bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Who Was He? Reflections on China’s First Medical ‘Naturalist’
Authors: Brown Miranda 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThis paper examines the reasons why Physician He (Yi–He, sixth century BCE) was regarded as a founder in the classical medical tradition of China. By most accounts, Physician He’s importance owes much to his theoretical innovations. In contrast to earlier healers, Physician He purportedly framed the aetiology of illnesses solely in terms of natural causes, as opposed to attributing sickness to gods or demons. In this paper, I reread a famous episode in theCommentary by Zuo, which is often cited as evidence of the physician’s naturalism. By paying close attention to the formal elements of the narrative as well as its larger discursive context, I argue that the standard reading of Physician He falls short. The episode provides little evidence of any secular challenge to religious conceptions of illness, and Physician He was, in fact, patterned after occult experts. A careful look moreover at the reception of Physician He in premodern histories of medicine reveals that the physician was extolled for his attunement to the will of the spirits as well as his powers of examination. Physician He’s reputation as a naturalist furthermore represents a modern interpretation, one that reflects efforts to defend the indigenous medical tradition against its biomedical detractors.
Re-visiting ‘Galen in Tibet’1
Authors: Yoeli-Tlalim Ronit 
Published: August 2012

AbstractThis paper readdresses the assertion found in much secondary literature that Greek medicine was adopted in Tibet in the seventh and eighth centuries. I discuss some of the traces of Galenic medical knowledge in early Tibetan medicine, and raise the question of why Tibetan medical histories who mention Galen give Galenic medicine a much more significant place than is evidenced in the Tibetan medical literature itself. I discuss some historiographical considerations and argue that the centrality given to Galenic medicine is more indicative of the period in which these sources are written than of the period which they presumably describe.
VISIBLE ACTIONS ON FLAG VARIETIES OF TYPE B AND A GENERALISATION OF THE CARTAN DECOMPOSITION
Authors: TANAKA YUICHIRO 
Published: August 2012

AbstractWe give a generalisation of the Cartan decomposition for connected compact Lie groups of type B motivated by the work on visible actions of Kobayashi [‘A generalized Cartan decomposition for the double coset space $(U(n_{1})\times U(n_{2})\times U(n_{3})) \backslash U(n)/ (U(p)\times U(q))$’, J. Math. Soc. Japan59 (2007), 669–691] for type A groups. Suppose that $G$ is a connected compact Lie group of type B, $\sigma $ is a Chevalley–Weyl involution and $L$, $H$ are Levi subgroups. First, we prove that $G=LG^{\sigma }H$ holds if and only if either (I) both $H$ and $L$ are maximal and of type A, or (II) $(G,H)$ is symmetric and $L$ is the Levi subgroup of an arbitrary maximal parabolic subgroup up to switching $H$ and $L$. This classification gives a visible action of $L$ on the generalised flag variety $G/H$, as well as that of the $H$-action on $G/L$ and of the $G$-action on $(G\times G)/(L\times H)$. Second, we find an explicit ‘slice’ $B$ with $\dim B=\mathrm {rank}\, G$ in case I, and $\dim B=2$ or $3$ in case II, such that a generalised Cartan decomposition $G=LBH$holds. An application to multiplicity-free theorems of representations is also discussed.
Egoism or the problem of evil: a dilemma for sceptical theism
Authors: RANCOURT BENJAMIN T. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractSceptical theists undermine the argument from evil by claiming that our ability to distinguish between justified and unjustified evil is weak enough that we must take seriously the possibility that all evil is justified. However, I argue that this claim leads to a dilemma: either our judgements regarding unjustified evil are reliable enough that the problem of evil remains a problem, or our judgements regarding unjustified evil are so unreliable that it would be misguided to use them in our decision-making. The first horn undermines theism, while the second undermines our moral decision-making. Thus, sceptical theism is problematic.
Inverse dynamic modeling and analysis of a new caterpillar robotic mechanism by Kane's method
Authors: Wei Hong-Xing , Wang Tian-Miao , Liu Miao , Xiao Jiang-Yang 
Published: August 2012

SUMMARYBionic engineering has been a focus in the field of robotic researches. Inverse dynamic analysis is significant for the determination of dynamic parameters of bionic robots. The present paper uses a newly developed robot modular named Sambot to construct a caterpillar robotic mechanism, and designs a gait of trapezoidal wave locomotion for it. Two open-link models are put forth to simulate the dynamic behavior of such a locomotion. The inverse dynamic differential equations are derived by Kane's method and are then solved numerically by the Runge–Kutta method of the fourth order. Based on the numerical solutions of these differential equations, the applied joint torques required to produce the harmonic trapezoidal wave locomotion are determined finally, providing us important information on the gait control of the caterpillar robotic mechanism. Finally, the theoretical values of the joint torques are applied onto the present caterpillar mechanism to perform a locomotion experiment, which verifies the effectiveness of the present dynamics analysis.
The 2011 revision of the global strategy for the diagnosis, management and prevention of COPD (GOLD) – why and what?
Authors: Vestbo Jørgen , Hurd Suzanne S. , Rodriguez‐Roisin Roberto 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIntroductionThe Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has published a strategy for diagnosis and for management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) since 2001 and this has formed the basis for numerous national and regional guidelines.ObjectivesWe describe the background for the 2011 revision of the GOLD document.MethodsThe GOLD document is updated annually and revised every 5 years based on published research as well as an evaluation by an expert panel of how to best formulate and disseminate knowledge on COPD.ResultsThe GOLD 2011 revision states that spirometry is required for making a clinical diagnosis of COPD. At the same time, the document has less emphasis on spirometric evaluation of disease severity and launches a combined assessment taking symptoms, spirometry and history of exacerbations into account. This is matched with initial treatment for COPD where smoking cessation, pulmonary rehabilitation and physical activity in general are given high priority followed by pharmacologic treatment guided by the novel assessment scheme. Comorbidities are often present in COPD and the GOLD 2011 revision gives some guidance in how to manage these as well as how to manage COPD in the presence of comorbidities.ConclusionA more clinically oriented GOLD document will hopefully improve assessment and management of COPD.
Cyclic mechanical stress downregulates endothelin‐1 and its responsive genes independently of TGFβ1 in dermal fibroblasts
Authors: Peters Andreas S. , Brunner Georg , Blumbach Katrin , Abraham David J. , Krieg Thomas , Eckes Beate 
Published: August 2012

AbstractMechanical forces are highly variable ranging from the ubiquitous gravity force to compression, fluid shear, torsion, tension and other forms. Mechanical forces act on cells and modulate their biological responses by regulating gene transcription, enzyme and growth factor activity. In soft connective tissues, formation of myofibroblasts strictly requires a mechanically loaded environment in addition to local transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β activity, which itself can be modulated by the mechanical status of the environment. The aim of this study was to monitor the adaptive responses of primary dermal fibroblasts towards cyclic mechanical stress under conditions of high force to better understand the regulation of gene expression in normal skin and mechanisms of gene regulation in mechanically altered fibrotic skin. Primary murine dermal fibroblasts were exposed to equi‐biaxial tensile strain. Cyclic mechanical tension was applied at a frequency of 0.1 Hz (6× /min) for 24 h with a maximal increase in surface area of 15%. This treatment resulted in downregulation of alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) but not of TGFβ1 expression. Cyclic strain also strongly reduced endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) expression and supplementing strained cultures with exogenous ET‐1 rescued αSMA and CTGF levels. Of note, no biologically significant levels of TGFβ1 activity were detected in strained cultures. We provide evidence for a novel, TGFβ1‐independent mechanism regulating ET‐1 expression in dermal fibroblasts by biomechanical forces. Modulation of ET‐1‐dependent activities regulates downstream fibrotic marker genes; this pathway might therefore provide an approach to attenuate myofibroblast differentiation.
Epidemiological aspects of Trichophyton rubrum var. raubitschekii in Japan
Authors: Hiruma Midori , Kano Rui , Sugita Takashi , Mochizuki Takashi , Hasegawa Atsuhiko , Hiruma Masataro 
Published: August 2012

AbstractTrichophyton rubrum var. raubitschekii is a rare anthropophilic dermatophyte isolated around the world from tinea corporis, tinea cruris, tinea pedis and tinea unguium. In this study, the isolation rate of T. rubrum var. raubitschekii was studied in 200 cases of tinea pedis and tinea unguium in Japan. The 200 clinical isolates were shown to be of downy type as their colonies on Sabouraud's dextrose agar were white to cream, suede‐like to downy, with a yellow‐brown to wine‐red reverse, and they produced few macroconidia. The type strain of T. rubrum var. raubitschekii (CBS 100084) and one clinical isolate (KMU 8337; isolated at Kanazawa) of downy type tested positive for urease, but the reference strain of T. rubrum (CBS 392.58) and the remaining 199 clinical isolates tested negative. Further epidemiological investigations are required to study human cases of infection with the granular type of T. rubrum and T. rubrum var. raubitschekii in Japan.
Guidelines for the management of cutaneous lymphomas (2011): A consensus statement by the Japanese Skin Cancer Society – Lymphoma Study Group
Authors: Sugaya Makoto , Hamada Toshihisa , Kawai Kazuhiro , Yonekura Kentaro , Ohtsuka Mikio , Shimauchi Takatoshi , Tokura Yoshiki , Nozaki Koji , Izutsu Koji , Suzuki Ritsuro , Setoyama Mitsuru , Nagatani Tetsuo , Koga Hiroshi , Tani Mamori , Iwatsuki Keiji 
Published: August 2012

AbstractIn 2010, the first Japanese edition of guidelines for the management of cutaneous lymphoma was published jointly by the Japanese Dermatological Association (JDA) and the Japanese Skin Cancer Society (JSCS) – Lymphoma Study Group. Because the guidelines were revised in 2011 based on the most recent data, we summarized the revised guidelines in English for two reasons: (i) to inform overseas clinicians about our way of managing common types of cutaneous lymphomas such as mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome; and (ii) to introduce Japanese guidelines for lymphomas peculiar to Asia, such as adult T‐cell leukemia/lymphoma and extranodal natural killer/T‐cell lymphoma, nasal type. References that provide scientific evidence for these guidelines have been selected by the JSCS – Lymphoma Study Group. These guidelines, together with the degrees of recommendation, have been made in the context of limited medical treatment resources, and standard medical practice within the framework of the Japanese National Health Insurance system.
Prurigo pigmentosa: Clinicopathological study and analysis of 50 cases in Korea
Authors: Kim Jae Kyung , Chung Woon Kyong , Chang Sung Eun , Ko Joo Yeon , Lee Jong Hee , Won Chong Hyun , Lee Mi Woo , Choi Jee Ho , Moon Kee Chan 
Published: August 2012

AbstractPrurigo pigmentosa is a recurrent dermatosis with severe pruritus and several peculiar clinical features. Its exact etiology and pathogenesis are unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features and chronological changes in the histopathology of prurigo pigmentosa in Korean patients and to assess the etiology of this condition. We reviewed the medical records, clinical photographs and biopsy specimens from 50 patients diagnosed with prurigo pigmentosa. Mean age at diagnosis was 23.7 years (range, 15–61 years). Prurigo pigmentosa started as urticarial papules or plaques, changing first to papulovesicles and then to reticulated brownish macules. The most frequent sites were the back and chest, especially depressed areas such as the central back and inter‐mammary area. Dietary change was suspected as a cause of prurigo pigmentosa in 17 patients. Histopathologically, early‐stage lesions had dermatitis herpetiformis‐like features; fully‐developed lesions displayed impetigo‐like or acute, generalized, exanthematous, pustulosis‐like features; and late lesions presented with post‐inflammatory hyperpigmentation‐like features. Oral minocycline, with or without dapsone, was effective in inhibiting the appearance of new lesions, but did not prevent recurrence. Prurigo pigmentosa is not rare in Korea, is apparently associated with dietary modification and preferentially involves the depressed regions of the trunk.
Habitat‐independent spatial structure in populations of some forest birds in easternNorthAmerica
Authors: Ricklefs Robert E. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryThe extent to which populations fill available ecological space is critical to evaluating niche‐based theories of community assembly, but habitat suitability for populations is difficult to assess. The absence of a species from areas of otherwise suitable habitat might indicate localized species‐specific influences, including biological interactions with competitors, consumers or pathogens, on local population persistence.I usedBray–Curtis ordination axis scores, based on the distributions of forest birds across census plots in easternNorthAmerica, as proxies of general features of habitat suitability to predict local abundances of each species of small land bird. I then applied spatial analysis to identify significant spatial structure (Moran'sI) in residuals (positive or negative) from predicted local densities, which would indicate localized species‐specific influences on population size.Fifty‐eight of 79 species exhibited no significant spatial structure in residual abundances, indicating that the ordination axes reflect most of the spatial variation in environmental conditions and habitat characteristics that influence population distribution and density or that samples were too small to detect significant spatial variation. Twenty‐one species exhibited significant habitat‐independent spatial structure of residuals within distances of 100 km. Aggregations of residuals for these species were independently located, for the most part, and thus probably unrelated to general features of the environment that affect many species.Among factors considered as potential causes of spatial anomalies, positive density dependence (Allee effects), intraspecific social aggregation and area sensitivity in response to forest fragmentation find little support in this analysis. Because of the species‐specific nature of these clustered residuals, specialized pathogens are potential candidates to drive spatial anomalies in host abundance.
Analysis of spatial structure of epidermal nerve entry point patterns based on replicated data
Authors: MYLLYMÄKI M. , PANOUTSOPOULOU I.G , SÄRKKÄ A. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryEpidermal nerve fiber (ENF) density and morphology are used to diagnose small fiber involvement in diabetic, HIV, chemotherapy induced, and other neuropathies. ENF density and summed length of ENFs per epidermal surface area are reduced, and ENFs may appear clustered within the epidermis in subjects with small fiber neuropathy compared to healthy subjects. Therefore, it is important to understand the spatial behaviour of ENFs in healthy and diseased subjects. This work investigates the spatial structure of ENF entry points, which are locations where the nerves enter the epidermis (the outmost living layer of the skin). The study is based on suction skin blister specimens from two body locations of 25 healthy subjects. The ENF entry points are regarded as a realization of a spatial point process and a second‐order characteristic, namely Ripley’sKfunction, is used to investigate the effect of covariates (e.g. gender) on the degree of clustering of ENF entry points. First, the effects of covariates are evaluated by means of pooledKfunctions for groups and, secondly, the statistical significance of the effects and individual variation are characterized by a mixed model approach. Based on our results the spatial pattern of ENFs in samples taken from calf is affected by the covariates but not in samples taken from foot.
Four‐dimensional visualization and quantitative analysis of meiotic spindle movements in live mouse oocytes
Authors: TIAN N. , ZHANG L. , LIU B. , WANG P. , LI Y , MA W 
Published: August 2012

SummaryThis paper made a different attempt of real‐time observation of the meiotic spindle movements in living mouse oocyte using a convenient method. This method was based on an experimental phenomenon discovered in our work. In living mouse oocytes, a high concentration of calcium ions (Ca2+) was observed throughout the region occupied by the initial meiotic spindle. After Ca2+ labelling with Fura‐2, a weakly fluorescent area (WFA) appeared on each side of the chromosomes. The activities of the WFAs changed during spindle development. By real‐time tracking of WFAs, we were able to indirectly observe the meiotic spindle movements. Occasionally, it was observed that the first meiotic spindle rotated from an orientation parallel to the cortex to become perpendicular, instead of migrating from the oocyte centre to the cortex along its axis. Moreover, we analysed this uncommon rotation of the first meiotic spindle and found that the whole rotation process can be divided into two phases: the early slow‐speed rotation and the subsequent rapid‐speed rotation. We further characterized this rotation with respect to rotational speed and acceleration at all the stages of development. By using a two‐photon laser‐scanning microscope in combination with Fura‐2 dye that is nondamaging to oocytes, we provide a convenient method for indirect visualization and quantitative analysis of spindle movements by real‐time tracking of WFAs. This method is easy to operate and master, and economical with time and effort.
Axial Phase‐Darkfield‐Contrast (APDC), a new technique for variable optical contrasting in light microscopy
Authors: PIPER T. , PIPER J. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryAxial phase‐darkfield‐contrast (APDC) has been developed as an illumination technique in light microscopy which promises significant improvements and a higher variability in imaging of several transparent ‘problem specimens’. With this method, a phase contrast image is optically superimposed on an axial darkfield image so that a partial image based on the principal zeroth order maximum (phase contrast) interferes with an image, which is based on the secondary maxima (axial darkfield). The background brightness and character of the resulting image can be continuously modulated from a phase contrast‐dominated to a darkfield‐dominated character. In order to achieve this illumination mode, normal objectives for phase contrast have to be fitted with an additional central light stopper needed for axial (central) darkfield illumination. In corresponding condenser light masks, a small perforation has to be added in the centre of the phase contrast providing light annulus. These light modulating elements are properly aligned when the central perforation is congruent with the objective's light stop and the light annulus is conjugate with the phase ring. The breadth of the condenser light annulus and thus the intensity of the phase contrast partial image can be regulated with the aperture diaphragm. Additional contrast effects can be achieved when both illuminating light components are filtered at different colours. In this technique, the axial resolution (depth of field) is significantly enhanced and the specimen's three‐dimensional appearance is accentuated with improved clarity as well as fine details at the given resolution limit. Typical artefacts associated with phase contrast and darkfield illumination are reduced in our methods.
Imaging nanometre‐scale structure in cells using in situ aberration correction
Authors: FULLER C.J. , STRAIGHT A.F. 
Published: August 2012

SummaryAccurate distance measurements of cellular structures on a length scale relevant to single macromolecules or macromolecular complexes present a major challenge for biological microscopy. In addition to the inherent challenges of overcoming the limits imposed by the diffraction of light, cells themselves are a complex and poorly understood optical environment. We present an extension of the high‐resolution colocalization method to measure three dimensional distances between diffraction‐limited objects using standard widefield fluorescence microscopy. We use this method to demonstrate that in three dimensions, cells intrinsically introduce a large and variable amount of chromatic aberration into optical measurements. We present a means of correcting this aberration in situ [termed ‘Colocalization and In‐situ Correction of Aberration for Distance Analysis’ (CICADA)] by exploiting the fact that there is a linear relationship between the degree of aberration between different wavelengths. By labelling a cellular structure with redundantly multi‐colour labelled antibodies, we can create an intracellular fiducial marker for correcting the individual aberrations between two different wavelengths in the same cells. Our observations demonstrate that with suitable corrections, nanometre scale three‐dimensional distance measurements can be used to probe the substructure of macromolecular complexes within cells.
Ablation of Barrett's oesophagus: towards improved outcomes for oesophageal cancer?
Authors: Mayne George C. , Bright Tim , Hussey Damian J. , Watson David I. 
Published: August 2012

AbstractBarrett's oesophagus is the major risk factor for the development of oesophageal adenocarcinoma. The management of Barrett's oesophagus entails treating reflux symptoms with acid‐suppressing medication or surgery (fundoplication). However, neither form of anti‐reflux therapy produces predictable regression, or prevents cancer development. Patients with Barrett's oesophagus usually undergo endoscopic surveillance, which aims to identify dysplastic changes or cancer at its earliest stage, when treatment outcomes should be better. Alternative endoscopic interventions are now available and are suggested for the treatment of early cancer and prevention of progression of Barrett's oesophagus to cancer. Such treatments could minimize the risks associated with oesophagectomy. The current status of these interventions is reviewed. Various endoscopic interventions have been described, but with long‐term outcomes uncertain, they remain somewhat controversial. Radiofrequency ablation of dysplastic Barrett's oesophagus might reduce the risk of cancer progression, although cancer development has been reported after this treatment. Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) allows a 1.5–2 cm diameter piece of oesophageal mucosa to be removed. This provides better pathology for diagnosis and staging, and if the lesion is confined to the mucosa and fully excised, EMR can be curative. The combination of EMR and radiofrequency ablation has been used for multifocal lesions, but long‐term outcomes are unknown. The new endoscopic interventions for Barrett's oesophagus and early oesophageal cancer have the potential to improve clinical outcomes, although evidence that confirms superiority over oesphagectomy is limited. Longer‐term outcome data and data from larger cohorts are required to confirm the appropriateness of these procedures.