bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ductoscopic Detection of Intraductal Lesions in Cases of Pathologic Nipple Discharge in Comparison with Standard Diagnostics: The German Multicenter Study
Authors: Ohlinger Ralf , Stomps Andrea , Paepke Stefan , Blohmer Jens-Uwe , Grunwald Susanne , Hahndorf Wenke , Camara Oumar , Deichert Ulrich , Peisker Uwe , Kohlmann Thomas , Buchholz Ines , Hegenscheid Katrin , Utpatel Kirsten , Zygmunt Marek , Hahn Markus
Published: October 2014

SummaryBackground: According to the literature, ductoscopy is gaining increasing importance in the diagnosis of intraductal anomalies in cases of pathologic nipple discharge. In a multicenter study, the impact of this method was assessed in comparison with that of standard diagnostics. Patients and Methods: Between 09/2006 and 05/2009, a total of 214 patients from 7 German breast centers were included. All patients underwent elective ductoscopy and subsequent ductal excision because of pathologic nipple discharge. Ductoscopy was compared with the following standard diagnostics: breast sonography, mammography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), galactography, cytologic nipple swab, and ductal lavage cytology. The histological and imaging results were compared and contrasted to the results obtained from the nipple swab and cytologic assessment. Results: Sonography had the highest (82.9%) sensitivity, followed by MRI (82.5%), galactography (81.3%), ductoscopy (71.2%), lavage cytology (57.8%), mammography (57.1%), and nipple swab (22.8%). Nipple swabs had the highest (85.5%) specificity, followed by lavage cytology (85.2%), ductoscopy (49.4%), galactography (44.4%), mammography (33.3%), sonography (17.9%), and MRI (11.8%). Conclusion: Currently, ductoscopy provides a direct intraoperative visualization of intraductal lesions. Sensitivity and specificity are similar to those of standard diagnostics. The technique supports selective duct excision, in contrast to the unselective technique according to Urban. Therefore, ductoscopy extends the interventional/diagnostic armamentarium.
A Near-Complete Response to Treatment with Gemcitabine plus nab®-Paclitaxel in a Patient with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer and Poor Performance Status: A Case Report
Authors: Shakir Abdur R.
Published: October 2014

Patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma and poor performance status (PS) are typically excluded from clinical trials of new systemic treatments. Due to concerns that such patients cannot tolerate the greater toxicity sometimes associated with combination chemotherapy regimens, the recommended treatment for pancreatic cancer patients with poor PS is gemcitabine monotherapy. We report the case of a 79-year-old female with pancreatic adenocarcinoma metastatic to the lungs, with multiple comorbidities and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group PS of 3, who achieved a rapid and prolonged objective response to gemcitabine plus nab®-paclitaxel. The patient received a total of 11 cycles of treatment. Although her disease was well controlled with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel, she died just over 11 months after diagnosis as a result of her comorbid conditions compounded by treatment-related hematologic toxicity. This case suggests that patients with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma and poor PS may benefit from first-line combination therapy with gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel. Further study of this regimen in such patients is warranted.
Electricity Governance in India
Authors: Sharma Shankar
Published: October 2014

Electricity governance and planning ought to have been two important areas of administration in India right since Independence, but unabated growth in demand, chronic power cuts, nature’s limits and global warming implications all have now made them critical to the all-round development of our communities on a sustainable basis. A rational analysis at how the Electricity sector in the country has performed since independence provides a disappointing picture: there is indifference to the consumers’ needs, inequity of access, financial mismanagement, lack of professionalism and frequent non-compliance with relevant laws. These conditions indicate the need for a paradigm shift in the way the sector is governed. Electricity planning seems to be based on archaic principles, insensitive to changing customer needs and the global warming context. This article recommends that both in governance and planning, effective stakeholder participation and regular consultations with the domain experts will help to address the major issues. System-wide measures such as efficiency improvement, demand side management (DSM), energy conservation and effective use of distributed renewable energy sources (REs), supported by micro grids and smart grids, should be the way forward. A number of national and international reports focusing on Power sector reforms have advocated this approach.
Blended Learning Approach through Industry Electives
Authors: Reddy K. Sudheer , Chatarajupalli Srinagesh , Singh Anoop , Manisha  , Prasad T.V. Bhanu
Published: October 2014

One of the strategic functions of the Infosys Education & Research Unit is the ‘Industry-Academia partnership program’—Campus Connect (CC), launched in May 2004 to nurture an ecosystem to enhance the right quality and quantity of the input talent (students in the engineering institutes) before they join. A systemic change in the education system is implemented through CC by co-creation and co-teaching of Industry Electives along with Autonomous Engineering Institutions and Deemed Universities in India. The purpose of industry elective is to provide customized programmes for students in institutions that are based on ‘learn and apply’, enable students to have special interest to round-up their general education and facilitate faculty members to create learning channels with industry. The CC has developed a framework for effective, consistent and predictable deployment of the industry electives so that the talent available for the Information Technology (IT) industry is industry ready and available in large quantities. This model was further strengthened by incorporating co-teaching for the co-created industry electives. This article focuses on how co-creation and co-teaching of industry electives successfully blend the sessions offered by Infosys experts through the technology-based virtual learning mode with the lectures offered by the institution faculty members, live in their respective classes.
Energy Consumption Response to Climate Change: Policy Options for India
Authors: Narayanan K. , Sahu Santosh K.
Published: October 2014

In this article, the contributions of energy use to the climate variation debates are explored. Analyses based on secondary data depict that global fossil fuel use has increased and dominated world energy consumption and supply which is quite similar to the Indian case. This increase in the global energy use has resulted in higher emissions. To account for the changes in carbon dioxide (CO2) emission, this article follows an index decomposition analysis using data from PROWESS database of the Center for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE). Two factors are considered to account for the changes in emission intensity of Indian economy: (i) shift in output among three sectors of the India economy (Agriculture, Service and Manufacturing) and (ii) structural change due to change in aggregate output with respect to emissions change. Based on the estimates, we conclude that structural changes in the Indian economy from 1991 to 2007 played important major driving factor in reducing emissions compared to output shifts across sectors. Based on the findings and international experiences, few policy options for Indian economy, such as, energy pricing reforms, promoting investment in renewable energy technologies and creating public environmental awareness, are further suggested.
The effects of goal-directed fluid therapy based on dynamic parameters on post-surgical outcome: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Benes Jan , Giglio Mariateresa , Brienza Nicola , Michard Frederic
Published: October 2014

Introduction

Dynamic predictors of fluid responsiveness, namely systolic pressure variation, pulse pressure variation, stroke volume variation and pleth variability index have been shown to be useful to identify in advance patients who will respond to a fluid load by a significant increase in stroke volume and cardiac output. As a result, they are increasingly used to guide fluid therapy. Several randomized controlled trials have tested the ability of goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) based on dynamic parameters (GDFTdyn) to improve post-surgical outcome. These studies have yielded conflicting results. Therefore, we performed this meta-analysis to investigate whether the use of GDFTdyn is associated with a decrease in post-surgical morbidity.

Methods

A systematic literature review, using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and The Cochrane Library databases through September 2013 was conducted. Data synthesis was obtained by using odds ratio (OR) and weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) by random-effects model.

Results

In total, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria (961 participants). Post-operative morbidity was reduced by GDFTdyn (OR 0.51; CI 0.34 to 0.75; P <0.001). This effect was related to a significant reduction in infectious (OR 0.45; CI 0.27 to 0.74; P = 0.002), cardiovascular (OR 0.55; CI 0.36 to 0.82; P = 0.004) and abdominal (OR 0.56; CI 0.37 to 0.86; P = 0.008) complications. It was associated with a significant decrease in ICU length of stay (WMD -0.75 days; CI -1.37 to -0.12; P = 0.02).

Conclusions

In surgical patients, we found that GDFTdyn decreased post-surgical morbidity and ICU length of stay. Because of the heterogeneity of studies analyzed, large prospective clinical trials would be useful to confirm our findings.
Pathologic response prediction to neoadjuvant chemotherapy utilizing pretreatment near-infrared imaging parameters and tumor pathologic criteria
Authors: Zhu Quing , Wang Liqun , Tannenbaum Susan , Ricci Andrew , DeFusco Patricia , Hegde Poornima
Published: October 2014

Introduction

The purpose of this study is to develop a prediction model utilizing tumor hemoglobin parameters measured by ultrasound-guided near-infrared optical tomography (US-NIR) in conjunction with standard pathologic tumor characteristics to predict pathologic response before neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is given.

Methods

Thirty-four patients’ data were retrospectively analyzed using a multiple logistic regression model to predict response. These patients were split into 30 groups of training (24 tumors) and testing (12 tumors) for cross validation. Tumor vascularity was assessed using US-NIR measurements of total hemoglobin (tHb), oxygenated (oxyHb) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (deoxyHb) concentrations acquired before treatment. Tumor pathologic variables of tumor type, Nottingham score, mitotic index, the estrogen and progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 acquired before NAC in biopsy specimens were also used in the prediction model. The patients’ pathologic response was graded based on the Miller-Payne system. The overall performance of the prediction models was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The quantitative measures were sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) and the area under the ROC curve (AUC).

Results

Utilizing tumor pathologic variables alone, average sensitivity of 56.8%, average specificity of 88.9%, average PPV of 84.8%, average NPV of 70.9% and average AUC of 84.0% were obtained from the testing data. Among the hemoglobin predictors with and without tumor pathological variables, the best predictor was tHb combined with tumor pathological variables, followed by oxyHb with pathological variables. When tHb was included with tumor pathological variables as an additional predictor, the corresponding measures improved to 79%, 94%, 90%, 86% and 92.4%, respectively. When oxyHb was included with tumor variables as an additional predictor, these measures improved to 77%, 85%, 83%, 83% and 90.6%, respectively. The addition of tHb or oxyHb significantly improved the prediction sensitivity, NPV and AUC compared with using tumor pathological variables alone.

Conclusions

These initial findings indicate that combining widely used tumor pathologic variables with hemoglobin parameters determined by US-NIR may provide a powerful tool for predicting patient pathologic response to NAC before the start of treatment.

Trial registration

ClincalTrials.gov ID: NCT00908609 (registered 22 May 2009)
Benchmarking mutation effect prediction algorithms using functionally validated cancer-related missense mutations
Authors: Martelotto Luciano G , Ng Charlotte KY , De Filippo Maria R , Zhang Yan , Piscuoglio Salvatore , Lim Raymond S , Shen Ronglai , Norton Larry , Reis-Filho Jorge S , Weigelt Britta
Published: October 2014

Background

Massively parallel sequencing studies have led to the identification of a large number of mutations present in a minority of cancers of a given site. Hence, methods to identify the likely pathogenic mutations that are worth exploring experimentally and clinically are required. We sought to compare the performance of 15 mutation effect prediction algorithms and their agreement. As a hypothesis-generating aim, we sought to define whether combinations of prediction algorithms would improve the functional effect predictions of specific mutations.

Results

Literature and database mining of single nucleotide variants (SNVs) affecting 15 cancer genes was performed to identify mutations supported by functional evidence or hereditary disease association to be classified either as non-neutral (n = 849) or neutral (n = 140) with respect to their impact on protein function. These SNVs were employed to test the performance of 15 mutation effect prediction algorithms. The accuracy of the prediction algorithms varies considerably. Although all algorithms perform consistently well in terms of positive predictive value, their negative predictive value varies substantially. Cancer-specific mutation effect predictors display no-to-almost perfect agreement in their predictions of these SNVs, whereas the non-cancer-specific predictors showed no-to-moderate agreement. Combinations of predictors modestly improve accuracy and significantly improve negative predictive values.

Conclusions

The information provided by mutation effect predictors is not equivalent. No algorithm is able to predict sufficiently accurately SNVs that should be taken forward for experimental or clinical testing. Combining algorithms aggregates orthogonal information and may result in improvements in the negative predictive value of mutation effect predictions.
Mobster: accurate detection of mobile element insertions in next generation sequencing data
Authors: Thung Djie Tjwan , de Ligt Joep , Vissers Lisenka EM , Steehouwer Marloes , Kroon Mark , de Vries Petra , Slagboom Eline P , Ye Kai , Veltman Joris A , Hehir-Kwa Jayne Y
Published: October 2014

Mobile elements are major drivers in changing genomic architecture and can cause disease. The detection of mobile elements is hindered due to the low mappability of their highly repetitive sequences. We have developed an algorithm, called Mobster, to detect non-reference mobile element insertions in next generation sequencing data from both whole genome and whole exome studies. Mobster uses discordant read pairs and clipped reads in combination with consensus sequences of known active mobile elements. Mobster has a low false discovery rate and high recall rate for both L1 and Alu elements. Mobster is available at http://sourceforge.net/projects/mobster.
Enhancer variants: evaluating functions in common disease
Authors: Corradin Olivia , Scacheri Peter C
Published: October 2014

Gene enhancer elements are noncoding segments of DNA that play a central role in regulating transcriptional programs that control development, cell identity, and evolutionary processes. Recent studies have shown that noncoding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that have been associated with risk for numerous common diseases through genome-wide association studies frequently lie in cell-type-specific enhancer elements. These enhancer variants probably influence transcriptional output, thereby offering a mechanistic basis to explain their association with risk for many common diseases. This review focuses on the identification and interpretation of disease-susceptibility variants that influence enhancer function. We discuss strategies for prioritizing the study of functional enhancer SNPs over those likely to be benign, review experimental and computational approaches to identifying the gene targets of enhancer variants, and highlight efforts to quantify the impact of enhancer variants on target transcript levels and cellular phenotypes. These studies are beginning to provide insights into the mechanistic basis of many common diseases, as well as into how we might translate this knowledge for improved disease diagnosis, prevention and treatments. Finally, we highlight five major challenges often associated with interpreting enhancer variants, and discuss recent technical advances that may help to surmount these challenges.
Reducing INDEL calling errors in whole genome and exome sequencing data
Authors: Fang Han , Wu Yiyang , Narzisi Giuseppe , ORawe Jason A , Barrón Laura T Jimenez , Rosenbaum Julie , Ronemus Michael , Iossifov Ivan , Schatz Michael C , Lyon Gholson J
Published: October 2014

Background

INDELs, especially those disrupting protein-coding regions of the genome, have been strongly associated with human diseases. However, there are still many errors with INDEL variant calling, driven by library preparation, sequencing biases, and algorithm artifacts.

Methods

We characterized whole genome sequencing (WGS), whole exome sequencing (WES), and PCR-free sequencing data from the same samples to investigate the sources of INDEL errors. We also developed a classification scheme based on the coverage and composition to rank high and low quality INDEL calls. We performed a large-scale validation experiment on 600 loci, and find high-quality INDELs to have a substantially lower error rate than low-quality INDELs (7% vs. 51%).

Results

Simulation and experimental data show that assembly based callers are significantly more sensitive and robust for detecting large INDELs (>5 bp) than alignment based callers, consistent with published data. The concordance of INDEL detection between WGS and WES is low (53%), and WGS data uniquely identifies 10.8-fold more high-quality INDELs. The validation rate for WGS-specific INDELs is also much higher than that for WES-specific INDELs (84% vs. 57%), and WES misses many large INDELs. In addition, the concordance for INDEL detection between standard WGS and PCR-free sequencing is 71%, and standard WGS data uniquely identifies 6.3-fold more low-quality INDELs. Furthermore, accurate detection with Scalpel of heterozygous INDELs requires 1.2-fold higher coverage than that for homozygous INDELs. Lastly, homopolymer A/T INDELs are a major source of low-quality INDEL calls, and they are highly enriched in the WES data.

Conclusions

Overall, we show that accuracy of INDEL detection with WGS is much greater than WES even in the targeted region. We calculated that 60X WGS depth of coverage from the HiSeq platform is needed to recover 95% of INDELs detected by Scalpel. While this is higher than current sequencing practice, the deeper coverage may save total project costs because of the greater accuracy and sensitivity. Finally, we investigate sources of INDEL errors (for example, capture deficiency, PCR amplification, homopolymers) with various data that will serve as a guideline to effectively reduce INDEL errors in genome sequencing.
Staphylococcus aureusgene expression in a rat model of infective endocarditis
Authors: Hanses Frank , Roux Christelle , Dunman Paul M , Salzberger Bernd , Lee Jean C
Published: October 2014

Background

Diabetes mellitus is a frequent underlying comorbidity in patients with Staphylococcus aureus endocarditis, and it represents a risk factor for complications and a negative outcome. The pathogenesis of staphylococcal endocardial infections in diabetic hosts has been poorly characterized, and little is known about S. aureus gene expression in endocardial vegetations.

Methods

We utilized a rat model of experimental S. aureus endocarditis to compare the pathogenesis of staphylococcal infection in diabetic and nondiabetic hosts and to study the global S. aureus transcriptome in endocardial vegetations in vivo.

Results

Diabetic rats had higher levels of bacteremia and larger endocardial vegetations than nondiabetic control animals. Microarray analyses revealed that 61 S. aureus genes were upregulated in diabetic rats, and the majority of these bacterial genes were involved in amino acid and carbohydrate metabolism. When bacterial gene expression in vivo (diabetic or nondiabetic endocardial vegetations) was compared to in vitro growth conditions, higher in vivo expression of genes encoding toxins and proteases was observed. Additionally, genes involved in the production of adhesins, capsular polysaccharide, and siderophores, as well as in amino acid and carbohydrate transport and metabolism, were upregulated in endocardial vegetations. To test the contribution of selected upregulated genes to the pathogenesis of staphylococcal endocarditis, isogenic deletion mutants were utilized. A mutant defective in production of the siderophore staphyloferrin B was attenuated in the endocarditis model, whereas the virulence of a surface adhesin (ΔsdrCDE) mutant was similar to that of the parental S. aureus strain.

Conclusions

Our results emphasize the relevance of diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for infectious endocarditis and provide a basis for understanding gene expression during staphylococcal infections in vivo.
PLD3 is accumulated on neuritic plaques in Alzheimer’s disease brains
Authors: Satoh Jun-ichi , Kino Yoshihiro , Yamamoto Yoji , Kawana Natsuki , Ishida Tsuyoshi , Saito Yuko , Arima Kunimasa
Published: October 2014

Introduction

Recently, a whole-exome sequencing (WES) study showed that a rare variant rs145999145 composed of p.Val232Met located in exon 7 of the phospholipase D3 (PLD3) gene confers a doubled risk for late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Knockdown of PLD3 elevates the levels of extracellular amyloid-beta (Aβ), suggesting that PLD3 acts as a negative regulator of Aβ precursor protein (APP) processing. However, the precise cellular location and distribution of PLD3 in AD brains remain largely unknown.

Methods

By quantitative RT-PCR (qPCR), western blot, immunohistochemistry, and bioinformatics analysis, we studied PLD3 expression patterns and levels in a series of AD and control brains, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, multiple system atrophy, and non-neurological cases.

Results

The levels of PLD3 mRNA and protein expression were reduced modestly in AD brains, compared with those in non-AD brains. In all brains, PLD3 was expressed constitutively in cortical neurons, hippocampal pyramidal and granular neurons but not in glial cells. Notably, PLD3 immunoreactivity was accumulated on neuritic plaques in AD brains. We identified the human granulin (GRN) gene encoding progranulin (PRGN) as one of most significant genes coexpressed with PLD3 by bioinformatics database search. PLD3 was actually coexpressed and interacted with PGRN both in cultured cells in vitro and in AD brains in vivo.

Conclusions

We identified an intense accumulation of PLD3 on neuritic plaques coexpressed with PGRN in AD brains, suggesting that PLD3 plays a key role in the pathological processes of AD.
β-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1(BACE1) inhibitor treatment induces Aβ5-X peptides through alternative amyloid precursor protein cleavage
Authors: Portelius Erik , Dean Robert A , Andreasson Ulf , Mattsson Niklas , Westerlund Anni , Olsson Maria , Demattos Ronald Bradley , Racke Margaret M , Zetterberg Henrik , May Patrick C , Blennow Kaj
Published: October 2014

Introduction

The β-secretase enzyme, β-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), cleaves amyloid precursor protein (APP) in the first step in β-amyloid (Aβ) peptide production. Thus, BACE1 is a key target for candidate disease-modifying treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. In a previous exploratory Aβ biomarker study, we found that BACE1 inhibitor treatment resulted in decreased levels of Aβ1-34 together with increased Aβ5-40, suggesting that these Aβ species may be novel pharmacodynamic biomarkers in clinical trials. We have now examined whether the same holds true in humans.

Methods

In an investigator-blind, placebo-controlled and randomized study, healthy subjects (n =18) were randomly assigned to receive a single dose of 30 mg of LY2811376 (n =6), 90 mg of LY2811376 (n =6), or placebo (n =6). We used hybrid immunoaffinity-mass spectrometry (HI-MS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to monitor a variety of Aβ peptides.

Results

Here, we demonstrate dose-dependent changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ1-34, Aβ5-40 and Aβ5-X after treatment with the BACE1-inhibitor LY2811376. Aβ5-40 and Aβ5-X increased dose-dependently, as reflected by two independent methods, while Aβ1-34 dose-dependently decreased.

Conclusion

Using HI-MS for the first time in a study where subjects have been treated with a BACE inhibitor, we confirm that CSF Aβ1-34 may be useful in clinical trials on BACE1 inhibitors to monitor target engagement. Since it is less hydrophobic than longer Aβ species, it is less susceptible to preanalytical confounding factors and may thus be a more stable marker. By independent measurement techniques, we also show that BACE1 inhibition in humans is associated with APP-processing into N-terminally truncated Aβ peptides via a BACE1-independent pathway.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00838084. Registered: First received: January 23, 2009, Last updated: July 14, 2009, Last verified: July 2009.
Diverse allosteric and catalytic functions of tetrameric d-lactate dehydrogenases from three Gram-negative bacteria
Authors: Furukawa Nayuta , Miyanaga Akimasa , Togawa Misato , Nakajima Masahiro , Taguchi Hayao
Published: October 2014

NAD-dependent d-lactate dehydrogenases (d-LDHs) reduce pyruvate into d-lactate with oxidation of NADH into NAD+. Although non-allosteric d-LDHs from Lactobacilli have been extensively studied, the catalytic properties of allosteric d-LDHs from Gram-negative bacteria except for Escherichia coli remain unknown. We characterized the catalytic properties of d-LDHs from three Gram-negative bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum (FNLDH), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PALDH), and E. coli (ECLDH) to gain an insight into allosteric mechanism of d-LDHs. While PALDH and ECLDH exhibited narrow substrate specificities toward pyruvate like usual d-LDHs, FNLDH exhibited a broad substrate specificity toward hydrophobic 2-ketoacids such as 2-ketobutyrate and 2-ketovalerate, the former of which gave a 2-fold higher k
cat/S0.5 value than pyruvate. Whereas the three enzymes consistently showed hyperbolic shaped pyruvate saturation curves below pH 6.5, FNLDH and ECLDH, and PALDH showed marked positive and negative cooperativity, respectively, in the pyruvate saturation curves above pH 7.5. Oxamate inhibited the catalytic reactions of FNLDH competitively with pyruvate, and the PALDH reaction in a mixed manner at pH 7.0, but markedly enhanced the reactions of the two enzymes at low concentration through canceling of the apparent homotropic cooperativity at pH 8.0, although it constantly inhibited the ECLDH reaction. Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and certain divalent metal ions such as Mg2+ also markedly enhanced the reactions of FNLDH and PALDH, but none of them enhanced the reaction of ECLDH. Thus, our study demonstrates that bacterial d-LDHs have highly divergent allosteric and catalytic properties.
From Erotic Rage Bank to Thymotic World Culture
Authors: DeBoever Arne
Published: October 2014

This review essay critically assesses Peter Sloterdijk’s book Rage and Time (2006), starting from his more recent book on the welfare state, Die nehmende Hand und die gebende Seite (2010). Both of these texts are part of a by now extensive body of work—rooted in the thought of Friedrich Nietzsche—on the psychopathology of ressentiment that plagues Western, European democracies. The review focuses on Sloterdijk’s philosophical project but also takes into consideration the philosopher’s politics, which have received much criticism in both his native Germany and abroad.
Inside Out Again: In William H. Gass’s Middle C
Authors: O’Hara Daniel T.
Published: October 2014

A critical appreciation of Middle C, by William H. Gass, this review essay focuses on the self-reflective ironies of what is likely to be the celebrated author’s last novel, capping a long metafictional career. A story about an immigrant family of fakes, whose scion cons his way into a professorship of music at a small midwestern college and, despite his fears, poor personal relationships, and morbid obsession with lurid exhibits (reports and pictures) for his attic “Inhumanity Museum,” ends up escaping discovery, the loss of his job, and public censure. In the biggest irony of all, perhaps, considering Gass’s previous novel, The Tunnel, a masterpiece of misanthropy, the protagonist recounts his past and its effects on his present, providing along the way considerable, albeit satiric, laughter for the reader and for our hero himself. This relationship of apparent revocation of all of Gass’s past work, especially the best of it, is sounded. We are thus left with the question: Is this new novel the biggest fake of all? In this way, reading such a novel puts its would-be critic in the position of either spoiling the joke or playing along with it. Is this revolting development not fundamentally what we take literature to be creating?
Bob Dylan in China, America in Bob Dylan: Visions of Social Beatitude and Critique
Authors: Wilson Rob
Published: October 2014

This essay focuses on US/China interactions, uncanny temporalities, and Pacific Rim discrepancies resonating through popular culture and belief systems as embodied in Bob Dylan’s conversion-drenched poetics (aligned to social beatitude) and protest politics (aligned to critique and allegory). Building out from the “Dylan controversy” of spring 2011, the analysis probes Dylan’s post-Beat poetic tactics from works like “All along the Watchtower” and “Chimes of Freedom” to socialist-Judeo-Christian works of blasted prophecy from Modern Times and Tempest. “Bob Dylan in China, America in Bob Dylan” opens into transnational dynamics, transcultural wariness, and post-Jeremaic aims of American cultural poetics and politics in contexts of globalization and Asia-Pacific differences.
Claim Validation
Authors: Al-Najjar Nabil , Pomatto Luciano , Sandroni Alvaro
Published: October 2014

Hume (1748) challenged the idea that a general claim (e.g., “all swans are white”) can be validated by empirical evidence, no matter how compelling. We examine this issue from the perspective of a tester who must accept or reject the forecasts of a potential expert. If experts can be skeptical about the validity of claims then they can evade rejection strategically. In contrast, if experts are required to conclude that claims backed by sufficient evidence are likely to be true, then they can be tested and rejected. These results provide an economic rationale for claim validation based on incentive problems. (JEL D82)
Short Communication: Note on Excoecaria indica (Willd.) Muell.-Arg, 1863 (Euphorbiaceae), from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India; a data deficient species
Authors: RAGAVAN PADISAMY , RAVICHANDRAN K. , MOHAN P. M. , SXAENA ALOK , PRASANTH R. S. , JAYARAJ R. S.C. , SARAVANAN S.
Published: October 2014

Ragavan P, Ravichandran K, Mohan PM, Sxaena A, Prasanth RS, Jayaraj RSJ, Saravanan S. 2015. Note on Excoecariaindica (Willd.) Muell.-Arg, 1863 (Euphorbiaceae), from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India; a data deficient species. Biodiversitas 16: 22-26. Excoecaria indica (Wild.) Muell.-Arg was recorded from Middle Andaman and Great Nicobar Island representing a newaddition to the mangrove flora of the, Andaman and Nicobar islands. This species is characterized by its thorny trunk, crenulatelanceolateleaves and cherry-sized green fruits containing three seeds. Information about E. indica is inadequate, and it is recognized asdata deficient species. Further studies and conservation measures are imperative for managing the mangrove diversity of the islands withregards to this species.
Frequency and outcomes of submandibular gland obstruction following resection of squamous cell carcinomas in the vicinity of the submandibular duct
Authors: Wong DWH , Kamisetty A , Lowe D , Rogers SN
Published: October 2014

Introduction

The aim of this study was to report rates, associated factors and outcomes of submandibular gland obstruction following surgery for squamous cell carcinoma in the anterior floor of the mouth (FOM) or ventral tongue without a neck dissection where resection has involved (or has been in very close proximity to) the submandibular duct.

Methods

A retrospective case note review was carried out for the period January 2007 to December 2011. Only patients who received primary local surgical resection for squamous cell carcinoma of the anterior FOM or ventral tongue were included.

Results

Fifty-two patients were analysed. Fifteen (29%) developed submandibular gland symptoms following surgery. Symptoms resolved spontaneously for 14 (93%) and 1 patient required the submandibular duct to be repositioned. Comparatively, 2 patients (13%) developed symptoms when the duct was repositioned during primary surgery. No patients had their submandibular gland removed.

Conclusions

Resection of small tumours associated with the FOM and ventral tongue in proximity to the submandibular duct is associated with obstructive symptoms in about a quarter of patients; this is reduced by half when redirecting the duct. Symptoms are self-limiting and self-resolving. A prospective clinical trial comparing duct repositioning with subcapsular gland excision would help clarify potential benefits and best treatment modalities.
Surgical training during a voluntary medical/surgical camp in sierra leone
Authors: sivarajah V , Shanmugam M , Tuckey E , Watkins RM
Published: October 2014

There are widespread concerns that surgical trainees are gaining insufficient operative experience. 1,2 such concerns have been highlighted in several studies, identifying a dramatic decline in available operative opportunities. 3,4 One study revealed a 56% fall in less than a decade. 5
Health and politics
Authors: Marx Clare
Published: October 2014

With all the party conferences over, it seems likely that health is going to retain its position as the bigticket item of the next election. An RCS team attended the three main conferences and ran roundtable discussions on ways to improve that all-important interface for patients between their hospital stay and their support in the community.
The seven questions: a novel surgical planning strategy based on military doctrine
Authors: Wood Ryan J , Granville-Chapman Major Jeremy , Clasper Colonel John C
Published: October 2014

Surgical planning is the first step in operative fracture management. The degree of planning that is required is determined by a number of factors, including the nature of the injury mechanism and its concomitant physiological insult, complexity of the fracture and region, expertise of the surgical team and equipment limitations.
Numerical evaluation of blood viscosity affecting pulse wave propagation in a fluid-structure interaction model
Authors: He Fan , Hua Lu , Gao Li-jian
Published: October 2014

High blood viscosity often causes cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis and thrombosis. It is proven that blood viscosity plays an important role in cardiovascular functions. In this paper, pulse wave characteristics with normal and high blood viscosities are presented in detail to evaluate how blood viscosity affects pulse wave propagation. A fluid-structure interaction is employed to solve for pulse wave characteristics. The results show that increased blood viscosity does not change the time delay of wave propagation. However, high viscosity reduces the velocity amplitude, while it enhances the pressure level. This study provides physical insight for evaluating blood viscosity leading potentially to pulse wave changes.
Mechanical properties and chemical composition of beech wood exposed for 30 and 120 days to white-rot fungi
Authors: Bari Ehsan , Taghiyari Hamid Reza , Mohebby Behbood , Clausen Carol A. , Schmidt Olaf , Tajick Ghanbary Mohammad Ali , Vaseghi Mohammad Javad
Published: October 2014

The effects of exposing specimens of Oriental beech [Fagus sylvatica subsp. orientalis (Lipsky) Greuter and Burdet] to the white-rot fungi Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.: Fr.) Kummer and Trametes versicolor (L.: Fr.) Pilát strain 325 have been studied concerning the mechanical properties and chemical composition in terms of carbohydrates, cellulose, and lignin. Biological decay tests were carried out in accordance with the EN 113 standard specifications for 30 and 120 days. P. ostreatus had nearly the same deteriorating effects on the mechanical properties and chemical composition as that caused by T. versicolor. High and significant correlations were found between some mechanical properties with chemical components; for instance, the correlation coefficient (R2) between impact bending and carbohydrate content was about 0.96. The changes of components influence the various mechanical properties to a different degree. Incipient fungal decay caused severe changes for impact bending and carbohydrate loss. Several other properties declined at 120-day exposure time, such as the hardness, compression strength parallel to grain, and cellulose and lignin losses.
National primary drinking water regulation for arsenic: A retrospective assessment of costs
Authors: Morgan Cynthia , Simon Nathalie B.
Published: October 2014

This paper compares EPA’s ex ante cost analysis of the 2001 maximum contaminant limit (MCL) for Arsenic in Drinking Water to an ex post assessment of the costs. Because comprehensive cost information for installed treatment technologies or other mitigation strategies pursued by water systems to meet the new standard is not available, this case study relies upon ex post cost data from EPA Demonstration Projects, capturing a total of 50 systems across the US. Information shared by several states and independent associations on the types (but not costs) of treatment technologies used by systems is also summarized. Comparisons of predicted costs to realized costs using our limited data yield mixed results. Plotting the capital cost data from the Demonstration Projects against the cost curves for the compliance technologies recommended for smaller systems, we find that the EPA methodology overestimated capital costs in most cases, especially as the size of the system increases (as measured by the design flow rate).
Diminished HLA-DR expression on monocyte and dendritic cell subsets indicating impairment of cellular immunity in pre-term neonates: a prospective observational analysis
Authors: Schefold Joerg C. , Porz Linn , Uebe Barbara , Poehlmann Holger , von Haehling Stephan , Jung Andreas , Unterwalder Nadine , Meisel Christian
Published: October 2014

The risk of neonates for severe infection/sepsis is reciprocally proportional to gestational age and birth weight. As monocytes and dendritic cells (DC) are recognised key antigen-presenting immune cells, we aimed to elucidate whether neonatal age is associated with reduced expression of human-leukocyte antigen-DR (HLA-DR) antigens on subsets of monocytes and DCs.

Forty-three consecutive neonates (20 male, mean gestational age 236.0±26.8 days; mean 1-min Apgar score 7.5±2.0) were included in a monocentric prospective observational analysis. Patients were grouped according to gestational age (n=15 full-term, n=28 pre-term defined as <33 weeks). Ten healthy adult volunteers were assessed also. Flow-cytometric assessment of HLA-DR expression was performed in subsets of peripheral blood myeloid and plasmacytoid DCs (MDC and PDC) and monocytes (CD14

At birth, leukocyte counts were increased in full-term neonates. Monocyte counts were significantly increased in neonates when compared with adults (all P<0.05). A significant numerical increase of CD14

We observed a markedly diminished HLA-DR expression on monocyte and DC subsets in pre-term and full-term neonates, which may contribute to impaired antimicrobial defence mechanisms in the early days of life.
From C-oriented cliticization to verbal agreement in Kansas Bukovina Bohemian
Authors: Wratil Melani
Published: October 2014

Kansas Bukovina Bohemian has recently developed a verbal 1pl agreement marker. It is shown that this marker has its origins in the C-oriented cliticization of 1pl subject pronouns. Their reanalysis as C-oriented 1pl agreement markers has brought about double agreement effects that are controlled by the syntactic positioning of the finite verb. Since subordinated structures increasingly feature left-headed TPs due to linguistic influence from American English, the former 1pl enclitics nowadays fully integrate into the verbal conjugation while double agreement is getting lost. The retention of double agreement on one specific auxiliary results from a process of inter-paradigmatic homonymy flight.
How interrogative pronouns can become relative pronouns: the case of was in Misionero German
Authors: Putnam Michael T. , Schwarz Lara
Published: October 2014

Misionero German (MG), a variety of heritage German spoken in the Misiones Province of Argentina, allows the interrogative pronoun was ‘what’ to function as a relative pronoun in similar and analogous contexts to those found in Brazilian Portuguese. We argue that this shift in the grammar is the result of replica grammaticalization, likely due to extreme contact with Brazilian Portuguese over the course of the last century.
Studying Plant–Rhizobium Mutualism in the Biology Classroom
Authors: Suwa Tomomi , Williamson Brad
Published: October 2014

We present a guided-inquiry biology lesson, using the plant–rhizobium symbiosis as a model system. This system provides a rich environment for developing connections between the big ideas in biology as outlined in the College Board’s new AP Biology Curriculum. Students gain experience with the practice of scientific investigation, from designing and conducting experiments to making claims based on the data they collect. We include one example of a piloted classroom experiment that can easily be modified to test a variety of interesting ecological and evolutionary hypotheses.
The Scene of the Crime
Authors: Green Michelle L. , Novakofski Jan , Green Ryan W. , Manjerovic Mary Beth , Mateus-Pinilla Nohra
Published: October 2014

Providing both introductory information and biosecurity protocols in laboratory, farm, and field settings is central to student learning and safety. However, even when clear protocols are provided, students do not fully understand the consequences of their actions. We present a crime scene that requires evidence investigation to improve basic skills and inquiry to identify biosecurity breaches. The crime-scene format engages students and encourages critical thinking about the negative effects of actions when working in various environments. This approach not only improves student skills through forensic microscopy but advances student retention of biosecurity requirements.
Reading to Understand Anatomy
Authors: Calmer Joseph , Straits William
Published: October 2014

As a science teacher, I regularly use outside reading assignments (e.g., news articles) to help develop my students’ understanding of topics addressed in my anatomy class. However, I have found that in simply reading texts, students often fail to (1) understand the context of the science discussed, (2) make the connections between ideas represented in the reading and those presented in class, and (3) appreciate the science that is being discussed. To better support my students’ reading, I needed to structure their reading to direct them toward key ideas and prompt them to process the information deeply, to make connections between their readings and the concepts learned in class, and to understand the science content in context. To address these needs, and to help increase my students’ science comprehension and encourage their thinking while reading, I turned to a language arts strategy called Literature Circles. Here, I describe my use of this successful strategy and provide resources to support other teachers who want to employ outside readings and/or Literature Circles in their own teaching.
High-Resolution Genetic Mapping in the Diversity Outbred Mouse Population Identifies Apobec1 as a Candidate Gene for Atherosclerosis
Authors: Smallwood Tangi L , Gatti Daniel M , Quizon Pamela , Weinstock George M , Jung Kuo-Chen , Zhao Liyang , Hua Kunjie , Pomp Daniel , Bennett Brian J
Published: October 2014

Inbred mice exhibit strain-specific variation in susceptibility to atherosclerosis and dyslipidemia that renders them useful in dissecting the genetic architecture of these complex diseases. Traditional quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping studies using inbred strains often identify large genomic regions, containing many genes, due to limited recombination and/or sample size. This hampers candidate gene identification and translation of these results into possible risk factors and therapeutic targets. An alternative approach is the use of multiparental outbred lines for genetic mapping, such as the Diversity Outbred (DO) mouse panel, which can be more informative than traditional two-parent crosses and can aid in the identification of causal genes and variants associated with QTL. We fed 292 female DO mice either a high-fat, cholesterol-containing (HFCA) diet, to induce atherosclerosis, or a low-fat, high-protein diet for 18 wk and measured plasma lipid levels before and after diet treatment. We measured markers of atherosclerosis in the mice fed the HFCA diet. The mice were genotyped on a medium-density single-nucleotide polymorphism array and founder haplotypes were reconstructed using a hidden Markov model. The reconstructed haplotypes were then used to perform linkage mapping of atherosclerotic lesion size as well as plasma total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin, and glucose. Among our highly significant QTL we detected a ~100 kb QTL interval for atherosclerosis on Chromosome 6, as well as a 1.4 Mb QTL interval on Chromosome 9 for triglyceride levels at baseline and a coincident 22.2 Mb QTL interval on Chromosome 9 for total cholesterol after dietary treatment. One candidate gene within the Chromosome 6 peak region associated with atherosclerosis is Apobec1, the apolipoprotein B (ApoB) mRNA-editing enzyme, which plays a role in the regulation of ApoB, a critical component of low-density lipoprotein, by editing ApoB mRNA. This study demonstrates the value of the DO population to improve mapping resolution and to aid in the identification of potential therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease. Using a DO mouse population fed an HFCA diet, we were able to identify an A/J-specific isoform of Apobec1 that contributes to atherosclerosis.