bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In VivoAntistress and Antioxidant Effects of Fermented and Germinated Mung Bean
Authors: Yeap Swee Keong , Beh Boon Kee , Ali Norlaily Mohd , Mohd Yusof Hamidah , Ho Wan Yong , Koh Soo Peng , Alitheen Noorjahan Banu , Long Kamariah
Published: April 2014

Mung bean has been traditionally used to alleviate heat stress. This effect may be contributed by the presence of flavonoids andγ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). On the other hand, fermentation and germination have been practised to enhance the nutritional and antioxidant properties of certain food products. The main focus of current study was to compare the antistress effect of none-process, fermented and germinated mung bean extracts. Acute and chronic restraint stresses were observed to promote the elevation of serum biochemical markers including cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, liver enzymes, and glucose. Chronic cold restraint stress was observed to increase theadrenal gland weight, brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) level while reducing brain antioxidant enzyme level. However, these parameters were found reverted in mice treated with diazepam, high concentration of fermented mung bean and high concentration of germinated mung bean. Moreover, enhanced level of antioxidant on the chronic stress mice was observed in fermented and germinated mung bean treated groups. In comparison between germinated and fermented mung bean, fermented mung bean always showed better antistress and antioxidant effects throughout this study.
A Robust and Effective Smart-Card-Based Remote User Authentication Mechanism Using Hash Function
Authors: Das Ashok Kumar , Odelu Vanga , Goswami Adrijit
Published: April 2014

In a remote user authentication scheme, a remote server verifies whether a login user is genuine and trustworthy, and also for mutual authentication purpose a login user validates whether the remote server is genuine and trustworthy. Several remote user authentication schemes using the password, the biometrics, and the smart card have been proposed in the literature. However, most schemes proposed in the literature are either computationally expensive or insecure against several known attacks. In this paper, we aim to propose a new robust and effective password-based remote user authentication scheme using smart card. Our scheme is efficient, because our scheme uses only efficient one-way hash function and bitwise XOR operations. Through the rigorous informal and formal security analysis, we show that our scheme is secure against possible known attacks. We perform the simulation for the formal security analysis using the widely accepted AVISPA (Automated Validation Internet Security Protocols and Applications) tool to ensure that our scheme is secure against passive and active attacks. Furthermore, our scheme supports efficiently the password change phase always locally without contacting the remote server and correctly. In addition, our scheme performs significantly better than other existing schemes in terms of communication, computational overheads, security, and features provided by our scheme.
A Novel Use of Early Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Hyperbilirubinemia in a Patient with Primary Hepatic Lymphoma and Chronic Hepatitis C
Authors: Tammana Venkata S. , Begum Rehana , Oneal Patricia , Karpurapu Hemamalini , Muley Amruta , Yeruva Sri Lakshmi Hyndavi , Dunmore-Griffith Jacquelyn , Mekonen Eyasu , Hasan Nabhani
Published: April 2014

Lymphomas arising in the liver are extremely rare. Here, we describe a case of Hepatitis C virus infection with primary hepatic lymphoma (PHL) presenting with hyperbilirubinemia. A 45-year-old African American male presented with abdominal pain, pruritus, and itching for two days. CT of abdomen and pelvis with contrast showed numerous masses in the liver. The liver biopsy was consistent with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Conventional chemotherapy was avoided initially because of hyperbilirubinemia. Hence, radiation therapy was given initially to reduce his bilirubin levels and tumor size. The patient was able to complete six cycles of rituximab combined with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) chemotherapy and achieved a complete response verified by positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT). PHL should be considered when there are numerous space occupying liver lesions seen on imaging. Hyperbilirubinemia may be a reason for delay in treatment for some of these patients. Hence, the role of radiation therapy prior to treatment with R-CHOP is an alternative to management for stage IV diffuse large B cell lymphoma.
Gender Classification Based on Geometry Features of Palm Image
Authors: Wu Ming , Yuan Yubo
Published: April 2014

This paper presents a novel gender classification method based on geometry features of palm image which is simple, fast, and easy to handle. This gender classification method based on geometry features comprises two main attributes. The first one is feature extraction by image processing. The other one is classification system with polynomial smooth support vector machine (PSSVM). A total of 180 palm images were collected from 30 persons to verify the validity of the proposed gender classification approach and the results are satisfactory with classification rate over 85%. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed approach is feasible and effective in gender recognition.
Purulent Pericarditis after Liver Abscess: A Case Report
Authors: Fidalgo García María , Rodríguez Sanjuán Juan Carlos , Riaño Molleda María , González Andaluz Marta , Real Noval Hector , Gómez Fleitas Manuel
Published: April 2014

We present the case of a 49-year-old woman, with previous clinical antecedents of recent hepatic metastasis, who was admitted to the ICU due to respiratory failure and hemodynamic instability. She was found to have purulent pericarditis complicated by pericardial tamponade and pleural effusion, as well as surgical site infection, which was the origin of the disease. Cultures of the surgical wound and the pericardial effusion were positive forEnterococcus faecalisandEscherichia coli. A pericardial tap was performed and the intra-abdominal abscess was surgically drained. Pleural effusion was also evacuated. She received antibiotic treatment and recovered successfully. The only after-effect was a well-tolerated effusive-constrictive pericarditis.
Coronary Subclavian Steal Syndrome: An Unusual Cause of Angina in a Post-CABG Patient
Authors: Younus Usman , Abbott Brandon , Narasimha Deepika , Page Brian J.
Published: April 2014

Coronary subclavian steal syndrome is a rare complication of coronary artery bypass grafting surgery (CABG) when a left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft is utilized. This syndrome is characterized by retrograde flow from the LIMA to the left subclavian artery (SA) when a proximal left SA stenosis is present. We describe a unique case of an elderly male who underwent CABG 6 years ago who presented with prolonged chest pain, mildly elevated troponins, and unequal pulses in his arms. A CTA of the chest demonstrated a severely calcified occluded proximal left SA jeopardizing his LIMA graft. Subclavian angiography was performed with an attempt to revascularize the patient’s occluded left SA which was unsuccessful. We referred the patient for nuclear stress testing which demonstrated a moderate size area of anterior ischemia on imaging; the patient exercised to a fair exercise capacity of 7 METS with no chest pain and no ECG changes. Subsequent coronary angiography showed severe native three-vessel coronary artery disease with intermittent retrograde blood flow from the LIMA to the left SA distal to the occlusion, jeopardizing perfusion to the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery distribution. He declined further options for revascularization and was discharged with medical management.
Autoimmunity and Asbestos Exposure
Authors: Pfau Jean C. , Serve Kinta M. , Noonan Curtis W.
Published: April 2014

Despite a body of evidence supporting an association between asbestos exposure and autoantibodies indicative of systemic autoimmunity, such as antinuclear antibodies (ANA), a strong epidemiological link has never been made to specific autoimmune diseases. This is in contrast with another silicate dust, crystalline silica, for which there is considerable evidence linking exposure to diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Instead, the asbestos literature is heavily focused on cancer, including mesothelioma and pulmonary carcinoma. Possible contributing factors to the absence of a stronger epidemiological association between asbestos and autoimmune disease include (a) a lack of statistical power due to relatively small or diffuse exposure cohorts, (b) exposure misclassification, (c) latency of clinical disease, (d) mild or subclinical entities that remain undetected or masked by other pathologies, or (e) effects that are specific to certain fiber types, so that analyses on mixed exposures do not reach statistical significance. This review summarizes epidemiological, animal model, andin vitrodata related to asbestos exposures and autoimmunity. These combined data help build toward a better understanding of the fiber-associated factors contributing to immune dysfunction that may raise the risk of autoimmunity and the possible contribution to asbestos-related pulmonary disease.
Compact Circularly Polarized Multiband Antennas for RFID Applications
Authors: El Misilmani H. M. , Al-Husseini M. , Kabalan K. Y. , El-Hajj A.
Published: April 2014

This paper presents multiband circularly polarized (CP) antennas for radio frequency identification (RFID). A coax-fed and a microstrip-line-fed antennas having optimized cross-slots in their patches are first designed for dual-band CP operation. The microstrip-line-fed design is then modified, by incorporating a U-shaped slot in its partial ground plane, to achieve additional operation band with a CP characteristic. Simulation and measured results of the presented designs are reported. The measured results are in accordance with the computed ones. The compact size and CP property make these designs suitable for RFID applications.
Cholangiocarcinomas: New Insights from the Discovery of Stem Cell Niches in Peribiliary Glands of the Biliary Tree
Authors: Cardinale Vincenzo , Consiglia Bragazzi Maria , Carpino Guido , Torrice Alessia , Wang Yunfang , Reid Lola McAdams , Gaudio Eugenio , Alvaro Domenico
Published: April 2014

Peribiliary glands (PBGs) are located in the large intrahepatic and extrahepatic bile ducts. Although they were described many years ago, their functions have been elucidated only in the last couple of years when our group demonstrated that PBGs are niches of multipotent stem/progenitor cells of endodermal origin. These cells express genes of multipotency and can be rapidly differentiated in vitro into hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, and endocrine pancreatic cells. PBGs share common features, in terms of stem/progenitor cell niches, with pancreatic duct glands and colon crypts, glandular structures representing in the adult life the endodermal remnants of fetal life. PBG stem/progenitor cells participate in the renewal of surface biliary epithelium and are active players in chronic pathologies of the biliary tree as well as in cholangiocarcinomas (CCA). Specifically, a large amount of recent evidence indicates that the pure mucin-CCA originates from PBGs; this could explain the similarities with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and colorectal cancer, which also originate from transformed gland cells. In this paper, we summarized our recent findings concerning structure and functions of PBGs with the implications for liver pathophysiology and, specifically, for cancers of the biliary tree.
The Lattice of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Filters in Residuated Lattices
Authors: Ma Zhen Ming
Published: April 2014

The notion of tip-extended pair of intuitionistic fuzzy filters is introduced by which it is proved that the set of all intuitionistic fuzzy filters in a residuated lattice forms a bounded distributive lattice.
In VitroChronic Administration of ERbeta Selective Ligands and Prostate Cancer Cell Growth: Hypotheses on the Selective Role of 3beta-Adiol in AR-Positive RV1 Cells
Authors: Colciago Alessandra , Ruscica Massimiliano , Mornati Ornella , Piccolella Margherita , Montagnani-Marelli Marina , Eberini Ivano , Festuccia Claudio , Magni Paolo , Motta Marcella , Negri-Cesi Paola
Published: April 2014

Prostate cancer (PC) progression from androgen-dependent (AD) to castration-resistant (CR) disease is a process caused by modifications of different signal transduction pathways within tumor microenvironment. Reducing cell proliferation, estrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) is emerging as a potential target in PC chemoprevention. Among the known selective ERbeta ligands, 3beta-Adiol, the endogenous ligand in the prostate, has been proved to counteract PC progression. This study compares the effects of chronic exposure (1–12 weeks) to different ERbeta selective ligands (DPN, 8beta-VE2, 3beta-Adiol) on proliferation of human androgen-responsive CWR22Rv1 cells, representing an intermediate phenotype between the AD- and CR-PC. 3beta-Adiol (10 nM) is the sole ligand decreasing cell proliferation and increasing p21 levels.In vitrotranscriptional activity assays were performed to elucidate different behavior between 3beta-Adiol and the other ligands; in these experiments the endogenous and the main ERbeta subtype activation were considered. It is concluded that ERbeta activation has positive effects also in androgen-responsive PC. The underlying mechanisms are still to be clarified and may include the interplay among different ERbeta subtypes and the specific PC microenvironment. ERbeta agonists might be useful in counteracting PC progression, although the final outcome may depend upon the molecular pattern specific to each PC lesion.
Capacity of 60 GHz Wireless Communications Based on QAM
Authors: Wang Jingjing , Li Na , Shi Wei , Ma Yangyang , Liang Xiulong , Dong Xinli
Published: April 2014

With apparent advantages of the several GHz license-free spectrums, 10 W maximum transmit power, and so forth, 60 GHz wireless communication technology has become the first choice for Gbps level short-range wireless communications. This paper researches 60 GHz wireless communications over the additive white Gaussian noise channel. Channel capacity with quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) is investigated for the unlicensed 59–64 GHz radio spectrum set aside by FCC. Moreover, the capacity with QAM is compared to that with phase shift keying (PSK). It is shown that QAM is capable of providing Gbps data rate and outperforms PSK especially when the modulation order is large. The results prove that QAM is an attractive scheme for 60 GHz wireless communications.
Preparation of Starch/Gelatin Blend Microparticles by a Water-in-Oil Emulsion Method for Controlled Release Drug Delivery
Authors: Phromsopha Theeraphol , Baimark Yodthong
Published: April 2014

Information on the preparation and properties of starch/gelatin blend microparticles with and without crosslinking for drug delivery is presented. The blend microparticles were prepared by the water-in-oil emulsion solvent diffusion method. Glutaraldehyde and methylene blue were used as the crosslinker and the water-soluble drug model, respectively. The blend microparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The functional groups of the starch and gelatin blend matrices were determined from the FTIR spectra. Blend microparticles with a nearly spherical shape and internal porous structure were observed from SEM images. The average particle size of the gelatin microparticles depended on the crosslinker ratio but not on the starch/gelatin blend ratio. Thein vitrodrug release content significantly decreased as the crosslinker ratio increased and the starch blend ratio decreased. The results demonstrated that the starch/gelatin blend microparticles should be a useful controlled release delivery carrier for water-soluble drugs.
The Dynamic Mutation Characteristics of Thermonuclear Reaction in Tokamak
Authors: Li Jing , Quan Tingting , Zhang Wei , Deng Wei
Published: April 2014

The stability and bifurcations of multiple limit cycles for the physical model of thermonuclear reaction in Tokamak are investigated in this paper. The one-dimensional Ginzburg-Landau type perturbed diffusion equations for the density of the plasma and the radial electric field near the plasma edge in Tokamak are established. First, the equations are transformed to the average equations with the method of multiple scales and the average equations turn to be aZ2-symmetric perturbed polynomial Hamiltonian system of degree 5. Then, with the bifurcations theory and method of detection function, the qualitative behavior of the unperturbed system and the number of the limit cycles of the perturbed system for certain groups of parameter are analyzed. At last, the stability of the limit cycles is studied and the physical meaning of Tokamak equations under these parameter groups is given.
The Owen Value of Stochastic Cooperative Game
Authors: E Cheng-Guo , Li Quan-Lin , Li Shi-Yong
Published: April 2014

We consider stochastic cooperative game and give it the definition of the Owen value, which is obtained by extending the classical case. Then we provide explicit expression for the Owen value of the stochastic cooperative game and discuss its existence and uniqueness.
Robust Production Planning in Fashion Apparel Industry under Demand Uncertainty via Conditional Value at Risk
Authors: Ait-Alla Abderrahim , Teucke Michael , Lütjen Michael , Beheshti-Kashi Samaneh , Karimi Hamid Reza
Published: April 2014

This paper presents a mathematical model for robust production planning. The model helps fashion apparel suppliers in making decisions concerning allocation of production orders to different production plants characterized by different lead times and production costs, and in proper time scheduling and sequencing of these production orders.
The model aims at optimizing these decisions concerning objectives of minimal production costs and minimal tardiness. It considers several factors such as the stochastic nature of customer demand, differences in production and transport costs and transport times between production plants in different regions. Finally, the model is applied to a case study. The results of numerical computations are presented. The implications of the model results on different fashion related product types and delivery strategies, as well as the model’s limitations and potentials for expansion, are discussed. Results indicate that the production planning model using conditional value at risk (CVaR) as the risk measure performs robustly and provides flexibility in decision analysis between different scenarios.
Haptoglobin 2-2 Genotype Is Associated with TNF-αand IL-6 Levels in Subjects with Obesity
Authors: Lazalde Brissia , Huerta-Guerrero Héctor M. , Simental-Mendía Luis E. , Rodríguez-Morán Martha , Guerrero-Romero Fernando
Published: April 2014

Objective. To evaluate the association between Haptoglobin (HP) gene polymorphisms with inflammatory status in obese subjects.Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out. A total of 276 apparently healthy men and nonpregnant obese women were enrolled and allocated according to theHPgenotype into theHP1/HP1,HP2/HP1, andHP2/HP2groups. Distribution ofHPgenotypes was 49, 87, and 140 for theHP1/HP1,HP2/HP1, andHP2/HP2, respectively. TheHPgenotype was determined using the polymerase chain reaction method. A multiple linear regression analysis adjusted by age, sex, waist circumference, and total body fat was used to determine the association betweenHPgenotypes with TNF-α, IL-6, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels.Results. A multiple linear regression analysis adjusted by sex, waist circumference, and total body fat was performed showing a significant association between theHP2/HP2genotype and TNF-α(β= 0.180; 95% CI 14.41–159.64,P= 0.01) and IL-6 (β= 0.188; 95% CI 1.53–12.72,P= 0.01) levels, but not with hsCRP (β= −0.008; 95% CI −1.64–1.47,P= 0.914) levels, whereas theHP2/HP1genotype showed no association compared with theHP1/HP1genotype (control group).Conclusion. Results of our study show that theHP2/HP2genotype is associated with elevated TNF-αand IL-6, but not with hsCRP, levels in obese subjects.
Efficient Model Order Reduction for the Dynamics of Nonlinear Multilayer Sheet Structures with Trial Vector Derivatives
Authors: Witteveen Wolfgang , Pichler Florian
Published: April 2014

The mechanical response of multilayer sheet structures, such as leaf springs or car bodies, is largely determined by the nonlinear contact and friction forces between the sheets involved. Conventional computational approaches based on classical reduction techniques or the direct finite element approach have an inefficient balance between computational time and accuracy. In the present contribution, the method of trial vector derivatives is applied and extended in order to obtain a-priori trial vectors for the model reduction which are suitable for determining the nonlinearities in the joints of the reduced system. Findings show that the result quality in terms of displacements and contact forces is comparable to the direct finite element method but the computational effort is extremely low due to the model order reduction. Two numerical studies are presented to underline the method’s accuracy and efficiency. In conclusion, this approach is discussed with respect to the existing body of literature.
The Generalized Sidelobe Canceller Based on Quaternion Widely Linear Processing
Authors: Tao Jian-wu , Chang Wen-xiu
Published: April 2014

We investigate the problem of quaternion beamforming based on widely linear processing. First, a quaternion model of linear symmetric array with two-component electromagnetic (EM) vector sensors is presented. Based on array’s quaternion model, we propose the general expression of a quaternionsemiwidelylinear (QSWL) beamformer. Unlike the complex widely linear beamformer, the QSWL beamformer is based on the simultaneous operation on the quaternion vector, which is composed of two jointly proper complex vectors, and its involution counterpart. Second, we propose a useful implementation of QSWL beamformer, that is, QSWL generalized sidelobe canceller (GSC), and derive the simple expressions of the weight vectors. The QSWL GSC consists of two-stage beamformers. By designing the weight vectors of two-stage beamformers, the interference is completely canceled in the output of QSWL GSC and the desired signal is not distorted. We derive the array’s gain expression and analyze the performance of the QSWL GSC in the presence of one type of interference. The advantage of QSWL GSC is that the main beam can always point to the desired signal’s direction and the robustness to DOA mismatch is improved. Finally, simulations are used to verify the performance of the proposed QSWL GSC.
Building Professional Competencies Indices in the Solar Energy Industry for the Engineering Education Curriculum
Authors: Kuo Chin-Guo , Chang Chi-Cheng
Published: April 2014

This study aims to develop professional competency indices and their subindices as needed by the solar energy industry, to establish a basis for development of the engineering education curriculum. The methodologies adopted by the study are literature analysis, expert advisories, and focus groups. The study focuses on the establishment of competency indices by experts at stock market-listed companies and then confirms these competencies with focus groups. The study found that the competencies required by the solar industry consist of knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the areas of materials development and applications, photovoltaic technology, cell manufacturing technology, biotechnology, chemical technology, power generation and electricity, process development and improvement, data collection and analysis, industry regulation, green energy beliefs, and working attitudes and values. The results of this study can be used as the basis for the cultivation, selection, and employment of industry professionals.
Improved Delay‐Dependent Robust Stability Criteria for a Class of Uncertain Neutral Type Lur’e Systems with Discrete and Distributed Delays
Authors: Shi Kaibo , Zhu Hong , Zhong Shouming , Zeng Yong , Zhang Yuping
Published: April 2014

This paper is concerned with the problem of delay‐dependent robust stability analysis for a class of uncertain neutral type Lur’e systems with mixed time‐varying delays. The system has not only time‐varying uncertainties and sector‐bounded nonlinearity, but also discrete and distributed delays, which has never been discussed in the previous literature. Firstly, by employing one effective mathematical technique, some less conservative delay‐dependent stability results are established without employing the bounding technique and the mode transformation approach. Secondly, by constructing an appropriate new type of Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functional with triple terms, improved delay‐dependent stability criteria in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) derived in this paper are much brief and valid. Furthermore, both nonlinearities located in finite sector and infinite one have been also fully taken into account. Finally, three numerical examples are presented to illustrate lesser conservatism and the advantage of the proposed main results.
Chemotherapeutic Targeting of Cancer-Induced Immunosuppressive Cells
Authors: Alizadeh Darya , Larmonier Nicolas
Published: April 2014

The expansion of immunosuppressive cells represents a cardinal strategy deployed by tumors to escape from detection and elimination by the immune system. Regulatory T lymphocytes (Treg) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), major components of these inhibitory cellular networks, have drawn intense scrutiny in recent years. In patients with cancer and in animal tumor models, these suppressor cells accumulate in the tumor microenvironment, secondary lymphoid tissues, and in the blood. Equipped with the ability to suppress innate and adaptive anticancer immunity, these cells also foster disease development by promoting tumor neoangiogenesis and by enhancing cancer metastasis. They therefore represent major impediments for anticancer therapies, particularly for immune-based interventions. Recent work has provided evidence that beyond their direct cytotoxic or cytostatic effects on cancer cells, several conventional chemotherapeutic drugs and agents used in targeted therapies can promote the elimination or inactivation of suppressive Tregs or MDSCs, resulting in enhanced antitumor immunity. We analyze findings pertinent to this concept, discuss the possible molecular bases underlying the selective targeting of these immunosuppressive cells by antineoplastic agents, and consider current challenges and future prospects related to the integration of these molecules into more efficient anticancer chemoimmunotherapeutic strategies. Cancer Res; 74(10); 2663–8. ©2014 AACR.
Assessment of Fluid and Nutritional Status Using Multifrequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients
Authors: Hyun Seung-Hyea , Choi Ji-Young , Cho Jang-Hee , Park Sun-Hee , Kim Chan-Duck , Kim Yong-Lim
Published: April 2014

Background/Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness and relevance of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for assessing the fluid and nutritional status in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. Methods: Statistical analyses between various measures of fluid and nutritional status were performed in 106 cases of 64 patients. Results: Extracellular fluid/total body water (ECF/TBW) was correlated with systolic blood pressure, extremity edema, and antihypertensive medications (p = 0.042, p < 0.001, and p = 0.029, respectively). Body cell mass (BCM)/height2 was correlated with SGA rating and PCR (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). ECF/TBW and BCM/height2 significantly predicted extremity edema (p < 0.001) and SGA rating (p = 0.001), respectively. ROC analysis yielded an ECF/TBW cut-off of 0.36 and a BCM/height2 cut-off of 11.23. When the BCM/height2 cut-off of 11.23 was applied to subclinical patients (SGA score ≥6), a significant difference in SGA rating was detected in subgroups (p = 0.010). Conclusion: BIA yields useful and relevant information about hydration and nutritional status in PD patients.
Natural History of Paradoxical Low-Gradient Severe Aortic Stenosis
Authors: Maes Frédéric , Boulif Jamila , Piérard Sophie , de Meester Christophe , Melchior Julie , Gerber Bernhard , Vancraeynest David , Pouleur Anne-Catherine , Lazam Siham , Pasquet Agnès , Vanoverschelde Jean-Louis
Published: April 2014

Background—

Up to 30% of patients with severe aortic stenosis (SAS; indexed aortic valve area <0.6 cm
2
/m
2
) present with low transvalvular gradient despite a normal left ventricular ejection fraction. Presently, there is intense controversy as to the prognostic implications of such findings. Accordingly, the aim of the present work was to compare the natural history of patients with paradoxical low-gradient (PLG) or high-gradient (HG) SAS.

Methods and Results—

We prospectively studied 349 patients with SAS and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Patients were categorized into HG-SAS (n=144) and PLG-SAS (n=205) according to mean transvalvular gradient (mean gradient >40 or ≤40 mm Hg). Primary end points were all-cause mortality and echocardiographic disease progression. To evaluate natural history, patients undergoing aortic valve replacement were censored at the time of surgery (n=92). During a median follow-up of 28 months, 148 patients died. Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed better survival in PLG-SAS than in HG-SAS, both in the overall population (48% versus 31%;
P
<0.01) and in the asymptomatic subgroup (59% versus 35%;
P
<0.02). In asymptomatic patients, Cox analysis identified age, diabetes mellitus, left atrial volume, and mean gradient as independent predictors of death. Finally, at last echocardiographic follow-up, PLG-SAS demonstrated significant increases in mean gradient (from 29±6 to 38±11 mm Hg;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions—

Our study indicates that PLG-SAS is a less malignant form of AS compared with HG-SAS, because their spontaneous outcome is better. We further demonstrated that patients with PLG-SAS are en route toward the more severe HG-SAS form, because the majority of them evolve into HG-SAS over time.
In Vivo Molecular Imaging of Thrombosis and Thrombolysis Using a Fibrin-Binding Positron Emission Tomographic Probe
Authors: Ay Ilknur , Blasi Francesco , Rietz Tyson A. , Rotile Nicholas J. , Kura Sreekanth , Brownell Anna Liisa , Day Helen , Oliveira Bruno L. , Looby Richard J. , Caravan Peter
Published: April 2014

Background—

Fibrin is a major component of arterial and venous thrombi and represents an ideal candidate for molecular imaging of thrombosis. Here, we describe imaging properties and target uptake of a new fibrin-specific positron emission tomographic probe for thrombus detection and therapy monitoring in 2 rat thrombosis models.

Methods and Results—

The fibrin-binding probe FBP7 was synthesized by conjugation of a known short cyclic peptide to a cross-bridged chelator (CB-TE2A), followed by labeling with copper-64. Adult male Wistar rats (n=26) underwent either carotid crush injury (mural thrombosis model) or embolic stroke (occlusive thrombosis model) followed by recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator treatment (10 mg/kg, IV). FBP7 detected thrombus location in both animal models with a high positron emission tomographic target-to-background ratio that increased over time (>5-fold at 30–90 minutes, >15-fold at 240–285 minutes). In the carotid crush injury animals, biodistribution analysis confirmed high probe uptake in the thrombotic artery (≈0.5%ID/g; >5-fold greater than blood and other tissues of the head and thorax). Similar results were obtained from ex vivo autoradiography of the ipsilateral versus contralateral carotid arteries. In embolic stroke animals, positron emission tomographic–computed tomographic imaging localized the clot in the internal carotid/middle cerebral artery segment of all rats. Time-dependent reduction of activity at the level of the thrombus was detected in recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator–treated rats but not in vehicle-injected animals. Brain autoradiography confirmed clot dissolution in recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator–treated animals, but enduring high thrombus activity in control rats.

Conclusions—

We demonstrated that FBP7 is suitable for molecular imaging of thrombosis and thrombolysis in vivo and represents a promising candidate for bench-to-bedside translation.
Upregulation of Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein by Hypoxia Stimulates Aldosterone Synthesis in Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells to Promote Pulmonary Vascular Fibrosis
Authors: Maron Bradley A. , Oldham William M. , Chan Stephen Y. , Vargas Sara O. , Arons Elena , Zhang Ying-Yi , Loscalzo Joseph , Leopold Jane A.
Published: April 2014

Background—

The molecular mechanism(s) regulating hypoxia-induced vascular fibrosis are unresolved. Hyperaldosteronism correlates positively with vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension, suggesting that aldosterone may contribute to the pulmonary vasculopathy of hypoxia. The hypoxia-sensitive transcription factors c-Fos/c-Jun regulate steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), which facilitates the rate-limiting step of aldosterone steroidogenesis. We hypothesized that c-Fos/c-Jun upregulation by hypoxia activates StAR-dependent aldosterone synthesis in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAECs) to promote vascular fibrosis in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Methods and Results—

Patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, rats with Sugen/hypoxia–pulmonary arterial hypertension, and mice exposed to chronic hypoxia expressed increased StAR in remodeled pulmonary arterioles, providing a basis for investigating hypoxia–StAR signaling in HPAECs. Hypoxia (2.0% FiO
2
) increased aldosterone levels selectively in HPAECs, which was confirmed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Increased aldosterone by hypoxia resulted from enhanced c-Fos/c-Jun binding to the proximal activator protein-1 site of the
StAR
promoter in HPAECs, which increased StAR expression and activity. In HPAECs transfected with StAR–small interfering RNA or treated with the activator protein-1 inhibitor SR-11302 [3-methyl-7-(4-methylphenyl)-9-(2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexen-1-yl)nona-2,4,6,8-tetraenoic acid], hypoxia failed to increase aldosterone, confirming that aldosterone biosynthesis required StAR activation by c-Fos/c-Jun. The functional consequences of aldosterone were confirmed by pharmacological inhibition of the mineralocorticoid receptor with spironolactone or eplerenone, which attenuated hypoxia-induced upregulation of the fibrogenic protein connective tissue growth factor and collagen III in vitro and decreased pulmonary vascular fibrosis to improve pulmonary hypertension in vivo.

Conclusion—

Our findings identify autonomous aldosterone synthesis in HPAECs attributable to hypoxia-mediated upregulation of StAR as a novel molecular mechanism that promotes pulmonary vascular remodeling and fibrosis.
Internal waters: Customary Rules of the Extension of Internal Waters
Authors: Bangert Kaare
Published: April 2014

The importance of the customary regimes of internal waters for the delimitation of the other coastal state maritime zones is analyzed. The rules of baselines in the 1958 and 1982 Conventions on the Law of the Sea are not exhaustive. They are supplemented by the customary regimes of internal waters. These regimes contain few and very vague restrictions on coastal state sovereignty to delimit areas of adjacent sea as internal waters. No definite maximum mile limit has been agreed upon. The outer limits of the customary regimes are baselines for the other maritime zones. Consequently the coastal state can extend the 12, 24, and 200 miles zones based on these customary regimes with wide-ranging legal consequences.

The practical result of constructive application of these regimes is-shown by possible extensions of the present Danish maritime zones.
A new species of Afroarabiella Yakovlev, 2008 (Lepidoptera, Cossidae) from the Republic of South Africa, including a world catalogue of the genus
Authors: YAKOVLEV ROMAN V.
Published: April 2014

The genus Afroarabiella Yakovlev, 2008 (Lepidoptera: Cossidae) was established for Cossus tahamae Wiltshire, 1949 by Yakovlev (2008). Currently, seven species are included in the genus (Yakovlev 2008). Yakovlev (2011) added an additional new species, A. tanzaniae Yakovlev from Tanzania. Members of the genus are widespread from the southwestern Arabian Peninsula and throughout much of Africa (Fig. 1). During the studies of Lepidoptera by Petr Ustjuzhanin (Novosibirsk, Russia) and Vasilij Kovtunovich (Moscow), a new species of the genus Afroarabiella was discovered and the  description is given below.
Two new species and three new records of the genus Aphelocheirus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aphelocheiridae) from China
Authors: XIE TONG-YIN , LIU GUO-QING
Published: April 2014

Two new species of the genus Aphelocheirus (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Aphelocheiridae), A. longlingensis sp. nov. from Yunnan and A. motuoensis sp. nov. from Xizang (Tibet) Autonomous Region are described in this paper. A. similaris Polhemus & Polhemus, 1989, A. nawae Nawa, 1905 and A. tuberculipes Zettel & Tran, 2009 are reported from China for the first time. A key to Chinese species of Aphelocheirus is given. Dorsal habitus photographs of the species are provided, accompanied by illustrations of male genitalic structures, inner projection and female ventral aspect of posterior abdominal segments.
Revision of the Neotropical burrowing water beetle genus Liocanthydrus Guignot (Coleoptera: Noteridae: Noterinae: Noterini) with the description of two new species
Authors: BACA STEPHEN M. , GUSTAFSON GREY T. , TOLEDO MARIO , MILLER KELLY B.
Published: April 2014

The burrowing water beetle genus Liocanthydrus Guignot, 1957 is redefined and its species are revised. Of the four current species, three are recognized as belonging to the genus and redescribed: L. angustus (Guignot, 1957), L. octoguttatus (Zimmermann, 1921) and L. uniformis (Zimmermann, 1921). The fourth species, L. buqueti (Laporte, 1835) is found to not be a member of Liocanthydrus, but of an undescribed genus. The noterid genus Siolius J. Balfour-Browne, 1969, is synonymized with Liocanthydrus (new synonymy) based on comparison of type specimens in both groups. Two of the three species described in Siolius, S. bicolor J. Balfour-Browne, 1969 and S. clayae J. Balfour-Browne, 1969, are recognized as valid, transferred to Liocanthydrus, and redescribed. The third, S. amazonicus J. Balfour- Browne, 1969, is synonymized with L. uniformis (new synonymy). Two new species from South America, L. armulatus sp. n. and L. nanops sp. n. are also recognized and described. A lectotype is designated for Canthydrus octoguttatus Zimmermann, 1921. After this revision, there are seven valid species of Liocanthydrus. Habitus photos are provided, diagnostic characters of all recognized species are illustrated, distributions are provided, and a key to the species is included.
A new genus and species of Schizogyniidae (Acari: Mesostigmata) associated with carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) from Ukraine
Authors: TRACH VIACHESLAV A. , SEEMAN OWEN D.
Published: April 2014

A new genus and species of Schizogyniidae (Acari: Mesostigmata: Celaenopsoidea), Euroschizogynium calvum gen. nov. and sp. nov., associated with Scarites terricola Bonelli, 1813 (Coleoptera: Carabidae) is described from Ukraine, representing the first record of the family from the Palaearctic. Fusura civica Valle & Fox, 1966 is moved out of the Schizogyniidae and placed into the Megacelaenopsidae. A new diagnosis for the family Schizogyniidae and a key to genera are provided.
Albistyla, a new genus of Neotropical Limosininae (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae)
Authors: MARSHALL STEPHEN A.
Published: April 2014

The genus Albistyla is described for a group of similar, highly distinctive Neotropical species that key out at couplet 55 of the key to Neotropical Sphaeroceridae in Marshall and Buck (2010). Albistyla is diagnosed by the combination of a single pair of strongly cruciate interfrontal bristles, two dorsocentral bristles, and the costa ending at the tip of R4+5. It is defined as a monophyletic group primarily on the basis of the unusually modified male sternite 5 and the distinctive white surstylus with broad apical scales. The genus is infrequently collected and only the type species is known from good series. Many of the specimens examined were taken in association with tree falls or similar habitats rich in green leaf litter.
Psilorhynchus khopai, a new fish species (Teleostei: Psilorhynchidae) from Mizoram, northeastern India
Authors: LALRAMLIANA LALRAMLIANA , SOLO BEIHROSA , LALRONUNGA SAMUEL , LALNUNTLUANGA LALNUNTLUANGA
Published: April 2014

Psilorhynchus khopai, a new species of Psilorhynchidae, is described from Tuisi River, a tributary of Kaladan River, in Mizoram, India. The species is proposed to be a member of the Psilorhynchus homaloptera species group and can be distinguished from its congeners in having a forked caudal-fin with 9 + 9 principal caudal rays, 14–17 predorsal scale rows, 39–41 lateral-line scale rows, mid-lateral body with 9–12 indistinct small dark brown round markings forming a lateral stripe and, in life, a faint gold stripe along dorsal midline with 4–5 black spots between dorsal fin and caudal fin base.
Two new species of Haliclona Grant, 1836 (Haplosclerida: Chalinidae) from Sergipe State, Brazil
Authors: SANDES JOANA , BISPO ANDRÉ , PINHEIRO ULISSES
Published: April 2014

Haliclona is one of the most species-rich genera among Demospongiae, but with only 11 species recorded for the Brazilian coast. Here we describe two new species of Haliclona collected by trawling at Sergipe State (Northeastern Brazil). Haliclona (Halichoclona) dura sp. nov. is distinguished by the combination of confused choanosome with dense reticulation, oxeas with stepped and mucronate points, color dark brown externally and light beige internally, consistency firm and incompressible. Haliclona (Soestella) brassica sp. nov. is set apart by the combination of a choanosomal skeleton with rounded meshes, strongyles, raphides, color beige and consistency soft.
One new genus and two new species of the tribe Meconematini
(Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae) from Yunnan, China
Authors: BIAN XUN , XIE GUANG-LIN , CHANG YAN-LIN , SHI FU-MING
Published: April 2014

One new genus, Paraphlugiolopsis Bian & Shi gen. nov., and two new species, Paraphlugiolopsis jiangi Bian & Shi sp. nov. and Paraphlugiolopsis lobocera Bian & Shi sp. nov., are described in the tribe Meconematini. The two new species have similar habitat in Yunnan, China, but live in different altitudes. All material examined is deposited in the Museum of Hebei University.
Model-Evaluation Tools for Three-Dimensional Cloud Verification via Spaceborne Active Sensors
Authors: Miller Steven D. , Weeks Courtney E. , Bullock Randy G. , Forsythe John M. , Kucera Paul A. , Brown Barbara G. , Wolff Cory A. , Partain Philip T. , Jones Andrew S. , Johnson David B.
Published: April 2014

Clouds pose many operational hazards to the aviation community in terms of ceilings and visibility, turbulence, and aircraft icing. Realistic descriptions of the three-dimensional (3D) distribution and temporal evolution of clouds in numerical weather prediction models used for flight planning and routing are therefore of central importance. The introduction of satellite-based cloud radar (CloudSat) and Cloud–Aerosol Lidar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) sensors to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration A-Train is timely in light of these needs but requires a new paradigm of model-evaluation tools that are capable of exploiting the vertical-profile information. Early results from the National Center for Atmospheric Research Model Evaluation Toolkit (MET), augmented to work with the emergent satellite-based active sensor observations, are presented here. Existing horizontal-plane statistical evaluation techniques have been adapted to operate on observations in the vertical plane and have been extended to 3D object evaluations, leveraging blended datasets from the active and passive A-Train sensors. Case studies of organized synoptic-scale and mesoscale distributed cloud systems are presented to illustrate the multiscale utility of the MET tools. Definition of objects on the basis of radar-reflectivity thresholds was found to be strongly dependent on the model’s ability to resolve details of the cloud’s internal hydrometeor distribution. Contoured-frequency-by-altitude diagrams provide a useful mechanism for evaluating the simulated and observed 3D distributions for regional domains. The expanded MET provides a new dimension to model evaluation and positions the community to better exploit active-sensor satellite observing systems that are slated for launch in the near future.
How Well Do Global Climate Models Simulate the Variability of Atlantic Tropical Cyclones Associated with ENSO?
Authors: Wang Hui , Long Lindsey , Kumar Arun , Wang Wanqiu , Schemm Jae-Kyung E. , Zhao Ming , Vecchi Gabriel A. , Larow Timothy E. , Lim Young-Kwon , Schubert Siegfried D. , Shaevitz Daniel A. , Camargo Suzana J. , Henderson Naomi , Kim Daehyun , Jonas Jeffrey A. , Walsh Kevin J. E.
Published: April 2014

The variability of Atlantic tropical cyclones (TCs) associated with El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in model simulations is assessed and compared with observations. The model experiments are 28-yr simulations forced with the observed sea surface temperature from 1982 to 2009. The simulations were coordinated by the U.S. Climate Variability and Predictability Research Program (CLIVAR) Hurricane Working Group and conducted with five global climate models (GCMs) with a total of 16 ensemble members. The model performance is evaluated based on both individual model ensemble means and multimodel ensemble mean. The latter has the highest anomaly correlation (0.86) for the interannual variability of TCs. Previous observational studies show a strong association between ENSO and Atlantic TC activity, as well as distinctions during eastern Pacific (EP) and central Pacific (CP) El Niño events. The analysis of track density and TC origin indicates that each model has different mean biases. Overall, the GCMs simulate the variability of Atlantic TCs well with weaker activity during EP El Niño and stronger activity during La Niña. For CP El Niño, there is a slight increase in the number of TCs as compared with EP El Niño. However, the spatial distribution of track density and TC origin is less consistent among the models. Particularly, there is no indication of increasing TC activity over the U.S. southeast coastal region during CP El Niño as in observations. The difference between the models and observations is likely due to the bias of the models in response to the shift of tropical heating associated with CP El Niño, as well as the model bias in the mean circulation.