bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Altered reactivity and nitric oxide signaling in the isolated thoracic duct from an ovine model of congenital heart disease with increased pulmonary blood flow
Authors: Datar Sanjeev A. , Oishi Peter E. , Gong Wenhui , Bennett Stephen H. , Sun Christine E. , Johengen Michael , Maki Jun , Johnson Rebecca C. , Raff Gary W. , Fineman Jeffrey R.
Published: February 2014

We have previously shown decreased pulmonary lymph flow in our lamb model of chronically increased pulmonary blood flow, created by the in utero placement of an 8-mm aortopulmonary shunt. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that abnormal lymphatic function in shunt lambs is due to impaired lymphatic endothelial nitric oxide (NO)-cGMP signaling resulting in increased lymphatic vascular constriction and/or impaired relaxation. Thoracic duct rings were isolated from 4-wk-old shunt ( n = 7) and normal ( n = 7) lambs to determine length-tension properties, vascular reactivity, and endothelial NO synthase protein. At baseline, shunt thoracic duct rings had 2.6-fold higher peak to peak tension and a 2-fold increase in the strength of contractions compared with normal rings ( P < 0.05). In response to norepinephrine, shunt thoracic duct rings had a 2.4-fold increase in vascular tone compared with normal rings ( P < 0.05) and impaired relaxation in response to the endothelium-dependent dilator acetylcholine (63% vs. 13%, P < 0.05). In vivo, inhaled NO (40 ppm) increased pulmonary lymph flow (normalized for resistance) ∼1.5-fold in both normal and shunt lambs ( P < 0.05). Inhaled NO exposure increased bioavailable NO [nitrite/nitrate (NO x); ∼2.5-fold in normal lambs and ∼3.4-fold in shunt lambs] and cGMP (∼2.5-fold in both) in the pulmonary lymph effluent ( P < 0.05). Chronic exposure to increased pulmonary blood flow is associated with pulmonary lymphatic endothelial injury that disrupts NO-cGMP signaling, leading to increased resting vasoconstriction, increased maximal strength of contraction, and impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation. Inhaled NO increases pulmonary lymph NO x and cGMP levels and pulmonary lymph flow in normal and shunt lambs. Therapies that augment NO-cGMP signaling within the lymphatic system may provide benefits, warranting further study.
PDE2-mediated cAMP hydrolysis accelerates cardiac fibroblast to myofibroblast conversion and is antagonized by exogenous activation of cGMP signaling pathways
Authors: Vettel C. , Lämmle S. , Ewens S. , Cervirgen C. , Emons J. , Ongherth A. , Dewenter M. , Lindner D. , Westermann D. , Nikolaev V. O. , Lutz S. , Zimmermann W. H. , El-Armouche A.
Published: February 2014

Recent studies suggest that the signal molecules cAMP and cGMP have antifibrotic effects by negatively regulating pathways associated with fibroblast to myofibroblast (MyoCF) conversion. The phosphodiesterase 2 (PDE2) has the unique property to be stimulated by cGMP, which leads to a remarkable increase in cAMP hydrolysis and thus mediates a negative cross-talk between both pathways. PDE2 has been recently investigated in cardiomyocytes; here we specifically addressed its role in fibroblast conversion and cardiac fibrosis. PDE2 is abundantly expressed in both neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and cardiomyocytes. The overexpression of PDE2 in CFs strongly reduced basal and isoprenaline-induced cAMP synthesis, and this decrease was sufficient to induce MyoCF conversion even in the absence of exogenous profibrotic stimuli. Functional stress-strain experiments with fibroblast-derived engineered connective tissue (ECT) demonstrated higher stiffness in ECTs overexpressing PDE2. In regard to cGMP, neither basal nor atrial natriuretic peptide-induced cGMP levels were affected by PDE2, whereas the response to nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside was slightly but significantly reduced. Interestingly, despite persistently depressed cAMP levels, both cGMP-elevating stimuli were able to completely prevent the PDE2-induced MyoCF phenotype, arguing for a double-tracked mechanism. In conclusion, PDE2 accelerates CF to MyoCF conversion, which leads to greater stiffness in ECTs. Atrial natriuretic peptide- and sodium nitroprusside-mediated cGMP synthesis completely reverses PDE2-induced fibroblast conversion. Thus PDE2 may augment cardiac remodeling, but this effect can also be overcome by enhanced cGMP. The redundant role of cAMP and cGMP as antifibrotic meditators may be viewed as a protective mechanism in heart failure.
Suppression of inflammatory cell trafficking and alveolar simplification by the heme oxygenase-1 product carbon monoxide
Authors: Anyanwu Anuli C. , Bentley J. Kelley , Popova Antonia P. , Malas Omar , Alghanem Husam , Goldsmith Adam M. , Hershenson Marc B. , Pinsky David J.
Published: February 2014

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a lung disease of prematurely born infants, is characterized in part by arrested development of pulmonary alveolae. We hypothesized that heme oxygenase (HO-1) and its byproduct carbon monoxide (CO), which are thought to be cytoprotective against redox stress, mitigate lung injury and alveolar simplification in hyperoxia-exposed neonatal mice, a model of BPD. Three-day-old C57BL/6J mice were exposed to air or hyperoxia (FiO2, 75%) in the presence or absence of inhaled CO (250 ppm for 1 h twice daily) for 21 days. Hyperoxic exposure increased mean linear intercept, a measure of alveolar simplification, whereas CO treatment attenuated hypoalveolarization, yielding a normal-appearing lung. Conversely, HO-1-null mice showed exaggerated hyperoxia-induced hypoalveolarization. CO also inhibited hyperoxia-induced pulmonary accumulation of F4/80+, CD11c+, and CD11b+ monocytes and Gr-1+ neutrophils. Furthermore, CO attenuated lung mRNA and protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including the monocyte chemoattractant CCL2 in vivo, and decreased hyperoxia-induced type I alveolar epithelial cell CCL2 production in vitro. Hyperoxia-exposed CCL2-null mice, like CO-treated mice, showed attenuated alveolar simplification and lung infiltration of CD11b+ monocytes, consistent with the notion that CO blocks lung epithelial cell cytokine production. We conclude that, in hyperoxia-exposed neonatal mice, inhalation of CO suppresses inflammation and alveolar simplification.
Clinical grade allogeneic human mesenchymal stem cells restore alveolar fluid clearance in human lungs rejected for transplantation
Authors: McAuley D. F. , Curley G. F. , Hamid U. I. , Laffey J. G. , Abbott J. , McKenna D. H. , Fang X. , Matthay M. A. , Lee J. W.
Published: February 2014

The lack of suitable donors for all solid-organ transplant programs is exacerbated in lung transplantation by the low utilization of potential donor lungs, due primarily to donor lung injury and dysfunction, including pulmonary edema. The current studies were designed to determine if intravenous clinical-grade human mesenchymal stem (stromal) cells (hMSCs) would be effective in restoring alveolar fluid clearance (AFC) in the human ex vivo lung perfusion model, using lungs that had been deemed unsuitable for transplantation and had been subjected to prolonged ischemic time. The human lungs were perfused with 5% albumin in a balanced electrolyte solution and oxygenated with continuous positive airway pressure. Baseline AFC was measured in the control lobe and if AFC was impaired (defined as <10%/h), the lungs received either hMSC (5 × 106cells) added to the perfusate or perfusion only as a control. AFC was measured in a different lung lobe at 4 h. Intravenous hMSC restored AFC in the injured lungs to a normal level. In contrast, perfusion only did not increase AFC. This positive effect on AFC was reduced by intrabronchial administration of a neutralizing antibody to keratinocyte growth factor (KGF). Thus, intravenous allogeneic hMSCs are effective in restoring the capacity of the alveolar epithelium to remove alveolar fluid at a normal rate, suggesting that this therapy may be effective in enhancing the resolution of pulmonary edema in human lungs deemed clinically unsuitable for transplantation.
On Newp-Valent Meromorphic Function Involving Certain Differential and Integral Operators
Authors: Mohammed Aabed , Darus Maslina
Published: February 2014

We define new subclasses of meromorphicp-valent functions by using certain differential operator. Combining the differential operator and certain integral operator, we introduce a generalp-valent meromorphic function. Then we prove the sufficient conditions for the function in order to be in the new subclasses.
Epidemiological Survey of Dyslipidemia in Civil Aviators in China from 2006 to 2011
Authors: Zhao Rongfu , Xiao Dan , Fan Xiaoying , Ge Zesong , Wang Linsheng , Yan Tiecheng , Wang Jianzhi , Wei Qixin , Zhao Yan
Published: February 2014

Aim. This study aimed to analyze blood lipid levels, temporal trend, and age distribution of dyslipidemia in civil aviators in China.Methods. The 305 Chinese aviators were selected randomly and followed up from 2006 to 2011. Their total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were evaluated annually. Mean values for each parameter by year were compared using a linear mixed-effects model. The temporal trend of borderline high, high, and low status for each index and of overall borderline high, hyperlipidemia, and dyslipidemia by year was tested using a generalized linear mixed model.Results. The aviators' TC (F=4.33,P<0.01), HDL-C (F=23.25,P<0.01), and LDL-C (F=6.13,P<0.01) values differed across years. The prevalence of dyslipidemia (F=5.53,P<0.01), borderline high (F=6.52,P<0.01), and hyperlipidemia (F=3.90,P<0.01) also differed across years. The prevalence rates for hyperlipidemia and dyslipidemia were the highest in the 41–50-year-old and 31–40-year-old groups.Conclusions. Civil aviators in China were in high dyslipidemia and borderline high level and presented with dyslipidemia younger than other Chinese populations.
Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Subversion of the Anti-Inflammatory Response in Human Skin Cells Reveals Correlates of Latency and Disease Pathogenesis
Authors: Fontana Judith M. , Mygatt Justin G. , Conant Katelyn L. , Parsons Chris H. , Kaleeba Johnan A. R.
Published: February 2014

KSHV is the etiologic agent for Kaposi’s sarcoma (KS), a neoplasm that manifests most aggressively as multifocal lesions on parts of human skin with a propensity for inflammatory reactivity. However, mechanisms that control evolution of KS from a benign hyperplasia to the histologically complex cutaneous lesion remain unknown. In this study, we found that KSHV induces proteomic and morphological changes in melanocytes and melanoma-derived cell lines, accompanied by deregulation of the endogenous anti-inflammatory responses anchored by the MC1-R/α-MSH signaling axis. We also identified two skin-derived cell lines that displayed differences in ability to support long-term KSHV infection and mapped this dichotomy to differences in (a) NF-κB activation status, (b) processing and expression of KSHV latency-associated nuclear antigen isoforms putatively associated with the viral lytic cycle, and (c) susceptibility to virus-induced changes in expression of key anti-inflammatory response genes that antagonize NF-κB, including MC1-R, POMC, TRP-1, and xCT. Viral subversion of molecules that control the balance between latency and lytic replication represents a novel correlate of KSHV pathogenesis and tropism in skin and underscores the potential benefit of harnessing the endogenous anti-inflammatory processes as a therapeutic option for attenuating cutaneous KS and other proinflammatory outcomes of KSHV infection in high-risk individuals.
High Nuclear Expression of HDGF Correlates with Disease Progression and Poor Prognosis in Human Endometrial Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Lijing , Jiang Qingping , Hua Shengni , Zhao Mengyang , Wu Qiangyun , Fu Qiaofen , Fang Weiyi , Guo Suiqun
Published: February 2014

Aims. This study examined the correlation between high nuclear expression of hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) and clinicopathologic data in endometrial carcinoma (EC), including patient survival.Methods. One hundred and twenty-two endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients from 2002 to 2008 were reviewed in the study. HDGF expression in tumor tissues was examined using immunohistochemistry (IHC), and its association with clinicopathological parameters was evaluated. Tumors with 80% or more nuclei staining were regarded as high expression and tumors with less than 80% nuclei staining considered as low expression.Results and Conclusions. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that HDGF was expressed in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. High nuclear expression of HDGF was positively correlated with FIGO stage (P=0.032), but not associated with other clinical features, such as histological grading or lymph node status. Patients with high expression of HDGF had poorer overall survival rates than those with low expression of HDGF (P=0.001). However, multivariate analyses showed that high nuclear expression of HDGF protein was not an independent predictor of prognosis for EC patients (P=0.111). Our results suggest that high nuclear expression of HDGF is a potential unfavorable factor for the progression and prognosis of EC.
Biological Monitoring Using Macroinvertebrates as Bioindicators of Water Quality of Maroaga Stream in the Maroaga Cave System, Presidente Figueiredo, Amazon, Brazil
Authors: Uherek Christiane Brito , Pinto Gouveia Fernando Bernardo
Published: February 2014

Aquatic environments are being modified by anthropogenic activities regarding their biological, physical, and chemical conditions; even pristine aquatic ecosystems can be threatened. This study focused on the biological monitoring of Maroaga Stream—a first order stream located in an Environmental Protection Area in the Amazon using the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) Score System. The BMWP Score System revealed that the Maroaga Stream was a Class I stream (score of 138 points), indicating clean or not significantly altered water quality. The results suggest the adequate environmental conditions and ecological responses of the Maroaga Stream.
Knowledge Management for Topological Optimization Integration in Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Gardan Nicolas
Published: February 2014

Engineering design optimization of mechanical structures is nowadays essential in the mechanical industry (automotive, aeronautics, etc.). To remain competitive in the globalized world, it is necessary to create and design structures that, in addition to complying specific mechanical performance, should be less expensive. Engineers must then design parts or assemblies that are a better compromise between mechanical and functional performance, weight, manufacturing costs, and so forth. In this context Additive Manufacturing (AM) process offers the possibility to avoid tools and manufacture directly the part. There are numerous technologies which are using different kind of material. For each of these, there are at least two materials: the production material and the support one. Support material is, in most cases, cleaned and becomes a manufacturing residue. Improving the material volume and the global mass of the product is an essential aim surrounding the integration of simulation in additive manufacturing process. Moreover, the layer-by-layer technology of additive manufacturing allows the design of innovative objects, and the use of topological optimization in this context can create a very interesting combination. The purpose of our paper is to present the knowledge management of an AM trade oriented tool which integrated the topological optimization of parts and internal patterns.
Quasi-Stationarity of EEG for Intraoperative Monitoring during Spinal Surgeries
Authors: Vedala Krishnatej , Motahari S. M. Amin , Goryawala Mohammed , Cabrerizo Mercedes , Yaylali Ilker , Adjouadi Malek
Published: February 2014

We present a study and application of quasi-stationarity of electroencephalogram for intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) and an application of Chebyshev time windowing for preconditioning SSEP trials to retain the morphological characteristics of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP). This preconditioning was followed by the application of a principal component analysis (PCA)-based algorithm utilizing quasi-stationarity of EEG on 12 preconditioned trials. This method is shown empirically to be more clinically viable than present day approaches. In all twelve cases, the algorithm takes 4 sec to extract an SSEP signal, as compared to conventional methods, which take several minutes. The monitoring process using the algorithm was successful and proved conclusive under the clinical constraints throughout the different surgical procedures with an accuracy of 91.5%. Higher accuracy and faster execution time, observed in the present study, in determining the SSEP signals provide a much improved and effective neurophysiological monitoring process.
Mechanistic Force Modeling for Broaching Process
Authors: Kamath Cholpadi Raghavendra , Kuttan Appu
Published: February 2014

There is a demand for mechanistic force model that can predict and simulate the broaching process. In this paper, an attempt has been made for mechanistic force modeling of the broaching operation and experimental corroboration with the simulated result. The stiffness and damping coefficients for dynamic model are computed from the natural frequency of the broaching system and actual damped natural frequency has been obtained experimentally. Experimental work has been carried to compute the dynamic model parameters such as mass, stiffness, and damping coefficients. The simulated dynamic forces are illustrated graphically and are closely in agreement with the results obtained through manual broaching process.
The Influence of Shc Proteins on the Whole Body Energetic Response to Calorie Restriction Initiated in 3-Month-Old Mice
Authors: Stern Jennifer H. , Kim Kyoungmi , Ramsey Jon J.
Published: February 2014

There is increasing evidence that Shc proteins play a role in energy metabolism, and we have previously reported that knockdown of Shc proteins influences the energetic response to acute (3 days) calorie restriction (CR) in 18-month-old mice. Whether Shc proteins play a role in the metabolic response to CR in younger mice has yet to be elucidated. Hence, we sought to determine the impact of 3 days and longer term (2 months) CR on energy expenditure (EE) and respiratory quotient (RQ) in 3 month-old Shc knockout (ShcKO) and wild-type (WT) mice. ShcKO mice decreased (P< 0.001) EE normalized for body weight (EEBW) by 3 days of CR, while no such change was observed in WT animals. However, both ShcKO and WT mice decreased (P< 0.001)EEBWat 2 months of CR and there were no differences in body weight between the ShcKO and WT mice at either 3 days or 2 months of CR. Consistent with increased fatty acid oxidation, only ShcKO mice maintained decreased (P< 0.001) 24 h RQ through 2 months of CR, suggesting that they were able to maintain increased fatty acid oxidation for a longer period of time than WT mice. These results indicate that Shc proteins may contribute to some of the acute energetic responses to CR.
Operational Optimization of Large-Scale Parallel-Unit SWRO Desalination Plant Using Differential Evolution Algorithm
Authors: Wang Jian , Wang Xiaolong , Jiang Aipeng , Jiangzhou Shu , Li Ping
Published: February 2014

A large-scale parallel-unit seawater reverse osmosis desalination plant contains many reverse osmosis (RO) units. If the operating conditions change, these RO units will not work at the optimal design points which are computed before the plant is built. The operational optimization problem (OOP) of the plant is to find out a scheduling of operation to minimize the total running cost when the change happens. In this paper, the OOP is modelled as a mixed-integer nonlinear programming problem. A two-stage differential evolution algorithm is proposed to solve this OOP. Experimental results show that the proposed method is satisfactory in solution quality.
Mathematical Modeling and Numerical Analysis of Thermal Distribution in Arch Dams considering Solar Radiation Effect
Authors: Mirzabozorg H. , Hariri-Ardebili M. A. , Shirkhan M. , Seyed-Kolbadi S. M.
Published: February 2014

The effect of solar radiation on thermal distribution in thin high arch dams is investigated. The differential equation governing thermal behavior of mass concrete in three-dimensional space is solved applying appropriate boundary conditions. Solar radiation is implemented considering the dam face direction relative to the sun, the slop relative to horizon, the region cloud cover, and the surrounding topography. It has been observed that solar radiation changes the surface temperature drastically and leads to nonuniform temperature distribution. Solar radiation effects should be considered in thermal transient analysis of thin arch dams.
Interval Neutrosophic Sets and Their Application in Multicriteria Decision Making Problems
Authors: Zhang Hong-yu , Wang Jian-qiang , Chen Xiao-hong
Published: February 2014

As a generalization of fuzzy sets and intuitionistic fuzzy sets, neutrosophic sets have been developed to represent uncertain, imprecise, incomplete, and inconsistent information existing in the real world. And interval neutrosophic sets (INSs) have been proposed exactly to address issues with a set of numbers in the real unit interval, not just a specific number. However, there are fewer reliable operations for INSs, as well as the INS aggregation operators and decision making method. For this purpose, the operations for INSs are defined and a comparison approach is put forward based on the related research of interval valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFSs) in this paper. On the basis of the operations and comparison approach, two interval neutrosophic number aggregation operators are developed. Then, a method for multicriteria decision making problems is explored applying the aggregation operators. In addition, an example is provided to illustrate the application of the proposed method.
Exact Boundary Controller Design for a Kind of Enhanced Oil Recovery Models
Authors: Guo Ping , Wei Changhua , Xiong Wenjun , Zhao Chunlan
Published: February 2014

The exact boundary controllability of a class of enhanced oil recovery systems is discussed in this paper. With a simple transformation, the enhanced oil recovery model is first affirmed to be neither genuinely nonlinear nor linearly degenerate. It is then shown that the enhanced oil recovery system with nonlinear boundary conditions is exactly boundary controllable by applying a constructed method. Moreover, an interval of the control time is presented to not only give the optimal control time but also show the time for avoiding the blowup of the controllable solution. Finally, an example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed criterion.
Effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Cardiac Function and Clinical Outcomes in Chinese Patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Liu Baoxin , Guo Rong , Zhou Shunping , Xie Shuanshuan , Wang Ke , Xu Yawei
Published: February 2014

Aim. The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of OSA on cardiac function in Chinese patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and determine the prognostic impact of OSA among these patients.Methods. In this retrospective study, 198 STEMI patients were enrolled. Doppler echocardiography was performed to detect the effect of OSA on cardiac function. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and cardiac mortality were analyzed to determine whether OSA was a clinical prognostic factor; its prognostic impact was then assessed adjusting for other covariates.Results. The echocardiographic results showed that the myocardium of STEMI patients with OSA appeared to be more hypertrophic and with a poorer cardiac function compared with non-OSA STEMI patients. A Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed significantly higher cumulative incidence of MACE and cardiac mortality in the OSA group compared with that in the non-OSA group during a mean follow-up of 24 months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that OSA was an independent risk factor for MACE and cardiac mortality.Conclusion. These results indicate that the OSA is a powerful predictor of decreased survival and exerts negative prognostic impact on cardiac function in STEMI patients.
Modified Nonradial Supper Efficiency Models
Authors: Jahanshahloo H. , Lotfi F. Hosseinzadeh , Khodabakhshi M.
Published: February 2014

Ranking Efficient Decision Making Units (DMUs) are an important issue in Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). This is one of the main areas for the researcher. Different methods for this purpose have been suggested. Appearing nonzero slack in optimal solution makes the method problematic. In this paper, we modify the nonradial supper efficiency model to remove this difficulty. Some numerical examples are solved by modified model.
HuR Posttranscriptionally Regulates WEE1: Implications for the DNA Damage Response in Pancreatic Cancer Cells
Authors: Lal Shruti , Burkhart Richard A. , Beeharry Neil , Bhattacharjee Vikram , Londin Eric R. , Cozzitorto Joseph A. , Romeo Carmella , Jimbo Masaya , Norris Zoë A. , Yeo Charles J. , Sawicki Janet A. , Winter Jordan M. , Rigoutsos Isidore , Yen Timothy J. , Brody Jonathan R.
Published: February 2014

HuR (ELAV1), an RNA-binding protein abundant in cancer cells, primarily resides in the nucleus, but under specific stress (e.g., gemcitabine), HuR translocates to the cytoplasm in which it tightly modulates the expression of mRNA survival cargo. Here, we demonstrate for the first time that stressing pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) cells by treatment with DNA-damaging anticancer agents (mitomycin C, oxaliplatin, cisplatin, carboplatin, and a PARP inhibitor) results in HuR's translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Importantly, silencing HuR in PDA cells sensitized the cells to these agents, whereas overexpressing HuR caused resistance. HuR's role in the efficacy of DNA-damaging agents in PDA cells was, in part, attributed to the acute upregulation of WEE1 by HuR. WEE1, a mitotic inhibitor kinase, regulates the DNA damage repair pathway, and therapeutic inhibition of WEE1 in combination with chemotherapy is currently in early phase trials for the treatment of cancer. We validate WEE1 as a HuR target in vitro and in vivo by demonstrating (i) direct binding of HuR to WEE1′s mRNA (a discrete 56-bp region residing in the 3′ untranslated region) and (ii) HuR siRNA silencing and overexpression directly affects the protein levels of WEE1, especially after DNA damage. HuR's positive regulation of WEE1 increases γ-H2AX levels, induces Cdk1 phosphorylation, and promotes cell-cycle arrest at the G2–M transition. We describe a novel mechanism that PDA cells use to protect against DNA damage in which HuR posttranscriptionally regulates the expression and downstream function of WEE1 upon exposure to DNA-damaging agents. Cancer Res; 74(4); 1128–40. ©2014 AACR.
Efficacy and Safety of Propranolol for the Treatment of Infantile Hemangioma: A Presentation of Ninety-Nine Cases
Authors: Sagi Lior , Zvulunov Alex , Lapidoth Moshe , Ben Amitai Dan
Published: February 2014

Background: Propranolol is highly effective in the treatment of infantile hemangioma (IH), but important clinical and pharmacological data are lacking. Objective: The aims of the present study were to evaluate the efficacy of propranolol for the treatment of IH, to identify favorable prognostic factors in propranolol-treated IH, and to evaluate the safety of propranolol for the treatment of IH. Methods: Clinical data were recorded from the electronic files and digital photographs of 99 patients with IH attending a tertiary pediatric medical center (2008-2011). Findings were evaluated by regression in volume and color changes. Results: The male-to-female ratio was 1:4. Age at treatment initiation was 9.4 ± 10.1 months; 15% of the treated hemangiomas were beyond the proliferative phase (17-54 months). The propranolol starting dose was 2 mg/kg/day. Duration of the treatment was 8.5 ± 3.2 months. All but 1 patient responded to treatment. A longer treatment course was required for segmental and deep hemangiomas. Mild side effects occurred in 32% of patients. Recurrence occurred in 13% of patients. Conclusion: Lesions located on the face are better responders when treatment is started early. Treatment should continue up to age 12-15 months, with a longer course for segmental or deep hemangiomas.
Bone Sialoprotein, Matrix Metalloproteinases and Type I Collagen Expression after Sealing Infected Caries Dentin in Primary Teeth
Authors: Chibinski A.C.R. , Gomes J.R. , Camargo K. , Reis A. , Wambier D.S.
Published: February 2014

The objective of this in vivo study was to compare the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-9), type I collagen and bone sialoprotein (BSP) in infected dentin of primary teeth at baseline and after cavity sealing with glass ionomer cement. Dentin samples from 45 primary molars with deep and active carious lesions were collected before (baseline sample) and after cavity sealing (60-day sample). The samples were fixed, demineralized and processed for immunohistochemistry assays. Monoclonal antibodies were used for the localization of the cited antigens with an avidin-biotin method. Digital images of the sections were captured and analyzed with ImageJ software. The mean intensity of RGB channels in the images was obtained and compared using Student's t test (α = 0.05). The expression of the MMPs, type I collagen and BSP increased after sealing, but statistical differences were observed only for MMP-8, type I collagen and BSP. MMP-2 and MMP-9 were more concentrated around dentin tubules; MMP-8 and collagen showed strong expression throughout the organic matrix; BSP exhibited strong expression both in the matrix and around dentin tubules. The increased expression of the enzymes investigated 60 days after cavity sealing suggests that they are not related with disease progression but with the healing process of dentin.
Cellular Stress Induced by Plasma-Derived Factor VIII Products
Authors: Brodde Martin , Müller Anja , Kehrel Beate
Published: February 2014

Background: We previously identified protein impurities in plasma-derived factor VIII (pdFVIII) products. The goal of the current experiments was to determine whether these impurities might have clinical relevance, by comparing the effects of pdFVIII and recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) products on cellular stress induction. Methods: The in vitro outcomes on cell stress sensors of 2 pdFVIII products and 1 rFVIII product were evaluated. Microparticle formation was assessed in cells treated with the 3 products. Effects on the mitochondrial membrane potential were measured in cells treated with clinically relevant concentrations of each product. Results: Microparticle formation was induced in platelets by 1 pdFVIII product and in monocytes and granulocytes by both pdFVIII products; the rFVIII product did not affect microparticle formation. Both pdFVIII products, but not the rFVIII product, significantly depolarized the mitochondrial membrane potential. Conclusion: The 2 pdFVIII products tested induced cellular stress in in vitro experiments. No such results were seen with the rFVIII product. Chronic activation of the cell stress defense system and chronic cell irritation may have clinical consequences for patients with hemophilia A.
Acute Kidney Injury and Mortality following Ventricular Assist Device Implantation
Authors: Naik Abhijit , Akhter Shahab A. , Fedson Savitri , Jeevanandam Valluvan , Rich Jonathan D. , Koyner Jay L.
Published: February 2014

Background: Ventricular assist devices (VADs) are increasingly common, and their surgical implantation predisposes patients to an increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). We sought to evaluate the incidence, risk factors and short- and long-term all-cause mortality of patients with AKI following VAD implantation. Methods: We identified all patients who underwent VAD implantation at the University of Chicago between January 1, 2008, and January 31, 2012. We evaluated the incidence of AKI, defined as a ≥50% increase in serum creatinine over the first 7 postoperative days (RIFLE Risk-Creatinine). A logistic regression model was used to identify risk factors for the development of AKI, and a Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine factors associated with 30-day and 365-day all-cause mortality. Results: A total of 157 eligible patients had VAD implantations with 44 (28%) developing postimplantation AKI. In a multivariate analysis, only diabetes mellitus [odds ratio = 2.25 (1.03-4.94), p = 0.04] was identified as a significant predictor of postoperative AKI. Using a multivariable model censored for heart transplantation, only AKI [hazard ratio, HR = 3.01 (1.15-7.92), p = 0.03] and cardiopulmonary bypass time [HR = 1.01 (1.001-1.02), p = 0.02] were independent predictors of 30-day mortality. Preoperative body mass index [HR = 0.95 (0.90-0.99), p = 0.03], preoperative diabetes mellitus [HR = 1.89 (1.07-3.35), p = 0.03] and postimplantation AKI [HR = 1.85 (1.06-3.21), p = 0.03] independently predicted 365-day mortality. Conclusion: AKI is common following VAD implantation and is an independent predictor of 30-day and 1-year all-cause mortality.
Desmoplastic Small Round Cell Tumor: Report of 2 Cases Treated with Chemotherapy Alone or in Combination with Bevacizumab
Authors: de Araújo Rogério Agenor , Araújo Breno Jeha
Published: February 2014

Here, we present 2 case reports of patients with desmoplastic small round cell tumor (DSRCT), a very rare and aggressive mesenchymal cancer, and we discuss 2therapeutic options for this sarcoma. This report focuses on men aged 22 and 37 years, respectively. The first patient presented with an abdominopelvic mass which was not suitable for surgery. He underwent chemotherapy (adriblastina and cisplatin) with a brief partial remission and survival time of 13 months. The second patient presented with an abdominal mass and underwent partial resection. He received chemotherapy and bevacizumab, resulting in a partial remission and a survival time of 34 months. The extent of surgery and monoclonal antibody use probably had a positive impact on survival. It is necessary to include specific targeted therapies in an attempt to improve survival. Surprisingly, positron emission tomography was not effective in restaging of the second patient, emphasizing the importance of computed tomography or magnetic resonance in DSRCT.
The Contribution of Religion to Restorative Justice Behind Bars
Authors: Stamatakis Nikolaos
Published: February 2014

The present article discusses restorative justice as a distinct way of looking at criminal justice, in particular at imprisonment. It aims to explain how and why some of the fundamental goals of restorative justice, such as reconciliation, reintegration, encounter, and forgiveness are more compatible with the Christian doctrine than with most present approaches to crime. Exploring the conceptual relationship and the contribution of Christianity to the promotion of restorative justice, and vice-versa, a second practical compatibility emerges between Christianity and imprisonment, with reference specifically to the restorative justice programs developed by faith-based organizations behind prison bars in New Zealand and South Africa.

Although the article is written from a Christian perspective matching the clear (Christian-oriented) nature of the programs where the qualitative data derive from, it is not intended to be exclusionary. Restorative justice has application beyond the Judeo-Christian dogma and its principles are deeply embedded in all major religions. But Christianity is undoubtedly dominant both in restorative justice and in prison settings, as it has been constantly involved in the spread and delivery of numerous in-prison restorative justice programs worldwide.
Reason and Justification in the Mishnah: Exploring the Significance of the ‘Half-Damage’ Rule
Authors: Zohar Noam
Published: February 2014

Are the norms of Jewish religious law grounded in reason and values? In classical rabbinic discourse, justifications for laws – whether by direct reasoning (sevara), or more commonly, by scriptural derivation (Midrash) – are prevalent in most extant collections, where they serve to express underlying values. Justifications are rare, however, in the core document of the tradition, the Mishnah. But the absence of overt justification should not be taken to signify a lack of an underlying value-laden worldview. Careful analysis of an unusual mishnaic clause reveals a message about the reasonableness and significance of the rabbinic “half-damage” rule, sharply divergent from the plain meaning of the biblical text, which is perceived as inherently unfair. This serves as an instructive example of how exploring the Mishnah as a work of literary art can reveal the reason and values of halakhic norms.
Towards Rigorous Study of Artistic Style: A New Psychophysical Paradigm
Authors: Gerhard Holly E. , Bethge Matthias
Published: February 2014

What makes one artist’s style so different from another’s? How do we perceive these differences? Studying the perception of artistic style has proven difficult. Observers typically view several artworks and must group them or rate similarities between pairs. Responses are often driven by semantic variables, such as scene type or the presence/absence of particular subject matter, which leaves little room for studying how viewers distinguish a Degas ballerina from a Toulouse-Lautrec ballerina, for example. In the current paper, we introduce a new psychophysical paradigm for studying artistic style that focuses on visual qualities and avoids semantic categorization issues by presenting only very local views of a piece, thereby precluding object recognition. The task recasts stylistic judgment in a psychophysical texture discrimination framework, where visual judgments can be rigorously measured for trained and untrained observers alike. Stimuli were a dataset of drawings by Pieter Bruegel the Elder and his imitators studied by the computer science community, which showed that statistical analyses of the drawings’ local content can distinguish an authentic Bruegel from an imitation. Our non-expert observers also successfully discriminated the authentic and inauthentic drawings and furthermore discriminated stylistic variations within the categories, demonstrating the new paradigm’s feasibility for studying artistic style perception. At the same time, however, we discovered several issues in the Bruegel dataset that bear on conclusions drawn by the computer vision studies of artistic style.
Event Segmentation and Biological Motion Perception in Watching Dance
Authors: Noble Katie , Glowinski Donald , Murphy Helen , Jola Corinne , McAleer Phil , Darshane Nikhil , Penfield Kedzie , Kalyanasundaram Sandhiya , Camurri Antonio , Pollick Frank E.
Published: February 2014

We used a combination of behavioral, computational vision and fMRI methods to examine human brain activity while viewing a 386 s video of a solo Bharatanatyam dance. A computational analysis provided us with a Motion Index (MI) quantifying the silhouette motion of the dancer throughout the dance. A behavioral analysis using 30 naïve observers provided us with the time points where observers were most likely to report event boundaries where one movement segment ended and another began. These behavioral and computational data were used to interpret the brain activity of a different set of 11 naïve observers who viewed the dance video while brain activity was measured using fMRI. Results showed that the Motion Index related to brain activity in a single cluster in the right Inferior Temporal Gyrus (ITG) in the vicinity of the Extrastriate Body Area (EBA). Perception of event boundaries in the video was related to the BA44 region of right Inferior Frontal Gyrus as well as extensive clusters of bilateral activity in the Inferior Occipital Gyrus which extended in the right hemisphere towards the posterior Superior Temporal Sulcus (pSTS).
Consistent Emotions Elicited by Low-Level Visual Features in Abstract Art
Authors: van Paasschen Jorien , Zamboni Elisa , Bacci Francesca , Melcher David
Published: February 2014

It is often assumed that works of art have the ability to elicit emotion in their observers. An emotional response to a visual stimulus can occur as early as 120 ms after stimulus onset, before object categorisation can take place. This implies that emotions elicited by an artwork may depend in part on bottom-up processing of its visual features (e.g., shape, colour, composition) and not just on object recognition or understanding of artistic style. We predicted that participants are able to judge the emotion conveyed by an artwork in a manner that is consistent across observers. We tested this hypothesis using abstract paintings; these do not provide any reference to objects or narrative contexts, so that any perceived emotion must stem from basic visual characteristics. Nineteen participants with no background in art rated 340 abstract artworks from different artistic movements on valence and arousal on a Likert scale. An intra-class correlation model showed a high consistency in ratings across observers. Importantly, observers used the whole range of the rating scale. Artworks with a high number of edges (complex) and dark colours were rated as more arousing and more negative compared to paintings containing clear lines, bright colours and geometric shapes. These findings provide evidence that emotions can be captured in a meaningful way by the artist in a set of low-level visual characteristics, and that observers interpret this emotional message in a consistent, uniform manner.
Implicit and Explicit Aesthetic Evaluation of Design Objects
Authors: Mastandrea Stefano , Maricchiolo Fridanna
Published: February 2014

Can a preference for design objects also be achieved automatically? The aim of this study is to examine whether different levels of expertise in industrial design (laypeople versus design experts) can orient the preference towards different styles of design objects (classic chairs versus modern chairs), at both implicit and explicit levels. Implicit and explicit preferences are often mediated by assessor features. The Implicit Association Test (IAT) was used to measure the automaticity of the evaluation. The participants (44 laypeople and 40 experts) performed a categorization task with reference to pictures (five classic and five modern chairs) and words (five positive and five negative aesthetic words). Reaction times were registered. The explicit evaluation of the stimuli was assessed using a seven-point Likert scale referring to the adjectives beautiful, typical, familiar, understandable, complex and interesting in order to appraise overall preferences for both classic and modern design objects.

In both measurements, implicit and explicit preferences for classic and modern objects were moderated by expertise: experts were aesthetically more oriented towards modern objects while laypeople did not show a specific preference for one style. This study is one of the first attempts to demonstrate the differences in aesthetic preferences between experts and non-experts at an implicit level.
Artistic Adjustment of Image Spectral Slope
Authors: Mather George
Published: February 2014

The Fourier spectral slope of 31 artworks was compared to the spectral slope of closely matched photographic images. The artworks were found to display a relatively narrow range of spectral slopes relative to the photographs. Two accounts for this range compression were investigated. The first proposes that the band-pass nature of the visual system’s psychophysical ‘window of visibility’ is responsible. Simulation of this effect by application of an appropriate spatial filter to the original photographs could not explain the range compression, unless one assumed a consistent relation between the visual angle subtended by the scene at the artist’s eye, and the scene’s spectral slope (such that scenes with a steep slope subtended larger angles than scenes with a shallow slope). The second account involves more complex ‘artistic’ filtering which smoothes out textural details while preserving edges. Application of two such filters to the photographs was able to reproduce the spectral slope range compression evident in artworks. Both explanations posit a central role for the artist’s visual system in adjusting image spectral slope, which can be modelled using visual filters.
Eye-Conographs
Authors: Wade Nicholas
Published: February 2014

Icons are pictorial images that are eye-cons: they provide distillations of objects or ideas into simple pictorial shapes. They create the impression of representing that what cannot be presented. Iconography can refer to representations of people, and it has been applied to visual artists and scientists: their portraits are often reproduced in histories of art and science. Until the nineteenth century, artists were mostly represented in pigment (paintings) and scientists on paper (engravings). After the birth of photography, both have been captured by the camera and more recently manipulated by computer. Eye-conographs are ‘perceptual portraits’ of artists and scientists; they combine facial features with the styles and phenomena with which the artists and scientists are associated.
Evaluating the Rule of Thirds in Photographs and Paintings
Authors: Amirshahi Seyed Ali , Hayn-Leichsenring Gregor Uwe , Denzler Joachim , Redies Christoph
Published: February 2014

The rule of thirds (ROT) is one of the best-known composition rules used in painting and photography. According to this rule, the focus point of an image should be placed along one of the third lines or on one of the four intersections of the third lines, to give aesthetically pleasing results. Recently, calculated saliency maps have been used in an attempt to predict whether or not images obey the rule of thirds. In the present study, we challenged this computer-based approach by comparing calculated ROT values with behavioral (subjective) ROT scores obtained from 30 participants in a psychological experiment. For photographs that did not follow the rule of thirds, subjective ROT scores matched calculated ROT values reasonably well. For photographs that followed the rule of thirds, we found a moderate correlation between subjective scores and calculated values. However, aesthetic rating scores correlated only weakly with subjective ROT scores and not at all with calculated ROT values. Moreover, for photographs that were rated as highly aesthetic and for a large set of paintings, calculated ROT values were about as low as in photographs that did not follow the rule of thirds. In conclusion, the computer-based ROT metrics can predict the behavioral data, but not completely. Despite its proclaimed importance in artistic composition, the rule of thirds seems to play only a minor, if any, role in large sets of high-quality photographs and paintings.