bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Late sensory changes following chest drain insertion during thoracotomy
Authors: WILDGAARD K. , RINGSTED T. K. , RAVN J. , WERNER M. U. , KEHLET H.
Published: February 2013

Background

It is well known that chest drains are associated with severe movement‐related acute pain. These noxious stimuli could play a significant role in development and maintenance of persistent post‐operative pain. Therefore we studied chest drain sites in post‐thoracotomy pain syndrome (PTPS) patients, in regard to pain and sensory dysfunction.

Methods

We quantified thermal and pressure thresholds on both the chest drain side and the contralateral side in 11 PTPS patients and 10 pain‐free post‐thoracotomy patients 33 months after the thoracotomy. On average, each patient had two chest drains inserted during surgery.

Results

At follow up, two patients experienced pain at the chest drain sites, but had maximal pain near or at the thoracotomy scar. Comparison between chest drain side and control side for all 21 patients demonstrated significantly elevated thresholds for warmth detection and heat pain on the chest drain side (P < 0.01), but not for cool detection or pressure. No significant differences between chest drain side and control side were observed within PTPS or pain‐free patients. Comparing PTPS and pain‐free patients (chest drain‐to‐control side), no significant differences in thresholds were found. Although all 11 PTPS patients suffered from incisional pain, only two patients had pain from chest drains.

Conclusion

Increased thresholds for thermal detection suggest that chest drain insertion is associated with late nerve injury. Because no significant differences in sensory thresholds between PTPS and pain‐free patients were found, the pathophysiological role of small fibre nerve injury from chest drains in relation to PTPS remains unclear.
Immediate post‐anaesthesia recovery 2013
Authors:   Membership of the Working Party:, Whitaker (Chair) D. K. , Booth H. , Clyburn P. , Harrop‐Griffiths W. , Hosie H. , Kilvington B. , MacMahon M. , Smedley P. , Verma R.
Published: February 2013

After general, epidural or spinal anaesthesia, all patients should be recovered in a specially designated area (henceforth ‘post‐anaesthesia care unit’, PACU) that complies with the standards and recommendations described in this document.

The anaesthetist must formally hand over the care of a patient to an appropriately trained and registered PACU practitioner.

Agreed, written criteria for discharge of patients from the PACU to the ward should be in place in all units.

An effective emergency call system must be in place in every PACU and tested regularly.

No fewer than two staff (of whom at least one must be a registered practitioner) should be present when there is a patient in a PACU who does not fulfil the criteria for discharge to the ward.

All registered practitioners should be appropriately trained in accordance with the standards and competencies detailed in the UK National Core Competencies for Post Anaesthesia Care.

All patients must be observed on a one‐to‐one basis by an anaesthetist or registered PACU practitioner until they have regained control of their airway, have stable cardiovascular and respiratory systems and are awake and able to communicate.

All patients with tracheal tubes in place in a PACU should be monitored with continuous capnography. The removal of tracheal tubes is the responsibility of the anaesthetist.

There should be a specially designated area for the recovery of children that is appropriately equipped and staffed.

All standards and recommendations described in this document should be applied to all areas in which patients recover after anaesthesia, to include those anaesthetics given for obstetric, cardiology, imaging and dental procedures, and in psychiatric units and community hospitals. Only registered PACU practitioners who are familiar with these areas should be allocated to recover patients in them as and when required.

Patients’ dignity and privacy should be respected at all times but patients' safety must always be the primary concern.

When critically ill patients are managed in a PACU because of bed shortages, the primary responsibility for the patient lies with the hospital's critical care team. The standard of nursing and medical care should be equal to that in the hospital's critical care units.

Audit and critical incident reporting systems should be in place in all PACUs.
Merger Waves and Firm Growth: Contemporary Historical Evidence
Authors: Majumdar Sumit K. , Moussawi Rabih , Yaylacicegi Ulku
Published: February 2013

This article presents the outcomes of an evaluation of the impact of the series of mergers of the local exchange companies that have taken place between 1988 and 2001 on an important measure of performance of the firms undergoing the mergers. The analysis reveals that after firms have undertaken one merger they experience little or no growth after such mergers, but the impact of second mergers on firm growth have been negative. If an important motive in undertaking mergers has been to enhance firm growth, then the merger waves that have been approved and consummated have led to performance declines. The impacts of the merger wave on the growth of the telecommunications sector firms have been negative.
Competition Among Italian Junior‐Secondary Schools: A Variance‐Decomposition Empirical Analysis
Authors: Agasisti Tommaso
Published: February 2013

The public economic theory emphasizes the potential role of competition in fostering the performance of educational systems. The rationale for pro‐competitive policies in education (i.e. vouchers, charter schools, tax deductions) is that schools can improve their quality responding to ‘pressures’ from nearby competitors. The objective of this paper is to analyze the potential relationship between (i) competition among schools and (ii) students’ achievement in Italy. While previous studies used OECD‐Pisa data for this purpose, here a new dataset about Italian schools has been employed: about 19,000 students in 150 schools constitute the sample. The reference framework is the idea that the presence of more schools in a certain area, and/or the proportion of students enrolled in private schools, should raise the performance of schools operating in that area through a ‘competition effect’. A multilevel strategy, which allows separating between‐areas variance in achievement scores, is employed. The findings support the view that competition has an impact, albeit little, on students’ achievement, and such competitive pressure is due to the number of schools, no matter if public or private.
Understanding the Role of Governments and Administrations in the Implementation of Community and Complementary Currencies
Authors: Blanc Jérôme , Fare Marie
Published: February 2013

This text focuses on the role of governments and administrations in the emergence, spread, development and differentiation of community and complementary currency schemes (CCs), highlighting their role as potential support for experimentation. This support can take various forms: technical, financial, fiscal, official and/or legal recognition. We present first the role of governments, mostly local, in the emergence and development of four generations of CCs. We distinguish then a series of modes of action of governments at central and local levels. This leads to identify the interest of being supported (greater professionalism, greater complexity and possibly greater impact) while emphasizing the risks linked to public support as well.
Natural Disasters and Participation in Volunteer Activities: A Case Study of the Great Hanshin‐Awaji Earthquake
Authors: Yamamura Eiji
Published: February 2013

The Great Hanshin‐Awaji (Kobe) earthquake in 1995 has had a significant detrimental effect on the economic conditions of southern‐central Japan. However, the earthquake also led people to acknowledge the importance of the many volunteer activities in Japan at that time. Using a large sample of individual‐level data from 1991 and 1996, this study investigates how and the extent to which the earthquake increased the participation of students and house‐workers in volunteer activities. After controlling for various individual characteristics, a Heckman‐Tobit model was used and the following key findings were obtained: (1) the probability of students’ participating in volunteer activities was 2% higher after the earthquake than before, and (2) the number of days that students spent participating in volunteer activities was 4.38 days longer after the earthquake than before. However, the same did not hold true for house‐workers.
Progress in immune-based therapies for type 1 diabetes
Authors: von Herrath M , Peakman M , Roep B
Published: February 2013

Immune-based therapies that prevent type 1 diabetes or preserve metabolic function remaining at diagnosis have become a major objective for funding agencies and international trial consortia, and receive backing from notable patient advocate groups. The development of immune-based therapeutic strategies in this arena requires a careful balancing of the risks of the therapy against the potential benefits, because many individuals are diagnosed or identified as being at increased risk of disease in early childhood, a period when manipulation of the developing immune system should be undertaken with caution. In addition, a therapy exists (daily insulin injection) that is life-saving in the acute stages of disease and can be used effectively over a lifetime as maintenance. Conversely, the disease is increasing in incidence; is peaking in ever-younger age groups; carries significant risk of increased morbidity and early mortality; and remains difficult to manage effectively in many settings. With these issues in mind, in this article we review progress towards immune-based strategies for this chronic autoimmune disease.
Apolipoprotein E polymorphisms and severity of cerebral palsy: a cross‐sectional study in 255 children in Norway
Authors: Lien Espen , Andersen Guro L , Bao Yongde , Gordish‐Dressman Heather , Skranes Jon S , Vik Torstein , Blackman James A
Published: February 2013

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine whether the presence of the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) allele APOEε4 is associated with less severe manifestations of cerebral palsy (CP), consistent with the suggested beneficial effect of this allele on neurodevelopment in children.

Method

ApoE genotyping was performed on buccal epithelial cells from 255 children (141 males 114 females; mean age 12y, SD 2y 3mo, range 9–17y) recorded in the Cerebral Palsy Register of Norway. The main outcome measure of CP severity was the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS). Secondary outcome measures were fine motor function, epilepsy, and the need for gastrostomy tube feeding (GTF).

Results

There was no association between the APOEε4 genotype and GMFCS levels (odds ratio [OR] 1.15; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.66–1.99). However, the APOEε4 genotype was more often present among children with epilepsy (OR 2.2; 95% CI 1.1–4.2) and/or receiving GTF (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.1–6.6). Among children with unilateral CP, the presence of APOEε4 was associated with more severe fine motor impairment (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.3–6.9).

Interpretation

Our main hypothesis that APOEε4 would have a protective effect on neurodevelopment was not supported. Instead, subgroup analyses suggested an adverse effect of the APOEε4 genotype on the developing brain after injury.
Language and Consciousness: Brecht's Language Strategy and Confucius's “Rectification of Names”
Authors: Jie Zheng , Jianjun Fang
Published: February 2013

This essay focuses on Bertolt Brecht's ideas of language and consciousness with reference to his understanding of Confucius's teaching of the “Rectification of Names” and to his commitment to Marxist theories of ideology and consciousness. The study suggests that Brecht's dramatic innovations of the Verfremdungseffekt and the Gestus are in accordance with his language strategies. While Brecht embraces Marx's ideological positioning of the individual, it is Confucius's meditation on language that provides Brecht a concrete method to interrogate the connection between ideology and the subject and to “demystify” (to borrow Louis Althusser's term) those representations which maintain the illusion of individual consciousness. Accordingly, emphasis will be placed upon the ways in which Brecht integrates his understanding of Confucius's use of language with the Marxist notion of language in order to “restore the truth” of the human subject.
Cosmopolitanization in action: connecting scales in international environmental organizations
Authors: MAUZ ISABELLE , DEBARBIEUX BERNARD , GRANJOU CÉLINE
Published: February 2013

In this article we analyse how professionals in two international environmental organizations (IEOs) concerned with biodiversity act as ‘entrepreneurs of cosmopolitanization’ by establishing connections between the various scales they mobilize in their daily work. Drawing on an empirical survey, we show that these professionals mobilize a range of activities to meet a twofold requirement. The first requirement is for universality, which corresponds to their status, their determination to adopt a scientific approach and to the scale at which they initially defined the problem of biodiversity loss. The second requirement is to embed in specific contexts. Tension between these two types of requirement is inevitable. It is inherent in the cosmopolitan perspective and leads to contextual arrangements between the global approach to environmental problems and the forging of alliances with national, regional or local institutions and actors, according to opportunities and requirements. Connecting the various scales of environmental action unavoidably remains a partially achieved objective.
Pegylated versus standard interferon plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C genotype 4: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Aljumah Abdulrahman A. , Murad Mohammad Hassan
Published: February 2013

Aim

Treatment of hepatitis C genotype 4 (HCV‐G4) with pegylated interferon (PEG IFN) has not been adequately studied and is considered to be challenging. The aim of this meta‐analysis is to systematically review and evaluate the effectiveness of 48 weeks of combined PEG IFN plus ribavirin (RBV) compared to standard interferon (IFN) plus RBV. The outcome of interest is sustained virological response (SVR).

Methods

We searched for eligible randomized controlled trials (RCT) through May 2012. Random effects meta‐analysis was used to pool the risk ratio (RR) of achieving SVR across trials.

Results

Five RCT enrolling 386 patients were included. The PEG IFN/RBV group had increased likelihood of achieving SVR (RR = 1.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08–2.10). SVR was significantly higher in PEG IFN‐α‐2a compared to the ‐α‐2b group (P = 0.02). There was no statistically significant effect of ribavirin dosage on SVR (P = 0.55). The quality of evidence was moderate overall and limited by heterogeneity.

Conclusion

In treatment‐naive patients with HCV‐G4, treatment with PEG IFN plus RBV achieves higher SVR rate than treatment with IFN plus RBV.
Regenerative potential following revascularization of immature permanent teeth with necrotic pulps
Authors: Tawfik H. , Abu‐Seida A. M. , Hashem A. A. , Nagy M. M.
Published: February 2013

Aim

To assess the regenerative potential of immature teeth with necrotic pulps following revascularization procedure in dogs.

Methodology

Necrotic pulps and periapical pathosis were created by infecting 108 immature teeth, with 216 root canals in nine mongrel dogs. Teeth were divided into three equal groups according to the evaluation period. Each group was further subdivided into six subgroups according to the treatment protocol including MTA apical plug, revascularization protocol, revascularization enhanced with injectable scaffold, MTA over empty canal. All root canals were disinfected with a triple antibiotic paste prior to revascularization with the exception of control subgroups. After disinfection, the root length, thickness and apical diameter were measured from radiographs. Histological evaluation was used to assess the inflammatory reaction, soft and hard tissue formation.

Results

In the absence of revascularization, the length and thickness of the root canals did not change over time. The injectable scaffold and growth factor was no more effective than a revascularization procedure to promote tooth development following root canal revascularization. The tissues formed in the root canals resembled periodontal tissues.

Conclusion

The revascularization procedure allowed the continued development of roots in teeth with necrotic pulps.
Expression of angiogenesis‐related gene profiles and development of resistance to tyrosine‐kinase inhibitor in advanced renal cell carcinoma: Characterization of sorafenib‐resistant cells derived from a cutaneous metastasis
Authors: Karashima Takashi , Fukuhara Hideo , Tamura Kenji , Ashida Shingo , Kamada Masayuki , Inoue Keiji , Taguchi Takahiro , Kuroda Naoto , Shuin Taro
Published: February 2013

Objectives

To investigate the potential mechanism of development of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitor in renal cell carcinoma.

Methods

A primary culture of renal cell carcinoma cells (KMRM‐S2) was established from an advanced renal cell carcinoma patient with cutaneous metastasis, who had not responded to sorafenib. A total of 84 human angiogenesis‐related genes were compared between cutaneous metastasis and the primary tumor by real time polymerase chain reaction. Spectral karyotyping and cell proliferation assay were carried out to determine the biological features of the cells.

Results

Primary tumor was histopathologically diagnosed as high‐grade clear cell carcinoma with sarcomatoid change and rhabdoid features. The cutaneous metastasis also consisted of sarcomatoid components. Expression levels of many angiogenesis‐related genes in the cutaneous metastasis were relatively higher than those of primary tumor. Chromosomal analysis of the KMRM‐S2 showed cytogenetic abnormalities with hypertriploidy and translocation. In vitro proliferation assay showed the relatively higher resistance of KMRM‐S2 against sorafenib.

Conclusions

The sarcomatoid change and rhabdoid features of renal cell carcinoma with cytogenetic hyperploidy might be associated with elevated expression of angiogenesis‐related genes, which leads to resistance against tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The present study might contribute to discovering novel therapeutic targets for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitor.
Predictors and adverse outcomes of inadequate or excessive gestational weight gain in an Asian population
Authors: Koh Huishan , Ee Tat Xin , Malhotra Rahul , Allen John Carson , Tan Thiam Chye , Østbye Truls
Published: February 2013

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess maternal characteristics as predictors of inadequate or excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) and to characterize maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with inadequate or excessive GWG in Asian women.

Material and Methods

A study was conducted among 1166 Chinese, Malay, and Indian women who delivered a live singleton infant at KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors and maternal and neonatal outcomes of inadequate or excessive GWG, relative to adequate (recommended) GWG.

Results

While maternal age less than 20 years, Malay ethnicity and underweight pre‐pregnancy body mass index increased the risk of inadequate GWG, overweight pre‐pregnancy body mass index decreased this risk. Tall stature and Malay ethnicity were associated with an increased risk of excessive GWG, while maternal age greater than 30 years was associated with a decreased risk. Inadequate GWG increased the risk of preterm birth and decreased the risk of delivery by cesarean section and postpartum weight retention at 6 months. Excessive GWG increased the risk of delivery by cesarean section, postpartum weight retention at 6, 12 and 24 months and having a high‐birthweight baby.

Conclusion

Maternal predictors and perinatal outcomes of GWG among Asian women are similar to those identified previously among Caucasian, African‐American and Hispanic women.
Design and evaluation of an image‐guidance system for robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy
Authors: Thompson Stephen , Penney Graeme , Billia Michele , Challacombe Ben , Hawkes David , Dasgupta Prokar
Published: February 2013

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Systems for image guidance during laparoscopic surgery can be broadly defined as systems that enable the surgeon to refer to preoperatively gathered information during the procedure. For a laparoscopic system the preoperative information can be overlaid onto the laparoscopic video screen. Examples of surgical image‐guidance systems and the results of early testing are not uncommon but the technical methodologies used vary widely as do the visualisation methods.

This study reports our experience of using an image‐guidance system on 13 patients. Furthermore, we use previously proposed methodology to form a development and evaluation framework specific to image‐guided laparoscopic radical prostatectomy. Finally, we propose that if the system development process is properly designed, it should be possible to correlate system technical parameters with clinical outcomes. We present a possible plot for the key technical parameter of accuracy. Better understanding of this correlation should enable robust development and evaluation of surgical image‐guidance systems to optimise patient outcomes.

Objective

To implement and test the feasibility of an image‐guidance system for robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP). Laparoscopic surgical outcomes may be improved through image guidance. However, to demonstrate improved outcomes rigorous evaluation techniques are required. Therefore we also present our work in establishing robust evaluation techniques.

Patients and Methods

Development work used three cadavers and an anatomy phantom. The system has been used on 13 patients.

During surgery the surgeon can refer to the patient's magnetic resonance imaging (collected before the operation) overlaid on the endoscopic video image.

The result of the overlay process was measured qualitatively by the surgeon with reference to the desired clinical outcomes.

Results

The use of the overlay system has not resulted in any measurable change in clinical outcomes.

The surgeons found the system to be a useful tool for reference during surgery.

A more rigorous evaluation method is proposed that will enable on‐going development.

Conclusion

Image guidance during RARP is feasible. We propose a series of measures that will improve further development and evaluation.
Pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy for muscle‐invasive micropapillary bladder cancer
Authors: Meeks Joshua J. , Taylor Jennifer M. , Matsushita Kazuhito , Herr Harry W. , Donat S. Machele , Bochner Bernard H. , Dalbagni Guido
Published: February 2013

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add?

Micropapillary bladder cancer is a high grade variant with poor prognosis. There is no consensus about patients with micropapillary bladder cancer receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but many suggest that radical cystectomy should not be delayed.

Data from this study suggest that patients with micropapillary bladder cancer have a similar rate of response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy to that of patients with urothelial carcinoma. If these patients have pT0 disease, their survival is significantly improved at 2 years.

Objective

To describe the pathological outcomes of patients with muscle‐invasive micropapillary bladder cancer who have undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Patients and Methods

A total of 82 patients with muscle‐invasive micropapillary bladder cancer were treated between 1997 and 2010.

After excluding those with metastatic disease, micropapillary histology only at radical cystectomy (RC), and chemo‐radiation as primary treatment, 44 patients remained. All patients had ≥cT2 disease before chemotherapy/surgery.

The median follow‐up after RC was 28 months.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was initiated in 29 (66%) patients and all patients underwent RC (93%) or partial cystectomy (7%).

Results

Micropapillary histology was diagnosed at first transurethral resection in 37 (84%) patients.

Final RC pathology revealed pT0 in 15 (34%) patients and positive lymph nodes in 13 (31%) patients.

Down‐staging to pT0 occurred in 13 (45%) of those who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy compared with two (13%) of those who did not (P = 0.049).

Patients with pT0 disease with micropapillary histology had higher overall survival rates (25 vs. 92%) and lower rates of bladder cancer recurrence (21 vs. 79%) at the 24‐month follow‐up.

Conclusions

Almost half of the patients responded completely to neoadjuvant chemotherapy with a pT0 rate of 45%; therefore, patients with the micropapillary variant of urothelial carcinoma should not be excluded from consideration for neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Risk of Long‐Term Dual Antiplatelet Therapy Following Drug‐Eluting Stent Implantation in Octogenarians
Authors: MATSUMI JUNYA , TAKESHITA SATOSHI , SHISHIDO KOKI , SUGITATSU KAZUYA , MIZUNO SHINGO , SUENAGA HIDETAKA , TANAKA YUTAKA , TAKAHASHI SAEKO , SAITO SHIGERU
Published: February 2013

Objectives

To evaluate the risk of long‐term dual antiplatelet therapy (DAT) following drug‐eluting stent (DES) implantation in octogenarians.

Background

DES implantation requires DAT; however, DAT‐associated risk in octogenarians remains unclear.

Methods

Two‐hundred and six consecutive octogenarians (130 men, 83.3 ± 3.4 years) underwent stent implantation (104 bare metal stents [BMSs] and 102 DESs) and 38.0 ± 13.2 months of follow‐up.

Results

Significantly more DES patients received DAT. The incidence of bleeding events was similar in the DES and BMS groups for 1 year (total: 10.8% vs 5.8%, P = 0.19; major: 4.9% vs 2.9%, P = 0.70). However, after 2 years, significantly more bleeding events occurred in the DES group than the BMS group (total: 2 years, 21.6% vs 9.6%, P = 0.02; 3 years, 29.4% vs 11.5%, P = 0.001; 4 years, 31.4% vs 15.4%, P = 0.007; major: 2 years, 12.7% vs 3.8%, P = 0.04; 3 years, 18.6% vs 5.8%, P = 0.005; 4 years, 19.6% vs 6.7%, P = 0.006). Overall, significantly more total bleeding events (31.4% vs 15.4%, P = 0.007) and major bleeding events (19.2% vs 6.7%, P = 0.006) were observed in the DES group than in the BMS group. The adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were as follows: total bleeding events, 2.203 (95% CI: 1.065–4.556; P = 0.033); major bleeding events, 4.324 (1.506–12.414; P = 0.007).

Conclusions

DAT was associated with an increased risk of bleeding events in octogenarians after 2 years. DAT discontinuation should be considered for octogenarians 1‐year post‐DES implantation. (J Interven Cardiol 2013;26:114–122)
Would Tirofiban Have Been Shown Non‐Inferior to Abciximab Had the TENACITY Trial Not Been Terminated for Financial Reasons?
Authors: BERGER PETER B. , WILLIAMS JUDSON B. , HASSELBLAD VIC , CHISWELL KAREN , PIEPER KAREN S. , CALIFF ROBERT M.
Published: February 2013

Objectives

To investigate whether tirofiban would have been non‐inferior to abciximab had the trial completed enrollment and place the termination of this trial in a broader research ethics context.

Background

TENACITY was terminated by the sponsor for financial reasons. At the time, event rates for the 2 treatment arms were unknown.

Methods

TENACITY was designed to compare tirofiban with abciximab in approximately 8,000 patients; however, enrollment was terminated after 383 (4.8%) patients. The primary end‐point was a composite of 30‐day death, myocardial infarction, and urgent target vessel revascularization. Non‐inferiority was defined as the likelihood that tirofiban would preserve at least 50% of the ability of abciximab to reduce the primary end‐point at 30 days, based on abciximab's demonstrated ability to reduce such events by 43% (relative risk, 0.573; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.507–0.648; P < 0.001). To determine the probability of non‐inferiority given the patients already enrolled, a Bayesian approach was used.

Results

The primary composite end‐point occurred in 8.8% of patients randomized to abciximab versus 6.9% receiving high‐bolus‐dose tirofiban (odds ratio, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.37–1.64). The estimated conditional power for the test that tirofiban would be non‐inferior to abciximab if all patients been enrolled is 93.7%. Using the estimated predictive power method, the likelihood was 84.8%.

Conclusions

TENACITY was well powered to identify non‐inferiority with tirofiban versus abciximab, and the patients enrolled strengthened the probability that this would have been the outcome had the trial been completed. When a clinical trial is terminated solely for financial reasons, it is incumbent upon the sponsor to provide proper patient follow‐up and publication of the findings. (J Interven Cardiol 2013;26:123–130)
Involvement of presenilin holoprotein upregulation in calcium dyshomeostasis of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Honarnejad Kamran , Jung Christian K.E. , Lammich Sven , Arzberger Thomas , Kretzschmar Hans , Herms Jochen
Published: February 2013

Mutations in presenilins (PS1 and PS2) account for the vast majority of early onset familial Alzheimer's disease cases. Beside the well investigated role of presenilins as the catalytic unit in γ‐secretase complex, their involvement in regulation of intracellular calcium homeostasis has recently come into more focus of Alzheimer's disease research. Here we report that the overexpression of PS1 full‐length holoprotein forms, in particular familial Alzheimer's disease‐causing forms of PS1, result in significantly attenuated calcium release from thapsigargin‐ and bradykinin‐sensitive stores. Interestingly, treatment of HEK293 cells with γ‐secretase inhibitors also leads to decreased amount of calcium release from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) accompanying elevated PS1 holoprotein levels. Similarly, the knockdown of PEN‐2 which is associated with deficient PS1 endoproteolysis and accumulation of its holoprotein form also leads to decreased ER calcium release. Notably, we detected enhanced PS1 holoprotein levels also in postmortem brains of patients carrying familial Alzheimer's disease PS1 mutations. Taken together, the conditions in which the amount of full length PS1 holoprotein is increased result in reduction of calcium release from ER. Based on these results, we propose that the disturbed ER calcium homeostasis mediated by the elevation of PS1 holoprotein levels may be a contributing factor to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.
Self‐reported depressive symptoms in women hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Sanner J. E. , Frazier L. , Udtha M.
Published: February 2013

Accessible summary

Depressive symptoms are common in women hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome, but symptom experience and severity may differ across a women's lifetime.

Tiredness or fatigue, loss of energy and sleep disturbances were the three depressive symptoms most frequently reported by depressed women, hospitalized for acute coronary syndrome, across all age groups.

These results stress the need to further understand the complexity of depressive symptoms in women with cardiovascular disease.

The purpose of this cross‐sectional observational study was to explore depressive symptoms, among 377 women, during hospitalization for acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Women were screened for depressive symptoms using the Beck Depression Inventory‐II (BDI‐II). Pearson chi‐squared tests for independence were used for comparisons between categorical variables and t‐tests for independent samples were used for comparisons between continuous variables. Tukey's honestly significant difference test along with one‐way anova test was used to conduct multiple comparisons between the three defined age groups ranging from 29–49, 50–64 to ≥65 years. A total of 118 women screened positive for depression (BDI‐II score ≥ 14). The percentage of women that met the criteria for a positive depression screening was significantly different between the three age groups. The proportion of depressed women who reported feelings of sadness, past failures, punishment, self‐dislike, agitation, worthlessness, sleep disturbances and irritability varied significantly by age group. Study findings indicate that symptom experience and severity may differ across a lifetime. These results support the need to understand the complexity of depressive symptoms experienced by women. The ability to understand and recognize depressive symptoms in women, with ACS, may assist healthcare professionals with the management of a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor.
Calcium Dynamics in Vascular Smooth Muscle
Authors: Amberg Gregory C. , Navedo Manuel F.
Published: February 2013

Smooth muscle cells are ultimately responsible for determining vascular luminal diameter and blood flow. Dynamic changes in intracellular calcium are a critical mechanism regulating vascular smooth muscle contractility. Processes influencing intracellular calcium are therefore important regulators of vascular function with physiological and pathophysiological consequences. In this review we discuss the major dynamic calcium signals identified and characterized in vascular smooth muscle cells. These signals vary with respect to their mechanisms of generation, temporal properties, and spatial distributions. The calcium signals discussed include calcium waves, junctional calcium transients, calcium sparks, calcium puffs, and L‐type calcium channel sparklets. For each calcium signal we address underlying mechanisms, general properties, physiological importance, and regulation.
The Effect of Cancer on Suicide among Elderly Holocaust Survivors
Authors: Nakash Ora , Liphshitz Irena , Keinan‐Boker Lital , Levav Itzhak
Published: February 2013

Jewish‐Israelis of European origin with cancer have higher suicide rates relative to their counterparts in the general population. We investigated whether this effect results from the high proportion of Holocaust survivors among them, due to vulnerabilities arising from the earlier traumas they sustained. The study was based on all Jewish‐European persons with cancer, 60 years and over, diagnosed in Israel between 1999 and 2007. The standardized incidence ratios were not significantly different between the exposed and nonexposed groups (men: 0.90, 95% CI 0.60–1.19; women: 0.95, 95% CI 0.55–1.37). Past exposure to maximum adversity did not increase the suicide risk among persons with cancer.
Sports injuries in physical education teacher education students
Authors: Goossens L. , Verrelst R. , Cardon G. , De Clercq D.
Published: February 2013

Sports injuries could be highly detrimental to the career of a physical education teacher education (PETE) student. To enable the development of future sports injury prevention programs, sports injuries in 128 first‐year academic bachelor PETE students were registered prospectively during one academic year. Common risk factors for sports injuries, taken from the literature, were also evaluated by means of logistic regression analysis. We found an incidence rate of 1.91 and an injury risk of 0.85, which is higher than generally found in a sports‐active population. Most injuries involved the lower extremities, were acute, newly occurring injuries, and took place in non‐contact situations. More than half of all injuries lead to an inactivity period of 1 week or more and over 80% of all injuries required medical attention. A major part of these injuries happened during the intracurricular sports classes. Few differences were seen between women and men. A history of injury was a significant risk factor (P = 0.018) for the occurrence of injuries, and performance of cooling‐down exercises was significantly related to a lower occurrence of ankle injuries (P = 0.031). These data can inform future programs for the prevention of sports injuries in PETE students.
The individual and combined influence of ACE and ACTN3 genotypes on muscle phenotypes before and after strength training
Authors: Erskine R. M. , Williams A. G. , Jones D. A. , Stewart C. E. , Degens H.
Published: February 2013

Alternative measures of muscle size, strength, and power to those used in previous studies could help resolve the controversy surrounding associations between polymorphisms of the angiotensin‐I converting enzyme (ACE) and α‐actinin‐3 (ACTN3) genes and skeletal muscle phenotypes, and the responses to resistance training (RT). To this end, we measured quadriceps femoris muscle volume (Vm), physiological cross‐sectional area (PCSA), maximum isometric force (Ft), specific force (Ft per unit PCSA), maximum isoinertial strength (1‐RM), and maximum power (Wmax; n = 40) before and after 9‐week knee extension RT in 51 previously untrained young men, who were genotyped for the ACE I/D and ACTN3 R577X polymorphisms. ACTN3 R‐allele carriers had greater Vm, 1‐RM, and Wmax than XX homozygotes at baseline (all P < 0.05), but responses to RT were independent of ACTN3 genotype (all P > 0.05). Muscle phenotypes were independent of ACE genotype before (all P > 0.05) and after RT (all P > 0.01). However, people with the “optimal” ACE+ACTN3 genotype combination had greater baseline 1‐RM and Wmax compared to those with the “suboptimal” profile (both P < 0.0125). We show for the first time that the ACTN3 R577X polymorphism is associated with human Vm and (independently and in combination with the ACE I/D polymorphism) influences 1‐RM and Wmax.
A Novel Class of Lipoprotein Lipase-Sensitive Molecules Mediates Toll-Like Receptor 2 Activation by Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Jain Sumita , Coats Stephen R. , Chang Ana M. , Darveau Richard P.
Published: February 2013

Infection by the chronic periodontitis-associated pathogenPorphyromonas gingivalisactivates a Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) response that triggers inflammation in the host but also promotes bacterial persistence. Our aim was to define ligands on the surfaces of intactP. gingivaliscells that determine its ability to activate TLR2. Molecules previously reported as TLR2 agonists include lipopolysaccharide (LPS), fimbriae, the lipoprotein PG1828, and phosphoceramides. We demonstrate that these molecules do not comprise the major factors responsible for stimulating TLR2 by whole bacterial cells. First,P. gingivalismutants devoid of the reported protein agonists, PG1828 and fimbriae, activate TLR2 as strongly as the wild type. Second, two-phase extraction of whole bacteria resulted in a preponderance of TLR2 agonist activity partitioning to the hydrophilic phase, demonstrating that phosphoceramides are not a major TLR2 ligand. Third, analysis of LPS revealed that TLR2 activation is independent of lipid A structural variants. Instead, activation of TLR2 and TLR2/TLR1 by LPS is in large part due to copurifying molecules that are sensitive to the action of the enzyme lipoprotein lipase. Strikingly, intactP. gingivalisbacterial cells treated with lipoprotein lipase were attenuated in their ability to activate TLR2. We propose that a novel class of molecules comprised by lipoproteins constitutes the major determinants that confer toP. gingivalisthe ability to stimulate TLR2 signaling.
ON THE DESCRIPTION OF SURFACE OPERATORS IN ${\mathcal N} = 2^*$ SYM
Authors: BABARO JUAN PABLO , GIRIBET GASTON
Published: February 2013

Alday and Tachikawa [Lett. Math. Phys.94, 87 (2010)] observed that the Nekrasov partition function of [Formula: see text] superconformal gauge theories in the presence of fundamental surface operators can be associated to conformal blocks of a 2D CFT with affine sl(2) symmetry. This can be interpreted as the insertion of a fundamental surface operator changing the conformal symmetry from the Virasoro symmetry discovered in Ref. 2 to the affine Kac–Moody symmetry. A natural question arises as to how such a 2D CFT description can be extended to the case of non-fundamental surface operators. Motivated by this question, we review the results [Y. Hikida and V. Schomerus, JHEP0710, 064 (2007); S. Ribault, JHEP0805, 073 (2008)] and put them together to suggest a way to address the problem: It follows from this analysis that the expectation value of a non-fundamental surface operator in the SU(2) [Formula: see text] super Yang–Mills (YM) theory would be in correspondence with the expectation value of a single vertex operator in a two-dimensional CFT with reduced affine symmetry and whose central charge is parametrized by the integer number that labels the type of singularity of the surface operator.
STOCHASTIC QUANTIZATION APPROACH FOR CAUSAL DYNAMICAL TRIANGULATION STRING FIELD THEORY
Authors: KAWABE HIROSHI
Published: February 2013

We construct a two-dimensional (2D) causal dynamical triangulation (CDT) model from a matrix model which represents the loop gas model of closed string. The target-space index is reinterpreted as time or geodesic distance. We apply stochastic quantization method to the model to obtain the Generalized CDT (GCDT), which has additional interaction of creating baby universe. If we take a specific scaling in continuum limit, we realize an extended GCDT model characterized by the noncritical string field theory.
ELECTRON-IMPURITY SCATTERING IN DOPED SINGLE LAYER GRAPHENE
Authors: PATEL DIGISH K. , SHARMA A. C. , ASHRAF S. S. Z.
Published: February 2013

We calculated electron-impurity scattering rate (ℏ/τ) as a function of quasiparticle energy (ε) for doped single layer graphene (SLG), bilayer graphene (BLG) and two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at zero temperature. (ℏ/τ) of SLG has been computed analytically as well as numerically. Computed results show that ℏ/τ of SLG; (a) tends to zero at ε = 0 and, (b) it exhibits peak at ≈1.6εf, where εf is Fermi energy. Contrary to this, ℏ/τ of 2DEG and BLG show their maximum values at ε = 0 and decline thereafter on increasing ε to attain a minimum at around ε equal to Fermi energy. We thus find that ℏ/τ versus ε of SLG displays an entirely different behavior than that of BLG and 2DEG, suggesting that electron-impurity scattering process in SLG sharply differs from those in BLG and 2DEG. Further, computed ℏ/τ of SLG exhibits a large variation in its magnitude over the energy range of 0 ≤ ε ≤ 3εf. Estimation of resistivity within Boltzmann transport theory involves an scattering rate averaged over all possible values of ε. It can therefore be inferred that the computation of resistivity with the use of ℏ/τ at ε = εf for comparing the computed results with experimental data can be highly misleading. Scattering rates of SLG, BLG and 2DEG are found increasing on enhancing the impurity concentration.
GENERATION OF STATIONARY CONTROL POLICIES WITH BEST EXPECTED PERFORMANCE FOR A FAMILY OF MARKOV CHAINS
Authors: BERLOW NOAH , PAL RANADIP
Published: February 2013

Due to the high computational cost associated with calculation of optimal control policies for a family of Markov chains, sub-optimal policy generation approaches are often required for development of intervention strategies in systems medicine. In this paper, a new infinite-horizon suboptimal policy generation algorithm using a sequential-selection approach with efficient re-calculation of steady-state distributions is presented and compared against brute-force and other sub-optimal algorithms. Our results show that for a system represented by a family of Markov chains, the presented approach is able to generate robust stationary control policies with superior expected behavior in a computationally inexpensive manner.
ON STATIC STABILITY OF NONLINEARLY ELASTIC EULER'S COLUMNS OBEYING THE MODIFIED LUDWICK'S LAW
Authors: BROJAN MIHA , SITAR MATEJ , KOSEL FRANC
Published: February 2013

It is illustrated in this paper that a nonlinearly elastic column, depending upon the values of different material parameters involved, exhibits several stability characteristics and types of buckling which are generally observed separately in distinctively different structural systems. By introducing finite disturbances it is shown that the column may buckle well before the bifurcation buckling load is reached. The proposed approach can be useful in engineering practice since it can be utilized to study the stability of uniaxial structural elements made from rubber or any other material which obeys the modified Ludwick's constitutive model.
SOLUTIONS AND THERMODYNAMICS OF NONCOMMUTATIVE LIOUVILLE BLACK HOLE
Authors: BELHAJ A. , BILAL K. , EL BOUKILI A. , NACH M. , SEDRA M. B.
Published: February 2013

Motivated by string theory results, we study Liouville black hole solutions and their thermodynamics on noncommutative space. In particular, we present explicit solutions of black hole equations of motion, then we find their classical properties such as the ADM-mass, the horizon geometry and the scalar Ricci curvature. Thermodynamic properties of such noncommutative black hole solutions including the Hawking temperature and entropy function are also discussed for three different regions of the moduli space of the theory.
JACOBI VECTOR FIELDS FOR LAGRANGIAN SYSTEMS ON ALGEBROIDS
Authors: JÓŹWIKOWSKI MICHAŁ
Published: February 2013

We study the geometric nature of the Jacobi equation. In particular we prove that Jacobi vector fields (JVFs) along a solution of the Euler–Lagrange (EL) equations are themselves solutions of the EL equations but considered on a non-standard algebroid (different from the tangent bundle Lie algebroid). As a consequence we obtain a simple non-computational proof of the relation between the null subspace of the second variation of the action and the presence of JVFs (and conjugate points) along an extremal. We work in the framework of skew-symmetric algebroids.
HOW LARGE IS THE SHADOW OF A SYMPLECTIC BALL?
Authors: ABBONDANDOLO ALBERTO , MATVEYEV ROSTISLAV
Published: February 2013

Consider the image of the 2n-dimensional unit ball by a symplectic embedding into the standard symplectic vector space of dimension 2n. Its 2k-dimensional shadow is its orthogonal projection onto a complex subspace of real dimension 2k. Is it true that the volume of this 2k-dimensional shadow is at least the volume of the unit 2k-dimensional ball? This statement is trivially true when k = n, and when k = 1 it is a reformulation of Gromov's non-squeezing theorem. Therefore, this question can be considered as a middle-dimensional generalization of the non-squeezing theorem. We investigate the validity of this statement in the linear, nonlinear and perturbative setting.
Concept location using formal concept analysis and information retrieval
Authors: Poshyvanyk Denys , Gethers Malcom , Marcus Andrian
Published: February 2013

The article addresses the problem of concept location in source code by proposing an approach that combines Formal Concept Analysis and Information Retrieval. In the proposed approach, Latent Semantic Indexing, an advanced Information Retrieval approach, is used to map textual descriptions of software features or bug reports to relevant parts of the source code, presented as a ranked list of source code elements. Given the ranked list, the approach selects the most relevant attributes from the best ranked documents, clusters the results, and presents them as a concept lattice, generated using Formal Concept Analysis.

The approach is evaluated through a large case study on concept location in the source code on six open-source systems, using several hundred features and bugs. The empirical study focuses on the analysis of various configurations of the generated concept lattices and the results indicate that our approach is effective in organizing different concepts and their relationships present in the subset of the search results. In consequence, the proposed concept location method has been shown to outperform a standalone Information Retrieval based concept location technique by reducing the number of irrelevant search results across all the systems and lattice configurations evaluated, potentially reducing the programmers' effort during software maintenance tasks involving concept location.