bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study on Performance and Power Efficiency of Dense Non-Volatile Caches in Multi-Core Systems
Authors: Jadidi Amin , Arjomand Mohammad , Kandemir Mahmut , Das Chita
Published: September 2017

This paper presents a novel cache design based on Multi-Level Cell Spin-Transfer Torque RAM (MLC STT-RAM).Our design exploits the asymmetric nature of the MLC STT-RAM to build cache lines featuring heterogeneous performances, that is, half of the cache lines are read-friendly,while the other half are write-friendly--this asymmetry in read/write latencies are then used by a migration policy in order to overcome the high latency of the baseline MLC cache. Furthermore, in order to enhance the device lifetime, we propose to dynamically deactivate ways of a set in underutilized sets to convert MLC to Single-Level Cell (SLC)mode.Our experiments show that our design gives an average improvement of 12% in system performance and 26% in last-level cache(L3) access energy for various workloads.
Simplex Queues for Hot-Data Download
Authors: Aktas Mehmet Fatih , Najm Elie , Soljanin Emina
Published: September 2017

In distributed systems, reliable data storage is accomplished through redundancy, which has traditionally been achieved by simple replication of data across multiple nodes [6]. A special class of erasure codes, known as locally repairable codes (LRCs) [7], has started to replace replication in practice [8], as a more storage-efficient way to provide a desired reliability. It has recently been recognized, that storage redundancy can also provide fast access of stored data (see e.g. [5,9,10] and references therein). Most of these papers consider download scenarios of all jointly encoded pieces of data, and very few [11,12,14] are concerned with download of only some, possibly hot, pieces of data that are jointly encoded with those of less interest. So far, only low traffic regime has been partially addressed.

In this paper, we are concerned with hot data download from systems implementing a special class of locally repairable codes, known as LRCs with availability [13,15]. We consider simplex codes, a particular subclass of LRCs with availability, because 1) they are in a certain sense optimal [2] and 2) they are minimally different from replication.
Multipath TCP on a VANET
Authors: Mena Jorge , Bankole Peter , Gerla Mario
Published: September 2017

Highly dynamic vehicular networks use long-range radio technologies such as DSRC, WiMAX, and Cellular networks to maintain connectivity. Multipath TCP offers the possibility to combine these radio technologies to improve network performance, allow robust handoffs, and maintain vehicle connectivity at all times. The proliferation of mobile devices with dual interfaces and the manufacturers' interest to make their vehicles smarter and more competitive create the ideal scenario for MPTCP on VANETs. In this paper, we study the performance of MPTCP on two VANET scenarios: Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I), and Vehicle-to-Vehicle, (V2V) under distinct velocities.
Routing Money, Not Packets
Authors: Ma Richard T.B. , Misra Vishal
Published: September 2017

is tutorial is in the broad area of Internet Economics, specifically applying ideas from game theory, both Cooperative and Non-Cooperative. We consider the origins of the Internet architecture, and the evolution of the Internet ecosystem from a protocol and application standpoint. We next look at the evolution of the pricing structure on the Internet along three different dimensions: (a) between ISPs, (b) between ISPs and content providers, and (c) between ISPs and end users. We present mathematical models describing the pricing structures in each dimension, the interaction between the three and competition amongst the entities leading to the notion of Network Neutrality. We look at various definitions of Network Neutrality and analyze the the impact of mechanisms like paid peering, zero rating and differential pricing on the principle of Network Neutrality.
Testosterone protects high-fat/low-carbohydrate diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in castrated male rats mainly via modulating endoplasmic reticulum stress
Authors: Jia Yue , Yee Jennifer K. , Wang Christina , Nikolaenko Liana , Diaz-Arjonilla Maruja , Cohen Joshua N. , French Samuel W. , Liu Peter Y. , Lue YanHe , Lee Wai-Nang P. , Swerdloff Ronald S.
Published: September 2017

We previously showed that testosterone (T) deficiency enhanced high-fat/low-carbohydrate diet (HFD)-induced hepatic steatosis in rats independent of insulin resistance and that T replacement reduced hepatic macrovesicular fat accumulation and inflammation. The present report explores the mechanism of Tʼs protective effects on HFD-induced steatohepatitis. Adult male rats were randomized into four treatment groups for 15 wk: intact rats on regular chow diet or HFD, and castrated rats on HFD with or without T replacement. Fatty acid β-oxidation and de novo synthesis were not changed by castration and T replacement, but expression of lipid export proteins ApoB100 and microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) was suppressed by HFD in both intact and castrated rats but restored by T replacement. Macrovesicular lipid droplet-related proteins perilipin 1 and fat-specific protein 27 were increased by HFD in castrated rats and suppressed by T replacement. Higher activation/expression of ER stress proteins (PERK, IRE-1α, JNK, NF-κB, and CHOP) was demonstrated in castrated rats fed HFD compared with intact animals, and T replacement suppressed these changes. We conclude that 1) HFD leads to ApoB100/MTP suppression reducing export of lipids; 2) castration promotes progression to steatohepatitis through activation of the ER stress pathway and enhancement of macrovesicular droplet protein expression; and 3) testosterone suppresses ER stress, inhibits the formation of macrovesicular lipid droplets, promotes lipid export, and ameliorates steatohepatitis induced by HFD and castration.
Effects of intravenous low-dose dopamine infusion on glucose regulation during prolonged aerobic exercise
Authors: Johnson Blair D. , Peinado Ana B. , Ranadive Sushant M. , Curry Timothy B. , Joyner Michael J.
Published: September 2017

The carotid body chemoreceptors are activated during hypoglycemia and contribute to glucoregulation during prolonged exercise in dogs. Low-dose intravenous infusions of dopamine have been shown to blunt the activation of the carotid body chemoreceptors during hypoxia. Therefore, we tested the hypotheses that dopamine would blunt glucoregulatory responses and attenuate plasma glucose during prolonged aerobic exercise in healthy participants. Twelve healthy participants completed two randomized exercise sessions at 65% peak oxygen consumption for up to 120 min. Saline was infused during one exercise session, and dopamine (2 μg·kg−1·min−1) was infused during the other session. Arterial plasma glucose, growth hormone, glucagon, cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine were measured every 10 min. Exercise duration during dopamine infusion was 107 ± 6 and 119 ± 0.8 min during saline infusion. Glucose area under the curve during exercise was lower during dopamine (9,821 ± 686 vs. 11,194 ± 395 arbitrary units; P = 0.016). The ratio of circulating growth hormone to glucose and the ratio of glucagon to glucose were greater during dopamine ( P = 0.045 and 0.037, respectively). These results indicate that the infusion of dopamine during aerobic exercise impairs glucoregulation. This suggests that the carotid body chemoreceptors contribute to glucoregulation during prolonged exercise in healthy exercise-trained humans.
Contribution of myo-inositol oxygenase in AGE:RAGE-mediated renal tubulointerstitial injury in the context of diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Sharma Isha , Tupe Rashmi S. , Wallner Aryana K. , Kanwar Yashpal S.
Published: September 2017

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play a role in pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Myo-inositol oxygenase (MIOX) has been implicated in tubulointerstitial injury in the context of DN. We investigated the effect of AGEs on MIOX expression and delineated mechanisms that lead to tubulointerstitial injury. The status of MIOX, RAGE, and relevant cellular signaling pathways activated following AGE:RAGE interaction was examined in tubular cells and kidneys of AGE-BSA-treated mice. A solid-phase assay revealed an enhanced binding of RAGE with AGE-BSA, AGE-laminin, and AGE-collagen IV. The cells treated with AGE-BSA had increased MIOX activity/expression and promoter activity. This was associated with activation of various signaling kinases of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathway and increased expression of NF-κB, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, and fibronectin, which was negated with the treatment of MIOX/RAGE- small interfering (si) RNA. Concomitant with MIOX upregulation, there was an increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which could be abrogated with MIOX/RAGE- siRNA treatment. The kidneys of mice treated with AGE-BSA had significantly high urinary A/C ratio, upregulation of MIOX, RAGE and NF-κB, along with influx of monocytes into the tubulointerstitium, increased the expression of MCP-1, IL-6, and fibronectin and increased the generation of ROS. Such perturbations were abrogated with the concomitant treatment of inhibitors MIOX or RAGE (d-glucarate and FPS-ZM1). These studies support a role of AGE:RAGE interaction in the activation of PI3K-AKT pathway and upregulation of MIOX, with excessive generation of ROS, increased expression of NF-κB, inflammatory cytokines, TGF-β, and fibronectin. Collectively, these observations highlight the relevance of the biology of MIOX in the contribution toward tubulointerstitial injury in DN.
Movement-related activity in the periarcuate cortex of monkeys during coordinated eye and hand movements
Authors: Kurata Kiyoshi
Published: September 2017

To determine the role of the periarcuate cortex during coordinated eye and hand movements in monkeys, the present study examined neuronal activity in this region during movement with the hand, eyes, or both as effectors toward a visuospatial target. Similar to the primary motor cortex (M1), the dorsal premotor cortex contained a higher proportion of neurons that were closely related to hand movements, whereas saccade-related neurons were frequently recorded from the frontal eye field (FEF). Interestingly, neurons that exhibited activity related to both eye and hand movements were recorded most frequently in the ventral premotor cortex (PMv), located between the FEF and M1. Neuronal activity in the periarcuate cortex was highly modulated during coordinated movements compared with either eye or hand movement only. Additionally, a small number of neurons were active specifically during one of the three task modes, which could be dissociated from the effector activity. In this case, neuron onset was either ahead of or behind the onset of eye and/or hand movement, and some neuronal activity lasted until reward delivery signaled successful completion of reaching. The present findings indicate that the periarcuate cortex, particularly the PMv, plays important roles in orchestrating coordinated movements from the initiation to the termination of reaching.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Movement-related neuronal activity was recorded throughout the periarcuate cortex of monkeys that performed a task requiring them to move their hand only, eyes only, or both hand and eyes toward visuospatial targets. Most typically, neurons were found that were commonly active regardless of different effectors, from movement initiation to completion of a successful outcome. The findings suggest that the periarcuate cortex as a whole plays a crucial role in initiating and completing coordinated eye-hand movements.
Feature-coding transitions to conjunction-coding with progression through human visual cortex
Authors: Cowell Rosemary A. , Leger Krystal R. , Serences John T.
Published: September 2017

Identifying an object and distinguishing it from similar items depends upon the ability to perceive its component parts as conjoined into a cohesive whole, but the brain mechanisms underlying this ability remain elusive. The ventral visual processing pathway in primates is organized hierarchically: Neuronal responses in early stages are sensitive to the manipulation of simple visual features, whereas neuronal responses in subsequent stages are tuned to increasingly complex stimulus attributes. It is widely assumed that feature-coding dominates in early visual cortex whereas later visual regions employ conjunction-coding in which object representations are different from the sum of their simple feature parts. However, no study in humans has demonstrated that putative object-level codes in higher visual cortex cannot be accounted for by feature-coding and that putative feature codes in regions prior to ventral temporal cortex are not equally well characterized as object-level codes. Thus the existence of a transition from feature- to conjunction-coding in human visual cortex remains unconfirmed, and if a transition does occur its location remains unknown. By employing multivariate analysis of functional imaging data, we measure both feature-coding and conjunction-coding directly, using the same set of visual stimuli, and pit them against each other to reveal the relative dominance of one vs. the other throughout cortex. Our results reveal a transition from feature-coding in early visual cortex to conjunction-coding in both inferior temporal and posterior parietal cortices. This novel method enables the use of experimentally controlled stimulus features to investigate population-level feature and conjunction codes throughout human cortex.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY We use a novel analysis of neuroimaging data to assess representations throughout visual cortex, revealing a transition from feature-coding to conjunction-coding along both ventral and dorsal pathways. Occipital cortex contains more information about spatial frequency and contour than about conjunctions of those features, whereas inferotemporal and parietal cortices contain conjunction coding sites in which there is more information about the whole stimulus than its component parts.
Evidence for the representation of movement kinematics in the discharge of F5 mirror neurons during the observation of transitive and intransitive actions
Authors: Papadourakis Vassilis , Raos Vassilis
Published: September 2017

Mirror neurons (MirNs) are sensorimotor neurons that fire both when an animal performs a goal-directed action and when the same animal observes another agent performing the same or a similar transitive action. It has been claimed that the observation of intransitive actions does not activate MirNs in a monkey’s brain. Prompted by recent evidence indicating that the discharge of MirNs is modulated also by non-object-directed actions, we investigated thoroughly the efficacy of intransitive actions to trigger MirNs’ discharge. Using representational similarity analysis, we also studied whether the elements constituting the visual scene presented to the monkey during the observation of actions (both transitive and intransitive) are represented in the discharge of MirNs. For this purpose, the moving hand was modeled by its kinematics and the object by features of its geometry. We found that MirNs respond to the observation of both transitive and intransitive actions and that the discharge differences evoked by the observation of object- and non-object-directed actions are correlated more with the kinematic differences of these actions than with the differences of the objects’ features. These findings support the view that observed action kinematics contribute to action mirroring.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Mirror neurons in the monkey brain are thought to respond exclusively to the observation of object-directed actions. Here, we show that mirror neurons also respond to the observation of intransitive actions and that the kinematics of the observed movements are represented in their discharge. This finding supports the view that mirror neurons provide also a kinematics-based representation of actions.
Numerical Solutions of Coupled Systems of Fractional Order Partial Differential Equations
Authors: Li Yongjin , Shah Kamal
Published: September 2017

We develop a numerical method by using operational matrices of fractional order integrations and differentiations to obtain approximate solutions to a class of coupled systems of fractional order partial differential equations (FPDEs). We use shifted Legendre polynomials in two variables. With the help of the aforesaid matrices, we convert the system under consideration to a system of easily solvable algebraic equation of Sylvester type. During this process, we need no discretization of the data. We also provide error analysis and some test problems to demonstrate the established technique.
The Hydroalcoholic Extract Obtained fromMentha piperitaL. Leaves Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Improves Survival in Lipopolysaccharide-Treated Macrophages
Authors: Arruda Mariana Oliveira , Mendes Saulo José Figueiredo , Teixeira Simone Aparecida , de Mesquita Ludmilla Santos Silva , de Sousa Ribeiro Maria Nilce , Galvão Stanley de Sousa Lima , Muscará Marcelo Nicolás , Fernandes Elizabeth Soares , Monteiro-Neto Valério
Published: September 2017

Mentha piperitaL. (peppermint) possesses antimicrobial properties, but little is known of its ability to modulate macrophages. Macrophages are essential in bacterial infection control due to their antimicrobial functions and ability to link the innate and adaptive immune responses. We evaluated the effects of the peppermint leaf hydroalcoholic extract (LHAE) on cultured murine peritoneal macrophages stimulated or not with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)in vitro. Vehicle-treated cells were used as controls. The constituents of the extract were also identified. Epicatechin was the major compound detected in the LHAE. LPS-induced macrophage death was reversed by incubation with LHAE (1–30 μg/ml). Higher concentrations of the extract (≥100 μg/ml) decreased macrophage viability (49–57%) in the absence of LPS. LHAE (1–300 μg/ml) attenuated H2O2(34.6–53.4%) but not nitric oxide production by these cells. At similar concentrations, the extract increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (15.3–63.5-fold) and glutathione peroxidase (34.4–73.6-fold) in LPS-treated macrophages. Only LPS-unstimulated macrophages presented enhanced phagocytosis (3.6–6.6-fold increase) when incubated with LHAE (3–30 μg/ml). Overall, the LHAE obtained from peppermint modulates macrophage-mediated inflammatory responses, by stimulating the antioxidant pathway in these cells. These effects may be beneficial when the excessive activation of macrophages contributes to tissue damage during infectious disease.
Roles of Nitric Oxide and Prostaglandins in the Sustained Antihypertensive Effects of Acanthospermum hispidum DC. on Ovariectomized Rats with Renovascular Hypertension
Authors: Palozi Rhanany Alan Calloi , Schaedler Maysa Isernhagen , Tirloni Cleide Adriane Signor , Silva Aniely Oliveira , Lívero Francislaine Aparecida dos Reis , Souza Roosevelt Isaias Carvalho , dos Santos Ariany Carvalho , Prando Thiago Bruno Lima , de Souza Lauro Mera , Gasparotto Junior Arquimedes
Published: September 2017

Although Acanthospermum hispidum is used in Brazilian folk medicine as an antihypertensive, no study evaluated its effects on a renovascular hypertension and ovariectomy model. So, this study investigated the mechanisms involved in the antihypertensive effects of an ethanol‐soluble fraction obtained from A. hispidum (ESAH) using two‐kidney‐one‐clip hypertension in ovariectomized rats (2K1C plus OVT). ESAH was orally administered at doses of 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg, daily, for 28 days, after 5 weeks of surgery. Enalapril (15 mg/kg) and hydrochlorothiazide (25 mg/kg) were used as standard drugs. Diuretic activity was evaluated on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28. Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressure and heart rate were recorded. Serum creatinine, urea, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, nitrosamine, nitrite, aldosterone, vasopressin levels, and ACE activity were measured. The vascular reactivity and the role of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandins (PG) in the vasodilator response of ESAH on the mesenteric vascular bed (MVB) were also investigated. ESAH treatment induced an important saluretic and antihypertensive response, therefore recovering vascular reactivity in 2K1C plus OVT‐rats. This effect was associated with a reduction of oxidative and nitrosative stress with a possible increase in the NO bioavailability. Additionally, a NO and PG‐dependent vasodilator effect was observed on the MEV.
Angelica sinensis Suppresses Body Weight Gain and Alters Expression of the FTO Gene in High-Fat-Diet Induced Obese Mice
Authors: Zhong Tao , Duan Xiao-Yue , Zhang Hao , Li Li , Zhang Hong-Ping , Niu Lili
Published: September 2017

The root of Angelica sinensis (RAS) is a traditional Chinese medicine used for preventing and treating various diseases. In this study, we assessed RAS supplementation effects on body weight and the FTO gene expression and methylation status in a high-fat-diet (HFD) induced obese mouse model. Female obese mice were divided into groups according to RAS dosage in diet as follows: normal diet, HFD diet (HC), HFD with low-dosage RAS (DL), HFD with medium-dosage RAS (DM), and HFD with high-dosage RAS (DH). After RAS supplementation for 4 weeks, body weight suppression and FTO expression in DH mice were significantly higher than in HC mice, whereas no significant change in FTO expression was detected between DM and DL mice or in their offspring. Bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) revealed that the CpG island in the FTO promoter was hypermethylated up to 95.44% in the HC group, 91.67% in the DH group, and 90.00% in the normal diet group. Histological examination showed that adipocytes in the DH group were smaller than those in the HC group, indicating a potential role of RAS in obesity. This study indicated that RAS could ameliorate obesity induced by HFD and that the molecular mechanism might be associated with the expression of the FTO gene.
Reaction and Characterization of Low-Temperature Effect of Transition Nanostructure Metal Codoped SCR Catalyst
Authors: Yang Ke , Xiao Weiwei , Xu Quan , Bai Jiaojiao , Luo Yan , Guo Hao , Cao Li , Cai Wei , Pu Peng , Cai Lulu
Published: September 2017

Typical p-type semiconductor MnOx codoped with n-type semiconductors such as CeO2 and V2O5 was reported to achieve high efficiency in catalytic NOx removal by NH3. In this paper, we present novel Mn-Ce codoped V2O5/TiO2 catalyst which exhibited an excellent NO conversion efficiency of 90% at 140°C. By using this codoped catalyst, the best low-temperature activity was greatly decreased when compared with single Mn- or Ce-doped catalyst. According to the characterization results from BET, XRD, and XPS, the codoped catalyst was composed of both CeO2 and amorphous Mn. The electron circulation formed between doping elements is believed to promote the electron transfer, which may be one of the reasons for excellent low-temperature denitration performance.
Analysis of Factors Associated with the Ocular Features of Congenital Cataract Children in the Shanghai Pediatric Cataract Study
Authors: He Wenwen , Sun Ting , Yang Jin , Qin Guoyou , Wu Zhenyu , Zhu Xiangjia , Lu Yi
Published: September 2017

Purpose. To investigate the ocular features of children with congenital cataract in a tertiary referral eye center in East China. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of congenital cataract children who underwent cataract surgery between April 2009 and April 2014 at the Eye and ENT Hospital of Fudan University and identified factors associated with the axial length (AXL) and corneal curvature (K value). Results. We included 493 children, 210 with unilateral and 283 with bilateral cataract. The mean AXL was 22.03 ± 1.97 mm and the mean K value was 43.61 ± 1.86 D. Age showed a linear correlation with AXL in unilateral cataract eyes and a logarithmic correlation with AXL in bilateral cataract eyes (both P<0.001). AXL was longer and the K value was smaller (both P<0.01) in boys than in girls after adjusting for age and cataract laterality. AXL was longer in unilateral cataract eyes than in bilateral cataract eyes after adjusting for age and gender (P=0.004). In children with unilateral cataract, AXL was significantly longer in the affected eye than in the contralateral eye (P<0.001). Conclusion. Age, gender, and cataract laterality together contribute to the development of ocular features of congenital cataract children, especially for AXL.
Insulin Signaling Deficiency Produces Immobility in Caenorhabditis elegans That Models Diminished Motivation States in Man and Responds to Antidepressants
Authors: Dagenhardt Julie , Trinh Angeline , Sumner Halen , Scott Jeffrey , Aamodt Eric , Dwyer Donard S.
Published: September 2017

Defects in insulin signaling have been reported in schizophrenia and major depressive disorder, which also share certain negative symptoms such as avolition, anhedonia, and apathy. These symptoms reflect diminished motivational states, which have been modeled in rodents as increased immobility in the forced swimming test. We have discovered that loss-of-function mutations in the insulin receptor (daf-2) and syntaxin (unc-64) genes in Caenorhabditis elegans, brief food deprivation, and exposure to DMSO produce immobility and avolition in non-dauer adults. The animals remain responsive to external stimuli; however, they fail to forage and will remain in place for >12 days or until they die. Their immobility can be prevented with drugs used to treat depression and schizophrenia and that reduce immobility in the forced swimming test. This includes amitriptyline, amoxapine, clozapine, and olanzapine, but not benzodiazepines and haloperidol. Recovery experiments confirm that immobility is induced and maintained by excessive signaling via serotonergic and muscarinic cholinergic pathways. The immobility response described here represents a potential protophenotype for avolition/anhedonia in man. This work may provide clues about why there is a significant increase in depression in patients with diabetes and suggest new therapeutic pathways for disorders featuring diminished motivation as a prominent symptom.
Targeted Intraoperative Radiotherapy Tumour Bed Boost during Breast-Conserving Surgery after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy - a Subgroup Analysis of Hormone Receptor-Positive HER2-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Kolberg Hans-Christian , Lövey György , Akpolat-Basci Leyla , Stephanou Miltiades , Fasching Peter , Untch Michael , Hoffmann Oliver , Bulsara Max , Vaidya Jayant , Liedtke Cornelia
Published: September 2017

Introduction: In a previous study our group showed a beneficial effect of targeted intraoperative radiotherapy (TARGIT-IORT) as an intraoperative boost on overall survival after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) compared to an external boost (EBRT). In this study we present the results of a detailed subgroup analysis of the hormone receptor (HR)-positive HER2-negative patients. Methods: In this cohort study involving 46 patients with HR-positive HER2-negative breast cancer after NACT, we compared the outcomes of 21 patients who received an IORT boost to those of 25 patients treated with an EBRT boost. All patients received whole breast radiotherapy. Results: Median follow-up was 49 months. Whereas disease-free-survival and breast cancer-specific mortality were not significantly different between the groups, the 5-year Kaplan-Meier estimate of overall mortality was significantly lower by 21% with IORT, p = 0.028. Non-breast cancer-specific mortality was significantly lower by 16% with IORT, p = 0.047. Conclusion: Although our results have to be interpreted with caution, we have shown that the improved overall survival demonstrated previously could be reproduced in the HR-positive HER2-negative subgroup. These data give further support to the inclusion of such patients in the TARGIT-B (Boost) randomised trial that is testing whether IORT boost is superior to EBRT boost.
Tauroursodeoxycholic Acid Reduces Arterial Stiffness and Improves Endothelial Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetic Mice
Authors: Battson Micah L. , Lee Dustin M. , Jarrell Dillon K. , Hou Shoufei , Ecton Kayl E. , Phan Anna B. , Gentile Christopher L.
Published: September 2017

Background/Aims: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has emerged as a potential mechanism contributing to diabetes and its comorbidities. However, the importance of ER stress in diabetic vascular dysfunction is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the ER stress inhibitor, tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), on arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetic mice. Methods: Carotid and mesenteric artery endothelial function were assessed via ex vivo pressure myography, and arterial stiffness was measured by aortic pulse wave velocity. The effects of TUDCA were examined both acutely (ex vivo) and chronically (250 mg/kg/day; i.p., 4 weeks). Results: Compared to control C57BL/6J mice, db/db (DB) mice did not display carotid artery endothelial dysfunction; however, mesenteric artery endothelial function was markedly impaired. Acute incubation and chronic administration of TUDCA improved endothelium-dependent dilation in DB mesenteric arteries, without affecting endothelium-independent dilation. Chronic TUDCA administration also reduced arterial stiffness and was associated with reductions in ER stress markers in aortic and perivascular adipose tissue. Conclusions: These results suggest that ER stress may represent a novel cause of, and therapeutic target for, diabetic vascular dysfunction.
Quantification of Bisoprolol and Metoprolol in Simultaneous Human Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Samples
Authors: Sigaroudi Ali , Kinzig Martina , Wahl Oliver , Stelzer Christoph , Schroeter Michael , Fuhr Uwe , Holzgrabe Ulrike , Sörgel Fritz
Published: September 2017

Background: Bisoprolol and metoprolol are moderately lipophilic, beta(1)-selective betablockers reported to cause adverse effects in the central nervous system (CNS), such as sleep disturbance, suggesting that both drugs may reach relevant concentrations in the brain. CNS beta(2)-receptor blockade has been suspected to be related to such effects. The higher molecular size of bisoprolol (325 Dalton) and the higher beta(1)-selectivity compared to metoprolol (267 Dalton) would suggest a lower rate of CNS effects. Methods: To address the pharmacokinetic background of this assumption, we quantified to which extent these beta(1)-blockers are able to enter the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in 9 (bisoprolol group) and 10 (metoprolol group) neurological patients who had received one of the drugs orally for therapeutic purposes prior to lumbar puncture. We quantified their total concentrations by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry in paired serum and CSF samples. Results: Median (interquartile range) in CSF reached 55% (47-64%) of total serum concentrations for bisoprolol and 43% (27-81%) for metoprolol, corresponding to 78% (67-92%) and 48% (30-91%) of respective unbound serum concentrations. Conclusion: The extent of penetration of bisoprolol and metoprolol into the CSF is similar and compatible with the assumption that both drugs may exert direct effects in the CNS.
Burned-Out Testicular Cancer: Really a Different History
Authors: Mosillo Claudia , Scagnoli Simone , Pomati Giulia , Caponnetto Salvatore , Mancini Maria Laura , Bezzi Mario , Cortesi Enrico , Gelibter Alain
Published: September 2017

Two or more histological types characterize more than 60% of testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs). Burned-out testicular tumor refers to partial or complete histological regression of the primary testicular lesions. The most frequent GCT type involved in this kind of histological regression is choriocarcinoma, followed by embryonal carcinoma. To our knowledge, there are no cases of the burned-out phenomenon in teratoma. We report a case of a 19-year-old man presenting to our institute with a right testicular lesion, evidence of mediastinal and abdominal lymph node metastasis, and high levels of GCT serum biomarkers. After orchiectomy, the histopathological examination showed a mixed GCT: mature teratoma, immature teratoma, and histological features of testicular cancer regression (burned-out phenomenon). The patient underwent first-line chemotherapy (BEP regimen) which resulted in a complete instrumental and biochemical response after 4 cycles. Teratoma is considered a less aggressive type of GCT. In this particular case, metastatic disease seems to result from non-germ cell components which underwent early spontaneous regression.
Primary Hepatic Angiosarcoma: A Case Report with 10-Year Patient Medical Data
Authors: Ogawa Masanori , Ae Ryusuke , Sasahara Teppei
Published: September 2017

In the current study, we report a case of a 46-year-old man who presented with sudden abdominal pain and was diagnosed with rupture of hepatic angiosarcoma (HAS). He underwent surgery, but died 13 days after the onset of the abdominal pain. Chronic exposure to carcinogens, such as thorium dioxide, arsenic, vinyl chloride, and radium, is associated with HAS. However, our patient had not been exposed to such carcinogens. He had submitted himself for annual medical checkups since he was employed. His liver was cirrhotic, and medical history data showed that he had had fatty liver for at least 10 years before HAS onset. Although liver cirrhosis may play a role in the occurrence of HAS, the connection of chronic fatty liver in the tumorigenesis remains unclear. Case reports regarding HAS with fatty liver are few. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of HAS occurring in a cirrhotic liver that advanced from persistent fatty stage. Given that HAS is a rare tumor, data collection is important for investigating its pathophysiology. Case presentations considering health conditions before HAS onset are limited; therefore, we present a case of HAS with annual health checkup data before disease onset.
Estimating Usual Intake in the 2nd Bavarian Food Consumption Survey: Comparison of the Results Derived by the National Cancer Institute Method and a Basic Individual Means Approach
Authors: Wawro Nina , Kleiser Christina , Himmerich Stephanie , Gedrich Kurt , Boeing Heiner , Knueppel Sven , Linseisen Jakob
Published: September 2017

Background: The valid estimation of the usual dietary intake remains a challenge till date. We applied the method suggested by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to data from the 2nd Bavarian Food Consumption Survey (BVS II) and compared it to an individual means approach. Methods: Within the cross-sectional BVS II, 1,050 Bavarian residents aged 13-80 years participated in a personal interview and completed three 24-h dietary recalls by telephone interview. For the 13 main food groups and 23 subgroups the usual intake was calculated by (1) an individual means approach and (2) by the NCI method. Results: The distributions derived by the individual means approach are wider than those derived from the NCI approach. For a majority of food groups and subgroups, the proportion of participants who meet the dietary recommendations published by the German Nutrition Society is higher when the NCI approach is applied. The proportions of participants above or below recommended amounts differ greatly for “meat and meat products” and “cheese.” Conclusion: The mean intake at the groups level can easily be derived from the individual means approach. Since only the NCI method accounts for intra-personal variation, this method provides more valid intake estimates at the individual level and should be applied when, for example, individual intakes are compared with dietary recommendations.
Cigarette Smoking Attenuates Kidney Protection by Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition in Nondiabetic Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Roehm Bethany , Simoni Jan , Pruszynski Jessica , Wesson Donald E.
Published: September 2017

Background: Cigarette smoking exacerbates the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline in nondiabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) despite the kidney protection that is achieved by angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition (ACEI). Whether smoking cessation restores ACEI-related kidney protection is not known. Methods: This 5-year, prospective, prevention trial recruited 108 smokers and 108 nonsmokers with stage-2 nondiabetic CKD with primary hypertension and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (Ualb) >200 mg/g. All smokers underwent smoking cessation intervention programs. Blood pressure was reduced in all participants toward achieving a goal of <130 mm Hg with regimens including ACEI. The primary outcome was eGFR change, and secondary outcomes included Ualb and urine levels of angiotensinogen (UATG), a surrogate for kidney angiotensin II (AII) levels, and isoprostane 8-isoprostaglandin F2α (U8-iso), an indicator of oxidative stress. Results: One-year Ualb was lower than baseline in nonsmokers but not in either smoking group, supporting greater ACEI-related kidney protection in nonsmokers than smokers. Higher Ualb at 1 year in continued smokers was associated with higher UATG and higher U8-iso, consistent with smoking-induced AII and increased oxidative stress contributing to less ACEI-related kidney protection in smokers. Baseline eGFR was not different among groups (p = 0.92), but 5-year eGFR was higher in quitters than in continued smokers (62.0 ± 5.4 vs. 52.9 ± 5.6 mL/min/1.73 m2, p < 0.001); this value was lower in quitters than in nonsmokers (64.7 ± 5.6 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Smoking cessation compared with continued smoking ameliorates eGFR decline in nondiabetic CKD treated with ACEI, possibly by restoring kidney-protective effects of ACEI through reductions in kidney AII and oxidative stress.
Nigerian Children’s Literature
Authors: Bello Idaevbor , Okpiliya James O.
Published: September 2017

This essay argues for the potential of children’s literature in Nigeria as a genre serving as a means of building nationhood in the minds of children growing up in the country. It posits that because of the greed of the ruling elites, the potential in terms of both human and natural resources was frittered away after independence, thereby vitiating the function of children’s literature in helping reinforce Nigeria’s presence in the comity of nations. It is still possible to retrace our steps as a country by progressively deploying such literature, through its themes and character delineation, to inculcating in children a sense of nationhood and patriotism so they can relate across both ethnic and religious divisions to espouse ideals as a people with a common destiny. The literature that is the focus here is that written in English as the language of interaction among the different ethnic groups in the country, and as the language of instruction in our schools.
Resolving the confused identity of Frankliniella panamensis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
Authors: GUNAWARDANA DISNA N. , LI DONGMEI , MASUMOTO MASAMI , MOUND LAURENCE A. , O’DONNELL CHERYLE A. , SKARLINSKY THOMAS L.
Published: September 2017

Morphological and molecular characters are provided for distinguishing two similar species of Frankliniella that are commonly found by quarantine authorities in international shipments of horticultural produce, particularly from Colombia where panamensis and occidentalis co-exist in greenhouses.
A new species of Placotrochides Alcock, 1902 (Anthozoa: Scleractinia: Flabellidae) from the tropical Western Pacific, including the deepest record of the genus
Authors: LI YANG , CHENG YU-RONG , XU KUIDONG
Published: September 2017

A new species of azooxanthellate solitary Scleractinia, Placotrochides yapensis n. sp., is described from the foot of a seamount near the Yap Trench in the tropical Western Pacific at the water depth of 2,700–2,734 m. The specimens are assigned to the genus Placotrochides Alcock, 1902 on account of possessing a solitary corallum, a trabecular columella and the transverse division resulting in a free anthocyathus with a basal scar. The new species differs from its four congeners by (1) the larger corallum size (greater calicular diameter 15.2–15.7 mm, greater basal scar diameter 9.0–12.2 mm, and height 13.3–17.1 mm), (2) the larger edge angle (20–25°), (3) the arrangement of septa (S1–2>S3>S4), and (4) the number of septa (48). Until now, five species of Placotrochides have been known from deep waters and Placotrochides yapensis n. sp. is the deepest record of the genus.
A second species of Oristicta Tillyard (Odonata: Isostictidae)
Authors: THEISCHINGER GÜNTHER , BURWELL CHRIS J.
Published: September 2017

In order to include an additional species in the genus Oristicta Tillyard, 1913, the lectotype of its sole species Oristicta filicicola Tillyard, 1913 and the holotype of Phasmosticta interposita Lieftinck, 1951, its assumed junior synonym, the original descriptions of both and numerous museum specimens identified as O. filicicola are studied and discussed. In spite of some variability being noted, it is concluded that they all are O. filicicola which is considered a monotypic species. The additional species is described as Oristicta rosendaleorum sp. nov. It is comprehensively illustrated, and its affinities are discussed. Possibly sympatric in places with O. filicicola, Oristicta rosendaleorum sp. nov. has richer black markings, lacks posterolateral processes/horns on the male’s pronotum (present in O. filicicola), and the male anal appendages are of different form. Oristicta filicicola is known from far north-eastern Queensland from Hammond Island (10.5°S) at the tip of Cape York to the Paluma Range (19°S) in the southern Wet Tropics Bioregion. Oristicta rosendaleorum sp. nov. is currently known from only two localities within 20 km of Lakeland (15.9°S) in south-eastern Cape York Peninsula.
Constructing the Deviant Woman: Gendered Stigma of the 1980 Cuban Mariel Migration
Authors: Hampton Melissa
Published: September 2017

This article argues that the 1980 Cuban Mariel migration marked a turning point in American perceptions and media representations of female Cuban immigrants, and Cuban exiles in the United States more generally. By examining how sexualized representations of Mariel women coincided with a more general stigmatization of Mariel migrants, I contend that single Cuban women arriving in the boatlift underwent a process of racialization, in which they became increasingly undifferentiated from historical stereotypes of the sexually threatening Latina immigrant in the United States.
Book Review: Ramesh K. Arora and C. K. Sardana (Eds), District Collectors—Recollections and Reflections
Authors: Pathak Gyan Vardhan
Published: September 2017

Ramesh K. Arora and C. K. Sardana (Eds), District Collectors—Recollections and Reflections. New Delhi: Paragon International Publishers, 2015, 316 pp., ₹795.
Book Review: Sudhanshu Ranjan, Justice, Judocracy and Democracy in India: Boundaries and Breaches
Authors: Kumar Rahul
Published: September 2017

Sudhanshu Ranjan, Justice, Judocracy and Democracy in India: Boundaries and Breaches. New Delhi, London and New York: Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group, 2016, 28 + 377 pp., ₹895.
Dereliction of Duties or the Politics of ‘Political Quadrangle’? The Governor, Hill Areas Committee and Upsurge in the Hills of Manipur
Authors: Haokip Thongkholal
Published: September 2017

This article looks into the role of the Governor of Manipur, particularly its ‘special responsibility’ under Article 371C of the Constitution of India, ‘in order to secure the proper functioning’ of the Hill Areas Committee (HAC), and attempts to explore whether there is dereliction of duties on the part of the governor in fulfilling what the constitution intents. Consequently, it examines whether the HAC is able to perform its functions under the Manipur Legislative Assembly (Hill Areas Committee) Order, 1972, to ‘safeguard the interest of the people of the Hill Areas’. The article identifies the existence of the politics of ‘political quadrangle’ which unleash a peculiar ‘political process’ in which the role and functions of the governor and the HAC are constrained in protecting the rights and interests of the hill people. This ‘politics’ is largely shaped by the very peculiar political process in the state, particularly the electoral trend and government formation, in which there is propensity to change government with the corresponding change in the ruling party at the centre. This has a significant role to play as the majoritarian state government’s reluctance for tribal autonomy is perpetuated by the existence of the same political regime at the centre, with a politically affiliated and politically appointed governor, in which acting on the ‘advice of’ largely becomes ‘diktat of’ the ‘council of ministers’, thereby circumscribing the role and functions of the governor and the HAC. The recent upsurge in the hills of Manipur is a clear case of the state Legislative Assembly overriding the HAC on scheduled matters that affect the hill areas.
Hippo Pathway: An Emerging Regulator of Craniofacial and Dental Development
Authors: Wang J. , Martin J.F.
Published: September 2017

The evolutionarily conserved Hippo signaling pathway is a vital regulator of organ size that fine-tunes cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. A number of important studies have revealed critical roles of Hippo signaling and its effectors Yap (Yes-associated protein) and Taz (transcriptional coactivator with PDZ binding motif) in tissue development, homeostasis, and regeneration, as well as in tumorigenesis. In addition, recent studies have shown evidence of crosstalk between the Hippo pathway and other key signaling pathways, such as Wnt signaling, that not only regulates developmental processes but also contributes to disease pathogenesis. In this review, we summarize the major discoveries in the field of Hippo signaling and what has been learned about its regulation and crosstalk with other signaling pathways, with a particular focus on recent findings involving the Hippo-Yap pathway in craniofacial and tooth development. New and exciting studies of the Hippo pathway are anticipated that will significantly improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of human craniofacial and tooth development and disease and will ultimately lead to the development of new therapies.