bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Quality Genome Sequence of Bacillus vireti DSM 15602
T
for Setting Up Phylogenomics for the Genomic Taxonomy of
Bacillus
-Like Bacteria
Authors: Liu Guo-Hong , Liu Bo , Wang Jie-Ping , Che Jian-Mei , Chen Qian-Qian , Chen Zheng
Published: August 2015

Bacillus vireti
DSM 15602
T
is a Gram-negative, spore-forming, and facultatively anaerobic bacterium. Here, we report the 5.309-Mb draft genome sequence of
B. vireti
DSM 15602
T
, which will provide useful information for setting up phylogenomics for the genomic taxonomy of
Bacillus
-like bacteria, as well as for the functional gene mining and application of
B. vireti
.
Draft Genome Sequence of Corynebacterium striatum 1961 BR-RJ/09, a Multidrug-Susceptible Strain Isolated from the Urine of a Hospitalized 37-Year-Old Female Patient
Authors: Mattos-Guaraldi Ana L. , Guimarães Luis C. , Santos Carolina S. , Veras Adonney A. O. , Carneiro Adriana R. , Soares Siomar C. , Ramos Juliana N. , Souza Cassius , Vieira Veronica V. , Hirata Raphael , Azevedo Vasco , Pacheco Luis G. C. , Silva Artur , Ramos Rommel T. J.
Published: August 2015

Corynebacterium striatum
commonly colonizes the normal skin and nasopharyngeal tract of humans; however, this potentially pathogenic bacterium has been identified as the causative agent of several nosocomial infections. The current study describes the draft genome of strain 1961 BR-RJ/09, isolated from the urine of a hospitalized patient from Brazil.
Draft Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium bohemicum Strain DSM 44277
T
Authors: Asmar Shady , Phelippeau Michael , Robert Catherine , Croce Olivier , Drancourt Michel
Published: August 2015

The
Mycobacterium bohemicum
strain is a nontuberculosis species mainly responsible for pediatric cervical lymphadenitis. The draft genome of
M. bohemicum
DSM 44277
T
comprises 5,097,190 bp exhibiting a 68.64% G+C content, 4,840 protein-coding genes, and 75 predicted RNA genes.
Genome Sequence of the Acidophilic Sulfate-Reducing
Peptococcaceae
Strain CEB3
Authors: Petzsch Patrick , Poehlein Anja , Johnson D. Barrie , Daniel Rolf , Schlömann Michael , Mühling Martin
Published: August 2015

We report the draft genome of the
Peptococcaceae
strain CEB3 that originated from an acidic (pH 2.5) stream draining an abandoned copper mine. Strain CEB3 is one of the very few reported acidophilic sulfate-reducing isolates. The 5.04-Mb draft genome harbors 5,069 predicted protein-encoding and 66 RNA genes.
Comparing global and local calibration schemes from a differential split-sample test perspective
Authors: Gaborit Étienne , Ricard Simon , Lachance-Cloutier Simon , Anctil François , Turcotte Richard
Published: August 2015

This work explores the performances of the hydrologic model Hydrotel, applied to 36 catchments located in the Province of Quebec, Canada. A local calibration (each catchment taken individually) scheme and a global calibration (a single parameter set sought for all catchments) scheme are compared in a differential split-sample test perspective. Such a methodology is useful to gain insights on a model’s skills under different climatic conditions, in view of its use for climate change impact studies. The model was calibrated using both schemes on five non-continuous dry and cold years and then evaluated on five dissimilar humid and warm years. Results indicate that, as expected, local calibration leads to better performances than the global one. However, global calibration achieves satisfactory simulations while producing a better temporal robustness (i.e., model transposability to periods with different climatic conditions). Global calibration, in opposition to local calibration, thus imposes spatial consistency to the calibrated parameter values, while locally adjusted parameter sets can significantly vary from one catchment to another due to equifinality. It is hence stated that a global calibration scheme represents a good trade-off between local performance, temporal robustness, and the spatial consistency of parameter values, which is, for example, of interest in the context of ungauged catchments’ simulation, climate change impact studies, or even simply large-scale modeling.
Synthesizing parallel graph programs via automated planning
Authors: Prountzos Dimitrios , Manevich Roman , Pingali Keshav
Published: August 2015

We describe a system that uses automated planning to synthesize correct and efficient parallel graph programs from high-level algorithmic specifications. Automated planning allows us to use constraints to declaratively encode program transformations such as scheduling, implementation selection, and insertion of synchronization. Each plan emitted by the planner satisfies all constraints simultaneously, and corresponds to a composition of these transformations. In this way, we obtain an integrated compilation approach for a very challenging problem domain. We have used this system to synthesize parallel programs for four graph problems: triangle counting, maximal independent set computation, preflow-push maxflow, and connected components. Experiments on a variety of inputs show that the synthesized implementations perform competitively with hand-written, highly-tuned code.
Exploring and enforcing security guarantees via program dependence graphs
Authors: Johnson Andrew , Waye Lucas , Moore Scott , Chong Stephen
Published: August 2015

We present PIDGIN, a program analysis and understanding tool that enables the specification and enforcement of precise application-specific information security guarantees. PIDGIN also allows developers to interactively explore the information flows in their applications to develop policies and investigate counter-examples. PIDGIN combines program dependence graphs (PDGs), which precisely capture the information flows in a whole application, with a custom PDG query language. Queries express properties about the paths in the PDG; because paths in the PDG correspond to information flows in the application, queries can be used to specify global security policies. PIDGIN is scalable. Generating a PDG for a 330k line Java application takes 90 seconds, and checking a policy on that PDG takes under 14 seconds. The query language is expressive, supporting a large class of precise, application-specific security guarantees. Policies are separate from the code and do not interfere with testing or development, and can be used for security regression testing. We describe the design and implementation of PIDGIN and report on using it: (1) to explore information security guarantees in legacy programs; (2) to develop and modify security policies concurrently with application development; and (3) to develop policies based on known vulnerabilities.
Verdi: a framework for implementing and formally verifying distributed systems
Authors: Wilcox James R. , Woos Doug , Panchekha Pavel , Tatlock Zachary , Wang Xi , Ernst Michael D. , Anderson Thomas
Published: August 2015

Distributed systems are difficult to implement correctly because they must handle both concurrency and failures: machines may crash at arbitrary points and networks may reorder, drop, or duplicate packets. Further, their behavior is often too complex to permit exhaustive testing. Bugs in these systems have led to the loss of critical data and unacceptable service outages. We present Verdi, a framework for implementing and formally verifying distributed systems in Coq. Verdi formalizes various network semantics with different faults, and the developer chooses the most appropriate fault model when verifying their implementation. Furthermore, Verdi eases the verification burden by enabling the developer to first verify their system under an idealized fault model, then transfer the resulting correctness guarantees to a more realistic fault model without any additional proof burden. To demonstrate Verdi's utility, we present the first mechanically checked proof of linearizability of the Raft state machine replication algorithm, as well as verified implementations of a primary-backup replication system and a key-value store. These verified systems provide similar performance to unverified equivalents.
Mechanized verification of fine-grained concurrent programs
Authors: Sergey Ilya , Nanevski Aleksandar , Banerjee Anindya
Published: August 2015

Efficient concurrent programs and data structures rarely employ coarse-grained synchronization mechanisms (i.e., locks); instead, they implement custom synchronization patterns via fine-grained primitives, such as compare-and-swap. Due to sophisticated interference scenarios between threads, reasoning about such programs is challenging and error-prone, and can benefit from mechanization. In this paper, we present the first completely formalized framework for mechanized verification of full functional correctness of fine-grained concurrent programs. Our tool is based on the recently proposed program logic FCSL. It is implemented as an embedded DSL in the dependently-typed language of the Coq proof assistant, and is powerful enough to reason about programming features such as higher-order functions and local thread spawning. By incorporating a uniform concurrency model, based on state-transition systems and partial commutative monoids, FCSL makes it possible to build proofs about concurrent libraries in a thread-local, compositional way, thus facilitating scalability and reuse: libraries are verified just once, and their specifications are used ubiquitously in client-side reasoning. We illustrate the proof layout in FCSL by example, outline its infrastructure, and report on our experience of using FCSL to verify a number of concurrent algorithms and data structures.
Preventing glitches and short circuits in high-level self-timed chip specifications
Authors: Longfield Stephen , Nkounkou Brittany , Manohar Rajit , Tate Ross
Published: August 2015

Self-timed chip designs are commonly specified in a high-level message-passing language called CHP. This language is closely related to Hoare's CSP except it admits erroneous behavior due to the necessary limitations of efficient hardware implementations. For example, two processes sending on the same channel at the same time causes glitches and short circuits in the physical chip implementation. If a CHP program maintains certain invariants, such as only one process is sending on any given channel at a time, it can guarantee an error-free execution that behaves much like a CSP program would. In this paper, we present an inferable effect system for ensuring that these invariants hold, drawing from model-checking methodologies while exploiting language-usage patterns and domain-specific specializations to achieve efficiency. This analysis is sound, and is even complete for the common subset of CHP programs without data-sensitive synchronization. We have implemented the analysis and demonstrated that it scales to validate even microprocessors.
Helium: lifting high-performance stencil kernels from stripped x86 binaries to halide DSL code
Authors: Mendis Charith , Bosboom Jeffrey , Wu Kevin , Kamil Shoaib , Ragan-Kelley Jonathan , Paris Sylvain , Zhao Qin , Amarasinghe Saman
Published: August 2015

Highly optimized programs are prone to bit rot, where performance quickly becomes suboptimal in the face of new hardware and compiler techniques. In this paper we show how to automatically lift performance-critical stencil kernels from a stripped x86 binary and generate the corresponding code in the high-level domain-specific language Halide. Using Halide’s state-of-the-art optimizations targeting current hardware, we show that new optimized versions of these kernels can replace the originals to rejuvenate the application for newer hardware. The original optimized code for kernels in stripped binaries is nearly impossible to analyze statically. Instead, we rely on dynamic traces to regenerate the kernels. We perform buffer structure reconstruction to identify input, intermediate and output buffer shapes. We abstract from a forest of concrete dependency trees which contain absolute memory addresses to symbolic trees suitable for high-level code generation. This is done by canonicalizing trees, clustering them based on structure, inferring higher-dimensional buffer accesses and finally by solving a set of linear equations based on buffer accesses to lift them up to simple, high-level expressions. Helium can handle highly optimized, complex stencil kernels with input-dependent conditionals. We lift seven kernels from Adobe Photoshop giving a 75% performance improvement, four kernels from IrfanView, leading to 4.97× performance, and one stencil from the miniGMG multigrid benchmark netting a 4.25× improvement in performance. We manually rejuvenated Photoshop by replacing eleven of Photoshop’s filters with our lifted implementations, giving 1.12× speedup without affecting the user experience.
Automatic induction proofs of data-structures in imperative programs
Authors: Chu Duc-Hiep , Jaffar Joxan , Trinh Minh-Thai
Published: August 2015

We consider the problem of automated reasoning about dynamically manipulated data structures. Essential properties are encoded as predicates whose definitions are formalized via user-defined recursive rules. Traditionally, proving relationships between such properties is limited to the unfold-and-match (U+M) paradigm which employs systematic transformation steps of folding/unfolding the rules. A proof, using U+M, succeeds when we find a sequence of transformations that produces a final formula which is obviously provable by simply matching terms. Our contribution here is the addition of the fundamental principle of induction to this automated process. We first show that some proof obligations that are dynamically generated in the process can be used as induction hypotheses in the future, and then we show how to use these hypotheses in an induction step which generates a new proof obligation aside from those obtained by using the fold/unfold operations. While the adding of induction is an obvious need in general, no automated method has managed to include this in a systematic and general way. The main reason for this is the problem of avoiding circular reasoning. We overcome this with a novel checking condition. In summary, our contribution is a proof method which – beyond U+M – performs automatic formula re-writing by treating previously encountered obligations in each proof path as possible induction hypotheses. In the practical evaluation part of this paper, we show how the commonly used technique of using unproven lemmas can be avoided, using realistic benchmarks. This not only removes the current burden of coming up with the appropriate lemmas, but also significantly boosts up the verification process, since lemma applications, coupled with unfolding, often induce a large search space. In the end, our method can automatically reason about a new class of formulas arising from practical program verification.
DAG inlining: a decision procedure for reachability-modulo-theories in hierarchical programs
Authors: Lal Akash , Qadeer Shaz
Published: August 2015

A hierarchical program is one with multiple procedures but no loops or recursion. This paper studies the problem of deciding reachability queries in hierarchical programs where individual statements can be encoded in a decidable logic (say in SMT). This problem is fundamental to verification and most directly applicable to doing bounded reachability in programs, i.e., reachability under a bound on the number of loop iterations and recursive calls. The usual method of deciding reachability in hierarchical programs is to first inline all procedures and then do reachability on the resulting single-procedure program. Such inlining unfolds the call graph of the program to a tree and may lead to an exponential increase in the size of the program. We design and evaluate a method called DAG inlining that unfolds the call graph to a directed acyclic graph (DAG) instead of a tree by sharing the bodies of procedures at certain points during inlining. DAG inlining can produce much more compact representations than tree inlining. Empirically, we show that it leads to significant improvements in the running time of a state-of-the-art verifier.
Loop and data transformations for sparse matrix code
Authors: Venkat Anand , Hall Mary , Strout Michelle
Published: August 2015

This paper introduces three new compiler transformations for representing and transforming sparse matrix computations and their data representations. In cooperation with run-time inspection, our compiler derives transformed matrix representations and associated transformed code to implement a variety of representations targeting different architecture platforms. This systematic approach to combining code and data transformations on sparse computations, which extends a polyhedral transformation and code generation framework, permits the compiler to compose these transformations with other transformations to generate code that is on average within 5% and often exceeds manually-tuned, high-performance sparse matrix libraries CUSP and OSKI. Additionally, the compiler-generated inspector codes are on average 1.5 faster than OSKI and perform comparably to CUSP, respectively.
Obesity and intestinal epithelial deletion of the insulin receptor, but not the IGF 1 receptor, affect radiation-induced apoptosis in colon
Authors: Santoro M. Agostina , Blue R. Eric , Andres Sarah F. , Mah Amanda T. , Van Landeghem Laurianne , Lund P. Kay
Published: August 2015

Current views suggest that apoptosis eliminates genetically damaged cells that may otherwise form tumors. Prior human studies link elevated insulin and reduced apoptosis to risk of colorectal adenomas. We hypothesized that hyperinsulinemia associated with obesity would lead to reduced colon epithelial cell (CEC) apoptosis after radiation and that this effect would be altered by deletion of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 1 receptor (IGF1R) or the insulin receptor (IR). Mice with villin-Cre-mediated IGF1R or IR deletion in CECs and floxed littermates were fed a high-fat diet to induce obesity and hyperinsulinemia or control low-fat chow. Mice were exposed to 5-Gy abdominal radiation to induce DNA damage and euthanized 4 h later for evaluation of apoptosis by localization of cleaved caspase-3. Obese mice exhibited decreased apoptosis of genetically damaged CECs. IGF1R deletion did not affect CEC apoptosis in lean or obese animals. In contrast, IR loss increased CEC apoptosis in both diet groups but did not prevent antiapoptotic effects of obesity. Levels of p53 protein were significantly reduced in CECs of obese mice with intact IR but increased in both lean and obese mice without IR. Levels of mRNAs encoding proapoptotic Perp and the cell cycle inhibitor Cdkn1b/p27 were reduced in CECs of obese mice and increased in lean mice lacking IR. Together, our studies provide novel evidence for antiapoptotic roles of obesity and IR, but not IGF1R, in colonic epithelium after DNA damage. However, neither IR nor IGF1R deletion prevented a reduction in radiation-induced CEC apoptosis during obesity and hyperinsulinemia.
Neovascularization in the pulmonary endothelium is regulated by the endosome: Rab4-mediated trafficking and p18-dependent signaling
Authors: Chichger Havovi , Braza Julie , Duong Huetran , Stark Myranda , Harrington Elizabeth O.
Published: August 2015

Neovascularization, the formation of new blood vessels, requires multiple processes including vascular leak, migration, and adhesion. Endosomal proteins, such as Rabs, regulate trafficking of key signaling proteins involved in neovascularization. The novel endosome protein, p18, enhances vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin recycling from early endosome to cell junction to improve pulmonary endothelial barrier function. Since endothelial barrier integrity is vital in neovascularization, we sought to elucidate the role for endosome proteins p18 and Rab4, Rab7, and Rab9 in the process of vessel formation within the pulmonary vasculature. Overexpression of wild-type p18 (p18wt), but not the nonendosomal-binding mutant (p18N39), significantly increased lung microvascular endothelial cell migration, adhesion, and both in vitro and in vivo tube formation. Chemical inhibition of mTOR or p38 attenuated the proneovascularization role of p18wt. Similar to the effect of p18wt, overexpression of prorecycling wild-type (Rab4WT) and endosome-anchored (Rab4Q67L) Rab4 enhanced neovascularization processes, whereas molecular inhibition of Rab4, by using the nonendosomal-binding mutant (Rab4S22N) attenuated VEGF-induced neovascularization. Unlike p18, Rab4-induced neovascularization was independent of mTOR or p38 inhibition but was dependent on p18 expression. This study shows for the first time that neovascularization within the pulmonary vasculature is dependent on the prorecycling endocytic proteins Rab4 and p18.
Targeting the miR-221–222/PUMA/BAK/BAX Pathway Abrogates Dexamethasone Resistance in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Zhao Jian-Jun , Chu Zhang-Bo , Hu Yu , Lin Jianhong , Wang Zhongqiu , Jiang Meng , Chen Ming , Wang Xujun , Kang Yue , Zhou Yangsheng , Chonghaile Triona Ni , Johncilla Melanie E. , Tai Yu-Tzu , Cheng Jin Q. , Letai Antony , Munshi Nikhil C. , Anderson Kenneth C. , Carrasco Ruben D.
Published: August 2015

Despite recent therapeutic advances that have doubled the median survival time of patients with multiple myeloma, intratumor genetic heterogeneity contributes to disease progression and emergence of drug resistance. miRNAs are noncoding small RNAs that play important roles in the regulation of gene expression and have been implicated in cancer progression and drug resistance. We investigated the role of the miR-221–222 family in dexamethasone-induced drug resistance in multiple myeloma using the isogenic cell lines MM1R and MM1S, which represent models of resistance and sensitivity, respectively. Analysis of array comparative genome hybridization data revealed gain of chromosome X regions at band p11.3, wherein the miR-221–222 resides, in resistant MM1R cells but not in sensitive MM1S cells. DNA copy number gains in MM1R cells were associated with increased miR-221–222 expression and downregulation of p53-upregulated modulator of apoptosis (PUMA) as a likely proapoptotic target. We confirmed PUMA mRNA as a direct target of miR-221–222 in MM1S and MM1R cells by both gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies. In addition, miR-221–222 treatment rendered MM1S cells resistant to dexamethasone, whereas anti-miR-221–222 partially restored the dexamethasone sensitivity of MM1R cells. These studies have uncovered a role for miR-221–222 in multiple myeloma drug resistance and suggest a potential therapeutic role for inhibitors of miR-221–222 binding to PUMA mRNA as a means of overcoming dexamethasone resistance in patients. The clinical utility of this approach is predicated on the ability of antisense miR-221–222 to increase survival while reducing tumor burden and is strongly supported by the metastatic propensity of MM1R cells in preclinical mouse xenograft models of multiple myeloma. Moreover, our observation of increased levels of miR-221–222 with decreased PUMA expression in multiple myeloma cells from patients at relapse versus untreated controls suggests an even broader role for miR-221–222 in drug resistance and provides a rationale for the targeting of miR-221–222 as a means of improving patient outcomes. Cancer Res; 75(20); 4384–97. ©2015 AACR.
Carbonic Anhydrase Activity Monitored In Vivo by Hyperpolarized 13C-Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Demonstrates Its Importance for pH Regulation in Tumors
Authors: Gallagher Ferdia A. , Sladen Helen , Kettunen Mikko I. , Serrao Eva M. , Rodrigues Tiago B. , Wright Alan , Gill Andrew B. , McGuire Sarah , Booth Thomas C. , Boren Joan , McIntyre Alan , Miller Jodi L. , Lee Shen-Han , Honess Davina , Day Sam E. , Hu De-En , Howat William J. , Harris Adrian L. , Brindle Kevin M.
Published: August 2015

Carbonic anhydrase buffers tissue pH by catalyzing the rapid interconversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) and bicarbonate (HCO3−). We assessed the functional activity of CAIX in two colorectal tumor models, expressing different levels of the enzyme, by measuring the rate of exchange of hyperpolarized 13C label between bicarbonate (H13CO3−) and carbon dioxide (13CO2), following injection of hyperpolarized H13CO3−, using 13C-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C-MRS) magnetization transfer measurements. 31P-MRS measurements of the chemical shift of the pH probe, 3-aminopropylphosphonate, and 13C-MRS measurements of the H13CO3−/13CO2 peak intensity ratio showed that CAIX overexpression lowered extracellular pH in these tumors. However, the 13C measurements overestimated pH due to incomplete equilibration of the hyperpolarized 13C label between the H13CO3− and 13CO2 pools. Paradoxically, tumors overexpressing CAIX showed lower enzyme activity using magnetization transfer measurements, which can be explained by the more acidic extracellular pH in these tumors and the decreased activity of the enzyme at low pH. This explanation was confirmed by administration of bicarbonate in the drinking water, which elevated tumor extracellular pH and restored enzyme activity to control levels. These results suggest that CAIX expression is increased in hypoxia to compensate for the decrease in its activity produced by a low extracellular pH and supports the hypothesis that a major function of CAIX is to lower the extracellular pH. Cancer Res; 75(19); 4109–18. ©2015 AACR.
Shared Decision-Making, Control Preferences and Psychological Well-Being in Patients with RPE65 Deficiency Awaiting Experimental Gene Therapy
Authors: Nelles Monika , Stieger Knut , Preising Markus N. , Kruse Johannes , Lorenz Birgit
Published: August 2015

Purpose: Retinal gene therapy trials are currently ongoing in a small number of inherited retinal disorders and this number is expected to rise significantly. The aim of this study was to analyze the psychological aspects of patients with RPE65 deficiency awaiting potential enrollment in gene therapy trials. Methods: Five patients with genetically proven RPE65 deficiency took part in this study. They were asked to complete the German versions of (i) the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-D), (ii) the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ), (iii) the Shared Decision Making Questionnaire (PEF-FB-9), and (iv) the Autonomy Preference Index (API-Dm), and in addition they took part in qualitative interviews. Results: The evaluations of the questionnaires and the interviews showed that the patients have quite high information needs and wish to take part in medical decisions. The perspective to participate in gene therapy trials does not seem to cause pronounced worries. Only the insecurity about if and when enrollment in a trial takes place may be burdensome. Discussion: This study generated important data about the psychological situation of patients awaiting potential enrollment in clinical trials, which can be used to improve patient care in the increasing number of future gene therapy trials around the world.
Independent Risk Factors for Mortality in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Who Undergo Comprehensive Cardiac Evaluations
Authors: Ahn Young-Hwan , Lee Keu Sung , Park Joo Hun , Jung Jin-Hee , Lee Miyeon , Jung Yun-Jung , Chung Wou Young , Sheen Seungsoo , Park Kwang Joo , Kim Dae Jung , Kang Dae Ryoung , Lee Jeong-Dong , Yoon Soojee , Jin Xiong Jie , Yang Hyoung-Mo , Lim Hong-Seok , Park Jin Sun , Shin Joon-Han , Tahk Seung-Jea
Published: August 2015

Background: Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the impact of cardiovascular comorbidities on the prognosis of COPD is not well known. Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the effects of cardiovascular comorbidities on the prognosis of COPD. Methods: We enlisted 229 patients with COPD who underwent comprehensive cardiac evaluations including coronary angiography and echocardiography at Ajou University Hospital between January 2000 and December 2012. Survival analyses were performed in this retrospective cohort. Results: Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that COPD patients without left heart failure (mean survival = 12.5 ± 0.7 years) survived longer than COPD patients with left heart failure (mean survival = 6.7 ± 1.4 years; p = 0.003), and the survival period of nonanemic COPD patients (mean survival = 13.8 ± 0.8 years) was longer than that of anemic COPD patients (mean survival = 8.3 ± 0.8 years; p < 0.001). The survival period in COPD with coronary artery disease (CAD; mean survival = 11.37 ± 0.64 years) was not different from that in COPD without CAD (mean survival = 11.98 ± 0.98 years; p = 0.703). According to a multivariate Cox regression model, a lower hemoglobin level, a lower left ventricular ejection fraction, and the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) were independently associated with higher mortality in the total COPD group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Hemoglobin levels and left ventricular ejection fraction along with a lower FEV1 were identified as independent risk factors for mortality in COPD patients who underwent comprehensive cardiac evaluations, suggesting that multidisciplinary approaches are required in the care of COPD.
Daisy, Oswald e o Processo Erosivo do Modernismo Brasileiro
Authors: Pasini Leandro
Published: August 2015

O objetivo deste ensaio é analisar e interpretar a figura de Maria de Lourdes Castro Pontes, a Daisy ou Miss Cyclone do diário coletivo O perfeito cozinheiro das almas deste mundo (1918), no pano de fundo da história do Modernismo brasileiro. Nesse sentido, essa autora-personagem torna-se portadora de especificidades subjetiva e estética que podem abrir novas perspectivas para a abordagem do Modernismo, bem como da obra e da figura de Oswald de Andrade. A hipótese que proponho é a de que a imagem incompleta e fragmentária que temos de Daisy equivale à da própria noção que temos do Modernismo brasileiro.
Vanguardia en doble página. Intervenciones del invencionismo argentino en la revista Joaquim
Authors: García María Amalia
Published: August 2015

La presente investigación estudia la intervención del grupo de artistas argentinos Asociación Arte Concreto-Invención en la revista Joaquim (1946-1948) de Curitiba. El objetivo de este trabajo apunta a rastrear el postulado internacionalista que involucró a los proyectos abstraccionistas argentinos y la recepción que dichas propuestas tuvieron en el ámbito brasileño. En esta línea, se busca comprender la articulación de estos nuevos proyectos con una trama regional preexistente y analizar quiebres y disputas con otros núcleos culturales argentino-brasileños.
Singin’ Alone (1982) nas trilhas da música gravada brasileira
Authors: Dias Marcia Tosta
Published: August 2015

O artigo traz para o foco o álbum Singin’ Alone, de Arnaldo Dias Baptista, lançado em 1982. Trata-se do álbum de estreia da gravadora independente Baratos Afins que está, desde então, em atividade na cidade de São Paulo e do segundo disco solo do artista, ex-integrante do grupo musical Mutantes. Singin’Alone surge de um intrincado conjunto de referencias sócio-históricas — as de ordem estética, de produção fonográfica, de formação de cenas culturais e musicais específicas como aquela que se fez do encontro da MPB com o rock, de consolidação da indústria cultural no país e da singular trajetória de um artista que nele atua. Como produto dessa atuação, o álbum expressa, enuncia e promove o início da produção fonográfica da gravadora Baratos Afins.
A formalização da derrota: sobre “Eles” e “A voz do morto”, de Caetano Veloso
Authors: Santos Daniela Vieira dos
Published: August 2015

Mediante o exame de duas canções de Caetano Veloso de fins da década de 1960 — “Eles” (1968) e “A voz do morto” (1968) —, pretendo compreender como elas revelam o luto aos preceitos caros à esquerda e à política cultural vinculada ao nacional-popular. Por fim, na descrição da crítica de Roberto Schwarz ao tropicalismo e a Caetano Veloso, demonstro como as questões percebidas pelo crítico dialético — por meio da análise do livro de memórias de Caetano Veloso — já estavam expressas no cancioneiro do artista em fins dos anos 1960.
Figurino docente
Authors: Faria Alessandra Ancona de , Albano Ana Angélica Medeiros
Published: August 2015

Este artigo relata uma investigação -formação, na qua l buscamos, pelo diálogo do teatro com a memória, perceber aspectos da docência muitas vezes ignorados nas ref lexões sobre as relações docente-discente — em especial, um deles: o “figurino” dos professores. Investigamos elementos da cena teatral, relacionando-os à docência. Buscamos evidenciar posturas assumidas pelos professores e possibilitar a reflexão e o questionamento sobre elas. O ponto de partida foram as lembranças dos sujeitos pesquisados em relação às roupas de seus professores. A partir da síntese das roupas lembradas individualmente, criou-se um figurino coletivo em grupo, após a experiência com exercícios teatrais e a ref lexão sobre qual imagem de professor gostariam de retratar. Este processo permitiu entrar em contato com aspectos significativos da docência, questioná-los e, em muitos casos, recriá-los.
Leukocyte Telomere Length and Risks of Incident Coronary Heart Disease and Mortality in a Racially Diverse Population of Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Carty Cara L. , Kooperberg Charles , Liu Jingmin , Herndon Megan , Assimes Themistocles , Hou Lifang , Kroenke Candyce H. , LaCroix Andrea Z. , Kimura Masayuki , Aviv Abraham , Reiner Alexander P.
Published: August 2015

Objective—

Telomeres are regions at the ends of chromosomes that maintain chromosomal structural integrity and genomic stability. In studies of mainly older, white populations, shorter leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is associated with cardiometabolic risk factors and increased risks of mortality and coronary heart disease (CHD). On average, African Americans (AfAm) have longer LTL than whites, but the LTL–CHD relationship in AfAm is unknown. We investigated the relationship of LTL with CHD and mortality among AfAm.

Approach and Results—

Using a case–cohort design, 1525 postmenopausal women (667 AfAm and 858 whites) from the Women’s Health Initiative had LTL measured in baseline blood samples by Southern blotting. CHD or mortality hazards ratios were estimated using race-stratified and risk factor–adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. There were 367 incident CHD (226 mortality) events in whites, whereas AfAm experienced 269 incident CHD (216 mortality) events during median follow-up of 13 years. Shorter LTL was associated with older age, current smoking, and white race/ethnicity. In whites, each 1 kilobase decrease in LTL was associated with 50% increased hazard of CHD, hazard ratio=1.50 (95% confidence interval, 1.08–2.10),
P
=0.017. There was no association between CHD and LTL in AfAm. White women with shorter LTL had higher risks of mortality. In contrast, shorter LTL was weakly associated with decreased mortality hazard in AfAm.

Conclusions—

As one of the largest prospective studies of LTL associations with incident CHD and mortality in a racially diverse sample, our study suggests differences in LTL associations with CHD and mortality between white and AfAm postmenopausal women.
Sepsis After Cardiac Surgery Early in Infancy and Adverse 4.5‐Year Neurocognitive Outcomes
Authors: Sidhu Naveen , Joffe Ari R. , Doughty Paul , Vatanpour Shabnam , Dinu Irina , Alton Gwen , Acton Bryan , Robertson Charlene M. T. ,   for the Western Canadian Complex Pediatric Therapies Follow‐up Program
Published: August 2015

Background

We aimed to determine whether sepsis is associated with neurocognitive outcomes 4.5 years after congenital heart disease surgery in early infancy.

Methods and Results

A secondary analysis from a prospective inception cohort included all children having congenital heart disease surgery done at ≤6 weeks of age with cardiopulmonary bypass at the Western Canadian referral center from 1996 to 2009. Follow‐up at the referral center determined the primary outcomes at 4.5 years with full‐scale, performance, and verbal intelligence quotients on the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence. Perioperative variables were collected prospectively, and confirmation of blood culture–positive sepsis was done retrospectively. Multiple linear regression models for neurocognitive outcomes and multiple Cox proportional hazards regression for mortality were determined. Sepsis occurred in 97 of 502 patients (19%) overall and in 76 of 396 survivors (19%) with 4.5‐year follow‐up. By 4.5 years, there were 91 (18%) deaths, and 396 of 411 survivors (96%) had follow‐up completed. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was associated with worse scores on all neurocognitive outcomes on multivariable regression; the association between extracorporeal membrane oxygenation and full‐scale intelligence quotient had a regression coefficient of −13.6 (95%
CI
−21.3 to −5.9;
P
=0.001). Sepsis perioperatively was associated with performance and verbal intelligence quotients, with a trend for full‐scale intelligence quotient (
P
=0.058) on multivariable regression. The regression coefficient for sepsis was strongest for performance intelligence quotient (−5.31; 95%
CI
−9.84 to −0.78;
P
=0.022). Sepsis was not but extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was associated with mortality by 4.5 years.

Conclusions

Perioperative sepsis and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation were associated with adverse neurocognitive outcomes on multivariable regression. Quality improvement to prevent sepsis has the potential to improve long‐term neurocognitive outcomes in infants after surgery for congenital heart disease.
Cost-Utility Analysis of Mechanical Thrombectomy Using Stent Retrievers in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Ganesalingam Jeban , Pizzo Elena , Morris Stephen , Sunderland Tom , Ames Diane , Lobotesis Kyriakos
Published: August 2015

Background and Purpose—

Recently, 5 randomized controlled trials demonstrated the benefit of endovascular therapy compared with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator in acute stroke. Economic evidence evaluating stent retrievers is limited. We compared the cost-effectiveness of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator alone versus mechanical thrombectomy and intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator as a bridging therapy in eligible patients in the UK National Health Service.

Methods—

A model-based cost-utility analysis was performed using a lifetime horizon. A Markov model was constructed and populated with probabilities, outcomes, and cost data from published sources, including 1-way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis.

Results—

Mechanical thrombectomy was more expensive than intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator, but it improved quality-adjusted life expectancy. The incremental cost per (quality-adjusted life year) gained of mechanical thrombectomy over a 20 year period was $11 651 (£7061). The probabilistic sensitivity analysis demonstrated that thrombectomy had a 100% probability of being cost-effective at the minimum willingness to pay for a quality-adjusted life year commonly used in United Kingdom.

Conclusions—

Although the upfront costs of thrombectomy are high, the potential quality-adjusted life year gains mean this intervention is cost-effective. This is an important factor for consideration in deciding whether to commission this intervention.
Recombinant ADAMTS 13 Attenuates Brain Injury After Intracerebral Hemorrhage
Authors: Cai Ping , Luo Haiyu , Xu Haochen , Zhu Ximin , Xu Wenfang , Dai Yiqin , Xiao Jin , Cao Yongliang , Zhao Yuwu , Zhao Bing-Qiao , Fan Wenying
Published: August 2015

Background and Purpose—

Inflammatory responses and blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction play important roles in brain injury after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The metalloprotease ADAMTS 13 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin type I motif, member 13) was shown to limit inflammatory responses through its proteolytic effects on von Willebrand factor. In the present study, we addressed the role of ADAMTS 13 after experimental ICH.

Methods—

ICH was induced in mice by intracerebral infusion of autologous blood. The peri-hematomal inflammatory responses, levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and intercellular adhesion molecule-1, pericyte coverage on brain capillaries, and BBB permeability were quantified at 24 hours. Functional outcomes, cerebral edema, and hemorrhagic lesion volume were quantified at day 3.

Results—

Treatment with recombinant ADAMTS 13 (rADAMTS 13) reduced the levels of chemokines and cytokines, myeloperoxidase activity, and microglia activation and neutrophil recruitment after ICH. rADAMTS 13 also decreased interleukin-6 expression in brain endothelial cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide, whereas recombinant von Willebrand factor reversed this effect. The anti-inflammatory effect of rADAMTS 13 was accompanied by reduced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and less activation of matrix metalloproteinase, enhanced pericyte coverage of brain microvessels, and attenuated BBB disruption. Furthermore, neutrophil depletion protected against BBB damage, and rADAMTS 13 treatment had no further beneficial effect. Finally, treatment of mice with rADAMTS 13 reduced cerebral edema and hemorrhagic lesion volume and improved neurological functions.

Conclusions—

Our findings reveal the importance of rADAMTS 13 in regulating pathological inflammation and BBB function and suggest that rADAMTS 13 may provide a new therapeutic strategy for ICH.
There are Two Sides to Every COIN
Authors: Ruzza Stefano
Published: August 2015

The capacity of Myanmar’s government to effectively rule and administer peripheral areas of the country has been challenged since independence by a vast array of non-state armed groups (NSAGs), and the country is home to the most long-lasting insurgencies still active today. The core interest of this article rests on analysing the degree of continuity and change in the strategy enacted by Myanmar’s government in order to counter, contain and re-absorb insurgencies in the wake of the recent liberalisation process. The government activity vis-à-vis insurgencies is assessed in two core dimensions: economic and military. The analysis is developed in diachronic perspective, spanning three key phases. The first, meant to provide the essential historical background and benchmark, is the post-1989 period, characterised by the implementation of the ceasefires. The other two focus on the current transition, splitting it into two (2008–2011 and 2011–2015), taking Thein Sein’s new peace plan as a turning point. Moving through these three phases the paper assesses how Myanmar’s government achieves a balance between military pressure and economic incentives in the face of three major insurgencies: in Shan state, versus various NSAGs; against the Kachin Independence Organisation (KIO); and against the Karen National Union (KNU).
A contribution to the taxonomy and phytogeography of Orobanche alba Steph. ex Willd. (Orobanchaceae)
Authors: Uhlich Holger , Kreutz C.A.J. , Rätzel Stefan
Published: August 2015

The authors present new knowledge on the biology and distribution of the poorly known Orobanche alba f. cuprea (= O. cuprea) and suggest its reclassification as a subspecies. Furthermore, the authors present recent data on biology and distribution of Orobanche alba subsp. xanthostigma. Distribution maps are shown for both taxa. Thymbra capitata and Thymus integer are recorded as new hosts for O. alba subsp. cuprea and Clinopodium vulgare s. l. for O. alba subsp. xanthostigma. Further information on the taxonomic assessment of other infraspecific taxa of O. alba are given as follows: O. alba f. maxima (= O. alba subsp. major) is promoted to the rank of variety based on a discovered earlier valid name; O. alba subsp. alba var. bidentata is rejected as an autonomous taxon and incorporated in the variability of the species.
Review of Nexosa Diakonoff in Vietnam, with a new species and a new subspecies, and transfer to the tribe Archipini (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae: Tortricinae: Archipini)
Authors: HEPPNER JOHN B. , BAE YANG-SEOP
Published: August 2015

The species of Nexosa Diakonoff, 1977 in Vietnam are reviewed: Nexosa hexaphala (Meyrick); Nexosa hexaphala tamdaoana Heppner & Bae, n. subsp.; and Nexosa tonkinensis Heppner & Bae, n. sp. The genus is transferred to the tribe Archipini (Tortricidae: Tortricinae).
Efficient and Accurate Computational Electromagnetics Approach to Precipitation Particle Scattering Analysis Based on Higher-Order Method of Moments Integral Equation Modeling
Authors: Chobanyan E. , Šekeljić N. J. , Manić A. B. , Ilić M. M. , Bringi V. N. , Notaroš B. M.
Published: August 2015

A new full-wave computational electromagnetics (CEM) approach to precipitation particle scattering analysis based primarily on a higher-order method of moments (MoM) for solving surface integral equations (SIEs) is proposed, as an alternative and addition to the conventionally used tools in this area. This is a well-established CEM approach that has not been applied, evaluated, discussed, or compared with other approaches in the scattering analysis of precipitation particles so far. Several characteristic examples of scattering from precipitation particles of various shapes demonstrate the capabilities and potential of the presented numerical methodology, and discuss its advantages over both discrete dipole approximation (DDA) and -matrix methods in cases considered. In particular, it is shown that the higher-order MoM-SIE approach is much faster, more accurate, and more robust than the DDA method, and much more general and versatile than the -matrix method. In addition, the paper illustrates problems with the convergence of the DDA method in some cases with high-contrast dielectric materials and large electrical sizes of particles and with the convergence of the -matrix method in some cases with electrically large or geometrically complex (viz., with a large aspect ratio) particles. For simulations of continuously inhomogeneous scatterers (e.g., melting ice particles), a higher-order MoM volume integral equation (VIE) technique is used, as the study’s secondary methodology. The results also indicate the necessity for numerically rigorous and computationally efficient realistic precipitation particle modeling in weather scattering applications, which is becoming even more important as the sensor frequencies of radar/radiometric systems are increasing.
Assimilation of Tropical Cyclone Observations: Improving the Assimilation of TCVitals, Scatterometer Winds, and Dropwindsonde Observations
Authors: Holt Christina , Szunyogh Istvan , Gyarmati Gyorgyi , Leidner S. Mark , Hoffman Ross N.
Published: August 2015

The standard statistical model of data assimilation assumes that the background and observation errors are normally distributed, and the first- and second-order statistical moments of the two distributions are known or can be accurately estimated. Because these assumptions are never satisfied completely in practice, data assimilation schemes must be robust to errors in the underlying statistical model. This paper tests simple approaches to improving the robustness of data assimilation in tropical cyclone (TC) regions.

Analysis–forecast experiments are carried out with three types of data—Tropical Cyclone Vitals (TCVitals), DOTSTAR, and QuikSCAT—that are particularly relevant for TCs and with an ensemble-based data assimilation scheme that prepares a global analysis and a limited-area analysis in a TC basin simultaneously. The results of the experiments demonstrate that significant analysis and forecast improvements can be achieved for TCs that are category 1 and higher by improving the robustness of the data assimilation scheme.
Agriculture and biblical tradition in Jewett’s “A Dunnet Shepherdess”
Authors: Nossaman Lucas
Published: August 2015

Critics have yet to discuss adequately Sarah Orne Jewett’s Christianity as a source for her fiction. Jewett is best known for The Country of the Pointed Firs (1896), a series of sketches set in southern coastal Maine, but it is in a little-known tale, “A Dunnet Shepherdess,” that she explicitly reveals her characters’ biblical convictions, which are inspired by her own Congregational heritage. Through a shepherdess’s experience, Jewett indicates that her Dunnet Landing community is knit together by the biblical concern for practices of the earth.