bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Randomized, blinded, placebo‐ and positive‐controlled crossover study to determine the effect of multiple doses of apixaban on the QTc interval
Authors: Frost Charles , Nepal Sunil , Byon Wonkyung , Moore Kenneth , Reeves Richard A. , Boyd Rebecca , LaCreta Frank
Published: December 2014

Apixaban is an oral, direct factor Xa inhibitor indicated for the prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disease. This randomized, blinded, 4‐way crossover study investigated the potential effect of apixaban on the QTc interval. Forty healthy subjects (39 completers) each received 3 days of the following treatments: blinded apixaban 10 mg once daily (QD), 50 mg QD (supratherapeutic), matched apixaban placebo QD, and a single dose of open‐label moxifloxacin 400 mg on Day 3, preceded by 2 days of placebo QD. Triplicate electrocardiograms obtained over 24 hours on Days −1 (baseline) and 3 were read by a blinded third party. The mean placebo‐adjusted, time‐matched, Fridericia‐corrected change from baseline QTc (ΔΔQTcF) for apixaban and moxifloxacin was estimated at each time point. The maximum ΔΔQTcF was 1.51 milliseconds (one‐sided upper 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.71 milliseconds) after apixaban 50 mg QD, 1.36 milliseconds (one‐sided upper 95%CI 3.54 milliseconds) after apixaban 10 mg QD, and 10.21 milliseconds (lower 95%CI 8.07 milliseconds) after moxifloxacin. Concentration‐response analysis suggested no evidence of a positive relationship between apixaban concentration and ΔQTcF. Apixaban doses up to 50 mg QD for 3 days were well tolerated and did not prolong the QTc interval in healthy subjects.
Biomechanical analyses of the human flexor tendon adhesion models in the hand: A cadaveric study
Authors: Kim Jihyeung , Rhee Seung Hwan , Gong Hyun Sik , Oh Sohee , Baek Goo Hyun
Published: December 2014

Patients with longstanding trigger finger may develop flexion contracture at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint that persists even after division of the A1 pulley. The purpose of this study was to explore the hypothesis that flexion deformity of the PIP joint in advanced trigger finger is caused by severe adhesion between the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) and the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendons. Ten freshly frozen cadaveric hands were used in the experiments. After preparation of the extrinsic flexor, extrinsic extensor, and intrinsic muscle tendons, we applied weights to the flexor tendons and minimal tension to the extrinsic extensor and intrinsic muscle tendons. We then measured the initial flexion angles of the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) and PIP joints. Next, we measured the flexion angles of the MCP and PIP joints as increasing tension was applied to the extrinsic extensor and intrinsic muscle tendons, respectively. We repeated these experiments after constructing flexor tendon adhesion model. The initial flexion angles of the MCP and PIP joints were greater in the adhesion model, as were the average tensions required for full extension of these joints. Our results suggest that adhesion between two flexor tendons contributes to progression of flexion deformity in the PIP joint. © 2015 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 33:717–725, 2015.
The accuracy of three predictive models in the evaluation of recurrence rates for gastrointestinal stromal tumors
Authors: Racz Jennifer M. , Brar Savtaj S. , Cleghorn Michelle C. , Jimenez M. Carolina , Azin Arash , Atenafu Eshetu G. , Jackson Timothy D. , Okrainec Allan , Quereshy Fayez A.
Published: December 2014

Background

Treatment decisions for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) are frequently guided by tumor characteristics. An accurate prediction of recurrence is important to determine the benefit from targeted therapy. Our goal was to compare the concordance of three validated risk stratification schemes with observed outcomes in patients undergoing resection for GISTs.

Methods

Patients who underwent surgery for GISTs from 2001 to 2011 at a tertiary centre were identified. Survival was evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier product‐limit method. Cox proportional hazard models were used to obtain predicted recurrence for each system and concordance indices were calculated.

Results

Of 110 patients identified, 77 (70.0%) had surgery and 29 (26.4%) also received adjuvant therapy. The majority of patients had tumors that were very low (4.5%), low (32.7%), or intermediate (22.7%) in terms of malignant potential. R0 resection was achieved in 89.1% of cases. Observed 2‐year and 5‐year recurrence rates were significantly lower than those predicted by the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center nomogram (7.6% vs. 19.3% and 18.4% vs. 27.0%); however, it was the most favorable tool compared to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH)‐consensus (P = 0.0017) and modified NIH‐consensus (P < 0.001), with a concordance index of 0.811.

Conclusion

Development of a novel predictive tool that includes additional prognostic factors may better stratify recurrence following resection for GIST. J. Surg. Oncol. 2015 111:371–376. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Introduced freshwater blenny influences the diet and body condition of the invasive dice snake in Lake Geneva
Authors: Dubey Sylvain , Christe Philippe , Formenti Vanessa , Staub Emilie , Schuerch Johan , Glaizot Olivier , Ursenbacher Sylvain
Published: December 2014

Non‐indigenous species can have strong impacts on biodiversity by affecting trophic relationships in their new environments. The piscivorous dice snake (Natrix tessellata) has been introduced to Geneva Lake, western Switzerland, where the endangered viperine snake (Natrix maura) is native. Local, dramatic declines in the viperine snake population might be associated with the appearance of the dice snake through dietary overlap between these 2 species, which mainly feed on bullhead (Cottus gobio). In response to this decline, a control program for dice snake was implemented in 2007 to reduce numbers of this introduced snake. In 2010, a new species of fish, the freshwater blenny (Salaria fluviatilis), which shares the same habitat as the bullhead, was introduced into Lake Geneva and has since reached high densities. We determined the impact of freshwater blenny on diet composition and body condition of dice snakes. In addition, we tested for effects of the control program on the body condition of dice snakes and viperine snakes. We collected 294 dice snakes between 2007 and 2013. Based on morphology and a genetic marker (cytochrome b gene), we determined the fish species contained in these snakes’ stomachs. We found a drastic switch in dice snake diet following the arrival of freshwater blenny, as consumption of bullhead declined by 68% and was replaced by the blenny. In addition, the body condition of dice snakes increased significantly after the arrival of freshwater blenny. The body condition of both snake species was positively correlated with the number of dice snakes removed from the study area. This finding has important implications concerning the conservation of the endangered viperine snake, and suggests that the control program of dice snakes should be continued. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.
Personal decision‐making processes for living related liver transplantation in children
Authors: Goldschmidt Imeke , Migal Katarina , Rückert Norbert , van Dick Rolf , Pfister Eva Doreen , Becker Thomas , Richter Nicolas , Lehner Frank , Baumann Ulrich
Published: December 2014

Living related liver transplantation (LRLT) is a valuable transplant option for children with end‐stage liver disease who face long waiting times on regular waiting lists. The subjection of a healthy adult to a potentially life‐threatening operation can raise issues of freedom of choice, fear, and family conflict for the potential donors. We examined attitudes, fears, and influencing factors in the decision‐making process for living liver donation for children in order to identify factors to improve support for living liver donors in the future. In a retrospective, questionnaire‐based survey of 93 adults evaluated for living liver donation between 1997 and 2010, 47 of whom actually proceeded to donation, we asked about attitudes, motivation, fears, influencing factors, and well‐being during the LRLT evaluation process and during the donation period. Answers were recorded on Likert scales and compared with Pearson's rho correlation and the Mann‐Whitney U test as appropriate. Although there was a strong sense of a lack of alternatives among the donors, the majority of the donors felt free in their decision to donate. Donors who were asked to donate for a relative who was not their own child appeared at higher risk of lacking support and of feeling coerced. Family and social support and good and empathic information about the donation process were identified as key factors for donor well‐being. In conclusion, potential living liver donors need to have adequate, sufficient, and empathic information, and they need to be provided a supportive framework, including family support, in order to promote their well‐being. Care needs to be taken in identifying and counseling potential donors at risk of feeling coerced into donation. Liver Transpl 21:195‐203, 2015. © 2015 AASLD.
An Alternative Explanation of Consumer Product Returns from the Postpurchase Dissonance and Ecological Marketing Perspectives
Authors: Lee Dong Hwan
Published: December 2014

Research on consumer product returns has identified product failure, dissatisfaction, and fraudulent intent as primary causes. In recent years, however, consumers return products even before experiencing dissatisfaction and when products are not defective. Moreover, most consumers who return products are ordinary scrupulous people. Ironically, product returns are on the rise while overall product quality has improved. This suggests that there are other reasons for product returns yet to be uncovered. This study critically examines such types of recently observed product‐return behaviors from the postpurchase dissonance (PPD) and ecological marketing perspectives. A proposition emerged through the critical review that in the current competitive and consumer‐centered market environment, consumers increasingly choose product return over other options identified in the literature as a viable strategy to cope with their PPD. Two empirical studies and a recent major industry study on consumer product returns provided strong support for the proposition. Managerial and future research implications of the findings are discussed.
Creative Strategies in Social Media Marketing: An Exploratory Study of Branded Social Content and Consumer Engagement
Authors: Ashley Christy , Tuten Tracy
Published: December 2014

This study employed a content analysis of the creative strategies present in the social media content shared by a sample of top brands. The results reveal which social media channels are being used, which creative strategies/appeals are being used, and how these channels and strategies relate to consumer engagement in branded social media. Past research has suggested that brands should focus on maintaining a social presence across social channels with content that is fresh and frequent and includes incentives for consumer participation (Ling et al., 2004). This study confirmed the importance of frequent updates and incentives for participation. In addition, several creative strategies were associated with customer engagement, specifically experiential, image, and exclusivity messages. Despite the value of these creative approaches, most branded social content can be categorized as functional.
Validation of a Fashion Brand Image Scale Capturing Cognitive, Sensory, and Affective Associations: Testing Its Role in an Extended Brand Equity Model
Authors: Cho Eunjoo , Fiore Ann Marie , Russell Daniel W.
Published: December 2014

This research validated a new 16‐item brand image scale that captures cognitive, sensory, and affective dimensions (i.e., mystery, sensuality, intimacy) of tangible and intangible attributes of fashion brands. Three studies were conducted to develop a holistic, yet parsimonious, fashion brand image measure. The initial subthemes of brand image and representative items were based on a review of scholarly literature and industry‐based information and on interview findings. Reliability and validity of the new scale were confirmed using data from 218 college students and a national sample of 2,373 respondents. Convergent and discriminant validity were supported through confirmatory factor analysis. Nomological validity was supported through testing a structural model containing the three brand image dimensions, Roberts’ () lovemarks experience, and brand equity variables. The new brand image scale is different from existing scales because it incorporates Roberts’ industry‐based perspective, including more comprehensive sensory and affective dimensions than found in past brand image scales. This study provides support for Roberts' lovemarks model and the contributors to brand equity, which has implications for theory and for marketing firms that endeavor to build an effective fashion brand image.
Understanding the Role of Consumer Heterogeneity in the Formation of Satisfaction Uncertainty
Authors: Qian Cheng , Chandrashekaran Murali , Yu Kangkang
Published: December 2014

Prior empirical research has focused on the antecedents and consequences of attitude uncertainty. Drawing on regulatory focus theory and need for closure theory, this research examines the role of individual difference variables in shaping satisfaction uncertainty. This empirical work seeks to explore the interplay of individual difference variables, cognition and affect, in shaping satisfaction uncertainty. The proposed model maintains that need for closure and regulatory focus shape satisfaction uncertainty through their influence on cognitive and affective processes. The model was tested on 192 participants in an experiment using a restaurant scenario. Satisfaction uncertainty is estimated, rather than measured, using the Judgment Uncertainty and Magnitude Parameters (JUMP) model. The results show that prior expectation, pleasure, and arousal have positive effects on satisfaction uncertainty, while perceived performance has a negative impact. Furthermore, regulatory focus is found to moderate the effects of cognition and affect on satisfaction uncertainty, while need for closure moderates the impact of affect on satisfaction uncertainty.
A field scale model for the spread of fungal diseases in crops: the example of a powdery mildew epidemic over a large vineyard
Authors: Burie J.‐B. , Ducrot A.
Published: December 2014

The aim of this article is to derive an asymptotic two‐scale model for the propagation of a fungal disease over a large vineyard. The original model is based on a singularly perturbed system of two linear reaction‐diffusion equations coupled with a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations in a highly heterogeneous medium. We prove the well‐posedness of the asymptotic model and obtain a convergence result confirmed by numerical simulations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Global existence and nonexistence of solutions for the nonlinear pseudo‐parabolic equation with a memory term
Authors: Di Huafei , Shang Yadong
Published: December 2014

In this paper, we study the initial boundary value problem of nonlinear pseudo‐parabolic equation with a memory term

with initial conditions and Dirichlet boundary conditions. By the combination of the Galerkin method and Potential well theory, the existence of global solutions is derived. Moreover, not only the finite time blow up of solutions with the negative initial energy (E(0) < 0) but also the finite time blow up results with the nonnegative initial energy (0≤E(0) < dk) are obtained by using Concavity method and Potential well theory. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
CFD Derived Results Lead to An Installation of An Overflow Technique in A Microreactor for Gas‐Phase Ethene Homo Polymerization
Authors: Mayrhofer Leonhard , Krallis Apostolos , Wurnitsch Christof , Paulik Christian
Published: December 2014

The presented micro gas‐phase reactor is a very suitable tool for the investigation of polymerizations. To achieve conditions which are closer to industry an overflow is installed in the microreactor. With this setup it is now possible to have a distinct exchange of ethene during the polymerization. CFD calculations have been performed to evaluate the reactor setup and according to these results the reactor has been modified to allow an exchange of the reactor volume two times per minute. The overflow leads to a better heat removal from the growing polymer particles and supplies the active centers with preheated ethylene. The performed overflow‐polymerizations are compared with polymerizations in static conditions and the results allow deeper understanding of the polymerization kinetics on particle level in gas phase conditions.
Reversible pancytopenia and immunodeficiency in a patient with hereditary folate malabsorption
Authors: Erlacher Miriam , Grünert Sarah Catharina , Cseh Annamaria , Steinfeld Robert , Salzer Ulrich , Lausch Ekkehart , Nosswitz Ulrike , Dückers Gregor , Niehues Tim , Ehl Stephan , Niemeyer Charlotte Marie , Speckmann Carsten
Published: December 2014

Mutations in SLC46A1 result in a defect of the proton coupled folate transporter (PCFT) and are the basis of hereditary folate malabsorption (HFM). Patients with HFM frequently present with neurodevelopmental delay and megaloblastic anemia. Some cases may be complicated by additional lymphopenia and immunodeficiency. We report a patient with a new homozygous mutation in the SLC46A1 gene. The boy presented with early‐onset pancytopenia and secondary immunodeficiency. We provide clinical and molecular observations that extend the phenotypic description of HFM and highlight diagnostic as well as therapeutic pitfalls in this rare condition. Pediatr Blood cancer © 2014 Wiley‐Liss,Inc.
Why do oncology outpatients who report emotional distress decline help?
Authors: Clover Kerrie Ann , Mitchell Alex J. , Britton Ben , Carter Gregory
Published: December 2014

Objective

Many patients who experience distress do not seek help, and little is known about the reasons for this. We explored the reasons for declining help among patients who had significant emotional distress.

Methods

Data were collected through QUICATOUCH screening at an Australian hospital. Oncology outpatients scoring 4 or more on the Distress Thermometer were asked if they would ‘like help’ with their distress. Those who declined help were asked their reasons. Demographic variables and a clinical measure of anxiety and depression (PSYCH‐6) were used to identify factors associated with reasons for declining help.

Results

Of 311 patients with significant distress, 221 (71%) declined help. The most common reasons were ‘I prefer to manage myself’ (n = 99, 46%); ‘already receiving help’ (n = 52, 24%) and ‘my distress is not severe enough’ (n = 50, 23%).

Younger patients and women were more likely to decline help and were more likely to already be receiving help. Distress score and PSYCH‐6 scores were significantly lower among patients who rated their distress as not severe enough to require help. Nevertheless, there were patients who had maximal scores on distress and PSYCH in each group.

Conclusions

Two common patient barriers to help with distress are a preference for self‐help and a belief that distress is not sufficiently severe to warrant intervention. These beliefs were held by a sizeable proportion of individuals who reported very high levels of distress. Qualitative research and subsequent interventions for overcoming these barriers are required to obtain the most benefit from distress screening programs. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Distinct patterns of endosulfatase gene expression during Xenopus laevis limb development and regeneration
Authors: Wang Yi‐Hsuan , Beck Caroline
Published: December 2014

The heparan sulfate 6‐O‐endosulfatases sulf1 and sulf2 regulate multiple cellular processes and organ development. Sulfs modulate a range of heparan‐sulfate‐dependent extracellular pathways, including the fibroblast growth factor, bone morphogenetic protein, and wingless/wnt signaling pathways. Known patterns of sulf transcript expression together with functional experiments have implicated the sulfs in chondrogenesis and muscle regeneration in mammals. Here, we describe the expression patterns of Xenopus laevis sulf1 and sulf2 in developing forelimbs and hindlimbs and demonstrate novel expression of the sulf transcripts in the regenerating hindlimbs, with prominent sulf2 expression in the proliferating blastema and transient expression of sulf1 in the redeveloping apical epidermal ridge. These findings further suggest involvement of the sulfs in successful limb regeneration in amphibians.
Effects of categorization method, regression type, and variable distribution on the inflation of Type‐I error rate when categorizing a confounding variable
Authors: Barnwell‐Ménard Jean‐Louis , Li Qing , Cohen Alan A.
Published: December 2014

The loss of signal associated with categorizing a continuous variable is well known, and previous studies have demonstrated that this can lead to an inflation of Type‐I error when the categorized variable is a confounder in a regression analysis estimating the effect of an exposure on an outcome. However, it is not known how the Type‐I error may vary under different circumstances, including logistic versus linear regression, different distributions of the confounder, and different categorization methods. Here, we analytically quantified the effect of categorization and then performed a series of 9600 Monte Carlo simulations to estimate the Type‐I error inflation associated with categorization of a confounder under different regression scenarios. We show that Type‐I error is unacceptably high (>10% in most scenarios and often 100%). The only exception was when the variable categorized was a continuous mixture proxy for a genuinely dichotomous latent variable, where both the continuous proxy and the categorized variable are error‐ridden proxies for the dichotomous latent variable. As expected, error inflation was also higher with larger sample size, fewer categories, and stronger associations between the confounder and the exposure or outcome. We provide online tools that can help researchers estimate the potential error inflation and understand how serious a problem this is. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance‐driven instrumentation and mapping strategies using the LARA aspect‐oriented programming approach
Authors: Cardoso João M. P. , Coutinho José G. F. , Carvalho Tiago , Diniz Pedro C. , Petrov Zlatko , Luk Wayne , Gonçalves Fernando
Published: December 2014

The development of applications for high‐performance embedded systems is a long and error‐prone process because in addition to the required functionality, developers must consider various and often conflicting nonfunctional requirements such as performance and/or energy efficiency. The complexity of this process is further exacerbated by the multitude of target architectures and mapping tools. This article describes LARA, an aspect‐oriented programming language that allows programmers to convey domain‐specific knowledge and nonfunctional requirements to a toolchain composed of source‐to‐source transformers, compiler optimizers, and mapping/synthesis tools. LARA is sufficiently flexible to target different tools and host languages while also allowing the specification of compilation strategies to enable efficient generation of software code and hardware cores (using hardware description languages) for hybrid target architectures – a unique feature to the best of our knowledge not found in any other aspect‐oriented programming language. A key feature of LARA is its ability to deal with different models of join points, actions, and attributes. In this article, we describe the LARA approach and evaluate its impact on code instrumentation and analysis and on selecting critical code sections to be migrated to hardware accelerators for two embedded applications from industry. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Snai1 Promotes ESC Exit from the Pluripotency by Direct Repression of Self-Renewal Genes
Authors: Galvagni Federico , Lentucci Claudia , Neri Francesco , Dettori Daniela , De Clemente Caterina , Orlandini Maurizio , Anselmi Francesca , Rapelli Stefania , Grillo Michela , Borghi Sara , Oliviero Salvatore
Published: December 2014

Although much is known about the pluripotency self-renewal circuitry, the molecular events that lead embryonic stem cells (ESCs) exit from pluripotency and begin differentiation are largely unknown. We found that the zinc finger transcription factor Snai1, involved in gastrulation and epithelial-mesenchymal transition, is already expressed in the inner cell mass of the preimplantation blastocysts. In ESCs, Snai1 does not respond to TGFβ or BMP4 signaling but it is induced by retinoic acid treatment, which induces the binding, on the Snai1 promoter, of the retinoid receptors RARγ and RXRα, the dissociation of the Polycomb repressor complex 2 which results in the decrease of H3K27me3, and the increase of histone H3K4me3. Snai1 mediates the repression of pluripotency genes by binding directly to the promoters of Nanog, Nr5a2, Tcl1, c-Kit, and Tcfcp2l1. The transient activation of Snai1 in embryoid bodies induces the expression of the markers of all three germ layers. These results suggest that Snai1 is a key factor that triggers ESCs exit from the pluripotency state and initiate their differentiation processes. Stem Cells  2015;33:742–750
Life expectancy and longevity of varanid lizards (Reptilia:Squamata:Varanidae) in North American zoos
Authors: Mendyk Robert W.
Published: December 2014

In zoos, life expectancy—the average lifespan of individuals within a population, and longevity—the maximum lifespan within a population, can be useful parameters for evaluating captive husbandry and animal welfare. Using life history and demographic data derived from regional studbooks, this study examined life expectancy and longevity in a total of 782 wild‐caught (WC) and captive‐bred (CB) varanid lizards of seven species maintained in North American zoos since 1926. The average lifespans for WC and CB animals were 6.3 ± 0.3 and 9.3 ± 0.4 years, respectively, with CB males living significantly longer than females (P = 0.009). A total of 26.4% of WC and 22.5% of CB animals experienced mortality during their first 2 years in captivity, with mortality during this period greatest among Varanus rudicollis and V. prasinus. A positive correlation was observed between life expectancy and adult body mass in captive‐bred individuals (r = 0.981; P = 0.002). Wild‐caught females with a history of successful reproduction had a significantly greater average lifespan than non‐reproducing females (P < 0.0001). Results from this study suggest that varanids have not been reaching their lifespan capacities in North American zoos. In light of these findings, several husbandry‐related factors which may be affecting the welfare and lifespans of varanids in zoos are identified and discussed. This study also highlights the utility of demographic and life history data in captive animal management, and offers a general framework for future herpetological studies of a similar nature. Zoo Biol. 34:139–152, 2015. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals Inc.
Phase I study of amatuximab, a novel monoclonal antibody to mesothelin, in Japanese patients with advanced solid tumors
Authors: Fujisaka Yasuhito , Kurata Takayasu , Tanaka Kaoru , Kudo Toshihiro , Okamoto Kunio , Tsurutani Junji , Kaneda Hiroyasu , Okamoto Isamu , Namiki Masayuki , Kitamura Chifumi , Nakagawa Kazuhiko
Published: December 2014

Amatuximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets mesothelin, which is expressed in virtually all mesotheliomas and pancreatic adenocarcinomas. The objective of this study was to determine the dose-limiting toxicity and the maximum tolerated dose. Patients with mesothelioma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma or other mesothelin-positive solid tumors were eligible for this study. Amatuximab was administered weekly as an intravenous infusion in 4-week cycles at progressively increasing doses ranging from 50 to 200 mg/m2. Seventeen patients received amatuximab. Two dose-limiting toxicities were observed: one at 50 mg/m2 and one at 200 mg/m2; the maximum tolerated dose of this study was determined to be 200 mg/m2. Of the 17 patients, 13 patients (76.5 %) experienced treatment-related adverse events. The most common adverse events were grade 1 fatigue (29.4 %) and pyrexia (23.5 %). The maximum serum concentration and area under the concentration curve values increased in an almost dose-proportional manner. Three patients had stable disease. Amatuximab was generally well tolerated at doses up to 200 mg/m2. The pharmacokinetic profile of amatuximab in the Japanese population was similar to that seen in the United States population (Clinical Trials.gov Identifier: NCT01018784).
A Retrospective Comparison of the Management of Recalcitrant Lateral Elbow Tendinosis: Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections versus Surgery
Authors: Ford Ronald D. , Schmitt William P. , Lineberry Kyle , Luce Paul
Published: December 2014

Background

The aim of this study is to compare the outcomes of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections to surgical release and decortication for lateral elbow tendinosis within a similar patient population.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed on two groups of patients, receiving either PRP injections ( n=28) or surgery ( n=50). Patient demographics, clinical presentation, pain score, worker's compensation status, and previous steroid injections were recorded. Primary outcomes included pain and symptom improvement, range of motion, return to work, and postoperative complications.

Results

Demographics, duration of symptoms, and exam findings were similar between the PRP and surgical patients. There was no significant difference in pain and symptom improvement. Pain improvement was reported in 89.3 % of PRP patients and 84 % of surgical patients, with a reported percent reduction in pain of 61.1 and 55 %, respectively. Symptoms other than pain improved in 85.7 and 88 % of the PRP and surgical patients, respectively. Tenderness to palpation at the lateral epicondyle (64.3 % PRP, 44 % surgical), pain with resisted wrist extension (35.7 % PRP, 30 % surgical), or residual symptoms other than pain (14.3 % PRP, 10 % surgical) were not significantly different between groups at last follow-up. Eighty-two percent of patients in both the PRP and surgical groups returned to work. No complications were reported. Mean follow-up was 315 vs. 352 days for the PRP and surgical groups, respectively.

Conclusions

Similar outcomes in pain improvement and return to work may be achievable with either PRP injections or surgery in recalcitrant lateral elbow tendinosis. PRP injections may be a reasonable alternative for patients apprehensive to proceed with surgery or poor surgical candidates.
Searching for the mechanism of signalling by plant photoreceptor cryptochrome
Authors: Müller Pavel , Bouly Jean-Pierre
Published: December 2014

Even though the plant photoreceptors cryptochromes were discovered more than 20 years ago, the mechanism through which they transduce light signals to their partner molecules such as COP1 (Constitutive Photomorphogenic 1) or SPA1 (Suppressor of Phytochrome A) still remains to be established. We propose that a negative charge induced by light in the vicinity of the flavin chromophore initiates cryptochrome 1 signalling. This negative charge might expel the protein‐bound ATP from the binding pocket, thereby pushing off the C‐terminus that covers the ATP pocket in the dark state of the protein. This conformational change should allow for phosphorylation of previously inaccessible amino acids. A partially phosphorylated ‘ESSSSGRR–VPE’ fragment of the C‐terminus could mimic the sequence of the transcription factor HY5 that is essential for binding to the negative regulator of photomorphogenesis COP1. HY5 release through competition for the COP1 binding site could represent the long‐sought connection between light activation of cryptochrome and modulation of photomorphogenesis.
Identification of Differentially-Expressed Genes in Intestinal Gastric Cancer by Microarray Analysis
Authors: Zang Shizhu , Guo Ruifang , Xing Rui , Zhang Liang , Li Wenmei , Zhao Min , Fang Jingyuan , Hu Fulian , Kang Bin , Ren Yonghong , Zhuang Yonglong , Liu Siqi , Wang Rong , Li Xianghong , Yu Yingyan , Cheng Jing , Lu Youyong
Published: December 2014

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most frequent malignant tumors. In order to systematically characterize the cellular and molecular mechanisms of intestinal GC development, in this study, we used 22 K oligonucleotide microarrays and bioinformatics analysis to evaluate the gene expression profiles of GC in 45 tissue samples, including 20 intestinal GC tissue samples, 20 normal appearing tissues (NATs) adjacent to tumors and 5 noncancerous gastric mucosa tissue samples. These profiles allowed us to explore the transcriptional characteristics of GC and determine the change patterns in gene expression that may be of clinical significance. 1519 and 1255 differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in intestinal GC tissues and NATs, respectively, as determined by Bayesian analysis (P < 0.001). These genes were associated with diverse functions such as mucosa secretion, metabolism, proliferation, signaling and development, which occur at different stages of GC development.
Heat flux enhancement by regular surface roughness in turbulent thermal convection
Authors: Wagner Sebastian , Shishkina Olga
Published: December 2014

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of turbulent thermal convection in a box-shaped domain with regular surface roughness at the heated bottom and cooled top surfaces are conducted for Prandtl number $\mathit{Pr}=0.786$ and Rayleigh numbers $\mathit{Ra}$ between $10^{6}$ and $10^{8}$. The surface roughness is introduced by four parallelepiped equidistantly distributed obstacles attached to the bottom plate, and four obstacles located symmetrically at the top plate. By varying $\mathit{Ra}$ and the height and width of the obstacles, we investigate the influence of the regular wall roughness on the turbulent heat transport, measured by the Nusselt number $\mathit{Nu}$. For fixed $\mathit{Ra}$, the change in the value of $\mathit{Nu}$ is determined not only by the covering area of the surface, i.e. the obstacle height, but also by the distance between the obstacles. The heat flux enhancement is found to be largest for wide cavities between the obstacles which can be ‘washed out’ by the flow. This is also manifested in an empirical relation, which is based on the DNS data. We further discuss theoretical limiting cases for very wide and very narrow obstacles and combine them into a simple model for the heat flux enhancement due to the wall roughness, without introducing any free parameters. This model predicts well the general trends and the order of magnitude of the heat flux enhancement obtained in the DNS. In the $\mathit{Nu}$ versus $\mathit{Ra}$ scaling, the obstacles work in two ways: for smaller $\mathit{Ra}$ an increase of the scaling exponent compared to the smooth case is found, which is connected to the heat flux entering the cavities from below. For larger $\mathit{Ra}$ the scaling exponent saturates to the one for smooth plates, which can be understood as a full washing-out of the cavities. The latter is also investigated by considering the strength of the mean secondary flow in the cavities and its relation to the wind (i.e. the large-scale circulation), that develops in the core part of the domain. Generally, an increase in the roughness height leads to stronger flows both in the cavities and in the bulk region, while an increase in the width of the obstacles strengthens only the large-scale circulation of the fluid and weakens the secondary flows. An increase of the Rayleigh number always leads to stronger flows, both in the cavities and in the bulk.
“You Have No Good Blood in Your Body”. Oral Communication in Sixteenth-Century Physicians’ Medical Practice
Authors: Stolberg Michael
Published: December 2014

In his personal notebooks, the little known Bohemian physician Georg Handsch (1529–c. 1578) recorded, among other things, hundreds of vernacular phrases and expressions he and other physicians used in their oral interaction with patients and families. Based primarily on this extraordinary source, this paper traces the terms, concepts and images to which sixteenth-century physicians resorted when they explained the nature of a patient’s disease and justified their treatment. At the bedside and in the consultation room, Handsch and his fellow physicians attributed most diseases to a local accumulation of impure, putrid or otherwise pathological humours. The latter were commonly said to result, in turn, from an insufficient concoction and assimilation of food and drink in the stomach and the liver or from an obstruction of the humoral flow inside the body and across its borders. By contrast, other notions and explanatory models, which had a prominent place in contemporary learned medical writing, hardly played a role at all in the physicians’ oral communication. Specific disease terms were rarely used, a mere imbalance of the four natural humours in the body was almost never inculpated, and the patient’s personal life-style and other non-naturals did not attract much attention either. These striking differences between the ways in which physicians explained the patients’ diseases in their daily practice and the explanatory models we find in contemporary textbooks, are attributed, above all, to the physicians’ precarious situation in the early modern medical marketplace. Since dissatisfied patients were quick to turn to another healer, physicians had to explain the disease and justify their treatment in a manner that was comprehensible to ordinary lay people and in line with their expectations and beliefs, which, at the time, revolved almost entirely around notions of impurity and evacuation.
Dietary effects on human gut microbiome diversity
Authors: Xu Zhenjiang , Knight Rob
Published: December 2014

The human gut harbours diverse and abundant microbes, forming a complex ecological system that interacts with host and environmental factors. In this article, we summarise recent advances in microbiome studies across both Western and non-Western populations, either in cross-sectional or longitudinal surveys, and over various age groups, revealing a considerable diversity and variability in the human gut microbiome. Of all the exogenous factors affecting gut microbiome, a long-term diet appears to have the largest effect to date. Recent research on the effects of dietary interventions has shown that the gut microbiome can change dramatically with diet; however, the gut microbiome is generally resilient, and short-term dietary intervention is not typically successful in treating obesity and malnutrition. Understanding the dynamics of the gut microbiome under different conditions will help us diagnose and treat many diseases that are now known to be associated with microbial communities.
Computational Complexity of Topological Invariants
Authors: Amann Manuel
Published: December 2014

We answer the following question posed by Lechuga: given a simply connected spaceXwith bothH*(X; ℚ) and π*(X) ⊗ ℚ being finite dimensional, what is the computational complexity of an algorithm computing the cup length and the rational Lusternik—Schnirelmann category ofX?

Basically, by a reduction from the decision problem of whether a given graph isk-colourable fork≥ 3, we show that even stricter versions of the problems above are NP-hard.
Adipose tissue dysregulation and metabolic consequences in childhood and adolescent obesity: potential impact of dietary fat quality
Authors: McMorrow Aoibheann M. , Connaughton Ruth M. , Lithander Fiona E. , Roche Helen M.
Published: December 2014

Evidence suggests that at a population level, childhood and adolescent obesity increase the long-term risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and CVD. At an individual level, however, the metabolic consequences of obesity in youth vary immensely. Despite comparable BMI, some adolescents develop impaired glucose tolerance while others maintain normal glucose homeostasis. It has been proposed that the variation in the capacity to store lipid in the subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) may partially discriminate metabolically healthy from unhealthy obesity. In positive energy balance, a decreased capacity to expand SAT may drive lipid accumulation to visceral adipose tissue, liver and skeletal muscle. This state of lipotoxicity is associated with chronic low-grade inflammation, insulin resistance and dyslipidaemia. The present review examines the differential adipose tissue development and function in children and adolescents who exhibit metabolic dysregulation compared with those who are protected. Additionally, the role of manipulating dietary fat quality to potentially prevent and treat metabolic dysfunction in obesity will be discussed. The findings of the present review highlight the need for further randomised controlled trials to establish the effect of dietaryn-3 PUFA on the metabolic phenotype of obese children and adolescents. Furthermore, using a personalised nutrition approach to target interventions to those at risk of, or those with established metabolic dysregulation may optimise the efficacy of modifying dietary fat quality.
Landscape influence on spatial patterns of meningeal worm and liver fluke infection in white-tailed deer
Authors: VANDERWAAL KIMBERLY L. , WINDELS STEVE K. , OLSON BRYCE T. , VANNATTA J. TREVOR , MOEN RON
Published: December 2014

Parasites that primarily infect white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), such as liver flukes (Fascioloides magna) and meningeal worm (Parelaphostrongylus tenuis), can cause morbidity and mortality when incidentally infecting moose (Alces alces). Ecological factors are expected to influence spatial variation in infection risk by affecting the survival of free-living life stages outside the host and the abundance of intermediate gastropod hosts. Here, we investigate how ecology influenced the fine-scale distribution of these parasites in deer in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. Deer pellet groups (N = 295) were sampled for the presence of P. tenuis larvae and F. magna eggs. We found that deer were significantly more likely to be infected with P. tenuis in habitats with less upland deciduous forest and more upland mixed conifer forest and shrub, a pattern that mirrored microhabitat differences in gastropod abundances. Deer were also more likely to be infected with F. magna in areas with more marshland, specifically rooted-floating aquatic marshes (RFAMs). The environment played a larger role than deer density in determining spatial patterns of infection for both parasites, highlighting the importance of considering ecological factors on all stages of a parasite's life cycle in order to understand its occurrence within the definitive host.
Cognitive performance and the course of depressive symptoms over 7 years of follow-up: the SMART-MR study
Authors: Kooistra M. , Zuithoff N. P. A. , Grool A. M. , Zinsmeester M. , Biessels G. J. , van der Graaf Y. , Geerlings M. I.
Published: December 2014

Background

Depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment often co-occur, but their interactive relationship is complex and the direction of causation is still a topic of research. We examined the influence of cognitive performance on the course of depressive symptoms during 7 years of follow-up in patients with vascular disease.

Method

Within the SMART-MR study, 736 patients (mean age 62 ± 10 years) had neuropsychological assessment on four cognitive domains at baseline [memory (MEM), working memory (WMEM), executive functioning (EXEC), and information processing speed (SPEED)]. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) at baseline and every 6 months during 7 years of follow-up. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models were used to assess the association between cognitive performance with depressive symptoms at multiple time points during follow-up. Interaction terms between the respective cognitive domains and time was included to examine if the course of depressive symptoms differed according to baseline cognitive performance.

Results

The GEE analyses showed no significant interactions between the respective cognitive domains and time indicating no different course of depressive symptoms according to baseline cognitive performance. Lower MEM, EXEC or SPEED, but not WMEM performance, was significantly associated with more depressive symptoms during follow-up per z score decrease: MEM [B = 0.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.35–1.05]; EXEC (B = 0.88, 95% CI 0.41–1.36), and SPEED (B = 0.57, 95% CI 0.21–0.92).

Conclusions

Poorer cognitive performance on the domains MEM, EXEC and SPEED, but not WMEM, was associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms over 7 years of follow-up, but not with a different course of depressive symptoms over time.
Why Orientalism still matters: Reading ‘casual forgetting’ and ‘active remembering’ as neoliberal forms of contestation in international politics
Authors: el-MALIK SHIERA S.
Published: December 2014

In 2007, theBritish Journal of Politics and International Relations(BJPIR) devoted an issue to gendering International Relations. It opens with Cynthia Enloe addressing the ‘politics of casual forgetting’. I investigate this notion of casual forgetting using a framework informed by postcolonial and feminist scholarship. Working with ideas drawn from critiques of Orientalism and neoliberalism, I examine knowledge practices that centre binaries as forms of objectivity that disembed phenomena from context, and as forms of over-simplification that flatten the appearance of complexity. Together, these practices have a depoliticising effect; they obscure contestation, situate hierarchy as natural, and separate analysis from its embeddedness in historical and political conditions, even in work guided by critical agendas. I trace these depoliticising practices in a conversation in the 2007 Special Issue ofBJPIRand show that Enloe's comments present a push for critical analysis that was overlooked by the Special Issue's editors in their attempt to more clearly delineate the subdiscipline of Gender and International Relations (IR) as distinct from feminist IR. This article suggests that Enloe's plea is effectively one for ‘active remembering’ as a way to render visible the insidious forms of power that give a stable appearance to categories of social phenomena.
Bow varieties and ALF spaces
Authors: TAKAYAMA YUUYA
Published: December 2014

We introduce bow varieties and construct some ALF spaces as bow varieties.
The Quest for a Better Legal and Regulatory Framework for Islamic Banking
Authors: Aldohni Abdul Karim
Published: December 2014

The legal and regulatory aspects of Islamic banking present a challenge to most financial and regulatory authorities. To many observers, legal and regulatory complexity in this respect stems from the link between the banking business and Islamic law. Compliance with some Islamic rulings forces the sector to operate an unusual business model, which is different from that of their conventional counterparts. After expounding the ideological foundation of Islamic banking and the sector's evolution, this article examines the genesis of the legal and regulatory challenge by conducting a compatibility analysis between Islam and banking. It will be argued that the conceptions of Islam and banking ought not to conflict, which means that achieving regulatory equilibrium in relation to Islamic banking is possible.