bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Hearing the Mermaids Singing: The Possibility and Limits of Moral Enhancement
Authors: Hauskeller Michael 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThe possibility of moral bioenhancement, and the alleged need for it, have been widely discussed both in ethics journals and the media since this type of enhancement was first proposed in the Journal of Medical Ethics in 2008. Most prominently, Ingmar Persson and Julian Savulescu have argued that humans in their current condition are simply not good enough to deal effectively with the global problems we face today and that, if we want to have any hope of saving the world from “ultimate harm,” we need to find ways to morally enhance people, using psychopharmaceuticals, neurostimulation, gene editing, or whatever other biological method we can think of that might do the trick. Persson and Savulescu's 2012 book on the subject, Unfit for the Future: The Need for Moral Enhancement, has very much determined the direction of the debate. However, what remains contentious is the question of whether the kind of enhancement that Persson and Savulescu envisage is really desirable and actually feasible. Earlier in 2016, two books on moral bioenhancement were published, namely John Harris's How to Be Good: The Possibility of Moral Enhancement and Harris Wiseman's The Myth of the Moral Brain: The Limits of Moral Enhancement. Harris's book focuses on the desirability of moral bioenhancement, and Wiseman's primarily (though by no means exclusively) on its feasibility. Both reject Persson and Savulescu's proposal and approach, but for very different reasons.
The differentiation of oral soft‐ and hard tissues using laser induced breakdown spectroscopy – a prospect for tissue specific laser surgery
Authors: Rohde Maximilian , Mehari Fanuel , Klämpfl Florian , Adler Werner , Neukam Friedrich‐Wilhelm , Schmidt Michael , Stelzle Florian 
Published: November 2016

Compared to conventional techniques, Laser surgery procedures provide a number of advantages, but may be associated with an increased risk of iatrogenic damage to important anatomical structures. The type of tissue ablated in the focus spot is unknown. Laser‐Induced Breakdown‐Spectroscopy (LIBS) has the potential to gain information about the type of material that is being ablated by the laser beam. This may form the basis for tissue selective laser surgery. In the present study, 7 different porcine tissues (cortical and cancellous bone, nerve, mucosa, enamel, dentine and pulp) from 6 animals were analyzed for their qualitative and semiquantitative molecular composition using LIBS. The so gathered data was used to first differentiate between the soft‐ and hard‐tissues using a Calcium‐Carbon emission based classifier. The tissues were then further classified using emission‐ratio based analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The relatively higher concentration of Calcium in the hard tissues allows for an accurate first differentiation of soft‐ and hard tissues (100% sensitivity and specificity). The ratio based statistical differentiation approach yields results in the range from 65% (enamel‐dentine pair) to 100% (nerve‐pulp, cancellous bone‐dentine, cancellous bone‐enamel pairs) sensitivity and specificity.
Experimental LIBS measuring setupmagnified imageExperimental LIBS measuring setup
Combined delivery of FGF‐2, TGF‐β1, and adipose‐derived stem cells from an engineered periosteum to a critical‐sized mouse femur defect
Authors: Romero Raimundo , Travers John K. , Asbury Emilie , Pennybaker Attie , Chubb Laura , Rose Ruth , Ehrhart Nicole P. , Kipper Matt J. 
Published: November 2016

AbstractCritical‐sized long bone defects suffer from complications including impaired healing and non‐union due to substandard healing and integration of devitalized bone allograft. Removal of the periosteum contributes to the limited healing of bone allografts. Restoring a periosteum on bone allografts may provide improved allograft healing and integration. This article reports a polysaccharide‐based tissue engineered periosteum that delivers basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF‐2), transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1), and adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) to a critical‐sized mouse femur defect. The tissue engineered periosteum was evaluated for improving bone allograft healing and incorporation by locally delivering FGF‐2, TGF‐β1, and supporting ASCs transplantation. ASCs were successfully delivered and longitudinally tracked at the defect site for at least 7 days post operation with delivered FGF‐2 and TGF‐β1 showing a mitogenic effect on the ASCs. At 6 weeks post implantation, data showed a non‐significant increase in normalized bone callus volume. However, union ratio analysis showed a significant inhibition in allograft incorporation, confirmed by histological analysis, due to loosening of the nanofiber coating from the allograft surface. Ultimately, this investigation shows our tissue engineered periosteum can deliver FGF‐2, TGF‐β1, and ASCs to a mouse critical‐sized femur defect and further optimization may yield improved bone allograft healing. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 105A: 900–911, 2017.
Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS) associated with cervical myelomeningocele
Authors: Adin Mehmet Emin 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTCongenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS) is a rare and potentially fatal entity resulting from complete or near complete developmental airway obstruction. Although most reported cases of CHAOS are sporadic, the condition may also be associated with certain syndromes and a variety of cervical masses. Meningocele and myelomeningocele have not yet been reported in association with CHAOS. We describe the typical constellation of sonographic findings in a case of early diagnosis of CHAOS associated with cervical myelomeningocele. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 45:507–510, 2017
Personal Life Satisfaction of China's Rural Elderly: Effect of the New Rural Pension Programme
Authors: Ding Ya 
Published: November 2016

AbstractThis paper studies the effects of China's newly established rural pension programme on personal life satisfaction of the rural elderly along with other social, economic and demographic factors. The results indicate that old‐age security is a key component of personal life satisfaction for the rural elderly, and the New Rural Pension Programme can significantly improve their subjective well‐being. The importance of sons is declining given the wider availability of rural pension programmes. Additionally, the study finds that a poorly designed pension programme could not only result in low participation rate but also negatively affect personal life satisfaction of nonparticipants. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
3D printing from MRI Data: Harnessing strengths and minimizing weaknesses
Authors: Ripley Beth , Levin Dmitry , Kelil Tatiana , Hermsen Joshua L , Kim Sooah , Maki Jeffrey H , Wilson Gregory J 
Published: November 2016

3D printing facilitates the creation of accurate physical models of patient‐specific anatomy from medical imaging datasets. While the majority of models to date are created from computed tomography (CT) data, there is increasing interest in creating models from other datasets, such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI, in particular, holds great potential for 3D printing, given its excellent tissue characterization and lack of ionizing radiation. There are, however, challenges to 3D printing from MRI data as well. Here we review the basics of 3D printing, explore the current strengths and weaknesses of printing from MRI data as they pertain to model accuracy, and discuss considerations in the design of MRI sequences for 3D printing. Finally, we explore the future of 3D printing and MRI, including creative applications and new materials.Level of Evidence: 5J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2017;45:635–645.
Analyzing if and how international organizations contribute to the sustainable development goals: Combining power and behavior
Authors: Cormier Ben 
Published: November 2016

SummaryCan International Organizations (IOs) such as the World Bank, United Nations, and International Labor Organization contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)? This article argues that this is best analyzed by simultaneously considering two sets of factors: the international political constraints external to IOs and the organizational processes and structures internal to IOs. More specifically, this article suggests that such analyses can take place by combining scholarship on International Relations (IR) and Organizational Behavior (OB). The article defines international power, outlines various constraints on IO autonomy, and suggests that OB and IR are well positioned to jointly improve the study of IO employment practices, organizational structures, bureaucratic politics, and inter‐organizational effects. The core aim is to provide justification and material for combining IR and OB in further research on IOs.
Characterisation of a novel cellobiose 2‐epimerase from thermophilic Caldicellulosiruptor obsidiansis for lactulose production
Authors: Chen Qiuming , Levin Roman , Zhang Wenli , Zhang Tao , Jiang Bo , Stressler Timo , Fischer Lutz , Mu Wanmeng 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDLactulose, a bioactive lactose derivative, has been widely used in food and pharmaceutical industries. Isomerisation of lactose to lactulose by cellobiose 2‐epimerase (CE) has recently attracted increasing attention, since CE produces lactulose with high yield from lactose as a single substrate. In this study, a new lactulose‐producing CE from Caldicellulosiruptor obsidiansis was extensively characterised.RESULTSThe recombinant enzyme exhibited maximal activity at pH 7.5 and 70 °C. It displayed high thermostability with Tm of 86.7 °C. The half‐life was calculated to be 8.1, 2.8 and 0.6 h at 75, 80, and 85 °C, respectively. When lactose was used as substrate, epilactose was rapidly produced in a short period, and afterwards both epilactose and lactose were steadily isomerised to lactulose, with a final ratio of 35:11:54 for lactose:epilactose:lactulose. When the reverse reaction was investigated using lactulose as substrate, both lactose and epilactose appeared to be steadily produced from the start.CONCLUSIONThe recombinant CE showed both epimerisation and isomerisation activities against lactose, making it an alternative promising biocatalyst candidate for lactulose production. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Monitoring of compositional changes during berry ripening in grape seed extracts of cv. Sangiovese (Vitis vinifera L.)
Authors: Bombai Giuseppe , Pasini Federica , Verardo Vito , Sevindik Onur , Di Foggia Michele , Tessarin Paola , Bregoli Anna Maria , Caboni Maria F , Rombolà Adamo D 
Published: November 2016

AbstractBACKGROUNDSeed oil and flours have been attracting the interest of researchers and industry, since they contain various bioactive components. We monitored the effects of ripening on lipids, monomeric flavan‐3‐ols, proanthocyanidins and tocols concentration in seed extracts from organically cultivated cv. Sangiovese vines.RESULTSLinoleic acid was the most abundant fatty acid, followed by oleic, palmitic and stearic acids. The tocols detected were α‐tocopherol, α‐tocotrienol and γ‐tocotrienol. The proanthocyanidins degree of polymerisation ranged from dimers to dodecamers; moreover, monomeric flavan‐3‐ols and polymeric proanthocyanidins were detected. Total flavan‐3‐ols (monomers, oligomers and polymers) concentration in grape seeds decreased during ripening.CONCLUSIONSFatty acids reached the highest level in post‐veraison. The concentration of these compounds varied considerably during ripening. Capric acid has been found for the first time in grape seeds. α‐Tocopherol and γ‐tocotrienol decreased during ripening, while α‐tocotrienol increased. The HPLC analysis with fluorimetric detection, conducted for the first time on cv. Sangiovese, revealed that the concentration of flavan‐3‐ols monomers, oligomeric proanthocyanidins and polymers greatly changed during ripening. These results suggest that the timing of bunch harvest plays a crucial role in the valorisation of grape seed flour. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry
Cost‐effectiveness of transfacial gland‐preserving removal of parotid sialoliths
Authors: Ong Adrian A. , Carroll William W. , Nguyen Shaun A. , Gillespie M. Boyd 
Published: November 2016

ObjectiveExamine outcomes of transfacial gland‐preserving removal of difficult parotid stones and compare the cost and operative time to traditional parotidectomy.Study DesignCost‐effectiveness analysis and retrospective chart review.MethodsPatients who underwent transfacial removal of symptomatic parotid sialoliths at a tertiary medical center from June 2010 to July 2015 were evaluated. Outcomes included operative technique, stone size, stone location, complications, and symptom relief. In addition, patients who underwent traditional parotidectomy for chronic sialadenitis were identified. The charges and times for both procedures were reviewed and compared.ResultsForty‐four patients underwent transfacial resection for symptomatic parotid sialolithiasis. Stones were most often located in the main duct and hilum (53.3%), with fewer intraglandular stones (46.7%). No facial nerve weakness was observed. Of those with follow‐up, 33 (87%) patients reported at least partial resolution of symptoms. Overall transfacial technique charges were significantly less expensive (U.S.$) than parotidectomy (mean difference −8,064.09; 95% confidence interval [CI] −13,472.78 to −2,655.40; P = 0.033). Anesthesia charges (mean difference −2,997.85; 95% CI, −5,748.81 to −246.89; P = 0.035) and operating room charges (mean difference −4,793.91; 95% CI, −8,958.09 to −629.72; P = 0.028) were also less expensive for the transfacial technique. Finally, mean procedure time for transfacial removal of parotid stones was shorter than for parotidectomy (120.2 ± 49.9 vs. 178.4 ± 41.3 minutes, respectively; P = 0.002).ConclusionTransfacial gland‐preserving removal of difficult parotid stones is a well tolerated and effective alternative to parotidectomy. Moreover, it is faster and less expensive than parotidectomy, maximizing both surgeon time and hospital resources.Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 127:1080–1086, 2017
Dynamic nanomechanical analysis of the vocal fold structure in excised larynges
Authors: Dion Gregory R. , Coelho Paulo G. , Teng Stephanie , Janal Malvin N. , Amin Milan R. , Branski Ryan C. 
Published: November 2016

Objectives/HypothesisQuantification of clinical outcomes after vocal fold (VF) interventions is challenging with current technology. High‐speed digital imaging and optical coherence tomography (OCT) of excised larynges assess intact laryngeal function, but do not provide critical biomechanical information. We developed a protocol to quantify tissue properties in intact, excised VFs using dynamic nanomechanical analysis (nano‐DMA) to obtain precise biomechanical properties in the micrometer scale.Study DesignExperimental animal study.MethodsThree pig larynges were bisected in the sagittal plane, maintaining an intact anterior commissure, and subjected to nano‐DMA at nine locations with a 250‐μm flat‐tip punch and frequency sweep load profile (10–105 Hz, 1,000 μN peak force) across the free edge of the VF and inferiorly along the conus elasticus.ResultsStorage, loss, and complex moduli increased inferiorly from the free edge. Storage moduli increased from a mean of 32.3 kPa (range, 6.5–55.38 kPa) at the free edge to 46.3kPa (range, 7.4–71.6) 5 mm below the free edge, and 71.4 kPa (range, 33.7–112 kPa) 1 cm below the free edge. Comparable values were 11.6 kPa (range, 5.0–20.0 kPa), 16.7 kPa (range, 5.7–26.8 kPa), and 22.6 kPa (range, 9.7–38.0 kPa) for loss modulus, and 35.7 kPa (range, 14.4–56.4 kPa), 50.1 kPa (range, 18.7–72.8 kPa), and 75.4 kPa (range, 42.0–116.0 kPa) for complex modulus. Another larynx repeatedly frozen and thawed during technique development had similarly increased storage, loss, and complex modulus trends across locations.ConclusionsNano‐DMA of the intact hemilarynx provides a platform for quantification of biomechanical responses to a myriad of therapeutic interventions to complement data from high‐speed imaging and OCT.Level of EvidenceNA Laryngoscope, 127:E225–E230, 2017
Complications of turbinate reduction surgery in combination with tonsillectomy in pediatric patients
Authors: Yuen Sonia N. , Leung Peggy P. , Funamura Jamie , Kawai Kosuke , Roberson David W. , Adil Eelam A. 
Published: November 2016

Objectives/HypothesisTo examine whether the addition of turbinoplasty to tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A) increases the risk of postoperative complications.Study DesignRetrospective cohort study of children (18 years old and younger) who underwent tonsillectomy and/or turbinoplasty between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2015 using the 2016 Pediatric Health Information System administrative databaseMethodsPatients were divided into three groups: 1) T&A and turbinoplasty, 2) T&A alone, and 3) turbinoplasty alone. Postoperative revisit, hemorrhage requiring cautery, and blood transfusion rates were compared between groups.ResultsA total of 75,761 patients met inclusion criteria: 3,079 underwent both T&A and turbinoplasty, 72,043 underwent T&A alone, and 639 underwent turbinoplasty alone. The rate of 14‐day relevant revisits after T&A in combination with turbinate reduction surgery was not significantly higher than that of T&A alone (9.4% vs. 8.6%; P = .11). The revisit rate after turbinoplasty alone was 1.4%. Indications for revisits did not differ between the T&A and turbinoplasty group versus T&A alone group (P = .23). Furthermore, the rates of hemorrhage requiring cauterization was similar between the two groups (1.4% vs. 1.5%; P = .64). Twenty‐one patients who underwent T&A alone required blood transfusion after they were readmitted; no cases in the other two groups required blood transfusion.ConclusionsTurbinoplasty and T&A performed together do not increase the risk of postoperative revisit or hemorrhage requiring cauterization, and can therefore be considered as a combined procedure. Pediatric patients will benefit from avoiding the additional risk of multiple anesthetics and repeated intubation.Level of Evidence4. Laryngoscope, 127:1920–1923, 2017
Human peripheral blood mononuclear cell in vitro system to test the efficacy of food bioactive compounds: Effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids and their relation with BMI
Authors: Cifre Margalida , Díaz‐Rúa Rubén , Varela‐Calviño Rubén , Reynés Bàrbara , Pericás‐Beltrán Jordi , Palou Andreu , Oliver Paula 
Published: November 2016

ScopeTo analyse the usefulness of isolated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to rapidly/easily reflect n–3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) effects on lipid metabolism/inflammation gene profile, and evaluate if these effects are body mass index (BMI) dependent.Methods and resultsPBMC from normoweight (NW) and overweight/obese (OW/OB) subjects were incubated with physiological doses of docosahexaenoic (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), or their combination. PBMC reflected increased beta‐oxidation‐like capacity (CPT1A expression) in OW/OB but only after DHA treatment. However, insensitivity to n–3 LCPUFA was evident in OW/OB for lipogenic genes: both PUFA diminished FASN and SREBP1C expression in NW, but no effect was observed for DHA in PBMC from high‐BMI subjects. This insensitivity was also evident for inflammation gene profile: all treatments inhibited key inflammatory genes in NW; nevertheless, no effect was observed in OW/OB after DHA treatment, and EPA effect was impaired. SLC27A2, IL6 and TNFα PBMC expression analysis resulted especially interesting to determine obesity‐related n–3 LCPUFA insensitivity.ConclusionA PBMC‐based human in vitro system reflects n–3 LCPUFA effects on lipid metabolism/inflammation which is impaired in OW/OB. These results confirm the utility of PBMC ex vivo systems for bioactive‐compound screening to promote functional food development and to establish appropriate dietary strategies for obese population.
Adaptively Optimized Combination (AOC) of Phased‐Array MR Spectroscopy Data in the Presence of Correlated Noise: Compared with Noise‐Decorrelated or Whitened Methods
Authors: Wu Minjie , Fang Liang , Ray Charles E. , Kumar Anand , Yang Shaolin 
Published: November 2016

PurposeA method for adaptively optimized combination (AOC) of MR spectroscopic data from a coil array was recently introduced. The superior performance of the AOC method is evident when compared with the methods that assume uncorrelated noise between coil elements. However, it is unclear whether the AOC method represents the most optimal combination in the presence of correlated noise, when compared with the noise‐decorrelated or whitened methods that specifically tackle the correlated noise between coil elements.MethodsA new, unified theoretical framework was developed to illustrate the relationship between the AOC method and three noise‐decorrelated or whitened methods, namely, noise‐decorrelated combination (nd‐comb), whitened singular value decomposition (WSVD), and improved WSVD (WSVD+Apod). Simulation‐based comparisons and in vivo human brain experiments on a 3 Tesla (T) MRI scanner were performed using an 8‐channel phased‐array head coil.ResultsCompared with the noise‐decorrelated or whitened methods, the AOC method consistently yielded the best combination in terms of the robustness against noise and maintaining the combined spectrum from distortion, and the superior performance was most evident at a low signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR).ConclusionThe AOC method represents the theoretical optimal combination in the presence of correlated noise between coil elements, whereas the three noise‐decorrelated or whitened methods are asymptotically optimal. Magn Reson Med 78:848–859, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.
Double peak sensory nerve action potentials to single stimuli in nerve conduction studies
Authors: Leote Joao , Pereira Pedro , Valls‐Sole Josep 
Published: November 2016

ABSTRACTIntroductionIn humans, sensory nerve action potentials (SNAPs) can show 2 separate deflections, i.e., double peak potentials (DPp), which necessarily means that 1 peak is delayed with respect to the other. DPps may have various origins and be due to either physical or physiological properties.MethodsWe review the nature of commonly encountered DPps in clinical practice, provide the most likely interpretations for their physiological origin, and assess their reproducibility and clinical utility.ResultsWe classified the DPps into 3 categories: (1) simultaneous anodal and cathodal stimulation. (2) simultaneous recording from 2 different nerves at the same site, and (3) SNAP desynchronization.ConclusionsAlthough the recording of DPps is not a standardized neurophysiological method, their study brings interesting cues about the physiology of nerve stimulation and paves the way for clinical application of such an observation. Muscle Nerve 55: 619–625, 2017