bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Membranotropic peptides mediating viral entry
Authors: Falanga Annarita , Galdiero Massimiliano , Morelli Giancarlo , Galdiero Stefania
Published: February 2018

The means used by enveloped viruses to bypass cellular membranes are well characterized; however, the mechanisms used by non‐enveloped viruses to deliver their genome inside the cell remain unresolved and poorly defined. The discovery of short, membrane interacting, amphipathic or hydrophobic sequences (known as membranotropic peptides) in both enveloped and non‐enveloped viruses suggests that these small peptides are strongly involved in breaching the host membrane and in the delivery of the viral genome into the host cell. Thus, in spite of noticeable differences in entry, this short stretches of membranotropic peptides are probably associated with similar entry‐related events. This review will uncover the intrinsic features of viral membranotropic peptides involved in viral entry of both naked viruses and the ones encircled with a biological membrane with the objective to better elucidate their different functional properties and possible applications in the biomedical field.
Development of a solid‐phase traceless‐Ugi multicomponent reaction for backbone anchoring and cyclic peptide synthesis
Authors: Jobin Steve , Beaumont Catherine , Biron Eric
Published: February 2018

A new one‐pot methodology to anchor peptides by their backbone to a solid support using an isocyanide‐based multicomponent reaction is described. The approach uses a microwave‐assisted Ugi four‐component reaction to simultaneously condense and bind an N‐protected amino acid and an amino ester to a supported aldehyde. Afterward, the generated backbone anchored dipeptide can be used in solid‐phase peptide synthesis to prepare head‐to‐tail cyclic peptides. Moreover, we also show that peptide fragment ligation can be performed with the described one‐pot anchoring. The backbone anchored peptides can be efficiently released from the resin by microwave‐assisted acidolysis with trifluoroacetic acid. This straightforward one‐pot anchoring approach was also applied to condense fragments and prepare a variety of linear and macrocyclic peptides.
Any Thing for Anyone? A New Digital Divide in Internet‐of‐Things Skills
Authors: van Deursen Alexander J. A. M. , Mossberger Karen
Published: February 2018

The “Internet‐of‐Things” (IoT) promises social benefits across a range of policy areas, such as energy, health, transportation, public safety, and environmental policy, but attention to the skills needed by individuals who use it will be an important issue for public policy, in order to ensure full exploitation of these technologies and to avoid unintended consequences. We argue that comparative advantages of the IoT to people will vary based on differentiated skills and resources, enabling smaller groups of people to benefit, and disadvantaging others in new ways. This need for renewed attention to digital skills and knowledge might at first seem paradoxical, given that many of these technologies operate autonomously and behind the scenes. We discuss evolving digital technologies and related skills, and explain from a systems perspective how the IoT differs from prior technologies, with a premium placed on user knowledge and strategic skills. Finally, we bring together the issues of the digital divide and IoT skills, and set an agenda for future IoT public policy and research.
Health‐related quality of life and care satisfaction outcomes: Informing psychosocial oncology care among Latina and African‐American young breast cancer survivors
Authors: Ashing Kimlin Tam , George Marshalee , Jones Veronica
Published: February 2018

Objective

When breast cancer occurs in young women, the medical, physical, psychosocial, and overall impacts can be more severe warranting targeted medical and psychosocial oncology care. Yet, despite their risk for poorer survival and survivorship outcomes, little research has focused on this group with critical gaps concerning ethnic minorities who are particularly medically vulnerable. Therefore, this preliminary study examined demographic characteristics and patient centered outcomes, ie, health‐related quality of life (HRQOL), quality care satisfaction to inform targeted psychosocial oncology care among African‐American and Latinas young breast cancer survivors (YBCS).

Methods

A total of 116 African‐American and Latina YBCS aged ≥21 to 50 years were recruited from cancer registries and community agencies. Based on prior research and the literature, Latinas were categorized into English language proficient (ELP) and Spanish language proficient (SLP) based on their choice of language to conduct the study including completion of the measures.

Results

SLP Latinas reported lower educational attainment and income (P < 0.001) and were more likely to report having a mastectomy (P < 0.01) but less likely to report breast reconstruction (P < 0.05). Satisfaction with care was correlated with patient‐provider communication and overall HRQOL (P < 0.01) and physical, social/family, emotional and functional wellbeing (P < 0.01). SLP Latinas had lower emotional wellbeing than African‐American YBCS (P < 0.01) and lower functional wellbeing than ELP Latina YBCS (P < 0.05). SLP Latina YBCS were less satisfied with their care compared with African‐American and ELP Latina YBCS (P < 0.01). Financial toxicity seems to directly influence both access to care and quality care and survivorship outcomes.

Conclusions

Investigating demographic characteristics and medical outcomes including HRQOL outcomes and satisfaction with care among ethnic minority YBCS is needed to advance the science as well as assist health professionals with precision care delivery. Greater translational and patient‐centered research must focus on at‐risk population such as YBCS to inform precision psychosocial oncology care and reduce health disparities.
Training using a new multidirectional reach tool improves balance in individuals with stroke
Authors: Khumsapsiri Numpung , Siriphorn Akkradate , Pooranawatthanakul Kanokporn , Oungphalachai Tanyarut
Published: February 2018

Background and purpose

Previous studies suggested that limits of stability (LOS) training with visual feedback using commercial equipment could be used to improve balance ability in individuals with stroke. However, this system is expensive. In this study, we created a new tool from inexpensive elements based on LOS training using visual feedback. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of training using a new multidirectional reach tool on balance in individuals with stroke.

Methods

A single‐blind randomized control trial was conducted. Individuals with stroke (n = 16; age range 38–72 years) were recruited. Participants in the experimental group were trained with the multidirectional reach training for 30 min and conventional physical therapy for 30 min per day, 3 days a week for 4 weeks. Participants in the control group received conventional physical therapy for 30 min per day, 3 days a week for 4 weeks. The outcomes were LOS, weight‐bearing squat, and Fullerton Advanced Balance scale. All of the outcome measures were measured at pretraining, post‐training, and 1 month follow‐up.

Results

At post‐training and 1‐month follow‐up, the participants in the experimental group had an improvement of dynamic balance than the control group. Furthermore, the activity assessment by Fullerton Advanced Balance scale was more improved at 1 month follow‐up in the experimental group than control group.

Conclusion

The results of this study provide evidence that training using a new multidirectional reach tool is effective for improving balance in individuals with stroke.
Multisensory exercise programme improves cognition and functionality in institutionalized older adults: A randomized control trial
Authors: Moreira Natália Boneti , Gonçalves Gabriele , da Silva Talihina , Zanardini Francisco Ernesto Halila , Bento Paulo Cesar Barauce
Published: February 2018

Aim

The aim of this study was to verify the effects of a multisensory exercise programme on the cognition and functionality of institutionalized older adults.

Methods

Forty‐five volunteers were randomly allocated to 2 groups, the multisensory exercise programme (n = 24) and the control group that received no treatment (n = 21). The programme consisted of 3 50‐min sessions of progressive exercises per week for 16 weeks that challenged their strength, balance, coordination, multisensory stimulation, and flexibility in different tasks. Cognition (Montreal Cognitive Assessment), balance (Berg Scale), mobility (Timed Up and Go), and functional performance (Physical Performance Test) were measured preintervention and postintervention. Statistical analyses were performed using Student's t test and 2‐way ANOVA.

Results

The multisensory exercise programme showed statistically significant improvements (p < .05) on cognition (effect size [ES]: 0.92), balance (ES: 0.77), mobility (ES: 0.51), and functional performance (ES: 0.86) as compared with the control group, which showed no statistical significant differences at the postintervention time point.

Conclusions

The multisensory exercise programme improved the cognition and functionality of institutionalized older adults. The introduction of a motor and multisensory‐based approach in care routines may improve residents' health and engagement to the environment.
The prognosis of different distant metastases pattern in prostate cancer: A population based retrospective study
Authors: Shou Jiafeng , Zhang Qi , Wang Shuai , Zhang Dahong
Published: February 2018

Background

The present of metastases is a poor prognostic factor in prostate cancer, but the prognostic impact of different distant metastases pattern is unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of different distant metastases pattern on the survival of patients with stage IV prostate cancer.

Methods

Data queried for this study include prostate cancer (2010‐2014) from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Metastatic distribution information was provided for bone, brain, liver and lung. The overall survival was calculated by the Kaplan‐Meier method. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to analyze survival outcome and risk factors.

Results

A total of 265 900 eligible patients were identified from SEER database. Among these patients, stage of IV prostate cancer accounted for 7.53% (20 034/265 900) at diagnosis. Patients who suffered metastasis to either one of the four organs occupied 61.24% (12 268/20 034) in stage of IV patients. Comparing with other three single metastases, the patients with liver metastasis exhibited worst OS whose mean survival was 17.529 months (P < 0.001). The mean survival of metastases with bong and lung was 25.238 months, which was the best survival of the six forms with two metastatic sites (P < 0.001). The results of univariate survival analysis showed that metastatic forms, race, N‐classification and differentiated grade did not have impact on the overall survival of patients with three metastatic sites (all, P > 0.05).

Conclusions

In analysis of both one and two metastatic sites, patients with liver metastasis seemed to have worse survival outcome. On the other hand, bone metastasis had better outcome than other three visceral metastases. Knowledge of these differences in metastatic patterns may help to better guide pre‐treatment evaluation of prostate cancer and make determination regarding curative‐intent interventions.
Population Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Modeling of Depot Testosterone Cypionate in Healthy Male Subjects
Authors: Bi Youwei , Perry Paul J. , Ellerby Michael , Murry Daryl J.
Published: February 2018

A randomized, double‐blind clinical trial was conducted to investigate long‐term abuse effects of testosterone cypionate (TC). Thirty‐one healthy men were randomized into a dose group of 100, 250, or 500 mg/wk and received 14 weekly injections of TC. A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) model was developed to characterize testosterone concentrations and link exposure to change in luteinizing hormone and spermatogenesis following long‐term TC administration. A linear one‐compartment model best described the concentration‐time profile of total testosterone. The population mean estimates for testosterone were 2.6 kL/day for clearance and 14.4 kL for volume of distribution. Weight, albumin, and their changes from baseline were identified as significant covariates for testosterone. The estimated potency of total testosterone (tT) with respect to suppression of luteinizing hormone (LH) synthesis was 9.33 ng/mL. Simulation based on the indirect response model suggests the suppression of endogenous testosterone secretion, LH synthesis, and spermatogenesis was more severe and of greater duration in the 250 mg and the 500 mg dose groups.
The Liu‐Parr power series expansion of the Pauli kinetic energy functional with the incorporation of shell‐inducing traits: Atoms
Authors: Ludeña Eduardo V. , Salazar Edison X. , Cornejo Mauricio H. , Arroyo Darío E. , Karasiev Valentin V.
Published: February 2018

An approximate expression for the Pauli kinetic energy functional Tp is advanced in terms of the Liu‐Parr expansion [S. Liu, R.G. Parr, Phys. Rev. A 1997, 55, 1792] which involves a power series of the one‐electron density. We use this explicit functional for Tp to compute the value of the noninteracting kinetic energy functional Ts of 34 atoms, from Li to Kr (and their positive and negative monoions). In particular, we examine the effect that a shell‐by‐shell mean‐square optimization of the expansion coefficients has on the kinetic energy values and explore the effect that the size of the expansion, given by the parameter n, has on the accuracy of the approximation. The results yield a mean absolute percent error
for 34 neutral atoms of 0.15, 0.08, 0.04, 0.03, and 0.01 for expansions with n = 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively (where
). We show that these results, which are the most accurate ones obtained to date for the representation of the noninteracting kinetic energy functional, stem from the imposition of shell‐inducing traits. We also compare these Liu‐Parr functionals with the exact but nonexplicit functional generated in the local‐scaling transformation version of DFT.
A delay‐independent output feedback for linear systems with time‐varying input delay
Authors: Wei Yusheng , Lin Zongli
Published: February 2018

It is well known that a delay‐dependent or delay‐independent truncated predictor feedback law stabilizes a general linear system in the presence of a certain amount of input delay. Results also exist on estimating the maximum delay bound that guarantees stability. In the face of a time‐varying or unknown delay, delay‐independent feedback laws are preferable over delay‐dependent feedback laws as the former provide robustness to the uncertainties in the delay. In the light of few results on the construction of delay‐independent output feedback laws for general linear systems with input delay, we present in this paper a delay‐independent observer–based output feedback law that stabilizes the system. Our design is based on the truncated predictor feedback design. We establish an estimate of the maximum allowable delay bound through the Razumikhin‐type stability analysis. An implication of the delay bound result reveals the capability of the proposed output feedback law in handling an arbitrarily large input delay in linear systems with all open‐loop poles at the origin or in the open left‐half plane. Compared with that of the delay‐dependent output feedback laws in the literature, this same level of stabilization result is not sacrificed by the absence of the prior knowledge of the delay.
Photoluminescence Properties of Aryl‐, Arylvinyl‐, and Arylethynylpyrimidine Derivatives
Authors: Achelle Sylvain , Rodríguez‐López Julián , Guen Françoise Robin‐le
Published: February 2018

The extraordinary richness of push‐pull molecules that incorporate pyrimidine rings as electron‐withdrawing moieties in their structure is illustrated in this review. Interest in these π‐extended systems has increased dramatically over the last two decades due to their fluorescence properties and potential applications in sensing and as luminescent materials. As many as 422 different molecules are presented in an effort to establish structure‐property relationships, which are often difficult to elucidate.
Piperine Encapsulation within Cucurbit[n]uril (n=6,7): A Combined Experimental and Density Functional Study
Authors: Mohanty Biswajit , Suvitha Ambigapathy , Venkataramanan Natarajan Sathiyamoorthy
Published: February 2018

The formation of host‐guest between piperine and cucurbit[n]uril (n=6,7) molecules were studied using experimental and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The host‐guest complexation was monitored using UV‐Visible and isothermal calorimetric (ITC) methods. The obtained Jobs plot indicate the formation of 1:1 complex. ITC analysis shows a moderate binding of the guest to the host molecules. The enthalpy of binding and the free energy of formation were negative indicating the facile formation of inclusion complex at room temperature. DFT studies confirm the formation of stable inclusion complexes. In stable inclusion complex of piperine with cucurbit[6]uril, the aromatic moiety was found to be inside the cucurbituril cavity, while in the cucurbit[7]uril inclusion complex, the piperidine moiety was inside the cavity, which was further confirmed by time dependent‐DFT study. The global reactivity descriptors analysis, indicate the formation of piperine inclusion complex with cucurbit[7]uril, could prevent the isomerization reaction of piperine. Atoms‐in‐molecules analysis shows the presence of extra inter and intramolecular bond critical points in the piperine inclusion complex with cucurbit[7]uril, which accounts for its extra stability. The computed intermolecular bond parameters confirm the existence of a non‐covalent with partial electrostatic interactions between the guest and host molecules. Energy decomposition analysis, suggest the Pauli repulsion to be higher for the cucurbit[6]uril inclusion complex, while the dispersion plays a major role in stabilizing the cucurbit[7]uril inclusion complex, which was further corroborated by noncovalent index analysis.
Dual‐Hemin‐Labelled Catalytic Molecular Beacon: A Monomer‐Dimer Switching Probe for Sensitive Chemiluminescence Detection of Biomolecules
Authors: Meng Rong , Liu Qiang , Jin Yan , Li Baoxin
Published: February 2018

The stem‐loop structure of molecular beacon (MB) makes it a powerful nucleic acid probe for homogenous and highly specific bioanalysis. Tradition MBs have an intrinsic limitation on sensitivity because one target molecule converts only one beacon molecule to its fluorescent conformation. Herein, taking full advantages of the self‐dimerization behavior and catalytic characteristic of hemin, we engineered a new class of catalytic MB. Both ends of MB are labeled with hemin, and then target‐induced opening of stem‐loop structure switches hemin dimer to monomer. Hemin dimer exhibits a low peroxidase activity, whereas hemin monomer with high catalytic activity can produce strong chemiluminescence (CL) emission in the presence of luminol and H2O2. Thus, this catalytic MB can highly specifically report target in homogeneous solution by hemin‐driven CL signal. One target can introduce two catalytic cycles, exhibiting a higher sensitivity than traditional MB. The formation of hemin dimer further strengthens the stability of stem‐loop structure, which greatly reduces the background and improves the specificity. More importantly, the assay can also be adapted for colorimetric and fluorescent readout by changing the catalytic substrate. Therefore, this catalytic MB is a novel and promising probe for developing sensitive and diverse biosensing platform.
Amphiphilic Glycoconjugated Porphyrin Heterodimers as Two‐Photon Excitable Photosensitizers: Design, Synthesis, Photophysical and Photobiological Studies
Authors: Chen Su , Poyer Florent , Garcia Guillaume , Fiorini‐Debuisschert Céline , Rosilio Véronique , Maillard Philippe
Published: February 2018

A new family of amphiphilic glycoconjugated porphyrin dimers usable in two‐photon photodynamic therapy was designed, prepared and characterized. The physicochemical and biological data were presented and discussed. Their two‐photon absorption cross section was determined, revealing quite good performances of the compounds (δ ≈ 300 GM at 880 nm for 2 and 3 and δ ≈ 1000 GM at 840 nm for 5 and 6). Despite their promising photophysical properties, porphyrin dimers are penalized by their low solubility and an insufficient penetration into tumour cells. Incorporation into nanocarriers such as lipid vesicles could be profitable, provided that the positioning and degree of freedom of the saccharide moieties are optimal to target the receptors of the cells of interest.
Molecular Design, Synthesis, Computational Screening, Antimicrobial Evaluation and Molecular Docking Study of Acetylinic Isatin Hybrids
Authors: Singh Gurjaspreet , Arora Aanchal , Singh Akshpreet , Kalra Pooja , Rani Sunita , Singh Kashmir , Maurya Indresh K. , Mandal Rahul S.
Published: February 2018

As a part of our program to compose multicomponent hybrid templates with potential pharmaceutical recognition, we have designed a library of acetylinic isatin hydrazones (1 b‐1 p) and acetylinic spiroisatins (1 q‐1 s). All the synthesized motifs were thoroughly characterized and then evaluated for their antimicrobial activities followed by cytotoxic appraisal of the more potent compounds in Hek293 and HeLa human cancer cell lines. Computer aided drug design filtered the compounds considered unsuitable for screening purposes. Acetylinic isatin 1 e was the most potent antibacterial scaffold with IC50 ≈ 1.95 μM against E. coli while 1 n with bis‐isatin assembly was the lead compound against C. albicans with IC50 ≈ 15.67 μM. SAR allowed to have a thorough anticipation of the substituent effect on the observed bioactivities of the compounds. Further, docking studies of the selected scaffolds on admissible bacterial and fungal proteins elicited isatin 1 a to exhibit highest ligand efficiency. Molecular interactions disclosed that 3’N substituted isatin derivatives may be considered ==as efficient candidates to curb bacterial and fungal diseases.
Mapping the knowledge structure exhibited by a cohort of students based on their understanding of how a galvanic cell produces energy
Authors: Loh Adrian Sin Loy , Subramaniam R.
Published: February 2018

This study evaluates the use of an open‐ended question to determine students' knowledge structure on the topic of galvanic cells. The open‐ended question was developed and administered to 163 Grade 10 students who had earlier completed a course on electrochemistry. Students' responses were marked as well as coded on the basis of the fields identified from their responses. This was then evaluated statistically to determine the collective knowledge structure of the sample of students. The knowledge structure thus mapped contains both canonical concepts and alternative conceptions (ACs). An important finding emerging from this study is that instructors need to focus student's attention on the dynamic processes involving electrons and ions during the operation of galvanic cells. In order for students to fully understand how a galvanic cell operates, they need to see the whole picture. There are three critical components that lead to students' understanding of how an oxidation–reduction reaction can generate energy and how a circuit is complete: transfer of electrons during oxidation–reduction half‐reactions, flow of electrons within metals, and migration of ions in solution. Also, we found that it is possible for students to use correct chemistry concepts in an incorrect way by establishing linkages among these in an inappropriate manner. We reiterate that apart from evaluating students' ACs, it is also important to evaluate the links between the concepts and conceptions present in students' knowledge structure so that teaching can be made more effective.
An improved single‐phase Y‐source inverter with continuous input current and reduced effects of leakage inductances
Authors: Ran Yan , Wang Wei , Liu Kuan , Liu Hongpeng
Published: February 2018

The Y‐source inverter has a high voltage gain by using a small shoot‐through duty ratio, so it is very suitable for photovoltaic (PV) systems. However, the input current of the traditional Y‐source inverter is discontinuous, and the leakage inductances in the coupling inductor lead to dc‐link voltage spikes and reduce the dc‐link voltage. To address these issues, an improved Y‐source inverter topology is proposed in this paper. The improved Y‐source inverter provides continuous input current and a higher voltage gain by adding one additional inductor and one capacitor. Compared to the traditional Y‐source inverter, the improved Y‐source inverter has lower voltage spikes and higher dc‐link voltage. Moreover, the proposed inverter can suppress resonant current at startup. In this paper, the operating principles and effects of the leakage inductances are analyzed. Finally, a 200 W laboratory prototype is built based on a TMS320F2812 digital signal processor to verify the performance of the improved inverter. © 2018 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Focussed Ion Beam
Authors: Petersen Jan
Published: February 2018

Focussed Ion Beam ‐“Cutting Edge” Technology of Material Analysis

With the focussed ion beam technique it is possible to sputter almost any material with nanometer scale accuracy and directly image or chemically analyze structures below the surface. The major advantage towards conventional cross‐section polishing is the high precision which allows to investigate even the smallest local defects. Applications of the focused ion beam even extend to the generation of complex nano structures. This article describes the operational modes, limits and constraints of the method and gives application examples from the field of material analytics.
Hyperriesig leitende nanogranulare Materialen
Authors: Koops Hans W. P.
Published: February 2018

Hypergiant conductance of nanogranular materials ‐ Ampacity in the GA/cm2 range by boson current transport at room temperature

Using focused electron beam induced processing a new class of hypergiant conducting materials has been discovered. The production is possible with slow step focused electron beam deposition using organometallic compounds. Applications are in electronics and IR radiation harvesting.
Oil‐Repellent Optics for Wastewater Sensor Applications
Authors: Oberbillig Thomas , Felde Nadja , Franz Martin , Coriand Luisa , Dahms Nancy , Munderloh Karin , Schultz Karin , Fliedner Michael , Duparré Angela
Published: February 2018

A fundamental issue for the identification of environmental problems is the early detection of chemical water pollutants. To guarantee reliable measurement results and to reduce maintenance costs, soiling of the sensor surfaces should be minimized. This work presents a method for fabrication of optical and oil‐repellent functional surfaces, realized by combination of statistically produced nano‐roughness with adapted coating materials
Practical and theoretical aspects of mixture‐of‐experts modeling: An overview
Authors: Nguyen Hien D. , Chamroukhi Faicel
Published: February 2018

Mixture‐of‐experts (MoE) models are a powerful paradigm for modeling data arising from complex data generating processes (DGPs). In this article, we demonstrate how different MoE models can be constructed to approximate the underlying DGPs of arbitrary types of data. Due to the probabilistic nature of MoE models, we propose the maximum quasi‐likelihood (MQL) approach as a method for estimating MoE model parameters from data, and we provide conditions under which MQL estimators are consistent and asymptotically normal. The blockwise minorization–maximization (blockwise‐MM) algorithm framework is proposed as an all‐purpose method for constructing algorithms for obtaining MQL estimators. An example derivation of a blockwise‐MM algorithm is provided. We then present a method for constructing information criteria for estimating the number of components in MoE models and provide justification for the classic Bayesian information criterion (BIC). We explain how MoE models can be used to conduct classification, clustering, and regression and illustrate these applications via two worked examples.

This article is categorized under:

Algorithmic Development > Statistics

Technologies > Structure Discovery and Clustering
3-Piece Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Placement Following Radical Cystoprostatectomy and Urinary Diversion: Technique and Outcomes
Authors: Loh-Doyle Jeffrey , Patil Mukul B. , Sawkar Hari , Wayne Kevin , Boyd Stuart D.
Published: February 2018

Background

After radical cystoprostatectomy (RC), postoperative erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common consequence with multiple contributing etiologies. The inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) offers patients a definitive treatment option when ED is refractory to medical therapies. Because of the hostile postoperative anatomy of these patients, a careful surgical approach is necessary for successful outcomes and to avoid adjacent organ injury. To date, there is no series describing the outcomes of 3-piece IPP placement in patients with urinary diversions.

Aim

To present contemporary outcomes and a description of our technique in placing a 3-piece IPP for postoperative ED in patients with a history of RC with orthotopic neobladder, ileal conduit, or continent cutaneous diversion.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 80 patients who underwent primary placement of a 3-piece IPP (AMS 700; American Medical Systems Inc, Minnetonka, MN, USA) after RC and urinary diversion from 2003 through 2016. 79 patients underwent RC in their treatment of urologic malignancy (71 for bladder cancer, 8 for prostate cancer) and 1 underwent RC for refractory interstitial cystitis. An infrapubic approach was used in most patients, with reservoir placement in the lateral retroperitoneal space through a counterincision medial to the anterior superior iliac spine. Patient demographics, perioperative data, and postoperative outcomes including prosthetic infection and mechanical failure were examined and statistical analysis was performed.

Outcomes

Rates of device infection, revision surgery, and reservoir complications.

Results

After mean follow-up of 53.9 months (6.5–150.7 months), 4 patients developed infection of the prosthesis that required explantation. 3 of those patients underwent successful IPP reimplantation. 5 patients required revision surgery (pump replacement, n = 3; pump relocation, n = 1; cylinder replacement for cylinder aneurysm, n = 1) for mechanical failure. No statistically significant associations were found between infection and comorbidities, urinary diversion, exposure to chemotherapy, radiation, or presence of an artificial urinary sphincter.

Clinical Implications

The 3-piece IPP is an effective treatment option for medication-refractory ED that can be placed safely in patients with all forms of urinary diversion.

Strengths and Limitations

This study represents the 1st series that describes a successful technique and long-term outcomes of patients with urinary diversion. It is limited by its single-surgeon, single-center experience and lacks validated patient satisfaction data in follow-up.

Conclusions

The 3-piece IPP, with reservoir placement in the lateral retroperitoneum, can be implanted successfully in patients with all forms of urinary diversion without a significant increase in infectious complications, reservoir erosion, or mechanical failure.
Ruptura parcial do tríceps distal em um atleta: Relato de caso e descrição de técnica cirúrgica
Authors: Figueiredo Eduardo Antônio , Lara Paulo Henrique Schmidt , Patriota Gyoguevara , Roncetti Júnior Ronaldo , Belangero Paulo Santoro , Ejnisman Benno
Published: February 2018

A ruptura do tendão do tríceps braquial corresponde a menos de 1% de todas as rupturas tendíneas nos membros superiores. As rupturas parciais são subdiagnosticadas, o que pode fazer com que uma ruptura parcial se torne total. As rupturas completas geralmente requerem tratamento cirúrgico; entretanto, para rupturas parciais não há uma conduta bem definida. Este artigo apresenta o caso de um atleta de jiu-jitsu, do sexo masculino, de 42 anos, com ruptura parcial do tríceps braquial submetido a tratamento cirúrgico devido à persistência de perda de força de extensão do cotovelo, mesmo após tratamento conservador. Foi feito o reparo com enxerto do tendão do músculo palmar longo com técnica desenvolvida pelos autores. Não foram observadas complicações e o paciente apresentou resultado satisfatório, comprovado pela melhoria nos parâmetros dos estudos isocinéticos, os quais foram aferidos antes da cirurgia e com 5 meses de pós-operatório. Essa técnica demonstrou ser uma opção para casos de ruptura parcial do tríceps braquial em pacientes com alta demanda física que não apresentaram melhoria com o tratamento conservador.
The Outer Limits of the Continental Shelf Under Customary International Law
Authors: Baumert Kevin A.
Published: February 2018

“Seldom has an apparent major change in international law been accomplished by peaceful means more rapidly and amidst more general acquiescence and approval,” Lauterpacht observed of continental shelf claims nearly seventy years ago. When considered today, this observation merits a caveat, as the question of how far the continental shelf extends into the sea is not yet fully settled. This article explores the customary international law applicable for determining continental shelf limits and also examines the legal procedures used by states to gain international acceptance of those limits.
MFN Clauses as Bilateral Commitments to Multilateralism: A Reply to Simon Batifort and J. Benton Heath
Authors: Schill Stephan W.
Published: February 2018

Most-favored-nation (MFN) clauses have been included in international commercial treaties for many centuries. They also figure prominently as standard provisions in almost any international investment agreement (IIA). Their longstanding and widespread use notwithstanding, investment law doctrine and arbitral practice continue to struggle with the clauses’ application and interpretation, in particular as regards their scope of application. What Stanley Hornbeck observed more than one hundred years ago in this Journal, that “there appear[s] constant disagreements and ever-recurring irritation over what is the meaning and what are the obligations attaching to this or that [MFN] clause,” still characterizes the practice of investment tribunals and the literature on MFN clauses in IIAs today.
Shape and fission instabilities of ferrofluids in non-uniform magnetic fields
Authors: Vieu Thibault , Walter Clément
Published: February 2018

We study static distributions of ferrofluid submitted to non-uniform magnetic fields. We show how the normal-field instability is modified in the presence of a weak magnetic field gradient. Then we consider a ferrofluid droplet and show how the gradient affects its shape. A rich phase transition phenomenology is found. We also investigate the creation of droplets by successive splits when a magnet is vertically approached from below and derive theoretical expressions which are solved numerically to obtain the number of droplets and their aspect ratio as a function of the field configuration. A quantitative comparison is performed with previous experimental results, as well as with our own experiments, and yields good agreement with the theoretical modelling.
STRICT COHERENCE ON MANY-VALUED EVENTS
Authors: FLAMINIO TOMMASO , HOSNI HYKEL , MONTAGNA FRANCO
Published: February 2018

We investigate the property of strict coherence in the setting of many-valued logics. Our main results read as follows: (i) a map from an MV-algebra to [0,1] is strictly coherent if and only if it satisfies Carnap’s regularity condition, and (ii) a [0,1]-valued book on a finite set of many-valued events is strictly coherent if and only if it extends to a faithful state of an MV-algebra that contains them. Remarkably this latter result allows us to relax the rather demanding conditions for the Shimony-Kemeny characterisation of strict coherence put forward in the mid 1950s in this Journal.
A generalized delta method with applications to intrinsic diversity profiles
Authors: Marcheselli Marzia
Published: February 2018

A generalization of the delta method is proposed. The asymptotic distribution of g(Y

n
) is obtained when g is not necessarily a differentiable function but verifies some weaker regularity conditions. An application to diversity profiles is also presented.
Direction and Dimensionality Tests Based on Hotelling's GeneralizedT02
Authors: Kshirsagar A. M.
Published: February 2018

Bartlett and Williams have shown that the hypothesis of the goodness-of-fit of one or more assigned discriminant functions in the case of several groups can be tested using Wilks's A criterion. By factorizing this A criterion suitably, it is also possible to test whether the directions of the given functions are inadequate or whether the number of proposed functions is inadequate. Hotelling'sstatistic is a competitor of Wilks's A in multivariate analysis; previously its use for this hypothesis and also for the dimensionality and direction aspects of this hypothesis was unknown. The present paper derives the appropriatetype statistics for this and also gives their exact null distributions.
Rumination on Infinite Markov Systems
Authors: Hammersley J. M.
Published: February 2018

Recent work by Moussouris [10] has clarified our present knowledge of finite Markov fields. The present note examines, in a loose and general fashion, whether one can extend the treatment to infinite fields.
Anticipation Processes
Authors: Kingman J. F. C.
Published: February 2018

An anticipation process is a continuous-time Markov process, having an element of deterministic drift in its transition structure. The theory of such processes, developed here from an elementary (Chapman-Kolmogorov) point of view, draws together a number of threads of theoretical and applied probability.
Diffusion Models with Relativity Effects
Authors: Cane Violet R.
Published: February 2018

In this paper models for diffusion in one dimension are obtained which are based on correlated random walks. The equations for diffusion with drift can be transformed into the equations for diffusion without drift (and conversely) by the transformations of Special Relativity Theory. The relationship of these equations to Maxwell's equations for electromagnetic phenomena is discussed.
A Stochastic Automaton Model for Interacting Systems
Authors: Tautu P.
Published: February 2018

A stochastic tessellation automaton (STA) is introduced and analysed as an analogue to a stochastic lattice process, called the Markov configuration process. The STA is considered as an (infinite regular) array with interconnected Moore-type automata, each of these representing aB-object interacting with its neighbours. The objective of the paper is to examine some consequences of the analogy between an STA and the Markov configuration process. In addition, the possibility of finding a suitable stochastic grammar arising from the study of this configuration model is briefly considered.
Teleomorph-Anamorph Relationships in Umbilicaria II. Patterns in Propagative Morph Production
Authors: Hestmark Geir
Published: February 2018

Frequencies of anamorph and teleomorph production in 18 species of Umbilicaria were calculated from field samples and herbarium collections. In one group of species teleomorph production (with sexually generated ascospores) is almost entirely suppressed and compensated for by an abundant production ofanamorphs (asexual thalloconidia). A second group of species exhibits a continuum from exclusively anamorphic through ana-teleomorphic to exclusively teleomorphic individuals. In this group there are distinct biogeographic patterns in the distribution of the teleomorphic individuals. A third group consists of pairs of apparently closely related taxa where one taxon is richly anamorphic and rarely produces teleomorphs, whereas the other taxon is richly and exclusively teleomorphic; this can be referred to as a phylogenetic teleomorph-anamorph relationship. The members of these taxon pairs commonly have different geographical distributions.
The role of nutritional labelling and signposting from a European perspective
Authors: Buttriss Judith L.
Published: February 2018

The past half-century has been characterised by major technological developments and massive societal change, which have profoundly changed how food is produced, processed, sold and consumed. These days we are faced with a huge choice of pre-packaged foods when we shop in modern supermarkets and we can buy seasonal food all year round, in and out of season. For decades now, the need to guide choice has been recognised, and retailers and many manufacturers have provided increasing amounts of on-pack information and signposting, and more recently UK retailers have led the way in championing front-of-pack information provision, to supplement the standard back-of-pack nutrient composition table. From a European perspective, the present paper summarises developments in nutrition labelling information and signposting, the legislation that controls on-pack declarations, and research conducted to assess whether or not the information is used, understood and supports healthier choices. It also considers whether more could be done to influence behaviour change positively, giving examples of approaches identified in the research.
Education, Knowledge and Freedom
Authors: Hinchliffe Geoffrey
Published: February 2018

This paper examines the role of knowledge in education. It proposes that the arguments of Paul Hirst on liberal education can be updated using the idea of a ‘space of reasons’ drawn from the epistemology associated with John McDowell. It further argues that for education to flourish within the space of reasons the idea of ‘epistemic freedom’ needs to be both recognised and developed. Such freedom is particularly exemplified in the ability to form judgements. It is noted that education at all levels has been subjected to processes of ‘rationalisation’, processes identified by Max Weber over one hundred years ago: these processes severely restrict epistemic freedom. However, the paper argues that Alistair McIntyre's concept of a practice can be used to inform our thinking about subject disciplines. The pursuit of knowledge can therefore be seen in terms of practices which operate within the space of reasons. Moreover, we can see the idea of a practice as a counterweight to rationalisation
A haplotype of the dopamine transporter gene modulates regional homogeneity, gray matter volume, and visual memory in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Shang C. Y. , Lin H. Y. , Tseng W. Y. , Gau S. S.
Published: February 2018

Background

The dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) and visual memory deficits have been consistently reported to be associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This study aimed to examine whether a DAT1 haplotype affected functional and structural brain alterations in children with ADHD and whether those alterations were associated with visual memory.

Method

We recruited a total of 37 drug-naïve children with ADHD (17 with the DAT1 rs27048 (C)/rs429699 (T) haplotype and 20 without the CT haplotype) and 37 typically developing children (17 with the CT haplotype and 20 without the CT haplotype). Visual memory was assessed by the pattern recognition memory (PRM) and spatial recognition memory (SRM) tasks. We analyzed functional and structural brain architecture with regional homogeneity (ReHo) and gray matter volume (GMV).

Results

The CT haplotype was associated with decreased ReHo in the left superior occipital gyrus, cuneus, and precuneus; and decreased GMV in the left superior occipital gyrus, cuneus, and precuneus, and in the right angular gyrus. Significant interactions of ADHD and the CT haplotype were found in the right postcentral gyrus for ReHo and in the right supplementary motor area for GMV. For the ADHD-CT group, we found negative correlations of total correct responses in PRM and SRM and positive correlations of mean latency of correct responses in PRM with the GMV in the left superior occipital gyrus, cuneus, and precuneus.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the DAT1-related GMV alterations in the posterior cortical regions may contribute to visual memory performance in children with ADHD.
Texts in quarantine: Karl Barth, biblical interpretation and imaginative resistance
Authors: Hancock Angela Dienhart
Published: February 2018

This essay explores the overlapping territory between the phenomenon known as ‘imaginative resistance’ in literary, psychological and philosophical circles and Karl Barth's theological hermeneutic. Imaginative resistance refers to the way readers are willing to give consent to all sorts of implausible things in the context of a fiction, but become uneasy when asked to imagine that something they consider morally or ethically reprehensible is good. The essay offers an overview of the current scholarly theories regarding the origins of the phenomenon of imaginative resistance, arguing that none of them provide an adequate account of imaginative resistance in relation to a text read as ‘Word of God’. The essay suggests that Karl Barth's theological hermeneutic does not offer a ‘solution’ to imaginative resistance in relation to scripture, but rather deepens and redescribes it in meaningful ways by acknowledging the appropriateness of the interpreter's resistance while encouraging continued engagement even with the claims of challenging biblical texts.
The God who gives generously: honour, praise and the agony of celebrity
Authors: Stephens Mark B. , Deal Georgiane
Published: February 2018

The need for honour, meaning publicly acknowledged worth, has been a feature of social life across the ages. From the ancient world of Greece and Rome, through to the honour codes of contemporary celebrity culture, the quest for honour is often framed in agonistic terms, in that honour is a limited good that demands competitive behaviour. This article examines the way early Christianity responded to ancient honour codes, with a view to its potential relevance in contemporary culture. It demonstrates the way early Christianity retained something of the language of honour in its ecclesial communities, but redefined honour in light of its conception of grace.