bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of Chemosensitivity by Stathmin-1 Silencing in Gastric Cancer Cells In Situ and In Vivo
Authors: Meng Zhi-jian , Tao Ke
Published: January 2016

Reports show that the stathmin gene may have a close relationship with tumor chemotherapeutic sensitivity. However, the effect of stathmin-1 on the chemosensitivity of gastric cancer to docetaxel has not been clearly determined. siRNA targeting stathmin-1 was introduced. The cell growth
inhibition, expression of associated proteins, cell cycle, and apoptosis were evaluated by MTT, Western blot, and flow cytometric assays, respectively. The influence of silencing stathmin-1 was detected in situ and in vivo. SGC7901/docetaxel cells are the drug-resistant cells. After silencing
stathmin-1, the resistance index (RI) reduced to 3.41, the expressions of STMN-1, MDR1, and ERCC1 were downregulated, but caspase 3 was upregulated. Stathmin-1 siRNA could improve the chemosensitivity of gastric cancer cells to docetaxel, making the percentage of cells at the sub-G1
stage increase and promote apoptosis. The growth of transplantation tumor was significantly suppressed. Therefore, stathmin-1 might be a potential target for enhancing the chemosensitivity of gastric cancer.
Overexpression of NDRG2 Increases Iodine Uptake and Inhibits Thyroid Carcinoma Cell Growth In Situ and In Vivo
Authors: Yin Anqi , Wang Chengguo , Sun Jiachen , Gao Jianjun , Tao Liang , Du Xilin , Zhao Huadong , Yang Jiandong , Li Yan
Published: January 2016

Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is an uncommon and highly aggressive tumor of the neuroendocrine system, which derives from the neuroendocrine C cells of the thyroid gland. Except for surgical resection, there are not very many effective systemic treatment options for MTC. N-Myc downstream-regulated
gene 2 (NDRG2) had a significantly lower expression in MTC compared with normal thyroid tissue. However, the function of NDRG2 in MTC oncogenesis is largely unknown. In this study, we found that overexpression of NDRG2 inhibited the proliferation of TT cells (human medullary
thyroid carcinoma cells) in vitro and suppressed the development of MTC in a nude mouse xenograft model. Further analysis revealed that NDRG2 arrested the cell cycle G0/G1 phase progression and induced TT cell apoptosis. Moreover, NDRG2 overexpression may mediate the
antiproliferative effect by reducing cyclin D1 and cyclin E protein levels. We also found aberrant NDRG2-mitigated TT cell migration and invasion in vitro. Sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) mediates active I− transport into the thyroid follicular cells, and radionuclide
treatment is a promising therapy for MTC. Our current data revealed that NDRG2 overexpression enhanced NIS level in TT cells and increased their iodine uptake in vitro. Furthermore, 99mTcO4− radionuclide imaging of the xenograft tumors indicated that
NDRG2 could promote NIS-mediated radionuclide transport. In conclusion, the present study suggested that NDRG2 is a critical molecule in the regulation of MTC biological behavior and a potential promoter in radioactive iodine therapy.
Project Baseline: An unprecedented resource to study plant evolution across space and time
Authors: Etterson Julie R. , Franks Steven J. , Mazer Susan J. , Shaw Ruth G. , Gorden Nicole L. Soper , Schneider Heather E. , Weber Jennifer J. , Winkler Katharine J. , Weis Arthur E.
Published: January 2016

PREMISE OF THE STUDY:

Project Baseline is a seed bank that offers an unprecedented opportunity to examine spatial and temporal dimensions of microevolution during an era of rapid environmental change. Over the upcoming 50 years, biologists will withdraw genetically representative samples of past populations from this time capsule of seeds and grow them contemporaneously with modern samples to detect any phenotypic and molecular evolution that has occurred during the intervening time.

METHODS:

We carefully developed this living genome bank using protocols to enhance its experimental value by collecting from multiple populations and species across a broad geographical range in sites that are likely to be preserved into the future. Seeds are accessioned with site and population data and are stored by maternal line under conditions that maximize seed longevity. This open‐access resource will be available to researchers at regular intervals to evaluate contemporary evolution.

KEY RESULTS:

To date, the Project Baseline collection includes 100–200 maternal lines of each of 61 species collected from over 831 populations on sites that are likely to be preserved into the future across the United States (∼78,000 maternal lines). Our strategically designed collection circumvents some problems that can cloud the results of “resurrection” studies involving naturally preserved or existing seed collections that are available fortuitously.

CONCLUSIONS:

The resurrection approach can be coupled with long‐established and newer techniques over the next five decades to elucidate genetic change and thereby vastly improve our understanding of temporal and spatial changes in phenotype and the evolutionary processes underlying it.
Evolutionary insights from studies of geographic variation: Contemporary variation and looking to the future
Authors: Etterson Julie R. , Schneider Heather E. , Gorden Nicole L. Soper , Weber Jennifer J.
Published: January 2016

In an age of rapid global change, it is imperative that we continue to improve our understanding of factors that govern genetic differentiation in plants to inform biologically reasonable predictions for the future and enlighten conservation and restoration practices. In this special issue, we have assembled a set of original research and reviews that employ diverse approaches, both classic and contemporary, to illuminate patterns of phenotypic and genetic variation, probe the underlying evolutionary processes that have contributed to these patterns, build predictive models, and test evolutionary hypotheses. Our goal was to underscore the unique insights that can be obtained through the complementary and distinct studies of plant populations across species' geographic ranges.
The Incidence and Predictors of Infection in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: Results from Longitudinal Observational Cohorts
Authors: Haddad Amir , Li Suzanne , Thavaneswaran Arane , Cook Richard J. , Chandran Vinod , Gladman Dafna D.
Published: January 2016

Objective.

To investigate the rate, type, characteristics, and predictors of infection in a cohort of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and a cohort of patients with psoriasis without arthritis (PsC).

Methods.

A cohort of patients with PsA and a cohort of patients with PsC were followed according to a standard protocol and information on the occurrence of infections was recorded. The rate of infection was estimated by fitting an exponential model. A Weibull regression model was fitted to estimate the relative risk of first infection associated with a number of covariates. Risk factors for recurrent infections were investigated using generalized estimating equations.

Results.

There were 498 and 74 infections reported among 695 and 509 patients with PsA and PsC, respectively, with an incidence rate of 19.6 per 100 person-years in the PsA cohort compared with 12.2 in the PsC cohort. The HR of the time to the first infection in PsA versus PsC was 1.6 (p = 0.002), and higher in patients treated with biologics versus nonbiologics at 1.56 (95% CI 1.22–2.00) in PsA and 1.50 (95% CI 0.64–3.54) in the PsC cohorts. Female sex and treatment with biologics were associated with infection in the PsA cohort, whereas a lower Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score and a higher Functional Comorbidity Index were associated with infection in the PsC cohort. Ultraviolet treatment was protective against infection in both cohorts. No difference in rates of hospitalization was found (p = 0.66). There were no infection-related deaths in either cohort.

Conclusion.

The incidence rate of infection was higher in the PsA than the PsC cohort and higher among patients treated with biologics. The data confirm the association between infection and biologic treatment in psoriatic disease.
Clinical Features, Morbidity, and Risk Factors of Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Retrospective Case-control Study
Authors: Zhang Lingling , Xu Dong , Yang Hong , Tian Xinping , Wang Qian , Hou Yong , Gao Na , Zhang Li , Li Mengtao , Zeng Xiaofeng
Published: January 2016

Objective.

To analyze the epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and risk factors for systemic lupus erythematosus-related intestinal pseudo-obstruction (SLE-IPO).

Methods.

We retrospectively examined 85 patients with SLE with IPO as the case group and 255 randomly matched patients with SLE without any gastrointestinal manifestations as the control group, out of 4331 inpatients at the Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) from 2003 to 2014.

Results.

Over the last 11 years at PUMCH, the prevalence of IPO in patients with SLE was 1.96% and the in-hospital fatality rate was 7.1%. Of these patients, 57.6% presented with IPO as the initial affected system of SLE, and the rate of misdiagnosis was about 78%. Pyeloureterectasis was the most common complication (58.9%) in patients with SLE-IPO and the incidence of biliary tract dilation was 7.1%. Patients with SLE with IPO were always diagnosed at an earlier stage of SLE with a higher frequency of hematological disturbance, polyserositis, and hypocomplementemia. Pyeloureterectasis, hypocomplementemia, and elevated C-reactive protein levels in serum were independent risk factors for IPO in SLE disease. Patients with SLE-IPO with long IPO duration and those diagnosed during late stages of SLE or concurrent with pyeloureterectasis and megacholedochus always had an unfavorable outcome.

Conclusion.

IPO is a rare complication, but commonly presents as the initial affected system of SLE, which can lead to a difficult diagnosis and delayed treatment. SLE-IPO occurrence concomitantly with pyeloureterectasis and megacholedochus showed a severe clinical situation in our cohort. Thus, patients with SLE-IPO with systemic smooth muscular involvement should be diagnosed early and treated aggressively.
Severe Intracranial Involvement in Giant Cell Arteritis: 5 Cases and Literature Review
Authors: Alsolaimani Roaa S. , Bhavsar Sankalp V. , Khalidi Nader A. , Pagnoux Christian , Mandzia Jennifer L. , Tay KengYeow , Barra Lillian J.
Published: January 2016

Objective.

Involvement of intracranial arteries in giant cell arteritis (GCA) is rare. We describe the neurologic complications of intracranial GCA (IC GCA) and available treatment options.

Methods.

We describe 5 IC GCA cases from 3 Canadian vasculitis centers and review the literature. We searched English-language publications reporting similar patients meeting American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria for GCA and having intracranial artery involvement diagnosed by autopsy, magnetic resonance angiography, computed tomography angiography, or conventional angiography.

Results.

All 5 cases of IC GCA met ACR criteria for GCA; 4 cases had a temporal artery biopsy that was consistent with GCA. All cases experienced cerebrovascular accident(s). Arteritis involved the following vessels: intracranial internal carotid (n = 1), vertebrobasilar arteries (n = 1), or both (n = 3). All cases received aspirin and oral prednisone (preceded by intravenous methylprednisone in 3 cases), combined with an immunosuppressant in 4 cases. All patients survived; 2 had complete neurological recovery, 3 had residual neurologic sequelae. The literature review included 42 cases from 28 publications. The clinical features of the reported cases were similar to those of our 5 cases. However, mortality was 100% in untreated cases (n = 2), 58% in those treated with corticosteroid alone (n = 31), and 40% in those treated with corticosteroid and an immunosuppressant (n = 10).

Conclusion.

IC GCA appears to be associated with neurologic complications and mortality. In some cases corticosteroid alone was not sufficient to prevent neurologic complications. The role of additional immunosuppressive agents needs further investigation.
Characteristics Predicting Tuberculosis Risk under Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Inhibitors: Report from a Large Multicenter Cohort with High Background Prevalence
Authors: Kisacik Bunyamin , Pamuk Omer Nuri , Onat Ahmet Mesut , Erer Sait Burak , Hatemi Gulen , Ozguler Yesim , Pehlivan Yavuz , Kilic Levent , Ertenli Ihsan , Can Meryem , Direskeneli Haner , Keser Gökhan , Oksel Fahrettin , Dalkilic Ediz , Yilmaz Sedat , Pay Salih , Balkarli Ayse , Cobankara Veli , Cetin Gözde Yildirim , Sayarlioglu Mehmet , Cefle Ayse , Yazici Ayten , Avci Ali Berkant , Terzioglu Ender , Ozbek Suleyman , Akar Servet , Gul Ahmet
Published: January 2016

Objective.

Screening strategies for latent tuberculosis (TB) before starting tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors have decreased the prevalence of TB among patients who are treated with these agents. However, despite vigilant screening, TB continues to be an important problem, especially in parts of the world with a high background TB prevalence. The aim of this study was to determine the factors related to TB among a large multicenter cohort of patients who were treated with anti-TNF.

Methods.

Fifteen rheumatology centers participated in this study. Among the 10,434 patients who were treated with anti-TNF between September 2002 and September 2012, 73 (0.69%) had developed TB. We described the demographic features and disease characteristics of these 73 patients and compared them to 7695 patients who were treated with anti-TNF, did not develop TB, and had complete data available.

Results.

Among the 73 patients diagnosed with TB (39 men, 34 women, mean age 43.6 ± 13 yrs), the most frequent diagnoses were ankylosing spondylitis (n = 38) and rheumatoid arthritis (n = 25). More than half of the patients had extrapulmonary TB (39/73, 53%). Six patients died (8.2%). In the logistic regression model, types of anti-TNF drugs [infliximab (IFX), OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.88–6.10, p = 0.001] and insufficient and irregular isoniazid use (< 9 mos; OR 3.15, 95% CI 1.43–6.9, p = 0.004) were independent predictors of TB development.

Conclusion.

Our results suggest that TB is an important complication of anti-TNF therapies in Turkey. TB chemoprophylaxis less than 9 months and the use of IFX therapy were independent risk factors for TB development.
Improvement in Psoriasis Signs and Symptoms Assessed by the Psoriasis Symptom Inventory with Brodalumab Treatment in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Mease Philip J. , Genovese Mark C. , Mutebi Alex , Viswanathan Hema N. , Chau Dina , Feng Jingyuan , Erondu Ngozi , Nirula Ajay
Published: January 2016

Objective.

To evaluate the effect of brodalumab on psoriasis signs and symptoms assessed by the Psoriasis Symptom Inventory (PSI) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods.

This prespecified analysis of a phase II study (NCT01516957) evaluated patients with active PsA and psoriasis-affected body surface area ≥ 3%, randomized to brodalumab (140 or 280 mg) or placebo every 2 weeks (Q2W) for 12 weeks with loading dose at Week 1. At Week 12, patients entering an open-label extension received brodalumab 280 mg Q2W. The PSI measures 8 psoriasis signs and symptoms: itch, redness, scaling, burning, stinging, cracking, flaking, and pain. PSI response is defined as total PSI ≤ 8 (range 0–32), each item ≤ 1 (range 0–4). PSI scores were assessed at weeks 12 and 24.

Results.

There were 107 eligible patients. At Week 12, mean improvement in PSI scores was 7.8, 11.2, and 1.5 in brodalumab 140 mg, 280 mg, and placebo groups, respectively; by Week 24, improvement was 10.2, 12.4, and 11.7. At Week 12, 75.0%, 81.8%, and 16.7% of patients receiving brodalumab 140 mg, 280 mg, and placebo, respectively, achieved PSI response; improvement was sustained through Week 24, when 83.9% of prior placebo recipients achieved response. At Week 12, 25.0%, 36.4%, and 2.8% of patients receiving brodalumab 140 mg, 280 mg, and placebo, respectively, achieved PSI 0. Percentages improved through Week 24: 40.0% brodalumab 140 mg, 42.9% brodalumab 280 mg, and 48.4% placebo.

Conclusion.

Significantly more brodalumab-treated patients with PsA achieved patient-reported improvements in psoriasis signs and symptoms than did those receiving placebo. Improvements were comparable between brodalumab groups.
Longterm Efficacy of an Antipneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine among Patients with Autoimmune Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases
Authors: Broyde Adi , Arad Uri , Madar-Balakirski Noa , Paran Daphna , Kaufman Ilana , Levartovsky David , Wigler Irena , Caspi Dan , Elkayam Ori
Published: January 2016

Objective.

To estimate the longterm humoral response of an antipneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated spondyloarthropathy (SpA), and the effect of demographic and clinical factors and treatment on the longterm efficacy of the vaccine.

Methods.

A total of 145 consecutive patients treated with biologics [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or interleukin 6 (IL-6) receptor inhibitors] or methotrexate (MTX) participated in this study. Fifteen were excluded because of absent information regarding their vaccination status (n = 9) or because of technical problems in obtaining their serum sample (n = 6). They were diagnosed with RA (n = 63, 48.5%), PsA (n = 29, 22.3%), AS (n = 28, 21.5%), or IBD-associated SpA (n = 3, 2.3%). Their mean age was 54.6 years, and 61.5% were women. Data were collected on the timing of vaccination, demographic and clinical characteristics, and treatment, and patients’ serum antipneumococcal antibody levels were tested.

Results.

Two-thirds of the patients (67.7%) had received PPSV23 45 months (mean) earlier. Treatment included TNF-α inhibitors (73.9%), IL-6 receptor inhibitors (13.1%), or MTX without a biological treatment (13%). The uptake of vaccination was significantly higher in the older population (> 65 yrs). Vaccinated patients had significantly higher antibody levels compared with vaccine-naive patients. The antibody levels had been preserved after 10 years. MTX use, but not biologics, was associated with significantly lower antibody levels.

Conclusion.

The longterm efficacy of the PPSV23 vaccination seems to be preserved among patients with RA, PsA, AS, and IBD-associated SpA for at least 10 years. Efficacy is slightly impaired by MTX, but it is not affected by biologics. These findings suggest that revaccination after 5 years might not be needed for all, and testing the antibody titers should be considered to identify those who may benefit from revaccination.
Physical and Mental Functioning in Patients with Established Rheumatoid Arthritis over an 11-year Followup Period: The Role of Specific Comorbidities
Authors: van den Hoek Joëlle , Roorda Leo D. , Boshuizen Hendriek C. , Tijhuis Gerard J. , van den Bos Geertrudis A. , Dekker Joost
Published: January 2016

Objective.

To investigate the longterm association of a wide range of comorbidities with physical and mental functioning in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods.

Longitudinal data over a period of 11 years were collected from 882 patients with RA. Somatic comorbidity and comorbid depression were measured at baseline, with a questionnaire including 20 chronic diseases and with the Center for Epidemiologic Depression Scale, respectively. Physical functioning was measured at 5 timepoints with a disease-specific measure [Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)] and a generic measure [physical scales of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36)]. Mental functioning was measured with the mental scales of the SF-36. To determine the association of baseline-specific comorbidities with functioning over time, we performed longitudinal analyses.

Results.

At baseline, 72% percent of the patients were women, mean age ± SD was 59.3 ± 14.8 years, median RA disease duration was 5.0 years, and 68% had ≥ 1 comorbid condition. The effect of comorbid conditions was more apparent when physical functioning was measured with SF-36, a disease-generic measure, compared with the HAQ, a disease-specific measure. Circulatory conditions and depression were associated (p < 0.05) with worse physical functioning according to the HAQ. Respiratory conditions, musculoskeletal conditions, cancer, and depression were associated (p < 0.05) with worse physical functioning according to the SF-36. Respiratory conditions and depression were associated with worse mental functioning.

Conclusion.

Patients with specific comorbid conditions have an increased risk of low functioning in the long term. Targeted attention for these specific comorbid conditions by clinicians is recommended.
Path Analysis Identifies Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor-κB Ligand, Osteoprotegerin, and Sclerostin as Potential Mediators of the Tophus-bone Erosion Relationship in Gout
Authors: Chhana Ashika , Aati Opetaia , Gamble Gregory D. , Callon Karen E. , Doyle Anthony J. , Roger Mark , McQueen Fiona M. , Horne Anne , Reid Ian R. , Cornish Jillian , Dalbeth Nicola
Published: January 2016

Objective.

To determine the relationship between tophus, erosion and bone remodeling factors in gout.

Methods.

Computed tomography bone erosion and circulating bone factors were measured in adults with tophaceous gout. Multiple regression modeling and path analysis were used to determine predictors of erosion.

Results.

Tophus number, Māori or Pacific ethnicity, creatinine, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and sclerostin were independently associated with erosion. Path analysis showed a direct effect of tophus number on erosion, partially mediated through OPG, RANKL, and sclerostin.

Conclusion.

Tophus number is strongly associated with bone erosion in gout. Circulating RANKL, OPG, and sclerostin are potential mediators of tophus-related erosion.
Mycophenolate Mofetil in Nonrenal Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Observational Cohort Study
Authors: Tselios Konstantinos , Gladman Dafna D. , Su Jiandong , Urowitz Murray B.
Published: January 2016

Objective.

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), along with corticosteroids, is considered as the standard of care in lupus nephritis (LN); however, little is known regarding its efficacy in extrarenal manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We aimed to determine its effectiveness in nonrenal SLE.

Methods.

One hundred seventy-seven patients with SLE were enrolled; 105 for whom MMF was introduced for active LN (mean age 35.6 ± 10.7 yrs, mean disease duration 8.9 ± 7.8 yrs) and 72 for extrarenal manifestations (mean age 38.6 ± 11.7 yrs, mean disease duration 11.7 ± 9.2 yrs). The main indication for MMF initiation was based on the respective SLE Disease Activity Index element that was present at that time. Patients were subdivided according to the major nonrenal manifestation. Improvement was defined as the absence of the initial clinical or laboratory manifestation after 6 and 12 months.

Results.

Cumulatively, the initial clinical manifestation or hematological abnormality was resolved in 42/72 nonrenal patients (58.3%) after 6 months and in 45/72 (62.5%) after 12 months. Corticosteroid dose was reduced in 44/72 patients (61.1%, p < 0.001, mean dose 18.4 ± 12.6 mg/day at baseline to 12.1 ± 9.0 mg/day after 12 mos, p < 0.05). In renal patients, 40 (38.1%) had complete resolution of the extrarenal manifestation after 6 months, while 53 (50.5%) achieved complete response after 12 months. Prednisone dose was reduced in 73/105 patients (69.5%) after 12 months (mean dose 29.2 ± 16.6 mg/day at baseline to 15.3 ± 9.7 mg/day, p < 0.001).

Conclusion.

MMF seems to be an efficacious alternative in refractory to standard of care nonrenal manifestations of SLE in the long term, allowing for disease activity control and significant reduction in corticosteroid dose.
Genetic Variants That Are Associated with Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Ho Roger C. , Ong Huiyi , Thiaghu Chandra , Lu Yanxia , Ho Cyrus S. , Zhang Melvyn W.
Published: January 2016

Objective.

While genetic risks have been implicated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the involvement of various genotypes in neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) remains uncertain. The present metaanalysis aimed to combine data from different studies and evaluate the association between each genotype and the risk of developing NPSLE.

Methods.

Studies were searched and retrieved from online databases (PubMed, EMBASE, BIOSIS, and ScienceDirect). Case-control studies were chosen if they reported genotype frequencies of the γ Fc region (FCγR) receptors II-A, III-A, and III-B; tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α); mannan-binding lectin (MBL); integrin alpha M (ITGAM); interleukin (IL) 1, IL-1β, and IL-6; IL-10 promoter; and vitamin D genes. The OR were used to assess the strength of this association between patients with NPSLE and SLE.

Results.

A total of 33 studies were considered in this metaanalysis. The results suggest that these genotypes demonstrated a significant association with NPSLE: the homozygous FCγR IIIa 158 FF genotype (OR 1.89, p = 0.03 for FF vs VV + FV), heterozygous FCγR IIIb NA1/2 genotype (OR 2.14, p = 0.03 for NA1/2 vs NA1/1; OR 1.81, p = 0.04 for NA1/2 vs NA1/1 + NA2/2), and homozygous ITGAM rs1143679 HH genotype (OR 3.39, p = 0.04 for HH vs RH; OR 3.11, p = 0.048 for HH vs RR + RH). Polymorphisms of the TNF-α, MBL2, IL-1, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 promoter, and vitamin D receptor genes did not show a statistically significant association with the risk of developing NPSLE (p > 0.05).

Conclusion.

This metaanalysis indicates that polymorphisms in the pathways of immune complex clearance, such as the FcγRIIIa, FcγRIIIb, and ITGAM genotypes, are potential susceptibility genes for NPSLE.
Une rhétorique sacrée au service de la République profane
Authors: Schröer Christina
Published: January 2016

Dès 1789 la Révolution s’est caractérisée par le désir d’un renouveau de l’être humain qui impliquait l’idée d’éducation. Ce projet se radicalise encore avec l’avènement de la République. En plus de la nécessité d’une nouvelle organisation du système scolaire, les républicains songeaient aussi aux possibilités d’une « éducation morale étatique », destinée à convaincre le citoyen des avantages du nouveau régime et à lui faire aimer l’ordre républicain. Le discours politique a été complété par de nouvelles pratiques inspirées largement de sémantique sacrée. Contrairement à ce que l’on pense, l’apogée de ces changements n’a pas été atteint avec le règne des Jacobins, mais sous la République directoriale. C’est surtout grâce aux initiatives du directeur La Révellière-Lépeaux que le projet d’instruction civique républicaine reprend avec vigueur après le 18 fructidor an V. Dans ce contexte « l’art d’argumenter et de convaincre » connut une profonde rupture.
Les sédations en fin de vie
Authors: Copel Laure , Poisson Dominique
Published: January 2016

La proposition de loi Claeys-Leonetti sur les sédations en fin de vie, en débat au Parlement, a été au cœur de bien des controverses. Qu’entend-on par phase terminale ? Quel contenu donner à la collégialité ? Existe-t-il un risque de détournement de la sédation ? La frontière entre une sédation a priori profonde et continue, avec arrêt de la nutrition et de l’hydratation, et l’euthanasie, est-elle claire ? Les auteurs proposent une réflexion nourrie de leur expérience en soins palliatifs.
Repères éthiques en service de psychiatrie
Authors: Richa Sami , Choueifati Doris , Scheuer Michel
Published: January 2016

Tous les paramètres à retenir pour élaborer une éthique du soin en psychiatrie ne sont pas propres à cette spécialité : certains tiennent à la personne du patient et au respect de ses droits, rejoignant en cela toute pratique médicale ou soignante. Ils n’en revêtent pas moins, dans le cadre de l’exercice psychiatrique, une dimension particulière qui doit être prise en compte. D’autres repères concernent des situations propres à la psychiatrie, lesquelles requièrent une approche éthique spécifique.
Résistance
Authors: Sauret Marie-Jean
Published: January 2016

Résumé Ce titre, « Résistance », équivoque entre la résistance au sens de la psychanalyse, qui est le fait d’un réel, et la résistance politique, qui suppose que le sujet y mette du sien. De l’une à l’autre il y a un point commun : le symptôme qui témoigne de la première, auquel le sujet est conduit par l’analyse à s’identifier, et qui constitue le levier de la seconde, de son inscription dans le lien social… Pour quelles conséquences ?
Motivation for the Design and Implementation of a SMS Slang Converter for Android Devices
Authors: Udanor Collins N , Nwoye Chinedu Innocent
Published: January 2016

Mobile phone no doubt has become everyone’s personal companion. It finds close companionship among the youths. Mobile phone SMS slang has adversely affected students’ ability to write proper English grammar, as they find it a very convenient and economic way of communication. This work presents a needs assessment survey in which over 90% of respondents expressed desire to have an application that converts SMS slang. It also shows the design and implementation of SMS slang to English converter for Android devices. Results show a compression rate of over forty percent, therefore reducing the cost of the SMS, time and bandwidth.
Prototype Design of a Remote Medical Monitoring System Based on the Internet of Things
Authors: Zou Xiuming
Published: January 2016

Because the remote medical monitoring system is high distributed, limited to node energy and having a large quantity of process and transmission information, this paper proposes a kind of remote medical monitoring system based on the technology of internet of things and combines the mobile Agent. Ten patients (5 male and 5 female, the age of 18~69 and the average age of 41.8) were given clinical test with this system. It shows the architectural model of the system which consists of wireless sensor nodes, relay nodes, remote monitoring center, etc. To collect the patients’ physiological data, the remote monitoring center in hospital will issue the mobile Agent and run it in the wireless sensor node. After processing the mobile Agent, the center will send it to the relay node, and then send it back to the hospital remote monitoring center through the Internet of things to do comprehensive diagnosis and make decisions. The paper has completed the software and hardware designing and debugging of the each module of system. The result shows that the system is able to monitor the health status of patients who live in different communities in the long term and in time. Further more, the system can achieve optimal utilization of medical resources.
Security Issues in Mobile Wireless Networks
Authors: Sari Arif
Published: January 2016

The varieties of studies in literature have been addressed by the researchers to solve security problems of Mobile Wireless Ad Hoc Networks (MANET) against denial of service (DoS) and distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. Attackers have proposed variety of methods and techniques by considering weaknesses of the wireless nature of the channels and specific characteristics of mobile wireless networks. This chapter evaluates variety of attacks proposed in the literature against MANET by classifying variety of security strategies and mechanisms proposed by the researchers. The algorithms are discussed and explained separately. All these attacks are classified in different categories and security strategies proposed by the researchers have been explained.
AdaBoost Algorithm with Single Weak Classifier in Network Intrusion Detection
Authors: Natesan P. , Balasubramanie P. , Gowrison G.
Published: January 2016

Recently machine learning based intrusion detection system developments have been subjected to extensive researches because they can detect both misuse detection and anomaly detection. In this paper, we propose an AdaBoost based algorithm for network intrusion detection system with single weak classifier. In this algorithm, the classifiers such as Bayes Net, Naïve Bayes and Decision tree are used as weak classifiers. KDDCup99 dataset is used in these experiments to demonstrate that boosting algorithm can greatly improve the classification accuracy of weak classification algorithms. Our approach achieves higher detection rate with low false alarm rates and is scalable for large datasets, resulting in an effective intrusion detection system.
Changing Dynamics of Network Security involving Hacking/Cracking with Next Generation Firewalls (NGFW)
Authors: Vishwakarma Alok , Waheeda S Wafa
Published: January 2016

With increasing number of users on the internet, risk of security and probability of vulnerable attacks are increasing day by day. For every user connected to network, security attacks like hacking and cracking are very frequent which leaves enormous amounts of sensitive data at the risk of being altered, lost or misused. This apparently leads to the need for security measures on ports and protocols also search for application security, VPN, IPS, and a firewall support. The hacking and cracking threats and attacks in a network are no longer in control with the existing methods and standard firewalls. The introduction of Next Generation Firewalls leads to improved security over network. This chapter deals with hacking and cracking attacks over network and their countermeasures, also focusing on the changing dynamics of network security with next generation firewalls.
Media, Democracy, and Political Change in Developing Countries
Authors: Mukhongo Lynete Lusike , Macharia Juliet Wambui
Published: January 2016

The introductory chapter undertakes a detailed discussion of the political influence of media in developing countries. Communication scholars and researchers often discuss what the media needs to do in the process of driving political change, however, this is often done without a real consideration of the challenges facing the media and political journalists in developing countries. There is therefore need to lay emphasis on drawing reference from experiences as narrated by the media, researchers and political interest groups based in developing countries. This book seeks to document research carried out by communication researchers, scholars and media practitioners based in various developing countries. The authors draw from their varied experiences in developing countries to undertake interesting discussions on how the media operates in the developing world, and the subsequent challenges facing the media and political journalists.
The Press and the Emergent Political Class in Nigeria
Authors: Popoola Ibitayo Samuel
Published: January 2016

This probing thesis in this study is on how the political class in colonial and post-colonial Nigeria established, maintained, improved and controls the machinery of the state through the press. While establishing media ownership and unequal media access as key factors responsible for the emergence of the political class, the study similarly discovered that the political class emerged because they were read, advertised or packaged by the press. Robert C. North (1967:301) says “politics could not exist without communication, nor could wars be fought.” The media are also the playing field on which politics occurs” (Perloff 2014:37). They are also the strategic routes through which aspiring politicians must travel during elections. Through a case study method of analysis, this study discovered that the political class emerged because they were read, advertised, and publicized by the press. For this reason, the political class regarded the press as partners in progress.
Mousa-Aboulfotouh the First Arab Presidential Debate in History
Authors: El-Falaky Mai Samir
Published: January 2016

This study extends the application of the Functional Theory of Political Campaign Discourse to investigate the nature of the first Arab presidential debate in history. The study also shows how such mediated discourse has been influenced by rhetorical use of the presidential candidates. It is found that the distribution of speech functions represented in attacks, acclaims and defenses has important significances in such kind of discourse. The theory hypothesizes that ‘acclaims' are more common than attacks or defenses in debates and the analysis confirms such hypothesis. The analysis of this first Arab presidential debate reflects significant rhetorical strategies analysed within the framework of the Theory of Political Campaign Discourse. The findings depict the role of media as an influence on the political situation in Egypt at the climate of political conflict especially when the two candidates have totally different political and ideological backgrounds.
Beyond Web 2.0. Social Media and Urban Educated Youths Participation in Kenyan Politics
Authors: Kirigha Julius Mwashimba M. , Mukhongo Lynete Lusike , Masinde Robert
Published: January 2016

The purpose of the study, was to contribute to a further understanding of the shifting dynamics in youth political communication enabled by advancements in ICTs and explore the extent to which social media use has impacted on both institutional and extra-institutional political participation. The study sought to critically analyse the relationship between social media use and urban youth political participation by integrating both probability and non-probability sampling techniques to generate data using web based questionnaires and Focus Group Discussions among undergraduate students aged 18-24 years. From the findings it emerged that a majority of educated urban youth prefer to use Facebook to access political information. In addition, the users viewed social media as a free space where they could express their political views without censorship or regulation. As a result, it was established that as the use of social media increases, so does participation in politics, indicating a positive relationship between how youth use social media and their participation in politics.
Gender Responsive Election Coverage in Nigeria
Authors: Ogwezzy-Ndisika Abigail Odozi , Faustino Babatunde Adeshina
Published: January 2016

This article appraises media coverage of elections in Nigeria with a view to determining the extent it is gender responsive. Specifically, it assesses media coverage of elections and highlights the implications for gender equitable politics in Nigeria; provides data on coverage of both men and women during 2011 general elections; and reviews whether media personnel have fulfilled their social responsibility expectations such as gender equality goals to which the Nigerian state has pledged to in many international instruments. Data for the study were mined from existing documents on media coverage of elections in Nigeria collected, during the 2011 general elections across the six geopolitical zones; and African Media Barometer 2008 and 2011.This score card brings to the fore the extent Nigerian media personnel are implementing the Beijing Platform for Action; and the findings can be used for policy formulation on media reportage and programming for gender responsive election coverage.
NK Simulation Modeling
Authors: Biggiero Lucio
Published: January 2016

Launched and developed primarily by Kauffman from the end of sixties, NK simulation modelling candidates for capturing networks dynamics. Grounded in reference to biological networks, it has aroused a grate and durable interest in economics and management sciences too. This methodology is split into a version focused on studying proper Boolean networks dynamics, whose trajectories are substantially conditioned by Boolean functions, and a (much more frequented) version focused on systems co-evolutionary paths driven by the search for optimizing its fitness value. Besides the unquestionable value of Kauffman's work for the theoretical implications on evolutionary biology and the strong interest for economics and management sciences, in this chapter failures and limitations of both NK modelling versions are discussed. In particular, it is shown that as applications try to be more realistic, this modeling becomes hardly treatable from a computational point of view. On the other hand, it is underlined that, especially the fitness landscape version, NK simulation modelling is very useful to show general aspects of system's dynamics, and the impossibility to find general optima (excepted for very special and unrealistic cases). This result sounds a sharp criticism to general economic equilibrium, and it is perfectly consistent with Simon's contributions.
Agent-Based Simulation Modeling
Authors: Valente Marco
Published: January 2016

Computer simulations are a powerful tool for scientific research, but lack an accepted methodology for their use, and consequently their results are generally received with skepticisms. This chapter proposes a methodological approach allowing to formally unify the treatment of “traditional” quantitative phenomena with that of phenomena from economics or biology that prevent a universal adoption of data-centered methods. We propose to adopt the explanation as the basic unit of knowledge, which is able to cover all possible cases. From this assumption, we can derive the conclusion that simulation models fail to deliver their full potential as scientific investigative tool because their implementations lack crucial details on the intermediate steps producing simulation results.
A Comparison between International Trade and R&D Collaboration Networks in the European Aerospace Sector
Authors: Angelini Pier Paolo , Biggiero Lucio
Published: January 2016

Do trading countries also collaborate in R&D? This is the question that, facing with a number of methodological problems, here it is dealt with. Studying and comparing the international trade network and the R&D collaboration network of European countries in the aerospace sector, social network analysis offers a wide spectrum of methods and criteria either to make them comparable or to evaluate its similarity. International trade is a 1-mode directed and valued network, while the EU-subsidized R&D collaboration is an affiliation (2-mode) undirected and unvalued network, and the elementary units of this latter are organizations and not countries. Therefore, to the aim to make these two networks comparable, this paper shows and discusses a number of methodological problems and solutions offered to solve them, and provides a multi-faceted comparison in terms of various statistical and topological indicators. A comparative analysis of the two networks structures is made at aggregate and disaggregate level, and it is shown that the common centralization index is definitively inappropriate and misleading when applied to multi-centered networks like these, and especially to the R&D collaboration network. The final conclusion is that the two networks resemble in some important aspects, but differ in some minor traits. In particular, they are both shaped in a core-periphery structure, and in both cases important countries tend to exchange or collaborate more with marginal countries than between themselves.
A Methodology to Measure the Hierarchical Degree of Formal Organizations
Authors: Biggiero Lucio , Mastrogiorgio Antonio
Published: January 2016

Hierarchy is a fundamental phenomenon in management and organization science, a phenomenon which has marked the evolution of human societies over centuries. Among the many studies on this issue, the ones that adopt a formal approach of investigation are mainly based on social network analysis. Following this line, in this work we focus on organization distribution of formal direct authority in stylized, pure hierarchical archetypes. Past research, analyzing the share of asymmetric links in out-tree topologies, was not able to distinguish among different types of out-trees. Indeed since the out-trees can differ under substantial structural features, in order to measure the degree of hierarchy it is necessary to employ indicators of power concentration and distribution. Results show that the purest archetype of hierarchy is the star form, and not the typical org chart. Further, ceteris paribus, an organization with more hierarchical levels is less and not more hierarchical than an organization with fewer levels. Moreover, power tend to concentrate in lower levels, and especially into the penultimate one.
The Role of Knowledge Heterogeneity in Industrial Clusters Knowledge Dynamics
Authors: Biggiero Lucio , Valente Marco
Published: January 2016

In high-tech industrial clusters as the aerospace most collaborations for innovations are highly knowledge-specific and form a (relatively dense) knowledge network. With reference to the case of the aerospace industrial cluster of the Lazio Region, in this work we study the network dynamics of its core organizations (firms, universities, and research centers). By applying the methodology of NK simulation modeling, we explore what happens lacking the initial contribution of knowledge provided by universities and research centers. Further, we investigate the effects of the introduction of minimum requisites in terms of knowledge heterogeneity and knowledge amount. We show that, within a general favorable condition of activation rules, trajectories are quite short and knowledge dynamics is sensitive to the requisite of knowledge heterogeneity, when it is set-up around half of its potential range. We will conclude that, despite some interesting results like the ones we have found and many others that could be discovered, this methodology has substantial failures mostly due to its requisites of computational burden and topological and behavioral invariance, which makes it hardly applicable and scarcely informative into empirical analysis of phenomena within economics and management sciences.
Neural Network Modeling for Organizational Psychology
Authors: Pessa Eliano
Published: January 2016

The nature itself of organizational psychology makes the study and modeling of emergence processes the key topic of this science. In this regard we can distinguish between two kinds of emergence: the one related to individual constructs and the other to collective constructs. In the former case the presence of suitable individual and contextual features gives rise to the emergence of suitable individual attitudes of holistic nature. In the latter case the features of single individuals belonging to a group, and reciprocally interacting, give rise to the occurrence of collective features and phenomena. In the last years both kinds of emergence have been studied through computational models. In this chapter we focus on the contribution of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) models to this modeling activity. As regards the emergence of individual constructs there is a consistent number of ANN-based models, most of which formulated in terms of recurrent networks. A review of their successes and failures constitutes a first part of the chapter. Instead, the emergence of collective constructs has been so far modelled by resorting to agent-based models. However, in recent times the ANN models have begun to be used with increasing frequency in this field. Namely, each agent can be modelled in an easier way by representing its structure through a suitable neural network. The final part of the chapter is, therefore, devoted to the problems underlying the use of ANNs as constituents of agent models.