bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
York Mason Procedure to Repair Iatrogenic Rectourinary Fistula: Our Experience
Authors: Falavolti Cristina , Sergi Federico , Shehu Ervin , Buscarini Maurizio 
Published: September 2013

AbstractBackgroundRectourinary fistula (RUF) is an uncommon but devastating condition in men. It usually occurs as a complication of prostatic cancer treatment, whether this is by radiation therapy or surgery. It can also occur in patients with benign pathology of the prostate, inflammatory bowel disease, or Fournier’s gangrene, and following pelvic trauma. RUF represents a challenge for the surgeon because spontaneous closure is a rare event. Several techniques have been described for surgical repair of fistula. The goal of the present study was to demonstrate that the York Mason posterior, transrectal correction of an iatrogenic RUF is a reliable approach that offers good postoperative outcomes.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 39 patients who underwent York Mason repair from 1998 to 2012 at the University of Southern California (USC) and Campus Bio‐Medico University of Rome (UCBM). The most frequent common causes of RUF were itemized, and statistical analysis was performed to determine correlations between the fistula’s etiology and surgical outcome. Patients were then divided into two different cohorts: those who had undergone only one previous procedure (group 1) and those who had undergone two or more surgeries (group 2). We performed a statistical analysis between the two groups and calculated the percentage of fistula repair by means of the posterior trans‐sphincteric approach with the York Mason technique in each groups We evaluated the presence of comorbidities (diabetes and infection) and their influence on the surgical outcome. Finally, we reported patient outcomes during follow‐up.ResultsIn the present series, the RUF was iatrogenic in every case. The onset of the fistula followed prostate cancer treatment, most commonly after laparoscopic procedures. The success rate of fistula repair was found to be independent of the fistula’s etiology. Diabetes and infections did not influence the surgical outcome. Overall, more than 50 % of patients treated with the York Mason posterior, transanal, transrectal approach remained free of fistula during follow‐up. Almost 90 % of those who were previously operated only once remained free of fistula.ConclusionsThe posterior trans‐sphincteric approach of the York Mason technique is effective in treating RUF.
Effect of Delayed Autologous Breast Reconstruction on Breast Cancer Recurrence and Survival
Authors: Lindford Andrew J. , Siponen Elina T. , Jahkola Tiina A. , Leidenius Marjut H. K. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractBackgroundThe goal of the present study was to evaluate the impact of delayed autologous breast reconstruction on disease relapse in breast cancer patients treated with mastectomy.Material and methodsThe study was based on 503 consecutive patients younger than 70 years of age who underwent mastectomy between January 2000 and December 2003. Overall, 391 (78 %) received mastectomy alone and 112 (22 %) underwent a delayed breast reconstruction. The median time from mastectomy to delayed breast reconstruction was 34 months. The median duration of follow‐up was 102 months.ResultsThere were no locoregional recurrences (LRR) in patients who underwent delayed reconstruction (0.0 %); 21 LRR developed in patients treated with mastectomy only (5.4 %), P = 0.011. Distant metastases occurred less frequently in the reconstruction group (12.5 %) than in the patients who underwent mastectomy alone (21.5 %); P = 0.0343. The 8‐year breast cancer specific survival in the reconstruction group was 98.2 and 85.7 % for the mastectomy only group, P = 0.000.ConclusionsDelayed autologous breast reconstruction does not appear to adversely influence disease progression when compared to patients treated with mastectomy only.
Genetic Screening Services Provided in Turkey
Authors: Erdem Yurdagül , Tekşen Fulya 
Published: September 2013

AbstractIn Turkey, the rate of consanguineous marriage is quite high (22–24 %) and as a result, the incidence of autosomal recessive diseases and congenital anomalies is also very high and gives rise to a serious public health problem. In the last three decades, great effort has been made to avoid increases in the prevalence of these hereditary diseases. For this purpose, population‐based premarital, prenatal, neonatal and adult genetic screening programs are performed in various centers such as Community Health Centers, Early Diagnosis of Cancer and Education Centers (KETEM), Prenatal and Neonatal Departments of Universities and State Hospitals and Thalessemia Screening Centers. Such centers are staffed by health professionals including physicians, family physicians, nurses, midwives, biologists and medical geneticists. Genetic counseling is also provided to patients attending these centers after screening tests are performed. Since there are no specialized training programs for genetic counselors, genetic counseling is generally provided by doctors or medical geneticists. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of the genetic screening services provided in Turkey, the prevalence of genetic diseases and the design of intensive educational programs for health professionals.
Increased Lipid Synthesis and Decreased β‐Oxidation in the Liver of SHR/NDmcr‐cp (cp/cp) Rats, an Animal Model of Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Tanaka Shizuyo , Yamazaki Tohru , Asano Satoshi , Mitsumoto Atsushi , Kobayashi Daisuke , Kudo Naomi , Kawashima Yoichi 
Published: September 2013

AbstractSHR/NDmcr‐cp (cp/cp) rats (SHR/NDcp) are an animal model of metabolic syndrome. A previous study of ours revealed drastic increases in the mass of palmitic (16:0), oleic (18:1n‐9), palmitoleic (16:1n‐7), cis‐vaccenic (18:1n‐7) and 5,8,11‐eicosatrienoic acids in the liver of SHR/NDcp. However, detailed information on the class of lipid accumulated and the mechanism responsible for the overproduction of the accumulated lipid in the liver was not obtained. This study aimed to characterize the class of lipid accumulated and to explore the mechanism underlying the lipid accumulation in the liver of SHR/NDcp, in comparison with SHR/NDmcr‐cp (+/+) (lean hypertensive littermates of SHR/NDcp) and Wistar Kyoto rats. In the liver of SHR/NDcp, de novo synthesis of fatty acids (16:0, 18:1n‐9 and 16:1n‐7) and triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis were up‐regulated and fatty acid β‐oxidation was down‐regulated. These perturbations of lipid metabolism caused fat accumulation in hepatocytes and accumulation of TAG, which were enriched with 16:0, 18:1n‐9 and 16:1n‐7, in the liver of SHR/NDcp. On the other hand, no changes were found in hepatic contents of diacylglycerol and unesterified fatty acid (FFA); among FFA, there were no differences in the hepatic concentrations of unesterified 16:0 and stearic acid between SHR/NDcp and two other groups of rats. Moreover, little change was brought about in the expression of genes responsive to endoplasmic reticulum stress in the liver of SHR/NDcp. These results may reinforce the pathophysiological role of stearoyl‐CoA desaturase 1 and fatty acid elongase 6 in the liver of SHR/NDcp.
Shock‐induced failure of a Riata lead with normal electrical lead parameters and a normal fluoroscopic appearance: A case report
Authors: Hirata Naoki , Mitamura Hideo , Nakagawa Susumu , Ashida Kenki , Yamasaki Yu , Yasuhara Yoko , Higuchi Satoshi , Endo Ayaka , Hasegawa Tasuku , Takahashi Toshiyuki 
Published: September 2013

AbstractAn 81‐year‐old man was scheduled for an elective implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) generator exchange because of battery depletion. The Atlas™+ DR ICD (St. Jude Medical, Sylmar, CA) had been implanted in February 2007 for primary prevention. The ICD lead (Riata 1570, St. Jude Medical, Sylmar, CA) had been positioned via the left cephalic vein at the right ventricular apex. Prior to the ICD generator exchange, which took place 70 months after the initial implantation, all routine device interrogations revealed normal electrical lead parameters, and cine‐fluoroscopy of the lead showed normal appearance without any apparent fracture. We attempted to conduct high‐voltage shock testing, as there was concern about the possibility of silent lead malfunction. Following delivery of the first high‐voltage shock, the device declared “possibility of output circuit damage.” Subsequent shocks could not be delivered. Nonetheless, other lead parameters remained stable, and high‐voltage lead impedance was <20 Ω. The following day, the failed generator was replaced with a new ICD generator and connected with a new ICD lead. We then tested the new device by inducing ventricular fibrillation, which was defibrillated successfully. Although electric screening in asymptomatic patients with the Riata ICD lead remains controversial, it should be remembered that there are patients with or without detected cable externalization in whom only high‐voltage shock testing can disclose lead malfunction. Issues with Riata leads have not yet been elucidated in full detail.
A curious alliance: Sinus nodal dysfunction precipitating atrioventricular block
Authors: Yerram Sreekanth , Ramasamy Chandramohan , Balachander, MD, DM Jayaraman , Selvaraj, MD, DNB Raja J. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractAn elderly woman presented with recurrent syncope. Sinus bradycardia and sinoatrial block were seen on the electrocardiogram; however, PR interval prolongation after sinus pauses suggested atrioventricular conduction system disease. The occurrence of complete atrioventricular block after a pause during the electrophysiological study confirmed a diagnosis of paroxysmal atrioventricular block precipitated by sinus pauses secondary to sinus nodal disease.
ON THE INTEGRAL HODGE AND TATE CONJECTURES OVER A NUMBER FIELD
Authors: TOTARO BURT 
Published: September 2013

AbstractHassett and Tschinkel gave counterexamples to the integral Hodge conjecture among 3-folds over a number field. We work out their method in detail, showing that essentially all known counterexamples to the integral Hodge conjecture over the complex numbers can be made to work over a number field.
HOLZ Rings in EBSD Patterns of the UFeB4 Compound: Association with a Random Distribution of Planar Defects
Authors: Dias Marta , Carvalho Patrícia Almeida , dos Santos Isabel Cordeiro , Tougait Olivier , Havela Ladislav , Gonçalves António Pereira 
Published: September 2013

AbstractThe UFeB4 phase present in different alloys of the B–Fe–U system was studied by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and scanning electron microscopy complemented with energy-dispersive spectroscopy and electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD). The PXRD data showed that the ternary compound crystallized adopting essentially the YCrB4-type structure. However, microstructural observations revealed that under high undercooling conditions the UFeB4 phase exhibits a random distribution of defects parallel to, which are consistently associated with intense higher-order Laue zone rings in EBSD patterns. Indexation of the EBSD patterns showed that the defective structure is compatible with an intergrowth of YCrB4- and ThMoB4-type layers according to the (010)YCrB4//(110)ThMoB4 and [001]YCrB4//[001]ThMoB4 orientation relation previously reported for an analogous compound. Magnetic studies indicated that the annealed UFeB4 compound has a paramagnetic behavior in the 2–300 K temperature range.
He Who Pays the Piper: Shifting Scottish Legal Landscapes
Authors: Guite Candace 
Published: September 2013

AbstractIf Scotland votes ‘Yes’ to the question ‘Should Scotland be an independent country?’ how will its relationship change with the remainder of the UK? A ‘yes’ vote will have huge financial, political and legal implications. This article, written by Candace Guite, considers the current role of the UK Supreme Court in Scotland, the recent conflict (to which the title alludes) and it reflects on Scotland's potential international status. The UK Government has argued that it would be regarded as the continuator state and an independent Scotland would be a successor state, and so, in the event of a ‘yes’ vote Scotland would have to re-apply for entry to the European Union and the United Nations. However, there are arguments to support the alternative option, that Scotland could be regarded as a co-equal successor state with England, and thus would retain EU and UN membership.
An Emerging Welsh Legal Identity: a Brief Overview of the Information Landscape
Authors: Stevenson Lillian 
Published: September 2013

Abstract“Wales, it has to be said, has come a very long way in a short time.” was the opening line by Sir David Lloyd Jones in his speech on, “The Law Commission and Law Reform in a Devolved Wales” to the Wales Governance Centre Annual Lecture in Aberystwyth in March 2013.1 This brief overview by Lillian Stevenson attempts to discuss this statement using selected documents published after the 2011 referendum in which the people of Wales voted in favour of extending the law making powers of the National Assembly.
European exceptionalism?
Authors: NOLTE GEORG , PHILIPP AUST HELMUT 
Published: September 2013

AbstractThe paper discusses recent propositions that, after a period of ‘American exceptionalism’, forms of ‘European exceptionalism’ are now emerging. The paper first asks what makes a political entity ‘exceptionalist’. For this purpose inspiration is sought in the defining features of ‘American exceptionalism’. The paper then discusses whether ‘Europe’ displays comparable features in the fields of international legal policy and domestic rights culture. It also asks whether there are other aspects of European governance which could make it plausible to speak of a European exceptionalism. The paper concludes that it is misleading to use the term ‘European exceptionalism’ because the underlying phenomena are not comparable with what is usually understood as ‘American exceptionalism’.
On the constitutional question in global governance: Global administrative law and the conflicts-law approach in comparison
Authors: KUO MING-SUNG 
Published: September 2013

AbstractThe question of constitutionalization cuts through the heart of theoretical debate on the fragmentation of global governance. This paper aims to contribute to this debate through a comparison of global administrative law (GAL) and the conflicts-law approach. While the conflicts-law approach espouses the move towards global constitutionalism, GAL disavows constitutional ambition. I make a twofold argument. First, the differing diagnoses these two approaches make of global governance lead to their distinct proposed solutions. GAL identifies the lack of accountability as the underlying concern of global governance and responds to fragmented global governance through balancing-centred legal management. The conflicts-law approach instead attributes the challenges facing global governance to the ill-designed democratic institutions in nation states and turns to ‘democratic juridification’ as the solution. Second, GAL and the conflicts-law approach reflect two distinct images of constitutionalism. GAL’s ‘constitutional deficit’ suggests its implicit embrace of a version of constitutionalism rooted in the tradition of populist democracy. The conflicts-law approach situates transnational democracy in the conflicts-law process in which inter-regime conflicts are resolved, suggesting a prototype of constitutionalized global governance underpinned by an epistemic understanding of democracy.
Atomic Scale Verification of Oxide-Ion Vacancy Distribution near a Single Grain Boundary in YSZ
Authors: An Jihwan , Park Joong Sun , Koh Ai Leen , Lee Hark B. , Jung Hee Joon , Schoonman Joop , Sinclair Robert , Gür Turgut M. , Prinz Fritz B. 
Published: September 2013

AbstractThis study presents atomic scale characterization of grain boundary defect structure in a functional oxide with implications for a wide range of electrochemical and electronic behavior. Indeed, grain boundary engineering can alter transport and kinetic properties by several orders of magnitude. Here we report experimental observation and determination of oxide-ion vacancy concentration near the Σ13 (510)/[001] symmetric tilt grain-boundary of YSZ bicrystal using aberration-corrected TEM operated under negative spherical aberration coefficient imaging condition. We show significant oxygen deficiency due to segregation of oxide-ion vacancies near the grain-boundary core with half-width < 0.6 nm. Electron energy loss spectroscopy measurements with scanning TEM indicated increased oxide-ion vacancy concentration at the grain boundary core. Oxide-ion density distribution near a grain boundary simulated by molecular dynamics corroborated well with experimental results. Such column-by-column quantification of defect concentration in functional materials can provide new insights that may lead to engineered grain boundaries designed for specific functionalities.
Note: A self-calibrating electrometer for atmospheric charge measurements from a balloon platform
Authors: Nicoll K. A. 
Published: September 2013

Charged aerosol particles and water droplets are abundant throughout the lower atmosphere, and may influence interactions between small cloud droplets. This note describes a small, disposable sensor for the measurement of charge in non-thunderstorm cloud, which is an improvement of an earlier sensor [K. A. Nicoll and R. G. Harrison, Rev. Sci. Instrum. 80, 014501 (2009)]. The sensor utilizes a self-calibrating current measurement method. It is designed for use on a free balloon platform alongside a standard meteorological radiosonde, measuring currents from 2 fA to 15 pA and is stable to within 5 fA over a temperature range of 5 °C to −60 °C. During a balloon flight with the charge sensor through a stratocumulus cloud, charge layers up to 40 pC m−3 were detected on the cloud edges.
A positive feedback loop links circadian clock factor CLOCK-BMAL1 to the basic transcriptional machinery
Authors: Lande-Diner Laura , Boyault Cyril , Kim Jin Young , Weitz Charles J. 
Published: September 2013

Significance
Circadian clocks are endogenous molecular oscillators that drive daily rhythms of physiology and behavior. The mammalian clock, intrinsic to most cells and tissues, is built on a conserved negative feedback loop in which a heterodimeric transcription factor, circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK)-brain, muscle Arnt-like 1 (BMAL1), drives the transcription of its specific inhibitor proteins. This study shows that CLOCK-BMAL1 is associated with a clock-driven, rhythmically expressed coactivator protein, TRAP150 (thyroid hormone receptor-associated protein-150), that promotes the binding of CLOCK-BMAL1 to DNA and links it to the basic transcriptional machinery. The activity and oscillation of TRAP150 define a positive feedback loop within the core clock and provide a potential mechanism for the precise timing of circadian transcription cycles.
Microbial battery for efficient energy recovery
Authors: Xie Xing , Ye Meng , Hsu Po-Chun , Liu Nian , Criddle Craig S. , Cui Yi 
Published: September 2013

Significance
This work introduces a microbial battery for recovery of energy from reservoirs of organic matter, such as wastewater. Microorganisms at an anode oxidize dissolved organic substances, releasing electrons to an external circuit, where power can be extracted. The electrons then enter a solid-state electrode that remains solid as electrons accumulate within it. The solid-state electrode is periodically removed from the battery, oxidized, and reinstalled for sustained power production. Molecular oxygen is not introduced into the battery, and ion-exchange membranes are avoided, enabling high efficiencies of energy recovery.
Implementation of cell-free biological networks at steady state
Authors: Niederholtmeyer Henrike , Stepanova Viktoria , Maerkl Sebastian J. 
Published: September 2013

Significance
Transcription and translation can be performed in vitro, outside of cells, allowing the assembly of artificial genetic networks. This bottom-up approach to engineering biological networks in a completely defined and minimal environment is instructive to define the rules and limitations of network construction. It is, however, still challenging to implement complex genetic networks in vitro because the reactions are usually performed in a batch format, where reaction products accumulate and synthesis rates decline over time. Here, we addressed this problem by developing a microfluidic device to perform in vitro transcription and translation reactions in continuous mode, where synthesis rates stay constant. This allowed us to build and implement a genetic oscillator that showed sustained oscillations for extended periods of times.
Distortional binding of transition state analogs to human purine nucleoside phosphorylase probed by magic angle spinning solid-state NMR
Authors: Vetticatt Mathew J. , Itin Boris , Evans Gary B. , Schramm Vern L. 
Published: September 2013

Significance
Enzymes are efficient at bringing reactants to the transition state. Transition state analogs mimic the transition state but are chemically stable. What forces do enzymes apply to transition state analogs? Solid-state NMR is used to answer this question for human purine nucleoside phosphorylase. When imperfect and near-perfect transition state analogs are analysed on and off the enzyme, greater distortions are observed for the imperfect transition state analog. The distortion is energetically large and is toward the transition state geometry. In contrast, the near-perfect analog experiences almost no distortion, stabilizing the enzyme in a favored conformation near the transition state. Both inhibitors bind with picomolar dissociation constants, but the enzyme expends more energy distorting the imperfect inhibitor toward the transition state.
Niphargus–Thiothrix associations may be widespread in sulphidic groundwater ecosystems: evidence from southeastern Romania
Authors: Flot Jean‐François , Bauermeister Jan , Brad Traian , Hillebrand‐Voiculescu Alexandra , Sarbu Serban M. , Dattagupta Sharmishtha 
Published: September 2013

AbstractNiphargus is a speciose amphipod genus found in groundwater habitats across Europe. Three Niphargus species living in the sulphidic Frasassi caves in Italy harbour sulphur‐oxidizing Thiothrix bacterial ectosymbionts. These three species are distantly related, implying that the ability to form ectosymbioses with Thiothrix may be common among Niphargus. Therefore, Niphargus–Thiothrix associations may also be found in sulphidic aquifers other than Frasassi. In this study, we examined this possibility by analysing niphargids of the genera Niphargus and Pontoniphargus collected from the partly sulphidic aquifers of the Southern Dobrogea region of Romania, which are accessible through springs, wells and Movile Cave. Molecular and morphological analyses revealed seven niphargid species in this region. Five of these species occurred occasionally or exclusively in sulphidic locations, whereas the remaining two were restricted to nonsulphidic areas. Thiothrix were detected by PCR on all seven Dobrogean niphargid species and observed using microscopy to be predominantly attached to their hosts' appendages. 16S rRNA gene sequences of the Thiothrix epibionts fell into two main clades, one of which (herein named T4) occurred solely on niphargids collected in sulphidic locations. The other Thiothrix clade was present on niphargids from both sulphidic and nonsulphidic areas and indistinguishable from the T3 ectosymbiont clade previously identified on Frasassi‐dwelling Niphargus. Although niphargids from Frasassi and Southern Dobrogea are not closely related, the patterns of their association with Thiothrix are remarkably alike. The finding of similar Niphargus–Thiothrix associations in aquifers located 1200 km apart suggests that they may be widespread in European groundwater ecosystems.