bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Glaucoma Diagnostic Accuracy of Machine Learning Classifiers Using Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer and Optic Nerve Data from SD-OCT
Authors: Barella Kleyton Arlindo , Costa Vital Paulino , Gonçalves Vidotti Vanessa , Silva Fabrício Reis , Dias Marcelo , Gomi Edson Satoshi
Published: November 2013

Purpose. To investigate the diagnostic accuracy of machine learning classifiers (MLCs) using retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and optic nerve (ON) parameters obtained with spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).Methods. Fifty-seven patients with early to moderate primary open angle glaucoma and 46 healthy patients were recruited. All 103 patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, achromatic standard automated perimetry, and imaging with SD-OCT. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were built for RNFL and ON parameters. Ten MLCs were tested. Areas under ROC curves (aROCs) obtained for each SD-OCT parameter and MLC were compared.Results. The mean age was56.5±8.9years for healthy individuals and59.9±9.0years for glaucoma patients (P=0.054). Mean deviation values were −1.4 dB for healthy individuals and −4.0 dB for glaucoma patients (P<0.001). SD-OCT parameters with the greatest aROCs were cup/disc area ratio (0.846) and average cup/disc (0.843). aROCs obtained with classifiers varied from 0.687 (CTREE) to 0.877 (RAN). The aROC obtained with RAN (0.877) was not significantly different from the aROC obtained with the best single SD-OCT parameter (0.846) (P=0.542).Conclusion. MLCs showed good accuracy but did not improve the sensitivity and specificity of SD-OCT for the diagnosis of glaucoma.
Optimal Bounds for Neuman Means in Terms of Harmonic and Contraharmonic Means
Authors: He Zai-Yin , Chu Yu-Ming , Wang Miao-Kun
Published: November 2013

Fora,b>0witha≠b, the Schwab-Borchardt meanSB(a,b)is defined asSB(a,b)={b2-a2/cos-1(a/b) ifab. In this paper, we find the greatest values ofα1andα2and the least values ofβ1andβ2in[0,1/2]such thatH(α1a+(1-α1)b,α1b+(1-α1)a)<SAH(a,b)<H(β1a+(1-β1)b,β1b+(1-β1)a)andH(α2a+(1-α2)b,α2b+(1-α2)a)<SHA(a,b)<H(β2a+(1-β2)b,β2b+(1-β2)a). Similarly, we also find the greatest values ofα3andα4and the least values ofβ3andβ4in[1/2,1]such thatC(α3a+(1-α3)b,α3b+(1-α3)a)<SCA(a,b)<C(β3a+(1-β3)b,β3b+(1-β3)a)andC(α4a+(1-α4)b,α4b+(1-α4)a)<SAC(a,b)<C(β4a+(1-β4)b,β4b+(1-β4)a). Here,H(a,b)=2ab/(a+b),A(a,b)=(a+b)/2, andC(a,b)=(a2+b2)/(a+b)are the harmonic, arithmetic, and contraharmonic means, respectively, andSHA(a,b)=SB(H,A),SAH(a,b)=SB(A,H),SCA(a,b)=SB(C,A), andSAC(a,b)=SB(A,C)are four Neuman means derived from the Schwab-Borchardt mean.
Circulation of HIV-1 CRF02_AG among MSM Population in Central Italy: A Molecular Epidemiology-Based Study
Authors: Giuliani Massimo , Santoro Maria M. , Lo Presti Alessandra , Cella Eleonora , Scognamiglio Paola , Lai Alessia , Latini Alessandra , Fabeni Lavinia , Gori Caterina , Pinnetti Carmela , Girardi Enrico , Perno Carlo F. , Zehender Gianguglielmo , Ciccozzi Massimo
Published: November 2013

Introduction. The evolutionary and demographic history of the circular recombinant form CRF02_AG in a selected retrospective group of HIV-1 infected men who have sex with men (MSM) resident in Central Italy was investigated.Methods. A total of 55 HIV-1 subtype CRF02_AGpolsequences were analyzed using Bayesian methods and a relaxed molecular clock to reconstruct their dated phylogeny and estimate population dynamics.Results. Dated phylogeny indicated that the HIV-1 CRF02_AG strains currently circulating in Central Italy originated in the early 90's. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis revealed the existence of a main HIV-1 CRF02_AG clade, introduced in the area of Rome before 2000 and subsequently differentiated in two different subclades with a different date of introduction (2000 versus 2005). All the sequences within clusters were interspersed, indicating that the MSM analyzed form a close and restricted network where the individuals, also moving within different clinical centers, attend the same places to meet and exchange sex.Conclusions. It was suggested that the HIV-1 CRF02_AG epidemic entered central Italy in the early 1990s, with a similar trend observed in western Europe.
A Note on Certain Modular Equations about Infinite Products of Ramanujan
Authors: Zhai Hong-Cun
Published: November 2013

Ramanujan proposed additive formulae of theta functions that are related to modular equations about infinite products. Employing these formulaes, we derived some identities on infinite products. In the same spirit, we also could present elementary and simple proofs of certain Ramanujan's modular equations on infinite products.
The Experimental Analysis of Forming and Strength of Clinch Riveting Sheet Metal Joint Made of Different Materials
Authors: Mucha Jacek , Kaščák L'uboš , Spišák Emil
Published: November 2013

The paper presents the pressed joint technology using forming process with or without additional fastener. The capabilities for increasing the load-carrying ability of mechanical joints by applying special rivets and dies were presented. The experimental research focused on joining steel sheet metal made of different materials. The joint forming was performed with the solid round die and rectangular split die for riveted joint forming. The load-carrying ability of joints was evaluated by measuring the maximum load force in the shearing test in the tensile testing machine. The effect of joint forming process on joined material strain was compared by measuring the microhardness of the joints.
Fault Detection for a Class of Uncertain Linear Systems
Authors: Su Qingyu , Li Jian
Published: November 2013

Design problem of the fault detection filter for a class of uncertain feedback systems is discussed in this paper. The system under consideration is the model with the nonstandard parameter uncertain regions. The fault detection filter design problem is reduced to an optimized filter design problem, which maximizes the sensitivity of the fault in the fault cases and meets the disturbance attenuation performance in both fault-free cases and fault cases, simultaneously. A numerical example is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design method.
Synthesis and Characterization of Lithium-Substituted Cu-Mn Ferrite Nanoparticles
Authors: Quraishi M. A. Mohshin , Khan M. H. R.
Published: November 2013

The effect of Li substitution on the structural and magnetic properties of LixCu0.12Mn0.88−2xFe2+xO4(x= 0.00, 0.10, 0.20, 0.30, 0.40, and 0.44) ferrite nanoparticles prepared by combustion technique has been investigated. Structural and surface morphology have been studied by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and high-resolution optical microscope, respectively. The observed particle size of various LixCu0.12Mn0.88−2xFe2+xO4is found to be in the range of 9 nm to 30 nm. XRD result confirms single-phase spinel structure for each composition. The lattice constant increases with increasing Li content. The bulk density shows a decreasing trend with Li substitution. The real part of initial permeability (μi′) and the grain size (D) increase with increasing Li content. It has been observed that the higher theμi′is, the lower the resonance frequency in LixCu0.12Mn0.88−2xFe2+xO4ferrites is.
Some New Oscillation Criteria for a Class of Nonlinear Fractional Differential Equations with Damping Term
Authors: Zheng Bin , Feng Qinghua
Published: November 2013

We are concerned with oscillation of solutions of a class of nonlinear fractional differential equations with damping term. Based on a generalized Riccati function and inequality technique, we establish some new oscillation criteria for it. Some applications are also presented for the established results.
Immunoreactivity of the 14F7 Mab Raised against N-Glycolyl GM3 Ganglioside in Primary Lymphoid Tumors and Lymph Node Metastasis
Authors: Blanco Rancés , Blanco Damián , Quintana Yisel , Escobar Xiomara , Rengifo Charles E. , Osorio Marta , Gutiérrez Zailí , Lamadrid Janet , Cedeño Mercedes , Frómeta Milagros , Carr Adriana , Rengifo Enrique
Published: November 2013

The reactivity of the 14F7 Mab, a highly specific IgG1 against N-glycolyl GM3 ganglioside (NeuGcGM3) in normal tissues, lymphomas, lymph node metastasis, and other metastatic sites was assessed by immunohistochemistry. In addition, the effect of chemical fixation on the 14F7 Mab staining using monolayers of P3X63Ag.653 cells was also evaluated. Moreover, the ability of 14F7 to bind NeuGcGM3 ganglioside inducing complement-independent cytotoxicity by a flow cytometry-based assay was measured. The 14F7 Mab was reactive in unfixed, 4% paraformaldehyde, 4% formaldehyde, and acetone fixed cells. Postfixation with acetone did not alter the localization of NeuGcGM3, while the staining with 14F7 Mab was significantly eliminated in both cells fixed and postfixed with methanol but only partially reduced with ethanol. The staining with 14F7 Mab was evidenced in the 89.2%, 89.4%, and 88.9% of lymphomas, lymph node metastasis, and other metastatic sites, respectively, but not in normal tissues. The treatment with 14F7 Mab affected both morphology and membrane integrity of P3X63Ag.653 cells. This cytotoxic activity was dose-dependent and ranged from 24.0 to 84.7% (10–1000 μg/mL) as compared to the negative control. Our data could support the possible use of NeuGcGM3 as target for both active and passive immunotherapy against malignancies expressing this molecule.
A Systems-Pharmacology Analysis of Herbal Medicines Used in Health Improvement Treatment: Predicting Potential New Drugs and Targets
Authors: Liu Jianling , Pei Mengjie , Zheng Chunli , Li Yan , Wang Yonghua , Lu Aiping , Yang Ling
Published: November 2013

For thousands of years, tonic herbs have been successfully used all around the world to improve health, energy, and vitality. However, their underlying mechanisms of action in molecular/systems levels are still a mystery. In this work, two sets of tonic herbs, so called Qi-enriching herbs (QEH) and Blood-tonifying herbs (BTH) in TCM, were selected to elucidate why they can restore proper balance and harmony inside body, organ and energy system. Firstly, a pattern recognition model based on artificial neural network and discriminant analysis for assessing the molecular difference between QEH and BTH was developed. It is indicated that QEH compounds have high lipophilicity while BTH compounds possess high chemical reactivity. Secondly, a systematic investigation integrating ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) prediction, target fishing and network analysis was performed and validated on these herbs to obtain the compound-target associations for reconstructing the biologically-meaningful networks. The results suggest QEH enhance physical strength, immune system and normal well-being, acting as adjuvant therapy for chronic disorders while BTH stimulate hematopoiesis function in body. As an emerging approach, the systems pharmacology model might facilitate to understand the mechanisms of action of the tonic herbs, which brings about new development for complementary and alternative medicine.
Research on Large-Scale Road Network Partition and Route Search Method Combined with Traveler Preferences
Authors: Yu De-Xin , Yang Zhao-Sheng , Yu Yao , Jiang Xiu-Rong
Published: November 2013

Combined with improved Pallottino parallel algorithm, this paper proposes a large-scale route search method, which considers travelers’ route choice preferences. And urban road network is decomposed into multilayers effectively. Utilizing generalized travel time as road impedance function, the method builds a new multilayer and multitasking road network data storage structure with object-oriented class definition. Then, the proposed path search algorithm is verified by using the real road network of Guangzhou city as an example. By the sensitive experiments, we make a comparative analysis of the proposed path search method with the current advanced optimal path algorithms. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can increase the road network search efficiency by more than 16% under different search proportion requests, node numbers, and computing process numbers, respectively. Therefore, this method is a great breakthrough in the guidance field of urban road network.
A Liouville Type Result for Schrödinger Equation on Half-Spaces
Authors: Liu Baiyu
Published: November 2013

We consider a nonlinear Schrödinger equation with a singular potential on half spaces. Using a Hardy-type inequality and the moving plane method, we obtain a Liouville type result for its nonnegative solutions.
Recentering Shape Memory Alloy Passive Damper for Structural Vibration Control
Authors: Qian Hui , Li Hongnan , Song Gangbing , Guo Wei
Published: November 2013

This paper presents a preliminary study on the evaluation of an innovative energy dissipation system with shape memory alloys (SMAs) for structural seismic protection. A recentering shape memory alloy damper (RSMAD), in which superelastic nitinol wires are utilized as energy dissipation components, is proposed. Improved constitutive equations based on Graesser and Cozzarelli model are proposed for superelastic nitinol wires used in the damper. Cyclic tensile-compressive tests on the damper with various prestrain under different loading frequencies and displacement amplitudes were conducted. The results show that the hysteretic behaviors of the damper can be modified to best fit the needs for passive structural control applications by adjusting the pretension of the nitinol wires, and the damper performance is not sensitive to frequencies greater than 0.5 Hz. To assess the effectiveness of the dampers for structural seismic protection, nonlinear time history analysis on a ten-story steel frame with and without the dampers subjected to representative earthquake ground motions was performed. The simulation results indicate that superelastic SMA dampers are effective in mitigating the structural response of building structures subjected to strong earthquakes.
Intoxication by Intraperitoneal Injection or Oral Gavage Equally Potentiates Postburn Organ Damage and Inflammation
Authors: Chen Michael M. , Palmer Jessica L. , Ippolito Jill A. , Curtis Brenda J. , Choudhry Mashkoor A. , Kovacs Elizabeth J.
Published: November 2013

The increasing prevalence of binge drinking and its association with trauma necessitate accurate animal models to examine the impact of intoxication on the response and outcome to injuries such as burn. While much research has focused on the effect of alcohol dose and duration on the subsequent inflammatory parameters following burn, little evidence exists on the effect of the route of alcohol administration. We examined the degree to which intoxication before burn injury causes systemic inflammation when ethanol is given by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection or oral gavage. We found that intoxication potentiates postburn damage in the ileum, liver, and lungs of mice to an equivalent extent when either ethanol administration route is used. We also found a similar hematologic response and levels of circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6) when either ethanol paradigm achieved intoxication before burn. Furthermore, both i.p. and gavage resulted in similar blood alcohol concentrations at all time points tested. Overall, our data show an equal inflammatory response to burn injury when intoxication is achieved by either i.p. injection or oral gavage, suggesting that findings from studies using either ethanol paradigm are directly comparable.
Comparison of Two Inoculation Methods for Evaluating Maize for Resistance toAspergillus flavusInfection and Aflatoxin Accumulation
Authors: Williams W. Paul , Alpe Michael N. , Windham Gary L. , Ozkan Seval , Mylroie J. Erik
Published: November 2013

Aflatoxin, the most potent carcinogen found in nature, is produced by the fungusAspergillus flavusand occurs naturally in maize,Zea maysL. Growing maize hybrids with genetic resistance to aflatoxin contamination are generally considered a highly desirable way to reduce losses to aflatoxin. Developing resistant hybrids requires reliable inoculation methods for screening maize germplasm for resistance toA. flavusinfection and aflatoxin accumulation. The side-needle technique is a widely used inoculation technique: anA. flavusconidial suspension is injected underneath the husks into the side of the ear. This wounds the ear and limits expression of resistance associated with husk coverage, pericarp thickness, and seed coat integrity. In this investigation, the side-needle technique was compared with a second inoculation method that involved dispensing wheat kernels infected withA. flavusinto plant whorls at 35 and 49 days after planting. Results showed that although the side-needle technique produced higher levels of aflatoxin accumulation, differences inA. flavusbiomass produced by the two inoculation techniques were not significant. Both inoculation techniques were effective in differentiating resistant and susceptible single cross hybrids irrespective of the use ofA. flavusinfection or aflatoxin accumulation as a basis to define resistance.
Queueing System with Heterogeneous Customers as a Model of a Call Center with a Call-Back for Lost Customers
Authors: Dudin Sergey , Kim Chesoong , Dudina Olga , Baek Janghyun
Published: November 2013

A multiserver queueing system with infinite and finite buffers, two types of customers, and two types of servers as a model of a call center with a call-back for lost customers is investigated. Type 1 customers arrive to the system according to a Markovian arrival process. All rejected type 1 customers become type 2 customers. Typer,r=1,2, servers serve typercustomers if there are any in the system and serve typer′,r′=1,2,  r′≠r,customers if there are no typercustomers in the system. The service times of different types of customers have an exponential distribution with different parameters. The steady-state distribution of the system is analyzed. Some key performance measures are calculated. The Laplace-Stieltjes transform of the sojourn time distribution of type 2 customers is derived. The problem of optimal choice of the number of each type servers is solved numerically.
Perioperative Management of Interscalene Block in Patients with Lung Disease
Authors: Schwenk Eric S. , Gandhi Kishor , Viscusi Eugene R.
Published: November 2013

Interscalene nerve block impairs ipsilateral lung function and is relatively contraindicated for patients with lung impairment. We present a case of an 89-year-old female smoker with prior left lung lower lobectomy and mild to moderate lung disease who presented for right shoulder arthroplasty and insisted on regional anesthesia. The patient received a multimodal perioperative regimen that consisted of a continuous interscalene block, acetaminophen, ketorolac, and opioids. Surgery proceeded uneventfully and postoperative analgesia was excellent. Pulmonary physiology and management of these patients will be discussed. A risk/benefit discussion should occur with patients having impaired lung function before performance of interscalene blocks. In this particular patient with mild to moderate disease, analgesia was well managed through a multimodal approach including a continuous interscalene block, and close monitoring of respiratory status took place throughout the perioperative period, leading to a successful outcome.
Preclinical Therapeutic Efficacy of a Novel Pharmacologic Inducer of Apoptosis in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors
Authors: Chau Vincent , Lim S. Kyun , Mo Wei , Liu Chiachi , Patel Amish J. , McKay Renée M. , Wei Shuguang , Posner Bruce A. , De Brabander Jef K. , Williams Noelle S. , Parada Luis F. , Le Lu Q.
Published: November 2013

Neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) is an autosomal disorder that affects neural crest-derived tissues, leading to a wide spectrum of clinical presentations. Patients commonly present with plexiform neurofibromas, benign but debilitating growths that can transform into malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST), a main cause of mortality. Currently, surgery is the primary course of treatment for MPNST, but with the limitation that these tumors are highly invasive. Radiotherapy is another treatment option, but is undesirable because it can induce additional mutations. Patients with MPNST may also receive doxorubicin as therapy, but this DNA-intercalating agent has relatively low tumor specificity and limited efficacy. In this study, we exploited a robust genetically engineered mouse model of MPNST that recapitulates human NF1-associated MPNST to identify a novel small chemical compound that inhibits tumor cell growth. Compound 21 (Cpd21) inhibits growth of all available in vitro models of MPNST and human MPNST cell lines, while remaining nontoxic to normally dividing Schwann cells or mouse embryonic fibroblasts. We show that this compound delays the cell cycle and leads to cellular apoptosis. Moreover, Cpd21 can reduce MPNST burden in a mouse allograft model, underscoring the compound's potential as a novel chemotherapeutic agent. Cancer Res; 74(2); 586–97. ©2013 AACR.
Blocking Lactate Export by Inhibiting the Myc Target MCT1 Disables Glycolysis and Glutathione Synthesis
Authors: Doherty Joanne R. , Yang Chunying , Scott Kristen E.N. , Cameron Michael D. , Fallahi Mohammad , Li Weimin , Hall Mark A. , Amelio Antonio L. , Mishra Jitendra K. , Li Fangzheng , Tortosa Mariola , Genau Heide Marika , Rounbehler Robert J. , Lu Yunqi , Dang Chi V. , Kumar K. Ganesh , Butler Andrew A. , Bannister Thomas D. , Hooper Andrea T. , Unsal-Kacmaz Keziban , Roush William R. , Cleveland John L.
Published: November 2013

Myc oncoproteins induce genes driving aerobic glycolysis, including lactate dehydrogenase-A that generates lactate. Here, we report that Myc controls transcription of the lactate transporter SLC16A1/MCT1 and that elevated MCT1 levels are manifest in premalignant and neoplastic Eμ-Myc transgenic B cells and in human malignancies with MYC or MYCN involvement. Notably, disrupting MCT1 function leads to an accumulation of intracellular lactate that rapidly disables tumor cell growth and glycolysis, provoking marked alterations in glycolytic intermediates, reductions in glucose transport, and in levels of ATP, NADPH, and ultimately, glutathione (GSH). Reductions in GSH then lead to increases in hydrogen peroxide, mitochondrial damage, and ultimately, cell death. Finally, forcing glycolysis by metformin treatment augments this response and the efficacy of MCT1 inhibitors, suggesting an attractive combination therapy for MYC/MCT1-expressing malignancies. Cancer Res; 74(3); 908–20. ©2013 AACR.
Targeting Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition with Met Inhibitors Reverts Chemoresistance in Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Cañadas Israel , Rojo Federico , Taus Álvaro , Arpí Oriol , Arumí-Uría Montserrat , Pijuan Lara , Menéndez Silvia , Zazo Sandra , Dómine Manuel , Salido Marta , Mojal Sergi , García de Herreros Antonio , Rovira Ana , Albanell Joan , Arriola Edurne
Published: November 2013

Purpose: Met receptor phosphorylation is associated with poor prognosis in human small cell lung cancer (SCLC). The aim of our work was to investigate the effects of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/Met–mediated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in SCLC and to evaluate the role of Met inhibition in mesenchymal/chemorefractory SCLC models.

Experimental Design: SCLC models of HGF-induced EMT were evaluated in vitro and in vivo (subcutaneous xenografts in BALB/c nude mice) for chemosensitivity and response to Met inhibition with PF-2341066 (crizotinib). Human SCLC samples at diagnosis (N = 87) and relapse (N = 5) were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence for EMT markers and Met status and these were correlated with patient outcome.

Results: We identified that the activation of the Met receptor through HGF induced expression of mesenchymal markers, an aggressive phenotype, and chemoresistance. Blockade of this process with the Met inhibitor resensitized cells to chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, mesenchymal markers in human SCLC specimens were associated with Met activation, predicted worse survival, and were upregulated in chemorefractory disease.

Conclusion: These results provide novel evidence on an important role of Met-dependent EMT in the adverse clinical behavior of SCLC and support clinical trials of Met inhibitors and chemotherapy in this fatal disease. Clin Cancer Res; 20(4); 938–50. ©2013 AACR.
Cabozantinib and Prostate Cancer: Inhibiting Seed and Disrupting Soil?
Authors: Lee Richard J. , Smith Matthew R.
Published: November 2013

Treatment with cabozantinib, an inhibitor of MET and VEGFR2 signaling, has demonstrated clinical benefit in early trials in men with metastatic prostate cancer. Preclinical evidence suggests that cabozantinib can kill cancer cell seeds while disrupting angiogenesis and stromal cells in the metastatic soil. Clin Cancer Res; 20(3); 525–7. ©2013 AACR.
Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome with a Type 2B Phenotype: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemmas
Authors: Scepansky Ellen , Othman Maha , Smith Hedy
Published: November 2013

In this report, we provide evidence of an acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) with a type 2B phenotype rather than the expected type 1 or 2A. The patient was referred prior to surgical removal of a fibrous mass within the maxillary sinus. His first bleeding 7 years earlier following a retinal tear had been complicated by monocular blindness. Several mucocutanous bleedings followed. Hematological investigations revealed von Willebrand factor (VWF):Ag 91 IU/ml, factor VIII 86 IU/ml, VWF:RCo 34 IU/ml and profound thrombocytopenia with platelet clumping. VWF multimer analysis showed a loss of high-molecular-weight multimers and his plasma aggregated normal platelets under low ristocetin concentration, consistent with type 2B von Willebrand disease (VWD). Sequencing of VWF exon 28 and of the platelet GP1BA gene to investigate the possibility of platelet-type VWD failed to reveal mutations. Serum protein electrophoresis showed a monoclonal IgG protein and led to the diagnosis of monoclonal gammopathy of unknown significance (MGUS), raising suspicion of an AVWS. Over 2 years, he experienced severe gingival bleedings and traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage. Following debridement of the sinus mass, the patient required 20 units of packed red blood cells, despite high-dose Humate-P, continuous Amicar and twice-daily platelet transfusions. Bleeding finally ceased following infusion of activated factor VIIa. A history of prior uncomplicated vasectomy and tendon laceration, no family history of bleeding, the inability to identify a causative mutation in either exon 28 VWF or platelet GP1BA and the MGUS led to diagnosis of AVWS with a type 2B phenotype. This case highlights the difficulties in assigning a diagnosis and the management of bleeding in a patient with an atypical presentation of AVWS.
Contribution of Polyclonal Free Light Chain Deposition to Tubular Injury
Authors: Parasuraman Ravi , Wolforth Stacy C. , Wiesend Wendy N. , Dumler Francis , Rooney Michele T. , Li Wei , Zhang Ping L.
Published: November 2013

Introduction: Excretion of monoclonal free light chains (MFLC) beyond the renal threshold can cause kidney injury, but evidence for polyclonal free light chains (PFLC)-mediated injury is limited. We aimed to study the degree of PFLC deposition in the proximal tubules of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and hypothesized that excess deposition may contribute to tubular injury. Methods: In this retrospective study, immunohistochemical staining to assess the degree of FLC deposition, periodic acid-Schiff staining for the degree of tubular brush border injury and trichrome staining for interstitial fibrosis were evaluated. Normal renal parenchyma from tumor nephrectomy specimens (control group I, n = 39), minimal change disease controls (group II, n = 13), renal biopsies from CKD and proteinuria (polyclonal study group III, n = 33) and monoclonal light chain nephropathy (group IV, n = 37) were studied. The results of the study including serum creatinine were compared between groups. Results: Both polyclonal and monoclonal groups (groups III and IV) had significantly higher light chain deposition and brush border injury by periodic acid-Schiff scores compared to control groups (groups I and II). When the first three polyclonal groups (groups I-III) were analyzed together, polyclonal light chain deposition was significantly correlated with serum creatinine levels, brush border injury and interstitial fibrosis. Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that in CKD patients with proteinuria, excess PFLC deposition in the proximal tubules may cause acute tubular injury akin to monoclonal gammopathy and lead to renal chronicity.
Medical literature, vena cava filters and evidence of efficacy
Authors: Meyer Guy , Parent Florence , Mismetti Patrick , Girard Philippe
Published: November 2013

Up to 15% of all patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) receive an inferior vena cava filter, and prophylactic placements are increasing. To determine whether current use of filters is based on robust evidence, a global review of the recent (2001–2012) literature on filters was undertaken. The MEDLINE database was searched for articles related to filters appearing during the period 2001–2012, updating a prior search of literature from 1975–2001. All retrieved articles were analysed, classified into predetermined categories and compared to the prior analysis; randomised and large (>100 patients with a filter) comparative non-randomised clinical studies were read in full. The 651 articles, vs 568 in the period 1975–2000, consisted mainly of retrospective series (37.8%), case reports (31.7%), reviews (14.7%, vs 6.7%, p<0.001), animal and/or in vitro studies (7.5%, vs 12.9%, p=0.002), and prospective series or trials (4.9%, vs 7.4%, p=0.07). Of 4 new randomised trials (RCT), none were designed to test the efficacy of the device; to date, only one RCT has attempted to ascertain efficacy, occurring during the period 1975–2000. Eleven large non-randomised studies compared clinical outcomes of patients with and without filters, in VTE patients (n=5) or prophylactic indications (n=6); two studies found statistically significant relationships between filter use and lower mortality rates, though none could demonstrate a causal relationship. Hence, the plethoric literature on filters parallels growing experience with these devices, but still fails to provide reliable evidence that filter use improves relevant clinical outcomes. No indication for filter placement is based on appropriate scientific evidence.
Update on selective treatments targeting neutrophilic inflammation in atherogenesis and atherothrombosis
Authors: Quinderé Ana Luíza Gomes , Benevides Norma Maria Barros , Carbone Federico , Mach François , Vuilleumier Nicolas , Montecucco Fabrizio
Published: November 2013

Atherosclerosis is the most common pathological process underlying cardiovascular diseases. Current therapies are largely focused on alleviating hyperlipidaemia and preventing thrombotic complications, but do not completely eliminate risk of suffering recurrent acute ischaemic events. Specifically targeting the inflammatory processes may help to reduce this residual risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in atherosclerotic patients. The involvement of neutrophils in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis is an emerging field, where evidence for their causal contribution during various stages of atherosclerosis is accumulating. Therefore, the identification of neutrophils as a potential therapeutic target may offer new therapeutic perspective to reduce the current atherosclerotic burden. This narrative review highlights the expanding role of neutrophils in atherogenesis and discusses on the potential treatment targeting neutrophil-related inflammation and associated atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability.
Unanswered questions and research priorities to optimise stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation with the new oral anticoagulants
Authors: Hankey Graeme J.
Published: November 2013

This review article discusses the following, as yet unanswered, questions and research priorities to optimise patient management and stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation with the new direct oral anticoagulants (NOACs): 1. In patients prescribed a NOAC, can the anticoagulant effects or plasma concentrations of the NOACs be measured rapidly and reliably and, if so, can “cut-off points” between which anticoagulation is therapeutic (i.e. the “therapeutic range”) be defined? 2. In patients who are taking a NOAC and bleeding (e.g. intracerebral haemorrhage), can the anticoagulant effects of the direct NOACs be reversed rapidly and, if so, can NOAC-associated bleeding and complications be minimised and patient outcome improved? 3. In patients taking a NOAC who experience an acute ischaemic stroke, to what degree of anticoagulation or plasma concentration of NOAC, if any, can thrombolysis be administered safely and effectively? 4. In patients with a recent cardioembolic ischaemic stroke, what is the optimal time to start (or re-start) anticoagulation with a NOAC (or warfarin)? 5. In anticoagulated patients who experience an intracranial haemorrhage, can anticoagulation with a NOAC be re-started safely and effectively, and if so when? 6. Are the NOACs effective and safe in multimorbid geriatric people (who commonly have atrial fibrillation and are at high risk of stroke but also bleeding)? 7. Can dose-adjusted NOAC therapy augment the established safety and efficacy of fixed-dose unmonitored NOAC therapy? 8. Is there a dose or dosing regimen for each NOAC that is as effective and safe as adjusted-dose warfarin for patients with atrial fibrillation who have mechanical prosthetic heart valves? 9. What is the long-term safety of the NOACs?
Changes in Ultrasound-Assessed Carotid Intima-Media Thickness and Plaque With a Mediterranean Diet
Authors: Sala-Vila Aleix , Romero-Mamani Edwin-Saúl , Gilabert Rosa , Núñez Isabel , de la Torre Rafael , Corella Dolores , Ruiz-Gutiérrez Valentina , López-Sabater María-Carmen , Pintó Xavier , Rekondo Javier , Martínez-González Miguel-Ángel , Estruch Ramon , Ros Emilio
Published: November 2013

Objective—

The Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea (PREDIMED) trial showed that a Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) supplemented with either extra virgin olive oil or 30 g/d of mixed nuts reduced incident cardiovascular events compared with a control (low fat) diet. The mechanisms of cardiovascular protection afforded by MedDiets remain to be uncovered. We assessed the effect of both supplemented MedDiets on internal carotid intima-media thickness (ICA-IMT) and plaque height, the ultrasound features that best predict future cardiovascular events, in subjects at high cardiovascular risk.

Approach and Results—

In a PREDIMED subcohort (n=175), plaque height and carotid IMT of 3 prespecified segments (ICA, bifurcation, and common) were sonographically assessed at baseline and after intervention for a mean of 2.4 years. We evaluated 164 subjects with complete data. In a multivariate model, mean ICA-IMT progressed in the control diet group (mean [95% confidence interval], 0.052 mm [−0.014 to 0.118 mm]), whereas it regressed in the MedDiet+nuts group (−0.084 mm [−0.158 to −0.010 mm];
P
=0.024 versus control). Similar results were observed for maximum ICA-IMT (control, 0.188 mm [0.077 to 0.299 mm]; MedDiet+nuts, −0.030 mm [−0.153 to 0.093 mm];
P
=0.034) and maximum plaque height (control, 0.106 mm [0.001 to 0.210 mm]; MedDiet+nuts, −0.091 mm [−0.206 to 0.023 mm];
P
=0.047). There were no changes in ICA-IMT or plaque after the MedDiet+extra virgin olive oil.

Conclusions—

Compared with a control diet, consumption of a MedDiet supplemented with nuts is associated with delayed progression of ICA-IMT and plaque. The results contribute mechanistic evidence for the reduction of cardiovascular events observed in the PREDIMED trial.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.controlled-trials.com
. Unique identifier: ISRCTN35739639.
Righting time versus shell size and shape dimorphism in adult Hermann’s tortoises: Field observations meet theoretical predictions
Authors: Stojadinović Dragana , Milošević Ðurađ , Crnobrnja-Isailović Jelka
Published: November 2013

We investigated the relation between righting time (RT) and carapace morphology in 303 adult Hermann’s tortoises (Testudo hermanni Gmelin, 1789) from two geographically close localities. Their size, shape and body mass, adjusted for size, were significantly different between males and females. Righting time differed among the populations and was related to the ambient temperature and the relative body mass and carapace shape. However, analysis showed that the impact of carapace “form” (shape plus relative body mass) alone had only moderate influence on the variation in righting time (“function”). Both “form” and “function” did not contribute much to the segregation of individuals in geometric space, based on either sex or locality. An interesting detail was that tortoises with a height/width ratio of the shell contour higher than 0.75 had quite a short righting time (less than 100 seconds), which is in accordance with the proposed theoretical model of energy balance of righting in chelonians. We suppose that interactions between general carapace “form”, specific components of shell structure, physiological parameters and local environments shape variation in righting response in this species. An interdisciplinary approach combining geometric modeling with traditional biological disciplines would be needed to support this hypothesis.
Review of the genus Hemistola Warren, 1893 in Taiwan with notes on an unusual conifer-feeding larva and descriptions of three new species (Lepidoptera, Geometridae, Geometrinae)
Authors: CHANG WEI-CHUN , WU SHIPHER
Published: November 2013

The genus Hemistola Warren, 1893 in Taiwan is reviewed. Seven species are confirmed, with descriptions of three new species provided: H. piceacola sp. nov., H. fui sp. nov. and H. taiwanensis sp. nov. The immature stages and unusual conifer-feeding behavior of H. piceacola on Taiwan spruce (Picea morrisonicola) are reported. The distribution of H. tenuilinea (Alphéraky, 1897) is discussed and this species is omitted from the Taiwanese fauna.
Outcome of mood disorders before psychopharmacology: A systematic review
Authors: Mulder Roger T , Frampton Christopher MA
Published: November 2013

Objectives:

This paper systematically reviews all outcome studies of patients with mood disorders treated prior to the widespread use of antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and major tranquillizers. The aim is to estimate recovery and sustained recovery rates and to provide some evidence about the efficacy of modern drug treatments in changing the long-term outcome of mood disorders.

Methods:

MEDLINE and PSYCHINFO searches for studies on mood disorders published prior to 1970 were performed. Most studies were obtained by hand searching and extensive cross referencing. Information was independently extracted by the two authors.

Results:

A total of 29 relevant articles were obtained. The studies reviewed over 14,000 patients in total. Patients were mainly inpatients with a predominance of females. The majority of patients suffered from depression. The cohorts were followed up for 1–30 years. The median rate of recovery was 69% (range 17–91%). The time to recovery was generally several months. The median rate of recovering and remaining well was 51% (range 21–67%).

Conclusions:

The median rate of recovery is less than modern cohorts and the time to recovery longer. However, the rate of recovering and remaining well appears high compared to modern cohorts, although this result may reflect methodological issues. This review provides no support to the belief that pharmacological treatments have resulted in an improvement in the long-term outcome of patients with mood disorders.
A Network Perspective on Dropout Prevention in Two Cities
Authors: Wells Rebecca , Gifford Elizabeth , Bai Yu , Corra Ashley
Published: November 2013

Purpose: This exploratory case study examines how school systems and other local organizations have been working within two major U.S. cities to improve high school graduation rates. Systematically assessing active interorganizational dropout prevention networks may reveal characteristics affecting communities’ capacity to support school completion. Research Method: This study included the local affiliates within two U.S. cities of national partners in a dropout prevention initiative. A survey and follow-up interview probed for each organization’s cooperation with the other local organizations. Social network analyses revealed how school superintendents’ offices and other local agencies cooperated, as well as which organizations were most central within each city’s dropout prevention network. Findings: School systems in both cities cooperated with the YMCA, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Club, the mayor’s office, United Way, and Chamber of Commerce. Among the most central organizations in broader dropout prevention-related networks were the YMCA, Communities in Schools, mayor’s office, and the United Way. Implications for Research and Practice: An organizational network perspective can help school systems identify strategic opportunities to build local capacity for supporting youth. Working with key brokers may then offer a feasible way for schools to leverage local resources.
The body and its purity: Dietary politics in colonial Bengal
Authors: Ray Utsa
Published: November 2013

Nineteenth and early twentieth centuries saw the emergence of a ‘scientific’ project to analyse and reconstitute the dietary practices of colonial Bengal. Since the project was purportedly and confessedly ‘scientific’, it was imperative on it to evolve a general criterion for the evaluation of various foodstuffs. ‘Nutrition’ became that general criterion. A whole range of questions, like for example, what food made the colonial subject virile, what was pure food and what adulterated it, etc., were formulated and investigated under the sign of Nutrition. The deployment of this rhetoric was complicit in the larger project of colonial modernity. In this article, I try to provide a critical reading of the historical evolution of the rhetoric of Nutrition. I will pursue two aspects of the history. First, I will document the discourse of Nutrition that moved on the original ‘scientific’ tangent—how people were increasingly partaking of the pleasures of colonial capitalism and how nutrition was becoming an issue in events like eating ‘adulterated’ food in the new restaurants. Second, I will engage with a cultural aspect of the history. The cultural aspect is about the middle-class imagination of the pre-colonial as a period of abundance in relation to the colonial era as the period of scarcity and rampant adulteration of foodstuff. Comparing these two aspects, I will argue that this double play on the rhetoric of Nutrition was possible because the ‘scientific’ definition of Nutrition itself was always left partial and relative in the project of colonial modernity.
Political players: Courtesans of Hyderabad
Authors: Leonard Karen
Published: November 2013

Important recent works on the Mughal state and women in the Indo-Muslim world have not considered courtesans or tawa’ifs, the singing and dancing women employed by Indo-Muslim states and nobles, to be significant participants in politics and society. Drawing on detailed archival data from late nineteenth century Hyderabad state and other historical materials, I argue that courtesans were often elite women, cultural standard-setters and wielders of political power. Women whose art and learning gained them properties and alliances with powerful men, they were political players in precolonial India and in the princely states. They successfully negotiated administrative reforms in princely states like Hyderabad, continuing to secure protection and patronage while in British India they began to be classified as prostitutes. Colonial and modern India have been less than kind to courtesans and their artistic traditions, and more research needs to be done on the history of courtesans and their communities.
Denuded forests, wooded estates: Statemaking in a Janmam area of Gudalur, Tamil Nadu
Authors: Menon Ajit , Hinnewinkel Christelle , Guillerme Sylvie
Published: November 2013

Small farmers have been blamed for forest degradation in O’Valley, Gudalur. The state’s response to this perceived forest degradation in the post-colonial period has been to increasingly environmentalise forest policy and law through extending its territorial control over the ‘forested commons’, consequently labelling farmers as encroachers. This article argues that the state was in fact very much implicated, along with the Nilambur Kovilagam janmi (landlord), in the transformation of the forested landscape into a plantation economy so as to increase its revenue. It also highlights the contradictions in the post-colonial state’s environmentalisation of policy, the impact of this environmentalisation on small farmers and how small farmers, along with larger estate owners, resisted mostly through legal recourse the state’s efforts to reclaim undeveloped forest land. By doing so, the article highlights the contested meanings often ascribed to the forested commons that underlie conflicts over resources.
Anthropology of Islam: History, culture and power
Authors: Ahmad Irfan
Published: November 2013

NILE GREEN, BOMBAY ISLAM: The Religious Economy of the West Indian Ocean, 1840–1915 (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), 2011, pp. 327

HUMEIRA IQTIDAR, SECULARIZING ISLAMISTS? Jama’at-e-Islami and Jama’at-ud-da’wa in Urban Pakistan (Ranikhet: Permanent Black), 2011, pp. 216.
Book Review: The Bengal Delta: Ecology, State and Social Change, 1840–1943
Authors: D’Souza Rohan
Published: November 2013

IFTEKHAR IQBAL, The Bengal Delta: Ecology, State and Social Change, 1840–1943, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2010, pp. 268.
Book Review: Forests and Ecological History of Assam, 1826–2000
Authors: Saravanan Velayutham
Published: November 2013

ARUPJYOTI SAIKIA, Forests and Ecological History of Assam, 1826–2000, New Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2011, pp. 388.
Helpful friends? Personal contacts and job entry among youths in transformation societies
Authors: Kogan Irena , Matković Teo , Gebel Michael
Published: November 2013

This article’s aim is to explore the role of personal contacts at the transition from school to work and compare these effects across countries with various levels of market development. Using data from school-leaver surveys for Ukraine and Croatia and applying propensity score matching, we focus on the probability of finding initial employment and the quality of this employment among those youths who adhered to personal contacts compared to those relying on formal methods of job searching. Our results reveal that personal connections yield greater economic benefits for job entry in transformation countries with more developed market structures.