bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Augmented‐reality‐based skills training for robot‐assisted urethrovesical anastomosis: a multi‐institutional randomised controlled trial
Authors: Chowriappa Ashirwad , Raza Syed Johar , Fazili Anees , Field Erinn , Malito Chelsea , Samarasekera Dinesh , Shi Yi , Ahmed Kamran , Wilding Gregory , Kaouk Jihad , Eun Daniel D. , Ghazi Ahmed , Peabody James O. , Kesavadas Thenkurussi , Mohler James L. , Guru Khurshid A.
Published: February 2014

Objective

To validate robot‐assisted surgery skills acquisition using an augmented reality (AR)‐based module for urethrovesical anastomosis (UVA).

Methods

Participants at three institutions were randomised to a Hands‐on Surgical Training (HoST) technology group or a control group. The HoST group was given procedure‐based training for UVA within the haptic‐enabled AR‐based HoST environment. The control group did not receive any training. After completing the task, the control group was offered to cross over to the HoST group (cross‐over group). A questionnaire administered after HoST determined the feasibility and acceptability of the technology. Performance of UVA using an inanimate model on the daVinci Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) was assessed using a UVA evaluation score and a Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills (GEARS) score. Participants completed the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA TLX) questionnaire for cognitive assessment, as outcome measures. A Wilcoxon rank‐sum test was used to compare outcomes among the groups (HoST group vs control group and control group vs cross‐over group).

Results

A total of 52 individuals participated in the study. UVA evaluation scores showed significant differences in needle driving (3.0 vs 2.3; P = 0.042), needle positioning (3.0 vs 2.4; P = 0.033) and suture placement (3.4 vs 2.6; P = 0.014) in the HoST vs the control group. The HoST group obtained significantly higher scores (14.4 vs 11.9; P 0.012) on the GEARS. The NASA TLX indicated lower temporal demand and effort in the HoST group (5.9 vs 9.3; P = 0.001 and 5.8 vs 11.9; P = 0.035, respectively). In all, 70% of participants found that HoST was similar to the real surgical procedure, and 75% believed that HoST could improve confidence for carrying out the real intervention.

Conclusion

Training in UVA in an AR environment improves technical skill acquisition with minimal cognitive demand.
Retzius‐sparing robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy: combining the best of retropubic and perineal approaches
Authors: Lim Sey Kiat , Kim Kwang Hyun , Shin Tae‐Young , Han Woong Kyu , Chung Byung Ha , Hong Sung Joon , Choi Young Deuk , Rha Koon Ho
Published: February 2014

Objective

To compare the early peri‐operative, oncological and continence outcomes of Retzius‐sparing robot‐assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) with those of conventional RALP.

Materials and Methods

Data from 50 patients who underwent Retzius‐sparing RALP and who had at least 6 months of follow‐up were prospectively collected and compared with a database of patients who underwent conventional RALP. Propensity‐score matching was performed using seven preoperative variables, and postoperative variables were compared between the groups.

Results

A total of 581 patients who had undergone RALP were evaluated in the present study. Although preoperative characteristics were different before propensity‐score matching, these differences were resolved after matching. There were no significant differences in mean length of hospital stay, estimated blood loss, intra‐ and postoperative complication rates, pathological stage of disease, Gleason scores, tumour volumes and positive surgical margins between the conventional RALP and Retzius‐sparing RALP groups. Console time was shorter for Retzius‐sparing RALP. Recovery of early continence (defined as 0 pads used) at 4 weeks after RALP was significantly better in the Retzius‐sparing RALP group than in the conventional RALP group.

Conclusions

The present results suggest that Retzius‐sparing RALP, although technically more demanding, was as feasible and effective as conventional RALP, and also led to a shorter operating time and faster recovery of early continence. Retzius‐sparing RALP was also reproducible and achievable in all cases.
Geology and tectonics of Neoproterozoic salt diapirs and salt sheets in the eastern Willouran Ranges, South Australia
Authors: Hearon Thomas E. , Rowan Mark G. , Lawton Timothy F. , Hannah Patrick T. , Giles Katherine A.
Published: February 2014

Allochthonous salt structures and associated primary and secondary minibasins are exposed in Neoproterozoic strata of the eastern Willouran Ranges, South Australia. Detailed geologic mapping using high‐quality airborne hyperspectral remote‐sensing data and satellite imagery, combined with a qualitative structural restoration, are used to elucidate the evolution of this complex, long‐lived (>250 Myr) salt system. Field observations and interpretations at a resolution unobtainable from seismic or well data provide a means to test published models of allochthonous salt emplacement and associated salt‐sediment interaction derived from subsurface data in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Salt diapirs and sheets are represented by megabreccias of nonevaporite lithologies that were originally interbedded with evaporites that have been dissolved and/or altered. Passive diapirism began shortly after deposition of the Callanna Group layered evaporite sequence. A primary basin containing an expulsion‐rollover structure and megaflap is flanked by two vertical diapirs. Salt flowed laterally from the diapirs to form a complex, multi‐level canopy, now partly welded, containing an encapsulated minibasin and capped by suprasalt basins. Salt and minibasin geometries were modified during the Late Cambrian–Ordovician Delamerian Orogeny (ca. 500 Ma). Small‐scale structures such as subsalt shear zones, fractured or mixed ‘rubble zones’ and thrust imbricates are absent beneath allochthonous salt and welds in the eastern Willouran Ranges. Instead, either undeformed strata or halokinetic drape folds that include preserved diapir roof strata are found directly below the transition from steep diapirs to salt sheets. Allochthonous salt first broke through the diapir roofs and then flowed laterally, resulting in variable preservation of the subsalt drape folds. Lateral salt emplacement was presumably on roof‐edge thrusts or, because of the shallow depositional environment, via open‐toed advance or extrusive advance, but without associated subsalt deformation.
Saracatinib impairs the peritoneal dissemination of diffuse‐type gastric carcinoma cells resistant to Met and fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitors
Authors: Yamaguchi Hideki , Takanashi Miho , Yoshida Nachi , Ito Yuumi , Kamata Reiko , Fukami Kiyoko , Yanagihara Kazuyoshi , Sakai Ryuichi
Published: February 2014

Diffuse‐type gastric carcinomas (DGC) exhibit more aggressive progression and poorer prognosis than intestinal‐type and other gastric carcinomas. To identify potential therapeutic targets, we examined protein tyrosine phosphorylation in a panel of DGC and other gastric cancer cell lines. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation was significantly enhanced or altered in DGC cell lines compared with that in other gastric cancer cell lines. Affinity purification and mass spectrometry analysis of tyrosine‐phosphorylated proteins identified Met as a protein that is preferentially expressed and phosphorylated in DGC cell lines. Unexpectedly, Met inhibitors blocked cell growth, Met downstream signaling and peritoneal dissemination in vivo in only a subset of cell lines that exhibited remarkable overexpression of Met. Likewise, only cell lines with overexpression of fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) or phosphorylation of FRS2 were sensitive to an FGFR2 inhibitor. A Src inhibitor saracatinib impaired growth in cell lines that are insensitive to both Met and FGFR2 inhibitors. Saracatinib also effectively impaired peritoneal dissemination of Met‐independent and FGFR2‐independent SGC cells. Moreover, DGC cell lines exhibited nearly mutually exclusive susceptibility to Met, FGFR and Src inhibitors. These results suggest that DGC have distinct sensitivities to molecular target drugs and that targeting Src is beneficial in the treatment of DGC insensitive to Met and FGFR inhibition.
Deproteinated bovine bone vs. beta‐tricalcium phosphate as bone graft substitutes: histomorphometric longitudinal study in the rabbit cranial vault
Authors: Martinez Arturo , Balboa Oscar , Gasamans Iria , Otero‐Cepeda Xose Luis , Guitian Francisco
Published: February 2014

Objectives

This article aims to study differences in the bone formation and the graft resorption of two bone graft substitutes (BGS). Besides, it is our attempt to observe possible qualitative and quantitative differences in the bone reparation of the outer layer covered by collagen membrane and the uncovered inner layer in close contact with dura mater.

Material and methods

Twelve rabbits were employed. Deproteinized bovine bone (DBB) and β‐tricalcium phosphate (BTCP) were used asBGS. Four subcritical round defects (7 mm) were drilled in the cranial vault, removing both cortical walls. One of the holes was filled withDBB, and other was filled withBTCP. Each symmetrical position toDBBandBTCPwas left empty. The whole defect set was covered with a collagen membrane. Histological and morphometric analysis was performed for 1, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 52 weeks. Morphometry measurements were carried out taking into account the whole defect and splitting inner and outer areas.

Results

InDBBsites, a rapid bone growth is observed, linking the remaining particles and integrating them into the bone matrix. Permanence of theseDBBparticles from week 16 onwards restrains the growth of bone fraction. A greater bone growth appears in areas repaired withBTCPthan in those repaired withDBB, both in the outer layer (under‐membrane) and the inner layer (over dura mater). InDBBsites, a slower growth is observed in the inner layer, with no significant differences in the final bone fraction at both strata.

Conclusions

Both materials favour the closure of the defects provoked. In both cases, a synergistic effect with the collagen membrane is observed.DBBremains integrated in the bone matrix, whileBTCPdisplays a pattern of highly developed progressive resorption with an outstanding bone fraction development.
ESTIMATING PRODUCTIVITY GROWTH IN THE KOREAN ECONOMY WITHOUT RESTRICTIVE ASSUMPTIONS
Authors: KIM SANGHO
Published: February 2014

This study eliminates the effects of markup, returns to scale, and capital utilization from the Solow residual (SR) for Korea to derive an alternative measure for productivity. Empirical results show that markup generates significant bias in the SR, and that the alternative productivity measure is greater than the residual. Furthermore, money supply Granger‐causes the SR but does not Granger‐cause the alternative measure, suggesting that the new productivity measure is consistent with the neutrality of money. The results contradict the presumption that the SR with variable capital utilization represents true technology shocks because it is orthogonal to demand shocks.(JEL C32, E32, O47)
DO ACTIONS SPEAK AS LOUD AS WORDS? COMMITMENTS TO “GOING GREEN” ON CAMPUS
Authors: SIRIANNI PHILIP , O’HARA MICHAEL
Published: February 2014

Signatories to the American College and University Presidents' Climate Commitment (ACUPCC) pledge to pursue a path toward carbon neutrality through the choice of a set of Tangible Actions (TAs). The actions can be chosen either because they will lead to reductions or because they are the easiest to achieve. By exploiting the variation in the TAs chosen by colleges, we find evidence for both of these motivations. We find evidence that schools focusing their efforts on improving energy efficiency have achieved swift reductions. Conversely, schools pledging to use green power are generally already utilizing it and therefore do not achieve additional reductions. We conclude with suggestions for improvement in the ACUPCC reporting system that would improve potential for analysis. (JEL Q01, Q40, Q56)
NEGOTIATED SETTLEMENT UNDER MLB FINAL‐OFFER SALARY ARBITRATION SYSTEM
Authors: HILL J. RICHARD , JOLLY NICHOLAS A.
Published: February 2014

This paper provides a detailed analysis of negotiated salaries under Major League Baseball's final‐offer arbitration process using data from the 2007–2010 seasons. There is a wage premium of 25% for hitters and 14% for pitchers filing for arbitration. Interestingly, there is an additional premium for exchanging offers for hitters but not for pitchers. The additional premium in salary for hitters who exchange offers with their clubs amounts to 7%. (JEL J31, J52)
Incidence of and risk factors for severe hypoglycaemia in treated type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in the UK – a nested case–control analysis
Authors: Bruderer S. G. , Bodmer M. , Jick S. S. , Bader G. , Schlienger R. G. , Meier C. R.
Published: February 2014

Aims

To assess incidence rates (IRs) of and identify risk factors for incident severe hypoglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes newly treated with antidiabetic drugs.

Methods

Using the UK‐based General Practice Research Database, we performed a retrospective cohort study between 1994 and 2011 and a nested case–control analysis. Ten controls from the population at risk were matched to each case with a recorded severe hypoglycaemia during follow‐up on general practice, years of history in the database and calendar time. Using multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses, we adjusted for potential confounders.

Results

Of 130 761 patients with newly treated type 2 diabetes (mean age 61.7 ± 13.0 years), 690 (0.5%) had an incident episode of severe hypoglycaemia recorded [estimated IR 11.97 (95% confidence interval, CI, 11.11–12.90) per 10 000 person‐years (PYs)]. The IR was markedly higher in insulin users [49.64 (95% CI, 44.08–55.89) per 10 000 PYs] than in patients not using insulin [8.03 (95% CI, 7.30–8.84) per 10 000 PYs]. Based on results of the nested case–control analysis increasing age [≥75 vs. 20–59 years; adjusted odds ratio (OR), 2.27; 95% CI, 1.65–3.12], cognitive impairment/dementia (adjusted OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.37–2.91), renal failure (adjusted OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.04–1.71), current use of sulphonylureas (adjusted OR, 4.45; 95% CI, 3.53–5.60) and current insulin use (adjusted OR, 11.83; 95% CI, 9.00–15.54) were all associated with an increased risk of severe hypoglycaemia.

Conclusions

Severe hypoglycaemia was recorded in 12 cases per 10 000 PYs. Risk factors for severe hypoglycaemia included increasing age, renal failure, cognitive impairment/dementia, and current use of insulin or sulphonylureas.
FISCAL POLICY AND LENDING RELATIONSHIPS
Authors: MELINA GIOVANNI , VILLA STEFANIA
Published: February 2014

This paper studies how fiscal policy affects loan market conditions in the United States. First, it conducts a structural vector‐autoregression analysis showing that the bank spread responds negatively to an expansionary government spending shock, while lending increases. Second, it illustrates that these results are mimicked by a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model where the bank spread is endogenized via the inclusion of a banking sector exploiting lending relationships. Third, it shows that lending relationships represent a friction that generates a financial accelerator effect in the transmission of the fiscal shock. (JELE44, E62)
AGGREGATION AND THE STAGGERING OF PRICE CHANGES
Authors: DHYNE EMMANUEL , KONIECZNY JERZY
Published: February 2014

Temporal distribution of individual price changes is of crucial importance for business cycle theory and for the microfoundations of price adjustment. While it is routinely assumed that price changes are staggered over time, both theory and evidence are ambiguous. We use a large Belgian data set to analyze whether price changes are staggered or synchronized. We find that the more aggregated are the data, the closer is the distribution to perfect staggering. The results hold both for aggregation across products, and across locations. They are consistent with an economy in which idiosyncratic shocks are the main cause of price changes. (JEL E30, E31, D40)
Physiological indices of seawater readiness in postspawning steelhead kelts
Authors: Buelow Jessica , Moffitt Christine M.
Published: February 2014

Management goals to improve the recovery of steelhead (Oncorhynchus mykiss) stocks at risk of extinction include increasing the proportion of postspawning fish that survive and spawn again. To be successful, postspawning steelhead (kelts) migrating downstream to the ocean must prepare physiologically and physically for a seawater transition. We sampled blood, gill filaments, and evaluated the external condition of migrating kelts from an ESA‐listed population in the Snake/Columbia River system over two consecutive years to evaluate their physiological readiness for transition to seawater. We chose attributes often considered as measures of preparation for seawater in juveniles, including gill Na+,K+ ATPase activity, plasma electrolytes and hormones to consider factors related to external condition, size and sex. We found kelts in good external condition had plasma profiles similar to downstream‐migrating smolts. In addition, we found more than 80% of kelts ranked in good external condition had smolt‐like body silvering. We compared measures from migrating kelts with samples obtained from hatchery fish at the time of spawning to confirm that Na+, K+ ATPase activity in kelts was significantly elevated over spawning fish. We found significant differences in gill Na+, K+ ATPase activity in migrating kelts between the years of sampling, but little indication of influence of fish condition. We conclude that the postspawning steelhead sampled exhibited a suite of behaviours, condition and physiology characteristic of fish prepared for successful transition to a seawater environment.
Homocysteine induces cytotoxicity and proliferation inhibition in neural stem cells via DNA methylation in vitro
Authors: Lin Ningning , Qin Shanchun , Luo Suhui , Cui Shanshan , Huang Guowei , Zhang Xumei
Published: February 2014

Mild to moderate hyperhomocysteinemia has been implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases in human studies. Although the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of homocysteine (Hcy) neurotoxicity on the nervous system are not yet fully understood, inhibition of neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation and alterations in DNA methylation may be involved. The aim of the present study was to characterize the effects of Hcy on DNA methylation in NSCs, and to explore how Hcy‐induced changes in DNA methylation patterns affect NSC proliferation. We found that d,l‐Hcy (30–1000 μm) but not l‐cysteine inhibited cell proliferation and reduced levels of global DNA methylation in NSCs from neonatal rat hippocampus and increased cell injury. High levels of Hcy also induced an increase in S‐adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), a decrease in the ratio of S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) to SAH, and a reduction in protein expression of the DNA methyltransferases DNMT1, DNMT3a and DNMT3b and their enzymatic activity. Moreover, the DNMT inhibitor zebularine reduced the global DNA methylation level and inhibited NSC proliferation. Our results suggest that alterations in DNA methylation may be an important mechanism by which high levels of Hcy inhibit NSC viability in vitro. Hcy‐induced DNA hypomethylation may be caused by a reduction in the DNMT activity which is regulated by the cellular concentrations of SAM and SAH, or their protein expression levels. Our results also suggest that Hcy may play a role in the pathogenesis of certain nervous system diseases via a molecular mechanism that involves negative regulation of NSC proliferation and alterations in DNA methylation.
The peak stress method combined with 3D finite element models for fatigue assessment of toe and root cracking in steel welded joints subjected to axial or bending loading
Authors: Meneghetti G. , Guzzella C. , Atzori B.
Published: February 2014

In fatigue design of welded joints, the local approach based on the notch stress intensity factor (NSIF) assumes that the weld toe profile is a sharp V‐notch having a tip radius equal to zero, while the root side is a pre‐crack in the structure. The ratio between the mode I NSIF and the linear elastic opening peak stress evaluated at the point of singularity (i.e. the V‐notch tip) by the finite element (FE) method depends only on the type and size of the elements adopted in the discretization. The ratio between the mode II SIF and the linear elastic sliding peak stress evaluated at the crack tip has the same property. This useful property of the opening and sliding peak stresses evaluated by the FE method gives rise to the so‐called peak stress method (PSM). In the present paper, it is adopted as an engineering, FE oriented application of the NSIF approach to fatigue design of welded joints. Originally applied to 2D FE models, the peak stress method is combined here with 3D numerical models to assess the fatigue strength of steel welded joints having complex geometry and characterised by toe as well as root cracking. A properly defined design stress, that is, the equivalent peak stress, is shown to correlate with good approximation all analysed experimental data.
Significance of miRNA‐122 in chronic hepatitis C patients with serotype 1 on interferon therapy
Authors: Kamo Yasuhiro , Ichikawa Tatsuki , Miyaaki Hisamitsu , Uchida Shinjirou , Yamaguchi Tohei , Shibata Hidetaka , Honda Takuya , Taura Naota , Isomoto Hajime , Takeshima Fuminao , Nakao Kazuhiko
Published: February 2014

Aim

Peginterferon (PEG IFN) and ribavirin combination therapy is a curative treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, and virological response to IFN therapy has been strongly associated with genetic variation in IL28B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP). Recently, miRNA122 (miR‐122), which is the most abundant miRNA in the liver, has been reported to be important for the replication of HCV RNA. Therefore, we investigated the correlation of miR‐122 expression with virological response to IFN and other clinical data.

Methods

A total of 51 patients with HCV infection who were treated with IFN therapy at Nagasaki University Hospital from 2006 to 2011 were included in this study. We investigated the correlation of miR‐122 expression in liver biopsy specimens with virological response to IFN therapy and other predictors of response, including IL28 SNP.

Results

miR‐122 expression did not correlate with IL28 SNP. However, a significant difference was observed in miR‐122 expression between patients who showed a sustained virological response (SVR) and those who did not (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis indicated that miR‐122 is an independent predictor of SVR.

Conclusion

miR‐122 expression could be a marker for predicting the outcome of IFN therapy. Therapies targeting miR‐122 may have positive effects not only by directly inhibiting viral propagation but also by ameliorating cholesterol and lipid abnormalities.
Multiple hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfections in HIV‐positive men who have sex with men: no influence of HCV genotype switch or interleukin‐28B genotype on spontaneous clearance
Authors: Ingiliz P , Krznaric I , Stellbrink H‐J , Knecht G , Lutz T , Noah C , Stocker H , Obermeier M , Dupke S , Boesecke C , Rockstroh JK , Baumgarten A , Hoffmann C
Published: February 2014

Objectives

The incidence of sexually transmitted hepatitis C virus (HCV) reinfection is on the rise in HIV‐infected men who have sex with men (MSM). Data on natural history of acute hepatitis C and possible factors associated with spontaneous clearance are limited. The aim of this study was to analyse the outcome of HCV reinfections in HIV‐positive MSM.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was carried out on patients with more than one sexually acquired HCV infection who were diagnosed at four major German HIV and hepatitis care centres. Reinfection was defined by genotype or phylogenetic clade switch, detectable HCV RNA after a sustained virological response (SVR) or after spontaneous clearance (SC).

Results

In total, 48 HIV‐positive MSM were identified with HCV reinfection, among them 11 with a third episode and one patient with four episodes. At the first episode, 43 and five patients had an SVR and SC, respectively. The second episode was accompanied by a genotype switch in 29 patients (60%). Whereas 30 and nine patients showed an SVR and SC, respectively, eight patients developed chronic hepatitis. Neither HCV genotype switch nor interleukin‐28B genotype was associated with SC. However, SC rates at the second episode were higher for patients with SC at the first episode compared with patients without SC (60 vs. 14%, respectively; P = 0.03). Two patients with SC at the first episode were reinfected with the same genotype.

Conclusions

Multiple reinfections in HIV‐infected MSM do occur, with or without genotype switch, and with prior SC of previous episodes. In this large case series, except for SC at the first episode, no factor was of value in clinical decision‐making for early therapeutic intervention in acute HCV reinfection.
Helping our patients take HIV pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP): a systematic review of adherence interventions
Authors: Marcus JL , Buisker T , Horvath T , Amico KR , Fuchs JD , Buchbinder SP , Grant RM , Liu AY
Published: February 2014

Objectives

Adherence is critical for maximizing the effectiveness of pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in preventing HIV infection. Strategies for promoting adherence to HIV treatment, and their potential application to PrEP adherence, have received considerable attention. However, adherence promotion strategies for prevention medications have not been well characterized and may be more applicable to PrEP. We aimed to identify adherence support interventions that have been effective in other prevention fields and could be applied in the HIV prevention context to support pill taking among PrEP users.

Methods

To identify adherence support interventions that could be evaluated and applied in the PrEP context, we conducted a systematic review across the following prevention fields: hypertension, latent tuberculosis infection, hyperlipidaemia, oral contraceptives, osteoporosis, malaria prophylaxis, and post‐exposure prophylaxis for HIV infection. We included randomized controlled trials that evaluated the efficacy of interventions to improve adherence to daily oral medications prescribed for primary prevention in healthy individuals or for secondary prevention in asymptomatic individuals.

Results

Our searches identified 585 studies, of which 48 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review; nine evaluated multiple strategies, yielding 64 separately tested interventions. Interventions with the strongest evidence for improving adherence included complex, resource‐intensive interventions, which combined multiple adherence support approaches, and low‐cost, low‐intensity interventions that provided education or telephone calls for adherence support.

Conclusions

Our review identified adherence interventions with strong evidence of efficacy across prevention fields and provides recommendations for evaluating these interventions in upcoming PrEP studies.
FISH analysis of MLL gene rearrangements: detection of the concurrent loss or gain of the 3′ signal and its prognostic significance
Authors: Lim J.‐H. , Jang S. , Park C.‐J. , Chi H.‐S. , Lee J.‐O. , Seo E.‐J.
Published: February 2014

Introduction

The rearrangement of the mixed‐lineage leukemia (MLL) gene occurs through translocations and insertions involving a variety of partner chromosome genes. However, there are few studies on aberrant MLL signal patterns such as concurrent 3ʹ MLL deletion.

Methods

A total of 84 patients with acute leukemia (AL) who had MLL rearrangements detected by florescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were enrolled in the study. The distribution of MLL fusion partner genes was analyzed, and aberrant MLL signals were evaluated.

Results

Seventy‐seven (91.7%) patients had MLL rearrangements, involving previously described translocation partner genes (TPGs). Among these TPGs, the frequencies of MLLT3, AFF1, MLLT4, and ELL were 29.8%, 17.9%, 15.5%, and 13.1%, respectively. A high frequency of MLLT4 in our study was due to the high proportion of acute myeloid leukemia cases in pediatric and adult patients. Aberrant MLL signals were found in 18 patients: 11 (61.1%) with 3′ MLL signal loss and 7 with 3ʹ MLL signal gain. All cases with 3′ MLL signal gain were due to an extra derivative partner chromosome. The median overall survival period of patients with 3′ MLL gain was shorter than that in patients without aberrant MLL signal patterns.

Conclusion

Aberrant MLL signals were frequently detected by FISH analysis. The 3′ MLL gain was associated with poor prognosis in patients with AL. Therefore, it is important to detect aberrant MLL signal patterns using FISH analysis.
Integrating ecosystem engineering and food webs
Authors: Sanders Dirk , Jones Clive G. , Thébault Elisa , Bouma Tjeerd J. , van der Heide Tjisse , van Belzen Jim , Barot Sébastien
Published: February 2014

Ecosystem engineering, the physical modification of the environment by organisms, is a common and often influential process whose significance to food web structure and dynamics is largely unknown. In the light of recent calls to expand food web studies to include non‐trophic interactions, we explore how we might best integrate ecosystem engineering and food webs. We provide rationales justifying their integration and present a provisional framework identifying how ecosystem engineering can affect the nodes and links of food webs and overall organization; how trophic interactions with the engineer can affect the engineering; and how feedbacks between engineering and trophic interactions can affect food web structure and dynamics. We use a simple integrative food chain model to illustrate how feedbacks between the engineer and the food web can alter 1) engineering effects on food web dynamics, and 2) food web responses to extrinsic environmental perturbations. We identify four general challenges to integration that we argue can readily be met, and call for studies that can achieve this integration and help pave the way to a more general understanding of interaction webs in nature.

Synthesis

All species are affected by their physical environment. Because ecosystem engineering species modify the physical environment and belong to food webs, such species are potentially one of the most important bridges between the trophic and non‐trophic. We examine how to integrate the so far, largely independent research areas of ecosystem engineering and food webs. We present a conceptual framework for understanding how engineering can affect food webs and vice versa, and how feedbacks between the two alter ecosystem dynamics. With appropriate empirical studies and models, integration is achievable, paving the way to a more general understanding of interaction webs in nature.
The effect of predation pressure and predator adaptive foraging on the relative importance of consumptive and non‐consumptive predator net effects in a freshwater model system
Authors: Guariento Rafael Dettogni , Luttbeg Barney , Mehner Thomas , de Assis Esteves Francisco
Published: February 2014

An important challenge in community ecology is identifying the functional characteristics capable of predicting the nature and strength of predator effects on food webs. We developed an individual‐based model, based on a shallow lake model system, to evaluate the total, consumptive, and non‐consumptive indirect effect that predators have on basal resources when the predators differ in their foraging types (active adaptive foraging or sedentary foraging). Overall, both predator types caused similar total indirect effects on lower trophic levels. However, the nature net effects of predators diverged between predator foraging types. Active predators caused larger non‐consumptive effects, relative to the total indirect effect, irrespective of predation pressure levels. On the other hand, sedentary predators caused larger non‐consumptive effects for lower predation pressure levels, but consumptive effects became more important as predation pressure increased. Our simulations showed that the reliance on a particular mechanism driving consumer–resource interactions is altered by predator foraging behavior and highlight the importance of both prey and predator foraging behaviors to predict the causes and consequences of cascading effects observed in food webs.
Synthesis and Up‐conversion Luminescence of Yb3+/Ln3+ (Ln = Er,Tm,Ho) Co‐Doped Strontium Cerate by Pechini Method
Authors: Xiao Quanlan , Dong Guoping , Qiu Jianrong
Published: February 2014

Novel up‐conversion (UC) luminescent nanopowders, Sr2CeO4:Yb3+,Ln3+ (Ln = Er, Tm, Ho) were prepared with Pechini method. The Sr2CeO4:Yb3+,Ln3+ (Ln = Er, Tm, Ho) nanopowders had an orthorhombic crystal structure, and showed olive‐like morphology with the length of about 260 nm and width of about 130 nm. Under 980 nm lazer excitation, the Sr2CeO4:Yb3+/Er3+, Sr2CeO4:Yb3+/Tm3+, and Sr2CeO4:Yb3+/Ho3+ nanophosphors exhibit strong green, blue, and green UC luminescence, respectively. The luminescence mechanisms for the doped lanthanide ions were thoroughly analyzed.
A Novel Electrocardiographic Criterion for Differentiating a Left from Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Tachycardia Origin: The V2S/V3R Index
Authors: YOSHIDA NAOKI , YAMADA TAKUMI , MCELDERRY H. THOMAS , INDEN YASUYA , SHIMANO MASAYUKI , MUROHARA TOYOAKI , KUMAR VINEET , DOPPALAPUDI HARISH , PLUMB VANCE J. , KAY G. NEAL
Published: February 2014

V2S/V3R Index Distinguishes LVOT from RVOT Origins

Introduction

Although several ECG criteria have been proposed for differentiating between left and right origins of idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias (VA) originating from the outflow tract (OT‐VA), their accuracy and usefulness remain limited. This study was undertaken to develop a more accurate and useful ECG criterion for differentiating between left and right OT‐VA origins.

Methods and Results

We studied OT‐VAs with a left bundle branch block pattern and inferior axis QRS morphology in 207 patients who underwent successful catheter ablation in the right (RVOT; n = 154) or left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT; n = 53). The surface ECGs during the OT‐VAs and during sinus beats were analyzed with an electronic caliper. The V2S/V3R index was defined as the S‐wave amplitude in lead V2 divided by the R‐wave amplitude in lead V3 during the OT‐VA. The V2S/V3R index was significantly smaller for LVOT origins than RVOT origins (P < 0.001). The area under the curve (AUC) for the V2S/V3R index by a receiver operating characteristic analysis was 0.964, with a cut‐off value of ≤1.5 predicting an LVOT origin with an 89% sensitivity and 94% specificity. In the AUC and accuracy, the V2S/V3R index was superior to any previously proposed ECG criteria in an analysis of all OT‐VAs. This advantage of the V2S/V3R index over the V2 transition ratio and other indices also held true for a subanalysis of 77 OT‐VAs with a lead V3 precordial transition.

Conclusion

The V2S/V3R index outperformed other ECG criteria to differentiate left from right OT‐VA origins independent of the site of the precordial transition.
Effect of carnitine‐orotate complex on glucose metabolism and fatty liver: A double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study
Authors: Hong Eun Shil , Kim Eun Ky , Kang Seon Mee , Khang Ah Reum , Choi Sung Hee , Park Kyong Soo , Jang Hak Chul , Lim Soo
Published: February 2014

Background and Aim

Effective medicines have not been introduced for insulin resistance‐related fatty liver. The efficacy and safety of treatment between a combination of metformin and carnitine‐orotate complex and metformin alone in a 12‐week, double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled study on drug‐naïve patients with impaired glucose metabolism and fatty liver were compared.

Methods

Fifty‐two patients with fasting glucose 100–240 mg/dL or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 6.0% and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 40–250 IU/L were randomized to receive metformin (250 mg t.i.d.), or metformin (250 mg t.i.d.) and carnitine‐orotate complex (300 mg t.i.d.) for 12 weeks (n = 26 per group). The primary end‐point was a change from baseline ALT level. Secondary end‐points were changes in fasting glucose, HbA1c, aspartate aminotransferase levels, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in the peripheral blood, and urinary output of 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine, a marker of oxidative stress.

Results

The combined treatment reduced ALT level significantly more than metformin alone (–51.5 ± 33.2 IU/L vs −16.7 ± 31.3 IU/L, P = 0.001). The HbA1c levels also decreased significantly in both groups but there was no significant difference between them (–0.9% ± 1.0% vs −0.7% ± 0.9%). Treatment with the complex decreased the urinary 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine level and increased mtDNA copy number significantly compared with metformin alone (both P < 0.05). No severe adverse events were observed.

Conclusion

A 12‐week treatment with metformin and carnitine‐orotate complex significantly improved liver function enzyme levels. This was associated with changes in oxidative stress and mtDNA copy number compared with metformin alone in patients with impaired glucose metabolism and fatty liver (clinical trial number: KCT0000193).
Serum peptide pattern that differentially diagnoses hepatitis B virus‐related hepatocellular carcinoma from liver cirrhosis
Authors: Wang Na , Cao Yuan , Song Wei , He Kun , Li Tao , Wang Jie , Xu Bin , Si Hai‐yan , Hu Cheng‐Jin , Li Ai‐Ling
Published: February 2014

Background

Although alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP) is a useful serologic marker of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), it is not sufficiently sensitive to differentiate HCC and liver cirrhosis (LC) caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection.

Aims

The aim is to discover novel noninvasive specific serum biomarkers for the differential diagnosis of HBV‐related HCC and LC.

Methods

With a highly optimized peptide extraction and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometric approach, we investigated serum peptide profiles of 80 HCC and 67 LC patients. Three supervised machine learning methods were employed to construct classifiers. Receiver operator curves were plotted to evaluate the performance of classifiers.

Results

With a support vector machine‐based strategy, we picked nine peaks with m/z ratios of 819.49, 1076.14, 1341.72, 2551.44, 3156.44, 3812.88, 4184.26, 4465.92, and 4776.41 to construct the classifier. We proposed a novel method for distinguishing HCC from cirrhosis, based on a multilayer perceptron (MLP) method. We obtained a sensitivity of 90.0%, specificity of 79.4%, and overall accuracy of 85.1% on an independent test set. The combination of the MLP model and serum AFP level outperformed serum AFP marker alone in distinguishing HCC patients from LC patients. In this experience, sensitivity increased from 62.5% to 87.5%, and specificity increased from 79.4% to 88.2%.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the MLP model is a novel and useful serum peptide pattern for distinguishing HCC and LC. The peptidome signature alone or together with serum AFP determination may be a more effective method for early diagnosis of HCC in patients with HBV‐related LC.
Quantification of Goods Purchases and Waste Generation at the Level of Individual Households
Authors: Harder Robin , Kalmykova Yuliya , Morrison Gregory M. , Feng Fen , Mangold Mikael , Dahlén Lisa
Published: February 2014

Quantifying differences in resource use and waste generation between individual households and exploring the reasons for the variations observed implies the need for disaggregated data on household activities and related physical flows. The collection of disaggregated data for water use, gas use, electricity use, and mobility has been reported in the literature and is normally achieved through sensors and computational algorithms. This study focuses on collecting disaggregated data for goods consumption and related waste generation at the level of individual households. To this end, two data collection approaches were devised and evaluated: (1) triangulating shopping receipt analysis and waste component analysis and (2) tracking goods consumption and waste generation using a smartphone. A case study on two households demonstrated that it is possible to collect quantitative data on goods consumption and related waste generation on a per unit basis for individual households. The study suggested that the type of data collected can be relevant in a number of different research contexts: eco‐feedback; user‐centered research; living‐lab research; and life cycle impacts of household consumption. The approaches presented in this study are most applicable in the context of user‐centered or living‐lab research. For the other contexts, alternative data sources (e.g., retailers and producers) may be better suited to data collection on larger samples, though at a lesser level of detail, compared with the two data collection approaches devised and evaluated in this study.
Connected Stocks
Authors: ANTÓN MIGUEL , POLK CHRISTOPHER
Published: February 2014

We connect stocks through their common active mutual fund owners. We show that the degree of shared ownership forecasts cross‐sectional variation in return correlation, controlling for exposure to systematic return factors, style and sector similarity, and many other pair characteristics. We argue that shared ownership causes this excess comovement based on evidence from a natural experiment—the 2003 mutual fund trading scandal. These results motivate a novel cross‐stock‐reversal trading strategy exploiting information contained in ownership connections. We show that long‐short hedge fund index returns covary negatively with this strategy, suggesting these funds may exacerbate this excess comovement.
Merger Negotiations with Stock Market Feedback
Authors: BETTON SANDRA , ECKBO B. ESPEN , THOMPSON REX , THORBURN KARIN S.
Published: February 2014

Do preoffer target stock price runups increase bidder takeover costs? We present model‐based tests of this issue assuming runups are caused by signals that inform investors about potential takeover synergies. Rational deal anticipation implies a relation between target runups and markups (offer value minus runup) that is greater than minus one‐for‐one and inherently nonlinear. If merger negotiations force bidders to raise the offer with the runup—a costly feedback loop where bidders pay twice for anticipated target synergies—markups become strictly increasing in runups. Large‐sample tests support rational deal anticipation in runups while rejecting the costly feedback loop.
Can mobile phone multimedia messages and text messages improve clinic attendance for Aboriginal children with chronic otitis media? A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Phillips James H , Wigger Christine , Beissbarth Jemima , McCallum Gabrielle B , Leach Amanda , Morris Peter S
Published: February 2014

Aim

Does phone multimedia messages (MMS) to families of Indigenous children with tympanic membrane perforation (TMP): (i) increase clinic attendance; (ii) improve ear health; and (iii) provide a culturally appropriate method of health promotion?

Methods

Fifty‐three Australian Aboriginal children with a TMP living in remote community households with a mobile phone were randomised into intervention (n = 30) and control (n = 23) groups. MMS health messages in local languages were sent to the intervention group over 6 weeks.

Results

Primary outcome: there was no significant difference in clinic attendance, with 1.3 clinic visits per child in both groups (mean difference −0.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) −1.1, 0.9; P = 0.9).

Secondary outcomes: (i) there was no significant change in healed perforation (risk difference 6%; 95% CI −10, 20; P = 0.6), middle ear discharge (risk difference −1%; 95% CI −30, 30; P = 1.0) or perforation size (mean difference 3%; 95% CI −11, 17; P = 0.7) between the groups; (ii) 84% (95% CI 60, 90) in the control and 70% (95% CI 50, 80) in the intervention group were happy to receive MMS health messages in the future. The difference was not significant (risk difference −14%; 95% CI −37, 8; P = 0.3).

Conclusions

Although there was no improvement in clinic attendance or ear health, this randomised controlled trial of MMS in Indigenous languages demonstrated that MMS is a culturally appropriate form of health promotion. Mobile phones may enhance management of chronic disease in remote and disadvantaged populations.
Peer and community influences on the acceptance of premarital sex among Vietnamese adolescents
Authors: Gibbs Susannah E , Le Linh Cu , Dao Hoang Bach , Blum Robert W
Published: February 2014

Aim

Adolescents in Vietnam have a low level of sexual activity, but this may increase with urbanisation and economic development. The aim of this analysis is to understand trends in correlates of permissive attitudes towards premarital sex among Vietnamese adolescents using an ecological framework.

Methods

Data from the Survey Assessment of Vietnamese Youth from 2003 (n = 7584) and 2009 (n = 10 044) were analysed using multivariable logistic regressions to examine associations between permissive attitudes towards premarital sex and demographic and contextual factors among adolescents aged 14 to 25.

Results

Correlates of having permissive attitudes towards premarital sex in both 2003 and 2009 included being male, older age, living in an urban area, living in the North, having ever used the Internet and perceiving that people in the community were having premarital sex. Variables that were significant in 2009 but not in 2003 included socio‐economic status and belonging to an ethnic minority. Statistically significant changes in associations between 2003 and 2009 were observed for age, socio‐economic status and belonging to an ethnic minority.

Conclusions

The association of permissive attitudes with community norms and certain socio‐demographic variables in conjunction with overarching economic development and urbanisation suggests that premarital sex will likely become increasingly common among Vietnamese adolescents. These trends should be further assessed as adolescent sexual activity becomes more common and adolescent friendly health services should be developed to provide appropriate and acceptable sexual and reproductive health care to young people.
How to do a quick search for evidence
Authors: Isaacs David
Published: February 2014

Doctors quote lack of time and lack of knowledge as major obstacles to searching the literature for evidence. This article argues that it is possible to do a literature search in 10–15 minutes with little specialist knowledge, using the Clinical Queries option of Medline (PubMed). PubMed is a free, user friendly service available to anyone with access to the internet and designed by librarians for use by clinicians who are not skilled in electronic searching. Numerous hidden search filters built into Clinical Queries facilitate targeted searches and find all published systematic reviews (including Cochrane Reviews). If no systematic reviews are available, the clinician can find randomised controlled trials and observational studies.