bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing Student Behavior in Computer Science Education with an fsQCA Approach
Authors: Pappas Ilias O. , Giannakos Michail N. , Jaccheri Letizia , Sampson Demetrios G.
Published: May 2017

This study uses complexity theory to understand the causal patterns of factors that stimulate students’ intention to continue studies in computer science (CS). To this end, it identifies gains and barriers as essential factors in CS education, including motivation and learning performance, and proposes a conceptual model along with research propositions. To test its propositions, the study employs fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis on a data sample from 344 students. Findings indicate eight configurations of cognitive and noncognitive gains, barriers, motivation for studies, and learning performance that explain high intention to continue studies in CS. This research study contributes to the literature by (1) offering new insights into the relationships among the predictors of CS students’ intention to continue their studies and (2) advancing the theoretical foundation of how students’ gains, barriers, motivation, and learning performance combine to better explain high intentions to continue CS studies.
Comparative Constitutional Studies: Two Fields or One?
Authors: Roux Theunis
Published: May 2017

This article reviews recent comparative research on constitutionalism and judicial review and argues that it is best understood as falling into two fields: comparative constitutional law (CCL) and comparative judicial politics. Although both fields are directed at the same phenomenon—the global spread of constitutionalism and judicial review—their purposes and methods are different. CCL, for its part, is aimed at constructing constitutional law doctrine, understanding the methodologies of judicial recourse to foreign law, and investigating how similar-seeming constitutional principles take on different meanings in different legal systems. Comparative judicial politics, by contrast, consists of a range of political science research on the origins and ongoing dynamics of judicially enforced constitutionalism. The recent call for CCL to progress into comparative constitutional studies should accordingly be treated with caution. Although there are opportunities for productive dialogue between the two fields, such dialogue needs to recognize the distinct identity of each.
The Informal Dimension of Judicial Politics: A Relational Perspective
Authors: Dressel Björn , Sanchez-Urribarri Raul , Stroh Alexander
Published: May 2017

This article proposes a relational approach to studying judicial politics in non-Western societies—a framework for the systematic analysis of informal relations between judges and other actors, within and outside the judiciary, based on common political interests, ideas, social identity, and even clientelistic obligations. We reflect on how these relations might help explain a variety of outcomes of interest, such as the organization of courts, judicial behavior, and judicial reform. We also highlight some of the methodological challenges of this approach in collecting and analyzing comparative data. In doing so, we seek to build an agenda for research on informal judicial politics beyond Western democracies.
Genealogical Microdata and Their Significance for Social Science
Authors: Song Xi , Campbell Cameron D.
Published: May 2017

Despite long-standing recognition of the importance of family background in shaping life outcomes, only recently have empirical studies in demography, stratification, and other areas begun to consider the influence of kin other than parents. These new studies reflect the increasing availability of genealogical microdata that provide information about ancestors and kin over three or more generations. These data sets, including family genealogies, linked vital registration records, population registers, longitudinal surveys, and other sources, are valuable resources for social research on family, population, and stratification in a multigenerational perspective. This article reviews relevant recent studies, introduces and presents examples of the most important sources of genealogical microdata, identifies key methodological issues in the construction and analysis of genealogical data, and suggests directions for future research.
Sudden Onset, Rapidly Expansile, Cervical Cystic Hygroma in an Adult: A Rare Case with Unusual Presentation and Extensive Review of the Literature
Authors: Dokania Vivek , Rajguru Anagha , Kaur Harmanjot , Agarwal Ketan , Kanetkar Sujata , Thakur Prajakta , Patel Femina , Shukla Dhirajkumar
Published: May 2017

Cystic hygroma (CH) is a benign infiltrative malformation of the lymphatic channels. We report a case of a 28-year-old Indian female who presented with rapidly enlarging right sided neck swelling over the posterior triangle since 5 days. Complete resection of CH is sometimes not amenable because of its infiltrative nature and involvement of surrounding vital structures. However, in our patient successful complete surgical resection was undertaken. The MRI findings of our patient were consistent with brachial cleft cyst; this posed a challenge in the diagnosis of CH. The histopathological analysis of the resected mass confirmed CH. CH is rare in adults and such an acute presentation is exceptionally atypical. History of prior trauma and infection are known etiological factors for adult CH; these were conspicuously absent in our patient. CH should be considered in the differentials of rapidly enlarging cystic swelling of posterior region of neck in adults. Optimal and timely management is necessary to achieve a favorable prognosis. Therefore, we report a case of rapidly enlarging cervical CH in an adult along with extensive literature review to have a better understanding regarding epidemiology, etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation, optimal management, and prognosis of such a rare entity in adults.
Effects of Compound K‐Distributed Sea Clutter on Angle Measurement of Wideband Monopulse Radar
Authors: Zhu Hong , Pan Yujian , Wu Weiwei , Tai Ning , Yuan Naichang
Published: May 2017

The effects of compound K‐distributed sea clutter on angle measurement of wideband monopulse radar are investigated in this paper. We apply the conditional probability density function (pdf) of monopulse ratio (MR) error to analyze these effects. Based on the angle measurement procedure of the wideband monopulse radar, this conditional pdf is first deduced in detail for the case of compound K‐distributed sea clutter plus noise. Herein, the spatial correlation of the texture components for each channel clutter and the correlation of the texture components between the sum and difference channel clutters are considered, and two extreme situations for each of them are tackled. Referring to the measured sea clutter data, angle measurement performances in various K‐distributed sea clutter plus noise circumstances are simulated, and the effects of compound K‐distributed sea clutter on angle measurement are discussed.
Study on Fracture Initiation and Propagation in a Brazilian Disc with a Preexisting Crack by Digital Image Correlation Method
Authors: Luo Lin , Li Xibing , Qiu Jiadong , Zhu Quanqi
Published: May 2017

The effect of a preexisting crack with different inclination angles and lengths on mechanical properties, fracture initiation, and propagation in a Brazilian disc was investigated in this paper. In the experiment, digital image correlation (DIC) method was employed to record the deformation in the specimen. Different failure patterns, depending on inclination angles and lengths of the preexisting crack, were observed. The fracture initiation position deviates from the tips of the preexisting crack with the inclination angle increasing from 0° to 72° at an interval of 18° per increment. Secondary cracks are more likely to occur in the Brazilian disc with a more inclined and longer preexisting crack. A finite-discrete element combined method ELFEN was used in the numerical investigation to simulate the failure process. This investigation shows that there are good correlations between the experimental and numerical results. Digital image correlation is a good method to obtain the quantitive full-field strain distribution and to observe the strain evolution process in a jointed rock.
CD146 Promoter Polymorphism (rs3923594) Is Associated with Recurrence of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma in Chinese Population
Authors: Feng Gang , Huang Hou-Bao , Ye Xiao-Bing , Zhang Peng , Huang Jian-Jun , Huang Li-Zhu , Cheng Long , Pu Chun , Li Guorong
Published: May 2017

Introduction. CD146 is a membrane signal receptor in tumor-induced angiogenesis. However, limited studies have focused on the CD146 promoter polymorphisms in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between polymorphisms located in the promoter region of the CD146 gene and characteristics of ccRCC in Chinese population. The association between the CD146 promoter polymorphisms and CD146 expression was also investigated in ccRCC. Materials and Methods. A total of 600 samples including 300 ccRCC patients and 300 healthy controls were collected for analysis of the CD146 promoter polymorphisms by direct sequence. The CD146 expressions were measured by qRT-PCR. Results. We had not found any significant differences in genotypic and allelic frequencies of CD146 promoter polymorphisms between ccRCC patients and controls. The rs3923594 was associated with stage and metastasis (300 cases) and recurrence (263 cases) of ccRCC in Chinese population. A significant association was also observed between the rs3923594 and CD146 expression (227 cases) in ccRCC. Conclusions. CD146 promoter polymorphisms were not associated with the risk of ccRCC in Chinese population. The rs3923594 was an independent predictor of recurrence in Chinese patients with localized ccRCC.
Prediction Model of Mechanical Extending Limits in Horizontal Drilling and Design Methods of Tubular Strings to Improve Limits
Authors: Huang Wenjun , Gao Deli , Liu Yinghua
Published: May 2017

Mechanical extending limit in horizontal drilling means the maximum horizontal extending length of a horizontal well under certain ground and down‐hole mechanical constraint conditions. Around this concept, the constrained optimization model of mechanical extending limits is built and simplified analytical results for pick‐up and slack‐off operations are deduced. The horizontal extending limits for kinds of tubular strings under different drilling parameters are calculated and drawn. To improve extending limits, an optimal design model of drill strings is built and applied to a case study. The results indicate that horizontal extending limits are underestimated a lot when the effects of friction force on critical helical buckling loads are neglected. Horizontal extending limits firstly increase and tend to stable values with vertical depths. Horizontal extending limits increase faster but finally become smaller with the increase of horizontal pushing forces for tubular strings of smaller modulus‐weight ratio. Sliding slack‐off is the main limit operation and high axial friction is the main constraint factor constraining horizontal extending limits. A sophisticated installation of multiple tubular strings can greatly inhibit helical buckling and increase horizontal extending limits. The optimal design model is called only once to obtain design results, which greatly increases the calculation efficiency.
Infections Caused by HRSV A ON1 Are Predominant among Hospitalized Infants with Bronchiolitis in São Paulo City
Authors: Vieira Sandra E. , Thomazelli Luciano M. , de Paulis Milena , Ferronato Angela E. , Oliveira Daniele B. , Martinez Marina Baquerizo , Durigon Edison L.
Published: May 2017

Human respiratory syncytial virus is the main cause of respiratory infections in infants. Several HRSV genotypes have been described.Goals. To describe the main genotypes that caused infections in São Paulo (2013–2015) and to analyze their clinical/epidemiological features.Methods. 94 infants (0–6 months) with bronchiolitis were studied. Clinical/epidemiological information was collected; a search for 16 viruses in nasopharyngeal secretion (PCR-real-time and conventional, sequencing, and phylogenetic analyses) was performed.Results. The mean age was 2.4 m; 48% were male. The mean length of hospital stay was 4.4 d (14% in the Intensive Care Unit). The positive rate of respiratory virus was 98.9%; 73 cases (77.6%) were HRSV (76,7% HRSVA). HRSVA formed three clusters: ON1 (n=34), NA1 (n=1), and NA2 (n=4). All HRSVB were found to cluster in the BA genotype (BA9-n=10; BA10-n=3). Clinical analyses showed no significant differences between the genotype AON1 and other genotypes.Conclusion. This study showed a high rate of HRSV detection in bronchiolitis. HRSVA ON1, which has recently been described in other countries and has not been identified in previous studies in the southeast region of Brazil, was predominant. The clinical characteristics of the infants that were infected with AON1 were similar to infants with infections by other genotypes.
ACTN3 Gene and Susceptibility to Sarcopenia and Osteoporotic Status in Older Korean Adults
Authors: Cho Jinkyung , Lee Inhwan , Kang Hyunsik
Published: May 2017

Background. Little information is available about molecular markers for sarcopenia and osteoporosis in Asian populations.Objective. This study investigated the association of theACTN3polymorphism with sarcopenia and osteoporotic status in older Korean adults.Methods. Older Korean 62 men and 270 women (mean age 73.7 ± 6.6 years) participated in this study. Body mass index, percent body fatness, appendicular skeletal muscle mass, and bone mineral density of the lumbar spine, femur, and total body were analyzed with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry.ACTN3R/X genotyping was determined using TaqMan probes.Results. Determination of odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using binary logistic regression analyses showed that XX homozygotes were at a significantly higher risk of sarcopenia (OR=2.056,95%  CI=1.024–4.127,p=0.043) and osteoporosis (OR=2.794,95%  CI=1.208–5.461,p=0.016) than RR homozygotes (reference group,OR=1). The OR of XX homozygotes for having sarcopenia remained significant (OR=2.237,95%  CI=1.044–4.836,p=0.038) after adjustments for age, gender, body fatness, and serum vitamin D. The OR of XX homozygotes for having osteoporosis was no longer significant (OR=2.682,95%  CI=0.960–7.942,p=0.075) after adjustments for the covariates.Conclusion. Our findings suggest that theACTN3R577X genotype may influence decline in muscle and bone health phenotypes in older Korean adults.
Chimeric Genes in Deletions and Duplications Associated with Intellectual Disability
Authors: Mayo Sonia , Monfort Sandra , Roselló Mónica , Orellana Carmen , Oltra Silvestre , Caro-Llopis Alfonso , Martínez Francisco
Published: May 2017

We report on three nonrelated patients with intellectual disability and CNVs that give rise to three new chimeric genes. All the genes forming these fusion transcripts may have an important role in central nervous system development and/or in gene expression regulation, and therefore not only their deletion or duplication but also the resulting chimeric gene may contribute to the phenotype of the patients. Deletions and duplications are usually pathogenic when affecting dose-sensitive genes. Alternatively, a chimeric gene may also be pathogenic by different gain-of-function mechanisms that are not restricted to dose-sensitive genes: the emergence of a new polypeptide that combines functional domains from two different genes, the deregulated expression of any coding sequence by the promoter region of a neighboring gene, and/or a putative dominant-negative effect due to the preservation of functional domains of partially truncated proteins. Fusion oncogenes are well known, but in other pathologies, the search for chimeric genes is disregarded. According to our findings, we hypothesize that the frequency of fusion transcripts may be much higher than suspected, and it should be taken into account in the array-CGH analyses of patients with intellectual disability.
Upregulation of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-Induced Protein 8-Like 2 mRNA Is Negatively Correlated with Serum Concentrations of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interleukin 6 in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Liu Yongliang , Wang Xinmei , Zhao Yan , Zhao Peiqing , Wang Lianqing , Zhai Qiaoli , Zhang Xiaowei , Tian Wenxiu , Xiang Xinxin , Li Tao
Published: May 2017

Background. Tumor necrosis factor-α-induced protein 8-like 2 (TIPE2 or TNFAIP8L2) is a negative regulator of natural and adaptive immunity. The role of TIPE2 in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains unknown, although TIPE2 plays key roles in preserving inflammatory homeostasis. Methods. TIPE2 expression was measured by Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from T2DM patients and healthy controls, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and other related biometabolic parameters were detected using a nephelometer or by ELISA. Differentiated THP-1 cells were exposed to siTIPE2 and TIPE2 adenovirus. Results. TIPE2 was significantly increased in PBMCs from T2DM patients compared with those from healthy controls and was negatively correlated with serum TNF-α, IL-6, and hsCRP concentrations but positively correlated with HbA1c and LDL-C in T2DM patients. High glucose treatment (50 mmol/L) can upregulate the expression of TIPE2 and cytokine secretion in differentiated THP-1 cells. siTIPE2 infection exacerbated the increased TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in differentiated THP-1 cells under high glucose conditions (50 mmol/L), while infection with TIPE2 adenovirus reversed the increased TNF-α concentration. Conclusions. The present study indicates that TIPE2 may participate in T2DM by regulating TNF-α production.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Tautomerism of 1,3-Dimethyl Pyrimidine-2,4,6-Trione s-Triazinyl Hydrazine/Hydrazone Derivatives
Authors: Sharma Anamika , Jad Yahya , Siddiqui Mohammed R. H. , Torre Beatriz G. de la , Albericio Fernando , El-Faham Ayman
Published: May 2017

1,3,5-Triazines and pyrimidine-2,4,6-triones belong to that class of compounds which are well known in literature for possessing wide range of biological activities. Here, we report a new family of compounds that encompasses these two structures. The union of both heterocycles was carried out through a hydrazone moiety incorporated into an acetyl group at the position 5 of 1,3-dimethyl pyrimidine derivative. The synthetic strategy adopted allowed the preparation of the target compounds with excellent yields and good purities. The synthesized compounds were well characterized by NMR (1H and 13C), HRMS, and elemental analysis. Furthermore, the tautomerism of enhydrazine versus hydrazone has also been studied.
Sertraline Induces Toxicity and Behavioral Alterations in Planarians
Authors: Thumé Isabela Salvador , Frizzo Marcos Emílio
Published: May 2017

Toxicity attributed to sertraline has been demonstrated recently in different cell types and also in some organisms. We investigated the effect of sertraline on planarians, which are considered suitable for investigations in neurotoxicology and currently are widely used as an animal model in neuropharmacological studies. Planarians treated with 10 µM sertraline showed a rapid reduction in their spontaneous movement until they became completely motionless and then showed a series of asynchronous paroxysms (seizures) followed by progressive tissue damage, beginning 48 h after the sertraline treatment, and died approximately 72 h later. Our data showed that sertraline does not cause planarian death within the range of therapeutic concentrations; however, behavioral alterations were observed with concentrations that can be considered compatible with therapeutic ones, such as a significant reduction in planarian locomotory activity at 0.4 µM. Treatment with 4 µM sertraline had a significant effect, reducing planarian locomotory activity and increasing the number of asynchronous paroxysms; both effects were significantly maintained even 24 h after the sertraline was withdrawn. These behavioral changes observed at low micromolar concentrations suggest that sertraline might have residual biological consequences for planarians, even after it is withdrawn.
Frequency of Neurological Disorders in Bullous Pemphigoid Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Khosravani Sheida , Handjani Farhad , Alimohammadi Reyhaneh , Saki Nasrin
Published: May 2017

Background. Bullous pemphigoid (BP) is an autoimmune subepidermal blistering skin disorder which occurs mostly in the elderly. Several studies have reported an association between BP and neurological disorders (ND). Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between BP and neurological disorders in Iranian patients. Methods. In this cross-sectional study, 87 patients with BP were enrolled. They were compared to 184 controls. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS statistical software version 19. Results. Out of 87 patients with BP, 17 (19.5%) had at least one neurological disease. Cerebrovascular accident (CVA) was the most common neurological disease that was seen in 7 patients (8.0%) in the case group and 4 (2.1%) in the control group. The incidence of CVA was significantly different between BP patients and the control group (P=0.022). Dementia was observed in 6 patients in the case group (16.8%) and 2 (1.0%) in the control group. The incidence of dementia was significantly different between BP patients and the control group (P=0.008). In this study, the incidences of Parkinson’s disease (P=0.830), epilepsy (P=0.067), and multiple sclerosis (P=0.326) were not statistically significant between the two groups. Conclusion. The incidence of CVA and dementia in patients with BP compared to the control group was significantly higher.
Txndc9 Is Required for Meiotic Maturation of Mouse Oocytes
Authors: Ma Fanhua , Hou Liming , Yang Liguo
Published: May 2017

Txndc9 (thioredoxin domain containing protein 9) has been shown to be involved in mammalian mitosis; however, its function in mammalian oocyte meiosis remains unclear. In this study, we initially found that Txndc9 is expressed during meiotic maturation of mouse oocytes and higher expression of Txndc9 mRNA and protein occurred in germinal vesicle (GV) stage. By using confocal scanning, we observed that Txndc9 localized at both nucleus and cytoplasm, especially at spindle microtubules. Specific depletion of Txndc9 by siRNA in mouse oocyte resulted in decreasing the rate of first polar body extrusion and increasing abnormal spindle assemble. Moreover, knockdown of Txndc9 in germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes led to higher level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lower level of antioxidant glutathione (GSH) as compared with control oocytes, which indicated that Txndc9 may be involved in mediating the redox balance. In summary, our results demonstrated that Txndc9 is crucial for mouse oocyte maturation by regulating spindle assembly, polar body extrusion, and redox status.
Analysis of the Hydroelastic Performance of Very Large Floating Structures Based on Multimodules Beam Theory
Authors: Xu Jin , Sun Yonggang , Li Zhifu , Zhang Xiantao , Lu Da
Published: May 2017

The hydroelastic behavior of very large floating structures (VLFSs) is investigated based on the proposed multimodules beam theory (MBT). To carry out the analysis, the VLFS is first divided into multiple submodules that are connected through their gravity center by a spatial beam with specific stiffness. The external force exerted on the submodules includes the wave hydrodynamic force as well as the beam bending force due to the relative displacements of different submodules. The wave hydrodynamic force is computed based on three‐dimensional potential theory. The beam bending force is expressed in the form of a stiffness matrix. The motion response defined at the gravity center of the submodules is solved by the multibody hydrodynamic control equations; then both the displacement and the structure bending moment of the VLFS are determined from the stiffness matrix equations. To account for the moving point mass effects, the proposed method is extended to the time domain based on impulse response function (IRF) theory. The method is verified by comparison with existing results. Detailed results through the displacement and bending moment of the VLFS are provided to show the influence of the number of the submodules and the influence of the moving point mass.
Diffuse B Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Presenting Atypically as Periprosthetic Joint Infection in a Total Hip Replacement
Authors: Rajeev Aysha , Ralte Angela , Choudhry Nameer , Jabbar Faizan , Banaszkiewicz Paul
Published: May 2017

The occurrence of extranodal primary B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is rare. Total hip replacement is one of the most common orthopaedic procedures performed. There has been an increased incidence of primary lymphomas involving periprosthetic sites. Chronic inflammation due to metal debris arising from the prosthetic implants has been evidenced as one of the causes for the development of soft tissue lymphomas albeit rarely. We describe a case report of a 77-year-old patient who had underwent a cemented total hip replacement in the past who further developed large B cell primary non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. She presented initially with signs and symptoms highly suggestive of underlying periprosthetic infection. The radiological imaging was also indicative of periprosthetic infection. The diagnosis was eventually confirmed after an open biopsy. This case underlines the importance of considering and including soft tissue malignancy in the differential diagnosis of suspected chronic periprosthetic infection.
Does Chemotherapy for Gynecological Malignancies during Pregnancy Cause Fetal Growth Restriction?
Authors: Abdalla Nabil , Bizoń Magdalena , Piórkowski Robert , Stanirowski Paweł , Cendrowski Krzysztof , Sawicki Włodzimierz
Published: May 2017

Cancer and pregnancy rarely coincide. Gynecological cancers are among the most common malignancies to occur during pregnancy, and chemotherapy with or without surgery is the primary treatment option. The main concern of administering chemotherapy during pregnancy is congenital malformation, although it can be avoided by delaying treatment until after organogenesis. The dose, frequency, choice of chemotherapeutic agents, time of treatment commencement, and method of administration can be adjusted to obtain the best maternal treatment outcomes while simultaneously minimizing fetal toxicity. Use of chemotherapy after the first trimester, while seemingly safe, can cause fetal growth restriction. However, the exact effect of chemotherapy on such fetal growth restriction has not been fully established; information is scarce owing to the rarity of malignancy occurring during pregnancy, the lack of uniform treatment protocols, different terminologies for defining certain fetal growth abnormalities, the influence of mothers’ preferred options, and ethical issues. Herein, we present up-to-date findings from the literature regarding the impact of chemotherapy on fetal growth.
Involvement of the Toll-Like Receptor/Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway in the Pathogenesis of Cervical Cancer Caused by High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection
Authors: Li Jie , Rao Heping , Jin Chang’e , Liu Jinrong
Published: May 2017

Human papillomavirus (HPV) can activate Toll-like receptor (TLR)/nitric oxide (NO) signaling pathways; however, whether the TLR/NO pathway is involved in cervical cancer caused by high-risk HPV (HR-HPV) remains unclear. In this study, 43 HR-HPV-positive patients with cervical cancer (CC group), 39 HR-HPV-positive patients with a healthy cervix (HR-HPV group), and 33 HR-HPV-negative controls were recruited. NO concentration in cervical canal and expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in cervical tissues were detected. Expressions of key TLR/NO pathway genes (TLR3/4/7/8, NF-κB p65, and iNOS) in cervical epithelial cells were detected by quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Expressions of TLR4, NF-κB p65, and iNOS in CaSki, HeLa, and C33a cells were determined by Western blot. NO concentration in cervical canal of CC group was significantly higher than in other groups (P<0.05). Positive rates of iNOS in cervical tissues were 72.1%, 28.2%, and 3.1% in the CC group, HR-HPV group, and controls, respectively (P<0.05). Levels of TLR3, TLR4, TLR7, TLR8, NF-κB p65, and iNOS in cervical epithelial cells were higher in CC group than in other groups (P<0.05). Both mRNA and protein levels of TLR4, NF-κB p65, and iNOS were higher in HPV-positive HeLa and CaSki cells than in HPV-negative C33a cells (P<0.05). Together, these results suggest that TLR/NO signaling pathway may be involved in pathogenesis of cervical cancer caused by HR-HPV.
Magnetic Resonance Enterography Findings of Intestinal Behçet Disease in a Child
Authors: D’Angelo Tommaso , Gallizzi Romina , Romano Claudio , Cicero Giuseppe , Mazziotti Silvio
Published: May 2017

Behçet’s disease (BD) is a multisystem disorder of unknown aetiology, characterized by recurrent oral ulcers, genital ulcers, uveitis, skin lesions, and pathergy. Gastrointestinal disease outside the oral cavity is well recognized and usually takes the form of small intestinal ulcers, with the most significant lesions frequently occurring in the ileocaecal region. Symptoms usually include nausea, vomiting, colicky abdominal pain, and change in bowel habit and it is not unusual that patients may present late, with life-threatening complications requiring surgery. Diagnosis has been hindered for many years by limitations in imaging the small bowel and it is usually achieved by means of endoscopy and CT of the abdomen. Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE) is a relatively new technique, which has a high diagnostic rate in patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Although many similarities between CD and intestinal BD have already been described in literature, the role of MRE in the evaluation of intestinal BD has never been defined up to now. We report a case of a 12-year-old female patient with diagnosis of BD who presented at our institution for recurrent colicky abdominal pain and diarrhoea. The patient underwent MRE that demonstrated the gastrointestinal involvement.
Synthesizing Asymmetric Side Lobe Pattern with Steered Nulling in Nonuniformly Excited Linear Arrays by Controlling Edge Elements
Authors: Mohammed Jafar Ramadhan , Sayidmarie Khalil H.
Published: May 2017

In radar antennas, asymmetric side lobes are useful, where undesired signals such as noise and ground clutter should be minimized. Also, for practical implementation, the feeding network of such antennas should be efficiently designed. In this paper, a simple analytical method for synthesizing asymmetric side lobe pattern with a wide-angle steered null in the nonuniformly excited linear arrays is presented. In this method, the difference in the side lobe levels on both sides of the main beam is achieved by varying just the phase excitations of the two-edge elements. The major novelty of this paper lies in the fact that the required asymmetric side lobe pattern can be achieved by changing a single phase shifter resulting in a simple feeding network.
Effect of Amplatz Sheath on Cystolithotripsy for Women with Large Bladder Stone
Authors: Tabei Tadashi , Kawahara Takashi , Kuroda Shinnosuke , Ito Hiroki , Kobayashi Kazuki , Uemura Hiroji , Matsuzaki Junichi
Published: May 2017

Objective. This study compared the effect of endourological procedures with or without the Amplatz sheath (AS) on cystolithotripsy.Methods. We retrospectively analysed 18 patients who underwent treatment for bladder stone over 30 mm. This study consisted of two groups, namely, patients who underwent cystolithotripsy with an AS (AS group) and those who underwent standard procedure without an AS (SP group). The stone-free rate, total energy used for operation, operation time, days of admission after operation, and complication of both groups were compared.Results. The number of patients in the AS and SP groups was 10 and 8, respectively. Significant differences were not found between these two groups with regard to age, stone burden, stone volume, number of stones, and history of neurogenic bladder. All patients in both groups achieved a stone-free state. Total energy was significantly increased and operation time was shorter in the AS group. No significant difference was observed in terms of days of admission after operation. Any complications were not increased by the use of AS. Struvite was the most common stone component in both groups.Conclusion. Use of an AS can shorten the operation time of cystolithotripsy without increasing perioperative complication.
Deep Hashing Based Fusing Index Method for Large-Scale Image Retrieval
Authors: Duan Lijuan , Zhao Chongyang , Miao Jun , Qiao Yuanhua , Su Xing
Published: May 2017

Hashing has been widely deployed to perform the Approximate Nearest Neighbor (ANN) search for the large-scale image retrieval to solve the problem of storage and retrieval efficiency. Recently, deep hashing methods have been proposed to perform the simultaneous feature learning and the hash code learning with deep neural networks. Even though deep hashing has shown the better performance than traditional hashing methods with handcrafted features, the learned compact hash code from one deep hashing network may not provide the full representation of an image. In this paper, we propose a novel hashing indexing method, called the Deep Hashing based Fusing Index (DHFI), to generate a more compact hash code which has stronger expression ability and distinction capability. In our method, we train two different architecture’s deep hashing subnetworks and fuse the hash codes generated by the two subnetworks together to unify images. Experiments on two real datasets show that our method can outperform state-of-the-art image retrieval applications.
Langerhans Cell Sarcoma: A Case Report Demonstrating Morphological and Immunophenotypical Variability within a Single Lesion
Authors: Singh Rasika , Keen Charles Edward , Stone Christopher , Sarsfield Patrick
Published: May 2017

Langerhans cells are antigen presenting dendritic cells and tumours arising from these are rare. The tumours arising from these dendritic cells are divided into two categories according to a WHO classification: Langerhans cell histiocytosis and Langerhans cell sarcoma. It is the degree of atypia and clinical aggressiveness that distinguishes the two subtypes. Langerhans cell sarcoma (LCS) is a neoplastic proliferation of Langerhans cells which can occur in skin, bone marrow, lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and lung. LCS can present with multiple cutaneous and systemic lesions. We present a case of Langerhans cell sarcoma with a unique morphological appearance and variable immunohistochemical profile within a single cutaneous lesion. LCS is a rare malignancy and its diagnosis is based on morphology, immunophenotypical examination, and ultrastructural analysis by electron microscopy. Our case highlights a unique morphological description of LCS wherein the pleomorphic neoplastic cells show epidermotropism and are surrounded by a variable amount of inflammatory infiltrate within a single cutaneous lesion. A single cutaneous lesion of Langerhans cell sarcoma with variable immunohistochemical profile has not been described so far.
Amorphization Effect for Kondo Semiconductor CeRu2Al10
Authors: Amakai Yusuke , Shiojiri Yasuhiro , Ishihara Kei , Hitotsukabuto Hiroto , Murayama Shigeyuki , Momono Naoki , Takano Hideaki
Published: May 2017

We measured the magnetic susceptibility χ, electrical resistivity ρ, and specific heat Cp of a sputtered amorphous (a-)CeRu2Al10 alloy. χ value for a-CeRu2Al10 alloy follows a Curie-Weiss paramagnetic behavior in the high-temperature region, and magnetic transition was not observed down to 2 K. The effective paramagnetic moment peff is 1.19 μB/Ce-atom. The resistivity shows a typical disordered alloy behavior, that is, small temperature dependence for the whole temperature range. We observed an enhancement of ρ and Cp/T in the low-temperature region of T<10 K. The enhancement in ρ is suppressed by applying a magnetic field. It is suggested that this behavior is caused by the Kondo effect.
Shaping the Tumor Stroma and Sparking Immune Activation by CD40 and 4-1BB Signaling Induced by an Armed Oncolytic Virus
Authors: Eriksson Emma , Milenova Ioanna , Wenthe Jessica , Ståhle Magnus , Leja-Jarblad Justyna , Ullenhag Gustav , Dimberg Anna , Moreno Raphael , Alemany Ramon , Loskog Angelica
Published: May 2017

Purpose: Pancreatic cancer is a severe indication with short expected survival despite surgery and/or combination chemotherapeutics. Checkpoint blockade antibodies are approved for several cancer indications, but pancreatic cancer has remained refractory. However, there are clinical data suggesting that stimulation of the CD40 pathway may be of interest for these patients. Oncolytic viruses armed with immunostimulatory genes represent an interesting approach. Herein, we present LOAd703, a designed adenovirus armed with trimerized CD40L and 4-1BBL that activates the CD40 and 4-1BB pathways, respectively. As many cells in the tumor stroma, including stellate cells and the infiltrating immune cells, express CD40 and some 4-1BB, we hypothesize that LOAd703 activates immunity and simultaneously modulates the biology of the tumor stroma.

Experimental Design: Tumor, stellate, endothelial, and immune cells were infected by LOAd703 and investigated by flow cytometry, proteomics, and functional analyses.

Results: LOAd703-infected pancreatic cell lines were killed by oncolysis, and the virus was more effective than standard-of-care gemcitabine. In in vivo xenograft models, LOAd703 efficiently reduced established tumors and could be combined with gemcitabine for additional effect. Infected stellate and tumor cells reduced factors that promote tumor growth (Spp-1, Gal-3, HGF, TGFβ and collagen type I), while chemokines were increased. Molecules involved in lymphocyte migration were upregulated on infected endothelial cells. Dendritic cells were robustly stimulated by LOAd703 to produce costimulators, cytokines and chemokines, and such DCs potently expanded both antigen-specific T cells and NK cells.

Conclusions: LOAd703 is a potent immune activator that modulates the stroma to support antitumor responses. Clin Cancer Res; 23(19); 5846–57. ©2017 AACR.
Update on Postnatal Steroids
Authors: Halliday Henry L.
Published: May 2017

Antenatal steroid treatment to enhance fetal lung maturity and surfactant treatment to prevent or treat respiratory distress syndrome have been major advances in perinatal medicine in the past 40 years contributing to improved outcomes for preterm infants. Use of postnatal steroids to prevent or treat chronic lung disease in preterm infants has been less successful and associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Although early (in the first week of life) postnatal steroid treatment facilitates earlier extubation and reduces the risk of chronic lung disease, it is associated with adverse effects, such as hyperglycemia, hypertension, gastrointestinal bleeding and perforation, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, growth failure, and cerebral palsy, and cannot be recommended. Early treatment with hydrocortisone may also improve survival without chronic lung disease, but concerns remain about possible adverse effects such as gastrointestinal perforation and sepsis, particularly in very preterm infants. Early inhaled budesonide also reduces the incidence of chronic lung disease but there are concerns that this may occur at the expense of increased risk of death. More studies of early low-dose steroids with adequate long-term follow-up are needed before they can be recommended for the prevention of chronic lung disease. Late (after the first week of life) postnatal steroids may have a better benefit-to-harm ratio than early steroids. A Cochrane Review shows that late steroid treatment reduces chronic lung disease, the combination of death and chronic lung disease at both 28 days and 36 weeks' corrected age, and the need for later rescue dexamethasone. Adverse effects include hyperglycemia, hypertension, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and severe retinopathy of prematurity but without an increase in blindness. Long-term neurodevelopmental effects are not significantly increased by late postnatal steroid treatment. Current recommendations are that postnatal steroid treatment should be reserved for preterm infants who are ventilator-dependent after the first 7-14 days of life and any course should be low dose and of short duration to facilitate endotracheal extubation. Budesonide/surfactant mixtures show some promise as a means of reducing chronic lung disease in preterm infants with severe respiratory distress syndrome, but further larger studies with long-term follow-up are needed before this treatment can be recommended as a routine intervention.
How to Save 1 Million Lives in a Year in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Authors: Travers Colm P. , Carlo Wally A.
Published: May 2017

Despite major improvements in reducing childhood mortality worldwide, over 5 million pregnancies per year end in stillbirths or neonatal deaths. The vast majority of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Many of these deaths are preventable with readily available evidence-based care practices. This review focuses on educational programs developed to reduce preventable deaths in newborn infants in low- and middle-income countries, including Essential Newborn Care and Helping Babies Breathe, a simplified version of the Neonatal Resuscitation Program. Innovative pragmatic large-scale trials conducted in the Global Network for Women's and Children's Health Research of the National Institutes of Health in the USA have evaluated these programs in low-resource settings. The results of these studies and the implications for future programs designed to decrease childhood mortality are reviewed.
Identification of Caries Risk Determinants in Toddlers: Results of the GUSTO Birth Cohort Study
Authors: Un Lam C. , Khin L.W. , Kalhan A.C. , Yee R. , Lee Y.S. , Chong M.F.-F. , Kwek K. , Saw S.M. , Godfrey K. , Chong Y.S. , Hsu C.-Y.
Published: May 2017

The aim of this study was to identify risk determinants leading to early childhood caries (ECC) and visible plaque (VP) in toddlers. Data for mother-child pairs participating in the Growing Up in Singapore towards Healthy Outcomes (GUSTO) birth cohort were collected from pregnancy to toddlerhood. Oral examinations were performed in 543 children during their clinic visit at 24 months to detect ECC and VP. Following logistic regression, ECC and VP were jointly regressed as primary and secondary outcomes, respectively, using the bivariate probit model. The ECC prevalence was 17.8% at 2 years of age, with 7.3% of children having a VP score >1. ECC was associated with nighttime breastfeeding (3 weeks) and biological factors, including Indian ethnicity (lower ECC rate), higher maternal childbearing age and existing health conditions, maternal plasma folate <6 ng/mL, child BMI, and the plaque index, while VP was associated with psychobehavioral factors, including the frequency of dental visits, brushing frequency, lower parental perceived importance of baby teeth, and weaning onto solids. Interestingly, although a higher frequency of dental visits and toothbrushing were associated with lower plaque accumulation, they were associated with increased ECC risk, suggesting that these established caries-risk factors may be a consequence rather than the cause of ECC. In conclusion, Indian toddlers may be less susceptible to ECC, compared to Chinese and Malay toddlers. The study also highlights a problem-driven utilization pattern of dental services (care sought for treatment) in Singapore, in contrast to the prevention-driven approach (care sought to prevent disease) in Western countries.
Bile Duct Injury after Cholecystectomy: Surgical Therapy
Authors: Renz Bernhard W. , Bösch Florian , Angele Martin K.
Published: May 2017

Background: Iatrogenic bile duct injuries (IBDI) after laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), being one of the most common performed surgical procedures, remain a substantial problem in gastrointestinal surgery. The most important aspect regarding this issue is the prevention of IBDI during index cholecystectomy. Once it occurs, early and accurate diagnosis of IBDI is very important for surgeons and gastroenterologists, because unidentified IBDI may result in severe complications such as hepatic failure and death. Laboratory tests, radiological imaging, and endoscopy play an important role in the diagnosis of biliary injuries. Methods: This review summarizes and discusses the current literature on the management of IBDI after LC from a surgical point of view. Results and Conclusion: In general, endoscopic techniques are recommended for the initial diagnosis and treatment of IBDI and are important to classify them correctly. In patients with complete dissection or obstruction of the bile duct, surgical management remains the only feasible option. Different surgical reconstructions are performed in patients with IBDI. According to the available literature, Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy is the most frequent surgical reconstruction and is recommended by most authors. Long-term results are most important in the assessment of effectiveness of IBDI treatment. Apart from that, adequate diagnosis and treatment of IBDI may avoid many serious complications and improve the quality of life of our patients.
Retinal Microvasculature in Nonproliferative Diabetic Retinopathy: Automated Quantitative Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography Assessment
Authors: Lupidi Marco , Coscas Gabriel , Coscas Florence , Fiore Tito , Spaccini Elisa , Fruttini Daniela , Cagini Carlo
Published: May 2017

Purpose: To perform a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the foveal microvasculature in eyes with diabetic maculopathy using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A). Methods: Retrospective case series of 48 eyes with diabetic maculopathy and 47 healthy eyes evaluated by Spectralis OCT-A. Perifoveal arcade disruptions, linear vascular dilations, microaneurysms, intraretinal microvascular abnormalities and flow-void areas were qualitatively analyzed on OCT angiograms both for the superficial (SCP) and deep (DCP) capillary plexuses. A fully automated microstructural analysis of the foveal avascular zone (FAZ) metrics, vascular and avascular surfaces was performed. Quantitative values from diabetic patients were compared with those of healthy subjects. Results: A moderate agreement between SCP and DCP in terms of diabetes-induced vascular lesions in the qualitative assessment was shown. The comparative quantitative analysis between SCP and DCP in diabetic patients revealed a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05) in terms of FAZ perimeter and FAZ surface. No statistically significant difference was shown in total vascular and avascular surfaces. A statistically significant difference between the diabetic and control groups was noticed both for SCP and DCP considering FAZ metrics and vascular surfaces. Conclusions: A qualitative and quantitative OCT-A approach on retinal vascular perfusion may offer an objective and reliable method for monitoring disease progression in diabetic retinopathy.