bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implications of Therapy-Induced Selective Autophagy on Tumor Metabolism and Survival
Authors: Hughson Luke R. K. , Poon Vincent I. , Spowart Jaeline E. , Lum Julian J.
Published: April 2012

Accumulating evidence indicates that therapies designed to trigger apoptosis in tumor cells cause mitochondrial depolarization, nuclear damage, and the accumulation of misfolded protein aggregates, resulting in the activation of selective forms of autophagy. These selective forms of autophagy, including mitophagy, nucleophagy, and ubiquitin-mediated autophagy, counteract apoptotic signals by removing damaged cellular structures and by reprogramming cellular energy metabolism to cope with therapeutic stress. As a result, the efficacies of numerous current cancer therapies may be improved by combining them with adjuvant treatments that exploit or disrupt key metabolic processes induced by selective forms of autophagy. Targeting these metabolic irregularities represents a promising approach to improve clinical responsiveness to cancer treatments given the inherently elevated metabolic demands of many tumor types. To what extent anticancer treatments promote selective forms of autophagy and the degree to which they influence metabolism are currently under intense scrutiny. Understanding how the activation of selective forms of autophagy influences cellular metabolism and survival provides an opportunity to target metabolic irregularities induced by these pathways as a means of augmenting current approaches for treating cancer.
Thermal Stability of Neodymium Aluminates High‐κ Dielectric Deposited by Liquid Injection MOCVD Using Single‐Source Heterometallic Alkoxide Precursors
Authors: Taechakumput P. , Zhao C. Z. , Taylor S. , Werner M. , Chalker P. R. , Gaskell J. M. , Aspinall H. C. , Jones A. C. , Chen Susu
Published: April 2012

Thin films of neodymium aluminate (NdAlOx) have been deposited by liquid injection metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) using the bimetallic alkoxide precursor [NdAl(OPri)6(PriOH)]2. The effects of high‐temperature postdeposition annealing on NdAlOx thin films are reported. The as‐deposited thin films are amorphous in nature. X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) show, respectively, no crystallization or interdiffusion of metal ions into the substrate after annealing at 950°C. The capacitance‐voltage (C-V) and current‐voltage (I-V) characteristics of the thin films exhibited good electrical integrity following annealing. The dielectric permittivity (κ) of the annealed NdAlOx was 12, and a density of interface states at flatband (Dit) of 4.01 × 1011  cm−2 eV−1 was measured. The deposited NdAlOx thin films are shown to be able to endure high‐temperature stress and capable of maintaining excellent dielectric properties.
Natural Orifice Transesophageal Endoscopic Surgery: State of the Art
Authors: Moreira-Pinto João , Ferreira Aníbal , Rolanda Carla , Correia-Pinto Jorge
Published: April 2012

The main goal of Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic Surgery (NOTES) is performing surgery avoiding skin incisions. Theoretical advantages of NOTES include decreased postoperative pain, reduction/elimination of general anesthesia, improved cosmetic outcomes, elimination of skin incision-related complications such as wound infections and hernias, and increased overall patient satisfaction. Although various forms of port creation to accomplish thoracic NOTES procedures have been proposed, transesophageal NOTES has been shown to be the most reliable one. The evolution of endoscopic submucosal transesophageal access resulted in the development of per-oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), which had a fast transition to clinical practice. The authors present a review of the current state of the art concerning transesophageal NOTES, looking at its potential for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions as well as the hurdles yet to be overcome.
Bifurcation of a Cohen‐Grossberg Neural Network with Discrete Delays
Authors: Liu Qiming , Zheng Wang
Published: April 2012

A simple Cohen‐Grossberg neural network with discrete delays is investigated in this paper. The existence of local Hopf bifurcations is first considered by choosing the appropriate bifurcation parameter, and then explicit formulas are given to determine the direction of Hopf bifurcation and stability of the periodic solutions. Moreover, a set of sufficient conditions are given to guarantee the global Hopf bifurcation. Numerical simulations are given to illustrate the obtained results.
Necessary Conditions for Weak Sharp Minima in Cone‐Constrained Optimization Problems
Authors: Zhang W. Y. , Xu S. , Li S. J.
Published: April 2012

We study weak sharp minima for optimization problems with
cone constraints. Some necessary conditions for weak sharp minima of higher order are
established by means of upper Studniarski or Dini directional derivatives. In particular,
when the objective and constrained functions are strict derivative, a necessary condition
is obtained by a normal cone.
Polymorphisms and Haplotypes in Candidate Genes Related to Angiogenesis and Endothelial Dysfunction in Preeclampsia
Authors: Luizon Marcelo Rizzatti , Palei Ana Carolina Taveiros , Sandrim Valeria Cristina
Published: April 2012

Valenzuela and colleagues have recently reviewed some polymorphisms in important candidate genes involved in different pathogenic mechanisms related to preeclampsia (PE) and concluded that various studies in different populations have identified maternal polymorphisms associated with PE. However, we would like to contribute to some studies regarding candidate genes related to angiogenesis and endothelial dysfunction in PE performed in the Brazilian population. Specifically, genotypes and haplotypes formed by polymorphisms ofVEGF,eNOSandMMP-9, along with an example of the interaction among these genes in the prediction of PE. Our suggestions may provide additional information with clinical relevance to PE susceptibility.
Cutting Affine Moment Invariants
Authors: Yang Jianwei , Li Ming , Chen Zirun , Chen Yunjie
Published: April 2012

The extraction of affine invariant features plays an important role in many fields of image processing. In this paper, the original image is transformed into new images to extract more affine invariant features. To construct new images, the original image is cut in two areas by a closed curve, which is called general contour (GC). GC is obtained by performing projections along lines with different polar angles. New image is obtained by changing gray value of pixels in inside area. The traditional affine moment invariants (AMIs) method is applied to the new image. Consequently, cutting affine moment invariants (CAMIs) are derived. Several experiments have been conducted to evaluate the proposed method. Experimental results show that CAMIs can be used in object classification tasks.
Terahertz and Thermal Testing of Glass-Fiber Reinforced Composites with Impact Damages
Authors: Chady T. , Lopato P. , Szymanik B.
Published: April 2012

The studies on glass-fiber reinforced composites, due to their growing popularity and high diversity of industrial applications, are becoming an increasingly popular branch of the nondestructive testing. Mentioned composites are used, among other applications, in wind turbine blades and are exposed to various kinds of damages. The equipment reliability requirements force the development of accurate methods of their health monitoring. In this paper we present the study of composite samples with impact damages, using three methods: terahertz time domain inspection, active thermography with convective excitation, and active thermography with microwave excitation. The results of discrete Fourier transform of obtained time sequences of signals will be presented as well as some image processing of resulting amplitude and phase images. Proposed experimental methods combined with harmonic analysis are efficient tool of defects detection and allowed to detect flaws in examined specimens. Reader may find it interesting that in spite of differences in nature of applied experimental methods, one technique of signal processing (harmonic analysis) gave adequate and comparable results in each case.
Control of Cross-Sections and Optical Nonlinearity of Pt Nanowires and the Roughness Effect
Authors: Ogata Y. , Mizutani G.
Published: April 2012

In this paper we review our fabrication of Pt nanowire arrays on MgO(110) faceted templates by a shadow deposition method and our control of their cross-sectional shapes by adjusting the deposition directions of platinum. We obtained nanowire arrays with Cs and C2v macroscopic symmetries. These macroscopic symmetries influence optical second harmonic generation (SHG) susceptibility elements of the nanowire arrays sensitively. On the other hand, the roughness of the nanowires had an effect on the rotational SHG patterns as a function of the sample rotation angle around the surface normal. We tried to explain the pattern change by a second-order perturbation scheme with respect to the roughness amplitude.
Descemet’s Stripping-Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty for Traumatic Aniridia and Aphakia
Authors: Jastaneiah Sabah S.
Published: April 2012

This Interventional case reports a challenging case of descemet’s stripping-automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) in a young male patient with traumatic aniridia, aphakia, and corneal edema. Surgery was planned in two stages; first was implantation of aniridia intraocular lens (AIOL), few months later, DSAEK procedure was performed. Successful outcome of both procedures was achieved as measured by the stability of the AIOL, clarity of the cornea, attachment of the lenticule, and improvement in vision. Aniridia implant supports a sufficient amount of air in the anterior chamber especially if the posterior segment is well formed, while providing the required lens power to improve vision. DSAEK procedure challenges that include iris defects and aphakia may be overcome by stepwise planning of the procedure.
Mitigating Age-Related Immune Dysfunction Heightens the Efficacy of Tumor Immunotherapy in Aged Mice
Authors: Hurez Vincent , Daniel Benjamin J. , Sun Lishi , Liu Ai-Jie , Ludwig Sara M. , Kious Mark J. , Thibodeaux Suzanne R. , Pandeswara Srilakshmi , Murthy Kruthi , Livi Carolina B. , Wall Shawna , Brumlik Michael J. , Shin Tahiro , Zhang Bin , Curiel Tyler J.
Published: April 2012

Although cancer tends to affect the elderly, most preclinical studies are carried out in young subjects. In this study, we developed a melanoma-specific cancer immunotherapy that shows efficacy in aged but not young hosts by mitigating age-specific tumor-associated immune dysfunction. Both young and aged CD4+CD25hi regulatory T cells (Treg) exhibited equivalent in vitro T-cell suppression and tumor-associated augmentation in numbers. However, denileukin diftitox (DT)-mediated Treg depletion improved tumor-specific immunity and was clinically effective only in young mice. DT-mediated Treg depletion significantly increased myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) numbers in aged but not young mice, and MDSC depletion improved tumor-specific immunity and reduced tumor growth in aged mice. Combining Treg depletion with anti–Gr-1 antibody was immunologically and clinically more efficacious than anti–Gr-1 antibody alone in aged B16-bearing mice, similar to Treg depletion alone in young mice. In contrast, DT increased MDSCs in young and aged mice following MC-38 tumor challenge, although effects were greater in aged mice. Anti–Gr-1 boosted DT effects in young but not aged mice. Aged antitumor immune effector cells are therefore competent to combat tumor when underlying tumor-associated immune dysfunction is appropriately mitigated, but this dysfunction varies with tumor, thus also varying responses to immunotherapy. By tailoring immunotherapy to account for age-related tumor-associated immune dysfunctions, cancer immunotherapy for aged patients with specific tumors can be remarkably improved. Cancer Res; 72(8); 2089–99. ©2012 AACR.
Seasonal Zonal Asymmetries in the Southern Annular Mode and Their Impact on Regional Temperature Anomalies
Authors: Fogt Ryan L. , Jones Julie M. , Renwick James
Published: April 2012

The Southern Hemisphere annular mode (SAM) is the dominant mode of climate variability in the extratropical Southern Hemisphere. Representing variations in pressure and the corresponding changes to the circumpolar zonal flow, it is typically thought of as an “annular” or ringlike structure. However, on seasonal time scales the zonal symmetry observed in the SAM in monthly or annual mean data is much less marked. This study further examines the seasonal changes in the SAM structure and explores temperature signals across the Southern Hemisphere that are strongly tied to the asymmetric SAM structure.

The SAM asymmetries are most marked in the Pacific sector and in austral winter and spring, related to changes in the jet entrance and exit regions poleward of 30°S. Depending on the season, the asymmetric SAM structure explains over 25% of the variance in the overall SAM structure and has strong connections with ENSO or zonal wavenumber 3. In austral summer and autumn the SAM has been becoming more zonally symmetric, especially after 1980, perhaps tied to changes in anthropogenic forcing. Across the Pacific sector, including the Antarctic Peninsula, temperature variations are strongly tied to the asymmetric SAM structure, while temperatures across East Antarctica are more strongly tied to the zonally symmetric SAM structure.

The results suggest that studies examining the climate impacts of the SAM across the Southern Hemisphere need to consider the seasonal variations in the SAM structure as well as varying impacts between its positive and negative polarity to adequately describe the underlying relationships.
Different El Niño Types and Tropical Cyclone Landfall in East Asia
Authors: Zhang Wei , Graf H.-F. , Leung Yee , Herzog Michael
Published: April 2012

This study examines whether there exist significant differences in tropical cyclone (TC) landfall between central Pacific (CP) El Niño, eastern Pacific (EP) El Niño, and La Niña during the peak TC season (June–October) and how and to what extent CP El Niño influences TC landfall over East Asia for the period 1961–2009. The peak TC season is subdivided into summer [June–August (JJA)] and autumn [September–October (SO)]. The results are summarized as follows: (i) during the summer of CP El Niño years, TCs are more likely to make landfall over East Asia because of a strong easterly steering flow anomaly induced by the westward shift of the subtropical high and northward-shifted TC genesis. In particular, TCs have a greater probability of making landfall over Japan and Korea during the summer of CP El Niño years. (ii) In the autumn of CP El Niño years, TC landfall in most areas of East Asia, especially Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, and the Philippines, is likely to be suppressed because the large-scale circulation resembles that of EP El Niño years. (iii) During the whole peak TC season [June–October (JJASO)] of CP El Niño years, TCs are more likely to make landfall over Japan and Korea. TC landfall in East Asia as a whole has an insignificant association with CP El Niño during the peak TC season. In addition, more (less) TCs are likely to make landfall in China, Indochina, the Malay Peninsula, and the Philippines during the peak TC season of La Niña (EP El Niño) years.
Southeast Pacific Stratocumulus in the Community Atmosphere Model
Authors: Medeiros Brian , Williamson David L. , Hannay Cécile , Olson Jerry G.
Published: April 2012

Forecasts of October 2006 are used to investigate southeast Pacific stratocumulus in the Community Atmosphere Model, versions 4 and 5 (CAM4 and CAM5). Both models quickly develop biases similar to their climatic biases, suggesting that parameterized physics are the root of the climate errors. An extensive cloud deck is produced in CAM4, but the cloud structure is unrealistic because the boundary layer is too shallow and moist. The boundary layer structure is improved in CAM5, but during the daytime the boundary layer decouples from the cloud layer, causing the cloud layer to break up and transition toward a more trade wind cumulus structure in the afternoon. The cloud liquid water budget shows how different parameterizations contribute to maintaining these different expressions of stratocumulus. Sensitivity experiments help elucidate the origins of the errors. The importance of the diurnal cycle of these clouds for climate simulations is emphasized.
Historical Global Tropical Cyclone Landfalls*
Authors: Weinkle Jessica , Maue Ryan , Pielke Roger
Published: April 2012

In recent decades, economic damage from tropical cyclones (TCs) around the world has increased dramatically. Scientific literature published to date finds that the increase in losses can be explained entirely by societal changes (such as increasing wealth, structures, population, etc.) in locations prone to tropical cyclone landfalls, rather than by changes in annual storm frequency or intensity. However, no homogenized dataset of global tropical cyclone landfalls has been created that might serve as a consistency check for such economic normalization studies. Using currently available historical TC best-track records, a global database focused on hurricane-force strength landfalls was constructed. The analysis does not indicate significant long-period global or individual basin trends in the frequency or intensity of landfalling TCs of minor or major hurricane strength. The evidence in this study provides strong support for the conclusion that increasing damage around the world during the past several decades can be explained entirely by increasing wealth in locations prone to TC landfalls, which adds confidence to the fidelity of economic normalization analyses.
Diagnosing Ocean Stirring: Comparison of Relative Dispersion and Finite-Time Lyapunov Exponents
Authors: Waugh Darryn W. , Keating Shane R. , Chen Mei-Lin
Published: April 2012

The relationship between two commonly used diagnostics of stirring in ocean and atmospheric flows, the finite-time Lyapunov exponents λ and relative dispersion R2, is examined for a simple uniform strain flow and ocean flow inferred from altimetry. Although both diagnostics are based on the separation of initially close particles, the two diagnostics measure different aspects of the flow and, in general, there is not a one-to-one relationship between the diagnostics. For a two-dimensional flow with time-independent uniform strain, there is a single time-independent λ, but there is a wide range of values of R2 for individual particle pairs. However, it is shown that the upper and lower limits of R2 for individual pairs, the mean value over a large ensemble of pairs, and the probability distribution function (PDF) of R2 have simple relationships with λ. Furthermore, these analytical expressions provide a reasonable approximation for the R2–λ relationship in the surface ocean flow based on geostrophic velocities derived from satellite altimeter measurements. In particular, the bimodal distribution, upper and lower bounds, and mean values from the ocean flow are similar to the analytical expressions for a uniform strain flow. How well, as well as over what integration time scale, this holds depends on the spatial and temporal variations within the ocean region being considered.
Study of MPLNET-Derived Aerosol Climatology over Kanpur, India, and Validation of CALIPSO Level 2 Version 3 Backscatter and Extinction Products
Authors: Misra Amit , Tripathi S. N. , Kaul D. S. , Welton Ellsworth J.
Published: April 2012

The level 2 aerosol backscatter and extinction profiles from the NASA Micropulse Lidar Network (MPLNET) at Kanpur, India, have been studied from May 2009 to September 2010. Monthly averaged extinction profiles from MPLNET shows high extinction values near the surface during October–March. Higher extinction values at altitudes of 2–4 km are observed from April to June, a period marked by frequent dust episodes. Version 3 level 2 Cloud–Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) aerosol profile products have been compared with corresponding data from MPLNET over Kanpur for the above-mentioned period. Out of the available backscatter profiles, the16 profiles used in this study have time differences less than 3 h and distances less than 130 km. Among these profiles, four cases show good comparison above 400 m with R2 greater than 0.7. Comparison with AERONET data shows that the aerosol type is properly identified by the CALIOP algorithm. Cloud contamination is a possible source of error in the remaining cases of poor comparison. Another source of error is the improper backscatter-to-extinction ratio, which further affects the accuracy of extinction coefficient retrieval.
Impact of Physics Representations in the HWRFX on Simulated Hurricane Structure and Pressure–Wind Relationships
Authors: Bao J.-W. , Gopalakrishnan S. G. , Michelson S. A. , Marks F. D. , Montgomery M. T.
Published: April 2012

A series of idealized experiments with the NOAA Experimental Hurricane Weather Research and Forecasting Model (HWRFX) are performed to examine the sensitivity of idealized tropical cyclone (TC) intensification to various parameterization schemes of the boundary layer (BL), subgrid convection, cloud microphysics, and radiation. Results from all the experiments are compared in terms of the maximum surface 10-m wind (VMAX) and minimum sea level pressure (PMIN)—operational metrics of TC intensity—as well as the azimuthally averaged temporal and spatial structure of the tangential wind and its material acceleration.

The conventional metrics of TC intensity (VMAX and PMIN) are found to be insufficient to reveal the sensitivity of the simulated TC to variations in model physics. Comparisons of the sensitivity runs indicate that (i) different boundary layer physics parameterization schemes for vertical subgrid turbulence mixing lead to differences not only in the intensity evolution in terms of VMAX and PMIN, but also in the structural characteristics of the simulated tropical cyclone; (ii) the surface drag coefficient is a key parameter that controls the VMAX–PMIN relationship near the surface; and (iii) different microphysics and subgrid convection parameterization schemes, because of their different realizations of diabatic heating distribution, lead to significant variations in the vortex structure.

The quantitative aspects of these results indicate that the current uncertainties in the BL mixing, surface drag, and microphysics parameterization schemes have comparable impacts on the intensity and structure of simulated TCs. The results also indicate that there is a need to include structural parameters in the HWRFX evaluation.
Zebrafish screen identifies novel compound with selective toxicity against leukemia
Authors: Ridges Suzanne , Heaton Will L. , Joshi Deepa , Choi Henry , Eiring Anna , Batchelor Lance , Choudhry Priya , Manos Elizabeth J. , Sofla Hossein , Sanati Ali , Welborn Seth , Agarwal Archana , Spangrude Gerald J. , Miles Rodney R. , Cox James E. , Frazer J. Kimble , Deininger Michael , Balan Kaveri , Sigman Matthew , Müschen Markus , Perova Tatiana , Johnson Radia , Montpellier Bertrand , Guidos Cynthia J. , Jones David A. , Trede Nikolaus S.
Published: April 2012

To detect targeted antileukemia agents we have designed a novel, high-content in vivo screen using genetically engineered, T-cell reporting zebrafish. We exploited the developmental similarities between normal and malignant T lymphoblasts to screen a small molecule library for activity against immature T cells with a simple visual readout in zebrafish larvae. After screening 26 400 molecules, we identified Lenaldekar (LDK), a compound that eliminates immature T cells in developing zebrafish without affecting the cell cycle in other cell types. LDK is well tolerated in vertebrates and induces long-term remission in adult zebrafish with cMYC-induced T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). LDK causes dephosphorylation of members of the PI3 kinase/AKT/mTOR pathway and delays sensitive cells in late mitosis. Among human cancers, LDK selectively affects survival of hematopoietic malignancy lines and primary leukemias, including therapy-refractory B-ALL and chronic myelogenous leukemia samples, and inhibits growth of human T-ALL xenografts. This work demonstrates the utility of our method using zebrafish for antineoplastic candidate drug identification and suggests a new approach for targeted leukemia therapy. Although our efforts focused on leukemia therapy, this screening approach has broad implications as it can be translated to other cancer types involving malignant degeneration of developmentally arrested cells.
Co-existence of other copy number variations with 22q11.2 deletion or duplication: a modifier for variable phenotypes of the syndrome?
Authors: Li Deling , Tekin Mustafa , Buch Maria , Fan Yao-Shan
Published: April 2012

Background

The phenotype in patients with a 22q11.2 deletion or duplication can be extremely variable, and the causes of such as variations are not well known.

Results

We observed additional copy number variations (CNVs) in 2 of 15 cases with a 22q11.2 deletion or duplication. Both cases were newborn babies referred for severe congenital heart defects. The first case had a deletion with a size of approximately 1.56 Mb involving multiple genes including STS in the Xp22.31 region along with a 22q11.2 deletion. The second case had a duplication of 605 kb in the 15q13.3 region encompassing CHRNA7 and a deletion of 209 kb involving the RBFOX1 gene in the 16p13.2 region, in addition to 22q11.2 duplication.

Discussion

Our observations have shown that additional CNVs are not rare (2/15, 13%) in patients with a 22q11.2 deletion or duplication. We speculate that these CNVs may contribute to phenotype variations of 22q11.2 microdeletion/duplication syndromes as genomic modifiers.
Enhancement of first arrivals using the τ-p transform on energy-ratio seismic shot records
Authors: Mousa Wail A. , Al-Shuhail Abdullatif A.
Published: April 2012

We propose a robust method of first-break picking for data sets with high noise levels through the use of the [Formula: see text] transform on energy-ratio seismic records. Using synthetic shot records with various noise levels, we showed that the performance of this proposed method enhances first arrivals, which helps in picking them. This was particularly true when the noise level was high where picking on raw amplitudes completely fails. We also applied the method on two published real shot records, for which first-break picking was difficult. We showed that for one of the shot records our method succeeds in determining first breaks that are consistent with manual picks and better than those obtained from a conventional method. The method can be used to guide better the subsequent careful picking of first arrivals and requires one forward and one inverse [Formula: see text] transform operations. In contrast to methods based on trace-by-trace picking that often fail to pick some traces, the proposed method automatically interpolates missing picks.
Visual cortex in dementia with Lewy bodies: Magnetic resonance
imaging study
Authors: Taylor John-Paul , Firbank Michael J. , He Jiabao , Barnett Nicola , Pearce Sarah , Livingstone Anthea , Vuong Quoc , McKeith Ian G. , O'Brien John T.
Published: April 2012

Background

Visual hallucinations and visuoperceptual deficits are common in dementia
with Lewy bodies, suggesting that cortical visual function may be
abnormal.

Aims

To investigate: (1) cortical visual function using functional magnetic
resonance imaging (fMRI); and (2) the nature and severity of perfusion
deficits in visual areas using arterial spin labelling (ASL)-MRI.

Method

In total, 17 participants with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB group) and
19 similarly aged controls were presented with simple visual stimuli
(checkerboard, moving dots, and objects) during fMRI and subsequently
underwent ASL-MRI (DLB group n = 15, control group
n = 19).

Results

Functional activations were evident in visual areas in both the DLB and
control groups in response to checkerboard and objects stimuli but
reduced visual area V5/MT (middle temporal) activation occurred in the
DLB group in response to motion stimuli. Posterior cortical perfusion
deficits occurred in the DLB group, particularly in higher visual
areas.

Conclusions

Higher visual areas, particularly occipito-parietal, appear abnormal in
dementia with Lewy bodies, while there is a preservation of function in
lower visual areas (V1 and V2/3).
Skeletal Muscle Lipid Peroxidation and Insulin Resistance in Humans
Authors: Ingram Katherine H. , Hill Helliner , Moellering Douglas R. , Hill Bradford G. , Lara-Castro Cristina , Newcomer Bradley , Brandon L. Jerome , Ingalls Christopher P. , Penumetcha Meera , Rupp Jeffrey C. , Garvey W. Timothy
Published: April 2012

Objective:

The relationships among skeletal muscle lipid peroxidation, intramyocellular lipid content (IMCL), and insulin sensitivity were evaluated in nine insulin-sensitive (IS), 13 insulin-resistant (IR), and 10 adults with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Design:

Insulin sensitivity was assessed by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp [glucose disposal rate (GDR)]. Lipid peroxidation was assessed by 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE)-protein adducts and general oxidative stress by protein carbonyl content. All patients were sedentary.

Results:

Protein-HNE adducts were elevated 1.6-fold in T2DM compared with IS adults, whereas IR showed intermediate levels of HNE-modified proteins. Protein-HNE adducts correlated with GDR, waist circumference, and body mass index. IMCL was increased by 4.0- and 1.9-fold in T2DM and IR patients, respectively, compared with IS, and was correlated with GDR and waist circumference but not BMI. Protein carbonyls were not different among groups and did not correlate with any of the measured variables. Correlations were detected between IMCL and protein-HNE.

Conclusion:

Our data show for the first time that skeletal muscle protein-HNE adducts are related to the severity of insulin resistance in sedentary adults. These results suggest that muscle lipid peroxidation could be involved in the development of insulin resistance.
Developments and controversies in maxillofacial trauma: Repair of facial injuries
Authors: Perry Michael
Published: April 2012

Craniofacial trauma remains a common health problem throughout many areas of the UK. Although the ‘combination of alcohol and testosterone’ is often regarded as a major aetiological factor, a significant number of injuries are not related to either. Motor vehicle collisions and equine-related sports injuries in particular can result in devastating injuries to the skull and face and are frequently seen.Over the last few decades, management has moved away from closed methods to open exposure, anatomical reduction and internal ‘rigid’ fixation of facial fractures, with significant improvements in outcomes. Nevertheless, current management of ‘high energy’ or complex fractures can still result in residual functional disability and cosmetic deformity.Today’s challenge is to restore patients back to their pre-injury form and function, consistently, but this is not always possible. Greater understanding and a number of developments have significantly improved outcomes, although controversy still exists in some areas. Some of these will be discussed.
Dentistry: is there a need for international collaboration?
Authors: McDonald Fraser , Camilleri Simon
Published: April 2012

This article briefly discusses the changing profile of registrants with the General Dental Council and some of the challenges that exist to maintaining specialists. We highlight the potential for collaborating with overseas centres able to deliver specialist training and education.
Rewarding clinical excellence in the National Health Service
Authors: Jones Warren
Published: April 2012

This article is intended to provide an improved understanding of how the Clinical Excellence Awards (CEA) scheme works in England.The author was a member of the Cheshire and Mersey sub-committee from 2003–2009, the last 3 years being medical vice-chair.While the views represented within this article are intended to be as accurate as possible and are based on his experience, they are personal to the author, who no longer has any official role in the Advisory Committee on Clinical Excellence Awards (ACCEA) and do not necessarily represent the views of ACCEA.The official guide to the scheme is available at < http://www.dh.gov.uk/ab/ACCEA/index.htm >.
Academic dental training – what is happening?
Authors: Luther Friedy , Benson Philip E
Published: April 2012

This article discusses current academic pathways and future possibilities.
The future of the General Dental Council
Authors: Lockyer Alison
Published: April 2012

Alison Lockyer, Chair of the General Dental Council, looks ahead to the challenges facing the UK’s dental regulator.
The use of ‘brief motivational interventions’ to reduce hazardous drinking
Authors: Zabel Elisabeth , Bridgeman Kathryn , Shepherd Jonathan
Published: April 2012

The Royal College of Surgeons of England recently published a position statement on the treatment of alcohol misuse using brief interventions combined with maxillofacial and trauma care. This article gives an overview of the reasons for this statement, the evidence which provides the foundation for this new standard of care and practical advice about how to implement this.
Antithrombotic therapy: what the dental surgeon has to know
Authors: Kuzniatsova Nadzeya , Lip Gregory YH
Published: April 2012

Antithrombotic drugs are prescribed more and more often in medical practice. With a progressively aging population, the proportion of patients having prothrombotic medical conditions such as coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, venous thrombosis and many others increases dramatically. Anticoagulants or antiplatelet agents save thousands of lives annually but also introduce concerns of increased risk of bleeding, especially in the settings of elective surgery or invasive procedures.
Overview of conscious sedation for primary dental care
Authors: Wilson KE , Girdler NM
Published: April 2012

Effective control of pain and anxiety is an essential part of dental practice. Dental anxiety can act as a major barrier to the receipt of dental care, affecting both adults and children. The UK Adult Dental Health Survey reported that up to 45% of adults claimed fear was their reason for non-attendance at the dentist.1 Simple behavioural management techniques are used to effectively treat the majority of dental patients, however, where these have not been effective or are inappropriate, the use of conscious sedation may provide a safe and effective management option, with minimal physiological and psychological stress to the patient.2.
Screening for oral cancer
Authors: Porter Stephen R
Published: April 2012

Oral cancer remains an international health care problem. Many patients still present with late disease that can lead to early death. Screening might reduce the numbers of patients developing oral malignancy, but there are a number of potential roadblocks to such a programme. This article briefly reviews aspects of screening of oral malignancy.
Carious primary teeth in children: can or should they be left unrestored?
Authors: Duggal Monty
Published: April 2012

There is no doubt that the overall caries prevalence in the UK is amongst one of the lowest in Europe. However the generalised ‘average’ picture from a public dental health point of view can be misleading and not a representation of what the clinicians face day-to-day in NHS practice. It has become increasingly clear that children from deprived backgrounds bear the highest burden of disease.
Current ideas on the management of palatally displaced canines
Authors: Parkin Nicola , Benson Philip
Published: April 2012

An adolescent presenting with a palatally displaced canine (PDC) is a fairly common occurrence. The condition is expensive to treat as it involves surgical exposure (usually under general anaesthesia) followed by lengthy fixed orthodontic treatment at an average of two to three years. In the majority of cases alignment is successful. However if orthodontic alignment is unsuccessful and the tooth has to be surgically removed this can leave a large bony defect, which will be difficult to restore with a bridge or implant (see Figure 1). This article aims to give an overview of current principles and problems in the management of PDC.
How to be an orthodontist
Authors: Khan Sadaf , McNamara Clare
Published: April 2012

What will the future hold? On graduating from dental school, you are faced with endless possibilities with regards to the direction of your career. You may decide to concentrate on a career in general dental practice or you may find that certain areas of dentistry interest you more than others. This article looks at the specialty of orthodontics and what you would need to do if you wished to become an orthodontist.
A primary care practitioner’s experience of the Care Quality Commission’s registration process
Authors: Wise James
Published: April 2012

The Health and Social Care Act of 2008 has changed the way that health care is to be provided and regulated in England so that all users of healthcare services can expect a similar standard whatever service they use. For the first time private dental practices will be included. This article sets out the challenges faced by a single-handed practitioner when trying to register for this latest layer of bureaucracy.
Designing clinical networks to manage the oral health of older people
Authors: Brookes Vanita
Published: April 2012

The UK has an ageing population. The population of older people is increasing in both absolute and relative terms, with older people forming a larger proportion of the population. In 1984, 15% of the population was over 65. By 2034 this will increase to 23%. Between 2009 and 2034 the number of people over the age of 85 is projected to more than double, accounting for 5% of the total population by that time.1 Dental clinical networks can, and no doubt will, play a major role in caring for our older citizens.
Porcelain pornography
Authors: Kelleher Martin
Published: April 2012

I write to raise some issues involved in the blatant destruction of teeth, apparently being undertaken to cure patients affected by ‘porcelain deficiency disease’ (PDD). This is a newish disease, identified by some dentists who also seem to think that teeth suffer from ‘hyperenamelosis’ (an excess of enamel). It probably goes without saying that both of these conditions are imaginary yet it does appear to me, at times, that they are perceived to exist by some ‘cosmetic’ dentists. In this article I offer comments and case studies of patients who, arguably, have had unnecessarily aggressive treatment that was probably of more benefit to the profits of the dentists concerned than to the patients’ long-term dental health.
Minimising and managing nerve injuries in dental surgical procedures
Authors: Renton Tara
Published: April 2012

The most significant complications from dental surgical interventions are iatrogenic trigeminal nerve injuries, which can result in permanent altered sensation and pain, causing considerable functional and psychological disability. This paper provides some useful tips on minimising the risks of these injuries. By understanding the risk factors and modifying the resulting intervention, more of these injuries may be prevented.
TMJ imaging: more pictures, less talk
Authors: de C Williams Jimmy Makdissi
Published: April 2012

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a complex anatomical area consisting of the mandibular condyle and the temporal bone of the skull base. It comes under the influence of a number of factors including the muscles of mastication, teeth, occlusion and the contralateral joint and thus there exists a spectrum of conditions. Internal derangement and degenerative joint disease remain the most common although there are a range of other less frequently occurring conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, trauma and ankylosis.
Assessing small cohorts: can we be relied upon?
Authors: Chadwick Stephen , Holsgrove Gareth
Published: April 2012

Assessments need to be appropriate and credible. The reliability of many assessments can be calculated mathematically, the result of which is a reliability coefficient that has two main purposes. The first is to prove the accuracy of the assessment and, by implication, the pass/fail decisions made about the candidates. The second is to properly identify borderline candidates. For both of these calculations the assessment needs to contain a sufficient number of items or questions for the candidates and, crucially, there needs to be a sufficient quantity of candidates in the first place. This means that assessments involving only small cohorts are not able to demonstrate reliability directly. However, this does not necessarily make them unreliable – just unable to prove their reliability in the usual way. This paper discusses some issues of quality in assessments and outlines ways in which the quality of small cohort assessments can be demonstrated and maintained.
Changing the face of orthodontics with mini-implants
Authors: Cousley Richard RJ
Published: April 2012

Orthodontists are increasingly using mini-implants as invaluable treatment adjuncts. They provide independent, stable anchorage in routine cases and, furthermore, their use expands the range of malocclusions treatable by orthodontics. Indeed, the observations of novel clinical changes are beginning to alter long-held views on orthodontic biomechanics and dentoalveolar remodelling. This article will provide insight into how mini-implants are opening new horizons in orthodontics and their relevance to all dental specialists in terms of future treatment planning.
The endodontic-implant continuum
Authors: Alani Aws
Published: April 2012

The recent advancement and popularity of implants has resulted in some questionable debate when compared to endodontics as a treatment option. This article details some challenges that can be faced when providing each treatment and highlights the now topical interface between them.
Osteoblast cell signalling: have our views have changed?
Authors: McDonald Fraser
Published: April 2012

Many theories are advanced with respect to the behaviour of bone under external loading. Essentially they divide into external loading (with respect to tension and compression), tissue-fluid-based theories and electrical-based theories. While this appears to be a distinct classification with regard to an understanding of these theories, it must be emphasised that each theory has a significant inter-relationship with the others. It is also essential to differentiate that, while an effect can be identified at the cellular level, the relative importance and significance of this can be limited in vivo and its relative role and importance overwhelmed by other loading issues. In this article consideration is given to a possible basis of orthodontic tooth movement and like so many other hypotheses it is difficult to directly evaluate and measure; it must be considered by deduction of current known facts. The concept was initially reported when comparing bone remodelling in a femur with orthodontic tooth movement;1 further data is now available although the concept is not completely acceptable. It does, however, produce an explanation for some clinical findings which assist us in our orthodontic care delivery.
Providing safe and effective sedation training for primary dental care
Authors: Robb Nigel
Published: April 2012

There has been more written in terms of guidance, guidelines, advice and general perceived wisdom on the use of sedation in dentistry than on any other individual topic within the scope of dental practice. Despite all the efforts, confusion still seems to reign regarding standards of good practice and the training required to deliver care under conscious sedation in dentistry.
Thyroid disease: what the dental surgeon has to know
Authors: Wai Fong Jim Chi , Watkinson John
Published: April 2012

This article aims to outline normal thyroid physiology, the diagnosis and management of thyroid disorders, and the relationship between dental practice and thyroid disease.
The Odontological Collection at The Royal College of Surgeons of England
Authors: Farrell Milly
Published: April 2012

This article reviews the history and contents of the Odontological Collection held at The Royal College of Surgeons of England. This dentally relevant resource consists of a vast range of human and animal material that has been collected over the last two centuries. Here the variety and scope of the material will be summarised and, in doing so, hopefully demonstrate its potential for future research. Information on accessing the collection will also be provided. The recataloguing of the Odontological Collection commenced in 2008 and all details of the human material are now available to be viewed online at http://surgicat.rcseng.ac.uk/ .
Pulsed chronopotentiometric membrane electrodes based on plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) with covalently bound ferrocene functionalities as solid contact transducer
Authors: Pawlak Marcin , Grygolowicz-Pawlak Ewa , Bakker Eric
Published: April 2012

Ion-selective membrane materials based on poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)-containing covalently attached redox-active ferrocene (Fc) groups are characterized here as all-solid-state pulsed voltammetric ion sensors. The redox capacity of the membrane increases 7-fold with a doubling of the Fc content and 3-fold with the addition of 10 wt % of the lipophilic electrolyte ETH 500, tetradodecylammonium tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate. This salt improves the ionic conductivity of the membrane and appears to make the Fc groups electrochemically more accessible. A too high content of the two, on the other hand, was found to cause undesired sensitivity to redox-active species present in the sample solution. Dilution of the membrane with a plasticizer eliminated this redox sensitivity while preserving its high redox capacity. A practical application of the designed electrodes in electrochemical analysis was demonstrated with a multi-pulse protocol that includes a current-controlled ion uptake pulse, followed by an open-circuit potential (OCP) measurement and a regeneration pulse. Potentiometric calibration curves obtained with this protocol exhibited a linear response with near-Nernstian slopes for acetate, nitrate, chloride, and perchlorate ions with the selectivity expected for an ion-exchanging membrane.
Art as enquiry: Towards a research method that holds soul truth
Authors: Allen Pat B.
Published: April 2012

This article traces the development of a way of working using art and writing as a systematic methodology for research that can be considered a specific lineage in expressive art therapy following from the contributions of Carl Jung, especially his The Red Book. It calls for art not
only to come into regular use as a form of enquiry but also argues that research outcomes can be presented in aesthetic forms in which narratives are enacted performatively. By remaining tied to academic forms in either our methods or our presentation of outcomes, researchers disable the emergence
of new knowing and diminish the possibility of change and transformation.
Where are the five chapters?: Challenges and opportunities in mentoring students with art-based dissertations
Authors: Atkins Sally
Published: April 2012

This article explores the author’s experiences of serving on dissertation committees in which a primary methodology is art-based. Experiences at two different universities, one a state university in the United States and one an international graduate school in Europe, reveal both
challenges and opportunities discovered in working with these new methodologies. The author reflects on her experiences with the student researchers, with faculty colleagues, with the institutional cultures of the universities, and with the author’s own struggles to learn new ways of
thinking about the world of researchers conducting narrative, ritual, movement, musical, performative, poetic and visual forms of enquiry.