bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Life Prediction on a T700 Carbon Fiber Reinforced Cylinder with Limited Accelerated Life Testing Data
Authors: Xiaobing Ma , Yongbo Zhang
Published: June 2015

An accelerated life testing investigation was conducted on a composite cylinder that consists of aluminum alloy and T700 carbon fiber. The ultimate failure stress predictions of cylinders were obtained by the mixing rule and verified by the blasting static pressure method. Based on the stress prediction of cylinder under working conditions, the constant stress accelerated life test of the cylinder was designed. However, the failure data cannot be sufficiently obtained by the accelerated life test due to the time limitation. Therefore, most of the data presented to be high censored in high stress level and zero-failure data in low stress level. When using the traditional method for rupture life prediction, the results showed to be of lower confidence. In this study, the consistency of failure mechanism for carbon fiber and cylinder was analyzed firstly. According to the analysis result, the statistical test information of carbon fiber could be utilized for the accelerated model constitution. Then, rupture life prediction method for cylinder was proposed based on the accelerated life test data and carbon fiber test data. In this way, the life prediction accuracy of cylinder could be improved obviously, and the results showed that the accuracy of this method increased by 35%.
Using Immune Marker Panels to Evaluate the Role of Inflammation in Cancer: Summary of an NCI-Sponsored Workshop
Authors: Carrick Danielle M. , Chaturvedi Anil K. , Shiels Meredith S. , Divi Rao L. , Filipski Kelly K. , Hebert Elizabeth F. , Verma Mukesh , Hildesheim Allan
Published: June 2015

Chronic inflammation is recognized to play a role in the development of several cancers. Past investigations of inflammation and cancer have typically been small, used varied assay platforms, and included a narrow range of analytes. Multiplex technologies have now been developed to measure larger numbers of inflammatory markers using small volumes of specimens. This has created an opportunity for systematic, large-scale epidemiologic studies to evaluate the role of inflammation in cancer. However, lack of consensus on the approach to these studies, the technologies/assays to be used, and the most adequate analysis/interpretation of findings have thus far hindered progress. In June 2014, the National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, MD) convened a workshop involving epidemiologists, immunologists, statisticians, and laboratory biologists to share their experiences with new inflammation marker technologies and findings from association studies using such methods and technologies (http://epi.grants.cancer.gov/workshops/). Consensus and gaps in our understanding of the role of chronic inflammation in cancer were identified and recommendations were made to improve future efforts in this area. These recommendations are summarized herein, along with specific suggestions for how they may be implemented. By facilitating discussions among various groups and encouraging interdisciplinary collaborations, we anticipate that the pace of research in this field will be accelerated and duplication of efforts can be minimized. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(9); 1427–33. ©2015 AACR.
Cell-Free DNA Next-Generation Sequencing in Pancreatobiliary Carcinomas
Authors: Zill Oliver A. , Greene Claire , Sebisanovic Dragan , Siew Lai Mun , Leng Jim , Vu Mary , Hendifar Andrew E. , Wang Zhen , Atreya Chloe E. , Kelley Robin K. , Van Loon Katherine , Ko Andrew H. , Tempero Margaret A. , Bivona Trever G. , Munster Pamela N. , Talasaz AmirAli , Collisson Eric A.
Published: June 2015

Patients with pancreatic and biliary carcinomas lack personalized treatment options, in part because biopsies are often inadequate for molecular characterization. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) sequencing may enable a precision oncology approach in this setting. We attempted to prospectively analyze 54 genes in tumor and cfDNA for 26 patients. Tumor sequencing failed in 9 patients (35%). In the remaining 17, 90.3% (95% confidence interval, 73.1%–97.5%) of mutations detected in tumor biopsies were also detected in cfDNA. The diagnostic accuracy of cfDNA sequencing was 97.7%, with 92.3% average sensitivity and 100% specificity across five informative genes. Changes in cfDNA correlated well with tumor marker dynamics in serial sampling (r = 0.93). We demonstrate that cfDNA sequencing is feasible, accurate, and sensitive in identifying tumor-derived mutations without prior knowledge of tumor genotype or the abundance of circulating tumor DNA. cfDNA sequencing should be considered in pancreatobiliary cancer trials where tissue sampling is unsafe, infeasible, or otherwise unsuccessful.

Significance: Precision medicine efforts in biliary and pancreatic cancers have been frustrated by difficulties in obtaining adequate tumor tissue for next-generation sequencing. cfDNA sequencing reliably and accurately detects tumor-derived mutations, paving the way for precision oncology approaches in these deadly diseases. Cancer Discov; 5(10); 1040–8. ©2015 AACR.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1005
Co-Inheritance of Functional Podocin Variants with Heterozygous Collagen IV Mutations Predisposes to Renal Failure
Authors: Stefanou Charalambos , Pieri Myrtani , Savva Isavella , Georgiou Georgia , Pierides Alkis , Voskarides Konstantinos , Deltas Constantinos
Published: June 2015

Background/Aims: A subset of patients who present with proteinuria and are diagnosed with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) have inherited heterozygous COL4A3/A4 mutations and are also diagnosed with thin basement membrane nephropathy (TBMN-OMIM: 141200). Two studies showed that co-inheritance of NPHS2-p.Arg229Gln, a podocin variant, may increase the risk for proteinuria and renal function decline. Methods: We hypothesized that additional podocin variants may exert a similar effect. We studied genetically a well-characterized Cypriot TBMN patient cohort by re-sequencing the NPHS2 coding region. We also performed functional studies in cell culture experiments, investigating the interaction of podocin variants with itself and with nephrin. Results: Potentially disease-modifying podocin variants were searched for by analyzing NPHS2 in 35 ‘severe' TBMN patients. One non-synonymous variant, p.Glu237Gln, was detected. Both variants, p.Arg229Gln and p.Glu237Gln, were tested in a larger cohort of 122 TBMN patients, who were categorized as ‘mild' or ‘severe' based on the presence of microscopic hematuria alone or combined with chronic renal failure and/or proteinuria. Seven ‘severe' patients carried either of the 2 variants; none was present in the ‘mild' patients (p = 0.05, Pearson χ2). The 7 carriers belong in 2 families segregating mutation COL4A3-p.Gly1334Glu. Inheritance of the wild-type (WT) and mutant alleles correlated with the phenotype (combined concordance probability 0.003). Immunofluorescence (IF) experiments after dual co-transfection of WT and mutant podocin suggested altered co-localization of mutant homodimers. IF experiments after co-transfection of WT podocin and nephrin showed normal membrane localization, while both podocin variants interfered with normal trafficking, demonstrating perinuclear staining. Immunoprecipitation experiments showed stronger binding of mutant podocin to WT podocin or nephrin. Conclusion: The results support the hypothesis that certain hypomorphic podocin variants may act as adverse genetic modifiers when co-inherited with COL4A3/A4 mutations, thus predisposing to FSGS and severe kidney function decline.
Definition of Failed Induction of Labor and Its Predictive Factors: Two Unsolved Issues of an Everyday Clinical Situation
Authors: Baños Núria , Migliorelli Federico , Posadas Eduardo , Ferreri Janisse , Palacio Montse
Published: June 2015

Objective: The objectives of this review were to identify the predictive factors of induction of labor (IOL) failure or success as well as to highlight the current heterogeneity regarding the definition and diagnosis of failed IOL. Materials and Methods: Only studies in which the main or secondary outcome was failed IOL, defined as not entering the active phase of labor after 24 h of prostaglandin administration ± 12 h of oxytocin infusion, were included in the review. The data collected were: study design, definition of failed IOL, induction method, IOL indications, failed IOL rate, cesarean section because of failed IOL and predictors of failed IOL. Results: The database search detected 507 publications. The main reason for exclusion was that the primary or secondary outcomes were not the predetermined definition of failed IOL (not achieving active phase of labor). Finally, 7 studies were eligible. The main predictive factors identified in the review were cervical status, evaluated by the Bishop score or cervical length. Discussion: Failed IOL should be defined as the inability to achieve the active phase of labor, considering that the definition of IOL is to enter the active phase of labor. A universal definition of failed IOL is an essential requisite to analyze and obtain solid results and conclusions on this issue. An important finding of this review is that only 7 of all the studies reviewed assessed achieving the active phase of labor as a primary or secondary IOL outcome. Another conclusion is that cervical status remains the most important predictor of IOL outcome, although the value of the parameters explored up to now is limited. To find or develop predictive tools to identify those women exposed to IOL who may not reach the active phase of labor is crucial to minimize the risks and costs associated with IOL failure while opening a great opportunity for investigation. Therefore, other predictive tools should be studied in order to improve IOL outcome in terms of health and economic burden.
Stomach in Contact with the Bladder: A Sonographic Sign of Left Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
Authors: Aiello Horacio , Meller César , Vázquez Lucía , Otaño Lucas
Published: June 2015

The evaluation of the characteristics of the fetal stomach should be part of every routine prenatal ultrasound after 11 weeks. A position that has not been previously described in the literature is the stomach in contact with the bladder. We describe 6 cases with the ultrasonographic finding of the stomach in contact with the bladder, all of them in fetuses with left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Even though the reasons for this striking position of the stomach are not clear, our series highlights the fact that the visualization of the stomach in contact with the bladder may be a specific sonographic marker of congenital diaphragmatic hernia.
Optical Coherence Tomography in an Infant with Walker-Warburg Syndrome
Authors: Mano Natsuko , Mitsutsuji Tatsuma , Yoshikawa Yamato , Miyamoto Makiko , Watanabe Hiroko , Shimizu Kazuhiro , Miki Michiko , Mimura Masashi , Ueki Mari , Ikeda Tsunehiko
Published: June 2015

Purpose: Walker-Warburg syndrome (WWS) is a type of congenital muscular dystrophy (CMD) characterised by severe brain malformation, lissencephaly, and congenital eye abnormalities. Despite the coexistence of various eye abnormalities, results from optical coherence tomography (OCT) in WWS have not previously been reported. We herein report specific OCT findings in an infant with WWS. Patients and Methods: The patient was a 14-day-old boy delivered by caesarean section at 38 weeks and 4 days of gestation and with a birth weight of 2,543 g. A cranial MRI showed lissencephaly, hydrocephalus, an encephalocele, and cerebellar hypoplasia, consistent with the diagnosis of WWS. Results: A bilateral ocular examination showed no abnormalities of the anterior eye segment. A fundus examination showed a persistent hyaloid artery in the vitreous cavity, a widespread loss of fundus pigmentation, transparent choroidal vessels (some choroidal vessel sections were visible), and the absence of a distinct macular reflex. OCT showed no foveal pit and an indistinct laminar structure of the retina. The infant subsequently developed congenital glaucoma and he then died of respiratory failure at the age of 8 months. Conclusions: WWS is associated with a high incidence of congenital eye abnormalities, and this infant showed findings consistent with WWS. OCT revealed a marked retinal dysplasia.
Recurrence of Atrial Tachyarrhythmia During the Second Month of the Blanking Period Is Associated With More Extensive Pulmonary Vein Reconnection at Repeat Electrophysiology Study
Authors: Das Moloy , Wynn Gareth J. , Morgan Maureen , Lodge Ben , Waktare Johan E.P. , Todd Derick M. , Hall Mark C.S. , Snowdon Richard L. , Modi Simon , Gupta Dhiraj
Published: June 2015

Background—

Current guidelines recommend a 3-month blanking period after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) as early recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmia (ERAT) may be due to transient proarrhythmic factors. However, studies have suggested that these factors resolve by 1 month. PV reconnection (PVrc) is strongly associated with postblanking AT recurrence in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. We hypothesized that ERAT occurring beyond 4 weeks after PVI is associated with PVrc at repeat electrophysiology study.

Methods and Results—

Forty patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation underwent mandatory repeat electrophysiology study 2 months after PVI, regardless of symptoms, to document the number of reconnected PVs. Antiarrhythmic drugs, including β-blockers, were discontinued 4 weeks after PVI. Patients were instructed to record a 30-second ECG everyday between the 2 procedures using a portable monitor, with additional recordings for symptoms. ERAT was defined as ≥30 seconds of AT. Patients recorded a total of 3293 ECGs. Four (10%) patients had ERAT in the first 4 weeks (M1) only, 2 (5%) in month 2 (M2) only, and 11 (28%) in both. PVrc of 1 PV was identified in 12 (30%) patients and of >1 PV in 13 (32%) patients. ERAT in M2 was associated with PVrc, whereas M1 was not (11/13 [85%] versus 0/4 [0%];
P
=0.006). M2 ERAT was strongly associated with PVrc of >1 PV (10/13 [77%] versus 3/27 [11%] without M2 ERAT;
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions—

ERAT occurring beyond 4 weeks after PVI is associated with PVrc and particularly of PVrc of >1 PV. ERAT confined to M1 is unrelated to underlying PVrc. The relationship between ERAT beyond 4 weeks after PVI and postblanking AT recurrence merits further investigation.
Kann man die neutestamentlichen Briefe der Gattung „Apostelbrief“ zuordnen?
Authors: Bosenius Bärbel
Published: June 2015

During the last 40 years New Testament scholarship did not apply the term “apostolic letter” consistently. All early Christian letters and only the New Testament or Pauline respectively Deutero-Pauline letters were called “apostolic letters” by New Testament scholars. Since the term from the sources ἀπόστολος in the undisputed Pauline letters refers to Paul’s function as founder of early Christian communities but not to his function as their leader, New Testament scholars should avoid the misleading term “apostolic letter.” Within the corpus of New Testament letters one should rather differentiate between “kerygmatic letters,” “pseudepigraphic Pauline letters” and “early Christian Diaspora letters.”
0323: A Forgotten 4th or 5th Century Greek Fragment of the Gospel of John in the Syrus Sinaiticus
Authors: Guignard Christophe
Published: June 2015

That the famous Syrus Sinaiticus contains not only the Old Syriac Gospels, but also other palimpsest leaves, among them four leaves of a Greek codex of John’s Gospel, is not a secret. Nevertheless, for 120 years, this Greek fragment, though probably contemporary with the great uncials, was not registered in any list of nt manuscripts and, as a result, completely neglected. The main aim of these pages is to recall its existence and to gather the information that is available at present.
Hubera senjiana is now Huberantha senjiana (Annonaceae)
Authors: MURALIDHARAN RAMACHANDRAN , NARASIMHAN DUVURU , BALACHANDRAN NATESAN
Published: June 2015

The genus Hubera Chaowasku in Chaowasku et al. (2012) was established in accordance with strict monophyly based on a molecular phylogenetic analysis and morphological characters; the component species were previously considered members of the polyphyletic genus Polyalthia Blume s.l. (1830 : 68). Chaowasku, however, later felt that the genus name Hubera was too similar to Huberia DC (1828 : 167; Melastomataceae) and asked the nomenclature committee for vascular plants if it should be treated as a later homonym of Huberia DC. (Chaowasku 2013). His request was accepted by the nomenclature committee for vascular plants (Applequist 2014). Subsequently, Chaowasku replaced the generic name Hubera with a new name Huberantha and also made new combinations for all 27 species of that genus (Chaowasku et al. 2015). A new species that was recently published under Hubera (Muralidharan et al. 2015) is here transferred to Huberantha.
New taxa of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from Madagascar VI. Impatiens otto-eleonorae, a new species from Masoala Peninsula, and notes on the taxonomic relationships of Impatiens firmula and I. hildebrandtii
Authors: Fischer Eberhard , Rahelivololona Marie-Elisette
Published: June 2015

The new species Impatiens otto-eleonorae Eb.Fischer & Rahelivolona from Masoala Peninsula is described. It is related to Impatiens hildebrandtii Baill. from Eastern Central Madagascar, but differs in the larger habit and flowers. The types of Impatiens firmula Baker and I. hildebrandtii are reinvestigated. Both taxa, previously considered to be identical, represent different species, and Impatiens hildebrandtii is reinstated here.
Commiphora benguelensis (Burseraceae), a new species from Angola
Authors: Swanepoel Wessel
Published: June 2015

Commiphora benguelensis Swanepoel, described here as a new species, is known only from the Kaokoveld Centre of Endemism, southwestern Angola. It appears to be closely related to C. africana. Diagnostic morphological characters of C. benguelensis include the white, glutinous exudate, smooth bark and hairy, trifoliolate leaves. Illustrations of the plant and a distribution map are provided. Mainly confined to near the coast, the new species is widespread but uncommon between Namibe and Santa Maria.
Typification of two names belonging to the Cistaceae family: Fumana arabica and Helianthemum oelandicum subsp. italicum
Authors: FERRER-GALLEGO PEDRO PABLO
Published: June 2015

The typification of two Linnaean names: Cistus arabicus (≡ Fumana arabica) and C. italicus (≡ Helianthemum oelandicum subsp. italicum) is discussed. The designation of the nomenclatural types is based on an assessment of Linnaeus’s original material. The name C. arabicus is lectotypified using a specimen from Hasselquist’s material at LINN, and C. italicus using Linnaeus’s single original specimen preserved in the same herbarium.
Types of true bugs (Insecta, Hemiptera, Heteroptera) deposited in the Museo de La Plata, Argentina
Authors: COSCARÓN MARÍA DEL CARMEN , BASSET CARINA , LOPEZ NANCY
Published: June 2015

A checklist of Heteroptera type specimens deposited in the collection of División Entomología, Museo de La Plata. It harbours type material of 1153 species belonging to 37 families (Enicocephalidae, Schizopteridae, Gerridae, Veliidae, Hydrometridae, Naucoridae, Belostomatidae, Nepidae, Corixidae, Notonectidae, Pleidae, Saldidae, Cimicidae, Polyctenidae, Nabidae, Miridae, Tingidae, Vianaididae, Thaumastocoridae, Reduviidae, Aradidae, Alydidae, Coreidae, Rhopalidae, Berytidae, Blissidae, Lygaeidae, Oxycarenidae, Rhyparochromidae, Idiostolidae, Largidae, Pyrrhocoridae, Anthocoridae, Cydnidae, Pentatomidae, Scutelleridae, Thyreocoridae), represented by 207 holotypes, 26 allotypes, 578 paratypes, 1 lectotype, 1 paralectotype and 340 syntypes. For each taxon providing update information on valid names, categories of types, and locality.
Subseasonal Variability of Precipitation in China during Boreal Winter
Authors: Yao Yonghong , Lin Hai , Wu Qigang
Published: June 2015

Using pentad data of the Northern Hemisphere extended winter (November–March) from 1979 to 2012 derived from the daily rainfall of the National Meteorological Information Center of China, subseasonal variability of precipitation in China is analyzed. The two dominant modes of subseasonal variability are identified with an empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis. The first EOF mode (EOF1) is characterized by a monopole in South China, whereas the second EOF mode (EOF2) has a meridional dipole structure with opposite precipitation anomalies over the Yangtze River basin and the coastal area of South China. These two modes tend to have a phase shift to each other in both space and time, indicating that part of their variability represents a southward-propagating pattern.

The subseasonal variability is decomposed into two components: one related to the Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and the other independent of MJO. It is found that the MJO contributes to about 10% of the precipitation variability in South China. EOF1 is associated with MJO phase 3, corresponding to enhanced equatorial convection in the Indian Ocean and depressed convection in the western Pacific, while EOF2 is related to MJO phase 5 when the enhanced tropical convection moves to the Maritime Continent region. Subseasonal precipitation variability in China that is independent of the MJO is especially affected by processes including tropical convection variability and the “cold surge” phenomenon or the development of a Siberian high and cold-air outbreak in East Asia associated with a wave train from the North Atlantic.
A Probabilistic Wavelet–Support Vector Regression Model for Streamflow Forecasting with Rainfall and Climate Information Input*
Authors: Liu Zhiyong , Zhou Ping , Zhang Yinqin
Published: June 2015

It is essential to explore reliable streamflow forecasting techniques for water resources management. In this study, a Bayesian wavelet–support vector regression model (BWS model) is developed for one- and multistep-ahead streamflow forecasting using local meteohydrological observations and climate indices including El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD) as potential predictors. To accomplish this, a two-step strategy is applied. In the first step, the discrete wavelet transform is coupled with a support vector regression model for streamflow prediction. The three key factors of mother wavelets, decomposition levels, and edge effects are considered in the wavelet decomposition phase when using the hybrid wavelet–support vector regression model (WS model). Different combinations of these factors form a variety of WS models with corresponding forecasts. The second step combines multiple candidate WS models with “good” performance via Bayesian model averaging. This integrates the predictive strengths of different candidate WS models, giving a realistic assessment of the predictive uncertainty. The new ensemble model is used to forecast daily and monthly streamflows at two sites in Dongjiang basin, southern China. The results show that the proposed BWS model consistently generates more reliable predictions for daily (lead times of 1–7 days) and monthly (lead times of 1–3 months) forecasts as compared with the best single-member WS models and the adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS). Furthermore, the proposed BWS model provides detailed information about the predictive uncertainty.
Case Study of Moisture and Heat Budgets within Atmospheric Rivers
Authors: Luo Qianwen , Tung Wen-wen
Published: June 2015

This work studies moisture and heat budgets within two atmospheric rivers (ARs) that made landfall on the west coast of North America during January 2009. Three-dimensional kinematic and thermodynamic fields were constructed using ECMWF Year of Tropical Convection data and global gridded precipitation datasets. Differences between the two ARs are observed, even though both had embedded precipitating convective organizations of the same spatial scale. AR1 extended from 20° to 50°N in an almost west–east orientation. It had excessive warm and moist near-surface conditions. Its precipitating systems were mainly distributed on the southwest and northeast sides of the AR, and tended to exhibit stratiform-type vertical heat and moisture transports. In contrast, AR2 spanned latitudes between 20° and 60°N in a north–south orientation. It was narrower and shorter than AR1, and was mostly covered by pronounced precipitating systems, dominated by a deep convection type of heating throughout the troposphere. In association with these distinctions, the atmosphere over the northeastern Pacific on average experienced episodic cooling and drying despite the occurrence of AR1, yet underwent heating and drying during AR2, when latent heating was strong. Downward sensible heat flux and weak upward surface latent heat flux were observed particularly in AR1. In addition, cloud radiative forcing (CRF) was very weak in AR1, whereas it was strongly negative in AR2. In short, it is found that the oceanic convection in ARs both impacts the moisture transport of ARs, as well as modifies the heat balance in the midlatitudes through latent heat release, convective heat transport, surface heat fluxes, and CRF.
Occupation, Family, and Inheritance in Fourteenth-Century Barcelona: A Socio-Economic Profile of One of Europe’s Earliest Investing Publics
Authors: Fynn-Paul Jeff
Published: June 2015

This article aims to provide a snapshot of the Barcelona urban elite during a crucial phase in the city’s transition to early modernity – the decades after the Black Death. Between 1356 and 1375, the Crown of Aragon, of which Barcelona was the principal city, was locked in a doubtful struggle with Castile over Aragon’s very independence. During the war, the financial officers of King Pere III of Catalonia-Aragon (1336–87) perfected a unique public debt system, and a cornerstone of this system was a debt instrument known as a violari. By paying high interest rates of over 14 percent per annum, from government tax revenues, the violari became an attractive investment opportunity for burghers, urban clerics, and some nobles, both male and female. Certain unusual characteristics of the violari make it a useful way to study interpersonal connections amongst elites. First, purchasers had to name a designated heir in the event of their own demise. Secondly, many purchasers bought violaris as a means of providing income to family members and other trusted relations.

By studying the violari-buying elite from a combination of economic, social, and political angles, several interesting observations can be made regarding the role played by urban elites in the late medieval and early modern state-building process. The obvious strength of public support for the violari goes a long way towards explaining the strength of the Catalan-Aragonese fiscal system in the later fourteenth century, and indeed, towards explaining the Crown’s territorial expansion in the western Mediterranean, which continued through the fifteenth century. The voluntary nature of the purchases suggests that Catalonia-Aragon might be seen as one of the first territorial states to undergo a ‘financial revolution’ – seen by economic historians as a hallmark of modern state-building. At the local level, the wealth of different occupational groups can be estimated, and their political ambitions therefore thrown into greater relief. The near absence of noble investors and the presence of several urban clerics tell us much about the relations between the three ‘estates’ at this period in Barcelona’s history. The presence of many women, both widows and wives, as both purchasers and beneficiaries, paints a surprisingly egalitarian picture of female economic agency; furthermore, it appears as though nuclear family structures and property strategies predominated over ‘clan’ or ‘patrilineal’ structures commonly seen in Italian historiography. Distinct patterns of wealth allocation are also discernible amongst male and female investors.
Bioabsorbable Versus Titanium Screws in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Hamstring Autograft
Authors: Arama Yuval , Salmon Lucy J. , Sri-Ram Kesavan , Linklater James , Roe Justin P. , Pinczewski Leo A.
Published: June 2015

Background:

Longer-term results of bioabsorbable screws for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) have been reported, but results are specific to the exact screw material and design. Titanium and poly-L-lactic acid with hydroxyapatite (PLLA-HA) screw outcomes have been compared only to 2 years.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiologic outcomes of the PLLA-HA screw versus titanium screw for hamstring tendon ACLR over a 5-year follow-up period. The hypothesis was that there are no differences in clinical scores or tunnel widening between the PLLA-HA and the titanium screws and that the PLLA-HA screw as seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should show high-grade resorption and ossification response over 5 years.

Study Design:

Randomized controlled trial; Level of evidence, 1.

Methods:

A total of 40 patients undergoing ACLR were randomized to receive either a PLLA-HA screw (PLLA-HA group) or a titanium screw (titanium group) for ACL fixation. Blinded evaluation was performed at 2 and 5 years with the International Knee Documentation Committee and Lysholm knee score, KT-1000 arthrometer, single-legged hop test, and MRI to evaluate tunnel and screw volumes, periscrew ossification, graft integration, and cyst formation.

Results:

There was no difference in any clinical outcome measure at 2- or 5-year follow-up between the 2 groups. At 2 years, the femoral tunnel in the PLLA-HA group was smaller than that in the titanium group ( P = .02); at 5 years, there was no difference. At 2 years, the femoral PLLA-HA screw was a mean 76% of its original volume, and by 5 years, it was 36%. At 2 years, the tibial PLLA-HA screw mean volume was 68% of its original volume, and by 5 years, it was 46%. At 5 years in the PLLA-HA group, 88% of femoral tunnels and 56% of tibial tunnels demonstrated a significant ossification response. There was no increase in cyst formation in the PLLA-HA group and no screw breakages.

Conclusion:

There were equivalent clinical results between the PLLA-HA and titanium groups at 2- and 5-year follow-ups. The PLLA-HA screw was not associated with increased tunnel widening or cyst formation when compared with the titanium screw. The PLLA-HA screw demonstrated progressive screw resorption and gradual but incomplete ossification over 5 years.
Introduction
Authors: López de Romaña Daniel , Olivares Manuel , Brito Alex
Published: June 2015

This Food and Nutrition Bulletin supplement summarizes updated prevalence data on micronutrient deficiencies in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). In order to provide an updated view of micronutrient status in LAC, systematic reviews were performed utilizing national health surveys and research-oriented studies focused on the prevalence of deficiencies of vitamin A, folate, anemia (as a proxy of iron deficiency), and zinc. Results show that the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency has been reduced in many countries, folate deficiency is now almost non-existent, low or marginal vitamin B12 status is still prevalent in most locations, anemia remains a public health problem among children under 6 years of age and women of childbearing age in most surveyed countries, and there is a high prevalence of zinc deficiency in children under 6 years of age and girls and women 12 to 49 years of age. Thus, regardless of improvements in the overall rates of economic growth in LAC, deficiencies of these micronutrients still remain a public health problem.
Comparison of a Household Consumption and Expenditures Survey with Nationally Representative Food Frequency Questionnaire and 24-hour Dietary Recall Data for Assessing Consumption of Fortifiable Foods by Women and Young Children in Cameroon
Authors: Engle-Stone Reina , Brown Kenneth H.
Published: June 2015

Background:

Household Consumption and Expenditures Surveys (HCES) are potential sources of data on dietary patterns for planning fortification programs, but they rarely have been compared with individual-level dietary assessment methods.

Objective:

To compare apparent consumption of fortifiable foods estimated from the Third Cameroon Household Survey (ECAM3) with the results of a national dietary survey using food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and 24-hour recall (24HR) methods among women aged 15 to 49 years and children aged 12 to 59 months.

Methods:

We estimated coverage and frequency of consumption in the previous week (ECAM3 and FFQ) and coverage and amount consumed on the previous day (ECAM3 and 24HR) of refined vegetable oil, wheat flour, sugar, and bouillon cubes.

Results:

Coverage in the past week as measured by the ECAM3 and FFQ, respectively, was 64% vs. 54% for oil, 60% vs. 92% for flour, 69% vs. 78% for sugar, and 85% vs. 96% for bouillon cubes. The different methods identified similar patterns of coverage among subgroups for oil, but patterns for other foods were variable. Frequency of consumption and previous-day coverage were lower with the ECAM3 than with the FFQ and 24HR, likely reflecting infrequent acquisition relative to intake. For women, the mean amounts consumed on the previous day (among consumers) were 43 vs. 29 g of oil, 71 vs. 83 g of flour, 42 vs. 32 g of sugar, and 5.0 vs. 2.4 g of bouillon cubes (ECAM and 24HR, respectively).

Conclusions:

HCES provide useful information on patterns of food access but inadequate information on individual consumption amounts to estimate appropriate food fortification levels.
Measuring the Food Access Dimension of Food Security
Authors: Leroy Jef L. , Ruel Marie , Frongillo Edward A. , Harris Jody , Ballard Terri J.
Published: June 2015

Background:

With food security now a top priority for many governments and for the global development community, there is heightened awareness of the need to improve our understanding and measurement of food security.

Objective:

To bring clarity in the assessment of the food access dimension of food security at the household and individual level.

Methods:

For the most commonly used indicators, we reviewed their original purpose and construction, at what levels (household or individual) they were designed to be used, what components (quality, quantity, safety, and cultural acceptability) they were intended to reflect, and whether or not they have been tested for validity and comparability across contexts.

Results:

We identified nine indicators and grouped them in three broad categories: experience-based, coping strategies, and dietary diversity. The indicators only capture the quantity and quality components of food access; none of the indicators capture information on safety or cultural acceptability of food access. Household Dietary Diversity (HDDS) and Food Consumption Score (FCS) are often considered indicators of both quantity and quality, but they have not been validated for the latter.

Conclusions:

We recommend the use of experience-based indicators, HDDS, or FCS to assess household access to energy; experience-based indicators to assess household access to diet quality (defined qualitatively as not having to adopt practices that favor acquiring cheaper, less appealing, and less micronutrient-dense foods); and individual dietary diversity scores for women or children to assess individual access to diet quality, defined as micronutrient adequacy.
Food for Survival
Authors: Niragira Sanctus , D’Haese Marijke , D’Haese Luc , Ndimubandi Jean , Desiere Sam , Buysse Jeroen
Published: June 2015

Background:

Burundi is one of the world’s poorest countries, coming last in the Global Food Index (2013). Yet, a large majority of its population depends on agriculture. Most smallholder families do not produce enough to support their own families.

Objective:

To estimate the optimal crop mix and resources needed to provide the family with food containing sufficient energy, fat, and protein.

Methods:

This study uses mathematical programming to obtain the optimal crop mix that could maximize output given the constraints on production factor endowments and the need to feed the household. The model is calibrated with household-level data collected in 2010 in Ngozi Province in northern Burundi. Four models are developed, each representing a different farm type. The typology is based on 2007 data. Model predictions are compared with data collected during a revisit of the area in 2012.

Results:

By producing a smaller number of crops and concentrating on those in which they have a comparative advantage, and trading produce and input with other farms, large and medium-sized farms can improve their productivity and hire extra workers to supplement family labor. Predictions of crops to be planted coincided to a high degree with those that farmers planted 2 years after our survey on newly acquired plots.

Conclusions:

Despite land scarcity, it is still possible for households that own land to find optimal crop combinations that can meet their minimal food security requirements while generating a certain level of income. Nearly landless households would benefit from the increased off-farm employment opportunities. With only 0.05 ha of land per capita, the annotation Nearly Landless is used to highlight the limited access to land observed in this farm category.
Design High-Efficiency III–V Nanowire/Si Two-Junction Solar Cell
Authors: Wang Y , Zhang Y , Zhang D , He S , Li X
Published: June 2015

In this paper, we report the electrical simulation results of a proposed GaInP nanowire (NW)/Si two-junction solar cell. The NW physical dimensions are determined for optimized solar energy absorption and current matching between each subcell. Two key factors (minority carrier lifetime, surface recombination velocity) affecting power conversion efficiency (PCE) of the solar cell are highlighted, and a practical guideline to design high-efficiency two-junction solar cell is thus provided. Considering the practical surface and bulk defects in GaInP semiconductor, a promising PCE of 27.5 % can be obtained. The results depict the usefulness of integrating NWs to construct high-efficiency multi-junction III–V solar cells.
Mechanisms Underlying Clinical Efficacy of Angiotensin II Type 2 Receptor (AT2R) Antagonist EMA401 in Neuropathic Pain: Clinical Tissue and in Vitro Studies
Authors: Anand Uma , Yiangou Yiangos , Sinisi Marco , Fox Michael , MacQuillan Anthony , Quick Tom , Korchev Yuri E , Bountra Chas , McCarthy Tom , Anand Praveen
Published: June 2015

Background

The clinical efficacy of the Angiotensin II (AngII) receptor AT2R antagonist EMA401, a novel peripherallyrestricted analgesic, was reported recently in post-herpetic neuralgia. While previous studies have shown that AT2R is expressed by nociceptors in human DRG (hDRG), and that EMA401 inhibits capsaicin responses in cultured hDRG neurons, the expression and levels of its endogenous ligands AngII and AngIII in clinical neuropathic pain tissues, and their signalling pathways, require investigation. We have immunostained AngII, AT2R and the capsaicin receptor TRPV1 in control post-mortem and avulsion injured hDRG, control and injured human nerves, and in cultured hDRG neurons. AngII, AngIII, and Ang-(1-7) levels were quantified by ELISA. The in vitro effects of AngII, AT2R agonist C21, and Nerve growth factor (NGF) were measured on neurite lengths; AngII, NGF and EMA401 effects on expression of p38 and p42/44 MAPK were measured using quantitative immunofluorescence, and on capsaicin responses using calcium imaging.

Results

AngII immunostaining was observed in approximately 75% of small/medium diameter neurons in control (n = 5) and avulsion injured (n = 8) hDRG, but not large neurons i.e. similar to TRPV1. AngII was co-localised with AT2R and TRPV1 in hDRG and in vitro. AngII staining by image analysis showed no significant difference between control (n = 12) and injured (n = 13) human nerves. AngII levels by ELISA were also similar in control human nerves (4.09 ± 0.36 pmol/g, n = 31), injured nerves (3.99 ± 0.79 pmol/g, n = 7), and painful neuromas (3.43 ± 0.73 pmol/g, n = 12); AngIII and Ang-(1-7) levels were undetectable (<0.03 and 0.05 pmol/g respectively). Neurite lengths were significantly increased in the presence of NGF, AngII and C21 in cultured DRG neurons. AngII and, as expected, NGF significantly increased signal intensity of p38 and p42/44 MAPK, which was reversed by EMA401. AngII mediated sensitization of capsaicin responses was not observed in the presence of MAP kinase inhibitor PD98059, and the kinase inhibitor staurosporine.

Conclusion

The major AT2R ligand in human peripheral nerves is AngII, and its levels are maintained in injured nerves. EMA401 may act on paracrine/autocrine mechanisms at peripheral nerve terminals, or intracrine mechanisms, to reduce neuropathic pain signalling in AngII/NGF/TRPV1-convergent pathways.
Metformin in breast cancer - an evolving mystery
Authors: Camacho Laura , Dasgupta Atreyi , Jiralerspong Sao
Published: June 2015

Metformin, a diabetes drug with well-established side effect and safety profiles, has been widely studied for its anti-tumor activities in a number of cancers, including breast cancer. But its mechanism of action in the clinical arena remains elusive. In a window of opportunity trial of metformin in non-diabetic breast cancer patients, Dowling and colleagues examined both the direct actions of the drug on cancer cells (as mediated by AMP kinase), as well as its indirect actions (as mediated by circulating insulin). The data suggest that short-term administration of metformin in this setting has anti-tumor effects significantly involving the indirect, insulin-dependent pathway. The role of the direct pathway remains to be determined. This study represents an important step forward in establishing one of several possible mechanisms for metformin, information that will be useful in determining candidate biomarkers to evaluate in large clinical trials of metformin, such as the ongoing NCIC CTG MA.32 trial of adjuvant metformin. The potential significance of these data for metformin in the treatment of breast cancer is discussed here.
Inferring pathway dysregulation in cancers from multiple types of omic data
Authors: MacNeil Shelley M , Johnson William E , Li Dean Y , Piccolo Stephen R , Bild Andrea H
Published: June 2015

Although in some cases individual genomic aberrations may drive disease development in isolation, a complex interplay among multiple aberrations is common. Accordingly, we developed Gene Set Omic Analysis (GSOA), a bioinformatics tool that can evaluate multiple types and combinations of omic data at the pathway level. GSOA uses machine learning to identify dysregulated pathways and improves upon other methods because of its ability to decipher complex, multigene patterns. We compare GSOA to alternative methods and demonstrate its ability to identify pathways known to play a role in various cancer phenotypes. Software implementing the GSOA method is freely available from https://bitbucket.org/srp33/gsoa.
Effect of a single injection of autologous conditioned serum (ACS) on tendon healing in equine naturally occurring tendinopathies
Authors: Geburek Florian , Lietzau Maren , Beineke Andreas , Rohn Karl , Stadler Peter M.
Published: June 2015

Introduction

Autologous blood-derived biologicals, including autologous conditioned serum (ACS), are frequently used to treat tendinopathies in horses despite limited evidence for their efficacy. The purpose of this study was to describe the effect of a single intralesional injection of ACS in naturally occurring tendinopathies of the equine superficial digital flexor tendon (SDFT) on clinical, ultrasonographic, and histological parameters.

Methods

Fifteen horses with 17 naturally occurring tendinopathies of forelimb SDFTs were examined clinically and ultrasonographically (day 0). Injured tendons were randomly assigned to the ACS-treated group (n = 10) receiving a single intralesional ACS injection or included as controls (n = 7) which were either untreated or injected with saline on day 1. All horses participated in a gradually increasing exercise programme and were re-examined nine times at regular intervals until day 190. Needle biopsies were taken from the SDFTs on days 0, 36 and 190 and examined histologically and for the expression of collagen types I and III by immunohistochemistry.

Results

In ACS-treated limbs lameness decreased significantly until day 10 after treatment. Swelling (scores) of the SDFT region decreased within the ACS group between 50 and 78 days after treatment. Ultrasonographically, the percentage of the lesion in the tendon was significantly lower and the echogenicity of the lesion (total echo score) was significantly higher 78 and 106 days after intralesional ACS injection compared to controls. Histology revealed that, compared to controls, tenocyte nuclei were more spindle-shaped 36 days after ACS injection. Immunohistochemistry showed that collagen type I expression significantly increased between days 36 and 190 after ACS injection.

Conclusions

Single intralesional ACS injection of equine SDFTs with clinical signs of acute tendinopathy contributes to an early significant reduction of lameness and leads to temporary improvement of ultrasonographic parameters of repair tissue. Intralesional ACS treatment might decrease proliferation of tenocytes 5 weeks after treatment and increase their differentiation as demonstrated by elevated collagen type I expression in the remodelling phase. Potential enhancement of these effects by repeated injections should be tested in future controlled clinical investigations.
New hybrid shrinking projection algorithm for common fixed points of a family of countable quasi-Bregman strictly pseudocontractive mappings with equilibrium and variational inequality and optimization problems
Authors: Xu Yongchun , Su Yongfu
Published: June 2015

The purpose of this paper is to introduce and consider a new hybrid shrinking projection algorithm for finding a common element of the set of solutions of a system of equilibrium problems, the set of solutions of a system of variational inequality problems, the set of solutions of a system of optimization problems, the common fixed point set of a uniformly closed family of countable quasi-Bregman strictly pseudocontractive mappings in reflexive Banach spaces. Strong convergence theorems have been proved under the appropriate conditions. The main innovative points in this paper are as follows: (1) the notion of the uniformly closed family of countable quasi-Bregman strictly pseudocontractive mappings is presented and the useful conclusions are given; (2) the relative examples of the uniformly closed family of countable quasi-Bregman strictly pseudocontractive mappings are given in classical Banach spaces $l^{2}$

l
2

and $L^{2}$

L
2

; (3) the hybrid shrinking projection method presented in this paper modified some mistakes in the recent result of Ugwunnadi et al. (Fixed Point Theory Appl. 2014:231, 2014). These new results improve and extend the previously known ones in the literature.
Migration and educational aspirations – Another channel of brain gain?
Authors: Böhme Marcus H
Published: June 2015

International migration not only enables individuals to earn higher wages but also exposes them to new environments. The norms and values experienced in destination countries can change the behavior of migrants and also of family members left behind. This paper suggests that brain gain can take place due to a change in the educational aspirations of caregivers in migrant households. Estimates for Moldova show that international migration raises parental aspirations in households located at the lower end of the human capital distribution. The identification of these effects relies on GDP growth shocks in the destination countries and migration networks. These results imply that aspirations are a highly relevant determinant of intergenerational human capital transfer and that even temporary international migration can shift human capital formation to a higher steady state by inducing higher educational aspirations among caregivers.

JEL classification:D03, O12, I21, J61.