bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metal migration at the DeGrussa Cu-Au sulphide deposit, Western Australia: Soil, vegetation and groundwater studies
Authors: Noble R. R. P. , Anand R. R. , Gray D. J. , Cleverley J. S.
Published: December 2016

Transported overburden is a persistent problem for mineral exploration in Australia and elsewhere, with explorers not confident in the current understanding of where, when and how geochemical anomalies form (or don't form) in surficial materials and how to make the critical interpretive link to buried deposits. The recent discovery of the high-grade VHMS Cu-Au DeGrussa deposit on the margins of the Yilgarn Craton in the Bryah Basin of Western Australia highlights the value of effective exploration in these covered terrains. We investigated this deposit to understand the near surface geochemical signature from weathering and groundwater dispersion. Multiple sample media (soil, regolith, groundwater and vegetation) and analytical methods were used to examine metal migration. The DeGrussa (Cu-Au) ore body was successfully identified using organic soil, vegetation and groundwater with multi-element anomalies associated with the buried ore. Primarily, the anomalies are caused by weathering and vertical dispersion through thin (2 – 10 m) transported cover and vegetation cycling of Au and Cu located a few metres below the surface. Aqua regia extractions of soils and vegetation, and MMI-M extraction of soils were effective by providing strong, coherent multi-element anomalies at relatively close spacing (50 m). Conversely, portable XRF analysis was less effective at this site as the elemental concentrations were too low. Gold, As and Cu in groundwater were present in anomalous concentrations, but inconsistently so at larger sample spacing (100 s of metres). When compared to regional hydrogeochemistry (e.g. >1000 m spacing), Au, As, Cu, Pd and Pt element concentrations in the DeGrussa groundwater were elevated in a broad, general area along strike potentially identifying additional targets. Weathering, hydraulic lift by vegetation and hydromorphic dispersion are the mechanisms responsible for metal migration at the DeGrussa site.
A pathogenic role of complement in arterial hypertension and hypertensive end organ damage
Authors: Wenzel Ulrich O. , Bode Marlies , Köhl Jörg , Ehmke Heimo
Published: December 2016

The self-amplifying cascade of messenger and effector molecules of the complement system serves as a powerful danger-sensing system that protects the host from a hostile microbial environment, while maintaining proper tissue and organ function through effective clearance of altered or dying cells. As an important effector arm of innate immunity, it also plays important roles in the regulation of adaptive immunity. Innate and adaptive immune responses have been identified as crucial players in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension and hypertensive end organ damage. In line with this view, complement activation may drive the pathology of hypertension and hypertensive injury through its impact on innate and adaptive immune responses. It is well known that complement activation can cause tissue inflammation and injury and complement-inhibitory drugs are effective treatments for several inflammatory diseases. In addition to these proinflammatory properties, complement cleavage fragments of C3 and C5 can exert anti-inflammatory effects that dampen the inflammatory response to injury. Recent experimental data strongly support a role for complement in arterial hypertension. The remarkably similar clinical and histopathological features of malignant nephrosclerosis and atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is driven by complement activation, suggest a role for complement also in the development of malignant nephrosclerosis. Herein, we will review canonical and noncanonical pathways of complement activation as the framework to understand the multiple roles of complement in arterial hypertension and hypertensive end organ damage.
On a Stochastic Lotka-Volterra Competitive System with Distributed Delay and General Lévy Jumps
Authors: Zhang Lijie , Lu Chun , Liu Hui
Published: December 2016

This paper considers a stochastic competitive system with distributed delay and general Lévy jumps. Almost sufficient and necessary conditions for stability in time average and extinction of each population are established under some assumptions. And two facts are revealed: both stability in time average and extinction have closer relationships with the general Lévy jumps, firstly; and secondly, the distributed delay has no effect on the stability in time average and extinction of the stochastic system. Some simulation figures, which are obtained by the split-step θ-method to discretize the stochastic model, are introduced to support the analytical findings.
Playing Radio Resource Management Games in Dense Wireless 5G Networks
Authors: Sroka Paweł , Kliks Adrian
Published: December 2016

This paper considers the problem of an efficient and flexible tool for interference mitigation in ultradense heterogeneous cellular 5G networks. Several game-theory based approaches are studied, focusing on noncooperative games, where each base station in the end tries to maximize its payoff. An analysis of backhaul requirements of investigated approaches is carried out, with a proposal of a mechanism for backhaul requirements reduction. Moreover, improvements in terms of energy use optimization are proposed to further increase the system gains. The presented simulation results of a detailed ultradense 5G wireless system show that the discussed game-theoretic approaches are very promising solutions for interference mitigation outperforming the algorithm proposed for LTE-Advanced in terms of the achieved spectral efficiency. Finally, it is proved that the introduction of energy-efficient and backhaul-optimized operation does not significantly degrade the performance achieved with the considered approaches.
An Automated Detection System for Microaneurysms That Is Effective across Different Racial Groups
Authors: Saleh George Michael , Wawrzynski James , Caputo Silvestro , Peto Tunde , Al Turk Lutfiah Ismail , Wang Su , Hu Yin , Da Cruz Lyndon , Smith Phil , Tang Hongying Lilian
Published: December 2016

Patients without diabetic retinopathy (DR) represent a large proportion of the caseload seen by the DR screening service so reliable recognition of the absence of DR in digital fundus images (DFIs) is a prime focus of automated DR screening research. We investigate the use of a novel automated DR detection algorithm to assess retinal DFIs for absence of DR. A retrospective, masked, and controlled image-based study was undertaken. 17,850 DFIs of patients from six different countries were assessed for DR by the automated system and by human graders. The system’s performance was compared across DFIs from the different countries/racial groups. The sensitivities for detection of DR by the automated system were Kenya 92.8%, Botswana 90.1%, Norway 93.5%, Mongolia 91.3%, China 91.9%, and UK 90.1%. The specificities were Kenya 82.7%, Botswana 83.2%, Norway 81.3%, Mongolia 82.5%, China 83.0%, and UK 79%. There was little variability in the calculated sensitivities and specificities across the six different countries involved in the study. These data suggest the possible scalability of an automated DR detection platform that enables rapid identification of patients without DR across a wide range of races.
Nonobese Diabetic (NOD) Mice Lack a Protective B-Cell Response against the “Nonlethal”Plasmodium yoelii17XNL Malaria Protozoan
Authors: Mendoza Mirian , Pow Sang Luis , Qiu Qi , Casares Sofia , Brumeanu Teodor-D.
Published: December 2016

Background.Plasmodium yoelii17XNL is a nonlethal malaria strain in mice of different genetic backgrounds including the C57BL/6 mice (I-Ab/I-Enull) used in this study as a control strain. We have compared the trends of blood stage infection with the nonlethal murine strain ofP. yoelii17XNL malaria protozoan in immunocompetent Nonobese Diabetic (NOD) mice prone to type 1 diabetes (T1D) and C57BL/6 mice (control mice) that are not prone to T1D andself-cure theP. yoelii17XNL infection. Prediabetic NOD mice could not mount a protective antibody response to theP. yoelii17XNL-infected red blood cells (iRBCs), and they all succumbed shortly after infection. Our data suggest that the lack of anti-P. yoelii17XNL-iRBCs protective antibodies in NOD mice is a result of parasite-induced, Foxp3+T regulatory (Treg) cells able to suppress the parasite-specific antibody secretion.Conclusions. The NOD mouse model may help in identifying new mechanisms of B-cell evasion by malaria parasites. It may also serve as a more accurate tool for testing antimalaria therapeutics due to the lack of interference with a preexistentself-curing mechanism present in other mouse strains.
A Comprehensive Review of Portosystemic Collaterals in Cirrhosis: Historical Aspects, Anatomy, and Classifications
Authors: Philips Cyriac Abby , Arora Ankur , Shetty Rajesh , Kasana Vivek
Published: December 2016

Portosystemic collateral formation in cirrhosis plays an important part in events that define the natural history in affected patients. A detailed understanding of collateral anatomy and hemodynamics in cirrhotics is essential to envisage diagnosis, management, and outcomes of portal hypertension. In this review, we provide detailed insights into the historical, anatomical, and hemodynamic aspects to portal hypertension and collateral pathways in cirrhosis with emphasis on the various classification systems.
Altered Effective Connectivity of Hippocampus-Dependent Episodic Memory Network in mTBI Survivors
Authors: Yan Hao , Feng Yanqin , Wang Qian
Published: December 2016

Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are generally recognized to affect episodic memory. However, less is known regarding how external force altered the way functionally connected brain structures of the episodic memory system interact. To address this issue, we adopted an effective connectivity based analysis, namely, multivariate Granger causality approach, to explore causal interactions within the brain network of interest. Results presented that TBI induced increased bilateral and decreased ipsilateral effective connectivity in the episodic memory network in comparison with that of normal controls. Moreover, the left anterior superior temporal gyrus (aSTG, the concept forming hub), left hippocampus (the personal experience binding hub), and left parahippocampal gyrus (the contextual association hub) were no longer network hubs in TBI survivors, who compensated for hippocampal deficits by relying more on the right hippocampus (underlying perceptual memory) and the right medial frontal gyrus (MeFG) in the anterior prefrontal cortex (PFC). We postulated that the overrecruitment of the right anterior PFC caused dysfunction of the strategic component of episodic memory, which caused deteriorating episodic memory in mTBI survivors. Our findings also suggested that the pattern of brain network changes in TBI survivors presented similar functional consequences to normal aging.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Effects of Exogenous Hematin on Anthocyanin Biosynthesis during Strawberry Fruit Ripening
Authors: Li Yi , Li Huayin , Wang Fengde , Li Jingjuan , Zhang Yihui , Wang Liangju , Gao Jianwei
Published: December 2016

Anthocyanin in strawberries has a positive effect on fruit coloration. In this study, the role of exogenous hematin on anthocyanin biosynthesis was investigated. Our result showed that the white stage of strawberries treated with exogenous hematin had higher anthocyanin content, compared to the control group. Among all treatments, 5 μM of hematin was the optimal condition to promote color development. In order to explore the molecular mechanism of fruit coloring regulated by hematin, transcriptomes in the hematin- and non-hematin-treated fruit were analyzed. A large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in regulating anthocyanin synthesis, including the DEGs involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis, hormone signaling transduction, phytochrome signaling, starch and sucrose degradation, and transcriptional pathways. These regulatory networks may play an important role in regulating the color process of strawberries treated with hematin. In summary, exogenous hematin could promote fruit coloring by increasing anthocyanin content in the white stage of strawberries. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis suggests that hematin-promoted fruit coloring occurs through multiple related metabolic pathways, which provides valuable information for regulating fruit color via anthocyanin biosynthesis in strawberries.
Geospatial Trends and Decadal Anomalies in Extreme Rainfall over Uganda, East Africa
Authors: Onyutha Charles
Published: December 2016

Trends and variability in series comprising the mean of fifteen highest daily rainfall intensities in each year were analyzed considering entire Uganda. The data were extracted from high-resolution (0.5° × 0.5°) gridded daily series of the Princeton Global Forcings covering the period 1948–2008. Variability was analyzed using nonparametric anomaly indicator method and empirical orthogonal functions. Possible drivers of the rainfall variability were investigated. Trends were analyzed using the cumulative rank difference approach. Generally, rainfall was above the long-term mean from the mid-1950s to the late 1960s and again in the 1990s. From around 1970 to the late 1980s, rainfall was characterized by a decrease. The first and second dominant modes of variability correspond with the variation in Indian Ocean Dipole and North Atlantic Ocean index, respectively. The influence of Niño 3 on the rainfall variability of some parts of the country was also evident. The southern and northern parts had positive and negative trends, respectively. The null hypothesisH0(no trend) was collectively rejected at the significance level of 5% in the series from 7 out of 168 grid points. The insights from the findings of this study are vital for planning and management of risk-based water resources applications.
Involvement of Reduced Microbial Diversity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Gong Dawei , Gong Xiaojie , Wang Lili , Yu Xinjuan , Dong Quanjiang
Published: December 2016

A considerable number of studies have been conducted to study the microbial profiles in inflammatory conditions. A common phenomenon in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is the reduction of the diversity of microbiota, which demonstrates that microbial diversity negatively correlates with disease severity in IBD. Increased microbial diversity is known to occur in disease remission. Species diversity plays an important role in maintaining the stability of the intestinal ecosystem as well as normal ecological function. A reduction in microbial diversity corresponds to a decrease in the stability of the ecosystem and can impair ecological function. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), probiotics, and prebiotics, which aim to modulate the microbiota and restore its normal diversity, have been shown to be clinically efficacious. In this study, we hypothesized that a reduction in microbial diversity could play a role in the development of IBD.
Effects of Epigallocatechin Gallate on Tert‐Butyl Hydroperoxide‐Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Rat Liver Mitochondria and Hepatocytes
Authors: Mezera Vojtech , Endlicher Rene , Kucera Otto , Sobotka Ondrej , Drahota Zdenek , Cervinkova Zuzana
Published: December 2016

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a green tea antioxidant with adverse effects on rat liver mitochondria and hepatocytes at high doses. Here, we assessed whether low doses of EGCG would protect these systems from damage induced by tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP). Rat liver mitochondria or permeabilized rat hepatocytes were pretreated with EGCG and then exposed to tBHP. Oxygen consumption, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and mitochondrial retention capacity for calcium were measured. First, 50 μM EGCG or 0.25 mM tBHP alone increased State 4 Complex I‐driven respiration, thus demonstrating uncoupling effects; tBHP also inhibited State 3 ADP‐stimulated respiration. Then, the coexposure to 0.25 mM tBHP and 50 μM EGCG induced a trend of further decline in the respiratory control ratio beyond that observed upon tBHP exposure alone. EGCG had no effect on MMP and no effect, in concentrations up to 50 μM, on mitochondrial calcium retention capacity. tBHP led to a decline in both MMP and mitochondrial retention capacity for calcium; these effects were not changed by pretreatment with EGCG. In addition, EGCG dose‐dependently enhanced hydrogen peroxide formation in a cell‐ and mitochondria‐free medium. Conclusion. Moderate nontoxic doses of EGCG were not able to protect rat liver mitochondria and hepatocytes from tBHP‐induced mitochondrial dysfunction.
Multidisciplinary Management of Pituitary Apoplexy
Authors: Albani Adriana , Ferraù Francesco , Angileri Filippo Flavio , Esposito Felice , Granata Francesca , Ferreri Felicia , Cannavò Salvatore
Published: December 2016

Pituitary apoplexy is a rare clinical syndrome due to ischemic or haemorrhagic necrosis of the pituitary gland which complicates 2–12% of pituitary tumours, especially nonfunctioning adenomas. In many cases, it results in severe neurological, ophthalmological, and endocrinological consequences and may require prompt surgical decompression. Pituitary apoplexy represents a rare medical emergency that necessitates a multidisciplinary approach. Modalities of treatment and times of intervention are still largely debated. Therefore, the management of patients with pituitary apoplexy is often empirically individualized and clinical outcome is inevitably related to the multidisciplinary team’s skills and experience. This review aims to highlight the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the management of pituitary apoplexy and to discuss modalities of presentation, treatment, and times of intervention.
Electrochemical Oxidations ofp-Doped Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Li Huaping , Zhou Lili
Published: December 2016

Two oxidation peaks at 0.99, 1.48 V versus Fc/Fc+appear in the cyclic voltammograms of a series of defect-site functionalized SWNTs in methylene chloride solution in the presence of ferrocenes. These two peaks are demonstrated to be the electrochemical responses to the independent oxidation of v1and v2valence bands ofp-doped semiconducting SWNTs.
Radiation-Induced Alopecia after Endovascular Embolization under Fluoroscopy
Authors: Ounsakul Vipawee , Iamsumang Wimolsiri , Suchonwanit Poonkiat
Published: December 2016

Radiation-induced alopecia after fluoroscopically guided procedures is becoming more common due to an increasing use of endovascular procedures. It is characterized by geometric shapes of nonscarring alopecia related to the area of radiation. We report a case of a 46-year-old man presenting with asymptomatic, sharply demarcated rectangular, nonscarring alopecic patch on the occipital scalp following cerebral angiography with fistula embolization under fluoroscopy. His presentations were compatible with radiation-induced alopecia. Herein, we also report a novel scalp dermoscopic finding of blue-grey dots in a target pattern around yellow dots and follicles, which we detected in the lesion of radiation-induced alopecia.
Can Cell Bound Complement Activation Products Predict Inherited Complement Deficiency in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?
Authors: Raj Naveen , Waters Barry
Published: December 2016

Activation of the classical pathway complement system has long been implicated in stimulating immune complex mediated tissue destruction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). C3 and C4 complement levels are utilized as part of SLE diagnosis and monitoring criteria. Recently, cell bound complement activation products (CBCAPs) have shown increased sensitivity in diagnosing and monitoring lupus activity, compared to traditional markers. CBCAPs are increasingly utilized in rheumatology practice as additional serological markers in evaluating SLE patients. We report a case of a patient diagnosed with SLE that had chronically low C3 and C4, along with negative CBCAPs. We surmise that the patient has an inherited complement deficiency as the etiology of her SLE and that CBCAPs could be used to predict such deficiency.
Visualization of Inflammation at Early Stage of Lung Cancer in Xenografted Temporally Immunosuppression Rats by Ferrioxamine Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Dechsupa Nathupakorn , Udomtanakunchai Chatchanok , Udom-Utraracheva Anan , Suttho Dutsadee , Pazart Lionel , Humbert Philippe , Garrigos Manuel , Mankhetkorn Samlee
Published: December 2016

Physiological responses such as chronic inflammation and angiogenesis could be used as biomarkers for early detection of cancer with noninvasive imaging modalities. The present study reports the application of magnetic resonance imaging instrument to image the binding of ferrioxamine with hemin that allows visualizing the chronic inflammation foci of lung tissue of immunocompromised rats xenografted using small cell lung carcinoma. A low concentration of ferrioxamine (0.05±0.02 μM·kg−1of rat weight) deposited on tissue outside the vasculature was found to diffuse across the capillary walls to the interstitial space and inflammation foci, which provided a clear enhancement of T1-weighted gradient-echo sequence images. Ferrioxamine imaging allowed the determination of inflammatory sites and their localization in 3D fat-suppressed maximum intensity projections. The smallest dimension of foci that can be clearly determined is about 0.1 mm3. In concomitant to thein vivoimaging, analysis of histological tissue section showed the development of inflammatory sites. This study provides evidence that medical imaging instrument such as MRI scanner allows researchers to correlate images taken with MRI with those using high-resolution microscopy. Moreover, ferrioxamine is a useful molecular probe for determining chronic inflammation particularly at the very early stages of cancer.
A Novel Exercise Thermophysiology Comfort Prediction Model with Fuzzy Logic
Authors: Jia Nan , Yu Liang , Yang KaiXing , Wang RuoMei , Luo XiaoNan , Xu QingZhen
Published: December 2016

Participation in a regular exercise program can improve health status and contribute to an increase in life expectancy. However, exercise accidents like dehydration, exertional heatstroke, syncope, and even sudden death exist. If these accidents can be analyzed or predicted before they happen, it will be beneficial to alleviate or avoid uncomfortable or unacceptable human disease. Therefore, an exercise thermophysiology comfort prediction model is needed. In this paper, coupling the thermal interactions among human body, clothing, and environment (HCE) as well as the human body physiological properties, a human thermophysiology regulatory model is designed to enhance the human thermophysiology simulation in the HCE system. Some important thermal and physiological performances can be simulated. According to the simulation results, a human exercise thermophysiology comfort prediction method based on fuzzy inference system is proposed. The experiment results show that there is the same prediction trend between the experiment result and simulation result about thermophysiology comfort. At last, a mobile application platform for human exercise comfort prediction is designed and implemented.
Plug and Play Robust Distributed Control with Ellipsoidal Parametric Uncertainty System
Authors: Wang-jian Hong , Yan-xiang Wang
Published: December 2016

We consider a continuous linear time invariant system with ellipsoidal parametric uncertainty structured into subsystems. Since the design of a local controller uses only information on a subsystem and its neighbours, we combine the plug and play idea and robust distributed control to propose one distributed control strategy for linear system with ellipsoidal parametric uncertainty. Firstly for linear system with ellipsoidal parametric uncertainty, a necessary and sufficient condition for robust state feedback control is proposed by means of linear matrix inequality. If this necessary and sufficient condition is satisfied, this robust state feedback gain matrix can be easily derived to guarantee robust stability and prescribed closed loop performance. Secondly the plug and play idea is introduced in the design process. Finally by one example of aircraft flutter model parameter identification, the efficiency of the proposed control strategy can be easily realized.
FuMicro: A Fused Microarchitecture Design Integrating In-Order Superscalar and VLIW
Authors: Hou Yumin , He Hu , Yang Xu , Guo Deyuan , Wang Xu , Fu Jiawei , Qiu Keni
Published: December 2016

This paper proposes FuMicro, a fused microarchitecture integrating both in-order superscalar and Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) in a single core. A processor with FuMicro microarchitecture can work under alternative in-order superscalar and VLIW mode, using the same pipeline and the same Instruction Set Architecture (ISA). Small modification to the compiler is made to expand the register file in VLIW mode. The decision of mode switch is made by software, and this does not need extra hardware. VLIW code can be exploited in the form of library function and the users will be exposed under only superscalar mode; by this means, we can provide the users with a convenient development environment. FuMicro could serve as a universal microarchitecture for it can be applied to different ISAs. In this paper, we focus on the implementation of FuMicro with ARM ISA. This architecture is evaluated on gem5, which is a cycle accurate microarchitecture simulation platform. By adopting FuMicro microarchitecture, the performance can be improved on an average of 10%, with the best performance improvement being 47.3%, compared with that under pure in-order superscalar mode. The result shows that FuMicro microarchitecture can improve Instruction Level Parallelism (ILP) significantly, making it promising to expand digital signal processing capability on a General Purpose Processor.
The Fate of the Tumor in the Hands of Microenvironment: Role of TAMs and mTOR Pathway
Authors: Soave Danilo Figueiredo , Miguel Marina Pacheco , Tomé Fernanda Dias , de Menezes Liliana Borges , Nagib Patrícia Resende Alo , Celes Mara Rúbia Nunes
Published: December 2016

Since 2000, written with elegance and accuracy, Hanahan and Weinberg have proposed six major hallmarks of cancer and, together, they provide great advances to the understanding of tumoral biology. Our knowledge about tumor behavior has improved and the investigators have now recognized that inflammatory microenvironment may be a new feature for the tumor entities. Macrophages are considered as an important component of tumoral microenvironment. Biologically, two forms of activated macrophages can be observed: classically activated macrophages (M1) and alternative activated macrophages (M2). Despite the canonical pathways that control this puzzle of macrophages polarization, recently, mTOR signaling pathway has been implicated as an important piece in determining the metabolic and functional differentiation of M1 and M2 profiles. Currently, it is believed that macrophages related to tumoral microenvironment present an “M2-like” feature promoting an immunosuppressive microenvironment enhancing tumoral angiogenesis, growth, and metastasis. In the present review we discuss the role of macrophages in the tumor microenvironment and the role of mTOR pathway in M1 and M2 differentiation. We also discuss the recent findings in M1 and M2 polarization as a possible target in the cancer therapy.
Laparoscopic Repair of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in Adults
Authors: Saroj Sanjay Kumar , Kumar Satendra , Afaque Yusuf , Bhartia Abhishek Kumar , Bhartia Vishnu Kumar
Published: December 2016

Background, Aims, and Objectives. Congenital diaphragmatic hernia typically presents in childhood but in adults is extremely rare entity. Surgery is indicated for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients who are fit for surgery. It can be done by laparotomy, thoracotomy, thoracoscopy, or laparoscopy. With the advent of minimal access techniques, the open surgical repair for this hernia has decreased and results are comparable with early recovery and less hospital stay. The aim of this study is to establish that laparoscopic repair of congenital diaphragmatic hernia is a safe and effective modality of surgical treatment.Materials and Methods.A retrospective study of laparoscopic diaphragmatic hernia repair done during May 2011 to Oct 2014. Totaln=13(M/F: 11/2) cases of confirmed diaphragmatic hernia on CT scan, 4 cases Bochdalek hernia (BH), 8 cases of left eventration of the diaphragm (ED), and one case of right-sided eventration of the diaphragm (ED) were included in the study. Largest defect found on the left side was 15 × 6 cm and on the right side it was 15 × 8 cm. Stomach, small intestine, transverse colon, and omentum were contents in the hernial sac. The contents were reduced with harmonic scalpel and thin sacs were usually excised. The eventration was plicated and hernial orifices were repaired with interrupted horizontal mattress sutures buttressed by Teflon pieces. A composite mesh was fixed with nonabsorbable tackers. All patients had good postoperative recovery and went home early with normal follow-up and were followed up for 2 years.Conclusion.The laparoscopic repair is a safe and effective modality of surgical treatment for congenital diaphragmatic hernia in experienced hands.
Bamboo Leaf Sign as a Sensitive Magnetic Resonance Imaging Finding in Spinal Subependymoma: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Toi Hiroyuki , Ogawa Yukari , Kinoshita Keita , Hirai Satoshi , Takai Hiroki , Hara Keijiro , Matsushita Nobuhisa , Matsubara Shunji , Uno Masaaki
Published: December 2016

Background and Importance. Subependymoma occurs very rarely in the spinal cord. We report another case of spinal subependymoma along with a review of the literature and discussion of a radiological finding that is useful for preoperative diagnosis of this tumor.Clinical Presentation. A 51-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of progressive muscle weakness in the right lower extremity. Sagittal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed spinal cord expansion at the Th7–12 vertebral level. Surgical resection was performed and the tumor was found to involve predominantly subpial growth. Histological diagnosis was subependymoma, classified as Grade I according to criteria of World Health Organization. We made an important discovery of what seems to be a characteristic appearance for spinal subependymoma on sagittal MRI. Swelling of the spinal cord is extremely steep, providing unusually large fusiform dilatation resembling a bamboo leaf. We have termed this characteristic MRI appearance as the “bamboo leaf sign.” This characteristic was apparent in 76.2% of cases of spinal subependymoma for which MRI findings were reported.Conclusion. The bamboo leaf sign on spinal MRI is useful for differentiating between subependymoma and other intramedullary tumors. Neurosurgeons encountering the bamboo leaf sign on spinal MRI should consider the possibility of subependymoma.
Behavior of Oxidative Stress Markers in Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis Patients
Authors: Galicia-Moreno Marina , Rosique-Oramas Dorothy , Medina-Avila Zaira , Álvarez-Torres Tania , Falcón Dalia , Higuera-de la tijera Fátima , Béjar Yadira L. , Cordero-Pérez Paula , Muñoz-Espinosa Linda , Pérez-Hernández José Luis , Kershenobich David , Gutierrez-Reyes Gabriela
Published: December 2016

Alcohol is the most socially accepted addictive substance worldwide, and its metabolism is related with oxidative stress generation. The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of oxidative stress in alcoholic liver cirrhosis (ALC). This study included 187 patients divided into two groups: ALC, classified according to Child‐Pugh score, and a control group. We determined the levels of reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH and GSSG) and the GSH/GSSG ratio by an enzymatic method in blood. Also, protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were estimated in serum. MDA levels increased in proportion to the severity of damage, whereas the GSH and GSSG levels decreased and increased, respectively, at different stages of cirrhosis. There were no differences in the GSH/GSSG ratio and carbonylated protein content between groups. We also evaluated whether the active consumption of or abstinence from alcoholic beverages affected the behavior of these oxidative markers and only found differences in the MDA, GSH, and GSSG determination and the GSH/GSSG ratio. Our results suggest that alcoholic cirrhotic subjects have an increase in oxidative stress in the early stages of disease severity and that abstinence from alcohol consumption favors the major antioxidant endogen: GSH in patients with advanced disease severity.
Development of End Plug Welding Technique for SFR Fuel Rod Fabrication
Authors: Lee Jung Won , Kim Jong Hwan , Kim Ki Hwan , Park Jeong Yong , Kim Sung Ho
Published: December 2016

In Korea, R&D on a sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR) was begun in 1997, as one of the national long-term nuclear R&D programs. As one fuel option for a prototype SFR, a metallic fuel, U-Zr alloy fuel, was selected and is currently being developed. For the fabrication of SFR metallic fuel rods, the end plug welding is a crucial process. The sealing of the end plug to the cladding tube should be hermetically perfect to prevent a leakage of fission gases and to maintain a good reactor performance. In this study, the welding technique, welding equipment, welding conditions, and parameters were developed for the end plug welding of SFR metallic fuel rods. A gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) technique was adopted and the welding joint design was developed. In addition, the optimal welding conditions and parameters were established. Based on the establishment of the welding conditions, the GTAW technique was qualified for the end plug welding of SFR metallic fuel rods.
Human Papillomavirus Regulates HER3 Expression in Head and Neck Cancer: Implications for Targeted HER3 Therapy in HPV+ Patients
Authors: Brand Toni M. , Hartmann Stefan , Bhola Neil E. , Peyser Noah D. , Li Hua , Zeng Yan , Isaacson Wechsler Erin , Ranall Max V. , Bandyopadhyay Sourav , Duvvuri Umamaheswar , LaVallee Theresa M. , Jordan Richard C.K. , Johnson Daniel E. , Grandis Jennifer R.
Published: December 2016

Purpose:

Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16 plays an etiologic role in a growing subset of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), where viral expression of the E6 and E7 oncoproteins is necessary for tumor growth and maintenance. Although patients with HPV+ tumors have a more favorable prognosis, there are currently no HPV-selective therapies. Recent studies identified differential receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) profiles in HPV+ versus HPV− tumors. One such RTK, HER3, is overexpressed and interacts with phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) in HPV+ tumors. Therefore, we investigated the role of HPV oncoproteins in regulating HER3-mediated signaling and determined whether HER3 could be a molecular target in HPV+ HNSCC.

Experimental Design:

HER3 was investigated as a molecular target in HPV+ HNSCC using established cell lines, patient-derived xenografts (PDX), and human tumor specimens. A mechanistic link between HPV and HER3 was examined by augmenting E6 and E7 expression levels in HNSCC cell lines. The dependency of HPV+ and HPV− HNSCC models on HER3 was evaluated with anti-HER3 siRNAs and the clinical stage anti-HER3 monoclonal antibody KTN3379.

Results:

HER3 was overexpressed in HPV+ HNSCC, where it was associated with worse overall survival in patients with pharyngeal cancer. Further investigation indicated that E6 and E7 regulated HER3 protein expression and downstream PI3K pathway signaling. Targeting HER3 with siRNAs or KTN3379 significantly inhibited the growth of HPV+ cell lines and PDXs.

Conclusions:

This study uncovers a direct relationship between HPV infection and HER3 in HNSCC and provides a rationale for the clinical evaluation of targeted HER3 therapy for the treatment of HPV+ patients. Clin Cancer Res; 23(12); 3072–83. ©2016 AACR.
Clinical Use of Programmed Cell Death-1 and Its Ligand Expression as Discriminatory and Predictive Markers in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Chatterjee Jayanta , Dai Wei , Aziz Nor Haslinda Abd , Teo Pei Yun , Wahba John , Phelps David L. , Maine Christian J. , Whilding Lynsey M. , Dina Roberto , Trevisan Giorgia , Flower Kirsty J. , George Andrew J.T. , Ghaem-Maghami Sadaf
Published: December 2016

Purpose: We aimed to establish whether programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression, in ovarian cancer tumor tissue and blood, could be used as biomarkers for discrimination of tumor histology and prognosis of ovarian cancer.

Experimental Design: Immune cells were separated from blood, ascites, and tumor tissue obtained from women with suspected ovarian cancer and studied for the differential expression of possible immune biomarkers using flow cytometry. PD-L1 expression on tumor-associated inflammatory cells was assessed by immunohistochemistry and tissue microarray. Plasma soluble PD-L1 was measured using sandwich ELISA. The relationships among immune markers were explored using hierarchical cluster analyses.

Results: Biomarkers from the discovery cohort that associated with PD-L1+ cells were found. PD-L1+ CD14+ cells and PD-L1+ CD11c+ cells in the monocyte gate showed a distinct expression pattern when comparing benign tumors and epithelial ovarian cancers (EOCs)—confirmed in the validation cohort. Receiver operating characteristic curves showed PD-L1+ and PD-L1+ CD14+ cells in the monocyte gate performed better than the well-established tumor marker CA-125 alone. Plasma soluble PD-L1 was elevated in patients with EOC compared with healthy women and patients with benign ovarian tumors. Low total PD-1+ expression on lymphocytes was associated with improved survival.

Conclusions: Differential expression of immunological markers relating to the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway in blood can be used as potential diagnostic and prognostic markers in EOC. These data have implications for the development and trial of anti–PD-1/PD-L1 therapy in ovarian cancer. Clin Cancer Res; 23(13); 3453–60. ©2016 AACR.
Short-Term Results of Laparoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation Using a Multipolar System for Localized Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Morimoto Naoki , Isoda Norio , Takaoka Yoshinari , Hirosawa Takuya , Watanabe Shunji , Otake Toshiya , Murayama Kozue , Fujieda Takeshi , Tsukui Mamiko , Miyata Natsumi , Ono Kohei , Yamaguchi Shota , Yamamoto Hironori
Published: December 2016

Background and Aim: Multipolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is feasible for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) for which a large ablative area is planned, and it imposes a light physical burden on patients. Multipolar RFA via the percutaneous approach is performed in the majority of cases, but the efficacy of multipolar RFA with a laparoscopic approach has rarely been studied. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of multipolar laparoscopic RFA (LRA) for localized HCC over the short term. Methods: From January 2014 to January 2016, 77 consecutive patients with 130 HCCs treated by multipolar LRA were assessed. One to three bipolar needle applicators were inserted under laparoscopic ultrasonography guidance, regardless of tumor location. We intended to achieve parallel insertions and no-touch ablation as much as possible. Results: The median size of the main tumor was 22 mm (range, 10-42 mm). The median follow-up time was 13.6 months (range, 3.1-24.8 months). In all cases, a sufficient ablative area was obtained as planned, without thermal injury of adjacent organs. During the follow-up period, all patients were alive with no local tumor progression, while intrahepatic recurrence distant from the primary site occurred in 7 patients. The 2-year local tumor progression-free survival rate and overall cancer-free survival rate were 100 and 81.6%, respectively. There were no procedural major complications caused prolonging the hospitalization, and all patients were discharged without subjective symptoms 4-7 days after LRA. Conclusions: Multipolar LRA was efficacious in the treatment of localized HCCs by safely achieving a good ablative area.
DNA-Sensing and Nuclease Gene Expressions as Markers for Colorectal Cancer Progression
Authors: Yang Chin-An , Huang Hsi-Yuan , Chang Ya-Sian , Lin Chia-Li , Lai I-Lu , Chang Jan-Gowth
Published: December 2016

Objective: Oncogene-driven stress-related DNA damage has been observed in lesions of colon cancer. Furthermore, DNA sensors and nucleases are stimulated during active DNA damage and replication. However, their changes and influences with respect to cancer remain largely unknown. Methods: The gene expression levels of cGAS, IFI16, STING, TBK1, IFNB1, TREX1, SAMHD1, RNASEH2A, RNASEH2B, and RNASEH2C were examined in the paired colorectal cancer and adjacent normal part tissues of 53 patients. Their associations with the clinical stages of cancer were then analyzed. Results: All cytosolic DNA-sensing and nuclease-related genes except cGAS, RNASEH2A, and RNASEH2B showed lower mRNA expressions in the colorectal tumor tissues. Moreover, cGAS upregulation was found to be associated with early-stage colorectal cancers, while higher expressions of RNASEH2B, RNASEH2C, and SAMHD1 correlated with metastasis. RNASEH2C knockdown in a colon cancer cell line impaired cell migration, and analysis of the cancer RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database revealed a negative correlation between RNASEH2C expression and E-cadherin levels. Conclusions: In contrast to DNA-sensing events in viral infections or autoimmunity, cGAS-STING-IFNB signaling is disrupted in colorectal cancer. The expression levels of cGAS, RNASEH2B, RNASEH2C, and SAMHD1 could be prognostic markers of colorectal cancer.
The Relationship between Work-Related Psychological Health and Psychological Type among Canadian Baptist Clergy: A Research Report
Authors: Durkee-Lloyd Janet
Published: December 2016

This study examines the relationship between work-related psychological health and psychological type among a group of 589 Canadian Baptist clergy. Work-related psychological health was operationalised by The Francis Burnout Inventory and psychological type was operationalised by the Francis Psychological Type Scales. The findings demonstrated that Canadian Baptist clergy work-related psychological health is positively related to extraversion and negatively related to introversion.
Religious Identity, Challenge, and Clothing: Women’s Head and Hair Covering in Islam and Judaism
Authors: Loewenthal Kate Miriam , Solaim Lamis S.
Published: December 2016

This qualitative research examined the issues of women’s head covering in Islam and Judaism. It focuses on the role played by head-covering decisions in the development of religious identity. Translated sources of Islamic and Jewish law on modest dress set the context of religious rulings in which women wrestle with decisions about head-covering. Ten practising Muslim and Jewish women were interviewed about their experiences of head/hair covering. Head/hair covering was seen as an expression of identity, and as a way of managing identity. It is a key topic for both Muslim and Jewish women, central in identity development and in decisions relating to identity development, identity threat, acculturation, spirituality, and social relations with men. The role of dress is one of many aspects of ritual deserving closer attention from psychologists of religion, along with the more general topic of the impact of religious practice on religious and spiritual development.
Num praescriptione omnia iura tolluntur?
Authors: Dondorp Harry
Published: December 2016

In Paris the canonists strived at interpreting the canons on praescriptio in such a way that they concurred with Roman law. A clear and early example provides the summa Parisiensis, written in the late 1160s. Stephen of Tournai and other jurists followed its example modelling the praescriptio canonica after the longissimi temporis praescriptio in the Corpus iuris. In this line of thought praescriptio firstly denotes a defence of limitation. In Bologna, by requiring continuous good faith and a title, Rufin had modelled the praescriptio canonica after the Roman-law longi temporis praescriptio, which had both liberative and acquisitive effect. The author of Animal est substantia, the last major work of the Parisian school, seems to have aimed at harmonizing both interpretations, but the decretal Quoniam omne (4Conc. Lat. c.41; X 2.26.20) superseded his solution.
Enemies of the Count and of the City
Authors: Dumolyn Jan , Pajic Milan
Published: December 2016

During the fourteenth century, the struggle for power between the craft guilds and patricians dominated the county of Flanders to such an extent that it resulted in three major revolts between 1302 and 1361. A common punishment for collective action was banishment from the city or from the entire county, either temporarily or for life. A mitigation of the capital punishment, sending those politically defeated into exile, partially transferred social and political tensions abroad and allowed the victorious party to restore order, although sometimes only until the return of the exiles under new political conditions. Thus these revolts were followed by waves of large scale collective expulsions, in the execution of which both princely and urban authorities were involved. After these, however, the importance of collective exile as a measure of repression sharply declined and other types of punishment were inflicted on rebellious communities. The purpose of this article is to explain this brief but intensive legal phenomenon within the judicial and political structures of the county.
Possible Worlds of History
Authors: Lähteenmäki Ilkka
Published: December 2016

The theory of possible worlds has been minimally employed in the field of theory and philosophy of history, even though it has found a place as a tool in other areas of philosophy. Discussion has mostly focused on arguments concerning counterfactual history’s status as either useful or harmful. The theory of possible worlds can, however be used also to analyze historical writing. The concept of textual possible worlds offers an interesting framework to work with for analyzing a historical text’s characteristics and features. However, one of the challenges is that the literary theory’s notion of possible worlds is that they are metaphorical in nature. This in itself is not problematic but while discussing about history, which arguably deals with the real world, the terminology can become muddled. The latest attempt to combine the literary and philosophical notions of possible worlds and apply it to historiography came from Lubomír Doležel in his Possible Worlds of Fiction and History: The Postmodern Stage (2010). I offer some criticism to his usage of possible worlds to separate history and fiction, and argue that when historiography is under discussion a more philosophical notion of possible worlds should be prioritized over the metaphorical interpretation of possible worlds.
Agents in Action
Authors: Stoecker Ralf
Published: December 2016

I offer a justification for the received view that the characteristic feature of agents is to be found in the particular way their behaviour is explainable. Agents are people who have acquired three skills: (i) to act in accordance with inner or public deliberation; (ii) to do many things almost as if they had deliberated; and (iii) to recognize situations where it is worthwhile to switch from the second to the first skill. We can therefore assume that agents behave as if they were accompanying their behaviour by constant thinking although they don't actually deliberate all the time. This view allows for some attractive solutions for notorious problems in action theory but has the surprising ontological consequence that, although there are agents in action, there are no actions.