bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Two-Year Follow-up Study on Clinical and Radiological Outcomes of Polyurethane Meniscal Scaffolds
Authors: De Coninck Tineke , Huysse Wouter , Willemot Laurent , Verdonk René , Verstraete Koenraad , Verdonk Peter 
Published: November 2012

Background: Little is known about radial displacement (RD) of polyurethane (PU) scaffolds, intended for partial meniscus defect substitution; no data are available on whether rim thickness influences RD and whether RD correlates with clinical outcome scores. Hypotheses: The meniscus is not extruded preoperatively, but RD occurs after scaffold implantation. A thicker rim will limit RD, and there is no correlation between RD and clinical outcome. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4. Methods: Twenty-six patients were implanted with a PU scaffold (8 lateral, 18 medial). Radial displacement (mm) was evaluated on magnetic resonance images preoperatively and at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. At each time point, it was determined whether a correlation existed between the rim and RD. Clinical outcome was determined using a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain as well as the Lysholm knee scoring scale, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score. Results: Radial displacement of lateral scaffolds was not significantly different ( P = .178) either preoperatively (mean ± SD, 3.42 ± 0.99 mm) or at 3 months (4.82 ± 0.59 mm), 1 year (4.55 ± 0.87 mm), or 2 years postoperatively (4.10 ± 0.93 mm). No correlation was observed between the rim and lateral RD at all time points. Medial scaffold RD increased significantly ( P < .001) from preoperative values (2.17 ± 0.84 mm) to those at 3 months (4.25 ± 0.89 mm), 1 year (4.43 ± 1.01 mm), and 2 years postoperatively (4.41 ± 0.96 mm). A strong negative correlation between medial RD and the rim was observed at all time points. There was no significant correlation between clinical outcome scores and RD, either preoperatively or postoperatively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that limited medial meniscal RD was present preoperatively but increased by 2 mm after scaffold implantation. Lateral RD was also present preoperatively but did not increase after scaffold implantation. Importantly, a strong negative correlation was found between the rim and postoperative medial RD; a thicker rim limited RD. However, in the lateral compartment, rim thickness did not correlate with RD because RD was already strongly present preoperatively. Finally, no correlations were observed between scaffold RD and clinical outcome scores, either preoperatively or postoperatively.
Validation of the Hebrew Version of the MoCA Test as a Screening Instrument for the Early Detection of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Elderly Individuals
Authors: Lifshitz Michal , Dwolatzky Tzvi , Press Yan 
Published: November 2012

Introduction: The English version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test has been shown to be reliable in screening for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, the sensitivity and specificity of the Hebrew version of this instrument are yet to be determined. Methods: The study population consisted of 2 groups of older individuals, 74 patients diagnosed with MCI and 80 patients who were cognitively asymptomatic. Cognitive evaluation included the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Mindstreams computerized cognitive assessment, and the MoCA test. Results: The Hebrew version of MoCA distinguished between cognitively asymptomatic older individuals and those with MCI, with a sensitivity of 94.6% and a specificity of 76.3%, using a cutoff of 26/30 points. Conclusions: The Hebrew version of the MoCA test is effective for identifying MCI in older patients. As a screening instrument for MCI, its higher sensitivity makes it preferable o the MMSE, which is used extensively in the clinical setting.
Impact of Fiscal Policy Shocks on the Indian Economy
Authors: Yadav Swati , Upadhyay V. , Sharma Seema 
Published: November 2012

In this article, we analyse the impact of fiscal shocks on the Indian economy using structural vector auto-regression (SVAR) methodology. The study uses quarterly data for the period 1997Q1–2009Q2. Two different identification schemes have been used to assess the effects of shocks on government spending and tax revenues on output. The recursive scheme is based on the Cholesky decomposition and the second identification scheme of Blanchard & Perrotti’s (1999) technique of using information on the tax system to identify the SVAR model. We find that the impulse responses obtained from both identification schemes behave in a similar fashion but the values of the multipliers differ. Also, the shock-to-tax variable has a bigger impact on gross domestic product (GDP) than the government spending shock. In the extended four variable VAR model, the effects of fiscal shocks on private consumption has been assessed using the recursive identification scheme. Findings indicate that the tax variable has a larger impact on private consumption compared to the government spending variable. In the short run, the impact of expansionary fiscal shocks follows the Keynesian tradition but the long-run response is mixed. JEL Classification: C32, E32, E62
Time to secondary progression in patients with multiple sclerosis who were treated with first generation immunomodulating drugs
Authors: Tedeholm H , Lycke J , Skoog B , Lisovskaja V , Hillert J , Dahle C , Fagius J , Fredrikson S , Landtblom A-M , Malmeström C , Martin C , Piehl F , Runmarker B , Stawiarz L , Vrethem M , Nerman O , Andersen O 
Published: November 2012

Background: It is currently unknown whether early immunomodulatory treatment in relapsing–remitting MS (RRMS) can delay the transition to secondary progression (SP). Objective: To compare the time interval from onset to SP in patients with RRMS between a contemporary cohort, treated with first generation disease modifying drugs (DMDs), and a historical control cohort. Methods: We included a cohort of contemporary RRMS patients treated with DMDs, obtained from the Swedish National MS Registry (disease onset between 1995–2004, n = 730) and a historical population-based incidence cohort (onset 1950–64, n = 186). We retrospectively analyzed the difference in time to SP, termed the “period effect” within a 12-year survival analysis, using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analysis. Results: We found that the “period” affected the entire severity spectrum. After adjusting for onset features, which were weaker in the contemporary material, as well as the therapy initiation time, the DMD-treated patients still exhibited a longer time to SP than the controls (hazard ratios: men, 0.32; women, 0.53). Conclusion: Our results showed there was a longer time to SP in the contemporary subjects given DMD. Our analyses suggested that this effect was not solely driven by the inclusion of benign cases, and it was at least partly due to the long-term immunomodulating therapy given.
Delayed development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in the absence of macrophage migration inhibitory factor
Authors: Reinart Nina , Nguyen Phuong-Hien , Boucas Jorge , Rosen Natascha , Kvasnicka Hans-Michael , Heukamp Lukas , Rudolph Cornelia , Ristovska Vangica , Velmans Tanja , Mueller Carolin , Reiners Katrin S. , von Strandmann Elke Pogge , Krause Günter , Montesinos-Rongen Manuel , Schlegelberger Brigitte , Herling Marco , Hallek Michael , Fingerle-Rowson Günter 
Published: November 2012

Key Points
Targeted deletion of the gene for macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) delays development of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and prolongs survival in mice. MIF recruits leukemia-associated macrophages to spleen or liver.
The triumph of good over evil: protection by the sickle gene against malaria
Authors: Bunn H. Franklin 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
The mechanisms underlying Plasmodium falciparum resistance in persons with sickle trait have been under active investigation for more than a half century. This Perspective reviews progress in solving this challenging problem, including recent studies that have exploited the genomics and proteomics of the parasite. The formation of Hb S polymer in the parasitized AS RBC leads to impaired parasite growth and development along with enhanced clearance from the circulation and reduced deposition in deep postcapillary vascular beds. Enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species in sickled AS RBCs is a pathogenetic feature shared by parasitized thalassemic and G6PD-deficient RBCs, triggering abnormal topology of the RBC plasma membrane with decreased and disordered display of PfEMP-1, a P falciparum adhesion protein critical for endothelial adherence. A mouse model of Hb S confers host tolerance to P berghei, through inhibition of pathogenic CD8+ T cells and induction of heme oxygenase-1. An additional and apparently independent mode of protection is provided by the selective expression in AS RBCs of 2 species of microRNA that integrate into P falciparum mRNAs and inhibit translation and parasite growth.
Deep sequencing and expression of microRNAs from early honeybee (Apis mellifera) embryos reveals a role in regulating early embryonic patterning
Authors: Zondag Lisa , Dearden Peter K , Wilson Megan J 
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Background
Recent evidence supports the proposal that the observed diversity of animal body plans has been produced through alterations to the complexity of the regulatory genome rather than increases in the protein-coding content of a genome. One significant form of gene regulation is the contribution made by the non-coding content of the genome. Non-coding RNAs play roles in embryonic development of animals and these functions might be expected to evolve rapidly. Using next-generation sequencing and in situ hybridization, we have examined the miRNA content of early honeybee embryos.

Results
Through small RNA sequencing we found that 28% of known miRNAs are expressed in the early embryo. We also identified developmentally expressed microRNAs that are unique to the Apoidea clade. Examination of expression patterns implied these miRNAs have roles in patterning the anterior-posterior and dorso-ventral axes as well as the extraembryonic membranes. Knockdown of Dicer, a key component of miRNA processing, confirmed that miRNAs are likely to have a role in patterning these tissues.

Conclusions
Examination of the expression patterns of novel miRNAs, some unique to the Apis group, indicated that they are likely to play a role in early honeybee development. Known miRNAs that are deeply conserved in animal phyla display differences in expression pattern between honeybee and Drosophila, particularly at early stages of development. This may indicate miRNAs play a rapidly evolving role in regulating developmental pathways, most likely through changes to the way their expression is regulated.
Mutualism with sea anemones triggered the adaptive radiation of clownfishes
Authors: Litsios Glenn , Sims Carrie A , Wüest Rafael O , Pearman Peter B , Zimmermann Niklaus E , Salamin Nicolas 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackgroundAdaptive radiation is the process by which a single ancestral species diversifies into many descendants adapted to exploit a wide range of habitats. The appearance of ecological opportunities, or the colonisation or adaptation to novel ecological resources, has been documented to promote adaptive radiation in many classic examples. Mutualistic interactions allow species to access resources untapped by competitors, but evidence shows that the effect of mutualism on species diversification can greatly vary among mutualistic systems. Here, we test whether the development of obligate mutualism with sea anemones allowed the clownfishes to radiate adaptively across the Indian and western Pacific oceans reef habitats.ResultsWe show that clownfishes morphological characters are linked with ecological niches associated with the sea anemones. This pattern is consistent with the ecological speciation hypothesis. Furthermore, the clownfishes show an increase in the rate of species diversification as well as rate of morphological evolution compared to their closest relatives without anemone mutualistic associations.ConclusionsThe effect of mutualism on species diversification has only been studied in a limited number of groups. We present a case of adaptive radiation where mutualistic interaction is the likely key innovation, providing new insights into the mechanisms involved in the buildup of biodiversity. Due to a lack of barriers to dispersal, ecological speciation is rare in marine environments. Particular life-history characteristics of clownfishes likely reinforced reproductive isolation between populations, allowing rapid species diversification.
DNA methylation profile of Aire-deficient mouse medullary thymic epithelial cells
Authors: Wu Guoying , Hirabayashi Keiji , Sato Shinya , Akiyama Nobuko , Akiyama Taishin , Shiota Kunio , Yagi Shintaro 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackgroundMedullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) are characterized by ectopic expression of self-antigens during the establishment of central tolerance. The autoimmune regulator (Aire), which is specifically expressed in mTECs, is responsible for the expression of a large repertoire of tissue-restricted antigens (TRAs) and plays a role in the development of mTECs. However, Aire-deficient mTECs still express TRAs. Moreover, a subset of mTECs, which are considered to be at a stage of terminal differentiation, exists in the Aire-deficient thymus. The phenotype of a specific cell type in a multicellular organism is governed by the epigenetic regulation system. DNA methylation modification is an important component of this system. Every cell or tissue type displays a DNA methylation profile, consisting of tissue-dependent and differentially methylated regions (T-DMRs), and this profile is involved in cell-type-specific genome usage. The aim of this study was to examine the DNA methylation profile of mTECs by using Aire-deficient mTECs as a model.ResultsWe identified the T-DMRs of mTECs (mTEC-T-DMRs) via genome-wide DNA methylation analysis ofAire−/−mTECs by comparison with the liver, brain, thymus, and embryonic stem cells. The hypomethylated mTEC-T-DMRs inAire−/−mTECs were associated with mTEC-specific genes, includingAire,CD80, andTrp63, as well as other genes involved in the RANK signaling pathway. While these mTEC-T-DMRs were also hypomethylated inAire+/+mTECs, they were hypermethylated in control thymic stromal cells. We compared the pattern of DNA methylation levels at a total of 55 mTEC-T-DMRs and adjacent regions and found that the DNA methylation status was similar forAire+/+andAire−/−mTECs but distinct from that of athymic cells and tissues.ConclusionsThese results indicate a unique DNA methylation profile that is independent of Aire in mTECs. This profile is distinct from other cell types in the thymic microenvironment and is indicated to be involved in the differentiation of the mTEC lineage.
Storage conditions for stability of offline measurement of fractional exhaled nitric oxide after collection for epidemiologic research
Authors: Yoda Yoshiko , Otani Naruhito , Hasunuma Hideki , Kanegae Hiroshi , Shima Masayuki 
Published: November 2012

Abstract

Background
The measurement of fractional concentration of nitric oxide in exhaled air (FeNO) is valuable for the assessment of airway inflammation. Offline measurement of FeNO has been used in some epidemiologic studies. However, the time course of the changes in FeNO after collection has not been fully clarified. In this study, the effects of storage conditions on the stability of FeNO measurement in exhaled air after collection for epidemiologic research were examined.

Methods
Exhaled air samples were collected from 48 healthy adults (mean age 43.4 ± 12.1 years) in Mylar bags. FeNO levels in the bags were measured immediately after collection. The bags were then stored at 4°C or room temperature to measure FeNO levels repeatedly for up to 168 hours.

Results
In the bags stored at room temperature after collection, FeNO levels were stable for 9 hours, but increased starting at 24 hours. FeNO levels remained stable for a long time at 4°C, and they were 99.7% ± 7.7% and 101.3% ± 15.0% relative to the baseline values at 24 and 96 hours, respectively. When the samples were stored at 4°C, FeNO levels gradually decreased with time among the subjects with FeNO ≥ 51 ppb immediately after collection, although there were almost no changes among the other subjects. FeNO levels among current smokers increased even at 4°C, although the values among ex-smokers decreased gradually, and those among nonsmokers remained stable. The rate of increase was significantly higher among current smokers than among nonsmokers and ex-smokers from 9 hours after collection onwards.

Conclusions
Storage at 4°C could prolong the stability of FeNO levels after collection. This result suggests that valid measurements can be performed within several days if the samples are stored at 4°C. However, the time course of the changes in FeNO levels differed in relation to initial FeNO values and cigarette smoking.
Fuzzy method for pre-diagnosis of breast cancer from the Fine Needle Aspirate analysis
Authors: Sizilio Gláucia RMA , Leite Cicília RM , Guerreiro Ana MG , Neto Adrião D Dória 
Published: November 2012

AbstractBackgroundAcross the globe, breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women and, currently, Fine Needle Aspirate (FNA) with visual interpretation is the easiest and fastest biopsy technique for the diagnosis of this deadly disease. Unfortunately, the ability of this method to diagnose cancer correctly when the disease is present varies greatly, from 65% to 98%. This article introduces a method to assist in the diagnosis and second opinion of breast cancer from the analysis of descriptors extracted from smears of breast mass obtained by FNA, with the use of computational intelligence resources - in this case, fuzzy logic.MethodsFor data acquisition of FNA, the Wisconsin Diagnostic Breast Cancer Data (WDBC), from the University of California at Irvine (UCI) Machine Learning Repository, available on the internet through the UCI domain was used. The knowledge acquisition process was carried out by the extraction and analysis of numerical data of the WDBC and by interviews and discussions with medical experts. The PDM-FNA-Fuzzy was developed in four steps: 1) Fuzzification Stage; 2) Rules Base; 3) Inference Stage; and 4) Defuzzification Stage. Performance cross-validation was used in the tests, with three databases with gold pattern clinical cases randomly extracted from the WDBC. The final validation was held by medical specialists in pathology, mastology and general practice, and with gold pattern clinical cases, i.e. with known and clinically confirmed diagnosis.ResultsThe Fuzzy Method developed provides breast cancer pre-diagnosis with 98.59% sensitivity (correct pre-diagnosis of malignancies); and 85.43% specificity (correct pre-diagnosis of benign cases). Due to the high sensitivity presented, these results are considered satisfactory, both by the opinion of medical specialists in the aforementioned areas and by comparison with other studies involving breast cancer diagnosis using FNA.ConclusionsThis paper presents an intelligent method to assist in the diagnosis and second opinion of breast cancer, using a fuzzy method capable of processing and sorting data extracted from smears of breast mass obtained by FNA, with satisfactory levels of sensitivity and specificity. The main contribution of the proposed method is the reduction of the variation hit of malignant cases when compared to visual interpretation currently applied in the diagnosis by FNA. While the MPD-FNA-Fuzzy features stable sensitivity at 98.59%, visual interpretation diagnosis provides a sensitivity variation from 65% to 98% (this track showing sensitivity levels below those considered satisfactory by medical specialists). Note that this method will be used in an Intelligent Virtual Environment to assist the decision-making (IVEMI), which amplifies its contribution.
Downlink packet scheduling and resource allocation in EPON WiMAX hybrid access networks
Authors: Teng Hung-Yi , Kuo Chung-Chih , Hwang Ren-Hung 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Multimedia applications over the Internet, such as IPTV and video-on-demand, have become fast growing applications in recent years. Such applications have stringent quality of services (QoS) constraints in terms of bandwidth, delay, and packet loss. As a consequence, broadband access networks play an important role for multimedia applications. There are two emerging technologies offering both high bandwidth and QoS support, namely Ethernet Passive Optical Network (EPON) and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX). By integrating these two technologies, EPON-WiMAX integrated network can: (1) provide broadband access, (2) support mobile users, and (3) decrease network planning cost and operating cost. Thus, EPON-WiMAX integrated network is an ideal choice for multimedia applications with ubiquitous access. Although EPON-WiMAX integrated network has received growing attentions, however, most of previous works focus on the scheduling and bandwidth allocation in the upstream direction. Therefore, in this paper, we investigate the downlink scheduling and bandwidth allocation problem in EPON-WiMAX integrated networks. The objective of the study is to maximize the system throughput and guarantee the (QoS) so that the requirements of multimedia applications can be fulfilled. We proposed a two-stage downlink packet scheduling and resource allocation mechanism collaborating with application layer forward error correction (AL-FEC). We demonstrated the performance of our approach via simulations. Our simulation results indicated that the proposed mechanism increased the system throughput significantly, especially when AL-FEC is adopted.
Joint optimization of detection threshold and resource allocation in infrastructure-based multi-band cognitive radio networks
Authors: Shi Cong , Wang Ying , Wang Tan , Zhang Ping , Martinez-Bauset Jorge , Li Frank Y 
Published: November 2012

Abstract
Consider an infrastructure-based multi-band cognitive radio network (CRN) where secondary users (SUs) opportunistically access a set of sub-carriers when sensed as idle. The carrier sensing threshold which affects the access opportunities of SUs is conventionally regarded as static and treated independently from the resource allocation in the model. In this article, we study jointly the optimization of detection threshold and resource allocation with the goal of maximizing the total downlink capacity of SUs in such CRNs. The optimization problem is formulated considering three sets of variables, i.e., detection threshold, sub-carrier assignment and power allocation, with constraints on the PUs’ rate loss and the power budget of the CR base station. Two schemes, referred to as offline and online algorithms respectively, are proposed to solve the optimization problem. While the offline algorithm finds the global optimal solution with high complexity, the online algorithm provides a close-to-optimal solution with much lower complexity and realtime capability. The performance of the proposed schemes is evaluated by extensive simulations and compared with the conventional static threshold selection algorithm specified in the IEEE 802.22 standard.