bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
β‐Boswellic acid, a bioactive substance used in food supplements, inhibits protein synthesis by targeting the ribosomal machinery
Authors: Casapullo A. , Cassiano C. , Capolupo A. , del Gaudio F. , Esposito R. , Tosco A. , Riccio R. , Monti M.C.
Published: July 2016

The Boswellia gum resin extracts have been used in traditional medicines because of their remarkable anti‐inflammatory properties. Nowadays, these extracts are on the market as food supplements. β‐Boswellic acid (βBA) is one of the main pentacyclic triterpene components, among the family of BAs, of the Boswellia gum resins. BAs have been broadly studied and are well known for their wide anti‐inflammatory and potential anticancer properties. In this paper, a mass spectrometry‐based chemoproteomic approach has been applied to characterize the whole βBA interacting profile. Among the large numbers of proteins fished out, proteasome, 14‐3‐3 and some ribosomal proteins were considered the most interesting targets strictly connected to the modulation of the cancer progression. In particular, because of their recent assessment as innovative chemotherapeutic targets, the ribosomal proteins were considered the most attractive βBA partners, and the biological role of their interaction with the natural compound has been evaluated. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Rapid discrimination of bergamot essential oil by paper spray mass spectrometry and chemometric analysis
Authors: Taverna Domenico , Di Donna Leonardo , Mazzotti Fabio , Tagarelli Antonio , Napoli Anna , Furia Emilia , Sindona Giovanni
Published: July 2016

A novel approach for the rapid discrimination of bergamot essential oil from other citrus fruits oils is presented. The method was developed using paper spray mass spectrometry (PS‐MS) allowing for a rapid molecular profiling coupled with a statistic tool for a precise and reliable discrimination between the bergamot complex matrix and other similar matrices, commonly used for its reconstitution. Ambient mass spectrometry possesses the ability to record mass spectra of ordinary samples, in their native environment, without sample preparation or pre‐separation by creating ions outside the instrument. The present study reports a PS‐MS method for the determination of oxygen heterocyclic compounds such as furocoumarins, psoralens and flavonoids present in the non‐volatile fraction of citrus fruits essential oils followed by chemometric analysis. The volatile fraction of Bergamot is one of the most known and fashionable natural products, which found applications in flavoring industry as ingredient in beverages and flavored foodstuff. The development of the presented method employed bergamot, sweet orange, orange, cedar, grapefruit and mandarin essential oils. PS‐MS measurements were carried out in full scan mode for a total run time of 2 min. The capability of PS‐MS profiling to act as marker for the classification of bergamot essential oils was evaluated by using multivariate statistical analysis. Two pattern recognition techniques, linear discriminant analysis and soft independent modeling of class analogy, were applied to MS data. The cross‐validation procedure has shown excellent results in terms of the prediction ability because both models have correctly classified all samples for each category. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Association between human papillomavirus (HPV) 16, HPV18, and other HR‐HPV viral load and the histological classification of cervical lesions: Results from a large‐scale cross‐sectional study
Authors: Wu Zeni , Qin Yu , Yu Lulu , Lin Chunqing , Wang Hong , Cui Jianfeng , Liu Bin , Liao Yiqun , Warren De'Andre , Zhang Xun , Chen Wen
Published: July 2016

The relationship between HPV viral load and histological grades in the development of cervical cancer is in argument. It is helpful to better understand the association by quantitatively detecting viral load of HPV16, 18, and a pool of 12 other high‐risk HPV type (OT) independently on the samples of precancer and cancer. A cross‐sectional study was performed in five medical centers of China. Histological diagnosis made by local pathologists was adjudicated via a pathology expert panel. A fully automated real‐time PCR test was used for the measurement of HPV16, 18, OT, and human β‐globin gene. A total of 2,513 women [1,341 normal, 209 low grade intraepithelial lesion (LSIL), 392 high grade intraepithelial lesion (HSIL), 520 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and 51 adenocarcinoma (ADC)] were included. There is a linear increase in the total 14 HPV viral load with histological grade from normal to SCC. This trend was not observed in HPV18 infection but HPV16. The viral load for OT was low in normal, peaked in LSIL and HSIL, and declined in SCC and ADC. In the co‐infection of HPV16 and HPV18, HPV16 viral load was significantly higher than HPV18 in LSIL and HSIL. In co‐infection of HPV16 and OT, higher HPV16 viral load was also seen in SCC and ADC. Viral load of HPV16 increases with cervical lesion grade and is predominant in cervical cancer. HPV18 viral load is low in precancer, but going up in cancer. OT viral load shows inverse trend of HPV18. J. Med. Virol. 89:535–541, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An apparent relationship between Madden–Julian Oscillation and the advance of Indian summer monsoon
Authors: Singh M. , Bhatla R. , Pattanaik D. R.
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACT

A marked seasonality in the occurrence of Madden–Julian Oscillation (MJO) events is well known. The core region of oscillation is located at low latitudes (between the equator and 15°) in the summer hemisphere. The eastward progression of MJO signal interacts with the monsoon circulation and modulates the advance period of Indian summer monsoon (ISM). The analyses suggest that the mean advance period of ISM (41 days) is comparable with the life cycle of the MJO (30–60 days). The advance period of ISM has been categorised into normal, fast and slow‐advance years to decide the pace of the monsoon during progression of monsoon. During the period 1983–2015, the fastest progress of the monsoon was seen in the year 2013 (fastest advancement in the last 33 years) and slowest progress of monsoon was seen in the year 2002 (most lethargic advancement in the last 33 years). The results of the analyses show that variation in daily MJO‐amplitude during fast‐advancement years is more as compared with the normal and slow‐advancement years. The normal‐advancement years mostly occur during MJO phase 1 and phase 2 and fast‐advancement years frequently occur during MJO phase 2; however, slow‐advancement years are found to occur during MJO phase 5 and phase 6. The MJO phase 2 is the most frequent phase and MJO phase 8 is the least frequent phase during advance of monsoon. However, the highest amplitude is recorded during MJO phase 8. The strong (weak) monsoon current is modulated by strong (weak) MJO phases.
A new insight into polyurethane foam deterioration – the use of Raman microscopy for the evaluation of long‐term storage conditions
Authors: França de Sá Susana , Ferreira Joana Lia , Matos Ana Sofia , Macedo Rita , Ramos Ana Maria
Published: July 2016

This research aims at bringing new contributions for lowering the polyether‐based polyurethane (PUR) flexible foam high deterioration rate by studying selected storage conditions. With a life expectancy of 20–50 years, many PUR objects show severe deterioration signs that, so far, cannot be prevented. To establish a preservation strategy, a natural ageing experiment in the dark (12 months, 45–55% relative humidity) has been carried out for the study of four storage conditions: open air at room temperature (T) and sealed enclosures at room T (with/without oxygen) and low T (11–13 °C). For this research, unaged (model PUR) and naturally pre‐aged (commercial PUR) references were included. The samples were analysed every 3 months by colourimetry, optical microscopy (visible and UV light), infrared and Raman microspectroscopies. Further statistical data treatment was carried out in order to identify significant spectral variations (ANOVA) and to uncover correlations between molecular spectral lines and physical aspects. Raman proved to be a powerful tool in the detection of early stage PUR molecular deterioration. For both model and commercial samples, open‐air storage proved to be the most harmful condition, while anoxic storage showed the best results. In general, this experiment has enabled new contributions for lowering PUR high deterioration rate. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Phycocyanin‐specific absorption coefficient: Eliminating the effect of chlorophylls absorption
Authors: Yacobi Y. Z. , Köhler J. , Leunert F. , Gitelson A.
Published: July 2016

The applicability of algorithms for estimation of phycocyanin (PC) concentration based on light spectral reflectance heavily depends on the specific absorption of the pigment. But the determination of PC‐specific absorption coefficient is not a straightforward task, as PC optical activity is overlapped by absorption of chlorophylls. The aim of our study was to determine
(625)—the specific absorption coefficient of PC at 625 nm, in samples with PC concentrations ranging from 0.5 mg m−3 to 126.4 mg m−3 and varying proportions of chlorophylls a, b, and c in the samples. The effect of chlorophylls was subtracted from total absorption at 625 nm using Chl a absorption at 675 nm as a reference; the contribution of the chlorophylls was computed on the basis of their relative absorption at 625 nm and concentrations. The major effect on the precision of
(625) determination was imposed by Chl a absorption, but the effect of the accessory chlorophylls ought to be accounted for in order to arrive at reliable PC‐specific absorption values.
(625) varied widely, from 0.002 mg m−2 to 0.027 mg m−2, and decreased with increase of PC concentration. As PC concentration exceeded 10 mg m−3,
(625) was almost invariable, slightly oscillating around 0.007 mg m−2 and similar to PC specific absorption coefficient estimated by alternative methods. It is clear that a universal value is unfeasible, but
(625) of 0.007–0.008 mg m−2 seems an appropriate value for use in algorithms destined for estimation of phycocyanin in typical mesotrophic and eutrophic inland waters dominated by cyanobacteria.
Isolation enhancement of patch antenna array via metamaterial integration
Authors: Liu Zhao‐Tang , Qu Shao‐Bo , Wang Jia‐Fu , Zhang Jie‐Qiu , Hua Ma , Xu Zhuo , Zhang An‐Xue
Published: July 2016

A high‐isolation coaxial‐fed antenna array is proposed through the integration of metamaterial. To this end, a magnetic metamaterial, the substrate‐integrated split‐ring resonator (SI‐SRR), is designed and integrated in the shared substrate between two closely spaced antennas. Due to negative permeability of SI‐SRR, magnetic fields are blocked in the shared substrate. By suppressing the near‐field magnetic coupling, enhanced isolation between the two antennas is obtained. The antenna array was fabricated and measured. Both the simulated and measured results show that the proposed antennas can provide an isolation of 34.5 dB in the operation band, even when the gap between the two antennas is only nearly about 0.033λ. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2321–2325, 2016
A new frequency selective absorber surface at the unlicensed 2.4‐GHz ISM band
Authors: Kartal Mesut , Döken Bora
Published: July 2016

Wireless devices in the unlicensed ISM bands cause mutual interference in indoor environments. This interference does not only degrade system performance but also compromises security. An efficient approach to solve this problem is transforming a building wall to a frequency selective surface (FSS), which filters undesired signals, but allows signals of other devices such as mobile phones, radios and televisions. As a band‐stop filter, FSS acts as a reflector that causes additional multipath, delay spread and signal degradation. The aim of this study is proposing a design of FSS absorber (FSAS) at the unlicensed 2.45 GHz ISM band to eliminate the reflected signal while it still acts as a band‐stop filter. Absorber characteristic is achieved by placing a second FSS layer comprising lossy periodic FSS elements or placing lumped resistors on the conducting paths of periodic element geometries. HFSS software is used for simulation and design purposes. The minimum attenuation was obtained as 20 dB on the transmission (S21) coefficient, while it was obtained as 10 dB on the reflection (S11) coefficient, respectively. The simulation and measurement results obtained show that the desired frequency response is successfully achieved for both TE and TM polarizations. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2351–2358, 2016
Compact UWB wearable planar antenna mounted on different phantoms and human body
Authors: Ali Wael A. , Mansour Asmaa M. , Mohamed Darwish A.
Published: July 2016

In this article, the performance of compact planar wearable antenna 4.1 × 4.1 cm2 mounted on different phantoms and human body fed by microstrip line is designed to operate in ultra‐wide band applications. The proposed antenna consists of a circular patch with notch‐cut and U‐shaped slot on the upper side of the substrate and finite ground plane with rectangular shape defected ground structure (DGS) on the lower side. The U‐shaped slot and finite ground plane are used to achieve an enhanced impedance bandwidth. The proposed antenna is designed and simulated using Ansoft High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS) to verify its operation over larger frequency range from 3.6 GHz to 15 GHz. The return loss, VSWR, radiation pattern, and gain are investigated in this article and verified with the experimental measurements. The proposed wearable antenna radiates over a wide frequency band and can achieve nearly omnidirectional radiation patterns with an average gain of 3.11 dBi. A good agreement between simulations and practical measurements can be achieved in order to verify the suitability of proposed wearable antenna to be used in various UWB applications. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 58:2531–2536, 2016
Evaluation of patients with refractory chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
Authors: Kaplan Artem , Brannagan Thomas H.
Published: July 2016

Introduction

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) is a common treatable neuropathy, however, nearly 20% of patients remain refractory to standard therapy for unclear reasons.

Methods

We did a retrospective review of 37 patients referred for CIDP refractory to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), plasmapheresis, and/or corticosteroids. Clinical findings, electrophysiological studies, and response to further therapeutic interventions were assessed.

Results

Forty‐six percent of patients had CIDP, while 54% had alternate diagnoses. Of patients with confirmed CIDP, 87% showed improvement with escalation of therapy. Distal leg weakness, vibratory sensory loss, and widespread areflexia were significantly more common in patients with confirmed CIDP.

Conclusions

Reasons for therapeutic failure in CIDP are inadequate immunotherapy and alternative diagnoses. Certain clinical and electrophysiological features help to distinguish true CIDP from mimics. Once CIDP is confirmed, optimization of IVIg dosing, addition of corticosteroids, plasmapheresis, or chemotherapy results in consistent improvement. Caution is advised when using response to therapy to diagnose CIDP. Muscle Nerve 55: 476–482, 2017
Rasch analysis of SF‐Qualiveen in multiple sclerosis
Authors: Milinis Kristijonas , Tennant Alan , A. Young Carolyn ,   the TONiC Study Group
Published: July 2016

BACKGROUND

A 30‐item Qualiveen questionnaire was developed to measure the impact of urinary problems on everyday living in spinal cord injury, and subsequently an 8‐item SF‐Qualiveen was developed for those with multiple sclerosis (MS). The validity of this short form has not been previously examined using modern psychometric techniques, such as the Rasch measurement model.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to test if the short form meets the requirements of the Rasch model.

METHODS

A total of 401 patients with clinically definite MS were given the questionnaire at three neuroscience centres in the UK.

RESULTS

A total of 258 patients (64.3% response) completed the questionnaire. The original scale failed to meet the expectations of the Rasch model. A two‐testlet solution was sought to account for local dependence, differential item functioning and disordered thresholds. After the modifications were made the scale fitted the model (χ2 = 5.93 P = 0.4305), had high internal consistency (α = 0.88) and was unidimensional.

CONCLUSIONS

SF‐Qualiveen is a simple and valid measure of the impact of urinary problems in multiple sclerosis, which meets the requirements of the Rasch measurement model. Summed ordinal scores can be converted to interval‐level using the transformation table provided.
Dynamic mechanical analysis of polyurethanes and carbon nanotube based composites obtained from PET waste
Authors: Shamsi Ramin , Mir Mohamad Sadeghi Gity , Asghari Gholam Hosein
Published: July 2016

In this work, an attempt is made to present an in‐depth investigation on the temperature and frequency dependences of viscoelastic properties of polyurethanes and PU nanocomposites containing multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) obtained from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste through dynamic mechanical analysis. The experimental results indicate that NCO/OH molar ratios and nanoparticles can have a marked effect on the ultimate properties and performance of the polyurethanes and their corresponding nanocomposites produced from PET waste. The opposite effects of the reinforcing and steric hindrance of CNT in the studied nanocomposites can be the reason for the observation of some unexpected results. Relaxation spectra were also subsequently calculated by means of two consecutive approximation methods. Good conformity was observed between the data from storage modulus (E′) and loss (modulus) E″ by the second approximation in relaxation spectra which confirmed the internal consistency of the experimental data. In the end, TEM images confirmed the effect of the reinforcing of CNT in the PUCNT‐2 as demonstrated by DMA results. POLYM. COMPOS., 39:E754–E764, 2018. © 2016 Society of Plastics Engineers
Robust estimation of partially linear models for longitudinal data with dropouts and measurement error
Authors: Qin Guoyou , Zhang Jiajia , Zhu Zhongyi , Fung Wing
Published: July 2016

Outliers, measurement error, and missing data are commonly seen in longitudinal data because of its data collection process. However, no method can address all three of these issues simultaneously. This paper focuses on the robust estimation of partially linear models for longitudinal data with dropouts and measurement error. A new robust estimating equation, simultaneously tackling outliers, measurement error, and missingness, is proposed. The asymptotic properties of the proposed estimator are established under some regularity conditions. The proposed method is easy to implement in practice by utilizing the existing standard generalized estimating equations algorithms. The comprehensive simulation studies show the strength of the proposed method in dealing with longitudinal data with all three features. Finally, the proposed method is applied to data from the Lifestyle Education for Activity and Nutrition study and confirms the effectiveness of the intervention in producing weight loss at month 9. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effects of structurally different noncoplanar and coplanar PCBs on HELF cell proliferation, cell cycle, and potential molecular mechanisms
Authors: Hashmi Muhammad Zaffar , Zhang Jingyu , Li Binglu , Su Xiaomei , Tariq Muhammad , Ahmad Najid , Malik Riffat Naseem , Ullah Kalim , Chen Chen , Shen Chaofeng
Published: July 2016

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of chemicals that persist in the environment, indoors, and humans. Lung exposure to airborne and food contaminants, such as PCBs, may cause possible lung disorders, such as cancer. In the present study, we investigated the effects of structurally different lower chlorinated (≤4Cl), noncoplanar PCB40, and coplanar PCB77 on human lung fibroblast cell line (HELF) cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and possible molecular mechanisms. Noncoplanar PCB40 and coplanar PCB77 exhibited concentration‐ and time‐dependent biphasic dose–response effects on HELF cell proliferation. Noncoplanar PCB40 and coplanar PCB77 induced 23 and 45% cytotoxicity at higher concentrations than the control. The flow cytometry analysis showed that exposure to PCB40 caused a significant increase in time spent in the G1 phase but decreased length of the S phase in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent manner, whereas PCB77 exposure decreased time spent in the G1 and S phases but increased time spent in the G2 phase. Western blot analysis indicated that PCB77 increased the expression of cyclin E, CDK2, p21, and caspase‐9, while PCB40 decreased the expression of these proteins (except CDK2 and p21). An increase in CDK expression after exposure to PCB77 suggests that it may cause carcinogenic effects on HELF cells at higher doses. Our results also demonstrate that the different cytotoxic effects induced by coplanar and nonplanar PCBs were correlated with their structural characteristics; the coplanar congener was more cytotoxic than the nonplanar congener. The study elaborates threshold levels for these chemicals and suggests that the cytotoxicity mechanisms by which PCB congeners act on HELF cells depend on their planarity and chemical structures. Furthermore, the study will be important for developing antidotes to the adverse effects and risk assessment practices for PCBs. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 1183–1190, 2017.
Compact Sobolev embeddings and torsion functions
Authors: Brasco Lorenzo , Ruffini Berardo
Published: July 2016

For a general open set, we characterize the compactness of the embedding for the homogeneous Sobolev space

\mathcal{D}_{0}^{1,p}↪L^{q}

in terms of the summability of its torsion function. In particular, for

1 \leq q < p

we obtain that the embedding is continuous if and only if it is compact. The proofs crucially exploit a
torsional Hardy inequality
that we investigate in detail.
Effective Perioperative Communication to Enhance Patient Care
Authors: Garrett J. Hudson
Published: July 2016

Breakdowns in health care communication are a significant cause of sentinel events and associated patient morbidity and mortality. Effective communication is a necessary component of a patient safety program, which enables all members of the interdisciplinary health care team to effectively manage their individual roles and responsibilities in the perioperative setting; set expectations for safe, high‐reliability care; and measure and assess outcomes. To sustain a culture of safety, effective communication should be standardized, complete, clear, brief, and timely. Executive leadership and support helps remove institutional barriers and address challenges to support the engagement of patients in health care communication, which has been shown to improve outcomes, reduce costs, and improve the patient experience.
Improving OR Efficiency
Authors: Vassell Patricia
Published: July 2016

The high‐cost/high‐revenue environment of the OR requires special attention from managers to scrutinize and reduce costs. In the OR, nonlabor cost savings (ie, no staff member will be laid off or reclassified to realize cost savings) can typically be identified most readily. Operational costs in the OR are affected by start times, turnover times, cancellation rates, and adequate supplies, equipment, and staffing. Inefficiency in the OR can increase costs and lead to dissatisfied patients, physicians, and staff members. This article describes concepts that contribute to efficiency in the OR and illustrates the importance of staff member engagement in achieving desired outcomes.
Are Social Studies Methods Textbooks Preparing Teachers to Support Students with Disabilities in Social Studies Classrooms?
Authors: Lucas Ashley G. , Passe Jeff
Published: July 2016

Many social studies methods textbooks are making progress in including information on disabilities. This study, however, raises the question of what kind of information would be most useful to pre-service teachers, as they get closer to entering their own classrooms. Do social studies methods textbooks adequately prepare pre-service teachers for teaching students with disabilities? We found that while a handful of textbooks incorporate meaningful information on social studies and disabilities, many textbooks still provide inadequate information despite the recent dissemination of relevant studies and the large number of inclusion students in today's social studies classrooms.
A ribonucleotide reductase inhibitor with deoxyribonucleoside‐reversible cytotoxicity
Authors: Crona Mikael , Codó Paula , Jonna Venkateswara Rao , Hofer Anders , Fernandes Aristi P. , Tholander Fredrik
Published: July 2016

Ribonucleotide Reductase (RNR) is the sole enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of ribonucleotides into deoxyribonucleotides. Even though RNR is a recognized target for antiproliferative molecules, and the main target of the approved drug hydroxyurea, few new leads targeted to this enzyme have been developed. We have evaluated a recently identified set of RNR inhibitors with respect to inhibition of the human enzyme and cellular toxicity. One compound, NSC73735, is particularly interesting; it is specific for leukemia cells and is the first identified compound that hinders oligomerization of the mammalian large RNR subunit. Similar to hydroxyurea, it caused a disruption of the cell cycle distribution of cultured HL‐60 cells. In contrast to hydroxyurea, the disruption was reversible, indicating higher specificity. NSC73735 thus defines a potential lead candidate for RNR‐targeted anticancer drugs, as well as a chemical probe with better selectivity for RNR inhibition than hydroxyurea.
How to analyze the Visual Analogue Scale: Myths, truths and clinical relevance
Authors: Heller Gillian Z. , Manuguerra Maurizio , Chow Roberta
Published: July 2016

Background and aims

The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) is a popular tool for the measurement of pain. A variety of statistical methods are employed for its analysis as an outcome measure, not all of them optimal or appropriate. An issue which has attracted much discussion in the literature is whether VAS is at a ratio or ordinal level of measurement. This decision has an influence on the appropriate method of analysis. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of current practice in the analysis of VAS scores, to propose a method of analysis which avoids the shortcomings of more traditional approaches, and to provide best practice recommendations for the analysis of VAS scores.

Methods

We report on the current usage of statistical methods, which fall broadly into two categories: those that assume a probability distribution for VAS, and those that do not. We give an overview of these methods, and propose continuous ordinal regression, an extension of current ordinal regression methodology, which is appropriate for VAS at an ordinal level of measurement. We demonstrate the analysis of a published data set using a variety of methods, and use simulation to compare the power of the various methods to detect treatment differences, in differing pain situations.

Results

We demonstrate that continuous ordinal regression provides the most powerful statistical analysis under a variety of conditions.

Conclusions and Implications

We recommend that in the situation in which no covariates besides treatment group are included in the analysis, distribution-free methods (Wilcoxon, Mann–Whitney) be used, as their power is indistinguishable from that of the proposed method. In the situation in which there are covariates which affect VAS, the proposed method is optimal. However, in this case, if the VAS scores are not concentrated around either extreme of the scale, normal-distribution methods (t-test, linear regression) are almost as powerful, and are recommended as a pragmatic choice. In the case of small sample size and VAS skewed to either extreme of the scale, the proposed method has vastly superior power to other methods.
Advancing theranostics with tumor‐targeting peptides for precision otolaryngology
Authors: Wright Chadwick L. , Pan Quintin , Knopp Michael V. , Tweedle Michael F.
Published: July 2016

Worldwide, about 600,000 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are detected annually, many of which involve high risk human papilloma virus (HPV). Surgery is the primary and desired first treatment option. Following surgery, the existence of cancer cells at the surgical margin is strongly associated with eventual recurrence of cancer and a poor outcome. Despite improved surgical methods (robotics, microsurgery, endoscopic/laparoscopic, and external imaging), surgeons rely only on their vision and touch to locate tumors during surgery. Diagnostic imaging systems like computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and positron‐emission tomography (PET) are too large, slow and costly to use efficiently during most surgeries and, ultrasound imaging, while fast and portable, is not cancer specific. This purpose of this article is to review the fundamental technologies that will radically advance Precision Otolaryngology practices to the benefit of patients with HNSCC. In particular, this article will address the potential for tumor‐targeting peptides to enable more precise diagnostic imaging while simultaneously advancing new therapeutic paradigms for next generation image‐guided surgery, tumor‐specific chemotherapeutic delivery and tumor‐selective targeted radiotherapy (i.e., theranostic).
‘Held in Place’: Round Barrows in the Later Bronze Age of Lowland Britain
Authors: Cooper Anwen
Published: July 2016

This paper presents a systematic study of later Bronze Age practices at round barrows – features that are typically seen as emblematic of the Early Bronze Age in Britain. Examining the evidence from 87 excavated round barrows in the east of England, it adds subtlety and empirical detail to previous discussions about the changing role of funerary monuments over the course of the 2nd millenniumbc. A wide variety of activities was undertaken at existing round barrows in the later Bronze Age. Burials were added, the monuments themselves were augmented and replicated, they were often actively built into land boundary systems, and settlements were located close to them. The findings not only attest to the continued (if shifting) significance of round barrows in the later Bronze Age, they also contribute substantially to wider debates about the character of life during this period in lowland Britain – the shifting relationship between ‘ritual’ and ‘everyday’ practices, and the processes by which mobile communities began to settle down. More broadly, this investigation adds to a growing body of work that explores the multi-temporal qualities of later prehistoric landscapes.
Fetal and Neonatal Arrhythmia in One of the Twins - a Case History
Authors: Czeszyńska M. B. , Węgrzynowski J. , Czajkowski Z. , Dawid G.
Published: July 2016

There are a lot of publications about fetal arrhythmia in singletons, but up to now there are no published data about fetal arrhythmia in multiple pregnancies. In the present study a case history of fetal and neonatal arrhythmia in one of twins from two mothers treated with betamimetic agents due to imminent preterm labor is reported and discussed. A first case with fetal bradycardia due to complete A-V block had congenital cordis abnormalities (VSD and PFO). The second case with prenatal detected extrasystoles had normal heart anatomy. Digoxin was administered to the mother, in the aim to treat fetal arrhythmia without success, because the baby had postnatal bradycardia. After hospitalisation in Cardiology Department the described cases were successfully treated. In both cases the second twins were without neonatal arrhythmia and with no structural heart abnormalities. We summarise that in situation of detection fetal arrhythmia the complexity of the problems experienced may warrant early referral to a tertiary centre where the overall management of the mother, fetus and neonate, may be undertaken.
Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome – a Preliminary Report
Authors: Ropacka M. , Markwitz W. , Ginda W. , Bręborowicz G. H.
Published: July 2016

Objective.The aim of this study was to show the diagnostic possibilities of ultrasound in twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), to demonstrate its usefulness in cases of hemoglobin difference < 5 g/dL in neonates as well as in cases complicated by intrauterine death of one or both twins.

Study design.The study included 4 pairs of twins. In two cases 3 fetuses died in utero. In the other two the hemoglobin difference in newborn infants was < 5 g/dL. The ultrasound examination, evaluating the fetal anatomy and biometry, amniotic fluid volume, placentation, was performed. The special attention was paid to polyhydramnios/oligohydramnios, discordant fetal growth (fetal weight, abdominal circumference), the presence of fetal hydrops, ascites, pericardial effusion. Doppler blood flow velocimetry has been done in umbilical vessels, middle cerebral artery. The data was compared with normal reference values for singleton pregnancies. The waveforms from both uterine arteries were also evaluated to exclude placental insufficiency. Additionally the blood flow through the AV valves was measured to exclude or confirm its regurgitation. Postnatally the hemoglobin difference was evaluated if available and compared with sonographic findings.

Results.In all cases inter-twin difference in abdominal circumference was greater than 18 mm and inter-twin weight difference of more than 15%. We observed polyhydramnios/oligohydramnios in all twin pregnancies.

It has been found decreased PI in middle cerebral artery in larger fetus (recipient) in all our cases (comparing to single pregnancy). PI values for this vessel in smaller fetuses were within normal range (for single pregnancy). PI values in umbilical arteries of recipients were abnormal (increased PI or absent end-diastolic flow).

Comments.The sonographic criteria seem to be very useful in diagnosis of twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome, especially in cases where the measurement of hemoglobin level is impossible. Doppler blood flow velocimetry in fetal vessels helps to explain the changes in fetal hemodynamics in TTTS.
Yearly Changes in Stillbirth Rates of Zygotic Twins in Japan, 1975-1994
Authors: Imaizumi Y. , Nonaka K.
Published: July 2016

The stillbirth rates decreased to 2/3 for MZ male twins, 1/2 for MZ female twins, and under 1/2 for DZ twins for both sexes during the 19-year period from 1975 in Japan. The stillbirth rate was significantly higher in MZ males than MZ females in each year, whereas stillbirth rates of DZ twins for both sexes indicated similar values during that period. After 1986, stillbirth rates were more than 2 times higher in MZ twins than in singletons and in DZ twins. The higher stillbirth rate of MZ twins as opposed to DZ twins could be related to monochorionic twin pairs in MZ twins. The stillbirth rate decreased more drastically in twins for both zygosities than in singleton births during the 34-year period from 1960. However, declining rates of stillbirths may be attributed to medical care during twin pregnancies. Recommendation of an optimum day to give birth for twin pregnancy is 37-38 weeks for Japanese women.
Tre Coppie di Gemelle in Tre Generazioni Successive Nate da Madri Gemelle
Authors: Andreano G. , Dobosz M. , Boschi I. , Ruscitti L. E. , Liberti A. , Casa D.
Published: July 2016

It is generally held that there are genetic factors for dizygotic (DZ) twinning, but the pattern of inheritance is far from clear.

We report on a rare pedigree with three sets of spontaneous DZ female twin births in three successive generations. To our knowledge no similar pedigrees have been reported in literature.

Zygosity determination in three pairs of twins was performed with ABO, MN and Rh blood groups from erythrocytes and with STR analysys from samples of saliva.

In our pedigree, the direct trasmission of the DZ twinning through the maternal line seems show an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. We believe that the inheritance of DZ twinning appears to be recessive in most case and autosomal dominant only in rare instances. It is plausible with the hypothesis that the expression of the dizygotic twinning trait in a mother shows a genetic heterogeneity.
Breve Storia del Metodo Gemellare 2 - Le Attuali Formulazioni del Metodo
Authors: Lorenzi F.
Published: July 2016

Il termine LISREL e l'acronimo di LInear Structural RELationship ed è nato inizialmente come nome di un software messo a punto dallo svedese Karl Joreskog e dai suoi collaboratori nei primi anni '70 per stimare, col metodo della massima verosimiglianza, i coefficienti strutturali dei modelli basati su sistemi di equazioni strutturali.

Tali modelli, nella elaborazione tramite il LISREL, rappresentano la sistemazione logica, prima ancora che statistica o computeristica, di tecniche di analisi multivariata le cui prime proposte risalgono all'ininzio del secolo; riconducendo ad un unico modello che ne costituisce una geniale sintesi, approcci ed itinerari scientifici fino ad allora distinti e non comunicanti, quali l'analisi fattoriale, i modelli causali e i modelli di misurazione. In particolare rappresentano in questo momento la più completa e sistematica risposta al problema di operazionalizzare in termini di ricerca e di verifica empirica, nel campo delle scienze sociali, la controversa, ma non per questo meno fondamentale, nozione di causalità. Essi sono quindi la reinterpretazione, sistemazione e soprattutto generalizzazione di quelli che negli anni '60 venivano chiamati i modelli causali e che nella prima metà degli anni '70 avevano conosciuto una notevole popolarità fra i sociologi soprattutto attraverso la tecnica della path analysis.
Breve Storia del Metodo Gemellare
Authors: Lorenzi F.
Published: July 2016

I gemelli sono i rappresentanti di un'eccezione biologica della specie umana, di un avvenimento fuori dal consueto, per cui il parto della donna non dà origine ad un nuovo essere, ma a due o più rappresentanti della specie. Questa eccezione è così evidente e caratteristica che non ha mancato, come non manca, di impressionare l'intelligenza e la fantasia dell'uomo presso ogni popolo e in ogni epoca della storia.

Anche il sapere medico, prima ancora che si organizzasse in scienza, ha fermato la sua attenzione sul fenomeno della gemellanza cercandone la causa e le applicazioni.

Secondo la scienza Talmudica la nascita dei gemelli è dovuta al fatto che una goccia di sperma si è divisa in due parti. Del pari Ippocrate ritiene che il concepimento gemellare avvenga per la bipartizione dello sperma e ciascuna parte penetri in una delle due corna dell'utero. Nell'antichità classica il fenomeno della gemellarità fu riportato al caso delle formazioni doppie dovuto, secondo Empedocle, ad un eccesso dello sperma emesso in una sola volta, dovuto invece, secondo Democrito, allo sperma emesso in più volte, ad ognuna delle quali corrisponderebbe un embrione.

Secondo Aristotele invece, le mostruosità doppie «sarebbero originate da un fenomeno di concrescenza per il quale due embrioni, dapprima separati, vengono a fondersi parzialmente, in modo da costituire una sola formazione, nella quale però sono riconoscibili le due componenti».

Galeno sembra accettare l'ipotesi di Empedocle, aggiungendo tuttavia che il calore eccessivo dell'utero possa dividere il seme in più parti, donde originerebbe formazioni doppie, triple, ecc… Plinio non aggiunge nulla di nuovo alle idee dominanti e si limita a fornire descrizioni più o meno esaurienti di gravidanze multiple.
Bioethical Considerations on Cloning and Twinning
Authors: Milani-Comparetti M.
Published: July 2016

The subject of cloning has had a deep impact on both public opinion and the scientific community, asking themselves about its meaning, its possible extension to humans, its potential applications and implications.

Cloning was often presented by the media as a technique that would allow perpetuating oneself.

The resulting impact of cloning on public opinion might be interpreted, in part at least, as making real the dream of reincarnation.

In the Christian faith cloning, as a hypothesis of reincarnation, has no place, since the soul is already immortal, while the body dies (excepting its reunion with its soul on the resurrection of the last day).

Thus a person's immortality is a dogma of faith for the believer, but only as immortality of the soul, that will rejoin its body only at the end of earthly time, while in our “earthly time” the body is-mortal.

The body's mortality is part of natural biological processes. Only in primitive organisms, such as bacteria, and in organisms reproducing through scions or similar processes (as farmers and florists well know) it is harder to set a definite moment for the birth or death of a single individual. But in sexually reproducing higher organisms, such as we are, the cycle of individual life is clearly encompassed and expressed by the well-known sequence whereby each individual “is born, grows, reproduces and dies”.

If we consider the individual in all its manifestations – what we geneticists call the “phenotype”, resulting from the interactions between genotype and environment – each subject is undoubtedly endowed with his individuality.

The repetition of the very same genotype does not mean repetition of the same individual, as clearly evidenced by the observation of identical twins (monozygotic, i.e., both derived from the same fertilized egg, the zygote) who, much as so closely resembling each other, are each endowed with his or her unique individuality.
Rising Trizygotic Triplet Rates in Japan, 1975-1994
Authors: Imaizumi Y. , Nonaka K.
Published: July 2016

Zygosity of triplet births in Japan was estimated by Allen's equation with the assumption that the rate of dizygotic (DZ) triplets reflects that of twins. Whereas the DZ triplet rate increased during the period from 1975 to 1994, reflecting the increase in the DZ twinning rate in the period, monozygotic (MZ) triplet rates remained constant from 1975 (28 per million births) to 1994 (23). The trizygotic (TZ) triplet rate gradually increased from 1975 (18) up to 1985 (29), and rapidly increased thereafter to 1994 (202). The higher TZ triplet rate since 1986 is most likely attributed to the higher proportion of mothers treated with ovulation-inducing hormones and partially toin-vitrofertilization in Japan. As for maternal age, MZ triplet rates remained nearly constant for all the maternal age groups except the youngest and the oldest ones. On the other hand, TZ triplet rates increased up to the age group of 30-34 years and decreased thereafter in almost every year. The TZ rate in the age group of 30-34 years slowly increased from 1975 to 1988 (63 per million births) and rapidly increased thereafter (314 in 1994). The TZ rate was statistically significantly higher in the period 1986-1994 than in the period 1975-1985 in each of the nine districts in Japan. Geographical variations in the TZ rates in the latest period have drastically changed from those during the period from 1955-1959 and in 1974.
High Rate of Twins among Offspring of Mothers with the Järvi-Hakola-Nasu Disease and with Comments on Disorders Associated with Twinning
Authors: Hakola H. P. A. , Eriksson A. W.
Published: July 2016

Finnish mothers with Järvi-Hakola-Nasu disease, progressive dementia with lipomembranous polycystic osteodysplasia (McKusick 221770) have a high rate of twin maternities, 128.2/1000. The exact 99% confidence intervals are 28.7 – 322.2/1000, thus above the average twinning rate in Finland, i.e. 15/1000. This eightfold increase in twinning may be an indication of a disturbed cortico-hypothalmic-hypophyseal axis or an other premorbid hormonal imbalance. It is concluded that even if dizygotic twinning is as a rule an event in itself, not only iatrogenic factors, as ovulation inducers, etc., but also some genetic disorders may be associated with twinning. More studies are needed to elucidate the incidence of twinning in families with these disorders.
Earnings and Schooling: an Overview of Economic Research Based on the Australian Twin Register
Authors: Miller P. , Mulvey C. , Martin N.
Published: July 2016

This paper reviews four economic studies of aspects of earnings and schooling conducted by the authors using data from the Australian Twin Register. First, estimates of the economic returns to schooling made using fixed effects and selection effects regression models incorporating an instrumental variables approach to correct for measurement error in self-reported schooling levels are examined. The finding is that up to 30 per cent of the estimated return to schooling may be due to family effects and the remainder to pure educational effects. Second, comparisons are made between the economic model of Ashenfelter and Krueger (1994) and that of DeFries and Fulker (1985) and the results obtained from each are shown to be similar. Third, gender differences in returns to schooling are estimated and family effects are found to be a more important influence in the case of males. Fourth, the influence of family effects on educational attainments is considered and it is found that around one-half of educational attainment is accounted for by genetic inheritance and up to another quarter due to shared environment effects.
Pediatric Hepatology: Present and Future
Authors: Zancan L.
Published: July 2016

Pediatric Gastroenterology was born as specialism within Pediatrics during the 1960s, and its younger sister, Hepatology, gradually acquired respect as an autonomous field early in the 1970s, with the formation of the Pediatric group for Gastroenterology, and more recently in 1992 with the creation of the Italian Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology in the Italian Society of Pediatrics. My aim in this paper is to review the most significant developments that have taken place in Pediatric Hepatology over the past decade, and to indicate how the field is likely to develop in the future. I will make particular reference here to HBV infection, cholelithiasis, extrahepatic biliary atresia, and liver transplants.

In Italy, this remains one of the most common causes of chronic hepatitis in children. (HCV infection in children without an underlying illness is still uncommon). Since the 1960s, we have gained an understanding of the risk factors, pathogenesis and natural history of infection, and an awareness of the strong tendency for the condition to become chronic in children. Moreover, with the increase in knowledge of the biology of the virus, an efficacious programme of preventive medicine has been implemented, which 3 years ago culminated in obligatory vaccination for newborns and 12-year-old children. These measures have resulted in a change in the epidemiology of the infection, which is now found above all in foreign children residing in Italy, who have been usually adopted.

Over the last 10 years, the phenomenon of international adoption represents a new socio-sanitary reality in the industrialized countries. A number of important studies report that, more than 50 percent of foreign children adopted present serious medical condition (irrespective of the area of the world from which they come, be it Asia, Africa, South America, or Eastern Europe). If routine screening is not carried out, these disorders go undetected by medical tests performed in the children's countries of origin, as well as by medical examinations carried out in their adoptive countries [4]. The most frequent diseases are infections, and amongst these HBV infection, besides TBC and CMV infection, making those children in whom such infections go undetected veritable spring of disease [3].