Van Der Straeten Research Articles

Repeated cobalt and chromium ion measurements in patients with bilateral large-diameter head metal-on-metal ReCap-M2A-Magnum total hip replacement

Background and purpose — Whole-blood (WB) chromium (Cr) and cobalt (Co) measurements are vital in the follow-up of metal-on-metal total hip replacement (MoM THR) patients. We examined whether there is a substantial change in repeated WB, Co, and Cr levels in patients with bilateral ReCap-M2A-Magnum THR. We also specified the number of patients exceeding the safe upper limit (SUL) of WB Co and Cr in the repeated measurement.Patients and methods — We identified 141 patients with bilateral ReCap-M2A-Magnum THR operated in our institution. 61 patients had repeated WB metal ion measurements with bilateral MoM implants still in situ in the second measurement. The mean time elapsing from the first measurement (initial measurement) to the second (control measurement) was 1.9 years (SD = 0.6, range 0.2–3.5). We used earlier established SUL levels for bilateral implants by Van Der Straeten et al. (2013).Results — The median (range) Co and Cr values decreased in the repeated measurement from 2.7 (0.6–25) to 2.1 (0.5–21) and 2.6 (0.8–14) to 2.1 (0.5–18) respectively. In 13% of the patients Co levels exceeded the SUL in the initial measurement and the proportion remained constant, at 13%, in the repeated measurement. In 5% of the patients, Cr levels were above SUL in the initial measurement and an equal 5% in the control measurement.Interpretation — Repeated WB metal ion levels did not increase in patients with bilateral ReCap-M2A-Magnum THR with a mean 1.9-year measurement interval. Long-term development of WB metal ion levels is still unclear in these patients.

Translation and Validation of the German New Knee Society Scoring System.

In 2011 the Knee Society Score (KSS) was revised to include patient expectations, satisfaction, and physical activities as patient-reported outcomes. Since the new KSS has become a widely used method to evaluate patient status after TKA, we sought to translate and validate it for German-speaking populations. After translation of the new KSS into German using established guidelines, we sought to test the new German version for (1) validity; (2) responsiveness; and (3) reliability. The new KSS form was translated and adapted according to the available guidelines. The final version was used to validate the German version of the new KSS (GNKSS) in 133 patients undergoing TKA, of which 100 patients were included in the study as per inclusion criteria. Patients completed the GNKSS form along with the German WOMAC and the German SF-36 scores preoperatively and at the 2-year postoperative followup. Construct validity was tested by comparing domain scores of the GNKSS with domain scores of the German WOMAC and the SF-36. Responsiveness was evaluated by comparing pre- and postoperative scores in all questionnaires in all patients using standardized response means. To evaluate reliability, every second patient (n = 50) in the whole group was asked to complete the GNKSS form a second time 1 week after their 2-year followup; 39 patients responded. This sample group was considered representative after testing the difference among age, sex, body mass index, operation side, preoperative or postoperative GNKSS, and WOMAC scores with the original group. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were used to assess reliability and Cronbach's α was an indicator of internal consistency of each domain score. Construct validity was excellent pre- and postoperatively between the GNKSS and the WOMAC for domains including symptoms, satisfaction, total functional score, and total score and activity subdomains, except the expectation domain and advanced and discretionary subdomains of the GNKSS and the stiffness domain of WOMAC. The expectation domain showed either no significant correlation or only weak correlations with the domains of WOMAC pre- as well as postoperatively (r ranging between -0.19 and -0.34). Correlation of the function section of the GNKSS as well as the physical function and role-physical domains of the SF-36 pre- and postoperatively were moderate to strong, respectively, with statistically significant (p < 0.001) r values of 0.49 and 0.48 preoperatively and 0.73 and 0.65 postoperatively. Correlation of the symptom section of the GNKSS and bodily pain domain of the SF-36 was also strong pre- and postoperatively. Regarding responsiveness, all domains of the GNKSS showed large changes except the expectation domain. The symptom and functional sections of the GNKSS showed higher responsiveness than the corresponding pain and function domains of the WOMAC and bodily pain and physical function domains of the SF-36. Also, the total score changes were larger for the GNKSS compared with the WOMAC. No floor or ceiling effect was observed. Reliability was excellent with ICCs of 0.83 to 0.97 as an indicator of test-retest reliability and Cronbach's α values of 0.78 to 0.85 preoperatively and 0.92 to 0.94 postoperatively as an indicator of internal consistency for all domains and subdomains. The GNKSS is a valid, responsive, reliable, and consistent outcome measurement tool that may be used to evaluate the outcome of TKA. Level II, diagnostic study.

Book Reviews

Karine Van der Straeten of the Toulouse School of Economics and Institute for Advanced Study reviews “The Economics of Voting: Studies of Self-Interest, Bargaining, Duty and Rights,” by Dan Usher. The Econlit abstract of this book begins: “Examines four key terms in the economics of voting--self-interest, bargaining, duty, and rights--and presents the case that they are indispensable requirements for the maintenance of government by majority-rule voting. Discusses voting patterns; voting about the redistribution of income; determining how high the revenue-maximizing tax rate might be; bargaining and voting; bargaining unexplained; what a duty to vote is, exactly; an alternative explanation of the chance of casting a pivotal vote; the problem of equity; voting rights, property rights, and civil rights; assessing the citizen-candidate model; and the significance of the probabilistic voting theorem.”

Le Palais des Académies - une résidence urbaine offerte au Prince d’Orange par les Belges

The Palais des Académies – an Urban Residence Gift of the Belgians, to the Prince of Orange. The Palais des Académies, which stands next to the Royal Palace, was originally not devoted to house the Royal Academies of Belgium. It was erected between 1823 and 1828 as the urban residence of the Prince of Orange, United Kingdom of the Netherlands’s Crown Prince. It is usually assumed that the king would have built this building to expose his son as a sort of regent in Brussels, to symbolize the royal authority when he himself resided in The Hague. This is not the case, on the contrary. The palace was given to the prince by the States General / États Généraux against the will of his father, king William I. Officially the parliament made this gesture as a recognition for the heroic conduct of the prince at the battle of Waterloo. But in reality the representatives expressed by this exceptional act, the warm sympathy of the Belgian people for the crown prince, while aiming to establish him as a viceroy in Brussels, awaiting his accession to the throne. The design of the palace was entrusted to Charles Vander Straeten, a Brussels architect trained in the classicist spirit of J. N. L. Durand. He succeeded in incorporating the complex program into a rational and clear plan, expressed in a simple classicist architecture, typical of the late empire style. The interior of the palace was fundamentally transformed in 1860. It was restored in 1969-1976.

Maximum Entropy Rate Reconstruction of Markov Dynamics

We develop ideas proposed by Van der Straeten to extend maximum entropy principles to Markov chains. We focus in particular on the convergence of such estimates in order to explain how our approach makes possible the estimation of transition probabilities when only short samples are available, which opens the way to applications to non-stationary processes. The current work complements an earlier communication by providing numerical details, as well as a full derivation of the multi-constraint two-state and three-state maximum entropy transition matrices.

Thermal sensitivity of grapevine leaves affected by Plasmopara viticola and water stress

Introduction: There has been an increasing interest in using non-destructive thermal imagery to determine leaf temperature of plants. Leaf temperature has been proven as an indicator of plant responses to various stressors (CHAERLE and VAN DER STRAETEN 2000), in particular for plant water availability (JONES 1999). The theory is that a reduced stomatal aperture restricts transpiration and consequently heat dissipation, resulting in an increase in leaf temperature (GATES 1964). The recognition of variations in leaf temperature led to the combined efforts to use infrared thermography and visible imagery to identify plant stress and non-destructively monitoring of plant’s physiological status, particularly for plant water availability in grapevines (JONES et al. 2002, STOLL and JONES 2007) or in response to various pathogen attacks (CHAERLE et al. 2004, OERKE 2006). The research objective was to test whether infrared thermography could be used to distinguish between confined and infected versus non-infected areas upon attack by Plasmopara viticola in grapevine leaves under varying water status conditions.

Ethylene is all around.

Ethylene is all around.

African highlands as mammal diversity hotspots: new records ofLamottemys okuensisPetter, 1986 (Rodentia: Muridae) and other endemic rodents from Mt Oku, Cameroon

The Cameroon volcanic line (CVL), which represents a major topographical feature of Central Africa, is poorly known concerning its small-mammal biodiversity. Situated in the Bamenda-Banso highland plateau, Mt Oku is the second highest peak (3011 m) of the CVL after Mt Cameroon. Despite intensive cultivation and cattle grazing, especially in the Kilum-Idjim zone, Mt Oku has retained some relict mountain forests, which yielded many endemic small mammals. We conducted new taxonomic inventories for small mammals and present the results for rodents focussing on morphology and morphometry. We also present the skull characters and morphological variability of the Oku endemic genus Lamottemys Petter, 1986 and provide characters for the identification of other endemic species such as Otomys occidentalis Dieterlen & Van der Straeten, 1992, Praomys hartwigi Eisentraut, 1968, Paraxerus cooperi Hayman, 1950, Lophuromys dieterleni Verheyen, Hulselmans, Colyn & Hutterer, 1997 and Lemniscomys mittendorfi Eisentraut, 1968. We provide an update of the faunal list of Mt Oku and also include a revision of previous collections. We found an exceptional diversity of 26 rodent species, including two species never recorded before on Oku (Dendromus sp. Smith, 1829 and Funisciurus leucogenys F. Cuvier, 1842). A comparison with East African highlands and Mt Cameroon confirms the conservation importance of the West African mountains of the CVL as biodiversity hotspots.

Molecular Mechanisms of Ethylene–Auxin Interaction

During the century-long history of plant hormone research, the focus in this area has shifted from the original physiological experiments to molecular, genetic, biochemical, and, more recently, genomic approaches. During this journey, we have learned about the many effects these natural compounds have on plant growth and development at the morphological and molecular levels. We have also uncovered how these molecules are sensed by the plant cell and how they trigger signaling cascades that relay information to the nucleus, ultimately culminating in a transcriptional cascade.

Cobalt and Chromium Measurement in Patients with Metal Hip Prostheses

Approximately 1 million metal-on-metal (MoM)6 hip prostheses have been implanted worldwide to alleviate pain, restore hip function, and improve overall quality of life. These implants contain femoral and acetabular bearing surfaces that are typically composed predominantly of cobalt (Co) and chromium (Cr). Although the majority of MoM hip replacements have been successful, multiple recent reports have documented markedly increased Co and Cr concentrations in the joint synovial fluid, periprosthetic tissue, blood, and even peripheral tissues of some patients with MoM hip prostheses. Consequently, concerns have been raised about the physiological consequences of metal release from MoM hip prostheses into the periprosthetic tissue and systemic circulation. Co and Cr concentrations in the serum and hip joint fluid correlate with the degree of MoM implant wear and are increased in individuals with an accumulation of metal debris in the periprosthetic tissue. Therefore, some scientists have suggested that Co and Cr concentrations be routinely measured during the management of patients with MoM hip prostheses. In this Q&A article, 4 experts provide their opinions on the use of MoM hip prostheses, the adverse biological consequences of metal release, and the clinical utility of Co and Cr measurements. They also discuss the methodology used to assess the concentration of these metal ions and provide insight into the many challenges associated with Co and Cr measurement. What are the advantages of MoM hip prostheses over other types of implants? Catherine Van Der Straeten: MoM was reintroduced as a bearing surface for hip arthroplasty to solve the problem of particle-induced osteolysis secondary to polyethylene wear. In vitro hip-simulator studies demonstrated much less volumetric wear and much smaller particles with MoM compared to metal-on-polyethylene (MoP). This finding was confirmed in vivo with high-carbon alloy MoM 28-mm and 32-mm total hip arthroplasty (THA). The use of larger-diameter femoral …

Crystal Structure of Elongator Subcomplex Elp4–6

Elongator is a multiprotein complex composed of two subcomplexes, Elp1-3 and Elp4-6. Elongator is highly conserved between yeast and humans and plays an important role in RNA polymerase II-mediated transcriptional elongation and many other processes, including cytoskeleton organization, exocytosis, and tRNA modification. Here, we determined the crystal structure of the Elp4-6 subcomplex of yeast. The overall structure of Elp4-6 revealed that Elp6 acts as a bridge to assemble Elp4 and Elp5. Detailed structural and sequence analyses revealed that each subunit in the Elp4-6 subcomplex forms a RecA-ATPase-like fold, although it lacks the key sequence signature of ATPases. Site-directed mutagenesis and biochemical analyses indicated that the Elp4-6 subcomplex can assemble into a hexameric ring-shaped structure in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, GST pulldown assays showed that the ring-shaped assembly of the Elp4-6 subcomplex is important for its specific histone H3 binding. Our results may shed light on the substrate recognition and assembly of the holo-Elongator complex.

The effect of EU derogation strategies on the compliance costs of the nitrate directive

Within the framework of the nitrate directive, member states have the opportunity to apply for derogation, i.e. increasing fertilisation standards under certain conditions. Several EU regions have utilised this opportunity, but each in a different way, resulting in six very different derogation policies within the EU in 2009. This paper focuses on the differences between the policies applied and makes an assessment with regard to the impact of these differences on the application rate for derogation, the manure surplus and the cost of allocating manure. Based on the MP-MAS model described by Van der Straeten et al. (2010) the different scenarios are applied on a single case area (Flanders) and the economic effects have been simulated. Results show considerable differences between the policy alternatives, leading to the conclusion that member states not only have to focus on whether or not to allow derogation, but also on the actual details of the derogation policy. Granting derogation at parcel level (plot of land), instead of farm level, increases the potential effect of derogation; the level of increase in fertilisation standards under derogation determines the application rate for derogation: a higher increase leads to a higher application rate.

Plio‐Pleistocene history of West African Sudanian savanna and the phylogeography of the Praomys daltoni complex (Rodentia): the environment/geography/genetic interplay

Rodents of the Praomys daltoni complex are typical inhabitants of the Sudanian savanna ecosystem in western Africa and represent a suitable model for testing the effects of Quaternary climatic oscillations on extant genetic variation patterns. Phylogeographical analyses of mitochondrial DNA sequences (cytochrome b) across the distribution range of the complex revealed several well-defined clades that do not support the division of the clade into the two species currently recognized on the basis of morphology, i.e. P.daltoni (Thomas, 1892) and Praomys derooi (Van der Straeten & Verheyen 1978). The observed genetic structure fits the refuge hypothesis, suggesting that only a small number of populations repeatedly survived in distinct forest-savanna mosaic blocks during the arid phases of the Pleistocene, and then expanded again during moister periods. West African rivers may also have contributed to genetic differentiation, especially by forming barriers after secondary contact of expanding populations. The combination of three types of genetic markers (mtDNA sequences, microsatellite loci, cytogenetic data) provides evidence for the presence of up to three lineages, which most probably represent distinct biological species. Furthermore, incongruence between nuclear and mtDNA markers in some individuals unambiguously points towards a past introgression event. Our results highlight the importance of combining different molecular markers for an accurate interpretation of genetic data.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist to induce final oocyte maturation prevents the development of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in high-risk patients and leads to improved clinical outcomes compared with coasting

Ninety-four women undergoing IVF with peak E2 level>4000 pg/mL received leuprolide acetate (LA) trigger (LA trigger group) or had gonadotropins withheld for one or more days (coasting group) followed by hCG trigger, unless cycle cancellation occurred. There were no cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome in either group, and the LA trigger group had significantly more oocytes retrieved (26.9+/-9.5 vs. 17.7+/-9.3) P<0.001, more normally fertilized oocytes (15.0+/-7.8 vs. 10.3+/-6.3) P=0.01, and higher clinical and ongoing pregnancy rates than the coasting group (52.5% vs. 27.2%; 49.2% vs. 24.2%, P=0.02 for both comparisons, respectively).

Effect of uncertainty on farmers decision making: Case of animal manure use

Due to the high levels of manure application and the poor use efficiency of manure, the European agriculture is held responsible for a considerable negative impact on surface water quality (Langeveld et al., 2007). This problem has emerged particularly in Western-European countries such as the UK, Belgium, The Netherlands and Denmark, facing a large expansion and intensification process in the livestock production since the 1960s (Van der Straeten et al., 2008). Policy measures related to the application of manure on the land encompass two major measures: emission rights, understood as the amount of nutrients which can be applied on the land, differentiated by crop and the N spreading calendars, whereby the manure can only be applied when the crop needs nutrients. The fundamental aim of this pillar is to maximising application rate while avoiding overfertilisation. Maximizing the application rate is related to the economic sustainability of the agricultural sector, by altering the manure surplus, while avoiding overfertilisation is imperative in enhancing ecological sustainability, by preventing nitrate leaching to surface and soil waters. For nitrate policy to meet its target, the farmers should not exceed their emission rights, however make optimal use of their emission right for manure. Consequently, the successful implementation of sink-related measures will strongly depend of the absorptive capacity of farmers towards new ways of nutrient management in general and of animal manures in particular.

Novel mechanisms of ethylene-gibberellin crosstalk revealed by the gai eto2-1 double mutant

DELLA proteins have been shown to act as integrators of the signaling network controlling plant growth. In the January issue of New Phytologist (2008), we analyzed the gai eto2-1 double mutant and corresponding single mutants, with defects in the ethylene-biosynthesis and/or in the gibberellin (GA)-signaling cascade. This research revealed yet unknown modes of cross-talk between the ethylene and GA pathways. Two hypotheses have been put forward. Both essentially suggest the existence of reciprocal post-translational control of ethylene-GA crosstalk.Addendum to: De Grauwe L, Chaerle L, Dugardeyn J, Decat J, Rieu I, Vriezen WH, Baghour M, Moritz T, Beemster GT, Phillips AL, Harberd NP, Hedden P, Van Der Straeten D. Reduced gibberellin response affects ethylene biosynthesis and responsiveness in the Arabidopsis gai eto2-1 double mutant. New Phytologist 2008; 177:128-41.

Bollandistes saints et légendes: Quatre siècles de recherche (review)

Reviewed by: Bollandistes saints et légendes: Quatre siècles de recherche Mary Kathryn Cooney-Robinson Bollandistes saints et légendes: Quatre siècles de recherche. By Robert Godding, Bernard Joassart, Xavier Lequeux, François de Vriendt, and Joseph van der Straeten. (Brussels: Société des Bollandistes. 2007. Pp. iv, 179. €49,00. ISBN 978-2-873-65020-9.) Four hundred years ago, the Belgian Jesuit Heribert Rosweyde undertook one of the greatest feats of theological and historical scholarship since the Middle Ages. He planned a systematic investigation of the saints to provide the definitive account of their lives. His work would not merely be insipid hagiographies of clichéd supernatural feats and divine interventions, complete with angels' arias and golden, dinner-plate aureolae. Rather, he would research each saint in the manuscript collections of monastic libraries and provide a thorough account of the saint's life, deeds—both documented and legendary—feast-day celebrations, iconography, and controversies. At the time of his death, he had published little, but his idea did not die with him. Another Jesuit, Jean Bolland, assumed work on the project and founded the Bollandists, who would dedicate themselves to fulfilling Rosweyde's goal and serve as members of the oldest scientific society in Belgium. This album, written in honor of the 400th anniversary of Rosweyde's initial undertaking, commemorates the contributions of the Jesuit founders and their successors to history and the historiography of the saints. In the wake of the Reformation, the Tridentine Church sought to answer the criticisms of Protestants who accused Catholics of excess and idolatry in their devotion to the saints. Rosweyde and later Bolland wanted to defend the [End Page 751] saints by demonstrating that documentary evidence and tradition supported the cults of these exemplary men and women. As members of the new priestly order dedicated to intellectual rigor, they applied historical methodology and critical analysis to their work, collecting manuscripts, deciphering differing accounts, and dealing at times with a lack of information, even about revered saints. In the process, the Bollandists traveled throughout Europe collecting data and corresponding with the members of other orders, their fellow ecclesiastics, and the laity. This book provides not just the history of the Bollandists and their work but also some description of the interference and controversies that accompanied this project. From the beginning it had its critics. Because of the intensely personal devotion that some saints inspired, an academic analysis of their lives might not be welcomed. There also were the external events—such as the Napoleonic occupation of the Low Countries and the two world wars—that interrupted their work, but despite these events, a small number of individuals (only between two and five at any given period) continued the work of Rosweyde and Bolland, making the society one of the most prestigious scholarly organizations within the Church. This quadricentennial book briefly recounts the history of the Bollandists and also addresses the history of devotion to the saints in general. It highlights some of the chief accomplishments of this group of scholars and reproduces images from the Bollandists' extensive manuscript collection. Although this may not be the definitive work on the Bollandists or even the most academic, it provides a serviceable general overview and basic bibliography of the subject. As an illustrated commemorative volume, it succeeds in presenting a memorial and a history of the historians of the saints. Mary Kathryn Cooney-Robinson Lourdes College Sylvania, Ohio Copyright © 2008 The Catholic University of America Press

Racism, Xenophobia, and Distribution: Multi-Issue Politics in Advanced Democracies. By John E. Roemer, Woojin Lee, and Karine Van Der Straeten. Cambridge, MA: Russell Sage Foundation and Harvard University Press, 2007. 432p. $69.95.

Racism, Xenophobia, and Distribution: Multi-Issue Politics in Advanced Democracies. By John E. Roemer, Woojin Lee, and Karine Van Der Straeten. Cambridge, MA: Russell Sage Foundation and Harvard University Press, 2007. 432p. $69.95. - Volume 6 Issue 2

Blue Light Induces Radical Formation and Autophosphorylation in the Light-sensitive Domain of Chlamydomonas Cryptochrome

Cryptochromes are sensory blue light receptors mediating various responses in plants and animals. Studies on the mechanism of plant cryptochromes have been focused on the flowering plant Arabidopsis. In the genome of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a single plant cryptochrome, Chlamydomonas photolyase homologue 1 (CPH1), has been identified. The N-terminal 500 amino acids comprise the light-sensitive domain of CPH1 linked to a C-terminal extension of similar size. We have expressed the light-sensitive domain heterologously in Escherichia coli in high yield and purity. The 59-kDa protein bears exclusively flavin adenine dinucleotide in its oxidized state. Illumination with blue light induces formation of a neutral flavin radical with absorption maxima at 540 and 580 nm. The reaction proceeds aerobically even in the absence of an exogenous electron donor, which suggests that it reflects a physiological response. The process is completely reversible in the dark and exhibits a decay time constant of 200 s in the presence of oxygen. Binding of ATP strongly stabilizes the radical state after illumination and impedes the dark recovery. Thus, ATP binding has functional significance for plant cryptochromes and does not merely result from structural homology to DNA photolyase. The light-sensitive domain responds to illumination by an increase in phosphorylation. The autophosphorylation takes place although the protein is lacking its native C-terminal extension. This finding indicates that the extension is dispensable for autophosphorylation, despite the role it has been assigned in mediating signal transduction in Arabidopsis.

The expanding cell

The expanding cell