous WSAs by up to 99.81% in computational time.