bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved Repeatability of Retinal Thickness Measurements Using Line-Scan Ophthalmoscope Image-Based Retinal Tracking
Authors: Hu Jennifer , Gottlieb Cornelia B. , Barajas Daniel J. , Barnett Cullen J. , Schoenholz Tamera , Sadda SriniVas R.
Published: April 2015

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

To assess repeatability and speed of a line-scan ophthalmoscope (LSO) image-based tracking system and compare to the point-scanning approach.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Thirty-five eyes with retinal diseases underwent volume scans using two spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) devices: a line-scan tracking Cirrus HD-OCT (Carl Zeiss Meditec; Dublin, CA) and point-scan tracking Spectralis HRA+OCT (Heidelberg Engineering, Heidelberg, Germany). Eyes were also imaged on the Cirrus HD-OCT with tracking disabled.

RESULTS:

Mean difference in central subfield thickness (CST) between consecutive scans was 2.6 µm for the Cirrus without tracking, 1.7 µm with tracking, and 3.6 µm for the Spectralis. The repeatability standard deviation was 3.0 µm for the Cirrus without tracking, 1.5 µm with tracking, and 4.0 µm for the Spectralis. Coefficient of variation for the CST was 1.1% for the Cirrus without tracking, 0.5% with tracking, and 1.4% for the Spectralis. Mean scan acquisition time was 12.3 ± 6.2 seconds for the Spectralis, 7.8 ± 6.7 for the Cirrus with tracking, and 4.3 ± 0.6 for the Cirrus without tracking.

CONCLUSION:

Real-time LSO image-based retinal tracking appears to improve repeatability of OCT retinal thickness measurements.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2015;46:310–314.]
Gene Expression Profiling and Regression Rate of Irradiated Uveal Melanomas
Authors: Rao Rajesh C. , Khan Mehnaz , Badiyan Shahed N. , Harbour J. William
Published: April 2015

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE:

Uveal melanoma is the most common primary intraocular cancer; however, the molecular features that predict response to therapy are poorly understood. Our objective was to determine whether gene expression profiling (GEP) is associated with rate of tumor regression after I-125 plaque brachytherapy for uveal melanoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Retrospective review of 138 patients with posterior uveal melanoma treated with I-125 plaque brachytherapy in which GEP class and 3-month post-radiation ultrasonographic tumor thickness data were available. Statistical analysis was performed using
t
test and Fisher’s exact test.

RESULTS:

GEP class assignment was class 1 in 83 (60.1%) and class 2 in 55 (39.9%) patients. Mean patient age was 60.9 years for class 1 and 68.1 years for class 2 tumors (
P
= .002). Mean initial tumor diameter was 13.0 mm for class 1 and 14.1 mm for class 2 tumors (
P
= .02). Mean initial tumor thickness was 5.2 mm for class 1 and 6.1 mm for class 2 tumors (
P
= .047). Three months after I-125 plaque radiotherapy, mean reduction in tumor thickness was 26.5% for class 1 and 16.7% for class 2 tumors (
P
= .03).

CONCLUSION:

Class 1 uveal melanoma tumors exhibit more rapid early tumor regression than class 2 tumors after I-125 plaque radiotherapy.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2015;46:333–337.]
Resolution of Exudative Changes Refractory to Ranibizumab After Aflibercept Injections at the Margin of Inferior Staphyloma in Tilted Disc Syndrome
Authors: Hirano Yoshio , Yasukawa Tsutomu , Tsukada Akiyo , Yokoyama Sachiko , Ito Yuya , Nakazawa Yoko
Published: April 2015

An 81-year-old woman presented with blurred vision in the left eye. Best corrected visual acuity was 20/100. Ophthalmologic examination in the left eye revealed tilted disc syndrome with exudative change at the margin of inferior staphyloma. The exudative change persisted despite monthly intravitreal ranibizumab injections for 5 months. Subsequently, two intravitreal aflibercept injections 1 month apart were substituted for the ranibizumab injections, resulting in successful resolution of the exudative change.

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2015;46:384–386.]
Perivascular Hypofluorescence in Frosted Branch Angiitis
Authors: Churgin Daniel , Relhan Nidhi , Davis Janet L. , Albini Thomas A.
Published: April 2015

[
Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging Retina
. 2015;46:396–397.]
Innovation and Technical Transformations in Living Technology
Authors: Armstrong Rachel
Published: April 2015

This essay proposes that humans are in the midst of a cultural shift from the Industrial Age to an Ecological Era, which demands that one re-conceptualize the world and operate within it differently. It discusses the opportunities raised by Actor Network Theory (ANT) in helping one navigate the transition from an object-centred view of reality, towards one that also engages with process-oriented concepts. In particular, the impact of the convergence of these worldviews on technological innovation is explored through recognising a different material framework that engages with nonlinear systems. ANT offers a unique opportunity to deal with matter at far from equilibrium through the notion of assemblages, which act as a new kind of operating system that behaves in remarkably lifelike ways. Empirical evidence is provided for such an ANT-based, production platform through laboratory findings in an emerging field of computation called ‘natural' computing. A range of models and prototypes are discussed. The resultant lifelike technologies require unique infrastructures that facilitate the movement of elemental fabrics (earth, air, heat, water). While much evidence for their existence is propositional and qualitative, as they are in their earliest stages of development, these lifelike technologies have the potential to radically alter the impact of human development and transform it from being harmful to beneficial to the environment.
The New Space Entrepreneurship and Its Techno-Economic Networks
Authors: Tchalakov Ivan
Published: April 2015

The paper applies ANT approach in studying the new space entrepreneurship. The paper tests the ability of ANT to account for the impressive processes of shaking the old government-lead model of rocked design and use that originated in the late 1930s and which is still dominants in many countries. Under this model the space technology was carried out via publicly funded (or state-owned) research, development and manufacturing organizations and/or as highly regulated large corporate businesses; it never entered the phase of large-scale mass industrial manufacturing and the economies of scale and scope never played a significant role under this model. Together with severe safety requirements this resulted in the extremely high cost of development and manufacturing. The situation radically changed in the beginning of this century, when a number of entrepreneurs – most of which with multimillion fortunes from successful IT businesses – entered the space industry bringing with them quite a different model of space technology development. Applying the conceptual framework developed in two well-known ANT studies – those of John Law on Portuguese long-distance sea travel and Michel Callon analysis of the states of socio-technical (or techno-economic) networks, the paper demonstrates their usefulness and heuristic potential in analyzing the processes that are currently going on in high-tech fields such as space rocket technology. It identified two specific problems the ANT ignores – the asymmetrically important role of human agents at the earlier stage of actor-networks emergence and development, and the problem of profound, if not radical, changes in already stabilized actor-networks, thus pointing of possible existence of their third state, that is different both from the emerging and stabilized ones.
Computational Creativity
Authors: Hodhod Rania A. , Magerko Brian S.
Published: April 2015

Conceptual blending (CB) is a basic mental operation that plays a fundamental role in the construction of meaning in our everyday life. The core of CB is the partial matching of two input mental spaces and the selective projection from those inputs into a novel 'blended' mental space, which then dynamically develops an emergent structure. Improvisational acting is one specialized domain in which conceptual blending is heavily used; improvisers are required to co-create stories on the stage in real time based on how they continuously perceive their environment. The Digital Improv Project has been engaged in a multi-year study of the cognitive processes involved in improvisational acting and has led to a better understanding of human cognition and creativity. In this article, the authors provide a computational model for the conceptual blending of cognitive scripts that can help digital improv agents to select the two input spaces required in the blending process. The blend is an emergent structure that provides new interesting events that the digital improv agents can adopt in their acting.
Time-Dependent QoS Aware Best Service Combination Selection
Authors: Guidara Ikbel , Guermouche Nawal , Chaari Tarak , Jmaiel Mohamed , Tazi Said
Published: April 2015

Service Oriented Architecture allows developing complex business applications from existing services. Given that many services are available with the same functionality and with different Quality of Service (QoS) attributes, one common challenge is to select the best service combination regarding user's requirements. Existing solutions often consider static QoS values for candidate services. Nevertheless, in real world applications, QoS values can change during time. In addition, besides structural constraints, several QoS and temporal constraints can also be specified at the business level. Considering time-dependent QoS values associated with business level constraints makes the selection process a very complex and time consuming decision problem given the large number of service combinations to be compared. To deal with this issue, in this paper, the authors propose a novel service selection approach based on QoS and temporal pruning techniques to reduce the number of candidate services. The proposed approach allows pruning uninteresting services based on a set of local thresholds. These latter are measured using constraint optimization models while dealing with general flow structures including sequential, parallel, choice and loop patterns and different types of QoS and temporal constraints. Experimental studies show the benefits of the proposed approach in particular in terms of computational time.
Сложность систем функций алгебры логики и систем функций трехзначной логики в классах поляризованных полиномиальных форм
Authors: Selezneva Svetlana Nikolaevna
Published: April 2015

Поляризованная полиномиальная форма (ППФ) (по модулю $k$) - это сумма по модулю $k$ произведений переменных $x_1, …, x_n$ или их отрицаний Поста, причем число отрицаний каждой переменной определяется вектором поляризации этой ППФ. Длиной ППФ называется число ее попарно различных слагаемых. Длиной функции $k$-значной логики $f(x_1, …, x_n)$ в классе ППФ называется минимальная длина среди всех ППФ, реализующих эту функцию. В работе построена такая последовательность симметрических функций трехзначной логики $f_n(x_1, …, x_n)$, что длина каждой из функций $f_n$ в классе ППФ не меньше, чем $\lfloor 3^{n+1}/4 \rfloor$, где $\lfloor a \rfloor$ обозначает наибольшее целое число, не превосходящее число $a$. Сложностью системы ППФ, имеющих один и тот же вектор поляризации, называется число попарно различных слагаемых, встречающихся во всех этих ППФ. Сложностью $L_k^{\textrm{ППФ}}(F)$ системы $F = \{f_1, …, f_m\}$ функций $k$-значной логики, зависящих от переменных $x_1, …, x_n$, в классе ППФ называется минимальная сложность среди всех таких систем ППФ $\{p_1, …, p_m\}$, что все ППФ $p_1, …, p_m$ имеют один и тот же вектор поляризации, и ППФ $p_j$ реализует функцию $f_j$, $j = 1, …, m$. Пусть $L_k^{\textrm{ППФ}}(m, n) = \max\limits_{F}L_k^{\textrm{ППФ}}(F)$, где индекс $F$ пробегает по всем системам, содержащим $m$ функций $k$-значной логики, зависящих от переменных $x_1, …, x_n$. Понятно, что при простых $k$ верна оценка $L_k^{\textrm{ППФ}}(m, n) \le k^n$. В работе доказано, что $L_2^ППФ(m, n) = 2^n$ и $L_3^{\textrm{ППФ}}(m, n) = 3^n$ для всех $m \ge 2$, $n = 1, 2, …$. Более того, доказано, что оценки остаются такими же, если рассматривать только системы симметрических функций.
Работа поддержана РФФИ, проекты 13-01-00684-а, 13-01-00958-а.
Кольца, у которых все конечнопорожденные правые идеалы квазипроективны
Authors: Tuganbaev Askar
Published: April 2015

Инвариантное кольцо $A$ является арифметическим в точности тогда, когда каждый конечнопорожденный идеал $M$ кольца $A$ является квазипроективным $A$-модулем и каждый эндоморфизм этого модуля продолжается до эндоморфизма модуля $A_A$. Инвариантное полупервичное кольцо $A$ является арифметическим в точности тогда, когда каждый конечнопорожденный идеал $M$ кольца $A$ является квазипроективным $A$-модулем.
Автор поддержан Российским фондом фундаментальных исследований.
Свойство перемешивания и собственные функции сингулярно гиперболических аттракторов
Authors: Sataev Evgueni Anatol'evich
Published: April 2015

Работа посвящена исследованию сингулярно гиперболических потоков. Доказывается, что собственная функция не может быть непрерывной на эргодической компоненте, содержащей неподвижную точку. Однако собственная функция является непрерывной на некотором множестве (после изменения на множестве меры нуль). Доказывается альтернатива: либо на эргодической компоненте существует собственная функция, либо поток является перемешивающим на этой эргодической компоненте. Приводятся достаточные условия перемешивания.
Библиография: 28 названий.
О наибольшей критической точке в $k$-законе нуля или единицы
Authors: Zhukovskii Maksim Evgen'evich
Published: April 2015

Для случайного графа $G(n,n^{-\alpha})$ получено наибольшее значение $\alpha<1$, при котором не выполнен $k$-закон нуля или единицы для свойств первого порядка. Ранее было известно, что $k$-закон выполнен при всех $\alpha>1-1/(2^{k}-2)$ кроме $1-1/(2^{k}-1)$, $1-1/2^{k}$. При $\alpha=1-1/(2^k-2)$ закон нарушается. В работе доказана справедливость закона при $\alpha\in\{1-1/(2^{k}-1),1-1/2^{k}\}$.
Библиография: 17 названий.
Invasive Fungal Laryngitis in an Immunocompetent Person
Authors: Khaund Gautam , Agarwal Vivek , Barman Surajit , Baruah Debika
Published: April 2015

Fungal laryngitis is common in immunocompromised patients. But it is rarely seen in a immunocompetent person. Only around 40 cases have been reported in world literature so far. This condition is often confused with premalignant conditions like leukoplakia, dysplasia. Our patient, a 35 years old immunocompetent male, presented with hoarseness, who later on developed stridor and had to be tracheostomized. Laryngoscopy was done under general anesthesia and biopsy taken. Histopathological examination revealed fungal laryngitis (Aspergillus). The patient recovered completely after antifungal treatment.

How to cite this article

Khaund G, Baruah D, Agarwal V, Barman S. Invasive Fungal Laryngitis in an Immunocompetent Person. Int J Phonosurg Laryngol 2014;4(2):73-75.
As patentes como soluções científicas e tecnológicas aplicáveis a outros cenários
Authors: Maravilhas-Lopes Sérgio Paulo
Published: April 2015

A utilização da informação de patentes, contendo os resultados das atividades de investigação e desenvolvimento com aplicação industrial, pode contribuir para o aumento da criatividade e suporte na resolução de problemas de investigação, potenciando a inovação através de novos produtos e processos daí decorrentes.É possível utilizar a informação científico-técnica contida em bases de dados de patentes de acesso público gratuito, via Internet, como fonte de ideias permitindo desenvolver produtos e processos com base nessa informação.A consulta da informação de patentes ajuda a evitar o desperdício de recursos materiais e financeiros, pois evita a reinvenção do que já existe e permite a realização de soluções sustentáveis, quer pelo aproveitamento de invenções não exploradas, como pela formulação de novos produtos com base em investigação e desenvolvimento já realizada, que pode ser adaptada a novas necessidades globais, gerando emprego, melhoria das condições sociais e económicas, protegendo o ambiente e seus recursos. Desta forma, a informação de patentes, repositório de Ciência e Tecnologia, revela-se como uma fonte de estímulo à criatividade potenciadora de inovações que permitam responder aos desafios do presente e perspetivar um futuro mais rico para toda a humanidade através do crescimento económico e melhoria de vida da população.
Meta-Analysis of Retinal Changes in Unilateral Amblyopia using Optical Coherence Tomography
Authors: Li Jingjing , Ji Peng , Yu Minbin
Published: April 2015

Purpose

To evaluate retinal changes in unilateral amblyopia using optical coherence tomography.

Methods

Major literature databases were searched for relevant studies. The primary outcome parameters were foveal minimum thickness (FMT), mean foveal thickness (MFT), mean macular thickness (MMT), and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness. Efficacy estimates were evaluated by standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for changes in the outcomes of interest.

Results

This meta-analysis included 28 clinical trials involving 408 patients. The FMT, MFT, and MMT in the amblyopic eyes was significantly greater than that of the fellow eyes (SMD = 0.22, 95% CI 0.05–0.39, p = 0.011; SMD = 0.21, 95% CI 0.06–0.36, p = 0.005; SMD = 0.21, 95% CI 0.08–0.35, p = 0.002, respectively). Only FMT was significantly increased in the amblyopia group compared with the normal control group (SMD = 0.38, 95% CI 0.19–0.57, p<0.00001). Analysis showed that pRNFL thickness in the amblyopic eyes was thicker than in the fellow eyes (SMD = 0.13, 95% CI 0.02–0.24, p = 0.016). We did not find that those outcome measures differ between strabismic and anisometropic amblyopia.

Conclusions

The pooled evidence indicates that the amblyopic process may involve the retina, especially the macula. A thicker foveola was found in the amblyopic eyes when compared with visually normal control eyes. Further larger-scale studies especially involving emmetropic normal subjects will be valuable.
Morphometric Parameters of Extraocular Rectus Muscles Evaluated by Dynamic-Multipositional Magnetic Resonance
Authors: Loba Piotr , Broniarczyk-Loba Anna , Pajak Michal , Majos Agata , Stefanczyk Ludomir , Orczykowska Maria
Published: April 2015

Purpose

To establish normal values of morphologic parameters of extraocular rectus muscles visualized in different gaze positions by means of an accessible method of dynamic-multipositional magnetic resonance imaging (dmMRI).

Methods

Twenty eyes of 10 healthy, orthotropic subjects were examined. A 1.5T scanner (Avanto) with standard head coil was used. The protocol of dmMRI included 6 gaze positions in 10° intervals in which 13-second, orbital, T2 sequences were performed in quasi-coronal plane. The measurements of extraocular rectus muscles shape, sectional area, and volume were obtained with use of ImageJ 1.38x (NIH) software.

Results

Relative change in cross-sectional area between position of rest and gaze of action of each muscle appears to be significant just in the medial and posterior parts of their belly. The maximal cross-section area increases significantly when the muscle contracts (21% to 32% depending on the muscle). The superior rectus must be assessed along with levator palpebrae as the distinction between their bellies is difficult. Relative change in partial muscle volume on contraction ranged from 12.3% to 21.6% depending on the muscle. Muscle contraction results in more circular shape of its belly while relaxation is more of an ellipse.

Conclusions

Dynamic-multipositional MRI performed in the proposed manner is an accessible and repeatable method for visualization of extraocular rectus muscles. Assessment of morphometric parameters such as muscle shape, maximal cross-section area, and partial muscle volume is easy with digital imaging software.
Changes in the Cornea Related to Sickle Cell Disease: A Pilot Investigation
Authors: Coşkun Mesut , İlhan Özgür , İlhan Nilüfer , Tuzcu Esra Ayhan , Daglioğlu Mutlu Cihan , Kahraman Hilal , Elbeyli Ahmet , Yarbağ Abdulhekim , Helvaci Mehmet Rami
Published: April 2015

Purpose

To investigate corneal structural changes (central corneal thickness, endothelial cell count, and cellular morphology) in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD).

Methods

This prospective study included 56 patients with SCD and 50 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects without any eye disease aside from refractive errors. Endothelial cell density (ECD), percentage of hexagonality, and the coefficient of variation in cell size (CV) were measured using noncontact specular microscopy, and central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured by pachymetry.

Results

The mean CCT value was 509.6 ± 20.7 μm in the study group and 520.8 ± 23.6 μm in the control group. The mean ECD, CV, and percentage of hexagonality values in the study group were 2712 ± 335 cells/mm2, 34.5 ± 5.3%, and 57.2 ± 6.6%, respectively, and 3030 ± 247 cells/mm2, 31.6 ± 5.0%, and 60.4 ± 6.9% in the control group, respectively. Endothelial cell density (p = 0.001), CCT (p = 0.011), CV (p = 0.005), and percentage of hexagonality values (p = 0.018) were significantly different between the study and control groups.

Conclusions

The results of the current study indicate that patients with SCD had considerable morphologic changes in the structure of the cornea when compared to healthy subjects.
Intraocular Lens Power Changes after Mitomycin Trabeculectomy
Authors: Pakravan Mohammad , Alvani Azam , Yazdani Shahin , Esfandiari Hamed , Yaseri Mehdi
Published: April 2015

Purpose

To evaluate biometric changes after mitomycin C augmented trabeculectomy and their effect on intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation using different formulas.

Methods

In this prospective, interventional case series study, 34 eyes of 31 phakic glaucoma patients who were scheduled for primary trabeculectomy were enrolled. Using a noncontact biometry device (Lenstar, Haag-Streit AG, Koeniz, Switzerland), axial length (AL), mean corneal power, and IOL power were calculated with the Hoffer Q, Holladay, and SRK/T formulas 1 day before surgery and compared to those obtained 3 and 6 months after the operation. Bland-Altman plot was used to determine agreement between preoperative and postoperative IOL power values.

Results

The AL was significantly decreased at month 3 (-0.14 ± 0.13 mm) and month 6 (-0.14 ± 0.15 mm) as compared to baseline values (both p values <0.001). Mean corneal power increased significantly at month 3 (0.41 ± 0.46 D; p<0.001) and month 6 (0.27 ± 0.47 D; p = 0.008). Using different formulas, IOL power did not change significantly after the operation (all ps≥0.17). The IOL power changes using the Hoffer Q formula were −0.09 ± 0.76 (p = 0.505) and 0.14 ± 0.9 D (p = 0.442) at 3 and 6 months, respectively; corresponding values were −0.1 ± 0.75 (p = 0.427) and 0.16 ± 0.79 D (p = 0.319) for Holladay and 0.01 ± 0.64 (p = 0.895) and 0.2 ± 0.71 D (p = 0.17) employing the SRK/T formula.

Conclusions

Despite significant changes in AL and corneal power after trabeculectomy, IOL power calculation remains unchanged; therefore adjustment of IOL power calculation after trabeculectomy seems unnecessary.
Clinical Analysis of 23-Gauge Vitrectomy for the Treatment of Acute Endophthalmitis after Cataract Surgery
Authors: Zhang Jingjing , Han Fangju , Zhai Xiangjuan
Published: April 2015

Purpose

We performed a retrospective study to evaluate the surgical efficacy and timing of 23-G vitrectomy for acute endophthalmitis following cataract surgery, and to determine when silicone oil tamponade and intraocular lens (IOL) removal are indicated during vitrectomy for endophthalmitis.

Methods

We enrolled 21 patients (21 eyes) diagnosed with acute endophthalmitis following cataract surgery who underwent endoscope-assisted 23-G vitrectomy using a wide-angle noncontact lens. Silicone oil tamponade was performed when retinal tear or detachment occurred. The IOL was not removed during primary vitrectomy. Postoperative systemic broad-spectrum antibiotics were used.

Results

All infections were controlled by treatment. Best-corrected visual acuity was >0.05 in 14 patients (66.7%) after treatment, which was significantly higher than that before treatment (2/21, 9.5%). Two patients experienced retinal detachment at 10 and 14 days after primary vitrectomy; the IOL was removed during secondary surgery, and silicone oil tamponade was performed. One patient experienced endophthalmitis recurrence 2 months after vitrectomy; secondary surgery was performed to remove the peripheral vitreous body, the pars plana of the ciliary body, and the IOL and capsule.

Conclusions

Vitrectomy should be performed when acute endophthalmitis is diagnosed following cataract surgery. Silicone oil tamponade should be performed only when retinal break or detachment occurs. The IOL does not necessarily require removal.
Choroidal Neovascular Membrane following Hormonal Stimulation for in vitro Fertilization
Authors: Ciucci Francesco , Sacchetti Marta , De Gaetano Cristiano , Bardocci Antonio , Lofoco Giorgio
Published: April 2015

Purpose

To report the onset of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) following hormonal stimulation for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in a healthy young woman.

Methods

A 31-year-old woman presented with visual impairment following hormonal stimulation for IVF. Clinical history was collected and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), complete eye examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography (FA), and indocyanine green angiography were performed.

Results

Clinical history was negative with the exception of the use of medications for IVF in the previous weeks. Ocular examination revealed the presence of a CNV in the right eye, confirmed by OCT and FA, with a BCVA of 0.7 decimal units. Possible ocular and systemic diseases associated with CNV development were investigated and excluded. Treatment with 3 monthly intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was effective in reducing CNV size and restoring visual acuity.

Conclusions

This is the first report describing the development of CNV following hormonal stimulation for IVF. The development of CNV may be associated with changes of sex hormones, cytokines, and angiogenic factor levels, including VEGF, induced by hormonal stimulation.
Undiagnosed Patent Foramen Ovale as a Rare Cause for Branch Retinal Artery Occlusion
Authors: Chatziralli Irini P. , Parikakis Efstratios A. , Mitropoulos Panagiotis G.
Published: April 2015

Purpose

To present the case of a man with branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) and concomitant patent foramen ovale (PFO), which was first diagnosed during the evaluation of BRAO.

Methods

A 35-year-old man presented with blurred vision in the left eye for 2 days. His best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 6/6 in the right eye and 6/12 in the left eye. He had no ophthalmic or medical history.

Results

Ophthalmologic examination revealed a left inferior BRAO, confirmed by fluorescein angiography. The patient underwent a thorough diagnostic workup. Cardiologic examination with transesophageal echocardiography revealed a right-to-left shunt across a PFO. The patient was treated with clopidogrel and at the 15-day review, BCVA in his left eye was 6/7.5 and the retinal edema was resolved, as detected on optical coherence tomography, but relative afferent pupillary defect was persistent. The patient had developed no other embolic event at the 9-month follow-up, having undergone an operation for PFO repair.

Conclusions

Patent foramen ovale, although usually asymptomatic, should be considered among the potential causes of BRAO, especially in young patients. Prompt diagnosis and liaison with cardiologists is important to help prevent ocular or systemic embolic events and associated morbidity.
Tivantinib, a New Option for Second-line Treatment of Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma? The Experience of Italian Centers
Authors: Rimassa Lorenza , Santoro Armando , Daniele Bruno , Germano Domenico , Gasbarrini Antonio , Salvagni Stefania , Masi Gianluca , Abbadessa Giovanni , Lamar Maria , Goldberg Terri , Porta Camillo
Published: April 2015

In the last decades the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has undergone significant changes following the introduction of novel therapies such as sorafenib, which have improved patient survival. Nevertheless, HCC is still the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The evidence-based therapy for advanced HCC that is unsuitable for locoregional treatment is limited to sorafenib, with no second-line option available. This article focuses on the development of the MET inhibitor tivantinib in HCC as a promising treatment option for patients who failed sorafenib. A randomized, placebo-controlled phase II study showed activity of tivantinib in patients with high MET expression. Based on these results, the METIV-HCC phase III study in second-line treatment for MET-high patients was initiated to demonstrate the survival advantage of tivantinib compared to placebo.
Novel 10-fraction Breast Irradiation in Prone and Supine Position: Technical, Dosimetric and Clinical Evaluation
Authors: Guenzi Marina , Bosetti Davide , Lamanna Giorgio , Siffredi Guido , Bonzano Elisabetta , Gusinu Marco , Garelli Stefania , Pupillo Francesco , Corvò Renzo
Published: April 2015

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the planned dose distribution and acute toxicity of adjuvant hypofractionated whole breast radiotherapy (RT) delivered in the prone vs. supine position.

Methods

Twenty-four patients were enrolled; 12 underwent adjuvant RT with a supine setup and 12 with a prone setup. We included patients according to breast volume (≥500 mL), disease stage (≤pT2/pN1), and clinical/biological features. Patients received a regimen of 35 Gy in 10 fractions for 2.5 weeks, and a concomitant boost of 3/4 Gy in 1 fraction/week. Target coverage was assessed by volume, V90, V95, V100, V103 and V105. Heart, LADCA and ipsilateral lung doses were evaluated according to volume, maximum dose, mean dose, V14, V10 and V5. We evaluated acute skin toxicity during RT, at the end of treatment, and after 1 month according to RTOG scales.

Results

Radiobiological equivalence was warranted with satisfactory BED values: considering α/β = 4 for breast cancer, the 10-fraction schedule equaled 74 or 77 Gy depending on the boost dose (3 Gy vs. 4 Gy, respectively). Toxicity was low and similar for supine and prone treatments. Dose sparing was significant in the ipsilateral lung in the prone position (median Dmax: 28.7 Gy vs. 38.4 Gy; median Dmean: 0.8 Gy vs. 6.3 Gy; median V14:0.6% vs. 13.5%; median V5: 0 vs. 19.3%, p<0.001).

Conclusions

This novel 10-fraction schedule is feasible and well tolerated; the prone position allows better saving of OARs, with a statistically significant value for the ipsilateral lung.
Novel Blood-based microRNA Biomarkers for Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Meng Qing-Cai , Qiu Wang-Wang , Wen Zi-Qiang , Wang Hong-Cheng , Shan Ze-Zhi , Yuan Zhou , Huang Xin-Yu
Published: April 2015

Background

Recently, several studies have shown that blood-based microRNAs in patients with pancreatic cancer (PC) could be aberrantly expressed. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate blood-based microRNAs as novel biomarkers for diagnosis of PC.

Methods

Eligible studies which had evaluated the diagnostic performance of blood-based microRNAs and had been published from February 2004 to February 2014 were retrieved. The quality of the studies was evaluated with the QUADAS-2 tool. The performance characteristics were pooled using random-effects models. Statistical analysis was performed with STATA and Meta-Disc1.4 software.

Results

The global meta-analysis included 12 studies from 8 articles, which contained 1,060 blood-based samples of PC patients and 935 blood-based samples of non-PC patients. Summary results suggested pooled sensitivity of 0.87 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.85–0.89), specificity 0.92 (95% CI, 0.90–0.94), positive likelihood ratio 11.18 (95% CI, 5.57–22.46), negative likelihood ratio 0.16 (95% CI, 0.11–0.23), diagnostic odds ratio 88.98 (95% CI, 39.85–198.69) and the area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve 0.96.

Conclusions

This meta-analysis demonstrated blood-based microRNA expression profiles with the potential to discriminate PC patients from non-PC patients, which have moderate diagnostic accuracy. However, further validation studies are needed for their clinical significance in the diagnosis of PC to be established.
Expression of CBY and Methylation of CBY at Promoter Region in Human Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Ren Gang , Zhao De-an , Xu Jue , Li Bo-an
Published: April 2015

Aims and Background

Chibby ( CBY), a β-catenin binding partner, inhibits Wnt/β-catenin-mediated transcriptional activation by competing with Tcf/Lef factors for β-catenin binding and promoting the export of β-catenin from nucleus to cytoplasm. The regulatory effect of CBY in this signaling pathway suggests its biological importance as a potential tumor suppressor gene. The purposes of this study were to determine whether the expression of CBY was downregulated in human laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) samples, the CpG sites of CBY at the promoter region were methylated in these tumor samples, and reduced expression of CBY was induced by methylation of CBY promoters.

Methods

CBY expression was investigated by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry in samples from 36 LSCC patients. The methylation status of the CBY promoter was detected by methylation-specific PCR.

Results

Compared with normal laryngeal mucosa, the expression of CBY was downregulated in LSCC samples. The reduced CBY expression rate was 58.33% (21/36) at the mRNA and 66.67% (24/36) at the protein level. The promoters of CBY were methylated in 12/36 tumor samples, partially methylated in 5, and unmethylated in 19 samples. The methylation rate including incomplete methylation was 47.22% (17/36) in tumor samples, while no methylation was detected in normal laryngeal squamous epithelium. Compared with the unmethylated group, the expression of CBY was significantly different in the methylated group (p<0.05) but similar in the partially methylated group (p>0.05).

Conclusions

Our data indicate that CBY expression was downregulated in LSCC, which may be partially caused by methylation of CBY promoters.
Concomitant Trimodality Therapy of Re-irradiation, Chemotherapy and Regional Hyperthermia for a Pretreated Inoperable Sarcoma Recurrence
Authors: Li Minglun , Andrä Claudia , Niyazi Maximilian , Issels Rolf D. , Abdel-Rahman Sultan , Oskan Feras , Manapov Farkhad
Published: April 2015

We hereby present a case of pre-treated unresectable sarcoma recurrence of the trunk which showed an excellent response to concomitant tri-modal therapy, consisting of re-irradiation, chemotherapy and regional hyperthermia even with a strong compromised re-irradiation dose. No significant toxicity of the combined therapy and fast achievement of the pain and neurological symptoms relief are reported. The case shows that concurrent trimodality treatment can be considered as a therapeutic option for the management of pre-treated unresectable recurrence even in the re-irradiation setting.
Axillary Nodal Metastases in Italian Early Breast Cancer Patients with Positive Sentinel Lymph Node: Can Axillary Node Dissection be Avoided by using Predictive Nomograms?
Authors: Biolchini Federico , Vicentini Massimo , Di Felice Enza , Giovanardi Filippo , Antonio Lucchini , Rossi Paolo Giorgi , Annessi Valeric
Published: April 2015

Aims and Background

Clinical guidelines recommend axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in cases of metastatic sentinel lymph node (SNL) in patients with clinically node-negative early breast cancer. However, a relevant number of ALND could be avoided in a subset of patients in whom the risk of non-SNL metastases is low. In order to define this population, several authors have proposed mathematical models, which have been validated in many studies. These studies reached different conclusions regarding which model demonstrated the best statistical discrimination power, mainly due to differences in clinical and pathologic variables used, and particularly differences in the number of dissected SLNs.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed clinically node-negative patients who underwent ALND in our surgical ward after the diagnosis of breast cancer metastases on SLN biopsy from January 2000 to December 2012. The predictive accuracy of the widely used nomograms to predict the risk of additional nodal disease in our patients with SLN breast cancer metastases was measured by receiver operating characteristic curve. We then attempted to develop a new nomogram by analyzing the dataset.

Results

A total of 105 patients were included in this study, with ratio of metastatic lymph node/removed lymph node of about 0.89; we found axillary nodal metastases on ALND in only 31 patients (29.5%). Applied to our dataset, Mayo nomogram showed the best area under the receiving operator characteristic curve (0.74) followed by our model (0.71). Instead, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering model showed poor discrimination, as did Tenon (0.56).

Conclusions

Based on our data, we cannot recommend the clinical use of validated predictive nomograms in order to avoid ALND. We suggest setting up a multicenter Italian study to build a model specific to our setting and based on larger series.
A Combined Smoking Cessation Intervention within a Lung Cancer Screening Trial: A Pilot Observational Study
Authors: Pozzi Paolo , Munarini Elena , Bravi Francesca , Rossi Marta , La Vecchia Carlo , Boffi Roberto , Pastorino Ugo
Published: April 2015

Aims and Background

The time of lung cancer screening may provide the ideal setting to discuss and initiate a smoking cessation plan that includes pharmacologic aids. No studies to date have fully investigated the potential effectiveness of such combined approach.

Methods

We prospectively evaluated the biochemically verified 1-year continuous abstinence rate from smoking of 187 persistent smokers enrolled within the Multicentric Italian Lung Detection Trial (MILD), who received a pharmacologic aid to quit smoking with varenicline along with behavioral counseling. The propensity of study subjects to succeed in smoking cessation was also monitored.

Results

At 12 months, the continuous abstinence rate from smoking was achieved in 37 out of 187 patients (19.8%), with a propensity to succeed in smoking cessation for the assisted attempt equal to 1.43, as compared to an unassisted MILD patient. At the end of the third month of therapy, 48.7% of subjects showed a continuous abstinence rate, while only 33.7% of patients were abstinent from smoking at 6 months. At baseline, the subgroup of MILD participants who were originally allocated to lung tomography showed higher smoking intensity than those allocated to no screening.

Conclusions

A combined smoking cessation intervention can be implemented with satisfactory results within a lung cancer screening program; this preliminary observation needs to be replicated in a prospective investigation. Clinicians should consider that lung cancer screening may be falsely reassuring for persistent smokers; therefore it should always be coupled with a smoking cessation program.
Nietzsche's Free Spirits and the Beauty of Illusion
Authors: Campbell Eric
Published: April 2015

Nadeem Hussain argues that Nietzsche's rejection of intrinsic values led him to reject the existence of values generally, but that he wanted his “free spirits” to pretend to believe in (intrinsic) values as a way to avoid practical nihilism. I examine Hussain's textual evidence and find it unsupportive of and sometimes even hostile to his fictionalist interpretation. I argue that this interpretation ignores what Nietzsche regarded as the value of the knowledge that nothing has intrinsic value, which is to allow his free spirits to go beyond the kind of phenomenology that Hussain claims Nietzsche wanted to preserve for them. Recognizing this central aspect of Nietzsche's project adds support to the much more natural subjectivist realist interpretation that Hussain rejects en route to his fictionalist interpretation. Finally, I sketch a better-supported interpretation of Nietzsche's use of pretense in valuation.
Het Herstelfonds in penitentiaire inrichtingen
Authors: Marchal An
Published: April 2015

The Restoration Fund in prisons

This article presents the backgrounds of a particular restorative practice in Flanders: the Restitution Fund. This fund is meant to give a symbolic instrument into the hands of persons in custody, to send a message to the victim: they will do volunteer work in society (mostly: charity work). Victim offender mediation starts up and at the end of the project the victim will receive an amount of money. Although this project is an excellent example of a restorative justice practice, there is still a long way to go to get it embedded in a longer term policy framework.
Transparent Higher Order Sliding Mode Control for Nonlinear Master-Slave Systems without Velocity Measurement
Authors: Garcia-Valdovinos Luis G. , Lopez-Segovia Alan , Jimenez-Hernandez Hugo , Santacruz-Reyes Hugo , Garcia-Zarco Luis A.
Published: April 2015

Transparency has been a major objective in bilateral teleoperation systems, even in the absence of time delay induced by the communication channel, since a high degree of transparency would allow humans to drive the remote teleoperator as if he or she were directly interacting with the remote environment, with the remote teleoperator as a physical and sensorial extension of the operator. When fast convergence of position and force tracking errors are ensured by the control system, then complete transparency is obtained, which would ideally guarantee humans to be tightly kinaesthetically coupled. In this paper a model-free Cartesian second order sliding mode (SOSM) PD control scheme for nonlinear master-slave systems is presented. The proposed scheme does not rely on velocity measurements and attains very fast convergence of position trajectories, with bounded tracking of force trajectories, rendering a high degree of transparency with lesser knowledge of the system. The degree of transparency can easily be improved by tuning a feedback gain in the force loop. A unique energy storage function is introduced; such that a similar Cartesian-based controller is implemented in the master and slave sides. The resulting properties of the Cartesian control structure allows the human operator to input directly Cartesian variables, which makes clearer the kinaesthetic coupling, thus the proposed controller becomes a suitable candidate for practical implementation. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated in a semi-experimental setup.
MRXT: The Multi-Robot Exploration Tool
Authors: Gil Arturo , Juliá Miguel , Reinoso Óscar
Published: April 2015

This paper presents the multi-robot eXploration tool (MRXT) [Freely available at http://arvc.umh.es/mrxt ], a new mobile robotics simulation tool whose aim is to experiment and understand some well-known multi-robot exploration algorithms. The application is designed to test and compare different multi-robot exploration algorithms as well as SLAM techniques. The application includes a wide range of exploration algorithms that differ in their level of coordination and integration with the SLAM algorithm. The tool is focused on describing the exploration problem in a simple manner so that it is useful for educational or research purposes. In comparison with other simulation tools, MRXT is the first application completely focused on the exploration problem, so it can be easily employed to understand interactively many of the issues regarding this general problem in mobile robotics. Furthermore, the paper describes some examples using the tool.
Education Factor and Human Resources Development - Albania Case
Authors: Berdo Sonila
Published: April 2015

The article gives a general view of the actual situation and the potential importance that the education factor plays in the formation and development of human resources in Albania, based on the Albanian education system applied as well as the strategies undertaken regarding the development of human resources by transforming it in an important asset and an unstoppable source of values for all the society. In particular, the article is focused in analyzing and evaluating the link between the level of human resources education and some of the socio-economic factors supposed to influence on it. The study is based on the data gathered through usage of the questionnaire tool by distributing 500 of them in the main cities of Albania. By applying statistical analysis, Chi-Square Tests and correlation coefficients on the data gathered it came out that individuals with (at least) university education have a higher proportion of a combined portfolio mostly in investments like treasury bonds and real estate.The behavior of the Albanian citizens towards the investment in human capital is noticeably determined by the individual level of education, with the level of importance 0, 01 which means a 99% probability in significance and the calculation of the correlation coefficient between the investment in human capital and the education is 98% important.
Comparing in situ and satellite‐based parameterizations of oceanic whitecaps
Authors: Paget Aaron C. , Bourassa Mark A. , Anguelova Magdalena D.
Published: April 2015

The majority of the parameterizations developed to estimate whitecap fraction uses a stability‐dependent 10 m wind (U10) measured in situ, but recent efforts to use satellite‐reported equivalent neutral winds (U10EN) to estimate whitecap fraction with the same parameterizations introduce additional error. This study identifies and quantifies the differences in whitecap parameterizations caused by U10 and U10EN for the active and total whitecap fractions. New power law coefficients are presented for both U10 and U10EN parameterizations based on available in situ whitecap observations. One‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests are performed on the residuals of the whitecap parameterizations and the whitecap observations and identify that parameterizations in terms of U10 and U10EN perform similarly. The parameterizations are also tested against the satellite‐based WindSat Whitecap Database to assess differences. The improved understanding aids in estimating whitecap fraction globally using satellite products and in determining the global effects of whitecaps on air‐sea processes and remote sensing of the surface.
Marine climate influences on interannual variability of tropical cyclones in the eastern Caribbean: 1979–2008
Authors: Jury Mark R.
Published: April 2015

Interannual variability of tropical cyclones (TCs) in the eastern Caribbean is studied using MIT‐Hurdat fields during the July–October season from 1979 to 2008. TC intensity shows local climate sensitivity particularly for upper ocean currents, salinity and mixed‐layer depth, and 200–850 mb wind shear. Remote influences from the Southern Oscillation, Saharan dust, and the South American monsoon are also identified as important. Ocean currents diminish along the coast of South America, so interbasin transfer between the North Brazil and Caribbean Currents declines in seasons of frequent and intense TCs. This is related to a dipole pattern in the sea surface height formed mainly by reduced trade wind upwelling northeast of Venezuela. A low‐salinity plume from the Orinoco River spreads across the eastern Caribbean. It is the weaker currents and shallower mixed layer that conspire with surplus heat to build thermodynamic energy available for TC intensification.