bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Low‐profile titanium mesh in the use of orbital reconstruction: A pilot study
Authors: Lieger Olivier , Schaller Benoit , Kellner Frauke , Messmer‐Schai Brigitte , Iizuka Tateyuki
Published: February 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

The purpose of this study was to share our clinical experience in the use and accuracy of a newly designed, low‐profile titanium mesh (Modus OPS 1.5; Medartis, Basel, Switzerland) for primary internal orbital reconstruction.

Study Design:

Observational study.

Methods:

This study was conducted at the Department of Cranio‐Maxillofacial Surgery at the University Hospital of Bern, Switzerland, starting November 2008. Patients were included who had a defect size of ≥2 cm2 or fractures of more than one wall. The operations were performed within 14 days after trauma. To repair the orbital fracture, a newly designed titanium mesh was applied. The technical innovation in regard to these plates is the low‐profile height of 0.25 mm along the border and 0.2 mm in the mesh area. Two different sizes of two different types of mesh are available for reconstruction. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained to assess the fracture size and location. A maxillofacial surgeon performed pre‐ and postoperative assessments (at 2 weeks, 12 weeks, and 6 months). Ophthalmologic assessments were performed preoperatively and 6 months after the operation. Postoperative CT scans were obtained within 12 weeks after the operation and the orbital volumes analyzed by a radiologist.

Results:

Twenty‐seven patients underwent surgery (11 female; average age, 55.2 years). Final postoperative ophthalmologic follow‐up was obtained at a mean of 8.8 months (range, 4.0–20.1 months). Twenty‐five patients (93%) had a successful treatment outcome without complications. In two patients, the plate was buckled in the posterior edge region and had to be replaced. Surgical revision was performed within 3 weeks after the first procedure. These patients showed good clinical and radiologic outcome after the second procedure. At the final assessment, none of the patients had experienced diplopia. Three patients showed slight enophthalmos (2‐mm side difference), however, without any subjective functional or aesthetic concerns. According to the literature, an average orbital volume difference of up to 1.95 cm3 is normal. In our study, radiologic volume assessment showed a side difference of ≥2 cm3 in four patients, of which one patient presented with a clinically detectable enophthalmos.

Conclusions:

The newly designed, thin titanium mesh is a reliable and safe implant for the repair of orbital defects. Owing to insufficient intraoperative control, two plates showed buckling at the posterior border, which made a repair necessary. Awareness of this problem may avoid such complications in the future. However, it would seem reasonable to improve the stability of the mesh by increasing the profile height, to minimize potential complications.
Matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases in nasal lavage after an inhalation challenge with flour
Authors: Castano Roberto , Miedinger David , Maghni Karim , Ghezzo Heberto , Trudeau Carole , Castellanos Lucero , Wattiez Mathieu , Vandenplas Olivier , Malo Jean‐Luc
Published: February 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

The existence of nasal mucosa remodeling in allergic rhinitis is controversial. Few data are available on the dynamics of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in nasal fluid after an allergen challenge. We examined whether an immediate allergic reaction that induces nasal congestion and inflammation is able to also induce changes in remodeling parameters in nasal fluid.

Study Design:

Controlled experimental study.

Methods:

Ten patients with allergic occupational rhinitis due to flour underwent a control and active inhalation challenge with serial monitoring of nasal congestion and nasal symptoms with acoustic rhinometry and a visual analogue scale. Levels of remodeling markers (MMP‐2, MMP‐7, MMP‐9, MMP‐13, TIMP‐1, TIMP‐2) and inflammatory cells in nasal fluid were measured before the challenge and at 30 minutes, 6 hours, and 24 hours following the challenge.

Results:

In contrast to the control challenge, the flour challenge induced nasal symptoms and significant decreases in nasal volume in all subjects. After the flour challenge, a significant increase in nasal levels of TIMP‐2 and a nonsignificant increase in TIMP‐1 levels were observed, whereas no significant changes in nasal levels of MMPs were documented.

Conclusions:

This study showed that after an inhalation challenge with an occupational allergen, the nasal mucosa displayed an imbalance in favor of TIMPs enzymes activity as compared to MMPs enzymes activity, represented in an increase in nasal levels of TIMP‐2 during the course of the early reaction following the allergen challenge. Laryngoscope, 2012
Differences in neuromuscular junctions of laryngeal and limb muscles in rats
Authors: Feng Xin , Zhang Tan , Ralston Evelyn , Ludlow Christy L.
Published: February 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

Laryngeal muscles are specialized for fine control of voice, speech, and swallowing, and may differ from limb muscles in many aspects. Because muscles and their controlling motor neurons communicate via neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), we hypothesized that NMJs in laryngeal muscles have specialized characteristics different from limb muscles.

Study Design:

In vivo study.

Methods:

Single muscle fibers from 12 Sprague‐Dawley rats (six male, six female) were used to analyze the postsynaptic side of NMJs from laryngeal thyroarytenoid (TA), cricothyroid (CT), posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA), limb soleus (SOL), and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles. NMJs were labeled with rhodamine‐conjugated α‐bungarotoxin. With confocal microscopy, we counted cluster fragments and measured the NMJ area, both absolute and normalized (corrected by muscle fiber diameter), for at least 10 single fibers from each muscle of each animal. Differences between genders were also compared.

Results:

Cluster fragments of postsynaptic NMJs were more numerous in PCA and TA compared to CT, SOL, and EDL muscles (P < .01) in both male and female rats. NMJ cluster fragments were more numerous in female than in male rats only in the TA muscle (P < .01). The absolute area covered by the NMJs showed SOL > EDL > PCA > CT > TA (P < .01); however, with normalization the SOL = EDL = PCA > CT = TA.

Conclusions:

Differences found in NMJ surface and organization between laryngeal and limb muscle fibers may relate to specialized laryngeal muscle functions. Differences in NMJs between male and female rats were found only in the TA muscle, suggesting an underlying mechanism for some gender‐specific laryngeal disorders related to abnormal TA muscle activity.
TALK score: Development and validation of a prognostic model for predicting larynx preservation outcome
Authors: Sherman Eric J. , Fisher Susan G. , Kraus Dennis H. , Zelefsky Michael J. , Seshan Venkatraman E. , Singh Bhuvanesh , Shaha Ashok R. , Shah Jatin P. , Wolf Gregory T. , Pfister David G.
Published: February 2012

Objectives/Hypothesis:

To develop and validate a simple prognostic tool that would help predict larynx preservation outcome.

Study Design:

A retrospective review of 3 prospective studies.

Methods:

We reviewed consecutive chemotherapy/radiation protocols for patients (n = 170) with advanced, resectable, squamous cell, larynx, or pharynx cancer treated at Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center from 1988 to 1995 with larynx preservation intent. The outcome was successful larynx preservation. Model validation used data from U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs larynx preservation study.

Results:

The developed model added one point for each poor prognostic covariate present (show in parentheses) and was given the acronym TALK: T stage (T4), albumin (<4 g/dL), maximum alcohol/liquor use (≥6 drinks/day or heavy drinking), and Karnofsky performance status (<80%). The 3‐year larynx preservation rates by TALK score were 65% (0), 41% (1–2), and 6% (3–4), P < .0001; on validation, the TALK 3–4 group was particularly well demarcated.

Conclusions:

The TALK score is an easily applied and valid tool that should assist treatment selection.
A note on commutators of Hardy operators
Authors: Zhao Fayou
Published: March 2012

Fu and Lu et al. showed that the commutator generated by the fractional Hardy operator and a locally integrable function b is bounded on the homogenous Herz spaces if and only if b is a central bounded mean oscillation function. We show that their result is optimal by giving a counterexample.
Surface‐Modifiable Free‐Floating Films Formed by Multiway Connection of Collagen‐Like Triple‐Helical Peptides
Authors: Matsui Shunsuke , Yamazaki Chisato M. , Koide Takaki
Published: March 2012

Square‐millimeter‐sized free‐floating translucent films are formed in physiological buffer by multiway connections between biotinylated collagen‐like triple‐helical peptides and avidin. Although the compositions of the films are almost constant, regardless of the ratios of the components loaded, their thicknesses can be controlled by the concentrations of the components. The film surfaces can be further modified by taking advantage of exposed biotin (or avidin) functionalities. The self‐assembled films could serve as novel materials in biomedical and biosensing applications.
Synthesis of Porous PEG Microgels Using CaCO3 Microspheres as Hard Templates
Authors: Behra Muriel , Schmidt Stephan , Hartmann Jürgen , Volodkin Dmitry V. , Hartmann Laura
Published: March 2012

Porous poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) microgels of both 17.6 and 8.3 μm in diameter are synthesized via hard templating with calcium carbonate (CaCO3) microparticles. The synthesis is performed in three steps: loading of PEG macromonomers into CaCO3 microparticles, crosslinking via photopolymerization, and removal of the CaCO3 template under acidic conditions. The resulting porous PEG microgels are inverse replicates of their templates as indicated by light microscopy, cryo‐scanning electron microscopy (cryo‐SEM), and permeability studies. Thus this process allows for the straightforward and highly reproducible synthesis of porous hydrogel particles of two different diameters and porosities that show great potential as carriers for drugs or nanomaterials.
Physiology of human posthypoxic myoclonus
Authors: Hallett Mark
Published: February 2012

There are two types of posthypoxic myoclonus, acute and chronic. The acute type has not been intensively studied but is likely to be brain stem in origin. Chronic posthypoxic myoclonus is most commonly cortical reflex myoclonus, but reticular reflex myoclonus and exaggerated startle may also occur. These three conditions have characteristic physiological features. In assessing the relevance of an animal model, it would be appropriate to identify the myoclonus with one of these three patterns.
Ulnar nerve injuries in guyon canal: A report of 32 cases
Authors: Kokkalis Zinon T. , Efstathopoulos Dimitrios G. , Papanastassiou Ioannis D. , Sarlikiotis Thomas , Papagelopoulos Panayiotis J.
Published: February 2012

Purpose:

In this study, the surgical outcomes of 32 patients with ulnar nerve injuries in the Guyon canal are presented. Outcomes were analyzed in relation to various factors such as age, surgical timing, zone of injury, and type of nerve reconstruction.

Methods:

Between 1990 and 2007, 32 patients with injury in Guyon canal were managed surgically. Twelve patients had ulnar nerve injury proximal to its bifurcation (zone I); 14 patients had isolated motor branch injury (zone II); and six patients had isolated sensory branch injury (zone III). End‐to‐end repair was achieved in 12 (38%) of 32 patients, while nerve grafting was performed in 20 (62%) cases. The mean follow‐up period was 22 months.

Results:

Good and excellent motor function was restored in 25 (96%) of 26 cases with motor branch injury. Good and excellent sensory results were achieved in 15 (83%) of 18 cases with sensory branch injury. Outcomes were significantly better for those who had early repair (<4 weeks) when compared with those who had repair 4 weeks after injury (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences between outcomes after end‐to‐end repair or nerve grafting (P > 0.05) and between outcomes from repair of injuries in different zone (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

Early diagnosis and surgical treatment with careful dissection of the ulnar nerve branches within the canal is very important. Adequate exposure is usually required to repair the nerve in the Guyon canal. Nerve grafting in this level could give analogous results as the end‐to‐end repair. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microsurgery, 2012.
Refocused double‐quantum editing for lactate detection at 7 T
Authors: Boer Vincent O. , Luijten Peter R. , J. Klomp Dennis W.
Published: February 2012

Lactate is an important marker for anaerobic glucose metabolism, and it is therefore of particular interest in, for example, cerebral ischemia, skeletal muscle disorders, and in the monitoring of oncology treatments. However, the in vivo detection of lactate with magnetic resonance spectroscopy is complicated by the overlap of the low‐intensity lactate methyl resonance with lipid signal. Therefore, double‐quantum filters have been employed to dephase the overlapping lipid signal, as they allow for a very high lipid suppression efficiency. For reliable lactate detection in lipid‐rich environment, very large crushing gradients have to be employed to dephase the lipid signal under the noise level. Double‐quantum filters are generally associated with signal loss of the metabolite of interest. For lactate, half of the signal is lost by selecting either the double‐ or the zero‐quantum coherences. Moreover, owing to incomplete refocusing, traditional double‐quantum filters with very large crusher gradients exhibit additional loss of the already low‐lactate signal. In this study, a refocused double‐quantum filter is described, which does not suffer from this source of additional signal loss. Therefore, it becomes possible to detect lactate at lower concentrations, or in lipid‐rich environments. Lactate measurements are shown in the human calf muscle at 7 T. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Improved diffusion imaging through SNR‐enhancing joint reconstruction
Authors: Haldar Justin P. , Wedeen Van J. , Nezamzadeh Marzieh , Dai Guangping , Weiner Michael W. , Schuff Norbert , Liang Zhi‐Pei
Published: March 2012

Quantitative diffusion imaging is a powerful technique for the characterization of complex tissue microarchitecture. However, long acquisition times and limited signal‐to‐noise ratio represent significant hurdles for many in vivo applications. This article presents a new approach to reduce noise while largely maintaining resolution in diffusion weighted images, using a statistical reconstruction method that takes advantage of the high level of structural correlation observed in typical datasets. Compared to existing denoising methods, the proposed method performs reconstruction directly from the measured complex k‐space data, allowing for Gaussian noise modeling and theoretical characterizations of the resolution and signal‐to‐noise ratio of the reconstructed images. In addition, the proposed method is compatible with many different models of the diffusion signal (e.g., diffusion tensor modeling and q‐space modeling). The joint reconstruction method can provide significant improvements in signal‐to‐noise ratio relative to conventional reconstruction techniques, with a relatively minor corresponding loss in image resolution. Results are shown in the context of diffusion spectrum imaging tractography and diffusion tensor imaging, illustrating the potential of this signal‐to‐noise ratio‐enhancing joint reconstruction approach for a range of different diffusion imaging experiments. Magn Reson Med, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Etiology of overactive bladder: A diet and lifestyle model for diabetes and obesity in older women
Authors: McGrother Catherine W. , Donaldson Madeleine M.K. , Thompson John , Wagg Adrian , Tincello Douglas G. , Manktelow Bradley N.
Published: February 2012

Objective

To evaluate a coherent, evidence‐based hypothesis that specific modifiable lifestyle factors implicated in the development of diabetes and associated obesity are related to the onset of OAB.

Methods

A hypothetical causative model for OAB involving modifiable lifestyle factors implicated in the development of diabetes and obesity was constructed, based on a systematic literature review. Secondary analysis of data was undertaken in a prospective cohort of women aged 40 and over, living in Leicestershire, UK. Subjects included 3,411 women free from OAB at baseline and 277 incident cases of OAB. Reported diet, lifestyle, morbid, and social factors were measured at baseline and incident cases at 1‐year follow‐up. Graphical chain modeling was used to estimate the associations between variables and identify likely pathways involved.

Results

All hypothesized lifestyle factors (physical activity, high glycemic index, and high energy intake) plus diabetes and obesity were retained within the graph as potential contributors. However, low physical activity was the only direct risk factor linked prospectively to the onset of OAB (RR 2.47; 95% CI 1.82, 3.36), in addition to older age.

Conclusions

Poor lifestyle factors causally linked to diabetes and obesity may contribute to the onset of OAB; low physical activity appears to be an important modifiable causal factor for OAB operating directly as well as indirectly via pathways involving obesity or diabetes. Further research is needed to demonstrate a causal link between lifestyle and OAB. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:487–495, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An exponential high‐order compact ADI method for 3D unsteady convection–diffusion problems
Authors: Ge Yongbin , Tian Zhen F. , Zhang Jun
Published: March 2012

In this article, we develop an exponential high order compact alternating direction implicit (EHOC ADI) method for solving three dimensional (3D) unsteady convection–diffusion equations. The method, which requires only a regular seven‐point 3D stencil similar to that in the standard second‐order methods, is second order accurate in time and fourth‐order accurate in space and unconditionally stable. The resulting EHOC ADI scheme in each alternating direction implicit (ADI) solution step corresponding to a strictly diagonally dominant matrix equation can be solved by the application of the one‐dimensional tridiagonal Thomas algorithm with a considerable saving in computing time. Numerical experiments for three test problems are carried out to demonstrate the performance of the present method and to compare it with the classical Douglas–Gunn ADI method and the Karaa's high‐order compact ADI method. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Numer Methods Partial Differential Eq 2013
Epigenetic disruption of cadherin‐11 in human cancer metastasis
Authors: Carmona F. Javier , Villanueva Alberto , Vidal August , Muñoz Clara , Puertas Sara , Penin Rosa M , Gomà Montserrat , Lujambio Amaia , Piulats Josep M , Mesía Ricard , Sánchez‐Céspedes Montse , Manós Manel , Condom Enric , Eccles Suzanne A , Esteller Manel
Published: February 2012

Little is known about the molecular events occurring in the metastases of human tumours. Epigenetic alterations are dynamic lesions that change over the natural course of the disease, and so they might play a role in the biology of cancer cells that have departed from the primary tumour. Herein, we have adopted an epigenomic approach to identify some of these changes. Using a DNA methylation microarray platform to compare paired primary tumour and lymph node metastatic cell lines from the same patient, we observed cadherin‐11 promoter CpG island hypermethylation as a likely target of the process. We found that CDH11 DNA methylation‐associated transcriptional silencing occurred in the corresponding lymph node metastases of melanoma and head and neck cancer cells but not in the primary tumours. Using in vitro and in vivo cellular and mouse models for depleted or enhanced CDH11 activity, we also demonstrated that CDH11 acts as an inhibitor of tumour growth, motility and dissemination. Most importantly, the study of CDH11 5′‐CpG island hypermethylation in primary tumours and lymph node metastases of cancer patients showed this epigenetic alteration to be significantly confined to the disseminated cells. Overall, these results indicate the existence of metastasis‐specific epigenetic events that might contribute to the progression of the disease. Copyright © 2012 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Modification of Branched Polyethylene by Aerosol‐assisted Dielectric Barrier Discharge
Authors: Mix Renate , Friedrich Joerg F. , Inagaki Norihiro
Published: March 2012

Three polyethylene (PE) types with different branching structures were subjected to air, water and ethanol aerosol‐assisted dielectric barrier discharges (DBD) for surface modification. Using the air DBD the incorporated oxygen concentration was found to be independent on the branching of PE in contrast to the introduction of OH groups, which was PE‐2 > PE‐1 > PE‐3. For water‐aerosol DBD the succession of OH concentration was in the order of PE‐1 > PE‐2 > PE‐3. Ethanol aerosol‐assisted DBD produced the lowest concentration of OH groups also independent on the branching of PE. The chemical nature of introduced oxygen functional groups was inspected by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and assigned as CO, >CO/CHO/OCO and OCO.

magnified image
SABER: A computational method for identifying active sites for new reactions
Authors: Nosrati Geoffrey R. , Houk K. N.
Published: February 2012

A software suite, SABER (Selection of Active/Binding sites for Enzyme Redesign), has been developed for the analysis of atomic geometries in protein structures, using a geometric hashing algorithm (Barker and Thornton, Bioinformatics 2003;19:1644–1649). SABER is used to explore the Protein Data Bank (PDB) to locate proteins with a specific 3D arrangement of catalytic groups to identify active sites that might be redesigned to catalyze new reactions. As a proof‐of‐principle test, SABER was used to identify enzymes that have the same catalytic group arrangement present in o‐succinyl benzoate synthase (OSBS). Among the highest‐scoring scaffolds identified by the SABER search for enzymes with the same catalytic group arrangement as OSBS were L‐Ala D/L‐Glu epimerase (AEE) and muconate lactonizing enzyme II (MLE), both of which have been redesigned to become effective OSBS catalysts, demonstrated by experiments. Next, we used SABER to search for naturally existing active sites in the PDB with catalytic groups similar to those present in the designed Kemp elimination enzyme KE07. From over 2000 geometric matches to the KE07 active site, SABER identified 23 matches that corresponded to residues from known active sites. The best of these matches, with a 0.28 Å catalytic atom RMSD to KE07, was then redesigned to be compatible with the Kemp elimination using RosettaDesign. We also used SABER to search for potential Kemp eliminases using a theozyme predicted to provide a greater rate acceleration than the active site of KE07, and used Rosetta to create a design based on the proteins identified.
Safflower Seed Extract Inhibits Osteoclast Differentiation by Suppression of the p38 Mitogen‐activated Protein Kinase and IκB Kinase Activity
Authors: Moon Ho‐Jin , Kim Eun‐Kyung , Nam Yun Sik , Kim Jung Ho , Ko Wan‐Kyu , Lee Jin‐Moo , Lee Chang‐Hoon , Jang Jun‐Bock , Lee Kyung‐Sub , Kwon Il Keun
Published: March 2012

Safflower seed has been reported to have a protective effect against bone loss diseases. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effect of safflower seed in osteoclast differentiation remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory action of safflower seed extract (SSE) on the receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)‐induced osteoclastogenesis in cultured mouse‐derived bone marrow macrophages (BMMs). We found that SSE significantly inhibited the formation of tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)‐positive multinucleated cells in BMMs without cytotoxicity. The gene expressions of nuclear factor of activated T‐cells (NFATc1) and TRAP, which are genetic markers of osteoclast differentiation, were substantially decreased by SSE in a dose‐dependent manner. Also, SSE diminished RANKL‐mediated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation on osteoclastogenesis in a dose‐dependent manner. The SSE thereafter suppressed RANKL‐induced p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase and IκBα kinase signalling activities which were activated by ROS generation for osteoclastogenesis. Additionally, SSE was found to decrease RANKL‐induced actin ring formation, which is required for bone resorption activity. Taken together, our results suggest that SSE acts as a RANKL‐induced osteoclastogenesis inhibitor by suppression of ROS generation. This induces a remarkable suppression of the p38 and IκBα kinase pathways, thereby suppressing the gene expression of NFATc1 in osteoclast precursors. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Antioxidant and Anti‐α‐glucosidase Compounds from the Rhizome of Peltiphyllum peltatum (Torr.) Engl
Authors: Habtemariam Solomon , Cowley Raymond A.
Published: March 2012

The antioxidant, anti‐α‐glucosidase and anticholinesterase effects of the alcohol extract of fresh underground rhizomes of Peltiphyllum peltatum were studied. A potent antioxidant activity accompanied by a selective α‐glucosidase effect was observed for the crude extract. Further activity‐guided fractionation (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n‐butanol and water) resulted in the identification of the ethyl acetate fraction with the highest antioxidant effect. Gallic acid, methyl‐3‐O‐methyl gallate, catechin, gallocatechin, bergenin and 11‐O‐galloylbergenin were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction. While all the isolated compounds did show a variable degree of radical scavenging effect, 11‐O‐galloylbergenin was identified as the selective α‐glucosidase inhibitor. The isolation, structural elucidation and biological effects of these compounds are discussed. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phorbol Ester or Epidermal Growth‐factor‐induced MUC5AC Mucin Gene Expression and Production from Airway Epithelial Cells are Inhibited by Apigenin and Wogonin
Authors: Kim Ju‐Ock , Sikder Md. Asaduzzaman , Lee Hyun Jae , Rahman Mustafizur , Kim Jang‐Hyun , Chang Gyu Tae , Lee Choong Jae
Published: March 2012

In this study, we investigated whether apigenin and wogonin affect MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression induced by phorbol ester (phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate, PMA) or epidermal growth factor (EGF) from human airway epithelial cells. Confluent NCI‐H292 cells were pretreated with each agent for 30 min and then stimulated with PMA or EGF for 24 h, respectively. MUC5AC mucin gene expression and mucin protein production were measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were as follows: (i) apigenin and wogonin were found to inhibit the production of MUC5AC mucin protein induced by PMA or EGF; (ii) both compounds also inhibited the expression of MUC5AC mucin gene induced by PMA or EGF. These results suggest that apigenin and wogonin can inhibit mucin gene expression and production of mucin protein, by directly acting on airway epithelial cells. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Observed triggering of tropical convection by a cold surge: implications for MJO initiation
Authors: Wang Lin , Kodera Kunihiko , Chen Wen
Published: February 2012

The extratropical influence is an important mechanism in the initiation of the Madden‐Julian Oscillation (MJO). Based on analyses of several datasets, this article demonstrates that the MJO case initiated in late January 2008 was strengthened by a preceding cold surge over West Asia when the MJO was at its initiation phase. The cold surge‐related northerlies propagated southward along the east coast of Africa. The associated convergence on the edge of the surge enhanced ascending motion in the tropical western Indian Ocean and led to the onset of deep convection to the north of Madagascar. This process helped to amplify the MJO convection rapidly, as shown in the development of the moist static energy anomalies. In this way, the cold surge affected the behaviour of the MJO and modified the timing of its initiation to some extent. These results support previous studies that extratropical factors are important for the initiation of the MJO, and suggest that the subtropical cold surges are likely to strengthen and accelerate the build‐up of deep MJO convection at the MJO initiation phase. Copyright © 2012 Royal Meteorological Society
Planning of Truncated Sequential Binomial Test via Relative Efficiency
Authors: Michlin Yefim Haim , Shaham Ofer
Published: February 2012

A planning methodology is proposed for the sequential probability ratio test (SPRT) for the purpose of practical application. The SPRT is the most common acceptance test in the field of reliability and quality control. In it, the hypothesis is checked that the percentage of defective items does not exceed a specified value. Truncation is resorted to compensate for the absence of a limit on the test duration, but it complicates the planning process. Moreover, the discreteness and multidimensionality of the characteristics of such tests prevent their direct comparison and optimization. To remedy these drawbacks, quality features of the test are proposed, one of which—the relative efficiency—represents the ratio of the test's weighted average sample number till its stopping and its counterpart for the nontruncated SPRT. It facilitates solution of the problems in automatic planning of the test. Another important advantage of this relative efficiency is that it yields accurate and simple formulas for the stopping boundary. Besides, these formulas permit sound choice of the truncation level already at early stages of the planning process. A planner's algorithm and an industrial example are also included. The proposed methodology can also be applied to exponential SPRT. The advantages of tests based on the proposed methodology over those in IEC‐61123 (the binomial case) and IEC‐61124 (the exponential case) are demonstrated, and revision of the standards is recommended. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Robotic nerve‐sparing radical parametrectomy: feasibility and technique
Authors: Magrina Javier F. , Magtibay Paul M.
Published: February 2012

Background

The objective of this research was to evaluate the feasibility of robotic nerve‐sparing radical parametrectomy for cervical cancer after simple hysterectomy.

Methods

A 41 year‐old patient was diagnosed with invasive cervical adenocarcinoma after simple hysterectomy. Hysterectomy margins were negative. A robotic nerve‐sparing radical parametrectomy was offered and performed 5 weeks later.

Results

Total operating time was 330 min, blood loss was 145 ml and length of hospitalization 2 days. Pathology revealed no residual tumour. Normal bladder function resumed on postoperative day 9. At a follow‐up of 16 months, the patient remains with no evidence of disease and with normal bladder and bowel function.

Conclusions

Robotic nerve‐sparing radical parametrectomy is safe and feasible and can be offered to patients with indications for radical parametrectomy. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An unknown malware detection scheme based on the features of graph
Authors: Zhao Zongqu , Wang Junfeng , Wang Chonggang
Published: February 2012

The traditional malware detection schemes based on specific signature give an unsatisfactory performance as disposing the previously unknown malware, so the general features of binary files should be explored to solve this problem. Recently, classification algorithms were employed successfully to choose the features in unknown malicious code, and most of the works use byte or operation code sequence n‐gram representation of the executables. However, these n‐gram representations are heavily dependent on the training data. In this paper, we present a graph‐based method to detect unknown malware. The function call graph of an executable, which includes the functions and the call relations between them, is selected as the representation of the executable in this method. The features are defined according to both the statistical information and the topology of the function call graph. They are extracted and processed through machine learning to classify unknown Portable Executable files. For the sake of fixed sum of the features, the graph‐based method can avoid so many features found in other methods. In our experiments, three types of malware datasets were tested, and as high as 96.8% accuracy can be achieved. Furthermore, it can achieve 92.1% accuracy when only 5% of the dataset is served as training set. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Individual predictions based on nonlinear mixed modeling: application to prenatal twin growth
Authors: Stirnemann J.J. , Samson A. , Thalabard J.C.
Published: March 2012

The assessment of growth during fetal life and childhood commonly relies upon cross'sectional reference ranges or centiles. However, individual sequential predictions may help the timewise assessment of a growth process. In twin pregnancies for example, which are at risk of growth restriction, such predictions may improve the detection of abnormal trajectories. In this article, we present a simple forecasting method, assuming that a given normal individual behaves in the same way as a reference population. We consider, as a prediction in a given individual, the forecast of a future observation conditional to any previous observation and a set of population parameters obtained by nonlinear mixed modeling in a reference population. We suggest an estimator for this prediction without resorting to linear approximation and show that it enjoys interesting asymptotics when the amount of observations increases over time. We use two independent real datasets of twin pregnancies with normal growth and outcome to illustrate the application of such predictions in prenatal growth. We consider the first dataset as a reference dataset and model it using a two'level nonlinear model. We perform illustration and validation of predictions on the second dataset. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Putting Rural Readers on the Map: Strategies for Rural Literacy
Authors: Lester Laura
Published: March 2012

This manuscript provides readers with practical, evidence‐based strategies, which have potential to enhance literacy instruction in rural schools. Rural teachers will find this manuscript especially useful as the unique characteristics, disparities and needs frequently present in rural communities are discussed, as well as, specific suggestions on how to enhance literacy instruction and student learning. A framework and instructional strategy are presented, which have potential to enhance the learning of rural students based on specific rural characteristics and features. The framework of place‐based education builds upon students’ knowledge of their community to enhance the curriculum and the strategy of incorporating virtual field trips into the curriculum provides rural students exposure to places and cultural institutions around the world.
P2X receptors and kidney function
Authors: Bailey Matthew A. , Unwin Robert J. , Shirley David G.
Published: February 2012

Accumulating evidence indicates that the ATP/P2 receptor system, acting in an autocrine or paracrine manner, can affect a wide range of renal functions. P2X receptor subunits have been identified in most renal vessels and in every nephron segment; ATP is released from renal epithelial cells; and enzymes responsible for ATP degradation are expressed in the vasculature and tubules. Stimulation of P2X1 receptors in the afferent arterioles by ATP released from renal nerve terminals or from adjacent macula densa cells induces vasoconstriction and contributes to the regulation of renal haemodynamics. In the tubule, there is evidence for a variety of P2X‐mediated effects: inhibition of proximal tubular reabsorption; inhibition of Na+K+2Cl− cotransporter activity (via increased nitric oxide synthesis) in the thick ascending limb of the loop of Henle; inhibition of magnesium reabsorption in the distal tubule; and modulation of sodium and water reabsorption in the collecting duct. Finally, P2X receptors, particularly P2X7 subunits, appear to play an important role in renal pathology, specifically for cyst formation in polycystic kidney disease and in renal inflammation. WIREs Membr Transp Signal 2012, 1:503–511. doi: 10.1002/wmts.40

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The Utility of Ultrasonography in the Management of Undescended Testis in a Developing Country
Authors: Ekenze S. O. , Nwankwo E. P. , Okere P. C. N.
Published: February 2012

Background

The use of ultrasonography to localize the testis in children with undescended testis is still controversial. This study was designed to determine the value of ultrasound in the preoperative assessment of children with undescended testis in a resource‐limited setting.

Methods

A retrospective evaluation of all boys undergoing operation for undescended testes at the University of Nigeria Teaching hospital Enugu from June 2005 to December 2009 was performed. The operative findings were compared with the preoperative findings on clinical and ultrasound examinations.

Results

Overall, 49 boys with 60 undescended testes (unilateral in 38, and bilateral in 11 cases) were operated on during the study period. The median age of the patients was 5 (range, 1–14) years. At operation, 39 (65%) testes were located at the inguinal region, 17 (28.3%) were intra‐abdominal, and 4 (6.7%) were vanishing testes. Of the inguinal testes, 30 (77%) were clinically palpable, and 38 (97.4%) accurately localized by ultrasound (p = 0.006). The intra‐abdominal testes, the vanishing testes, and one inguinal testis were not identified with ultrasound. However, two testes identified as inguinal by ultrasound were found intraabdominal at operation, and two of the vanishing testes were recognized as viable testes by ultrasound.

Conclusions

Ultrasound may identify some otherwise nonpalpable inguinal testes and hence affect therapeutic approach. It may, however, be unhelpful in truly abdominal and vanishing testes.
Femoro-acetabular impingement: The diagnosis—a review
Authors: Grant Alfred D. , Sala Debra A. , Schwarzkopf Ran
Published: February 2012

Background

The recognition of the importance of femoral acetabular impingement (FAI) as a potential cause of hip pain has been stimulated by major efforts to salvage hip joints by reconstruction in order to prevent or delay the need for replacement. The purpose of this review is to define the nature of FAI, the various types, and how to make the diagnosis.

Methods

The review describes the characteristics of the hip that cause FAI and emphasizes understanding that the femoral and acetabular components normally function as a unit, complementing each other.

Results/Conclusion

The methods of making the diagnosis of FAI and their limitations are described. If the acetabulum and femur are considered to be independent of each other, conflict may occur, hindering function, and not be apparent. The increasing frequency of making this diagnosis based on abnormal anatomy on one side of the joint, often in face of unclear physical findings, can bring the diagnosis into question. FAI seen in Perthes disease and acetabular dysplasia is explained. Knowing how to analyze the hip, being aware of the limitations of various available clinical and diagnostic studies, and recognizing the continued and ever-changing extensive body of literature is important and challenging. This primer is just the beginning.
Increasing radial solutions for Neumann problems without growth restrictions
Authors: Weth Tobias , Bonheure Denis , Noris Benedetta
Published: March 2012

We study the existence of positive increasing radial solutions for superlinear Neumann problems in the ball. We do not impose any growth condition on the nonlinearity at infinity and our assumptions allow for interactions with the spectrum. In our approach we use both topological and variational arguments, and we overcome the lack of compactness by considering the cone of nonnegative, nondecreasing radial functions of

H^{1}(B)

.

Nous étudions lʼexistence de solutions radiales positives croissantes de problèmes de Neumann super linéaires dans la boule. Nous nʼimposons aucune restriction de croissance sur la non linéarité à lʼinfini et nos hypothèses permettent également une interaction avec le spectre. Notre approche combinne des arguments topologiques et variationnels. Nous contournons le manque de compacité en travaillant dans le cône des fonctions radiales, positives et croissantes de

H^{1}(B)

.
Hyperglycemia as a Risk Factor in the Perioperative Patient
Authors: Rutan Linda , Sommers Kathleen
Published: February 2012

Bodily injury and stress associated with surgical interventions increase glucose levels not only in individuals diagnosed with diabetes mellitus but also in patients without a preoperative diagnosis of diabetes. Whatever the cause, hyperglycemia is becoming an increasingly important indicator of perioperative patient outcomes. An elevated blood glucose level affects the body's defense systems and the body's ability to heal after surgical intervention. Perioperative nurses should closely monitor the patient's blood glucose levels and watch for signs of hyperglycemia throughout the perioperative experience. Perioperative nurses should work collaboratively with other perioperative team members to identify and treat perioperative hyperglycemia.
Handbook of Healthcare Delivery Systems
Authors: Rockhill Wayne
Published: February 2012

Handbook of Healthcare Delivery Systems Yeuhwern Yih 2011, CRC Press 812 pages, hardcover
Profitable candlestick trading strategies—The evidence from a new perspective
Authors: Lu Tsung‐Hsun , Shiu Yung‐Ming , Liu Tsung‐Chi
Published: March 2012

This paper aims to investigate the profitability of two‐day candlestick patterns by buying on bullish (bearish) patterns and holding until bearish (bullish) patterns occur. Our data set includes daily opening, high, low, and closing prices of component stocks in the Taiwan Top 50 Tracker Fund for the period from 29 October 2002 through 31 December 2008. We examine three bullish reversal patterns and three bearish reversal patterns. We find that three bullish reversal patterns are profitable in the Taiwan stock market. For robustness checks, we evaluate the applicability of our results to diverse market conditions, conduct an out‐of‐sample test and employ a bootstrap methodology.
Annals of the Labouring Poor
Authors: Snell K. D. M.
Published: March 2012

This collection of inter-connected essays is concerned with the impact of social and economic change upon the rural labouring poor and artisans in England, and combines a sensitive understanding of their social priorities with innovative quantitative analysis. It is based on an impressive range of sources, and its particular significance arises from the pioneering use made of a largely neglected archival source - settlement records - to address questions of central importance in English social and economic history in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Levels of employment, wage rates, poor relief, the sexual division of labour, the social consequences of enclosure, the decline of farm service and traditional apprenticeship, and th equality of family life are amongst the issues discussed in a profound re-assessment of a perennial problem: the standard of living (in its widest sense) of the labouring poor during the period of industrialisation. The author's conclusions challenge much of the prevailing orthodoxy, and his extensive use of literary and attitudinal material is closely integrated with the quantitative restatement of an interpretation that owes much to the older tradition of the Hammonds' Village Labourer.
Poets and Dreamers
Authors: Gregory Augusta
Published: March 2012

Lady (Augusta) Gregory (1852–1932) was a dramatist and folklorist. Along with the poet W. B. Yeats she was a driving force behind the Irish Literary Revival, and co-founded the Abbey Theatre, Dublin. Born Isabella Augusta Persse in County Galway, she belonged to the Anglo-Irish ascendancy, which was closely associated with colonial rule. She married Sir William Gregory in 1880. Her conversion to Irish cultural nationalism began after the death of her husband and was heavily influenced by her visit in 1892 to Inisheer, one of the Aran Islands, where she learnt Irish and the Hiberno-English dialect of Kiltartin. Poets and Dreamers was her first publication and contained translations of the Irish-language poet Anthony Raftery, folk-tales, and plays by the Gaelic scholar and future first President of Ireland, Douglas Hyde. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=gregau
Clement of Alexandria, Miscellanies Book VII
Authors: Clement of Alexandria
Published: March 2012

Fenton John Anthony Hort (1828–1892) was a scholar of the Bible, patristics and theology whose contributions to scholarship included an influential critical edition of the Greek New Testament and portions of The Ante-Nicene Fathers. This posthumous publication (1902) on the important Miscellanies of Clement, includes the complete Greek text of Book Seven with English translation and detailed notes. This is preceded by an extensive introduction based on Hort's lectures, discussing Christianity and philosophy in Clement's foundational work, which relates to a Victorian debate concerning the supposed pollution of 'pure' Christianity by 'alien' Greek thought. Hort argued that not only had Hellenism been present from the earliest days of Christianity, but also that the interaction between the two had resulted in a 'de-secularization of philosophy'. He also emphasised Clement's view that the archetypal Christian ought to live 'as much by prayer and love as by knowledge and thought'.
The Works of Thomas Carlyle
Authors: Carlyle Thomas
Published: March 2012

Thomas Carlyle (1795–1881) was one of the most influential authors of the nineteenth century. Eagerly studied at the highest level of intellectual society, his satirical essays and perceptive historical biographies caused him to be regarded for much of the Victorian period as a literary genius and eminent social philosopher. After graduating from Edinburgh University in 1814, he published his first scholarly work on German literature in 1824, before finding literary success with his history of the French Revolution in 1837. After falling from favour during the first part of the twentieth century, his work has more recently become the subject of scholarly re-examination. His introduction of German literature and philosophy into the British intellectual milieu profoundly influenced later philosophical ideas and literary studies. These volumes are reproduced from the 1896 Centenary Edition of his collected works. Volume 20 contains his controversial collection of essays, Latter–Day Pamphlets.