bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Two Efficient Techniques to Find Approximate Overlaps between Sequences
Authors: Haj Rachid Maan
Published: February 2017

The next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology outputs a huge number of sequences (reads) that require further processing. After applying prefiltering techniques in order to eliminate redundancy and to correct erroneous reads, an overlap-based assembler typically finds the longest exact suffix-prefix match between each ordered pair of the input reads. However, another trend has been evolving for the purpose of solving an approximate version of the overlap problem. The main benefit of this direction is the ability to skip time-consuming error-detecting techniques which are applied in the prefiltering stage. In this work, we present and compare two techniques to solve the approximate overlap problem. The first adapts a compact prefix tree to efficiently solve the approximate all-pairs suffix-prefix problem, while the other utilizes a well-known principle, namely, the pigeonhole principle, to identify a potential overlap match in order to ultimately solve the same problem. Our results show that our solution using the pigeonhole principle has better space and time consumption over an FM-based solution, while our solution based on prefix tree has the best space consumption between all three solutions. The number of mismatches (hamming distance) is used to define the approximate matching between strings in our work.
An Analysis of the Privacy Threat in Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks due to Radio Frequency Fingerprinting
Authors: Baldini Gianmarco , Giuliani Raimondo , Cano Pons Eduardo
Published: February 2017

In Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) used in the road transportation sector, privacy risks may arise because vehicles could be tracked on the basis of the information transmitted by the Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) and Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) communications implemented with the Dedicated Short Range Communications (DSRC) standards operating at 5.9 GHz. Various techniques have been proposed in the literature to mitigate these privacy risks including the use of pseudonym schemes, but they are mostly focused on data anonymization at the network and application layer. At the physical layer, the capability to accurately identify and fingerprint wireless devices through their radio frequency (RF) emissions has been demonstrated in the literature. This capability may generate a privacy threat because vehicles can be tracked using the RF emissions of their DSRC devices. This paper investigates the privacy risks related to RF fingerprinting to determine if privacy breaches are feasible in practice. In particular, this paper analyzes the tracking accuracy in challenging RF environments with high attenuation and fading.
Combined Hybrid DFE and CCK Remodulator for Medium-Range Single-Carrier Underwater Acoustic Communications
Authors: Jiang Xialin , Su Wei , Cheng En
Published: February 2017

Advanced modulation and channel equalization techniques are essential for improving the performance of medium-range single-carrier underwater acoustic communications. In this paper, an enhanced detection scheme, hybrid time-frequency domain decision feedback equalizer (DFE) combined with complementary code keying (CCK) remodulator, is presented. CCK modulation technique provides strong tolerance to intersymbol interference caused by multipath propagation in underwater acoustic channels. The conventional hybrid DFE, using a frequency domain feedforward filter and a time domain feedback filter, provides good performance along with low computational complexity. The error propagation in the feedback filter, caused by feedbacking wrong decisions prior to CCK demodulation, may lead to great performance degradation. In our proposed scheme, with the help of CCK coding gain, more accurate remodulated CCK chips can be used as feedback. The proposed detection scheme is tested by the practical ocean experiments. The experimental results show that the proposed detection scheme ensures robust communications over 10-kilometre underwater acoustic channels with the data rate at 5 Kbits/s in 3 kHz of channel bandwidth.
SECs (Sinusoidal Endothelial Cells), Liver Microenvironment, and Fibrosis
Authors: Natarajan Vaishaali , Harris Edward N. , Kidambi Srivatsan
Published: February 2017

Liver fibrosis is a wound-healing response to chronic liver injury such as alcoholic/nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and viral hepatitis with no FDA-approved treatments. Liver fibrosis results in a continual accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and paves the way for replacement of parenchyma with nonfunctional scar tissue. The fibrotic condition results in drastic changes in the local mechanical, chemical, and biological microenvironment of the tissue. Liver parenchyma is supported by an efficient network of vasculature lined by liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs). These nonparenchymal cells are highly specialized resident endothelial cell type with characteristic morphological and functional features. Alterations in LSECs phenotype including lack of LSEC fenestration, capillarization, and formation of an organized basement membrane have been shown to precede fibrosis and promote hepatic stellate cell activation. Here, we review the interplay of LSECs with the dynamic changes in the fibrotic liver microenvironment such as matrix rigidity, altered ECM protein profile, and cell-cell interactions to provide insight into the pivotal changes in LSEC physiology and the extent to which it mediates the progression of liver fibrosis. Establishing the molecular aspects of LSECs in the light of fibrotic microenvironment is valuable towards development of novel therapeutic and diagnostic targets of liver fibrosis.
Neutrophils Infiltrate the Spinal Cord Parenchyma of Rats with Experimental Diabetic Neuropathy
Authors: Newton Victoria L. , Guck Jonathan D. , Cotter Mary A. , Cameron Norman E. , Gardiner Natalie J.
Published: February 2017

Spinal glial cell activation and cytokine secretion have been implicated in the etiology of neuropathic pain in a number of experimental models, including diabetic neuropathy. In this study, streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetic rats were either untreated or treated with gabapentin (50 mg/kg/day by gavage for 2 weeks, from 6 weeks after STZ). At 8 weeks after STZ, hypersensitivity was confirmed in the untreated diabetic rats as a reduced response threshold to touch, whilst mechanical thresholds in gabapentin-treated diabetic rats were no different from controls. Diabetes-associated thermal hypersensitivity was also ameliorated by gabapentin. We performed a cytokine profiling array in lumbar spinal cord samples from control and diabetic rats. This revealed an increase in L-selectin, an adhesion molecule important for neutrophil transmigration, in the spinal cord of diabetic rats but not diabetic rats treated with gabapentin. Furthermore, we found an increase in the number of neutrophils present in the parenchyma of the spinal cord, which was again ameliorated in gabapentin-treated diabetic rats. Therefore, we suggest that dysregulated spinal L-selectin and neutrophil infiltration into the spinal cord could contribute to the pathogenesis of painful diabetic neuropathy.
Practical Robust Optimization Method for Unit Commitment of a System with Integrated Wind Resource
Authors: Yang Yuanchao
Published: February 2017

Unit commitment, one of the significant tasks in power system operations, faces new challenges as the system uncertainty increases dramatically due to the integration of time‐varying resources, such as wind. To address these challenges, we propose the formulation and solution of a generalized unit commitment problem for a system with integrated wind resources. Given the prespecified interval information acquired from real central wind forecasting system for uncertainty representation of nodal wind injections with their correlation information, the proposed unit commitment problem solution is computationally tractable and robust against all uncertain wind power injection realizations. We provide a solution approach to tackle this problem with complex mathematical basics and illustrate the capabilities of the proposed mixed integer solution approach on the large‐scale power system of the Northwest China Grid. The numerical results demonstrate that the approach is realistic and not overly conservative in terms of the resulting dispatch cost outcomes.
SPR Characteristics Curve and Distribution of Residual Stress in Self-Piercing Riveted Joints of Steel Sheets
Authors: Haque Rezwanul , Wong Yat C. , Paradowska Anna , Blacket Stuart , Durandet Yvonne
Published: February 2017

Neutron diffraction was used to describe the residual stress distributions in self-piercing riveted (SPR) joints. The sheet material displayed a compressive residual stress near the joint, and the stress gradually became tensile in the sheet material far away from the joint. The stress in the rivet leg was lower in the thick joint of the softer steel sheet than in the thin joint of the harder steel sheet. This lower magnitude was attributed to the lower force gradient during the rivet flaring stage of the SPR process curve. This study shows how the residual stress results may be related to the physical occurrences that happened during joining, using the characteristics curve. The study also shows that neutron diffraction technique enabled a crack in the rivet tip to be detected which was not apparent from a cross-section.
Study on Axial Compressive Capacity of FRP-Confined Concrete-Filled Steel Tubes and Its Comparisons with Other Composite Structural Systems
Authors: Deng Jun , Zheng Yifeng , Wang Yi , Liu Tonghua , Li Hui
Published: February 2017

Concrete-filled steel tubular (CFST) columns have been widely used for constructions in recent decades because of their high axial strength. In CFSTs, however, steel tubes are susceptible to degradation due to corrosion, which results in the decrease of axial strength of CFSTs. To further improve the axial strength of CFST columns, carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) sheets and basalt fiber reinforced polymer (BFRP) sheets are applied to warp the CFSTs. This paper presents an experimental study on the axial compressive capacity of CFRP-confined CFSTs and BFRP-confined CFSTs, which verified the analytical model with considering the effect of concrete self-stressing. CFSTs wrapped with FRP exhibited a higher ductile behavior. Wrapping with CFRP and BFRP improves the axial compressive capacity of CFSTs by 61.4% and 17.7%, respectively. Compared with the previous composite structural systems of concrete-filled FRP tubes (CFFTs) and double-skin tubular columns (DSTCs), FRP-confined CFSTs were convenient in reinforcing existing structures because of softness of the FRP sheets. Moreover, axial compressive capacity of CFSTs wrapped with CFRP sheets was higher than CFFTs and DSTCs, while the compressive strength of DSTCs was higher than the retrofitted CFSTs.
Association between Interleukin-10-1082 G/A and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α308 G/A Gene Polymorphisms and Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Iranian Preterm Infants
Authors: Khoshdel Abolfazl , Kheiri Soleiman , Omidvari Peyman , Moradi Fahimeh , Hamidi Majid , Teimori Hossein
Published: February 2017

Cytokine polymorphisms may contribute to the prevalence of respiratory distress syndrome. The present study was done to investigate the frequency of interleukin- (IL-) 10 and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-)αgene polymorphisms and their association with the risk of RDS in preterm infants. One-hundred and nineteen patients with RDS and 119 healthy preterm infants were enrolled. PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to determine the frequency of IL-10 and TNF-αgenotypes at -1082 A and -308 A, respectively. One-hundred and nineteen out of 238 infants had RDS (50%). The age of the mothers and gestational age ranged 17–45 (mean:28.6±5.3) years and 24–34 (mean:34.3±2.38) weeks, respectively. Totally, 23 deaths were recorded in the RDS group. Incidence of TNF-α-308 A/A and TNF-α-308 G/A was 84% and 16%, respectively. TNF-a-308 G/G was not found in both groups. Prevalence of IL-10-1082 G/G and IL-10-1082 G/A variants was 65.5% and 34.5%, respectively. IL-10-1082 A/A was not found in both groups. The incidence of the allele G in the IL-10-1082 polymorphism was lower in RDS group (P<0.05). We found that the risk of RDS was correlated to sex, gestational age, and IL-10-1082.
Compression Algorithm of Road Traffic Spatial Data Based on LZW Encoding
Authors: Xu Dong-wei , Wang Yong-dong , Jia Li-min , Zhang Gui-jun , Guo Hai-feng
Published: February 2017

Wide-ranging applications of road traffic detection technology in road traffic state data acquisition have introduced new challenges for transportation and storage of road traffic big data. In this paper, a compression method for road traffic spatial data based on LZW encoding is proposed. First, the spatial correlation of road segments was analyzed by principal component analysis. Then, the road traffic spatial data compression based on LZW encoding is presented. The parameters determination is also discussed. Finally, six typical road segments in Beijing are adopted for case studies. The final results are listed and prove that the road traffic spatial data compression method based on LZW encoding is feasible, and the reconstructed data can achieve high accuracy.
Variation of the Pole Length in Pole-Oriented Bonded Rings due to the Location and Number of Injection Points
Authors: Kurth Katharina H. , Drummer Dietmar
Published: February 2017

Polymer bonded magnets are compounds consisting of a polymer matrix with embedded hard magnetic filler particles. These materials are mainly used in applications in actor or sensor technology. One example is the application as multipolar encoder wheel in magnetic sensors. Depending on the application different requirements have to be fulfilled, such as a high pole length accuracy and repeatability. This investigation deals with the production of multipolar rings in the injection molding process for sensor applications and influences of the design of the gating system on the pole length accuracy. It is shown that the number of injection points and developing weld lines, as well as the positioning of the injection points, has a major influence on the magnetization characteristics of the molded rings. In general, a positioning of injection points and weld lines in the pole pitch and higher number of injection points lead to rings with a high reproduction accuracy of the pole length of the mold.
E-Token Energy-Aware Proportionate Sharing Scheduling Algorithm for Multiprocessor Systems
Authors: Ramesh Pasupuleti , Ramachandraiah Uppu
Published: February 2017

WSN plays vital role from small range healthcare surveillance systems to largescale environmental monitoring. Its design for energy constrained applications is a challenging issue. Sensors in WSNs are projected to run separately for longer periods. It is of excessive cost to substitute exhausted batteries which is not even possible in antagonistic situations. Multiprocessors are used in WSNs for high performance scientific computing, where each processor is assigned the same or different workload. When the computational demands of the system increase then the energy efficient approaches play an important role to increase system lifetime. Energy efficiency is commonly carried out by using proportionate fair scheduler. This introduces abnormal overloading effect. In order to overcome the existing problems E-token Energy-Aware Proportionate Sharing (EEAPS) scheduling is proposed here. The power consumption for each thread/task is calculated and the tasks are allotted to the multiple processors through the auctioning mechanism. The algorithm is simulated by using the real-time simulator (RTSIM) and the results are tested.
Generalized Dynamic Switched Synchronization between Combinations of Fractional-Order Chaotic Systems
Authors: Sayed Wafaa S. , Henein Moheb M. R. , Abd-El-Hafiz Salwa K. , Radwan Ahmed G.
Published: February 2017

This paper proposes a novel generalized switched synchronization scheme amongnfractional-order chaotic systems with various operating modes. Digital dynamic switches and dynamic scaling factors are employed, which offer many new capabilities. Dynamic switches determine the role of each system as a master or a slave. A system can either have a fixed role throughout the simulation time (static switching) or switch its role one or more times (dynamic switching). Dynamic scaling factors are used for each state variable of the master system. Such scaling factors control whether the master is a single system or a combination of several systems. In addition, these factors determine the generalized relation between the original systems from which the master system is built as well as the slave system(s). Moreover, they can be utilized to achieve different kinds of generalized synchronization relations for the purpose of generating new attractor diagrams. The paper presents a mathematical formulation and analysis of the proposed synchronization scheme. Furthermore, many numerical simulations are provided to demonstrate the successful generalized switched synchronization of several fractional-order chaotic systems. The proposed scheme provides various functions suitable for applications such as different master-slave communication models and secure communication systems.
Antithrombotic Effect and Mechanism of Radix Paeoniae Rubra
Authors: Xie Pingyao , Cui Lili , Shan Yuan , Kang Wen-yi
Published: February 2017

The compounds of Radix Paeoniae Rubra (RPR) were isolated and identified by bioassay-guided method, and antithrombotic effects and mechanism were investigated by the acute blood stasis rat model. The RPR extract was evaluated by APTT, TT, PT, and FIB assays in vitro. Results indicated that RPR extract exhibited the anticoagulant activity. In order to find active compounds, six compounds were isolated and identified, and four compounds, paeoniflorin (Pae), pentagalloylglucose (Pen), albiflorin (Ali), and protocatechuic acid (Pro), exhibited the anticoagulant activity in vitro. Therefore, the antithrombosis effects of RPR extract and four active compounds were investigated in vivo by measuring whole blood viscosity (WBV), plasma viscosity (PV), APTT, PT, TT, and FIB. Meanwhile, the levels of TXB2, 6-Keto-PGF1α, eNOS, and ET-1 were detected. Results suggested that RPR extract and four active compounds had the inhibition effect on thrombus formation, and the antithrombotic effects were associated with the regulation of vascular endothelium active substance, activating blood flow and anticoagulation effect.
Finite-Time Stabilization for a Class of Nonlinear Differential-Algebraic Systems Subject to Disturbance
Authors: Mo Xiaohui , Niu Huawei , Lan Qixun
Published: February 2017

In this paper, finite-time stabilization problem for a class of nonlinear differential-algebraic systems (NDASs) subject to external disturbance is investigated via a composite control manner. A composite finite-time controller (CFTC) is proposed with a three-stage design procedure. Firstly, based on the adding a power integrator technique, a finite-time control (FTC) law is explicitly designed for the nominal NDAS by only using differential variables. Then, by using homogeneous system theory, a continuous finite-time disturbance observer (CFTDO) is constructed to estimate the disturbance generated by an exogenous system. Finally, a composite controller which consists of a feedforward compensation part based on CFTDO and the obtained FTC law is proposed. Rigorous analysis demonstrates that not only the proposed composite controller can stabilize the NDAS in finite time, but also the proposed control scheme exhibits nominal performance recovery property. Simulation examples are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed control approach.
Functional Effects of Prebiotic Fructans in Colon Cancer and Calcium Metabolism in Animal Models
Authors: Rivera-Huerta Marisol , Lizárraga-Grimes Vania Lorena , Castro-Torres Ibrahim Guillermo , Tinoco-Méndez Mabel , Macías-Rosales Lucía , Sánchez-Bartéz Francisco , Tapia-Pérez Graciela Guadalupe , Romero-Romero Laura , Gracia-Mora María Isabel
Published: February 2017

Inulin-type fructans are polymers of fructose molecules and are known for their capacity to enhance absorption of calcium and magnesium, to modulate gut microbiota and energy metabolism, and to improve glycemia. We evaluated and compared the effects of Chicory inulin “Synergy 1®” and inulin from Mexican agave “Metlin®” in two experimental models of colon cancer and bone calcium metabolism in mice and rats. Inulins inhibited the development of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis and colon cancer in mice; these fructans reduced the concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha and prevented the formation of intestinal polyps, villous atrophy, and lymphoid hyperplasia. On the other hand, inulin treatments significantly increased bone densitometry (femur and vertebra) in ovariectomized rats without altering the concentration of many serum biochemical parameters and urinary parameters. Histopathology results were compared between different experimental groups. There were no apparent histological changes in rats treated with inulins and a mixture of inulins-isoflavones. Our results showed that inulin-type fructans have health-promoting properties related to enhanced calcium absorption, potential anticancer properties, and anti-inflammatory effects. The use of inulin as a prebiotic can improve health and prevent development of chronic diseases such as cancer and osteoporosis.
[18F](2S,4R)4-Fluoroglutamine PET Detects Glutamine Pool Size Changes in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer in Response to Glutaminase Inhibition
Authors: Zhou Rong , Pantel Austin R. , Li Shihong , Lieberman Brian P. , Ploessl Karl , Choi Hoon , Blankemeyer Eric , Lee Hsiaoju , Kung Hank F. , Mach Robert H. , Mankoff David A.
Published: February 2017

Glutaminolysis is a metabolic pathway adapted by many aggressive cancers, including triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC), to utilize glutamine for survival and growth. In this study, we examined the utility of [18F](2S,4R)4-fluoroglutamine ([18F]4F-Gln) PET to measure tumor cellular glutamine pool size, whose change might reveal the pharmacodynamic (PD) effect of drugs targeting this cancer-specific metabolic pathway. High glutaminase (GLS) activity in TNBC tumors resulted in low cellular glutamine pool size assayed via high-resolution 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). GLS inhibition significantly increased glutamine pool size in TNBC tumors. MCF-7 tumors, with inherently low GLS activity compared with TNBC, displayed a larger baseline glutamine pool size that did not change as much in response to GLS inhibition. The tumor-to-blood-activity ratios (T/B) obtained from [18F]4F-Gln PET images matched the distinct glutamine pool sizes of both tumor models at baseline. After a short course of GLS inhibitor treatment, the T/B values increased significantly in TNBC, but did not change in MCF-7 tumors. Across both tumor types and after GLS inhibitor or vehicle treatment, we observed a strong positive correlation between T/B values and tumor glutamine pool size measured using MRS (r2 = 0.71). In conclusion, [18F]4F-Gln PET tracked cellular glutamine pool size in breast cancers with differential GLS activity and detected increases in cellular glutamine pool size induced by GLS inhibitors. This study accomplished the first necessary step toward validating [18F]4F-Gln PET as a PD marker for GLS-targeting drugs. Cancer Res; 77(6); 1476–84. ©2017 AACR.
Systematic In Vivo Inactivation of Chromatin-Regulating Enzymes Identifies Setd2 as a Potent Tumor Suppressor in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Walter David M. , Venancio Olivia S. , Buza Elizabeth L. , Tobias John W. , Deshpande Charuhas , Gudiel A. Andrea , Kim-Kiselak Caroline , Cicchini Michelle , Yates Travis J. , Feldser David M.
Published: February 2017

Chromatin-modifying genes are frequently mutated in human lung adenocarcinoma, but the functional impact of these mutations on disease initiation and progression is not well understood. Using a CRISPR-based approach, we systematically inactivated three of the most commonly mutated chromatin regulatory genes in two KrasG12D-driven mouse models of lung adenocarcinoma to characterize the impact of their loss. Targeted inactivation of SWI/SNF nucleosome–remodeling complex members Smarca4 (Brg1) or Arid1a had complex effects on lung adenocarcinoma initiation and progression. Loss of either Brg1 or Arid1a were selected against in early-stage tumors, but Brg1 loss continued to limit disease progression over time, whereas loss of Arid1a eventually promoted development of higher grade lesions. In contrast to these stage-specific effects, loss of the histone methyltransferase Setd2 had robust tumor-promoting consequences. Despite disparate impacts of Setd2 and Arid1a loss on tumor development, each resulted in a gene expression profile with significant overlap. Setd2 inactivation and subsequent loss of H3K36me3 led to the swift expansion and accelerated progression of both early- and late-stage tumors. However, Setd2 loss per se was insufficient to overcome a p53-regulated barrier to malignant progression, nor establish the prometastatic cellular states that stochastically evolve during lung adenocarcinoma progression. Our study uncovers differential and context-dependent effects of SWI/SNF complex member loss, identifies Setd2 as a potent tumor suppressor in lung adenocarcinoma, and establishes model systems to facilitate further study of chromatin deregulation in lung cancer. Cancer Res; 77(7); 1719–29. ©2017 AACR.
Correlates of Prenatal and Early-Life Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Frequency of Common Gene Deletions in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: de Smith Adam J. , Kaur Maneet , Gonseth Semira , Endicott Alyson , Selvin Steve , Zhang Luoping , Roy Ritu , Shao Xiaorong , Hansen Helen M. , Kang Alice Y. , Walsh Kyle M. , Dahl Gary V. , McKean-Cowdin Roberta , Metayer Catherine , Wiemels Joseph L.
Published: February 2017

Tobacco smoke exposure has been associated with risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Understanding the relationship between tobacco exposures and specific mutations may yield etiologic insights. We carried out a case-only analysis to explore whether prenatal and early-life tobacco smoke exposure influences the formation of leukemogenic genomic deletions. Somatic copy number of 8 genes frequently deleted in ALL (CDKN2A, ETV6, IKZF1, PAX5, RB1, BTG1, PAR1 region, and EBF1) was assessed in 559 pretreatment tumor samples from the California Childhood Leukemia Study. Parent and child's passive tobacco exposure was assessed using interview-assisted questionnaires as well as DNA methylation in aryl-hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR), a sentinel epigenetic biomarker of exposure to maternal smoking during pregnancy. Multivariable Poisson regressions were used to test the association between the smoking exposures and total number of deletions. Deletion burden varied by subtype, with a lower frequency in high-hyperdiploid and higher frequency in ETV6–RUNX1 fusion ALL. The total number of deletions per case was positively associated with tobacco smoke exposure, in particular for maternal ever-smoking (ratio of means, RM, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.08–1.59), maternal smoking during pregnancy (RM, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.12–1.94), and during breastfeeding (RM, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.48–3.02). The magnitude of association with maternal ever-smoking was stronger in male children compared with females (Pinteraction = 0.04). The total number of deletions was also associated with DNA methylation at the AHRR epigenetic biomarker (RM, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.02–1.69). Our results suggest that prenatal and early-life tobacco smoke exposure increase the frequency of somatic deletions in children who develop ALL. Cancer Res; 77(7); 1674–83. ©2017 AACR.
Oncogenic Effects of High MAPK Activity in Colorectal Cancer Mark Progenitor Cells and Persist Irrespective of RAS Mutations
Authors: Blaj Cristina , Schmidt Eva Marina , Lamprecht Sebastian , Hermeking Heiko , Jung Andreas , Kirchner Thomas , Horst David
Published: February 2017

About 40% of colorectal cancers have mutations in KRAS accompanied by downstream activation of MAPK signaling, which promotes tumor invasion and progression. Here, we report that MAPK signaling shows strong intratumoral heterogeneity and unexpectedly remains regulated in colorectal cancer irrespective of KRAS mutation status. Using primary colorectal cancer tissues, xenograft models, and MAPK reporter constructs, we showed that tumor cells with high MAPK activity resided specifically at the leading tumor edge, ceased to proliferate, underwent epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), and expressed markers related to colon cancer stem cells. In KRAS-mutant colon cancer, regulation of MAPK signaling was preserved through remaining wild-type RAS isoforms. Moreover, using a lineage tracing strategy, we provide evidence that high MAPK activity marked a progenitor cell compartment of growth-fueling colon cancer cells in vivo. Our results imply that differential MAPK signaling balances EMT, cancer stem cell potential, and tumor growth in colorectal cancer. Cancer Res; 77(7); 1763–74. ©2017 AACR.
The Phonetics and Phonology of the Polish Calling Melodies
Authors: Arvaniti Amalia , Żygis Marzena , Jaskuła Marek
Published: February 2017

Two calling melodies of Polish were investigated, the routine call, used to call someone for an everyday reason, and the urgent call, which conveys disapproval of the addressee's actions. A Discourse Completion Task was used to elicit the two melodies from Polish speakers using twelve names from one to four syllables long; there were three names per syllable count, and speakers produced three tokens of each name with each melody. The results, based on eleven speakers, show that the routine calling melody consists of a low F0 stretch followed by a rise-fall-rise; the urgent calling melody, on the other hand, is a simple rise-fall. Systematic differences were found in the scaling and alignment of tonal targets: the routine call showed late alignment of the accentual pitch peak, and in most instances lower scaling of targets. The accented vowel was also affected, being overall louder in the urgent call. Based on the data and comparisons with other Polish melodies, we analyze the routine call as LH* !H-H% and the urgent call as H* L-L%. We discuss the results and our analysis in light of recent findings on calling melodies in other languages, and explore their repercussions for intonational phonology and the modeling of intonation.
Acute and Subacute Presentations of Cerebral Edema following Deep Brain Stimulation Lead Implantation
Authors: Fenoy Albert J. , Villarreal Sebastian J. , Schiess Mya C.
Published: February 2017

Background/Aims: Postoperative cerebral edema around a deep brain stimulation (DBS) electrode is an uncommon reported complication. The goal of this study was to identify instances of postoperative edema based on clinical presentation, and to remark on their management. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on all patients who underwent DBS electrode implantation over a 3-year period. Routine CT imaging on postoperative day (POD) 1 was negative. Patients were identified based on clinical neurological changes, leading to imaging and subsequent diagnosis. Results: Five of 145 patients (3.4%) presented with new neurological symptoms from POD 1 to 14, which were confirmed by CT imaging to show perilead and/or subcortical edema around 6 of 281 electrodes (2.1%). Four of 5 patients had unilateral edema despite bilateral implantation. Clinical presentations varied widely. Two patients presenting on POD 1 with deteriorating conditions required longer inpatient stays with supportive measures than those presenting later (p = 0.0002). All patients were treated with corticosteroids and returned to baseline by 3 months after surgery. Conclusions: Acute instances of DBS lead edema may occur as early as POD 1 and can rapidly progress into profound deficits. Treatment with supportive care and corticosteroids is otherwise identical to those cases presenting later.
Simultaneous Umbilical Hernia Repair with Transumbilical Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Placement
Authors: Montalbano Michael J. , Loukas Marios , Oakes W. Jerry , Tubbs R. Shane
Published: February 2017

Introduction: Recently, placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt via a transumbilical approach has been reported. Patients and Methods: Herein, we report the repair of an umbilical hernia via the same incision and introduction of the distal end of a ventricultoperitoneal shunt into the peritoneal cavity in 3 patients. A case illustration is included. Results: Both hernia repair and placement of the distal end of the ventriculoperitoneal shunt were uncomplicated in our small case series. Conclusions: To our knowledge, simultaneous repair of an umbilical hernia followed by transumbilical shunt placement has not been reported. As umbilical hernias are so common in infants, this finding, based on our experience, should not exclude placement of peritoneal tubing in the same setting.
Outcome of Patients with Renal Cell Carcinoma and Multiple Glandular Metastases Treated with Targeted Agents
Authors: Grassi Paolo , Doucet Ludovic , Giglione Palma , Grünwald Viktor , Melichar Bohuslav , Galli Luca , De Giorgi Ugo , Sabbatini Roberto , Ortega Cinzia , Santoni Matteo , Bamias Aristotelis , Verzoni Elena , Derosa Lisa , Studentova Hana , Porcu Luca , De Braud Filippo , Porta Camillo , Procopio Giuseppe
Published: February 2017

Purpose: Pancreatic metastases (PM) from renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have been associated with long-term survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of RCC patients with multiple glandular metastases (MGM) treated with targeted therapies (TTs). Methods: Sixty-four MGM patients treated between 1993 and 2014 were retrospectively identified from a database of 274 RCC patients with PM from 11 European centers. The survival of MGM patients was compared with that of both patients with PM only and a cohort of 325 RCC patients with non-GM (control group) treated with TTs. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and was statistically compared using the log-rank test. Results: Fifty-six patients (88%) had at least 2 MGM, 7 patients (11%) had 3 MGM and 1 patient had 4 MGM, while non-GM were present in the remaining patients. The median overall survival (OS) was 54.2 months for MGM and 73.4 months for patients with PM only. The median OS in the control group was 22.7 months and statistically inferior to both MGM (p < 0.001) and PM patients (p < 0.001). Conclusion: MGM from RCC are associated with a remarkable survival. Despite some limitations, these findings suggest that GM might be considered a predictor of a favorable prognosis.
First Diagnosis of Atrial Fibrillation at the Time of Stroke
Authors: Borowsky Leila H. , Regan Susan , Chang Yuchiao , Ayres Alison , Greenberg Steven M. , Singer Daniel E.
Published: February 2017

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major cause of ischemic stroke. Individuals with undiagnosed AF lack the stroke protection afforded by oral anticoagulants. We obtained a contemporary estimate of the percentage of AF patients newly diagnosed at the time of stroke. Methods: We identified patients admitted to the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2013 with acute ischemic stroke and either previously or newly diagnosed AF using hospital stroke registry data and stroke and AF ICD-9 code searches of hospital databases. Reviewers categorized AF as previously known or newly diagnosed, and collected comorbidity and outcome data. To confirm AF as newly diagnosed, we searched patients' pre-event electronic medical records (EMRs) for AF terms. Results: AF was considered newly diagnosed in 156/856 patients (18%; 95% CI 16-21). In 136/156 cases, AF was diagnosed using 12-lead EKG, telemetry, or rhythm strips. New AF strokes had a median NIH stroke scale of 12; 60% had mRankin ≥3 at discharge, including 15% deaths. Pre-stroke CHA2DS2-VASc score was ≥2 in 89%. About half (76/156) had prior records in the MGH EMR. Evidence of pre-stroke AF, often peri-procedural, was found in 8/76, but the AF diagnosis was not carried forward. Conclusions: In this contemporary cohort, nearly one in 5 AF-related strokes occurred without a pre-stroke AF diagnosis. AF was readily diagnosed using standard rhythm monitoring. The vast majority of patients with newly diagnosed AF were at high enough pre-stroke risk to merit anticoagulation. In conclusion, our findings support screening for AF before stroke. Patients with past transient AF may merit more intensive screening.
EphB4 Regulates Self-Renewal, Proliferation and Neuronal Differentiation of Human Embryonic Neural Stem Cells in Vitro
Authors: Liu Tingting , Zeng Xianwei , Sun Fangling , Hou Hongli , Guan Yunqian , Guo Deyu , Ai Houxi , Wang Wen , Zhang Guojun
Published: February 2017

Background/Aims: EphB4 belongs to the largest family of Eph receptor tyrosine kinases. It contributes to a variety of pathological progresses of cancer malignancy. However, little is known about its role in neural stem cells (NSCs). This study examined whether EphB4 is required for proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic neural stem cells (hNSCs) in vitro. Methods: We up- and down-regulated EphB4 expression in hNSCs using lentiviral over-expression and shRNA knockdown constructs and then investigated the influence of EphB4 on the properties of hNSCs. Results: Our results show that shRNA-mediated EphB4 reduction profoundly impaired hNSCs self-renewal and proliferation. Furthermore, detection of differentiation revealed that knockdown of EphB4 inhibited hNSCs differentiation towards a neuronal lineage and promoted hNSCs differentiation to glial cells. In contrast, EphB4 overexpression promoted hNSCs self-renewal and proliferation, further induced hNSCs differentiation towards a neuronal lineage and inhibited hNSCs differentiation to glial cells. Moreover, we found that EphB4 regulates cell proliferation mediated by the Abl-CyclinD1 pathway. Conclusion: These studies provide strong evidence that fine tuning of EphB4 expression is crucial for the proliferation and neuronal differentiation of hNSCs, suggesting that EphB4 might be an interesting target for overcoming some of the therapeutic limitations of neuronal loss in brain diseases.
Systems Perspectivation as a General Basis for Computer Simulations
Authors: Hinterwaldner Inge
Published: February 2017

The author proposes a theoretical framework for better understanding the scope of expression of interactive computer simulations. As programmed processes, simulations embody the logic of systems as conceived by systems theory. Here, this basis is seen as a kind of pre-forming perspectivation on a general level, leading to certain characteristics of simulated dynamics (differing from other modes of conceptualizing processes). It is crucial for epistemological questions as well as simulation practices to recognize the specificity of the kind of processes producible by simulations and to be conscious that there is no “natural” relationship between the simulation dynamics and their iconization.
Papilionoidea (Insecta: Lepidoptera) type specimens at the Museo de Zoología “Alfonso L. Herrera” from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
Authors: LUIS-MARTÍNEZ ARMANDO , COVARRUBIAS ARTURO ARELLANO , LLORENTE-BOUSQUETS JORGE
Published: February 2017

We list and illustrate Papilionoidea (s. l.) type specimens deposited in the Museo de Zoología “Alfonso L. Herrera” of the National Autonomous University of Mexico. The 36 type specimens belong to 29 genera, 14 subfamilies, and five families. We note locality data for each type, and illustrate 23 holotypes, 8 allotypes and 13 paratypes. The names were published between 1984 and 2013.
Revision of the Neotropical water scavenger beetle genus Globulosis García, 2001 (Coleoptera: Hydrophilidae: Acidocerinae)
Authors: SHORT ANDREW EDWARD Z. , GARCÍA MAURICIO , GIRÓN JENNIFER C.
Published: February 2017

The Neotropical water scavenger beetle genus Globulosis García, 2001 is revised. Originally described from a single male specimen from southeastern Venezuela, the genus has since been found in localities across the Guiana Shield region and beyond, including Colombia, Suriname, Guyana, and Brazil. The genus is redescribed. Morphological characters and genetic data from the mitochondrial gene COI from ten populations across its range provide support for two distinct species, corresponding loosely to geography. The type species, G. hemisphericus García, is redescribed and newly recorded from Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil (Amazonas, Para). One new species is described, Globulosis flavus sp. n. from southwestern Venezuela (Amazonas, Bolivar). The genus is associated with lotic habitats, and typically found along the margins of small to medium sized streams. High-resolution habitus and aedeagal images and distribution maps for all species are provided.
Taxonomic review of Phytocoris Fallén (Heteroptera: Miridae: Mirinae: Mirini) in Korea, with one new species
Authors: OH MINSUK , YASUNAGA TOMOHIDE , LEE SEUNGHWAN
Published: February 2017

The mirine plant bug genus Phytocoris Fallén, 1814 in Korea is reviewed. Eight species are recognized, including the first record of P. minakatai Yasunaga & Schwartz, 2015 from Korea and a new species herein described, P. goryeonus sp. nov. Each species is diagnosed, with habitus photographic images. Also, the little-known east Asian P. intricatus Flor and P. shabliovskii Kerzhner are redescribed. A key is provided to facilitate identifications of the Korean Phytocoris species.
Green Mountains and White Plains: The Effect of Northern Hemisphere Ice Sheets on the Global Energy Budget
Authors: Roberts William H. G. , Valdes Paul J.
Published: February 2017

The changes in the global energy budget in response to imposing an ice sheet’s topography, albedo, or topography and albedo combined are examined. The albedo of the ice sheet (here called a “White Plain”) causes an outgoing top of the atmosphere radiation anomaly over the ice sheet that is balanced by an incoming anomaly in the Southern Hemisphere. This causes a northward transport of heat across the equator that is carried equally by the ocean and atmosphere. The topography of the ice sheet (“Green Mountain”) causes an incoming radiation anomaly over the ice sheet that is balanced predominantly by an outgoing anomaly to the south of the ice sheet, with a smaller outgoing flux in the Southern Hemisphere. The heat is transported across the equator by the atmosphere alone. The combined topography and albedo of the ice sheet (“White Mountain”) cause an outgoing radiation anomaly over the ice sheet that is balanced equally by an incoming flux in the Southern Hemisphere and to the south of the ice sheet. Heat is transported across the equator by the ocean alone.

With varying ice sheet geometry generally linear relationships between the various energy fluxes and the varying height and area of the ice sheet are found. In both the White Plain and White Mountain cases the ocean is always a significant carrier of heat across the equator, and in the White Mountain case it is preeminent.
Quasi-Biweekly Oscillation over the South China Sea in Late Summer: Propagation Dynamics and Energetics
Authors: Wang Xu , Chen Guanghua
Published: February 2017

The propagation dynamics and energetics of the quasi-biweekly oscillation (QBWO) over the South China Sea (SCS) in late summer [August–September (AS)] are investigated in this study. The QBWO originates from east of the Philippines and has a northwestward propagation. After arriving to the east of the SCS, the QBWO shifts to a westward migration and dominates over the SCS. The analyses of the vorticity budget suggest that the meridional wind anomaly could control the spatial migration of the vorticity anomaly through the β-effect term and further influences the movement of the convection anomaly. It implies that the meridional wind is a crucial factor to drive the propagation of the QBWO. The energetics of the QBWO is investigated to understand the maintenance of the QBWO, which indicates that the convection anomaly could affect the circulation anomaly through the energy conversions to maintain the QBWO.
Representation of Arctic Moist Intrusions in CMIP5 Models and Implications for Winter Climate Biases
Authors: Woods Cian , Caballero Rodrigo , Svensson Gunilla
Published: February 2017

This paper examines the wintertime northward moisture flux at 70°N from 1981–2005 in 31 of the CMIP5 models compared with the ERA-Interim reanalysis product. The models’ total zonally integrated northward moisture flux is found to agree reasonably well with the reanalysis, but with large compensating regional biases. Specifically, the models systematically underpredict the moisture flux in the Atlantic sector and overpredict it in the Pacific sector. The biases are predominantly due to misrepresentation of extreme moisture flux events, which are known to exert a significant control on Arctic climate. Biases in these high-intensity fluxes are almost entirely contributed by biases in the meridional velocity, suggesting a link with biases in storm-track activity at lower latitudes. The extent to which the deficit of moisture intrusions in the Atlantic sector and excess in the Pacific sector may account for biases in the climate of the respective sectors is assessed. Biases in the frequency of moisture intrusions explain roughly 17% of surface temperature and 24% of surface downward longwave radiation biases in the Atlantic sector, and about 14% and 16% of the gradient in these respective biases between the two sectors. The predicted bias gradients, while small in amplitude, are very highly correlated with the true bias gradients in the models, suggesting that the temperature bias directly induced by misrepresented intrusion statistics may be strongly amplified by sea ice feedback.
Evaluation of CLASS Snow Simulation over Eastern Canada
Authors: Verseghy Diana , Brown Ross , Wang Libo
Published: February 2017

The Canadian Land Surface Scheme (CLASS), version 3.6.1, was run offline for the period 1990–2011 over a domain centered on eastern Canada, driven by atmospheric forcing data dynamically downscaled from ERA-Interim using the Canadian Regional Climate Model. The precipitation inputs were adjusted to replicate the monthly average precipitation reported in the CRU observational database. The simulated fractional snow cover and the surface albedo were evaluated using NOAA Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System and MODIS data, and the snow water equivalent was evaluated using CMC, Global Snow Monitoring for Climate Research (GlobSnow), and Hydro-Québec products. The modeled fractional snow cover agreed well with the observational estimates. The albedo of snow-covered areas showed a bias of up to −0.15 in boreal forest regions, owing to neglect of subgrid-scale lakes in the simulation. In June, conversely, there was a positive albedo bias in the remaining snow-covered areas, likely caused by neglect of impurities in the snow. The validation of the snow water equivalent was complicated by the fact that the three observation-based datasets differed widely. Also, the downward adjustment of the forcing precipitation clearly resulted in a low snow bias in some regions. However, where the density of the observations was high, the CLASS snow model was deemed to have performed well. Sensitivity tests confirmed the satisfactory behavior of the current parameterizations of snow thermal conductivity, snow albedo refreshment threshold, and limiting snow depth and underlined the importance of snow interception by vegetation. Overall, the study demonstrated the necessity of using a wide variety of observation-based datasets for model validation.