bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A conserved role for non-neural ectoderm cells in early neural development
Authors: Cajal Marieke , Creuzet Sophie E. , Papanayotou Costis , Sabéran-Djoneidi Délara , Chuva de Sousa Lopes Susana M. , Zwijsen An , Collignon Jérôme , Camus Anne
Published: October 2014

During the early steps of head development, ectodermal patterning leads to the emergence of distinct non-neural and neural progenitor cells. The induction of the preplacodal ectoderm and the neural crest depends on well-studied signalling interactions between the non-neural ectoderm fated to become epidermis and the prospective neural plate. By contrast, the involvement of the non-neural ectoderm in the morphogenetic events leading to the development and patterning of the central nervous system has been studied less extensively. Here, we show that the removal of the rostral non-neural ectoderm abutting the prospective neural plate at late gastrulation stage leads, in mouse and chick embryos, to morphological defects in forebrain and craniofacial tissues. In particular, this ablation compromises the development of the telencephalon without affecting that of the diencephalon. Further investigations of ablated mouse embryos established that signalling centres crucial for forebrain regionalization, namely the axial mesendoderm and the anterior neural ridge, form normally. Moreover, changes in cell death or cell proliferation could not explain the specific loss of telencephalic tissue. Finally, we provide evidence that the removal of rostral tissues triggers misregulation of the BMP, WNT and FGF signalling pathways that may affect telencephalon development. This study opens new perspectives on the role of the neural/non-neural interface and reveals its functional relevance across higher vertebrates.
Reciprocal myocardial-endocardial interactions pattern the delay in atrioventricular junction conduction
Authors: Bressan Michael , Yang PoAn Brian , Louie Jonathan D. , Navetta Alicia M. , Garriock Robert J. , Mikawa Takashi
Published: October 2014

Efficient blood flow depends on two developmental processes that occur within the atrioventricular junction (AVJ) of the heart: conduction delay, which entrains sequential chamber contraction; and valve formation, which prevents retrograde fluid movement. Defects in either result in severe congenital heart disease; however, little is known about the interplay between these two crucial developmental processes. Here, we show that AVJ conduction delay is locally assigned by the morphogenetic events that initiate valve formation. Our data demonstrate that physical separation from endocardial-derived factors prevents AVJ myocardium from becoming fast conducting. Mechanistically, this physical separation is induced by myocardial-derived factors that support cardiac jelly deposition at the onset of valve formation. These data offer a novel paradigm for conduction patterning, whereby reciprocal myocardial-endocardial interactions coordinate the processes of valve formation with establishment of conduction delay. This, in turn, synchronizes the electrophysiological and structural events necessary for the optimization of blood flow through the developing heart.
Development of a Novel Stem-loop-type Molecular Beacon Probe Possessing Polyamine-connected Deoxyuridine and Silylated Pyrene
Authors: Chowdhury Jakir Ahmed , Moriguchi Tomohisa , Shinozuka Kazuo
Published: October 2014

A novel molecular beacon (MB)-type probe possessing polyamine-bearing deoxyuridine and silylated pyrene in a short stem-portion was synthesized. The probe is assumed to form a pseudo dumbbell-type structure in near physiological conditions. The fluorescent signal of the probe was efficiently quenched while the probe stays alone. On the other hand, the signal was significantly increased under the presence of the oligoDNA complementary to the loop portion.
Relative Evaluation of Comfort Level Associated with Light-Emitting Diode Lighting Based on near Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Handa Tomoya , Shoji Nobuyuki , Shimizu Kimiya
Published: October 2014

Although the use of light-emitting diode (LED) lighting has rapidly become popular as the next-generation of lighting, the degree of comfort associated with these lights has not been sufficiently examined. Therefore, establishing both subjective and objective evaluation methods to test the comfort associated with LED lightings is desirable. We investigated the comfort associated with LED lighting by using near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. The study recruited 35 healthy young adults with no ophthalmological diseases. Three types of lighting, including edge-lit LED, direct-lit LED and fluorescent lighting, were used for the subjective evaluation and measurements of the brain function in both Experiment 1 (comfort verification of lighting illuminance) and Experiment 2 (comfort verification of lighting type). Brain measurements were performed using an NIR sensor and by assessing the oxygenated haemoglobin concentration changes in the frontal lobe during the time the subjects looked at each type of light. The subjective evaluation determined that lighting luminance at 800 lux significantly lowered the comfort level, while direct-lit LED and fluorescent lighting significantly lowered the comfort level as compared with edge-lit LED lighting. Lighting illuminance of 800 lux induced a significant increase in oxygenated haemoglobin concentration compared with the control conditions when eyelids were closed. In addition, looking at direct-LED and fluorescent lighting significantly increased oxygenated haemoglobin concentration compared with edge-lit LED lighting. Our study suggests that the subjective comfort level experienced while looking at different types of lighting could potentially be evaluated based on changes in oxygenated haemoglobin concentration within the frontal lobe detected using NIR sensors.
Behavioral Implementation
Authors: de Clippel Geoffroy
Published: October 2014

Implementation theory assumes that participants' choices are rational, in the sense of being consistent with the maximization of a context-independent preference. The paper investigates implementation under complete information when individuals' choices need not be rational. (JEL D11, D60, D83, R31)
Competition and Ideological Diversity: Historical Evidence from US Newspapers
Authors: Gentzkow Matthew , Shapiro Jesse M. , Sinkinson Michael
Published: October 2014

We study the competitive forces which shaped ideological diversity in the US press in the early twentieth century. We find that households preferred like-minded news and that newspapers used their political orientation to differentiate from competitors. We formulate a model of newspaper demand, entry, and political affiliation choice in which newspapers compete for both readers and advertisers. We use a combination of estimation and calibration to identify the model's parameters from novel data on newspaper circulation, costs, and revenues. The estimated model implies that competition enhances ideological diversity, that the market undersupplies diversity, and that optimal competition policy requires accounting for the two-sidedness of the news market. (JEL D72, K21, L13, L41, L82, N42, N72)
The Improvement of Quality and Efficiency of Diagnostic Researches in the Private Medical Centre
Authors: Бережков  , Berezhkov D. , Москвичева  , Moskvicheva M.
Published: October 2014

In this article the authors consider the development of diagnostic aid in an ultrasound department of a private medical centre and assess the efficiency of organizing technologies. In improving diagnostic care in private health institutions, availability of ultrasound diagnostics for patients, the possibility of acquisition of innovative equipment, further development and increase of professionalism of beam diagnostics is playing a significant role. The authors note an improvement of internal communication division, the increase of results of activity of specialists, motivate employees to achieve the end results, increase of volumes of diagnostic services at high quality of medical services. The quality management system of medical care is based on the prevention of mistakes and defects in the work of monitoring and self-monitoring of the work of doctors - diagnosticians. To increase the number of equipment units doesn’t enough to increase the impact of modern methods of ultrasonic diagnostics. It is necessary to maintain the proper technical condition of equipment, to use it more intensively and to improve training of specialists. The process of forming and perfection of organizational technologies, aimed at continuous improvement of quality and availability of diagnostic examination, undoubtedly increases competitive position of a clinic on the market of medical services that is proved by the positive dynamics of the analyzed period.
Diagnosis of Melanoma by Means of the Expert System
Authors: Козлов  , Kozlov S. , Неретин  , Neretin Evgeniy , Куколкина  , Kukolkina V.
Published: October 2014

The paper discusses one of the important problems the ability to diagnose melanoma skin by means of expert systems. The actuality of the research confirms the fact that for the last time, there has been a widespread increase in the incidence of melanoma, which refers to a tumor of external location. The accuracy of clinical diagnosis is about 37%. Skill to diagnose melanoma skin doctors trained with time lost. On the initiative of N. Cascinelli, President of Melanoma Program who, in many countries since 1987, conducting research on diagnosis of skin melanoma by means of the IT technologies. The purpose of this work is to study the possibilities of assessment ability to diagnose melanoma skin by means of expert system with digital dermatoscopy. To solve this problem, the authors used the following materials and methods of primary accounting documentation for 2006, the Dermatoscope Heine Delta 20 and RDS-1. The obtained results indicate a significantly higher sensitivity in the diagnosis of skin melanoma in a specialized medical institution and more accurate diagnosis of PCAD than routine inspection. At the same time, the accuracy of diagnosis of PCAD is comparable with the accuracy of diagnosis algorithm Kittler. Conclusions are made about the use of the investigated expert system as a «second opinion» with the correct diagnosis.
Gender-Climatic Features of Appealability of the Population for Medical Care Apropos of Hypertension
Authors: Токарев  , Tokarev A. , Киреев  , Kireev Semen , Малыченко  , Malychenko T.
Published: October 2014

Definition risk factors, the proof of their role in human health, as well as a quantitative characteristic of dependences of harmful effects on the levels of exposure to specific factors are one of the fundamental problems of modern clinical medicine, epidemiology, toxicology, occupational health, environmental and other sections of biology and medicine. The object of this study is the population of the city of Tula (22282 patients) and Astrakhan (27776 patients) who applied for emergency medical care apropos of diseases characterized by high blood pressure (ICD I10-I15) in 2013. Women at the age older than working age are the most weather-sensitive group. In the winter time there is a tendency to increase the number of calls to the AG at low amplitude changes daily temperature at high air humidity, wind speed. In spring there is increasing dependence on the number of calls AG at low mean temperature, maximum temperature, speed of wind. In summer there is a significant dependence of increasing the number of calls on AG low average daily temperature, maximum temperature, at low amplitude changes daily temperature; there is a tendency of increasing the number of calls to hypertension in increasing atmospheric pressure difference, while increasing humidity. There are more pronounced changes during sudden changes of weather conditions and a short period of adaptation to temperature changes and humidity.
The Combined Ultrasonic Therapy and Laser Phoresis in the Treatment of Patients with Trophic Ulcers of Venous Genesis
Authors: Портнов  , Portnov V. , Панина  , Panina A. , Круглова  , Kruglova L. , Жукова  , Zhukova O. , Котенко  , Kotenko K. , Стрелкович  , Strelkovich T.
Published: October 2014

This paper represents the data about trophic ulcers pathogenesis and the review of modern techniques of therapy. Research results of efficiency use of ultrasonic therapy and laser phoresis by hyaluronic acid in 26 patients with venous trophic ulcers are given. High efficiency of the combined physiotherapeutic technique is proved at this pathology.
Supporting New Product or Service Introductions: Location, Marketing, and Word of Mouth
Authors: Abedi Vahideh Sadat , Berman Oded , Krass Dmitry
Published: October 2014

Introduction of a new, innovative product or service is a fundamental problem that managers face regularly. The temporal sales pattern of such a product is often dynamically influenced by word of mouth as well as by marketing and distribution support. Appropriate marketing support strategies must be specified to induce the best sales pattern; however, the success of these strategies is heavily tied to the accessibility of the retail facilities, whether physical stores or virtual ones such as the Internet or phone. Managing the relation between accessibility and marketing support becomes more challenging when the firm faces a limited time, often due to short product life cycle. In this work, we present a general model for the joint design of the network of retail facilities and marketing strategies in the presence of word-of-mouth effects and limited time horizon. We develop exact and heuristic solution methods and provide insights on the structure of the optimal solution. Our solution methods identify the number and location of retail facilities to carry the product, as well as the proper mix of marketing channels and expenditures in them over time. Our results demonstrate that significant profit improvement can be achievable by jointly optimizing the design of the network of retail facilities with the choice of marketing strategies. Results of numerical experiments and an illustrative case study on opening Nespresso boutiques are also reported.
MALDI-TOF MS for the Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases
Authors: Patel Robin
Published: October 2014

BACKGROUND

First introduced into clinical microbiology laboratories in Europe, MALDI-TOF MS is being rapidly embraced by laboratories around the globe. Although it has multiple applications, its widespread adoption in clinical microbiology relates to its use as an inexpensive, easy, fast, and accurate method for identification of grown bacteria and fungi based on automated analysis of the mass distribution of bacterial proteins.

CONTENT

This review provides a historical perspective on this new technology. Modern applications in the clinical microbiology laboratory are reviewed with a focus on the most recent publications in the field. Identification of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, mycobacteria, and fungi are discussed, as are applications for testing urine and positive blood culture bottles. The strengths and limitations of MALDI-TOF MS applications in clinical microbiology are also addressed.

MALDI-TOF MS is a tool for rapid, accurate, and cost-effective identification of cultured bacteria and fungi in clinical microbiology. The technology is automated, high throughput, and applicable to a broad range of common as well as esoteric bacteria and fungi. MALDI-TOF MS is an incontrovertibly beneficial technology for the clinical microbiology laboratory.
Translating Sanger-Based Routine DNA Diagnostics into Generic Massive Parallel Ion Semiconductor Sequencing
Authors: Diekstra Adinda , Bosgoed Ermanno , Rikken Alwin , van Lier Bart , Kamsteeg Erik-Jan , Tychon Marloes , Derks Ronny C , van Soest Ronald A , Mensenkamp Arjen R , Scheffer Hans , Neveling Kornelia , Nelen Marcel R
Published: October 2014

BACKGROUND

Dideoxy-based chain termination sequencing developed by Sanger is the gold standard sequencing approach and allows clinical diagnostics of disorders with relatively low genetic heterogeneity. Recently, new next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have found their way into diagnostic laboratories, enabling the sequencing of large targeted gene panels or exomes. The development of benchtop NGS instruments now allows the analysis of single genes or small gene panels, making these platforms increasingly competitive with Sanger sequencing.

METHODS

We developed a generic automated ion semiconductor sequencing work flow that can be used in a clinical setting and can serve as a substitute for Sanger sequencing. Standard amplicon-based enrichment remained identical to PCR for Sanger sequencing. A novel postenrichment pooling strategy was developed, limiting the number of library preparations and reducing sequencing costs up to 70% compared to Sanger sequencing.

RESULTS

A total of 1224 known pathogenic variants were analyzed, yielding an analytical sensitivity of 99.92% and specificity of 99.99%. In a second experiment, a total of 100 patient-derived DNA samples were analyzed using a blind analysis. The results showed an analytical sensitivity of 99.60% and specificity of 99.98%, comparable to Sanger sequencing.

CONCLUSIONS

Ion semiconductor sequencing can be a first choice mutation scanning technique, independent of the genes analyzed.
Book Review
Authors: Papadimitriou Lydia
Published: October 2014

The Balkan Prospect: Identity, Culture and Politics in Greece after 1989, Vangelis Calotychos (2013) New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 284 pages, ISBN: 978-1-137-29243-8, hardback, £57.50
Crisis of sovereignty in recent Greek cinema
Authors: Lykidis Alex
Published: October 2014

Greek cinema is on the rise during a period of deepening economic and political crisis. Films such as Dogtooth, Attenberg and Alps have won critical acclaim and awards at international film festivals. They have been produced under increasingly difficult conditions, at a time when funding for social and cultural programmes in Greece is being cut precipitously. What is the relationship between this cinematic resurgence and the crisis? To what extent are these films a response to the troubles that grip the country? This essay relates the depiction of agency in Lanthimos’s and Tsangari’s films to the decline of popular sovereignty in European politics, Greek peripheral modernity and epochal transformations in Greek film culture.
Tracking timbral changes in metal productions from 1990 to 2013
Authors: Williams Duncan
Published: October 2014

The metal scene has undergone an evolution in sonic characteristics that is partially rooted in music technology developments and associated production techniques that have given rise to a set of identifiably distinct ‘metal’ timbres. The science of psychoacoustics provides a measurable way of assessing these perceptual changes. This article proposes a methodology for psychoacoustic analysis in order to track the evolution of metal-specific timbres, and to speculate on the development of, and applications for, timbral metering in metal production. Sampling, synthesis and digital editing techniques have given rise to entirely new genres of music, yet metal as a genre has remained ostensibly with much the same musical format. Nevertheless, the sonic fingerprint of modern metal production often bears the hallmark of these computer-aided developments. In particular, the metal audience is now, consciously or not, used to the sound of triggered drum samples and sound replacement, ‘re-amping’ guitar and bass signals, and the restricted dynamic range of the ‘loudness war’. As a genre that is known for taking joy in all things loud, both anecdotally and in academic research, the issue of manipulating dynamic range compression in order to increase perceptual loudness in modern music production is perhaps even more pertinent to the metal genre than in other popular music forms.
The Trooper or the Sandman? Iron Maiden’s conservatism versus Metallica’s experimentalism in their philosophies towards musical creativity
Authors: Puri Samir
Published: October 2014

This article considers the differing philosophies towards artistic expression of Metallica and Iron Maiden, two defining bands in the heavy metal genre. It explores the contrasting mentalities that have seen Metallica adapt their musical style on numerous occasions, while Iron Maiden have stuck doggedly to a particular musical path. This article has two aims. First, it sheds light on why two of the heavy metal genres most load-bearing creative and commercial pillars are so unevenly fashioned in terms of creative ethos. Second, it extrapolates wider insights into notions of authenticity in heavy metal music. What are the implications of a band relying on a self-referential sense of how its music ought to be fashioned, versus welcoming in outside influences to reshape one’s artistic core?
A pond water use planning tool for integrated farming in an alternating wet–dry season tropical climate
Authors: Sukchan U. , Oda M. , Caldwell J. S. , Taweekul K. , Suphanchaimat N. , Chongpraditnun P.
Published: October 2014

A tool was developed for farmers to estimate water volume in farm ponds and plan pond water use for dry-season crop and animal production leaving adequate reserve water for rice at the start of the wet season. The tool is used to determine pond water volume at the start of the planning cycle; to determine the quantity of pond reserve water desired at the end of the planning cycle; to determine pond water evaporation during the planning period; to determine expected water consumption by desired crops and cattle; and to adjust water use if the remaining water predicted by the tool is less than the desired reserve quantity. Water use based on plans made with the tool by ten farmers was monitored from 29 December 2008 to 5 October 2009. The tool was more accurate in predicting reserve water when no rainfall added water into farm ponds, and less accurate when rainfall added water to the ponds. Prediction of reserve water in the upper paddy topographical position was more accurate compared with lower paddy and upland positions. The tool is most appropriate for dry-season diversification in upper paddy topographical positions where many new ponds have been constructed during the past twenty years.
The Stability of Teacher Performance and Effectiveness: Implications for Policies Concerning Teacher Evaluation
Authors: Morgan Grant B. , Hodge Kari J. , Trepinksi Tonya M. , Anderson Lorin W.
Published: October 2014

The last five to ten years has seen a renewed interest in the stability of teacher behavior and effectiveness. Data on teacher performance and teacher effectiveness are being used increasingly as the basis for decisions about continued employment, tenure and promotion, and financial bonuses. The purpose of this study is to explore the stability of both teacher performance and effectiveness by determining the extent to which performances and effectiveness of individual teachers fluctuate over time. The sample consisted of 132 teachers for whom both observational and state standardized test data were available for five consecutive years. Neither teacher performance nor effectiveness were highly stable over multiple years of the study. The observed relationship between teacher performance and teacher effectiveness was reasonably stable over time, but the magnitude of the relationship was quite small. Teacher performance was also likely to be inflated in low performing schools. We also discuss when different observed patterns may be acceptable based on the purpose for which the data are used.
Aktivnosti za preprečevanje padcev v rehabilitaciji pacientov po možganski kapi in njihov učinek na incidenco padcev
Authors: Kopitar Natalija , Goljar Nika , Mlinarič Lešnik Vesna
Published: October 2014

Uvod: Preprečevanje padcev je pomemben del rehabilitacijske obravnave. S timsko obravnavo in sistematičnim izvajanjem aktivnosti pri za padec visoko ogroženih pacientih se število padcev lahko zmanjša. Metode: V raziskavo je bilo vključenih 1.634 pacientov na rehabilitaciji po možganski kapi v Univerzitetnem rehabilitacijskem inštitutu Republike Slovenije – Soča (URI – Soča) od 1. 1. 2007 do 31. 12. 2012. Za ugotavljanje učinkovitosti aktivnosti za preprečevanje padcev pacientov je bila izvedena retrospektivna opazovalna raziskava z elementi akcijskega raziskovanja. Uspešnost izvedenih aktivnosti za preprečevanje padcev se je ugotavljala na podlagi incidence padcev. Rezultati: V primerjavi z obdobjem 2007 do 2010, ko so se izvajale splošne aktivnosti za preprečevanje padcev in je incidenca padcev npr. leta 2007 znašala 4,5/1000 bolnišničnooskrbnih dni, se je le-ta v letih 2011 in 2012 po uvedbi lestvice za oceno tveganja za padec ter sistematičnega delovanja celotnega rehabilitacijskega tima pomembno zmanjšala, tako da je leta 2012 znašala 2,8/1000 bolnišničnooskrbnih dni. Učinkovitost sistematičnega delovanja pri preprečevanju padcev se kaže v manjšem številu pacientov, ki so padli enkrat (p = 0,025). Diskusija in zaključek: S sistematičnim delovanjem multidisciplinarnega rehabilitacijskega tima lahko učinkovito zmanjšamo število padcev pacientov po možganski kapi na rehabilitacijskem oddelku. Vpliv teh aktivnosti na preprečevanje padcev pacientov v domačem okolju po zaključeni rehabilitaciji odpira tudi možnosti za nadaljnje raziskovalno delo.
Odnos in znanje kliničnih mentorjev zdravstvene nege o varnosti pacientov
Authors: Robida Andrej
Published: October 2014

Uvod: Klinični mentorji v zdravstveni negi potrebujejo sodobno znanje in veščine za prenos znanj na študente pri kliničnem usposabljanju. Namen raziskave je bil ugotoviti pogled in znanje o varnosti pacientov pri kliničnih mentorjih Fakultete za zdravstvo Jesenice (FZJ).
Metode: Uporabljen je bil preveden vprašalnik Svetovne zdravstvene organizacije o razumevanju varnosti in znanju o varnosti pacientov s priložnostnim vzorcem kliničnih mentorjev, ki so se udeležili delavnice o izboljševanju kakovosti v zdravstvu v organizaciji FZJ, odzivnost je bila 52 % (n = 36). Obdelava podatkov je bila narejena s statističnim programom SPSS verzija 20 z uporabo Kruskal-Wallisovega testa in binarne logistične regresije.
Rezultati: V sklopu osebnega odnosa do varnosti pacientov je bilo pozitivnih odgovorov preko 90 %. Rezultati ocene lastnega znanja o varnosti pacientov, varnosti zdravstvenega sistema, vpliva posameznika na varnost pa niso dosegli ravni, ki bi zagotavljala dobro varnost pacientov – odstotek pravilnih odgovorov za vseh enajst tem o znanju varnosti pacientov je bil 25,5 %. Delovna doba v sedanjem poklicu in število ur predhodnega formalnega izobraževanja niso napovedovale verjetnosti dobrega celokupnega znanja o varnosti pacientov (x2 (4, N = 31) = 8,83, p = 0,07).
Diskusija in zaključek: Rezultati raziskave so pokazali pomanjkljivo znanje o varnosti pacientov pri kliničnih mentorjih. Pri kliničnih mentorjih zdravstvene nege je potrebno usposabljanje s področja varnosti pacientov.
Celostni pristop k ugotavljanju in obravnavi bolečine pri obolelih za demenco: na dokazih podprta priporočila za dobro prakso
Authors: Kobentar Radojka
Published: October 2014

Uvod: Neustrezna obravnava bolečine pri obolelih za demenco je neposredno povezana s slabšim kognitivnim funkcioniranjem, izgubo komunikacijskih sposobnosti ter omejitvami pri izražanju bolečine. Namen prispevka je predstavitev znanstvenih dokazov s področja ocene bolečine pri obolelih za demenco.
Metode: Uporabljen je sistematični pregled znanstvene in strokovne literature, omejene na objave v angleščini, nemščini in slovenščini ter izdajo v časovnem obdobju 2007-2013. Izbor člankov je bil določen glede na naslednje kriterije: dostopnost, znanstvenost, vsebinska ustreznost in aktualnost. Podatki so bili po izboru obdelani s kvalitativno vsebinsko analizo.
Rezultati: Z vsebinsko analizo 16 znanstvenih besedil so podana temeljna izhodišča za oceno in obravnavo bolečine pri obolelih za demenco. Tako je bilo identificiranih pet vsebinskih kategorij: razlogi za bolečino, spremljajoči znaki, instrumenti za ugotavljanje bolečine, zdravstvena obravnava in vloga medicinske sestre.
Diskusija in zaključek: Priporoča se, da se ocena bolečine pri obolelih za demenco obravnava celostno v kontekstu vedenjskih motenj, funkcioniranja in življenjskih pogojev. Na podlagi izsledkov bi bilo potrebno za obolele za demenco uporabiti primeren instrumentarij, ki bo del standarda kakovostne obravnave, saj obstajajo omejitve v zvezi s preverjanjem v klinični praksi.
Diagnostic performance study of an antigen microarray for the detection of antiphospholipid antibodies in human serum
Authors: Schindler Aline R. , Bleher Oliver , Thaler Markus A. , Kocot Carmen J. , Steigerwald Udo , Proll Günther , Gauglitz Günter , Luppa Peter B.
Published: October 2014

The parallelization of clinically relevant antigens in a microarray format is of growing importance due to the ability to measure multiple antigen-antibody interactions. With the development of a microarray for the detection of antiphospholipid antibodies we focussed on one important autoimmune disease that is still diagnostically challenging. Reasons are the heterogeneity of the autoantibodies and the unspecific clinical symptoms.

For the covalent immobilization of antigenic structures, glass transducers were coated with 11-aminoundecyltrimethoxysilane (11-AUTMS). In total 35 antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) patients, six patients with lupus erythematosus and 24 healthy controls were investigated on a microarray format using polarized imaging reflectometric interference spectroscopy.

The novel surface modification based on the short derivative 11-AUTMS resulted in a selective biosensor allowing a clear differentiation of patient and control samples. It combined proteinogenic as well as phospholipid-derived antigens, namely β

Multiplexed determination of serological parameters has a great potential. We have shown that our biosensor is capable of detecting four different APS relevant antibodies in parallel exhibiting a sensitivity and specificity comparable to existing ELISA methods.
Plasma visfatin/nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (visfatin/NAMPT) concentration is not related to kidney function in elderly subjects
Authors: Kocelak Piotr , Olszanecka-Glinianowicz Magdalena , Owczarek Aleksander , Bozentowicz-Wikarek Maria , Brzozowska Aniceta , Mossakowska Malgorzata , Skalska Anna , Wiecek Andrzej , Chudek Jerzy
Published: October 2014

Studies assessing plasma visfatin/nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) concentrations in chronic kidney disease with the ELISA method are restricted mainly to subjects with end-stage kidney disease. Therefore, little is known about to what extent glomerular filtration rate (GFR) affects the plasma levels of visfatin/NAMPT. The aim of this study was to assess the relations between circulating visfatin/NAMPT levels and estimated GFR (eGFR), independently of potential confounders such as inflammation, nutritional status, and insulin resistance in the elderly population.

The analysis included 3023 elderly subjects (1076 with impaired kidney excretory function – eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m

Similar plasma visfatin/NAMPT levels were found in subjects with eGFR ≥60 and <60 mL/min/1.73 m

The results of our study suggest that plasma visfatin/NAMPT levels are not affected by impaired kidney excretory function in elderly subjects.
Accuracy of GFR estimating equations combining standardized cystatin C and creatinine assays: a cross-sectional study in Sweden
Authors: Björk Jonas , Grubb Anders , Larsson Anders , Hansson Lars-Olof , Flodin Mats , Sterner Gunnar , Lindström Veronica , Nyman Ulf
Published: October 2014

The recently established international cystatin C calibrator makes it possible to develop non-laboratory specific glomerular filtration rate (GFR) estimating (eGFR) equations. This study compares the performance of the arithmetic mean of the revised Lund-Malmö creatinine and CAPA cystatin C equations (MEAN

The study included 1200 examinations in 1112 adult Swedish patients referred for measurement of GFR (mGFR) 2008–2010 by plasma clearance of iohexol (median 51 mL/min/1.73 m

Combined marker equations were unbiased and had higher precision and accuracy than single marker equations. Overall results of MEAN

Combining cystatin C and creatinine assays improves GFR estimations with P
Comparison of analytical sensitivity and women’s interpretation of home pregnancy tests
Authors: Johnson Sarah , Cushion Michael , Bond Sharon , Godbert Sonya , Pike Joanna
Published: October 2014

Internationally there are no defined standards for expressing the performance of home-based pregnancy tests, nor any pre-defined accuracy standard requirements. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of a selection of home-based pregnancy tests relative to their packaging/product insert claims.

Eight home-based pregnancy tests were evaluated using human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) urine standards (0, 15, 25 mlU/mL). Testing was performed by a technician and results were read by a technician and a panel of consumer volunteers (each blinded to the expected result) and compared with the expected result based on the manufacturer’s claimed accuracy. Volunteers also completed questionnaires relating to various device attributes.

The overall agreement between the technician reading and expected reading from the hCG concentration was >90% for the Clearblue

Many home-based pregnancy tests commonly used by women are not as accurate as their packaging information claims. International test standards which define appropriate performance characteristics for home pregnancy tests are urgently required.
Laboratory medicine as the science that underpins medicine: the “high-sensitivity” troponin paradigm
Authors: Ferraro Simona , Panteghini Mauro
Published: October 2014

The availability of so-called high-sensitivity troponin assays (hsTn) has scored a compelling goal for laboratory medicine, allowing the safe clinical application of international recommendations for the definition of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, the introduction of hsTn has not been welcomed by clinicians, claiming an increase in false-positive results. Here we critically trace back the steps following the introduction of hsTn by referring to the 5-year practical experience in our academic hospital and to suitable information available in the literature. In agreement with published data, we found that hsTn introduction was associated with an increased number of AMI diagnoses, whereas the test volume, the revascularization rate, and the proportion of cases with negative angiography findings remained virtually unchanged. Fast-track protocols for ruling out AMI have been further optimized to recommend sampling at presentation and after 3 h only. We focus on a cost-effective use of hsTn that can account for all clinical variables increasing the pre-test probability in order to ensure that tests are ordered only for patients at medium to high risk for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). To guide interpretation of results, hsTn typical release patterns suggestive for AMI should be identified by evaluating the significance of concentration changes. hsTn have markedly shortened the time to rule out or rule in AMI and has the potential to improve the prognostic assessment of critical patients in clinical contexts different from ACS.
Geschichte, Negativismus und Skepsis als Herausforderungen politischer Theorie: Judith N. Shklar
Authors: Liebsch Burkhard , Bajohr Hannes
Published: October 2014

This introduction to the special issue on Judith N. Shklar starts with a brief outline of her early life, her emigration, and the academic circumstances of and influences on her major works. A second part elucidates how the negativism and skepticism that constitute the central tenets of her political thought can best be described as a “phenomenology of the vulnerability of the Other.” Her emphasis on active historical remembrance, wariness towards communitarianism, and distrust of overly harmonious models of society puts her in the company of recent theories of political dissensus. A final look at the problems arising from her negativism identifies the weak spots in Shklar’s argument, drawing out the difficulty of institutionalizing such a position and the internal incoherence of a perspective that historically is aimed at the twentieth century and theoretically at the seventeenth.
Judith Shklar über die Philosophie des Völkerstrafrechts
Authors: Moyn Samuel
Published: October 2014

Judith Shklar’s “negative” politics made her a vigilant critic of other modes of liberalism. In what she called her “favorite” book, Legalism (1964), Shklar took up legal philosophy, and it remains one of the most neglected corners of her oeuvre. And yet it is highly relevant today, because she took as her test case for legal philosophy the inter¬national political trials that took place after World War II at Nuremberg and Tokyo. This essay reconstructs her narrow and instrumentalist theory of law, which led her to be a profound critic of Hans Kelsen’s positivism but also of its traditional rival, which has now taken the form of a jurisprudence of moral principle (and which Shklar ultimately associated with Ronald Dworkin). The contemporary pertinence of her thought lies perhaps most of all in the realist strictures that it places upon internalist accounts of law (whether positivist or normative) and especially in the much-debated current return to international justice, in the form of the International Criminal Court and related institutions. Her remarks on Nuremberg show why her negative politics deserve a place of honor in current debates about international justice.
Ungeregelte Zweifel und politische Urteilsbildung bei Judith Shklar und Jacques Rancière
Authors: Salaverría Heidi
Published: October 2014

One question raised by the political philosophy of Judith Shklar is whether the prevention of cruelty and injustice can be conceived in a purely negativistic manner. This paper shows, by critically reconstructing Shklar’s theory, that the attempt to identify cruelty and injustice in a negativistic way remains contradictory. Contrasting this theory with Ranciere’s concept of the political underscores this point (1). The avoidance of cruelty, which is partly based on political judgments, presupposes a specific skeptical attitude, namely one that is capable of affirming unregulated doubts (2). These unregulated doubts are inseparably aesthetic and political: not only making tangible the fractures within the given normative frame, but also keeping alive the sense for injustice, which always remains in need of renewal (3).
Challenges in Assessing PPP Performance
Authors: Seepersad Garrett , Bisnath Sunil
Published: October 2014

The Precise Point Positioning (PPP) GPS data processing technique has developed over the past 15 years to become a standard method for growing categories of positioning and navigation applications. The technique relies on single receiver point positioning combined with precise satellite orbit and clock information, pseudorange and carrier-phase observable filtering, and additional error modelling. Uniquely addressed is the current accuracy of the technique, and explains the limits of performance, which will be used to define paths for future improvements of the technology.

PPP processing of over 300 International GNSS Service (IGS) stations over one week results in few millimetre positioning rms error in the north and east components and centimetre-level in the vertical (all one sigma values). These results are categorised into quality classes in order to analyse the root causes of the resultant errors: "best", "worst", multipath, antenna displacement effects, satellite availability and geometry, etc. Also of interest in PPP performance is solution convergence period. Static, conventional solutions are slow to converge, with approximately 20 minutes required for 95% of solutions to reach a horizontal accuracy of 20 cm or better.

From the above analysis, the limitations of PPP and the source of these limitations are isolated, including site displacement modelling, geometric measurement strength, pseudorange multipath and noise, etc. It is argued that new ambiguity resolution and multi-GNSS PPP processing will only partially address these limitations. Improved modelling is required for: site displacement effects, pseudorange noise and multipath, and pseudorange and carrier-phase biases. As well, more robust undifferenced carrier phase ambiguity validation and improved stochastic modelling is required for the pseudorange and carrier-phase observables to allow for more realistic position uncertainties.
Identifying Important Packages of Object-Oriented Software Using Weighted k-Core Decomposition
Authors: Pan Weifeng , Hu Bo , Jiang Bo , Xie Bo
Published: October 2014

Identifying important entities in software systems has many implications for effective resource allocation. Complex network research opens new opportunities for identifying important entities from software networks. However, the existing methods only focus on identifying important classes. Little work has been done on the identification of important packages. Moreover, the metrics they used to quantify the class importance are only designed for unweighted software networks and cannot fit in with the weighted software networks. To overcome these limitations, in this article, we introduce the weighted k-core decomposition method (Wk-core) to identify the important packages. First, we use a weighted software network to describe packages and their internal dependencies. Second, we use Wk-core to partition a software network into a layered structure. Then, the packages that are denoted by the nodes within the main core are the identified important packages. To evaluate our method, we use a variant of the susceptible–infectious–recovered model to examine the spreading influence of the nodes in six real weighted software networks. The results show that our method can well identify influential nodes, better than other four methods (i.e., original k-core decomposition, degree centrality, closeness centrality, and betweenness centrality methods). Furthermore, we demonstrate our method on two software networks and show that the important packages identified by our method are more meaningful from a software engineering perspective when compared with the other methods.
An improvement in the calculation of the efficiency of oxidative
phosphorylation and rate of energy dissipation in mitochondria
Authors: Ghafuri Mohazabeh , Golfar Bahareh , Nosrati Mohsen , Hoseinkhani Saman
Published: October 2014

The process of ATP production is one of the most vital processes in living
cells which happens with a high efficiency. Thermodynamic evaluation of this
process and the factors involved in oxidative phosphorylation can provide a
valuable guide for increasing the energy production efficiency in research
and industry. Although energy transduction has been studied qualitatively in
several researches, there are only few brief reviews based on mathematical
models on this subject. In our previous work, we suggested a
mathematical model for ATP production based on non-equilibrium thermodynamic
principles. In the present study, based on the new discoveries on the
respiratory chain of animal mitochondria, Golfar's model has been used to
generate improved results for the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation
and the rate of energy loss. The results calculated from the modified
coefficients for the proton pumps of the respiratory chain enzymes are
closer to the experimental results and validate the model.
2D Hydrogen-bonded polymer assembled by zinc(II) tetraaza macrocyclic complex and 1,2-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid
Authors: Choi Ki-Young
Published: October 2014

The self-assembly of [Zn(L)(H
Metformin, cancer and glucose metabolism
Authors: Salani Barbara , Rio Alberto Del , Marini Cecilia , Sambuceti Gianmario , Cordera Renzo , Maggi Davide
Published: October 2014

Metformin is the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes. Results from several clinical studies have indicated that type 2 diabetic patients treated with metformin might have a lower cancer risk. One of the primary metabolic changes observed in malignant cell transformation is an increased catabolic glucose metabolism. In this context, once it has entered the cell through organic cation transporters, metformin decreases mitochondrial respiration chain activity and ATP production that, in turn, activates AMP-activated protein kinase, which regulates energy homeostasis. In addition, metformin reduces cellular energy availability and glucose entrapment by inhibiting hexokinase-II, which catalyses the glucose phosphorylation reaction. In this review, we discuss recent findings on molecular mechanisms that sustain the anticancer effect of metformin through regulation of glucose metabolism. In particular, we have focused on the emerging action of metformin on glycolysis in normal and cancer cells, with a drug discovery perspective.
Absence of Shb impairs insulin secretion by elevated FAK activity in pancreatic islets
Authors: Alenkvist Ida , Dyachok Oleg , Tian Geng , Li Jia , Mehrabanfar Saba , Jin Yang , Birnir Bryndis , Tengholm Anders , Welsh Michael
Published: October 2014

The Src homology-2 domain containing protein B (SHB) has previously been shown to function as a pleiotropic adapter protein, conveying signals from receptor tyrosine kinases to intracellular signaling intermediates. The overexpression ofShbin β-cells promotes β-cell proliferation by increased insulin receptor substrate (IRS) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activity, whereasShbdeficiency causes moderate glucose intolerance and impaired first-peak insulin secretion. Using an array of techniques, including live-cell imaging, patch-clamping, immunoblotting, and semi-quantitative PCR, we presently investigated the causes of the abnormal insulin secretory characteristics inShb-knockout mice.Shb-knockout islets displayed an abnormal signaling signature with increased activities of FAK, IRS, and AKT. β-catenin protein expression was elevated and it showed increased nuclear localization. However, there were no major alterations in the gene expression of various proteins involved in the β-cell secretory machinery. Nor wasShbdeficiency associated with changes in glucose-induced ATP generation or cytoplasmic Ca2+handling. In contrast, the glucose-induced rise in cAMP, known to be important for the insulin secretory response, was delayed in theShb-knockout compared with WT control. Inhibition of FAK increased the submembrane cAMP concentration, implicating FAK activity in the regulation of insulin exocytosis. In conclusion,Shbdeficiency causes a chronic increase in β-cell FAK activity that perturbs the normal insulin secretory characteristics of β-cells, suggesting multi-faceted effects of FAK on insulin secretion depending on the mechanism of FAK activation.