bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inflamm-Aging: A New Mechanism Affecting Premature Ovarian Insufficiency
Authors: Huang Yaoqi , Hu Chuan , Ye Haifeng , Luo Ruichen , Fu Xinxin , Li Xiaoyan , Huang Jian , Chen Weiyun , Zheng Yuehui
Published: January 2019

The normal function of ovaries, along with the secretion of sex hormones, is among the most important endocrine factors that maintain the female sexual characteristics and promote follicular development and ovulation. Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a common cause in the etiology of female infertility. It is defined as the loss of ovarian function before the age of 40. The characteristics of POI are menstrual disorders, including amenorrhea and delayed menstruation, accompanied by a raised gonadotrophin level and decreased estradiol level. Inflammatory aging is a new concept in the research field of aging. It refers to a chronic and low-degree proinflammatory state which occurs with increasing age. Inflammatory aging is closely associated with multiple diseases, as excessive inflammation can induce the inflammatory lesions in certain organs of the body. In recent years, studies have shown that inflammatory aging plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of POI. This paper begins with the pathogenesis of inflammatory aging and summarizes the relationship between inflammatory aging and premature ovarian insufficiency in a comprehensive way, as well as discussing the new diagnostic and therapeutic methods of POI.
Assessment of Long-Term Badminton Experience on Foot Posture Index and Plantar Pressure Distribution
Authors: Huang Ping , Liang Minjun , Ren Feng
Published: January 2019

This study was aimed to analyze the foot posture index and plantar pressure characteristics of fifteen badminton players and fifteen controls. The hypothesis was that people with the habit of playing badminton would be significantly different with nonplaying people in foot posture index, 3D foot surface data, and plantar pressure distribution. Nine regions of plantar pressure were measured by using the EMED force platform, and badminton players showed significantly higher peak pressure in the hallux (p=0.003), medial heel (p=0.016), and lateral heel (p=0.021) and force-time integral in the hallux (p=0.002), medial heel (p=0.026), and lateral heel (p=0.015). There is no asymmetrical plantar pressure distribution between the left foot and the right foot of players. The mean foot posture index values of male and female badminton players are 5.2 ± 1.95 and 5.7 ± 1.15, respectively, and comparatively, those values of male and female controls are 1.5 ± 1.73 and 1.7 ± 4.16, respectively. This study shows that significant differences in morphology between people with the habit of playing badminton and people without that habit could be taken as a factor for a future study in locomotion biomechanics characteristics and foot shape of badminton players and in a footwear design in order to reduce injury risks.
The Financial Impact of Hypofractionated Radiation for Localized Prostate Cancer in the United States
Authors: Moore Assaf , Stav Ido , Den Robert B. , Gordon Noa , Sarfaty Michal , Neiman Victoria , Rosenbaum Eli , Goldstein Daniel A.
Published: January 2019

Background. Until recently, dose intensified radiotherapy was the standard radiation method for localized prostate cancer. Multiple studies have demonstrated similar efficacy and tolerability with moderate hypofractionation. In recent years there has been an increasing focus placed on understanding the cost and value of cancer care. In this study we aimed to assess the economic impact of moderate hypofractionation for payers in the United States.Methods. We performed a population-based analysis of the total cost of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for localized prostate cancer in the US annually. The national annual target population of patients treated with definitive EBRT was calculated using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Treatment costs for various fractionation schemes were based on billing codes and 2018 pricing by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).Results. We estimate that 27,146 patients with localized prostate cancer are treated with EBRT annually in the US. The cost of standard fractionation in 45 or 39 fractions is US$26,782 and 23,625 per patient, respectively. With moderate hypofractionation in 28 or 20 fractions, the cost is US$17,793 and 13,402 per patient, respectively. The use of moderate hypofractionation would lead to 25-50% annual savings US$158,315,472-US$363,213,480 in the US.Conclusions. Moderate hypofractionation may have the potential to save approximately US$0.16-0.36 billion annually, likely without impacting survival or tolerability. This may lead to lower personal financial toxicity. It would be reasonable for public and private payers to consider which type of radiation is most suited to reimbursement.
Essential Oil Extracted from Cymbopogon citronella Leaves by Supercritical Carbon Dioxide: Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: Wu Hong , Li Jilie , Jia Yuan , Xiao Zhihong , Li Peiwang , Xie Yixian , Zhang Aihua , Liu Rukuan , Ren Zewen , Zhao Mengrui , Zeng Chaozhen , Li Changzhu
Published: January 2019

To improve essential oil quality, especially to reserve the thermal instability of compounds, supercritical CO2 extraction (SFE) was applied to recover essential oil from Cymbopogon citronella leaves. A response surface methodology was applied to optimize the extraction process. The highest essential oil yield was predicted at extraction time 120  min, extraction pressure 25  MPa, extraction temperature 35°C, and CO2 flow 18  L/h for the SFE processing. Under these experimental conditions, the mean essential oil yield is 4.40%. In addition, the chemical compositions of SFE were compared with those obtained by hydrodistillation extraction (HD). There were 41 compounds obtained of SFE, while 35 compounds of HD. Alcohols and aldehydes were the main compositions in the essential oils. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities and antimicrobial of essential oils obtained by HD and the evaluated condition of SFE were compared. Results showed that the antioxidant activities of SFE oil are better than those of HD. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by the microdilution method. Essential oil obtained from SFE and HD exhibited a significant antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms. It is confirmed that the SFE method can be an alternative processing method to extract essential oils from Cymbopogon citronella leaves.
New Phase Transition Related to the Black Hole’s Topological Charge
Authors: Lan Shan-Quan , Li Gu-Qiang , Mo Jie-Xiong , Xu Xiao-Bao
Published: January 2019

The topological charge ϵ of AdS black hole is introduced by Tian et al. in their papers, where a complete thermodynamic first law is obtained. In this paper, we investigate a new phase transition related to the topological charge in Einstein-Maxwell theory. Firstly, we derive the explicit solutions corresponding to the divergence of specific heat Cϵ and determine the phase transition critical point. Secondly, the T-r curve and T-S curve are investigated and they exhibit an interesting van der Waals system’s behavior. Critical physical quantities are also obtained which are consistent with those derived from the specific heat analysis. Thirdly, a van der Waals system’s swallow tail behavior is observed when ϵ>ϵc in the F-T graph. What is more, the analytic phase transition coexistence lines are obtained by using the Maxwell equal area law and free energy analysis, the results of which are consistent with each other.
A Center-Based Secure and Stable Clustering Algorithm for VANETs on Highways
Authors: Cheng Xiaolu , Huang Baohua
Published: January 2019

Currently, communications in the vehicular ad hoc network (VANET) can be established via both Dedicated Short Range Communication (DSRC) and mobile cellular networks. To make use of existing Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in data transmissions, many methods are proposed to manage VANETs. Grouping the vehicles into clusters and organizing the network by clusters are one of the most universal and most efficacious ways. Since the high mobility of vehicles makes VANETs different from other mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs), the previous cluster-based methods for MANETs may have trouble for VANETs. In this paper, we introduce a center-based clustering algorithm to help self-organized VANETs forming stable clusters and decrease the status change frequency of vehicles on highways and two metrics. A novel Cluster Head (CH) selection algorithm is also proposed to reduce the impact of vehicle motion differences. We also introduce two metrics to improve the security of VANETs. A simulation is conducted to compare our mechanism to some other mechanisms. The results show that our mechanism obtains high stability and lower packet loss rate.
Development of PYMUS+ Code for Quantitative Evaluation of Nuclear Material Accounting (NMA) System
Authors: Won Byung Hee , Shin Hee-Sung , Park Se Hwan , Ahn Seong-Kyu
Published: January 2019

The Nuclear Material Accounting (NMA) system is one of the main safeguards measures to detect the existence of nuclear material diversion. It has become more important for large reprocessing facilities to apply Near Real Time Accountancy (NRTA) system based on NMA and statistical techniques to meet quantitative and timeliness goals. It is also important to quantitatively evaluate the performance of NMA system including NRTA from the standpoints of Safeguards and Security by Design (SSBD) prior to construction of nuclear-material-handling facilities. Such evaluation improves safeguards effectiveness and efficiency. Modeling and Simulation (M&S) work is a good way to evaluate performance for various NMA systems and to determine the optimal one among different options. For these purposes, in the present study, the PYroprocessing Material flow and MUF Uncertainty Simulation+ (PYMUS+) code, which uses evaluation algorithms to calculate many safeguards factors such as MUF uncertainty, detection probability, and others, was developed. According to a previous report, the PYMUS code, the predecessor of PYMUS+, can calculate MUF uncertainties only for a fixed model having 10 tHM/year, whereas the PYMUS+ code can additionally calculate detection probabilities according to diverse nuclear diversion scenarios as well as MUF uncertainties. The most important feature of the PYMUS+ code is its capability to evaluate many process and NMA system model options that a user wants to evaluate. Furthermore, a user can make a static process model having simplicity and a matching NMA model based on the PYMUS+ code regardless of facility throughput and is not even required to have professional programming knowledge. In the present work, some intercomparative studies were conducted to verify the M&S techniques applied in this code. It is expected that this code will be a useful tool for evaluation of NRTA system of pyroprocessing and other reprocessing facilities.
Study on the Resonant Suppression of Electrohydraulic Servo Shaking Table of a 2‐Mass Dynamic System
Authors: Wang Tao , Song Jinchun
Published: January 2019

Since the load of electrohydraulic servo shaking table is an elastic load, there is a mutual coupling effect that exists between the experimental object and the shaking table, forming the resonance to weaken the dynamic characteristics, and producing resonant peak and resonant valley in the bandwidth required by the system, in which the amplitude is often larger than the stability range of acceleration’s amplitude. In this paper, the mathematical modeling of hydraulic power mechanism in a two‐mass dynamic system is established based on electrohydraulic servo shaking table, yielding the frequency characteristic curve in accordance with the transfer function of the model. A multifrequency adaptive notch filter based on the least mean square algorithm is proposed to suppress the resonance, and the suppression effect of the resonance is simulated and verified in line with various values of load stiffness. Finally, the power spectrum is used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the multifrequency adaptive notch filter in the resonant suppression.
The Ovotransferrin-Derived Peptide IRW Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Responses
Authors: Jiao Huanli , Zhang Qing , Lin Yuanbang , Gao Ying , Zhang Peng
Published: January 2019

IRW (Ile-Arg-Trp), a bioactive peptide isolated from egg ovotransferrin, has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, the effects of IRW on inflammatory cytokines and microbiota were explored in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced rat model of inflammatory peritonitis. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with LPS to establish peritonitis. HUVECs were exposed to IRW for 12 h before introducing LPS. Notably, IRW exerted beneficial effects against LPS-induced peritonitis, specifically, by reducing the serum levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (P<0.05). A faecal microbiota analysis revealed that IRW significantly increased the Shannon and decreased the Simpson indices (P<0.05). Furthermore, IRW treatment significantly inhibited the LPS-induced enhancement of TNF-α, IL-8, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expression in HUVECs (P<0.05). In conclusion, IRW supplementation inhibited the inflammatory mediator synthesis and LPS-induced inflammatory responses and influenced the gut microbiota.
Results on a Novel Piecewise‐Linear Memristor‐Based Chaotic System
Authors: Wang Bo
Published: January 2019

The paper studies a kind of piecewise‐linear memristor‐based chaotic system. Based on a novel and complicated piecewise‐linear memristor model, a chaotic system is constructed; then a random sequence extraction approach on the basis of the given memristor‐based chaotic system is designed; at last the random sequence test is carried out to show the potential application value in encryption field of the new memristor‐based chaotic system.
From Reputation Perspective: A Hybrid Matrix Factorization for QoS Prediction in Location-Aware Mobile Service Recommendation System
Authors: Li Shun , Wen Junhao , Wang Xibin
Published: January 2019

With the great development of mobile services, the Quality of Services (QoS) becomes an essential factor to meet end users’ personalized requirement on the nonfunctional performance of mobile services. However, most of the QoS values in real cases are unattainable because a service user would only invoke some specific mobile services. Therefore, how to predict the missing QoS values and recommend high-quality services to end users becomes a significant challenge in mobile service recommendation research. Previous QoS prediction researches demonstrate that the nonfunctional performance of mobile services is closely related to users’ location information. However, most location-aware QoS prediction methods ignore the premise that the obtainable QoS values observed by different users in same location region would probably be untrustworthy, which will lead to inaccurate and unreliable prediction results. To make credible location-aware QoS prediction, we propose a hybrid matrix factorization method integrated location and reputation information (LRMF) to predict the unattainable QoS values. Our approach firstly cluster users into different locational region based on their geographical distribution, and then we compute users’ reputation to identify untrustworthy users in every locational region. Finally, the unknown QoS values can be predicted by integrating locational cluster information and users’ reputation into a hybrid matrix factorization model. Comprehensive experiments are conducted on a public QoS dataset which contains sufficient real-world service invocation records. The evaluation results indicate that our LRMF method can effectively reduce the impact of unreliable users on QoS prediction and make credible mobile service recommendation.
Detection of Artificially Water-Injected FrozenOctopus minor(Sasaki) Using Dielectric Properties
Authors: Lee Dongyoung , Lee Sangdae , Lee Chang Joo , Lee Seung Hyun
Published: January 2019

A few importers of marine products have practiced the fraud of artificially injecting water intoOctopus minorfor increasing their weights prior to the freezing process. These rampant practices have recently become a serious social issue and threaten public health. Therefore, it is necessary to develop the detection method for artificially water-injected frozenOctopus minor. This study was conducted to develop the nondestructive method for verifying adulteratedOctopus minorby measuring dielectric properties using the coaxial probe method. Regardless of weight and measurement locations, a significant difference betweenεvalues from normal octopuses was not observed. Theεvalues ofOctopus minorwere decreased in the microwave frequency range between 500 and 3000 MHz. Theεvalues of water-injected octopuses also showed similar trend with normal octopuses; however, the dielectric loss factor (ε″) values of adulterated octopuses were much lower than normal octopuses. After thawing normal, adulterated, and imported frozenOctopus minor, theεvalues measured at the trunk part from these octopuses were compared and statistically analyzed. Theε″values from normal frozen octopus were significantly different from adulterated and imported frozen octopuses. In addition, theε″values from the adulterated frozen octopus group that weight gain rate was less than 20% was significantly different from other adulterated octopus groups with higher weight gain rate than 20%. Theε″values from adulterated frozen octopus groups with the range of weight gain rate between 20 and 30% were quite similar to imported frozen octopuses. Therefore, it was found that the measurement ofε″values fromOctopus minorhas a great possibility to distinguish normal frozen octopuses and artificially water-injected frozen octopuses.
Some Types of Convergence for Negatively Dependent Random Variables under Sublinear Expectations
Authors: Wang Ruixue , Wu Qunying
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we research complete convergence and almost sure convergence under the sublinear expectations. As applications, we extend some complete and almost sure convergence theorems for weighted sums of negatively dependent random variables from the traditional probability space to the sublinear expectation space.
The Local Triangle Structure Centrality Method to Rank Nodes in Networks
Authors: Ma Xiaojian , Ma Yinghong
Published: January 2019

Detecting influential spreaders had become a challenging and crucial topic so far due to its practical application in many areas, such as information propagation inhibition and disease dissemination control. Some traditional local based evaluation methods had given many discussions on ranking important nodes. In this paper, ranking nodes of networks continues to be discussed. A semilocal structures method for ranking nodes based on the degree and the neighbors’ connections of the node is presented. The semilocal structures are regarded as the number of neighbors of the nodes and the connections between the node and its neighbors. We combined the triangle structure and the degree information of the neighbors to define the inner‐outer spreading ability of the nodes and then summed the node neighbors’ inner‐outer spreading ability to be used as the local triangle structure centrality (LTSC). The LTSC avoids the defect “pseudo denser connections” in measuring the structure of neighbors. The performance of the proposed LTSC method is evaluated by comparing the spreading ability on both real‐world and synthetic networks with the SIR model. The simulation results of the discriminability and the correctness compared with pairs of ranks (one is generated by SIR model and the others are generated by central nodes measures) show that LTSC outperforms some other local or semilocal methods in evaluating the node’s influence in most cases, such as degree, betweenness, H‐index, local centrality, local structure centrality, K‐shell, and S‐shell. The experiments prove that the LTSC is an efficient and accurate ranking method which provides a more reasonable evaluating index to rank nodes than some previous approaches.
Location-Based Test Case Prioritization for Software Embedded in Mobile Devices Using the Law of Gravitation
Authors: Wang Xiaolin , Zeng Hongwei , Gao Honghao , Miao Huaikou , Lin Weiwei
Published: January 2019

Considering that some intelligent software in mobile devices is related to location of sensors and devices, regression testing for it faces a major challenge. Test case prioritization (TCP), as a kind of regression test optimization technique, is beneficial to improve test efficiency. However, traditional TCP techniques may have limitations on testing intelligent software embedded in mobile devices because they do not take into account characteristics of mobile devices. This paper uses a smart mall as a scenario to design a novel location-based TCP technique for software embedded in mobile devices using the law of gravitation. First, test gravitation is proposed by applying the idea of universal gravitation. Second, a specific calculation model of test gravitation is designed for a smart mall scenario. Third, how to create a faulted test case set is designed by the pseudocode. Fourth, a location-based TCP using the law of gravitation algorithm is proposed, which utilizes test case information, fault information, and location information to prioritize test cases. Finally, an empirical evaluation is presented by using one industrial project. The observation, underlying the experimental results, is that our proposed TCP approach performs better than traditional TCP techniques. In addition, besides location information, the level of devices is also an important factor which affects the prioritization efficiency.
Effects of Ageing and Sex on Complexity in the Human Sleep EEG: A Comparison of Three Symbolic Dynamic Analysis Methods
Authors: Tosun Pinar Deniz , Dijk Derk-Jan , Winsky-Sommerer Raphaelle , Abasolo Daniel
Published: January 2019

Symbolic dynamic analysis (SDA) methods have been applied to biomedical signals and have been proven efficient in characterising differences in the electroencephalogram (EEG) in various conditions (e.g., epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s diseases). In this study, we investigated the use of SDA on EEGs recorded during sleep. Lempel‐Ziv complexity (LZC), permutation entropy (PE), and permutation Lempel‐Ziv complexity (PLZC), as well as power spectral analysis based on the fast Fourier transform (FFT), were applied to 8‐h sleep EEG recordings in healthy men (n=31) and women (n=29), aged 20‐74 years. The results of the SDA methods and FFT analysis were compared and the effects of age and sex were investigated. Surrogate data were used to determine whether the findings with SDA methods truly reflected changes in nonlinear dynamics of the EEG and not merely changes in the power spectrum. The surrogate data analysis showed that LZC merely reflected spectral changes in EEG activity, whereas PE and PLZC reflected genuine changes in the nonlinear dynamics of the EEG. All three SDA techniques distinguished the vigilance states (i.e., wakefulness, REM sleep, NREM sleep, and its sub‐stages: stage 1, stage 2, and slow wave sleep). Complexity of the sleep EEG increased with ageing. Sex on the other hand did not affect the complexity values assessed with any of these three SDA methods, even though FFT detected sex differences. This study shows that SDA provides additional insights into the dynamics of sleep EEG and how it is affected by ageing.
Focal CTC Loss for Chinese Optical Character Recognition on Unbalanced Datasets
Authors: Feng Xinjie , Yao Hongxun , Zhang Shengping
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we propose a novel deep model for unbalanced distribution Character Recognition by employing focal loss based connectionist temporal classification (CTC) function. Previous works utilize Traditional CTC to compute prediction losses. However, some datasets may consist of extremely unbalanced samples, such as Chinese. In other words, both training and testing sets contain large amounts of low‐frequent samples. The low‐frequent samples have very limited influence on the model during training. To solve this issue, we modify the traditional CTC by fusing focal loss with it and thus make the model attend to the low‐frequent samples at training stage. In order to demonstrate the advantage of the proposed method, we conduct experiments on two types of datasets: synthetic and real image sequence datasets. The results on both datasets demonstrate that the proposed focal CTC loss function achieves desired performance on unbalanced datasets. Specifically, our method outperforms traditional CTC by 3 to 9 percentages in accuracy on average.
Rewarding Best Pest Management Practices via Reduced Crop Insurance Premiums
Authors: Beckie Hugh J. , Smyth Stuart J. , Owen Micheal D. K. , Gleim Savannah
Published: January 2019

Despite decades of research, development, and extension on the mitigation and management of pesticide resistance, the global agricultural situation is becoming increasingly dire. Pest populations with evolved resistance to multiple pesticide sites of action are becoming the norm, with fewer remaining effective xenobiotics for control. We argue that financial incentives and not regulations are needed to encourage farmers or land managers to use best management practices recommended by academia. Although some incentives are offered by pesticide manufacturers or distributors, there is a paucity of incentives by other industry sectors and all levels of government (federal or state/provincial). Crop insurance can be important to facilitate and reward best pest management practices and address other important agricultural policy objectives. Herein, we describe possible changes to crop insurance programs in the United States and Canada through premium rate changes to incentivise clients to adopt best management practices.
Not Reacted Core Model Applied in Palm Nut Shell Pyrolysis
Authors: de la Torre Ernesto , Gámez Sebastián
Published: January 2019

One of the main sources of activated carbon is biomass which can be transformed into char by pyrolysis. Apart from the obtaining coal, the pyrolysis of biomass can be used for the preparation of fuels, and this is why it is very important to determine its kinetic parameters for modelling. In the present research, the pyrolysis enthalpy of palm nut shells (Elaeis guineensis) was determined with the use of a differential scanning calorimetry study (DSC). To determine the kinetic parameters, the Not Reacted Core model was employed. This model considers that there is a heat and mass gradient between the furnace atmosphere and the interface formed during pyrolysis. To obtain the required data for the model, palm nut shells were submitted to pyrolysis in a Nichols furnace under reducing atmosphere. Samples were taken every 10 minutes to calculate char conversion. The experimental pyrolysis enthalpy resulted to be 301.81 J/g and then the monomeric units of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin were employed in order to determine the pyrolysis enthalpy per mole. The three biopolymers react with different mechanisms at different temperatures. The molecular weight resulted to be 172.38 g/mole, and the enthalpy for pyrolysis was 52.03 kJ/mol. For the application of the Not Reacted Core model, the amorphous char heat transfer coefficient was selected, and the value is 1.6 J/s·m·K. The reaction rate constant was 6.64 × 10−9 1/s assuming a first-order reaction, whereas the effective diffusion across the char layer was 4.83 × 10−7 m2/s.
Type I Protein Arginine Methyltransferases Overexpression Promotes Transformation and Potentiates Her2/Neu–Driven Tumorigenesis
Authors: Watson Zachary L. , Bitler Benjamin G.
Published: January 2019

Bao and colleagues demonstrate that type I protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMT) are directly involved in mammary gland transformation and tumor progression. Notably, several distinct phenotypes require further investigation such as PRMT1/CARM1–induced transformation, CARM1-mediated delay in tumorigenesis, and PRMTs potentiation of Her2-dependent tumors. The PRMT overexpression transgenic mouse models should encourage and facilitate further mechanistic interrogation and the development of PRMT-directed therapies.

See related article by Bao et al., p. 21
Low Expression of the Androgen-Induced Tumor Suppressor Gene PLZF and Lethal Prostate Cancer
Authors: Stopsack Konrad H. , Gerke Travis , Tyekucheva Svitlana , Mazzu Ying Z. , Lee Gwo-Shu Mary , Chakraborty Goutam , Abida Wassim , Mucci Lorelei A. , Kantoff Philip W.
Published: January 2019

Background:

4%–9% of prostate cancers harbor homozygous deletions of the androgen-induced tumor suppressor gene, promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF, ZBTB16). PLZF loss induces an in vitro phenotype of castration resistance and enzalutamide resistance. The association of low expression of PLZF and clinical outcomes is unclear.

Methods:

We assessed PLZF mRNA expression in patients diagnosed with primary prostate cancer during prospective follow-up of the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS; n = 254) and the Physicians' Health Study (PHS; n = 150), as well as in The Cancer Genome Atlas (n = 333). We measured PTEN status (using copy numbers and IHC) and transcriptional activation of the MAPK pathway. Patients from HPFS and PHS were followed for metastases and prostate cancer–specific mortality (median, 15.3 years; 113 lethal events).

Results:

PLZF mRNA expression was lower in tumors with PLZF deletions. There was a strong, positive association between intratumoral androgen receptor (AR) signaling and PLZF expression. PLZF expression was also lower in tumors with PTEN loss. Low PLZF expression was associated with higher MAPK signaling. Patients in the lowest quartile of PLZF expression compared with those in the highest quartile were more likely to develop lethal prostate cancer, independent of clinicopathologic features, Gleason score, and AR signaling (odds ratio, 3.17; 95% confidence interval, 1.32–7.60).

Conclusions:

Low expression of the tumor suppressor gene PLZF is associated with a worse prognosis in primary prostate cancer.

Impact:

Suppression of PLZF as a consequence of androgen deprivation may be undesirable. PLZF should be tested as a predictive marker for resistance to androgen deprivation therapy.
Gastroduodenal Symptoms in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Are Correlated with Gastric Emptying and Serum Levels of Active Ghrelin
Authors: Sales Kamila Maria Oliveira , Cavalcanti Renan Frota , Nobre e Souza Miguel Angelo , Saraiva Larissa Gurgel Mota , Braga Lucia Libanez Bessa Campelo , de Castro Margareth , Oliveira Ricardo Brandt  , Souza Marcellus Henrique Loiola Ponte 
Published: January 2019

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with delay in gastric emptying, increase in ghrelin, and decrease in leptin. The aim was to investigate the correlation between gastroduodenal (GD) symptoms, gastric emptying, and serum levels of active ghrelin and leptin in IBD. Twenty-seven IBD patients and 26 healthy volunteers were asked to complete the Porto Alegre Dyspeptic Symptoms Questionnaire. A gastric emptying test for solids was performed using a C13 octanoic acid breath test. During this test, serum samples were collected for measuring active ghrelin and leptin concentrations by radioimmunoassay. Summary: Patients with IBD demonstrated delayed gastric emptying compared with healthy volunteers. In patients with GD symptoms, the delay in gastric emptying was more pronounced, and there were significant correlations of satiety and vomiting with gastric emptying. Basal leptin, but not active ghrelin, increased in patients with GD symptoms compared with patients without these symptoms. There were negative correlations between basal active ghrelin with total Porto Alegre score and epigastric pain in IBD patients with GD symptoms. Key Messages: In IBD, satiety and vomiting were associated with delay in gastric emptying. Conversely, epigastric pain had a negative correlation with active ghrelin. Our results suggest that different pathophysiological mechanisms contribute to GD symptoms in IBD.
Clinical Risk Factors for Death Caused by Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase: Producing Bacteria
Authors: Mita Yoshie , Shigemura Katsumi , Osawa Kayo , Kitagawa Koichi , Kotaki Tomohiro , Shirakawa Toshiro , Miyara Takayuki , Fujisawa Masato
Published: January 2019

Objectives: Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria often causes bacteremia, leading serious outcomes. In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis to identify the risk factors associated with death by bacteremia of ESBL-producing bacteria. Methods: Patients with bacteremia by ESBL-producing bacteria were retrospectively collected in Kobe University Hospital, Japan, between January 2011 and December 2015. Potential risk factors for death caused by ESBL-bacteremia were analyzed for patients’ outcome (recovery or death) by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: A total of 101 patients (64 male and 37 female) were recruited. The most frequently detected ESBL-producing bacteria were Escherichia coli (91 cases; 90.1%), followed by Klebsiella pneumoniae (8 cases; 7.9%). Most frequently used antibiotics after the detection of bacteremia was meropenem (66.3%; 67/101) followed by cefmetazole (51.5%; 52/101). Univariate analysis showed a significantly positive correlation with mortality in ICU admission (p < 0.001), circulatory diseases (p = 0.022), shock (p = 0.044), and respirator requirement (p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis showed ICU admission remained significant risk factor for mortality (p = 0.0192). Conclusions: We showed ICU admission was significantly correlated with death from bacteremia by ESBL-producing bacteria. These factors should be monitored to estimate severity of ESBL causing-bacteremia for better patients’ outcomes.
Over Ten-Cell Good Embryo Transfers on Day Three have Equivalent Clinical Outcomes with Those of Eight-Cell Embryos in Female Patients Aged ≤35 Years: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Zhao Haibin , Liu Hui , Li Mei , Ma Shuiying , Li Cheng , Wu Keliang
Published: January 2019

Background/Aim: To compare the clinical outcomes between > 10- and 8-cell good quality embryos on day 3. Methods: A retrospective study of a cohort of 459 patients was included in the fresh embryo transfer (ET) cycle group from January 2009 to April 2016. In this group, 2 good quality embryos on day 3, were transferred on corresponding dates, in 75 patients (> 10-cell embryos), and in 384 patients (8-cell embryos). Seven hundred and forty four patients, with 1 blastocyst transferred derived from > 10-cell (n = 183) or 8-cell (n = 561) good quality embryos on day 3, were assigned in the frozen ET (FET) group. Results: In the ET group, the clinical pregnancy and live birth rates of the > 10-cell transfer patients were comparable with those of the 8-cell transfer group (62.67 vs. 69.27%, 60.00 vs. 59.90%, respectively); however, the miscarriage rate of > 10-cell transfers was significantly lower than that of 8-cell transfers (4.26 vs. 13.53%, p < 0.05). In the FET group, there were no statistically significant differences found in the clinical pregnancy, live birth, and miscarriage rates between one > 10-cell-derived and one 8-cell-derived blastocyst transfers (71.04 vs. 65.78%, 59.02 vs. 54.19%, and 16.92 vs. 17.62%, respectively). Conclusions: The results suggested that > 10- and 8-cell, good quality embryos on day 3, had comparable viability and clinical outcomes.
Baseline Characteristics and Readmissions after Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis in a Nationally Representative Database
Authors: Leavell Yaowaree , Khalid Mian , Tuhrim Stanley , Dhamoon Mandip S.
Published: January 2019

Background: There are limited epidemiologic data on cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST). We aim to summarize baseline characteristics and outcomes using a large nationally representative administrative database. Methods: Using the 2013 Nationwide Readmissions Database, we used validated International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision codes to identify baseline characteristics of patients admitted with CVST. We calculated readmission rates (per 100,000 index hospitalizations) for neurological complications. Multivariable Poisson regression yielded rate ratios (RR) of associations between index admission variables and all-cause readmission up to 1 year. Results: Among 2,105 patients with index admission for CVST, mean age was 46.8 (SD 18.4); 65.2% were female, and 6.1% were pregnant. Hemorrhagic stroke (15.6%) was more common than ischemic stroke (10.7%), seizure occurred in 16.3, and 3.7% of patients died during index hospitalization. The 90-day readmission rate (per 100,000 index CVST hospitalizations) was the highest for CVST (1,447) and ischemic stroke (755). Diabetes (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.002–1.22), cancer (1.23, 1.09–1.39), insurance status (0.92, 0.83–0.97 for Medicare/private insurance vs. others), and discharge home (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.85–0.99) were associated with increased readmission rate. Conclusions: We provide baseline characteristics and readmission rates after CVST over a 1-year period. In-hospital mortality rate and association with pregnancy were lower than previously observed.
pH-Dependent 5-Aminosalicylates Releasing Preparations Do Not Affect Thiopurine Metabolism
Authors: Takahashi Kenichiro , Bamba Shigeki , Morita Yasuhiro , Nishida Atsushi , Kawahara Masahiro , Inatomi Osamu , Sugimoto Mitsushige , Sasaki Masaya , Andoh Akira
Published: January 2019

Background/Aims: Thiopurines are key drugs in maintenance therapy for treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Time-dependent 5-aminosalicylates (5-ASA) releasing preparations (time-dependent 5-ASA) increase 6-thioguanine nucleotide (6-TGN), an active metabolite of thiopurines. However, the effects of pH-dependent 5-ASA releasing preparations (pH-dependent 5-ASA) on thiopurine metabolism were not reported. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 134 IBD patients who received thiopurine treatment. The 6-methylmercaptopurine (6-MMP)/6-TGN values after taking the same dose of thiopurine preparations for at least 28 days were included. Results: There was a significant decrease in the 6-MMP/6-TGN ratio in time-dependent 5-ASA compared with group without 5-ASA preparations and the pH-dependent 5-ASA group (p = 0.008 and < 0.001 respectively). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient indicated a negative relationship between the daily oral dose of time-dependent 5-ASA and the 6-MMP/6-TGN ratio (r = –0.362, p = 0.003). Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed in the groups with 6-MMP/6-TGN ratios of 1 or more and less than 1. The use of time-dependent 5-ASA and concomitant allopurinol negatively affected the independent 6-MMP/6-TGN ratio (p = 0.006 and 0.007 respectively). Conclusion: Our study revealed that time-dependent but not pH-dependent 5-ASA decreases the 6-MMP/6-TGN ratio. We also confirmed that concomitant allopurinol results in a low 6-MMP/6TGN ratio.
Pseudoachalasia as First Manifestation of a Malignancy
Authors: Fabian Elisabeth , Eherer Andreas J. , Lackner Carolin , Urban Christian , Smolle-Juettner Freyja-Maria , Krejs Guenter J.
Published: January 2019

Pseudoachalasia is a condition in which symptoms, radiologic, endoscopic, and manometric findings mimick idiopathic achalasia. About 4% of patients with a typical constellation for idiopathic achalasia will turn out to have pseudoachalasia, posing a major diagnostic challenge. A large spectrum of underlying causes of pseudoachalasia has been described. However, in about 70% of affected patients, this condition is caused by a malignancy (mostly adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction or cardia). We describe a 16-year-old high school student referred for management of achalasia who turned out to have pseudoachalasia due to adenocarcinoma of the cardia. He was cured with preoperative chemotherapy followed by radical surgery. Therapy of pseudoachalasia secondary to neoplasia is directed against the tumor or may be palliative to keep the lumen open. Other causes of pseudoachalasia include esophageal motility disturbances as a paraneoplastic phenomenon (e.g., with small cell lung cancer), post fundoplication or post bariatric surgery, in association with a thoracic aortic aneurysm, or with sarcoidosis or amyloidosis. Therapy is directed accordingly to eliminate or correct the underlying cause.
The Application Analysis of Multiplex Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays for Detection of Pathogenic Bacterium in Peritoneal Dialysis-Associated Peritonitis
Authors: Yang Jing , Qi Xiang-Ming , Wu Yong-Gui
Published: January 2019

Background/Aims: To estimate the clinical value of bacterial detection in peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (PDAP) by multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). This study was undertaken to evaluate multiplex RT-PCR for identifying clinically significant bacteria in PDAP. Methods: Seventy peritoneal dialysate specimens were collected and traditional bacterial culture and universal primer RT-PCR detection of the bacterial were used. Results: The positive rate of traditional culture method was 65.71% (46/70) and that of universal primer RT-PCR was 81.42% (57/70). For 6 clinical commonly pathogenic bacteria, multiplex, and monoplex RT-PCR all detected 38 positive ones within the 57 specimens that were detected positive by universal primer RT-PCR. The results of the 2 methods were completely identical. Detecting bacteria by universal primer PCR and Monoplex RT-PCR needs 4–5 and 6–9 h, respectively, while multiplex RT-PCR needs less than 3 h. Conclusion: Our results demonstrated that the multiplex RT-PCR can detect several kinds of bacteria simultaneously and it is also more practical and convenient than monoplex RT-PCR.
Guia de texturas macroscópicas e microscópicas e de estruturas de rochas vulcânicas brasileiras antigas da Amazônia.
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Geociências, Freitas Bruna de , Juliani Caetano ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Instituto de Geociências
Published: January 2019

Este livro tem como objetivo apresentar dados texturais de rochas vulcânicas antigas da Amazônia, correlacionando-as com a litoestratigrafia, os tipos de rochas e os tipos de eventos vulcânicos modernos. O estudo tem base com imagens de amostras e afloramentos do Cráton Amazônico confrontando com imagens de eventos vulcânicos modernos globais, para que se possa observar suas diferenças e semelhanças. O Guia visa subsidiar estudos em cursos de Geologia e os profissionais de exploração mineral de sistemas magmáticos-hidrotermais e de mapeamento geológico. O Guia apresenta texturas e estruturas de basaltos andesíticos, andesitos, dacitos, riodacitos e riolitos de sistemas vulcânicos, bem como os produtos vulcanoclásticos e epiclásticos, desenvolvendo os conceitos e de como cada produto e processo é formado.
Aspectos elementares da insurreição indígena: notas em torno a Os rios profundos, de José María Arguedas
Authors: Natali Marcos Piason
Published: January 2019

A leitura do romance Os rios profundos, do peruano José María Arguedas, é o ponto de partida para uma reflexão sobre os efeitos de revoltas populares em relatos de formação, em particular sobre suas noções de futuro e passado. O trabalho examina como essas questões escatológicas e arqueológicas ganham forma nos movimentos de oscilação e quebra que caracterizam as narrações na obra de Arguedas, esse conjunto de experimentos textuais elaborados em resposta às fraturas que atravessam a sociedade peruana. Destaca-se ainda como o problema do destinatário se torna decisivo para Arguedas, condição de (im)possibilidade da escrita.
Aspectos diluídos do Bildungsroman em Extinção – Uma derrocada, de Thomas Bernhard
Authors: Santos José Lucas Zaffani dos , Maas Wilma Patricia
Published: January 2019

O objetivo deste artigo é destacar algumas características do conceito de Bildungsroman presentes na obra Extinção – Uma derrocada (1986), de Thomas Bernhard. O termo Bildungsroman surge associado à obra Os anos de aprendizado de Wilhelm Meister (1795-1796), de Goethe. No entanto, uma vez que os pressupostos históricos presentes no paradigma goethiano se alteraram, os elementos do Bildungsroman encontram-se diluídos nas obras que apresentam traços desse gênero. O romance Extinção possui semelhanças com o programa narrativo do Bildungsroman, contudo elas estão presentes de maneira diluída.
No exílio entre o desejo e o sonho: sobre a “poética utópica” de Moacyr Félix
Authors: Nunes Diogo César
Published: January 2019

O presente texto propõe uma leitura da obra de Moacyr Félix partindo da indicação de que sua “poética utópica” trava interlocução com a Teoria Crítica da Sociedade e com a Filosofia de Ernst Bloch. Busca explorar na figura do “exílio” a possibilidade de uma leitura da subjetividade e da realidade que põe em “crise” tanto a imagem do futuro (sonho utópico) quanto a de si. Em aproximação à psicanálise, sugere que sua poética “utópica” pode ser lida como uma poética do “desamparo”, que, ao duvidar tanto da imagem quanto da possibilidade de dizer a “palavra exata”, dá acesso à “verdade impossível” do desejo.
Quadrinhos é coisa de criança: Considerações sobre um equívoco desimportante
Authors: Duarte Renan Silva
Published: January 2019

Este artigo pretende discutir sobre a associação dos quadrinhos com o universo infantil, seja pela leitura e recepção ou pela compreensão do meio como forma de leitura infantil. Estabeleceu-se uma reflexão sobre a criança como tema nos quadrinhos e como público alvo de uma industria.
Experimentação em quadrinhos contemporâneos: a proposta híbrida de Pedro Franz
Authors: Oliveira André Luiz Ferreira
Published: January 2019

O presente artigo tem como objetivo apresentar a história em quadrinhos Promessas de amor a desconhecidos enquanto espero o fim do mundo de Pedro Franz, dividida em três volumes e publicada entre 2010 e 2012, demonstrando sua relação híbrida com os quadrinhos, as artes visuais e a literatura pensando no modo como a obra passa por um processo de desterritorialização e se mescla a elementos de diferentes linguagens artísticas para criar sua singularidade, seu próprio território em constante tensão.
O processo de bricolagem na criação de histórias em quadrinhos de super-heróis
Authors: Lobo Renato Fernandes
Published: January 2019

Partindo da constatação de que as histórias em quadrinhos de super-heróis são consideradas por muitos autores como verdadeiras mitologias modernas, o presente artigo pretende estabelecer a relação entre o modo de operar do pensamento mítico com a criação dessas narrativas, analisando as reflexões de autores em histórias em quadrinhos, sobre seu próprio ofício, a partir do conceito de bricolagem de Lévi-Strauss.
O humor em tiras em quadrinhos
Authors: Mota Ilka de Oliveira
Published: January 2019

Este artigo traz para a reflexão o funcionamento discursivo do humor em tiras em quadrinhos presentes em livros didáticos de inglês como língua estrangeira. O objetivo é compreender o funcionamento discursivo do humor levando em consideração o lugar de sua produção: tiras em quadrinhos. Para isso, apoiamo-nos no aparato teórico da Análise de Discurso de cunho materialista que tem Pêcheux (1969; 1975; 1988) e Eni Orlandi (1999; 2001) como principais representantes, estabelecendo, ainda, um diálogo profícuo com os estudos freudianos sobre o campo da comicidade.
Turma da Mônica - Laços: Obra-prima de releitura dos personagens infantis mais importantes do Brasil
Authors: Kanno Maurício de Paula
Published: January 2019

Esta resenha examina as inovações artísticas, técnicas e narrativas da graphic novel Turma da Mônica - Laços como história em quadrinhos, suas releituras e cruzamentos de universos culturais, não só de Mauricio de Sousa como de outros autores, principalmente Marge, criadora de Luluzinha.