Some results on dependent random variables and a connection with the multivariate s-increasing convex order

In this paper some new concepts of dependence are introduced that generalize the concepts of positive and negative association. The new concepts of dependence are linked to the multivariate s-increasing convex order (Denuit and Mesfioui (2010, 2013)). Furthermore, a Kolmogorov-type inequality and a Hajek-Renyi inequality are proven that lead to an asymptotic result for these new random objects

Conditional Acceptability for Random Variables

Acceptable random variables introduced by Giuliano Antonini et al. (J. Math. Anal. Appl. 338:1188-1203, 2008) form a class of dependent random variables that contains negatively dependent random variables as a particular case. The concept of acceptability has been studied by authors under various versions of the definition, such as extended acceptability or wide acceptability. In this paper, we combine the concept of acceptability with the concept of conditioning, which has been the subject of current research activity. For conditionally acceptable random variables, we provide a number of probability inequalities that can be used to obtain asymptotic results

Evaluation of a Critical Sized Bone Defect in a Porcine Tibial Model

Background/Hypothesis: Few large animal bone injury models exist. We present a porcine tibial model of metacritical and critical sized bone defects for the simulation of traumatic bone injuries. Project Methods: 16 pigs were used in this study. The pigs were divided into 3 groups (n=4-8/group). In 12 pigs, a 25 mm osteotomy was created in the tibia and the space was filled with a 25 mm scaffold. 8 of the 25 mm scaffolds were secured with an intramedullary (IM) nail and 4 of the scaffolds were secured with plates. In 4 pigs a 40 mm osteotomy was created, filled with a 40 mm scaffold, and secured with plates. Fracture healing was assessed 3 months post-operatively using the Radiographic Union Score for Tibial Fractures (RUST) criteria. Results: For the 25 mm IM group, none of the 8 pigs achieved cortical bone union at 3 months post-op. In contrast, cortical union was observed in all of the 25 mm defects secured with plates. None of the 40 mm defects secured with plates achieved cortical union. Conclusion/Potential Impact: The failure of the 25 mm defect secured with an IM nail and the 40 mm defect secured with plates demonstrates that these are critical sized defect models. However, because the 25 mm defect secured with bridge plates did heal, we have termed this a metacritical sized defect. Identification of a defect size that can heal or not heal based on the fixation technique is a powerful translational model for testing therapies

Использование магнитных наночастиц в биомедицине

The use of nanomaterials offers many advantages due to their unique properties. They can be used as building blocks for the fabrication of various functional diagnostic systems and agents of therapy. This article focuses on the application of magnetic nanoparticles in biomedicine such as magnetic separation, biosensor, contrast agents for MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), local operated hyperthermic treatment of tumors, drug delivery, gene therapy, tissue engineering.Применение наноматералов открывает широкие перспективы благодаря появлению у вещества в наноразмерном состоянии уникальных свойств. В настоящее время на основе наночастиц разрабатывают высокoспецифичные диагностические системы и эффектив ные методы терапии. В обзоре рассмотрены основные направления биомедицинского применения магнитных наночастиц: магнитная сепарация, биосенсоры, контрастирование при MRI-диагностике, управляемая локальная гипертермия опухолей, целевая доставка препаратов, генотерапия, а также конструирование тканей

Minimally Invasive, Non-Terminal In Vivo Muscle Testing of a Porcine Tibia Fracture Model

Background and Hypothesis: Soft tissue injury surrounding tibia fractures is a key determinant of surgical care decisions and healing outcomes. We have established a porcine tibia fracture model with a corresponding volumetric muscle loss (VML) injury in the adjacent peroneus tertius (PT) muscle. Herein, we test the hypothesis that tibia fracture without VML induces an initial strength deficit that recovers within three months post-injury, while VML injuries present chronic strength deficits.   Experimental Design or Project Methods: 15 castrated Yucatan minipigs pigs will be evaluated in the following groups: Tibia defect (TD)-only, TD+small VML, and TD+large VML. To date, 12 have undergone injury, and 3 have completed the study (TD-only, n=2;  TD+small VML, n=1).   In vivo muscle testing of the anterior compartment of the lower hindlimb was performed before and 1, 2, and 3 months post-injury.  Results: Before injury the non-operative and operative limbs had similar peak muscle strength (11.8±1.0 vs. 10.8±0.6 Nm; p=0.42), and non-operative limb strength did not change during the study (ANOVA p=.89). Relative to pre-injury values, the tibia defect with VML injury presented 71, 77, and 79% strength loss, while the tibia defect-only limbs presented 46, 60, and 48% strength loss at 1, 2, and 3 months post-injury, respectively.  Conclusion and Potential Impact: The data are limited by low sample sizes as this project is ongoing. Preliminary data do not appear to support the hypothesis, as limbs with TD-only presented persistent strength deficits, though potentially of lesser magnitude than VML injured limbs. The mechanism of strength loss following TD-only may be related to disuse

How not to describe a species: lessons from a tangle of anacondas (Boidae: Eunectes Wagler, 1830)

A recent revision of the anacondas (Serpentes: Boidae: Eunectes), with the description of a new species of green anaconda, generated extensive publicity, but also provoked considerable controversy due to inadequacies of the evidence used and errors in nomenclature. We here use the case of this problematic publication to: (i) highlight common issues affecting species delimitations, especially an over-reliance on mitochondrial DNA data, and reiterate best practices; (ii) reanalyse the data available for anacondas to establish the true current state of knowledge and to highlight lines of further research; and (iii) analyse the nomenclatural history and status of the genus. While our analysis reveals significant morphological variation in both green and yellow anacondas, denser sampling and an analysis of informative nuclear markers are required for meaningful species delimitation in Eunectes. Tracing the history of name-bearing types establishes Trinidad as the type locality for Boa murina Linnaeus, 1758 and allows identification of the extant lectotype for the species. Finally, we emphasize the responsibility of both journals and authors to ensure that published taxonomic work meets the burden of evidence required to substantiate new species descriptions and that species are named in compliance with the rules of zoological nomenclature

Comparative analysis of authorship trends in the Journal of Hand Surgery European and American volumes: A bibliometric analysis

Background The purpose of this study was to better understand the authorship publishing trends in the field of hand surgery. To accomplish this, a comparative analysis was completed between the European and American volumes of the Journal of Hand Surgery (JHSE and JHSA) over the past three decades. Well-established bibliometric methods were used to examine one representative year from each of the past three decades. The focus of the study was to examine changes in author gender over time as well as to compare authorship trends across the two volumes. Materials and methods All JHSA and JHSE publications from 1985, 1995, 2005, and 2015 were placed into a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. Data was collected for each publication including the gender of first and corresponding authors, corresponding author position, corresponding author country of origin, number of credited institutions, authors, printed pages, and references. Countries were grouped by regions. Results A total of 450 and 763 manuscripts from JHSE and JHSA, respectively, met inclusion criteria. JHSE and JHSA both showed increases in most variables analyzed over time. Both journals showed an increase in female first and corresponding authors. JHSE and JHSA displayed a rise in collaboration between institutions and countries. Conclusions Both JHSE and JHSA display increasing female inclusion in the hand surgery literature, which has traditionally been a male dominated field. The observed increase in collaboration between institutions and countries is likely linked to advances in technology that allow sharing of information more conveniently and reliably than was previously possible. As further advances are made socially and technologically, hopefully these trends will continue, leading to faster and higher quality research being generated in the field of hand surgery

Нарушение целостности эндотелиального монослоя биопротезов клапанов сердца как триггер развития первичной тканевой несостоятельности

Aim. To study the surface and cellular composition of non-calcified bioprosthetic heart valve (BHV) leaflets with varying degrees of structural deterioration to determine the possible mechanisms of primary tissue failure development.Materials and methods. An examination of six bioprosthetic heart valves (KemCor and PeriCor) extracted from mitral position due to the structural valve deterioration was performed. The structure of BHV leaflets was studied by hematoxylin – eosin staining and immunohistochemistry assay (with the following indicators – CD3, T lymphocytes; CD20, B lymphocytes; CD31, mature endothelial cells; CD34, endothelial progenitor cells; CD68, monocytes/macrophages; vimentin, mesenchymal cells; α-smooth muscle actin, vascular smooth muscle cells).Results. The degree of disruption of BHV leaflets in primary tissue failure differed significantly: relatively intact samples with the intact endothelial monolayer, areas with impairment of the surface layers (minimal and moderate damage) and areas with the spread of destruction into the extracellular matrix of the leaflet (expressed degeneration) were determined. Endothelial cells (monolayer with preserved or impaired integrity), macrophages, smooth muscle cells and other mesenchymal lineage cells were identified in BHV. T- and B-lymphocytes were not detected in the BHV leaflets. Conclusions. A characteristic feature of structurally deteriorated BHVs is impairment of endothelial monolayer integrity in areas of degraded extracellular matrix. In contrast to other types of bioprosthetic dysfunctions, structural valve deterioration was characterized by the absence of lymphocyte infiltration. Therefore, we suppose that endothelial mololayer injury is a trigger of structural BHV deterioration.Цель – морфологическое исследование поверхности и клеточного состава створок некальцинированных биопротезов клапанов сердца (БКС) с различной степенью их повреждения для  определения возможных механизмов развития первичной тканевой несостоятельности (ПТН).Материалы и методы. Исследовано шесть ксеноаортальных клапанов «КемКор» и «ПериКор», извлеченных из митральной позиции по причине развития ПТН. Структуру створок БКС и особенности ее изменения изучали гистологическим (окраска гематоксилин-эозином) и иммуногистохимическим методами. Иммуногистохимическое исследование БКС включало идентификацию маркеров: СD3 (Т-лимфоциты), СD20 (В- лимфоциты), СD31 и СD34 (эндотелиальные клетки), СD68 (моноциты/макрофаги), виментин (клетки мезенхимального ряда), α-гладкомышечный актин (гладкомышечные клетки).Результаты. Степень нарушения структуры створок БКС при ПТН существенно различалась: определялись  относительно сохранные образцы с интактным эндотелиальным монослоем на поверхности створки, образцы с минимальным или умеренным нарушением структуры эндотелиального слоя и образцы с выраженной деструкцией эндотелиального слоя створки БКС. В составе БКС были идентифицированы эндотелиальные клетки (монослой с сохраненной или нарушенной целостностью), макрофаги, гладкие миоциты и прочие клетки мезенхимального происхождения. Следует отметить, что нами не обнаружено Т- и B-лимфоцитов в створках БКС.Заключение. Характерным признаком структуры БКС, эксплантированных по причине ПТН, является нарушение целостности эндотелиального монослоя в участках дезинтеграции экстрацеллюлярного матрикса. Кроме того, в сравнении с другими типами протезных дисфункций ПТН отличается отсутствием лимфоцитарной инфильтрации. На основании полученных данных можно сделать вывод о триггерной роли дезинтеграции эндотелиального монослоя в развитии ПТН