bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differences between Li, Na, and K migration in thin SiO2 films during ToF-SIMS O2+ depth profiling
Authors: Krivec Stefan , Amsüss Andreas , Schwab Stefan , Hutter Herbert
Published: March 2018

Distribution of alkali metals within thin insulating films as recorded by time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) dual beam depth profiling using O2+ as the sputter projectile is usually exhibiting artifacts. Positive charges appear on the sample surface upon impact of sputter ions. This leads to large electric fields within the insulator, causing alkali metal ions to migrate toward the interface with an adjacent conductive layer. Additionally, the sample temperature is a main contributor to migration processes. By varying the temperature during measurements, the mobility of alkali metal ions can be regulated. This report addresses the difference between Li, Na, and K migration during ToF-SIMS depth profiling. It is shown that there is no significant difference between Li and Na migration within a thermally grown SiO2 layer on Si. K migration, however, is reduced, leading to less distorted depth profiles. At elevated temperatures above T = 200 °C, there is the onset to a second artifact, resulting in surface segregation of K and superposing the migration artifact in ToF-SIMS depth profiles. It is shown that the use of low energy electron flooding has an important role in the occurrence of alkali metal ion surface segregation.
Risk for Depression and Psychological Well-Being in German National and State Team Athletes—Associations With Age, Gender, and Performance Level
Authors: Belz Johanna , Kleinert Jens , Ohlert Jeannine , Rau Thea , Allroggen Marc
Published: March 2018

Adolescence is a vulnerable period for the development of depression. Research on depression in athletes including adolescent athletes, however, is scarce. The purpose of the present study was to assess the risk for depression depending on the athletes’ age, gender, and performance level. Data were collected from 1,799 German national and state team athletes. The PHQ-2 and the WHO-5 were administered to assess the athletes’ risk for depression and current state of psychological well-being. Overall, 13% of the athletes were screened positive for depression and 10% for impaired well-being. Adolescents, females and athletes of junior national teams showed a higher risk for depression and/or lower well-being than other subgroups. The finding that adolescent athletes are more vulnerable to suffer from depressive symptoms than adult athletes mirrors finding in the general population. Screening tools for depression should be followed up by clinical expert interviews to provide an external criterion for the obtained results.
Perceived Importance of Selected Psychological Strategies Among Elite Malaysian Athletes
Authors: Ponnusamy Vellapandian , Guerrero Michelle , Martin Jeffrey J.
Published: March 2018

Elite Malaysian athletes (N = 179) from integrated and segregated sports rated the perceived importance of eight psychological strategies for improving performance using two different response format methods, a Likert rating scale and forced-choice. A forced-choice procedure produced better discrimination among the skills than a Likert rating scale procedure. We also found that the ratings of importance differed as a function of sport type and gender. Specifically, athletes in integrated sports placed more importance on setting team goals and clarifying roles/responsibilities compared to athletes in segregated sports. At the same time, participants in segregated sports viewed setting personal goals, psych-up strategies, and imagery as more important for performance than those in integrated sports. Significant interaction effects indicated that, within segregated sports, females rated positive self-talk higher than males, but communication skills were rated higher by males than by females.
Examining Practice and Learning Effects With Serial Administration of the Clinical Reaction Time Test in Healthy Young Athletes
Authors: Nguyen Cindy N. , Clements Reuben N. , Porter Lucas A. , Clements Nicole E. , Gray Matthew D. , Killian Dustin J. , Baker Russell T.
Published: March 2018

Context: The clinical reaction time (RTclin) test has been recommended as a valid test for assessing concussion and determining recovery of reaction time function following concussion. However, it is unknown whether repeat assessment, as is used in postconcussion testing, is affected by learning or practice phenomena. Objective: To determine if a practice or learning effect is present with serial administration of the RTclin test. Design: Randomized control trial. Setting: University athletic training clinics. Participants: A total of 112 healthy collegiate athletes (age = 19.46 [1.34] y). Interventions: The control group completed the RTclin test on days 1 and 60. The experimental group completed the RTclin test on days 1, 2, 3, 7, and 60. Main Outcome Measure: Reaction time as measured with the RTclin test. Results: The difference in RTclin test performance from day 1 to day 60 was not significant (mean change = −2.77 [14.46] ms, P = .42, 95% confidence intervals, −6.40 to 0.862) between groups. The experimental group experienced significant improvement (λ = 0.784, F4,49 = 3.365, P = .02, η2 = .216, power = 0.81) with acute repeat testing. However, post hoc analysis did not reveal a significant difference between scores during the 5 test periods. Conclusions: The results suggest serial administration of the RTclin test does not produce a practice or learning effect. Clinicians, however, should be cautious as the results do provide evidence patients may demonstrate improved scores when testing occurs on repetitive days after initial exposure to the test.
One Intact Transmembrane Substrate Binding Site Is Sufficient for the Function of the Homodimeric Type I ATP-Binding Cassette Importer for Positively Charged Amino Acids Art(MP)
2
of Geobacillus stearothermophilus
Authors: Heuveling Johanna , Landmesser Heidi , Schneider Erwin
Published: March 2018

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport systems comprise two transmembrane domains/subunits that form a translocation path and two nucleotide-binding domains/subunits that bind and hydrolyze ATP. Prokaryotic canonical ABC import systems require an extracellular substrate-binding protein for function. Knowledge of substrate-binding sites within the transmembrane subunits is scarce. Recent crystal structures of the ABC importer Art(QN)
2
for positively charged amino acids of
Thermoanerobacter tengcongensis
revealed the presence of one substrate molecule in a defined binding pocket in each of the transmembrane subunits, ArtQ (J. Yu, J. Ge, J. Heuveling, E. Schneider, and M. Yang, Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:5243–5248, 2015,
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1415037112
). This finding raised the question of whether both sites must be loaded with substrate prior to initiation of the transport cycle. To address this matter, we first explored the role of key residues that form the binding pocket in the closely related Art(MP)
2
transporter of
Geobacillus stearothermophilus
, by monitoring consequences of mutations in ArtM on ATPase and transport activity at the level of purified proteins embedded in liposomes. Our results emphasize that two negatively charged residues (E153 and D160) are crucial for wild-type function. Furthermore, the variant Art[M(L67D)P]
2
exhibited strongly impaired activities, which is why it was considered for construction of a hybrid complex containing one intact and one impaired substrate-binding site. Activity assays clearly revealed that one intact binding site was sufficient for function. To our knowledge, our study provides the first biochemical evidence on transmembrane substrate-binding sites of an ABC importer.

IMPORTANCE
Canonical prokaryotic ATP-binding cassette importers mediate the uptake of a large variety of chemicals, including nutrients, osmoprotectants, growth factors, and trace elements. Some also play a role in bacterial pathogenesis, which is why full understanding of their mode of action is of the utmost importance. One of the unsolved problems refers to the chemical nature and number of substrate binding sites formed by the transmembrane subunits. Here, we report that a hybrid amino acid transporter of
G. stearothermophilus
, encompassing one intact and one impaired transmembrane binding site, is fully competent in transport, suggesting that the binding of one substrate molecule is sufficient to trigger the translocation process.
Conformational Stability of the Hemagglutinin of H5N1 Influenza A Viruses Influences Susceptibility to Broadly Neutralizing Stem Antibodies
Authors: Wang Wei , Song Hyo Sook , Keller Paul W. , Alvarado-Facundo Esmeralda , Vassell Russell , Weiss Carol D.
Published: March 2018

Vaccines that elicit broadly neutralizing antibodies to the conserved stem of hemagglutinin (HA) are being developed as universal influenza vaccines that protect against influenza across multiple years. However, different influenza virus strains, even those in the same subtype with identical stem sequences, can vary in susceptibility to broadly neutralizing stem antibodies, and the reasons are not understood. Here we studied potential mechanisms underlying the differing sensitivities of a panel of H5N1 HA pseudoviruses to broadly neutralizing stem antibodies. We found that greater HA conformational stability, as measured by thermal inactivation and pH triggering of conformational changes, correlates with reduced neutralization sensitivity and antibody binding to HA under neutral- and low-pH conditions. Our data indicate that the conformational stability of HA is an important attribute of susceptibility to broadly neutralizing stem antibodies and is influenced by residues outside the stem antibody epitopes.

IMPORTANCE
The influenza virus surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) mediates virus attachment and membrane fusion between virus and host cells, allowing the viral core to enter the host cell cytoplasm for replication. Fusion occurs when HA undergoes low-pH-induced-conformational changes during endocytosis. Broadly neutralizing antibodies targeted to the conserved stem region of HA interfere with conformational changes required for fusion. Vaccines that elicit such antibodies are being developed as novel universal influenza vaccines for multiyear protection. We investigated why H5N1 HAs from different strains differ in their sensitivity to broadly neutralizing stem antibodies despite having conserved epitopes. We report that HA conformational stability due to residues outside the antibody binding site accounted for much of the variation in susceptibility to neutralization by stem antibodies. These findings highlight the importance of nonepitope residues in influencing neutralization sensitivity to stem antibodies and the complexities in developing universal vaccines targeting conserved epitopes in the HA stem.
Estimating neonatal length of stay for babies born very preterm
Authors: Seaton Sarah E , Barker Lisa , Draper Elizabeth S , Abrams Keith R , Modi Neena , Manktelow Bradley N
Published: March 2018

Objective

To predict length of stay in neonatal care for all admissions of very preterm singleton babies.

Setting

All neonatal units in England.

Patients

Singleton babies born at 24–31 weeks gestational age from 2011 to 2014. Data were extracted from the National Neonatal Research Database.

Methods

Competing risks methods were used to investigate the competing outcomes of death in neonatal care or discharge from the neonatal unit. The occurrence of one event prevents the other from occurring. This approach can be used to estimate the percentage of babies alive, or who have been discharged, over time.

Results

A total of 20 571 very preterm babies were included. In the competing risks model, gestational age was adjusted for as a time-varying covariate, allowing the difference between weeks of gestational age to vary over time. The predicted percentage of death or discharge from the neonatal unit were estimated and presented graphically by week of gestational age. From these percentages, estimates of length of stay are provided as the number of days following birth and corrected gestational age at discharge.

Conclusions

These results can be used in the counselling of parents about length of stay and the risk of mortality.
FOXO3a expression is associated with lymph node metastasis and poor disease-free survival in triple-negative breast cancer
Authors: Rehman Abdul , Kim Yeseul , Kim Hyunsung , Sim Jongmin , Ahn Hyein , Chung Min Sung , Shin Su-Jin , Jang Kiseok
Published: March 2018

Aims

Forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors, consisting of FOXO1, FOXO3a, FOXO4 and FOXO6, are involved in carcinogenesis and tumour progression. Recent studies have suggested that FOXOs act as tumour suppressors in a variety of human cancers. This study investigated the clinicopathological significance of FOXOs in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Methods

FOXO protein expressions were assessed by immunohistochemistry in 125 TNBC tissues. Correlations between FOXO protein expression and various clinicopathological parameters, including patients’ survival, were investigated. MDA-MB-468 cell line was used for in vitro cell proliferation and migration assay.

Results

FOXO1 protein expression was not observed in all 125 TNBC tissues. FOXO4 and FOXO6 protein expressions were detected in 11 (8.8%) and 14 (11.2%) TNBC tissues, respectively. Loss of FOXO4 expression was significantly associated with high histological grade (P=0.014, χ2test), and TNBCs with positive FOXO6 expression correlated with high grade (P=0.020, χ2test). FOXO3a expression was detected in 40 (32%) TNBC cases and correlated with adverse clinicopathological features, such as lymph node metastasis (P=0.021, χ2test), perineural invasion (P=0.013, χ2test) and higher Ki-67 proliferation index (P=0.048, t-test). Additionally, FOXO3a expression was significantly associated with poor disease-free survival (P=0.015, log-rank test). In the in vitro study, siRNA-mediated FOXO3a knockdown in the MDA-MB-468 cell line inhibited cell proliferation and migration.

Conclusion

Among FOXO members, FOXO3a may have a potential role in promoting tumour cell migration and proliferation and may serve as a prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for TNBC.
A novel homozygous frameshift mutation in theFUCA1gene causes both severe and mild fucosidosis
Authors: Saleh-Gohari Nasrollah , Saeidi Kolsoum , Zeighaminejad Roya
Published: March 2018

Aims

Fucosidosis is a rare autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder caused by α-L-fucosidase deficiency as a result ofFUCA1gene mutations. Here, we studied clinical features and the molecular basis of fucosidosis in a family from Iran, including two probands and nine family members.

Methods

DNA sample of two probands were screened for gene defects using a next generation sequencing technique. The sequencing processes were performed on an Illumina Hiseq 4000 platform. Sequence reads were analysed using BWA-GATK.

Results

Next generation sequencing revealed a frameshift mutation caused by 2 bp deletion (c.837_838 delTG; p.Cys279) in theFUCA1gene. The identified mutation was tested in all participants. Homozygous patients had almost all the complications associated with fucosidosis, while heterozygous carriers were unaffected.

Conclusions

The variant c.837_838 delTG; p.Cys279 has not been reported previously and is predicted to be pathogenic due to a premature stop codon.
A Medical Documents Rewriting Model Based on Medical Knowledge Demanders’ Feelings and Emotions
Authors: Yang Shih-Ting
Published: March 2018

Medical knowledge is disseminated and shared without any boundary due to the free and convenient sharing of medical documents. However, improper vocabulary and colors of medical documents tend to have an adverse impact on the perception and emotions of medical knowledge demanders. Hence, this paper develops a “Medical Documents Rewriting Model based on Medical Knowledge Demanders’ Feelings and Emotions”, and analyzes the provocative words and negative colors of medical articles. The words and colors of the target medical article are rewritten by calculating synonyms and suitable color codes. This paper also establishes a web-based medical documents rewriting system and conducts a case study to verify the feasibility of the model. The verification results show that when the system maintains about 600 medical documents, the average satisfaction score can be improved to 3.81 (76.2%). Hence, the developed system has a stable and high-performance level in medical documents rewriting. That is, this model and system can be applied to medical article sharing websites (e.g. A[Formula: see text] medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital), and the user’s negative emotion in reading medical documents can be reduced according to the medical article rewriting results. For medical knowledge demanders, the probability of obtaining medical knowledge with friendliness and quality can be enhanced.
Comparative analysis of probiotic bacteria based on a new definition of core genome
Authors: Satti Maria , Tanizawa Yasuhiro , Endo Akihito , Arita Masanori
Published: March 2018

The commensal genus Bifidobacterium has probiotic properties. We prepared a public library of the gene functions of the genus Bifidobacterium for its online annotation. Orthologous gene cluster analysis showed that the pan genomes of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus exhibit striking similarities when mapped to the Clusters of Orthologous Group (COG) database of proteins. When the core genes in each genus were selected based on our statistical definition of “core genome”, core genes were present in at least 92% of 52 Bifidobacterium and in 97% of 178 Lactobacillus genomes. Functional comparison of the core genes of the two genera revealed a significant difference in the categories “amino acid transport and metabolism” representing their difference in niche specificity. Over-represented Bifidobacterium protein families were primarily involved in host interactions, the complex compound metabolism, and in stress responses. These findings coincide with the published information and validate our bias-resilient definition of the core genome.
D-finite numbers
Authors: Huang Hui , Kauers Manuel
Published: March 2018

D-finite functions and P-recursive sequences are defined in terms of linear differential and recurrence equations with polynomial coefficients. In this paper, we introduce a class of numbers closely related to D-finite functions and P-recursive sequences. It consists of the limits of convergent P-recursive sequences. Typically, this class contains many well-known mathematical constants in addition to the algebraic numbers. Our definition of the class of D-finite numbers depends on two subrings of the field of complex numbers. We investigate how different choices of these two subrings affect the class. Moreover, we show that D-finite numbers are essentially limits of D-finite functions at the point one, and evaluating D-finite functions at non-singular algebraic points typically yields D-finite numbers. This result makes it easier to recognize certain numbers to be D-finite.
Constant term evaluation and two kinds of congruence
Authors: Hou Qing-Hu , Wang Yu-Shan
Published: March 2018

We consider two kinds of congruence proposed recently by Sun. The first one is of the form [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is a prime, [Formula: see text] is a character and [Formula: see text] is a sequence of integers. By using a constant term expression for [Formula: see text], we derive congruence for two sequences [Formula: see text]. The second one involves the sum [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] By giving a constant term expression for [Formula: see text], we derive a congruence for [Formula: see text] modulo a prime [Formula: see text].
Some congruences on Delannoy numbers and Schröder numbers
Authors: Liu Ji-Cai , Li Long , Wang Su-Dan
Published: March 2018

The Delannoy numbers and Schröder numbers are given by [Formula: see text] respectively. We mainly prove that for any prime [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] which was originally conjectured by Sun in 2011. A related congruence on the Delannoy numbers is also proved.
Cross-Strait Relations in 2017: Political Confrontation and Social Economic Integration
Authors: QI Dongtao
Published: March 2018

Political confrontation and social economic integration co-existed between mainland China and Taiwan in 2017. While Taipei continued to consolidate Taiwan’s de facto independence through desinicisation in various fields, Beijing gradually exerted pressure in the political, international, jurisdictional and military fields on Taipei. The Chinese central and local governments have also improved policies to attract more Taiwanese capital and people and cultivate a sense of belonging among Taiwanese in mainland China.
The North Korean Nuclear Crisis in 2017: New Challenges and Risks
Authors: KIM Sung Chull
Published: March 2018

North Korea’s hydrogen bomb test and ICBM tests in 2017 incurred a new crisis. Given that North Korea is unlikely to give up its nuclear weapons and a military option against it may be unworkable, deterrence becomes a realistic recourse to cope with the crisis. The most challenging issues are the North’s pursuit of more missile technologies and unknown aspects of nuclear command and control in Pyongyang.
Building a smart city
Authors: Gascó-Hernandez Mila
Published: March 2018

Smart Internet-based infrastructure is one thing but will be ignored without the public's continuing engagement.
Push versus pull
Authors: Jacobson Sheldon H.
Published: March 2018

Flipping the publishing business model.
DevOps metrics
Authors: Forsgren Nicole , Kersten Mik
Published: March 2018

Your biggest mistake might be collecting the wrong data.
Continuous delivery sounds great, but will it work here?
Authors: Humble Jez
Published: March 2018

It's not magic, it just requires continuous, daily improvement at all levels.
Artificial (emotional) intelligence
Authors: Krakovsky Marina
Published: March 2018

Enabled by advances in computing power and neural networks, machines are getting better at recognizing and dealing with human emotions.
Takes Tutu to Ballet
Authors: Trajkova Milka , Cafaro Francesco
Published: March 2018

Mirrors have been a core feature in ballet studios for over five hundred years. While physical mirrors provide real-time feedback, they do not inform dancers of their errors. Thus, technologies such as motion tracking have been used to augment what a physical mirror can provide. Current augmented mirrors, however, only implement one mode of communication, usually visual, and do not provide a holistic feedback to dancers that includes all the feedback elements commonly used in ballet classes. We conducted a mixed-method study with 16 novices and 16 expert dancers in which we compared two different modes of communication (visual and verbal), two different types of feedback (value and corrective) and two levels of guidance (mirror, or no mirror). Participants' ballet technique scores were evaluated by a remote teacher on eight ballet combinations (tendue, adagio, pirouette, saute, plié, degage, frappe and battement tendue). We report quantitative and qualitative results that show how the level of guidance, mode of communication, and type of feedback, needs to be tuned in different ways for novices and experts.
multiPDEVS: A Parallel Multicomponent System Specification Formalism
Authors: Foures Damien , Franceschini Romain , Bisgambiglia Paul-Antoine , Zeigler Bernard P.
Published: March 2018

Based on multiDEVS formalism, we introduce multiPDEVS, a parallel and nonmodular formalism for discrete event system specification. This formalism provides combined advantages of PDEVS and multiDEVS approaches, such as excellent simulation capabilities for simultaneously scheduled events and components able to influence each other using exclusively their state transitions. We next show the soundness of the formalism by giving a construction showing that any multiPDEVS model is equivalent to a PDEVS atomic model. We then present the simulation procedure associated, usually called abstract simulator. As a well‐adapted formalism to express cellular automata, we finally propose to compare an implementation of multiPDEVS formalism with a more classical Cell‐DEVS implementation through a fire spread application.
Compressed Sensing Based Joint Rate Allocation and Routing Design in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Hao Jie , Wang Ran , Zhang Baoxian , Zhuang Yi , Chen Bing
Published: March 2018

Compressed sensing for wireless sensor networks has attracted a lot of research attention in the last decade for its advantages in energy saving, robustness, and so on. Nevertheless, existing solutions mostly focus on the data compression performance while neglecting the energy efficiency. In this paper, we first present the joint resource allocation problem formulation based on compressed sensing. Then a distributed algorithm to compute the sampling rate and routes utilizing local network status is proposed. We conduct extensive experiments based on meteorological wireless sensor networks to verify the merit of our mechanism; it is shown that the proposed mechanism is able to achieve very high efficiency in terms of network lifetime and sensing quality compared with existing approaches.
Solving Elliptical Equations in 3D by Means of an Adaptive Refinement in Generalized Finite Differences
Authors: Gavete Luis , Ureña Francisco , Benito Juan Jose , Ureña Miguel , Gavete Maria Lucia
Published: March 2018

We apply a 3D adaptive refinement procedure using meshless generalized finite difference method for solving elliptic partial differential equations. This adaptive refinement, based on an octree structure, allows adding nodes in a regular way in order to obtain smooth transitions with different nodal densities in the model. For this purpose, we define an error indicator as stop condition of the refinement, a criterion for choosing nodes with the highest errors, and a limit for the number of nodes to be added in each adaptive stage. This kind of equations often appears in engineering problems such as simulation of heat conduction, electrical potential, seepage through porous media, or irrotational flow of fluids. The numerical results show the high accuracy obtained.
IMGN779, a Novel CD33-Targeting Antibody–Drug Conjugate with DNA-Alkylating Activity, Exhibits Potent Antitumor Activity in Models of AML
Authors: Kovtun Yelena , Noordhuis Paul , Whiteman Kathleen R. , Watkins Krystal , Jones Gregory E. , Harvey Lauren , Lai Katharine C. , Portwood Scott , Adams Sharlene , Sloss Callum M. , Schuurhuis Gerrit Jan , Ossenkoppele Gert , Wang Eunice S. , Pinkas Jan
Published: March 2018

The myeloid differentiation antigen CD33 has long been exploited as a target for antibody-based therapeutic approaches in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Validation of this strategy was provided with the approval of the CD33-targeting antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) gemtuzumab ozogamicin in 2000; the clinical utility of this agent, however, has been hampered by safety concerns. Thus, the full potential of CD33-directed therapy in AML remains to be realized, and considerable interest exists in the design and development of more effective ADCs that confer high therapeutic indices and favorable tolerability profiles. Here, we describe the preclinical characterization of a novel CD33-targeting ADC, IMGN779, which utilizes a unique DNA-alkylating payload to achieve potent antitumor effects with good tolerability. The payload, DGN462, is prototypical of a novel class of purpose-created indolinobenzodiazeprine pseudodimers, termed IGNs. With low picomolar potency, IMGN779 reduced viability in a panel of AML cell lines in vitro. Mechanistically, the cytotoxic activity of IMGN779 involved DNA damage, cell-cycle arrest, and apoptosis consistent with the mode of action of DGN462. Moreover, IMGN779 was highly active against patient-derived AML cells, including those with adverse molecular abnormalities, and sensitivity correlated to CD33 expression levels. In vivo, IMGN779 displayed robust antitumor efficacy in multiple AML xenograft and disseminated disease models, as evidenced by durable tumor regressions and prolonged survival. Taken together, these findings identify IMGN779 as a promising new candidate for evaluation as a novel therapeutic in AML. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(6); 1271–9. ©2018 AACR.
A Prospective Trial of Nebulized Amikacin in the Treatment of Bronchiectasis Exacerbation
Authors: Ailiyaer Yirepanjaing , Wang Xiuxiu , Zhang Yan , Li Caiyu , Li Tao , Qi Qian , Li Yu
Published: March 2018

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common pathogenic bacteria in bronchiectasis (BE) patients. The availability and security of nebulized amikacin treatment are unknown. Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the efficiency and adverse effects of nebulized amikacin treatment for 2 weeks, administered as intravenous therapy during exacerbation of BE patients infected with P. aeruginosa. Methods: A total of 143 patients with exacerbation of BE were screened between January 2013 and March 2016 at five tertiary hospitals in Shandong Province, China. The BE patients were diagnosed by high-resolution computed tomography scans, and all of them were confirmed to be infected with P. aeruginosa after sputum culture test. Seventy-four patients were assigned to the intervention group and received amikacin nebulization (0.2 g) treatment twice daily for 2 weeks along with intravenous antibiotic therapy. Sixty-nine patients were assigned to the control group and received standard antibiotic therapy alone. The primary outcome was the rate of bacterial eradication from the sputum, and the secondary outcomes were drug resistance and adverse effects. Results: The bacterial eradication rate of sputum in the intervention group (51.4%) was significantly higher compared to that in the control group (23.2%) (χ2 = 14.211, p = 0.030). Drug sensitivity testing showed that there were 5 drug-resistant cases in the intervention group and 7 in the control group, which was not significantly different. Three patients dropped out of the trial due to adverse effects. None of the patients hat renal injury. Conclusions: Nebulized amikacin treatment is a safe treatment for exacerbation of BE and significantly increases the bacterial eradication rate of sputum.
Time from Symptom Debut to Dementia Assessment by the Specialist Healthcare Service in Norway
Authors: Helvik Anne-Sofie , Engedal Knut , Šaltytė Benth Jūratė , Selbæk Geir
Published: March 2018

Objectives: We described the duration from symptom debut to assessment at specialist healthcare outpatient clinics for dementia in Norway and explored whether educational level was associated with time from symptom debut to dementia assessment. Methods: The study comprised 835 persons from a register for individuals with cognitive symptoms (NorCog). The outcome variable was time in months from symptom debut to assessment. The main independent variable was the number of years of education. Also age, gender, marital status, cognitive function, neuropsychiatric symptoms, assistance and location were assessed. Results: In an adjusted linear mixed model, a higher educational level was associated with a longer duration from symptom debut to assessment, where 5 additional years of education increased the time from symptom debut to consultation by 10%. Conclusion: The findings may perhaps be explained by the hypothesis that highly educated people may be able to compensate better for cognitive impairment, which is in line with a hypothesis of cognitive reserve.
Current Concepts of Inguinal Hernia Repair
Authors: Köckerling Ferdinand , Simons Maarten P.
Published: March 2018

With more than 20 million patients annually, inguinal hernia repair is one of the most often performed surgical procedures worldwide. The lifetime risk to develop an inguinal hernia is 27-43% for men and 3-6% for women. In spite of all advances, 11% of all patients suffer from a recurrence and 10-12% from chronic pain following primary inguinal hernia repair. By developing evidence-based guidelines and recommendations, the international hernia societies aim to improve the outcome of inguinal hernia repair due to standardization of care. From a total of more than 100 different repair techniques for inguinal and femoral hernias, classified as tissue repair, open mesh repair, and laparo-endoscopic mesh repair, the new International Guidelines of the Hernia-Surge Group only recommend the totally extraperitoneal patch plasty (TEP), transabdominal preperitoneal patch plasty (TAPP), and Lichtenstein techniques. Since a generally accepted technique suitable for all inguinal hernias does not exist, surgeons should provide both an anterior open (Lichtenstein) and a posterior laparo-endoscopic (TEP or TAPP) approach option. The guidelines strongly recommend that surgeons tailor the treatment of inguinal hernias based on expertise, local/national resources, and patient- and hernia-related factors. A tailored approach in inguinal hernia repair should pay heed to the patient- and hernia-related factors, unilateral hernia in men and women, bilateral hernia, recurrent hernia, scrotal hernia, previous pelvic and lower abdominal surgery, severe cardiac or pulmonary comorbidities, and incarcerated hernia.
Activation of Adenylyl Cyclase Causes Stimulation of Adenosine Receptors
Authors: Pleli Thomas , Mondorf Antonia , Ferreiros Nerea , Thomas Dominique , Dvorak Karel , Biondi Ricardo M. , Heringdorf Dagmar Meyer zu , Zeuzem Stefan , Geisslinger Gerd , Zimmermann Herbert , Waidmann Oliver , Piiper Albrecht
Published: March 2018

Background/Aims: Signaling of Gs protein-coupled receptors (GsPCRs) is accomplished by stimulation of adenylyl cyclase, causing an increase of the intracellular cAMP concentration, activation of the intracellular cAMP effectors protein kinase A (PKA) and Epac, and an efflux of cAMP, the function of which is still unclear. Methods: Activation of adenylyl cyclase by GsPCR agonists or cholera toxin was monitored by measurement of the intracellular cAMP concentration by ELISA, anti-phospho-PKA substrate motif phosphorylation by immunoblotting, and an Epac-FRET assay in the presence and absence of adenosine receptor antagonists or ecto-nucleotide phosphodiesterase/pyrophosphatase2 (eNPP2) inhibitors. The production of AMP from cAMP by recombinant eNPP2 was measured by HPLC. Extracellular adenosine was determined by LC-MS/MS, extracellular ATP by luciferase and LC-MS/MS. The expression of eNPP isoenzymes 1-3 was examined by RT-PCR. The expression of multidrug resistance protein 4 was suppressed by siRNA. Results: Here we show that the activation of GsPCRs and the GsPCRs-independent activation of Gs proteins and adenylyl cyclase by cholera toxin induce stimulation of cell surface adenosine receptors (A2A or A2B adenosine receptors). In PC12 cells stimulation of adenylyl cyclase by GsPCR or cholera toxin caused activation of A2A adenosine receptors by an autocrine signaling pathway involving cAMP efflux through multidrug resistance protein 4 and hydrolysis of released cAMP to AMP by eNPP2. In contrast, in PC3 cells cholera toxin- and GsPCR-induced stimulation of adenylyl cyclase resulted in the activation of A2B adenosine receptors. Conclusion: Our findings show that stimulation of adenylyl cyclase causes a remarkable activation of cell surface adenosine receptors.
Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio and Platelet Count Predict Long-Term Outcome of Stage IIIC Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Zhou Mingyi , Li Liankun , Wang Xiaobin , Wang Chunyan , Wang Danbo
Published: March 2018

Background/Aims: Prognostic value of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet count (PC) in patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIC epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is controversial. Methods: A total of 370 stage IIIC EOC patients who underwent primary debulking surgery (PDS) at the Department of Gynecology of Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute between January 2003 and August 2016 and had full information were involved. Patients were stratified into a high NLR (H-NLR) group versus a low NLR (L-NLR) group and a high PC (H-PC) group versus a low PC (L-PC) group according to cutoff values calculated through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Prognostic values of NLR and PC for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed. Results: We identified the optimal cut-off value of 3.08 for NLR and 289.5*109/L for PC. The median PFS and OS of the patients with H-NLR were shorter than L-NLR (PFS: 16.9 months vs. 19.5 months, hazard ratio [HR] 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.63, P = 0.022; OS: 33.5 months vs. 46.8 months, HR 1.3, 95% CI 1.01–1.66, P = 0.001). The median PFS and OS of the patients with H-PC were shorter than L-PC (PFS: 15.3 months vs. 21.6 months, HR 1.3, 95% CI 1.04–1.63, P < 0.001; OS: 37.3 months vs. 46.1 months, HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.89–1.46, P = 0.306). Conclusions: H-NLR and H-PC could predict poor long-term outcome of patients with FIGO stage III EOC.
A idiomaticidade e a formulaicidade no discurso escrito em português produzido por alunos universitários moçambicanos
Authors: Langa Julieta Machimuassana
Published: March 2018

A observação de textos redigidos em Português por alunos universitários moçambicanos revela dificuldades de escrita que vão para além do domínio das regras da gramática. As línguas maternas da maioria destes alunos são de raíz Bantu e utilizadas, sobretudo, em ambientes restritos ou familiares. Diferentemente das línguas bantu, o Português, língua segunda da maioria desses alunos, goza do estatuto de língua oficial, do ensino, da administração pública, do contacto com o mundo, sendo também a língua que confere prestígio social em Moçambique. Este quadro propicia transferências linguístico-discursivas, retóricas, culturais e idiomáticas que se manifestam numa variedade de formas de expressão peculiares às línguas e culturas em contacto, na comunicação oral ou escrita, e para o caso da presente pesquisa, enfaticamente na escrita. Neste artigo exploramos até que ponto estes alunos desenvolvem a fluência e a proficiência na língua-alvo, através do modo como organizam as unidades linguístico-discursivas para expressarem a sua visão do mundo, no contexto interlingue e intercultural em que vivem. Selecionamos trechos de 4 composições por eles produzidas e fizemos incidir a análise na forma como acomodam aspectos da idiomaticidade e da formulaicidade em textos do género opinativo e no âmbito da tipologia argumentativa.
Responsabilidade enunciativa em textos acadêmico-científicos: por um tratamento textual/discursivo das operações de citação
Authors: Bernardino Rosângela Alves dos Santos
Published: March 2018

Com base em categorias e marcas linguísticas da responsabilidade enunciativa, tal como propõe o quadro teórico da Análise Textual dos Discursos (ADAM, 2011), e em articulação com estudos do campo enunciativo (RABATEL, 2009; AUTHIER-REVUZ, 1990, 1998; GUENTCHÉVA, 1994), entre outros, este trabalho propõe uma reflexão acerca do tratamento dedicado às operações de citação em manuais de metodologia científica. Como alternativa ao aspecto essencialmente técnico e prescritivo evidenciado nos manuais examinados, colocamos em debate alguns direcionamentos didático-metodológicos que permitem compreender a citação e explorar seus variados mecanismos por um viés textual/discursivo e que, assim, possam nortear a produção e o ensino de textos na universidade, em particular na graduação.
A escrita como revelação do 'eu'
Authors: Seara Isabel Roboredo
Published: March 2018

No primeiro momento, passar-se-ão em revista alguns traços caracterizadores da escrita intimista, da exigência temporal ao processo de narração retrospectiva, do fragmentarismo à descontinuidade, da ambição recapitulativa ao risco do esquecimento. Em seguida, numa perspectiva pragmática, focalizaremos no ato de confidência desenhado, por excelência, no espaço de escrita autobiográfica. Esse ato, que estabelece a revelação do eu, visa e proclama concomitantemente a partilha comunicativa. A partir da análise dos vários textos representativos dos géneros textuais, mostraremos as marcas discursivas que caracterizam esta enunciação intimista e fragmentada, por um lado, e dialógica, por outro, concluindo da permeabilidade, da porosidade destes processos e evidenciando a dimensão compósita destas práticas de escrita.
Para uma análise da estrutura retórica em textos escritos produzidos por estudantes universitários moçambicanos
Authors: Mavale Cecília
Published: March 2018

A escrita é um processo dinâmico que não se resume ao conhecimento exclusivo do código linguístico. É importante que seja uma escrita que tenha em conta determinadas finalidades comunicativas, pois são estas que determinam configuração do texto. Não basta produzir sequências linguísticas estruturalmente correctas sem compreendermos o modo de como a língua está estruturada para fins de uso. Neste contexto, recorro a uma abordagem funcional para analisar certos mecanismos responsáveis pela criação de discursos coerentes e coesos, reflectindo propósitos comunicativos apropriados em diferentes situações. O presente artigo tem, pois, como objectivo discutir a importância do conhecimento da estrutura retórica do género textual opinativo, de superestrutura argumentativa na produção de textos escritos por estudantes universitários que têm a língua portuguesa como língua segunda. Para esta pesquisa, seleccionei 10 (dez) composições produzidas por estudantes dos cursos de Matemática e Filosofia, de uma instituição de ensino superior de Moçambique, na cidade de Maputo, em contexto caracterizado pela coabitação entre línguas bantu e a língua portuguesa. Esta última tem o estatuto de língua oficial no país, sendo, portanto, o veículo utilizado no ensino superior. Os resultados evidenciaram o fraco domínio dos padrões de organização retórica, o que implica um ensino explícito das diferentes maneiras de estruturação de textos, dependendo dos objectivos comunicativos que estão na origem da produção textual.
Transnational Travels of the Caterpillar Fungus in the Fifteenth through Nineteenth Centuries
Authors: Lu Di
Published: March 2018

The caterpillar fungus is representative of Chinese medicinal substances that are of Tibetan origin. From the early eighteenth century, due to people’s curiosity about exotic natural objects and their pursuit of new effective medicinal substances, the caterpillar fungus began to spread to Chinese society and even the rest of the world. Through intricate transnational networks of people, societies, and institutions, its specimens first arrived in France and Japan in the 1720s, Britain in about 1831, Russia in 1851, and America in 1891. The caterpillar fungus initiated European research on fungal parasitism in animals, and created new positions in the European natural order. European taxonomic identifications of the caterpillar fungus interacted with the European materia medica enterprise. Meanwhile, new European perceptions about its natural properties came to dominate Sino-Tibetan understandings of its properties and the nature of its cross-species transformation; but some Chinese medical knowledge about the caterpillar fungus was actively gathered in Europe due to its value as a medicinal substance. The tensions and negotiations surrounding the caterpillar fungus before the end of the nineteenth century can be seen as a prelude to the reconstruction of Chinese materia medica in the first half of the twentiethcentury.
Desiderata for the Principles of Compilation of a Canon of Buddhism and Medicine
Authors: Burton-Rose Daniel
Published: March 2018

“Buddhist medicine” is a neologism that first took root in the mid-twentieth century and has been gaining traction over the last few decades. While specialists treat this phrase as a heuristic device best used with caution, the 100-volume compendium collectionComplete Works of Chinese Buddhist Medicine and Pharmacopeia(Zhongguo Fojiao yiyao quanshu中國佛教醫藥全書, 2011) is a concretization of vague terminology into an actual body of works. The present article reviews the claims of the editors of theComplete Works of Chinese Buddhist Medicine and Pharmacopeiaagainst the works actually included in the compendium to find that the selection criteria was inadequate and choice of exemplars haphazard. Attempting an intellectual history of the present, the article analyses the editors’ motivations in light of the politics of canon compilation in the late imperial period, finding that the claim of mastering a comprehensive body of knowledge remains institutionally attractive in the contemporary People’s Republic of China, even if it is divorced from critical scholarly abilities comparable to those of the editors of Qing dynasty scholars. Cognizant that Digital Humanities projects continue to rely on printed compendiums for the texts they digitize, the article closes with suggested guidelines for the compilation of future collections on Buddhism and medicine in order to make them more useful to present day scholars.
A new species of Calamus (Calaminae, Calamoideae, Arecaceae) from Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: HENDERSON ANDREW , IQBAL MOH. , RUSYDI MUHAMMAD , PITOPANG RAMADHANIL
Published: March 2018

A new species of Calamus from eastern Sulawesi, Indonesia, is described and illustrated, and compared with similar species.
Rediscovery of the hadal species Amblyops magnus Birstein & Tchindonova, 1958 (Crustacea: Mysida: Mysidae): first record from the Mariana Trench
Authors: KOU QI , LI XINZHENG , HE LISHENG , WANG YONG
Published: March 2018

The blind deep-sea mysid Amblyops magnus Birstein & Tchindonova, 1958 is recorded for the first time from the Mariana Trench based on an adult female specimen collected near the Challenger Deep at a depth of 6555 m. The specimen was described, illustrated and compared with the type description as well as with the materials previously collected from the Japan Trench. The mitochondrial COI barcode was also obtained from the specimen and submitted to GenBank. This is the third discovery of this rare species and significantly extends its geographic distribution range to the low latitude hadal zone.
The Use and Abuse of Discretionary Powers of Governor in Formation of Ministry in a State in India
Authors: Joy Vincent
Published: March 2018

Discretionary powers of the Governor means the powers which s/he exercises as per one’s own individual judgement or without the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers. The Governor has to perform the duties as head of the state and as a ‘spot man’ of the central government and to use this discretionary power, within the peculiar context of our quasi-federal Constitution. One of the areas where the Governor can exercise discretion is in the appointment of a Chief Minister when a hung assembly emerges. The emergence of coalition government, party splits and mergers, alignment and realignment of parties, defection, etc. create muddled circumstances and these give opportunities to the Governor to use his discretion discriminately in the choice of the Chief Minister. The central government is alleged to use the office of the Governor as a weapon to manipulate the politics of the states for political gain. Unfortunately, no uniform practice has been followed or parliamentary traditions evolved in the practice of the appointment of Chief Ministers. The major criteria are whether the leader carries the majority with him or the coalition partners will have a workable majority. The Governor should try to secure a stable government and use his discretion without extraneous influence or consideration. All the study teams and the commissions urged the inevitability on the formulation of certain guidelines as precedents to follow in the appointment of the Chief Minister. In case the episode like Arunachal Pradesh (2016) repeats, the judiciary will certainly act as the guardian of the Constitution.