bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Block-sparse beamforming for spatially extended sources in a Bayesian formulation
Authors: Xenaki Angeliki , Fernandez-Grande Efren , Gerstoft Peter
Published: September 2016

Direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation refers to the localization of sound sources on an angular grid from noisy measurements of the associated wavefield with an array of sensors. For accurate localization, the number of angular look-directions is much larger than the number of sensors, hence, the problem is underdetermined and requires regularization. Traditional methods use an ℓ2-norm regularizer, which promotes minimum-power (smooth) solutions, while regularizing with ℓ1-norm promotes sparsity. Sparse signal reconstruction improves the resolution in DOA estimation in the presence of a few point sources, but cannot capture spatially extended sources. The DOA estimation problem is formulated in a Bayesian framework where regularization is imposed through prior information on the source spatial distribution which is then reconstructed as the maximum a posteriori estimate. A composite prior is introduced, which simultaneously promotes a piecewise constant profile and sparsity in the solution. Simulations and experimental measurements show that this choice of regularization provides high-resolution DOA estimation in a general framework, i.e., in the presence of spatially extended sources.
Endosomal Trafficking Defects Can Induce Calcium-Dependent Azole Tolerance in Candida albicans
Authors: Luna-Tapia Arturo , Tournu Hélène , Peters Tracy L. , Palmer Glen E.
Published: September 2016

The azole antifungals arrest fungal growth through inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis. We recently reported that a
Candida albicans
vps21
Δ/Δ mutant, deficient in membrane trafficking through the late endosome/prevacuolar compartment (PVC), continues to grow in the presence of the azoles despite the depletion of cellular ergosterol. Here, we report that the
vps21
Δ/Δ mutant exhibits less plasma membrane damage upon azole treatment than the wild type, as measured by the release of a cytoplasmic luciferase reporter into the culture supernatant. Our results also reveal that the
vps21
Δ/Δ mutant has abnormal levels of intracellular Ca
2+
and, in the presence of fluconazole, enhanced expression of a calcineurin-responsive
RTA2-GFP
reporter. Furthermore, the azole tolerance phenotype of the
vps21
Δ/Δ mutant is dependent upon both extracellular calcium levels and calcineurin activity. These findings underscore the importance of endosomal trafficking in determining the cellular consequences of azole treatment and indicate that this may occur through modulation of calcium- and calcineurin-dependent responses.
Pharmacokinetics of the New Hepatitis C Virus NS3 Protease Inhibitor Narlaprevir following Single-Dose Use with or without Ritonavir in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis
Authors: Isakov V. , Koloda D. , Tikhonova N. , Kikalishvili T. , Krasavina E. , Lekishvili K. , Malaya I. , Ryska M. , Samsonov M. , Tolkacheva V.
Published: September 2016

In this study we sought to evaluate narlaprevir (NVR) pharmacokinetics (PK) after a single dose with or without ritonavir (RTV) in cirrhotic versus healthy subjects. NVR at 200 mg was administered to 8 healthy and 8 cirrhotic subjects, and NVR at 100 mg with RTV at 100 mg was administered to 8 healthy and 8 cirrhotic subjects. PK analysis was performed. The geometric mean maximum concentration of a drug in serum (
C
max
) and the area under the concentration-time curve from 0 to infinity (AUC
0–∞
) were 563.1 ng/ml and 4,701.8 ng · h/ml in cirrhotic patients versus 364.8 ng/ml and 1,917.1 ng · h/ml in healthy volunteers, respectively. The geometric mean ratios of the PK parameters of cirrhotic subjects to healthy volunteers were 1.54-fold (90% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05 to 2.27) for
C
max
and 2.45-fold (90% CI = 1.56 to 3.85) for AUC
0–∞
. The geometric mean
C
max
and AUC
0–∞
in cirrhotic and healthy subjects were similar: 1,225.7 ng/ml for
C
max
and 15,213.1 ng · h/ml for AUC
0–∞
in cirrhotic subjects and 1,178.9 ng/ml for
C
max
and 14,257.2 ng · h/ml for AUC
0–∞
in healthy volunteers. The corresponding geometric mean ratios were 1.04 (90% CI = 0.67 to 1.62) for
C
max
and 1.07 (90% CI = 0.72 to 1.58) for AUC
0–∞
. Higher exposures in cirrhotic subjects were safe and well tolerated. We found that NVR exposures after a 200-mg single dose were higher in cirrhotic subjects than in healthy subjects and that a 100-mg single dose of NVR boosted with RTV at 100 mg resulted in no significant PK differences between cirrhotic and healthy subjects.
Influenza A Virus Infection Predisposes Hosts to Secondary Infection with Different Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotypes with Similar Outcome but Serotype-Specific Manifestation
Authors: Sharma-Chawla Niharika , Sender Vicky , Kershaw Olivia , Gruber Achim D. , Volckmar Julia , Henriques-Normark Birgitta , Stegemann-Koniszewski Sabine , Bruder Dunja
Published: September 2016

Influenza A virus (IAV) and
Streptococcus pneumoniae
are major causes of respiratory tract infections, particularly during coinfection. The synergism between these two pathogens is characterized by a complex network of dysregulated immune responses, some of which last until recovery following IAV infection. Despite the high serotype diversity of
S. pneumoniae
and the serotype replacement observed since the introduction of conjugate vaccines, little is known about pneumococcal strain dependency in the enhanced susceptibility to severe secondary
S. pneumoniae
infection following IAV infection. Thus, we studied how preinfection with IAV alters host susceptibility to different
S. pneumoniae
strains with various degrees of invasiveness using a highly invasive serotype 4 strain, an invasive serotype 7F strain, and a carrier serotype 19F strain. A murine model of pneumococcal coinfection during the acute phase of IAV infection showed a significantly increased degree of pneumonia and mortality for all tested pneumococcal strains at otherwise sublethal doses. The incidence and kinetics of systemic dissemination, however, remained bacterial strain dependent. Furthermore, we observed strain-specific alterations in the pulmonary levels of alveolar macrophages, neutrophils, and inflammatory mediators ultimately affecting immunopathology. During the recovery phase following IAV infection, bacterial growth in the lungs and systemic dissemination were enhanced in a strain-dependent manner. Altogether, this study shows that acute IAV infection predisposes the host to lethal
S. pneumoniae
infection irrespective of the pneumococcal serotype, while the long-lasting synergism between IAV and
S. pneumoniae
is bacterial strain dependent. These results hold implications for developing tailored therapeutic treatment regimens for dual infections during future IAV outbreaks.
Progress toward the Development of a NEAT Protein Vaccine for Anthrax Disease
Authors: Balderas Miriam A. , Nguyen Chinh T. Q. , Terwilliger Austen , Keitel Wendy A. , Iniguez Angelina , Torres Rodrigo , Palacios Frederico , Goulding Celia W. , Maresso Anthony W.
Published: September 2016

Bacillus anthracis
is a sporulating Gram-positive bacterium that is the causative agent of anthrax and a potential weapon of bioterrorism. The U.S.-licensed anthrax vaccine is made from an incompletely characterized culture supernatant of a nonencapsulated, toxigenic strain (anthrax vaccine absorbed [AVA]) whose primary protective component is thought to be protective antigen (PA). AVA is effective in protecting animals and elicits toxin-neutralizing antibodies in humans, but enthusiasm is dampened by its undefined composition, multishot regimen, recommended boosters, and potential for adverse reactions. Improving next-generation anthrax vaccines is important to safeguard citizens and the military. Here, we report that vaccination with recombinant forms of a conserved domain (
nea
r-iron
t
ransporter [NEAT]), common in Gram-positive pathogens, elicits protection in a murine model of
B. anthracis
infection. Protection was observed with both Freund's and alum adjuvants, given subcutaneously and intramuscularly, respectively, with a mixed composite of NEATs. Protection correlated with an antibody response against the NEAT domains and a decrease in the numbers of bacteria in major organs. Anti-NEAT antibodies promote opsonophagocytosis of bacilli by alveolar macrophages. To guide the development of inactive and safe NEAT antigens, we also report the crystal structure of one of the NEAT domains (Hal) and identify critical residues mediating its heme-binding and acquisition activity. These results indicate that we should consider NEAT proteins in the development of an improved antianthrax vaccine.
Emergence of a Competence-Reducing Filamentous Phage from the Genome of Acinetobacter baylyi ADP1
Authors: Renda Brian A. , Chan Cindy , Parent Kristin N. , Barrick Jeffrey E.
Published: September 2016

Bacterial genomes commonly contain prophage sequences as a result of past infections with lysogenic phages. Many of these integrated viral sequences are believed to be cryptic, but prophage genes are sometimes coopted by the host, and some prophages may be reactivated to form infectious particles when cells are stressed or mutate. We found that a previously uncharacterized filamentous phage emerged from the genome of
Acinetobacter baylyi
ADP1 during a laboratory evolution experiment. This phage has a genetic organization similar to that of the
Vibrio cholerae
CTXϕ phage. The emergence of the ADP1 phage was associated with the evolution of reduced transformability in our experimental populations, so we named it the
c
ompetence-
r
educing
a
cinetobacter phage (CRAϕ). Knocking out ADP1 genes required for competence leads to resistance to CRAϕ infection. Although filamentous bacteriophages are known to target type IV pili, this is the first report of a phage that apparently uses a competence pilus as a receptor.
A. baylyi
may be especially susceptible to this route of infection because every cell is competent during normal growth, whereas competence is induced only under certain environmental conditions or in a subpopulation of cells in other bacterial species. It is possible that CRAϕ-like phages restrict horizontal gene transfer in nature by inhibiting the growth of naturally transformable strains. We also found that prophages with homology to CRAϕ exist in several strains of
Acinetobacter baumannii
. These CRAϕ-like
A. baumannii
prophages encode toxins similar to CTXϕ that might contribute to the virulence of this opportunistic multidrug-resistant pathogen.

IMPORTANCE
We observed the emergence of a novel filamentous phage (CRAϕ) from the genome of
Acinetobacter baylyi
ADP1 during a long-term laboratory evolution experiment. CRAϕ is the first bacteriophage reported to require the molecular machinery involved in the uptake of environmental DNA for infection. Reactivation and evolution of CRAϕ reduced the potential for horizontal transfer of genes via natural transformation in our experiment. Risk of infection by similar phages may limit the expression and maintenance of bacterial competence in nature. The closest studied relative of CRAϕ is the
Vibrio cholerae
CTXϕ phage. Variants of CRAϕ are found in the genomes of
Acinetobacter baumannii
strains, and it is possible that phage-encoded toxins contribute to the virulence of this opportunistic multidrug-resistant pathogen.
Polycythaemia: an unusual presentation of multiple myeloma
Authors: Hutchison Elaine J , Taverna Josephine A , Yu Qi , Yeager Andrew M
Published: September 2016

In contrast to anaemia, polycythaemia is a distinctly uncommon finding in patients with multiple myeloma. We describe the presence of otherwise unexplained polycythaemia in a 57-year-old Caucasian man who was found to have IgG κ multiple myeloma. After treatment of myeloma, the polycythaemia resolved. We reviewed previous reports of polycythaemia associated with multiple myeloma and discuss potential pathophysiological mechanisms that link these 2 conditions.
Rare case of bilateral traumatic internal carotid artery dissection
Authors: Jenkins Joanne May , Norton Joel , Hampton Timothy , Weeks Robert
Published: September 2016

A 55-year-old man was working in a trench when the wall collapsed in on him, pinning him to the wall. On arrival in the emergency department the patient began reporting of right-sided headache. Neurological examination revealed left-sided reduced sensation with weakness. Whole-body CT scan showed right-sided flail chest and bilateral haemothorax as well as loss of flow and thinning of the distal right internal carotid artery (ICA) and loss of grey white matter differentiation in keeping with traumatic ICA dissection with a right middle cerebral artery (MCA) infarct. He was started on aspirin 300 mg once daily. 3 days postadmission the patient experienced worsening of vision and expressive dysphasia. CT angiogram showed bilateral ICA dissections extending from C2 to the skull base. The patient was managed conservatively in the stroke unit for infarction and was discharged home for follow-up in stroke clinic.
Association between liver enzymes and incident type 2 diabetes in Singapore Chinese men and women
Authors: Wang Ye-Li , Koh Woon-Puay , Yuan Jian-Min , Pan An
Published: September 2016

Aims

To assess the association between liver enzymes and the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a Chinese population.

Methods

A nested case–control study comprising 571 T2D cases and 571 matched controls was conducted within the Singapore Chinese Health Study. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were quantified in baseline plasma collected from them, while γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) was assayed among 255 T2D cases with baseline hemoglobin A1c <6.5% and 255 matched controls. Participants were free of diagnosed diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer at blood collections (1999–2004). Incident self-reported T2D cases were identified at follow-up II interview (2006–2010). Controls were matched to cases on age, sex, dialect group, and date of blood collection.

Results

Higher levels of ALT and GGT were significantly associated with increased risk of T2D (p for trend <0.001 for ALT, p for trend=0.03 for GGT), and the ORs (95% CIs) comparing highest versus lowest tertiles of ALT and GGT were 2.00 (1.01 to 3.96) and 2.38 (1.21 to 4.66), respectively. A null association was observed for AST, ALP, and LDH with T2D risk. Adding GGT (<23 vs ≥23 IU/L) or ALT (<21 vs ≥21 IU/L) to a prediction model resulted in significant gain in net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement of T2D prediction (all p<0.001).

Conclusions

Higher levels of GGT and ALT are associated with increased T2D risk. GGT ≥23 IU/L and ALT ≥21 IU/L may identify people at higher risk of developing T2D in this Chinese population.
Patterns and injuries associated with orbital wall fractures in elderly patients who visited the emergency room: a retrospective case–control study
Authors: Kim Youn-Jung , Ahn Shin , Seo Dong-Woo , Sohn Chang Hwan , Lee Hyung-Joo , Park In-June , Yang Dong-Jin , Ryoo Seung Mok , Kim Won Young , Lim Kyung Soo
Published: September 2016

Objectives

This study aimed to determine orbital wall fracture (OWF) patterns and associated facial injuries in elderly patients and compare them with those in their younger adult counterparts.

Design

A retrospective case–control study.

Setting

An emergency department of a university-affiliated hospital located in an urban area.

Participants

A total of 1378 adult patients with OWF diagnosed by CT from 1 January 2004 through 31 March 2014 were enrolled. Patients were categorised into elderly (≥65 years) and non-elderly (<65 years) groups.

Results

The elderly group (n=146) had a mean age of 74.0 years compared with 37.5 years in the non-elderly group (n=1232). Slipping was the most common cause of OWF in the elderly group (43.8%, p<0.001), whereas violence was the most common cause in the non-elderly group (37.3%, p<0.001). The lateral orbital wall was the more common site of fracture in the elderly group, and their injuries were more often associated with concurrent facial bone fractures, including the mandible, maxilla and zygoma, compared with the non-elderly group. After adjusting for sex and the mechanism of injury, inclusion in the elderly group was a significant risk factor for fracture of the lateral wall (OR 1.658; 95% CI 1.074 to 2.560) and concomitant facial bone fractures of the maxilla (OR 1.625; 95% CI 1.111 to 2.377) and zygoma (OR 1.670; 95% CI 1.126 to 2.475).

Conclusions

Elderly patients were vulnerable to facial trauma, and concurrent facial bone fracture associated with OWF was more commonly observed in this age group. Therefore, a high index of suspicion and thorough investigation, including CT, for OWF-associated facial bone fractures are important.
Identifying patients with advanced chronic conditions for a progressive palliative care approach: a cross-sectional study of prognostic indicators related to end-of-life trajectories
Authors: Amblàs-Novellas J , Murray S A , Espaulella J , Martori J C , Oller R , Martinez-Muñoz M , Molist N , Blay C , Gómez-Batiste X
Published: September 2016

Objectives

2 innovative concepts have lately been developed to radically improve the care of patients with advanced chronic conditions (PACC): early identification of palliative care (PC) needs and the 3 end-of-life trajectories in chronic illnesses (acute, intermittent and gradual dwindling). It is not clear (1) what indicators work best for this early identification and (2) if specific clinical indicators exist for each of these trajectories. The objectives of this study are to explore these 2 issues.

Setting

3 primary care services, an acute care hospital, an intermediate care centre and 4 nursing homes in a mixed urban–rural district in Barcelona, Spain.

Participants

782 patients (61.5% women) with a positive NECPAL CCOMS-ICO test, indicating they might benefit from a PC approach.

Outcome measures

The characteristics and distribution of the indicators of the NECPAL CCOMS-ICO tool are analysed with respect to the 3 trajectories and have been arranged by domain (functional, nutritional and cognitive status, emotional problems, geriatric syndromes, social vulnerability and others) and according to their static (severity) and dynamic (progression) properties.

Results

The common indicators associated with early end-of-life identification are functional (44.3%) and nutritional (30.7%) progression, emotional distress (21.9%) and geriatric syndromes (15.7% delirium, 11.2% falls). The rest of the indicators showed differences in the associations per illness trajectories (p<0.05). 48.2% of the total cohort was identified as advanced frailty patients with no advanced disease criteria.

Conclusions

Dynamic indicators are present in the 3 trajectories and are especially useful to identify PACC for a progressive PC approach purpose. Most of the other indicators are typically associated with a specific trajectory. These findings can help clinicians improve the identification of patients for a palliative approach.
Self-reported hypoglycaemia in patients with type 2 diabetes treated with insulin in the Hoorn Diabetes Care System Cohort, the Netherlands: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Rauh Simone P , Rutters Femke , Thorsted Brian L , Wolden Michael L , Nijpels Giel , van der Heijden Amber A W A , Walraven Iris , Elders Petra J , Heymans Martijn W , Dekker Jacqueline M
Published: September 2016

Background

Our aim was to study the prevalence of self-reported hypoglycaemic sensations and its association with mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) treated with insulin in usual care.

Methods

Demographics, clinical characteristics and mortality data were obtained from 1667 patients with T2D treated with insulin in the Hoorn Diabetes Care System Cohort (DCS), a prospective cohort study using clinical care data. Self-reported hypoglycaemic sensations were defined as either mild: events not requiring help; or severe: events requiring help from others (either medical assistance or assistance of others). The association between hypoglycaemic sensations and mortality was analysed using logistic regression analysis.

Results

At baseline, 981 patients (59%) reported no hypoglycaemic sensations in the past year, 612 (37%) reported only mild sensations and 74 (4%) reported severe hypoglycaemic sensations. During a median follow-up of 1.9 years, 98 patients (5.9%) died. Reporting only mild hypoglycaemic sensations was associated with a lower mortality risk (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.28 to 0.80), while reporting severe sensations was not significantly associated with mortality (OR 0.76, 95% CI 0.33 to 1.80), compared with reporting no hypoglycaemic sensations, and adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics. Sensitivity analyses showed an OR of 1.38 (95% CI 0.31 to 6.11) for patients reporting severe hypoglycaemic sensations requiring medical assistance.

Conclusions

Self-reported hypoglycaemic sensations are highly prevalent in our insulin-treated T2D population. Patients reporting hypoglycaemic sensations not requiring medical assistance did not have an increased risk of mortality, suggesting that these sensations are not an indicator of increased short-term mortality risk in patients with T2D.
Understanding and overcoming barriers to timely discharge from the pediatric units
Authors: Mustafa Amira , Mahgoub Samar
Published: September 2016

Delays in the discharge of hospital patients cause a backlog for new admissions from the Emergency Departments (ED), outpatient clinics, and transfers from the Intensive Care Units (ICU). A variety of initiatives have been reported on previously which aim to tackle this problem with variable success. In this quality improvement project, we aimed to increase the proportion of discharged patients who leave the paediatric unit by 12:00 Noon from 7% to 30% by May 2015.

A baseline discharge process map was studied to understand the possible causes of the delays. A survey was conducted to look for the most likely cause for the delay. A data collection tool was designed to record the various steps in the discharge process for the pre-and post-intervention phases. Using a series of PDSA cycles, interventions were introduced.

The average time for the discharge process was two hours and the baseline average percent of patients discharged by 12:00 Noon was 7% of all discharges. The leading cause for the delayed discharges was late orders by the physicians. Post-intervention, there was increase in the percentage of patients discharged by 12:00 Noon from 7% to 34%. 42% of discharged patients had appropriate reasons for afternoon discharge. By excluding these patients, the percentage of adjusted timely morning discharge has increased from 36% to 70%.

Continuous monitoring and engagement of teams with regular feedback were the most important factors in achieving and sustaining improvement in the timely morning discharge of patients from our paediatric units.
Improving the Diagnosis of Neonatal Hypoglycemia in a Well-Baby Nursery
Authors: Ly Eric , Alexander Jennifer , Akinmboni Temi , Woo Hyung , Driscoll Colleen
Published: September 2016

Point of care glucose (POCG) measurements, used for detecting neonatal hypoglycemia, can have variable accuracy. The appropriate diagnosis of neonatal hypoglycemia in babies with low POCG measurements involves confirmatory serum glucose (CSG) testing. At our institution, no babies with low POCG measurements had CSG testing in their evaluation of neonatal hypoglycemia over a three year period. Our aim was to increase the percentage of CSG testing in babies with a low POCG. A secondary aim was to decrease the percentage of low-risk, asymptomatic babies who received POCG testing. Interventions included the design and implementation of an evidence-based protocol for the diagnosis and management of neonatal hypoglycemia (cycle 1), along with supportive education for multi-disciplinary providers on best practices related to neonatal hypoglycemia (cycle 2). Data were analyzed using statistical process control. During Cycle 1, the percentage of CSG testing in babies with POCG ≤40 mg/dL significantly increased from 0 to 33%, and increased further to 63% during Cycle 2. The initial gain was sustained over 2 years. The percentage of POCG testing among low-risk asymptomatic babies was 40% at baseline and did not change during the project period. 18 babies with low POCG results were spared from a diagnosis of neonatal hypoglycemia based on CSG testing. Implementation of a neonatal hypoglycemia protocol, along with supportive education, significantly improved rates of CSG testing, but not POCG overutilization, in our newborn population. Factors related to POCG overutilization should be further explored.
Outcomes and characteristics of non-immobilised, spine-injured trauma patients: a systematic review of prehospital selective immobilisation protocols
Authors: McDonald Neil E , Curran-Sills Gwynn , Thomas Roger E
Published: September 2016

Objectives

This review assesses prehospital selective immobilisation protocols across a range of outcomes, including neurological deterioration and characteristics of injured, non-immobilised patients.

Methods

Six electronic reference databases and eight grey literature sources were systematically searched. We included studies that enrolled acute trauma patients in the prehospital setting who were assessed for spine injury according to predefined clinical criteria and either immobilised or not. Data items included instances of neurological deterioration among patients with spine injuries, as well as available characteristics of those who were injured and not immobilised. Available data and study heterogeneity prevented meta-analyses. Bias was assessed for both individual studies and across studies by outcome.

Results

604 unique articles were retrieved, of which 7 met inclusion criteria. There was moderate or high risk of bias across studies in all outcomes. Of 76 patients with spine injuries who were not immobilised, 72 had no neurological deficit that appeared after emergency medical services contact, and the remaining four were not followed. Within this group, there appears to be a trend towards elderly patients who suffered a thoracic or lumbar injury from a low-risk mechanism of injury. Among studies that report both the results of the protocol assessment and immobilisation status, there is variable correspondence between the two.

Conclusions

Data limitations and study biases suggest caution when interpreting and applying the results of this review. Its findings are consistent with the conclusions of individual studies. The characteristics of injured, non-immobilised patients point to areas of future research to investigate apparent trends.
Prognostic significance of Claudin 12 in estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer
Authors: Iravani Omid , Yip George Wai-Cheong , Thike Aye Aye , Chua Pei Jou , Jane Scully Olivia , Tan Puay-Hoon , Bay Boon-Huat
Published: September 2016

Aims

Altered expression of the Claudin (CLDN) superfamily of tight junction proteins has been reported in breast cancer. The aim of this study was to examine the immunohistochemical expression of CLDN 12 and its prognostic significance in breast cancer tissues.

Methods

Immunohistochemical expression of CLDN 12 was performed on tissue microarrays consisting of 232 cases of breast carcinoma and correlated with clinicopathological features as well as survival of the patients with breast cancer.

Results

For the estrogen receptor (ER)-negative subgroup of patients with breast cancer, CLDN 12 expression was shown to be an independent predictor of poor overall survival (HR=2.345; p=0.020) and disease-free survival (HR=2.177; p=0.026) but not for the ER-positive tumours.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that CLDN 12 expression could be clinically useful for predicting the survival of the ER-negative subgroup of patients with breast cancer.
Survey of UK‐based veterinary surgeons' opinions on the use of surgery and chemotherapy in the treatment of canine high‐grade mast cell tumour, splenic haemangiosarcoma and appendicular osteosarcoma
Authors: Barker D. A. , Foale R. D. , Holmes M. A. , Demetriou J. L.
Published: September 2016

The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of recommendation of adjuvant chemotherapy by UK‐based general veterinary practitioners (GVPs) for canine patients with high‐grade mast cell tumours (HGMCTs), splenic haemangiosarcomas (SHSs) and appendicular osteosarcomas (AOSs); to determine which chemotherapeutic protocols are used by GVPs; and to evaluate reasons why chemotherapy may or may not be recommended postoperatively. An internet survey was created in 2013 using an online programme and was distributed to GVPs. Questions relating to the use of adjuvant chemotherapy for three tumours were selected. In total, 300 responses were generated. Surgery was seen as primary therapy by most GVPs for HGMCT (91 per cent) and SHS (88 per cent), but less frequently for AOS (59 per cent). Also, 90, 40 and 57 per cent of respondents recommended adjuvant chemotherapy for HGMCT, SHS and AOS, respectively. Of these, an appropriate chemotherapy protocol was not known by 25, 51 and 36 per cent of GVPs for HGMCT, SHS and AOS, respectively. From the GVPs not recommending chemotherapy, 29, 64 and 66 per cent did not believe chemotherapy to be efficacious for these tumours. The frequency of recommendation regarding postoperative chemotherapy is variable by tumour type. Reasons given why postoperative chemotherapy is not recommended also vary by tumour type.
A Fast Contention-Friendly Binary Search Tree
Authors: Crain Tyler , Gramoli Vincent , Raynal Michel
Published: September 2016

This paper presents a fast concurrent binary search tree algorithm. To achieve high performance under contention, the algorithm divides update operations within an eager abstract access that returns rapidly for efficiency reason and a lazy structural adaptation that may be postponed to diminish contention. To achieve high performance under read-only workloads, it features a rebalancing mechanism and guarantees that read-only operations searching for an element execute lock-free.

We evaluate the contention-friendly binary search tree using Synchrobench, a benchmark suite to compare synchronization techniques. More specifically, we compare its performance against five state-of-the-art binary search trees that use locks, transactions or compare-and-swap for synchronization on Intel Xeon, AMD Opteron and Oracle SPARC. Our results show that our tree is more efficient than other trees and double the throughput of existing lock-based trees under high contention.
Would Urban–Rural Income Gap Affect Carbon Dioxide Emissions? Empirical Research Based on the Extended IPAT Model
Authors: HU Lei
Published: September 2016

At present, there’s no agreement on how income gap affects carbon dioxide emissions. In this study, the author takes an empirical test of the relationship between income gap and carbon dioxide emissions based on the extended IPAT model, using China’s provincial panel data of from 2000 to 2012. The conclusion supports Boyce’s point of view that excessive income gap between urban and rural areas leads to environmental degradation. Meanwhile, the study introduces the cross terms of urban–rural income gap ratio and energy efficiency, and finds that excessive income gap would be an obstacle for China to achieve energy conservation and emission reduction by improving energy efficiency. Therefore, while promoting actions to climate change, energy conservation and emission reduction, governments should also narrow urban–rural income gap besides relying on the restrictions of relevant laws and regulations.
The MIT Museum Glassware Prototype
Authors: Mason Marco
Published: September 2016

With the growth of enthusiasm for the adoption of wearable technology in everyday life, the museum world has also become interested in understanding whether and how to employ smart glasses to engage visitors with new interpretative experiences. The growing interest in wearable technology encourages experimentation with smart glasses, as this trend is going to influence digital media interpretation for museums in the near future. To explore the use of smart glasses in the museum, a Glassware prototype was designed and tested through a field experiment that took place at the Robotics Gallery at the MIT Museum. During the experiment, I observed and then interviewed participants. Finally, I analysed the data following a qualitative research approach. The findings of this study have to be seen as an initial contribution to the design of latest generation of smart glass apps, providing reflections for further studies and projects.
Pattern Matching and the Analysis of Damaged Ancient Objects
Authors: Sapirstein Philip , Psota Eric
Published: September 2016

We describe a common problem in the curation and analysis of archaeological materials: restoring the orientation and dimensions of damaged objects. Our focus is a common architectural type in Mediterranean sites, the Doric column drum, which we investigate at one of the earliest Doric temples in the Greek world, the Hera temple at Olympia. The 3D modeling and analysis of this building by the Digital Architecture Project since 2013 has revealed new insights into the construction history of its stone colonnades. This paper concerns the analysis of the 3D models of the
in situ
material, using the almost 100 fallen drums and capitals to reconstruct the colonnade digitally. In order to accomplish this, we propose two novel methods for training the machine to estimate the dimensions of a fragmentary column drum. One approach is a modification of ICP, where the fragment is compared to an ideal model of an intact drum, which is resized iteratively until concluding with a satisfactory fit. Another approach recasts the scan data into polar coordinates and uses RANSAC to identify the exterior profiles of the piece and remove points likely to belong to damaged areas. The filtered points are then examined by the algorithm to estimate the radii and taper of the drum. Besides saving a great deal of time in the field, these methods are also accurate to within 0.2% of the total radius for well-preserved material, and 1% for even the most fragmentary drums at Olympia. These data have allowed the digital reconstruction of 80% of the displaced drums and all of the capitals from the temple. Our algorithms can be used to measure any fluted column drums, and we discuss the potential value of our approach for other categories of archaeological artifacts.
The Effects of Unemployment Insurance Benefits: New Evidence and Interpretation
Authors: Schmieder Johannes F. , von Wachter Till
Published: September 2016

The Great Recession has renewed interest in unemployment insurance (UI) programs around the world. At the same time, there have been important advances in both theory and measurement of UI. In this review, we first use the theory to present a unified treatment of the welfare effects of UI benefit levels and durations and derive convenient expressions of the full disincentive effect of UI. We then discuss recent estimates of the effect of UI benefit levels and durations on labor supply based on newly available administrative data and quasi-experimental research designs. Although our review of the new estimates confirms the range of negative labor supply effects of the previous literature, we show, based on the model, that these estimates are imperfect proxies for the actual disincentive effects. We also discuss several active areas of research on UI. These include the effect of UI on aggregate labor market outcomes, its effect on job outcomes, its long-term effects, its effects under nonstandard behavioral assumptions, and its interactions with other programs. We isolate several additional areas in need of further research, including estimates of the social value of UI, as well as the effects of UI in less developed countries.
Vibration Analysis of Aeroengine Blisk Structure Based on a Prestressed CMS Super-Element Method
Authors: Li Zhijun , Yang Wenjun , Yuan Huiqun
Published: September 2016

For vibration analysis of aeroengine blisk structure, a prestressed component modal synthesis (CMS) super-element method is put forward with the fixed interface prestressing and free interface super-element approach. Based on this method, natural vibration characteristics of blisk structure are calculated at different modal truncation numbers. Comparing with the accurate result of global method, the selection principle of modal truncation number is obtained which affects the accuracy of prestressed CMS super-element method. Vibration response of two-stage blisk structure is calculated by this method, and the effects of different blade aspect ratios have been discussed on vibration characteristics. The results show that prestressed CMS super-element method is in the high accuracy and efficiency on blisk vibration analysis. Resonant frequencies in vibration response are nearly the same between the first-stage blisk and the second-stage blisk, and they are both approximately located in the range 588 Hz–599 Hz. The maximum displacement and dynamic stress are at blade tip and root of the first-stage blisk, respectively. Blade aspect ratio is a key factor of blisk vibration; the effects of blade aspect ratio on natural frequencies are different in the conditions of fixed width and fixed length. This research provides the theoretical basis for dynamic design of aeroengine compressor rotor system.
Agroindustrial Wastes as Alternative for Lipase Production by Candida viswanathii under Solid-State Cultivation: Purification, Biochemical Properties, and Its Potential for Poultry Fat Hydrolysis
Authors: de Almeida Alex Fernando , Dias Kleydiane Braga , da Silva Ana Carolina Cerri , Terrasan César Rafael Fanchini , Tauk-Tornisielo Sâmia Maria , Carmona Eleonora Cano
Published: September 2016

The aims of this work were to establish improved conditions for lipase production by Candida viswanathii using agroindustrial wastes in solid-state cultivation and to purify and evaluate the application of this enzyme for poultry fat hydrolysis. Mixed wheat bran plus spent barley grain (1 : 1, w/w) supplemented with 25.0% (w/w) olive oil increased the lipase production to 322.4%, compared to the initial conditions. When olive oil was replaced by poultry fat, the highest lipase production found at 40% (w/w) was 31.43 U/gds. By selecting, yeast extract supplementation (3.5%, w/w), cultivation temperature (30°C), and substrate moisture (40%, w/v), lipase production reached 157.33 U/gds. Lipase was purified by hydrophobic interaction chromatography, presenting a molecular weight of 18.5 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE. The crude and purified enzyme showed optimum activity at pH 5.0 and 50°C and at pH 5.5 and 45°C, respectively. The estimated half-life at 50°C was of 23.5 h for crude lipase and 6.7 h at 40°C for purified lipase. Lipase presented high activity and stability in many organic solvents. Poultry fat hydrolysis was maximum at pH 4.0, reaching initial hydrolysis rate of 33.17 mmol/L/min. Thus, C. viswanathii lipase can be successfully produced by an economic and sustainable process and advantageously applied for poultry fat hydrolysis without an additional acidification step to recover the released fatty acids.
Chaos in Essentially Singular 3D Dynamical Systems with Two Quadratic Nonlinearities
Authors: Belozyorov Vasiliy
Published: September 2016

A new class of 3D autonomous quadratic systems, the dynamics of which demonstrate a chaotic behavior, is found. This class is a generalization of the well-known class of Lorenz-like systems. The existence conditions of limit cycles in systems of the mentioned class are found. In addition, it is shown that, with the change of the appropriate parameters of systems of the indicated class, chaotic attractors different from the Lorenz attractor can be generated (these attractors are the result of the cascade of limit cycles bifurcations). Examples are given.
Fe3O4/Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite: Synthesis and Its Application for Toxic Metal Ion Removal
Authors: Vuong Hoan Nguyen Thi , Anh Thu Nguyen Thi , Duc Hoang Van , Cuong Nguyen Duc , Quang Khieu Dinh , Vo Vien
Published: September 2016

The synthesis of reduced graphene oxide modified by magnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4/rGO) and its application for heavy metals removal were demonstrated. The obtained samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and magnetic measurement. The results showed that the obtained graphene oxide (GO) contains a small part of initial graphite as well as reduced oxide graphene. GO exhibits very high surface area in comparison with initial graphite. The morphology of Fe3O4/rGO consists of very fine spherical iron nanooxide particles in nanoscale. The formal kinetics and adsorption isotherms of As(V), Ni(II), and Pb(II) over obtained Fe3O4/rGO have been investigated. Fe3O4/rGO exhibits excellent heavy metal ions adsorption indicating that it is a potential adsorbent for water sources contaminated by heavy metals.
Employing Solid Phase Microextraction as Extraction Tool for Pesticide Residues in Traditional Medicinal Plants
Authors: Gondo Thamani T. , Obuseng Veronica C. , Mmualefe Lesego C. , Okatch Harriet
Published: September 2016

HS-SPME was optimised using blank plant sample for analysis of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) of varying polarities in selected medicinal plants obtained from northern part of Botswana, where OCPs such as DDT and endosulfan have been historically applied to control disease carrying vectors (mosquitos and tsetse fly). The optimised SPME parameters were used to isolate analytes from root samples of five medicinal plants obtained from Maun and Kasane, Botswana. The final analytes determination was done with a gas chromatograph equipped with GC-ECD and analyte was confirmed using electron ionisation mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Dieldrin was the only pesticide detected and confirmed with MS in theTerminalia sericeasample obtained from Kasane. The method was validated and the analyte recoveries ranged from69.58±7.20to113±15.44%, with RSDs ranging from 1.19 to 17.97%. The method indicated good linearity (R2>0.9900) in the range of 2 to 100 ng g−1. The method also proved to be sensitive with low limits of detection (LODs) ranging from0.48±0.16to1.50±0.50 ng g−1. It can be concluded that SPME was successfully utilized as a sampling and extraction tool for pesticides of diverse polarities in root samples of medicinal plants.
State-Dependent Impulsive Control Strategies for a Tumor-Immune Model
Authors: Kim Kwang Su , Cho Giphil , Nie Lin-Fei , Jung Il Hyo
Published: September 2016

Controlling the number of tumor cells leads us to expect more efficient strategies for treatment of tumor. Towards this goal, a tumor-immune model with state-dependent impulsive treatments is established. This model may give an efficient treatment schedule to control tumor’s abnormal growth. By using the Poincaré map and analogue of Poincaré criterion, some conditions for the existence and stability of a positive order-1 periodic solution of this model are obtained. Moreover, we carry out numerical simulations to illustrate the feasibility of our main results and compare fixed-time impulsive treatment effects with state-dependent impulsive treatment effects. The results of our simulations say that, in determining optimal treatment timing, the model with state-dependent impulsive control is more efficient than that with fixed-time impulsive control.
Interdisciplinary Management of Maxillary Canine Buccal Ectopia Associated with Peg Shaped Lateral Incisor
Authors: Singh Sawhny Karuna , Sawhny Asheesh
Published: September 2016

Aligning a displaced maxillary canine into the dental arch is one of the most complicated problems in orthodontics. In cases of extremely high displacement, the tooth is frequently removed surgically. Because of the upper canines’ significance to dental esthetics and functional occlusion, such a decision is a very serious one. The purpose of this report is to illustrate an interdisciplinary approach involving both orthodontic management and conservative tooth restoration. The case was treated through an orthodontic nonextraction fixed appliance mechanotherapy for successful alignment of buccally ectopic upper left canine followed by a conservative direct composite tooth buildup of peg lateral incisor associated with the upper left ectopic canine in a 16-year-old adolescent North Indian female. Posttreatment records demonstrated good alignment of the displaced tooth and restoration of normal anatomy of the peg shaped lateral incisor.
Concentration and Methylation of Cell-Free DNA from Blood Plasma as Diagnostic Markers of Renal Cancer
Authors: Skrypkina Inessa , Tsyba Liudmyla , Onyshchenko Kateryna , Morderer Dmytro , Kashparova Olena , Nikolaienko Oleksii , Panasenko Grigory , Vozianov Sergii , Romanenko Alina , Rynditch Alla
Published: September 2016

The critical point for successful treatment of cancer is diagnosis at early stages of tumor development. Cancer cell-specific methylated DNA has been found in the blood of cancer patients, indicating that cell-free DNA (cfDNA) circulating in the blood is a convenient tumor-associated DNA marker. Therefore methylated cfDNA can be used as a minimally invasive diagnostic marker. We analysed the concentration of plasma cfDNA and methylation of six tumor suppressor genes in samples of 27 patients with renal cancer and 15 healthy donors as controls. The cfDNA concentrations in samples from cancer patients and healthy donors was measured using two different methods, the SYBR Green I fluorescence test and quantitative real-time PCR. Both methods revealed a statistically significant increase of cfDNA concentrations in cancer patients. Hypermethylation on cfDNA was detected for theLRRC3B(74.1%),APC(51.9%),FHIT(55.6%), andRASSF1(62.9%) genes in patients with renal cancer. Promoter methylation ofVHLandITGA9genes was not found on cfDNA. Our results confirmed that the cfDNA level and methylation of CpG islands ofRASSF1A,FHIT, andAPCgenes in blood plasma can be used as noninvasive diagnostic markers of cancer.
Partially Purified Extracts of Sea AnemoneAnemonia viridisAffect the Growth and Viability of Selected Tumour Cell Lines
Authors: Bulati Matteo , Longo Alessandra , Masullo Tiziana , Vlah Sara , Bennici Carmelo , Bonura Angela , Salamone Monica , Tagliavia Marcello , Nicosia Aldo , Mazzola Salvatore , Colombo Paolo , Cuttitta Angela
Published: September 2016

In the last few years, marine species have been investigated for the presence of natural products with anticancer activity. Using reversed phase chromatography, low molecular weight proteins were fractionated from the sea anemoneAnemonia viridis. Four different fractions were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity by means of erythrocyte haemolysis test, MTS, and LDH assays. Finally, the antiproliferative activities of three of these fractions were studied on PC3, PLC/PRF/5, and A375 human cancer cell lines. Our analysis revealed that the four fractions showed different protein contents and diverse patterns of activity towards human PBMC and cancer cell lines. Interestingly, fractions III and IV exerted cytotoxic effects on human cells. Conversely, fractions I and II displayed very low toxic effects associated with antiproliferative activities on cancer cell lines.
Recurrence of Acute Page Kidney in a Renal Transplant Allograft
Authors: Kapoor Rajan , Zayas Carlos , Mulloy Laura , Jagadeesan Muralidharan
Published: September 2016

Acute Page Kidney (APK) phenomenon is a rare cause of secondary hypertension, mediated by activation of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Timely intervention is of great importance to prevent any end organ damage from hypertension. We present a unique case of three episodes of APK in the same renal transplant allograft.