bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bidirectional Database Storage and SQL Query Exploiting RRAM-Based Process-in-Memory Structure
Authors: Sun Yuliang , Wang Yu , Yang Huazhong
Published: March 2018

With the coming of the “Big Data” era, a high-energy-efficiency database is demanded for the Internet of things (IoT) application scenarios. The emerging Resistive Random Access Memory (RRAM) has been considered as an energy-efficient replacement of DRAM for next-generation main memory. In this article, we propose an RRAM-based SQL query unit with process-in-memory (PIM) characteristics. A bidirectional storage structure for a database in RRAM crossbar array is proposed that avoids redundant data transfer to cache and reduces cache miss rate compared with the storage method in DRAM for an in-memory database. The proposed RRAM-based SQL query unit can support a representative subset of SQL queries in memory and thus can further reduce the data transfer cost. The corresponding query optimization method is proposed to fully utilize the PIM characteristics. Simulation results show that the energy efficiency of the proposed RRAM-based SQL query unit is increased by 4 to 6 orders of magnitudes compared with the traditional architecture.
Cardiorespiratory interactions in humans and animals: rhythms for life
Authors: Elstad Maja , O’Callaghan Erin L. , Smith Alex J. , Ben-Tal Alona , Ramchandra Rohit
Published: March 2018

The cardiorespiratory system exhibits oscillations from a range of sources. One of the most studied oscillations is heart rate variability, which is thought to be beneficial and can serve as an index of a healthy cardiovascular system. Heart rate variability is dampened in many diseases including depression, autoimmune diseases, hypertension, and heart failure. Thus, understanding the interactions that lead to heart rate variability, and its physiological role, could help with prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we consider three types of cardiorespiratory interactions: respiratory sinus arrhythmia (variability in heart rate at the frequency of breathing), cardioventilatory coupling (synchronization between the heart beat and the onset of inspiration), and respiratory stroke volume synchronization (the constant phase difference between the right and the left stroke volumes over one respiratory cycle). While the exact physiological role of these oscillations continues to be debated, the redundancies in the mechanisms responsible for its generation and its strong evolutionary conservation point to the importance of cardiorespiratory interactions. The putative mechanisms driving cardiorespiratory oscillations as well as the physiological significance of these oscillations will be reviewed. We suggest that cardiorespiratory interactions have the capacity to both dampen the variability in systemic blood flow as well as improve the efficiency of work done by the heart while maintaining physiological levels of arterial CO2. Given that reduction in variability is a prognostic indicator of disease, we argue that restoration of this variability via pharmaceutical or device-based approaches may be beneficial in prolonging life.
Increased macrophage-derived SPARC precedes collagen deposition in myocardial fibrosis
Authors: McDonald Lindsay T. , Zile Michael R. , Zhang Yuhua , Van Laer An O. , Baicu Catalin F. , Stroud Robert E. , Jones Jeffrey A. , LaRue Amanda C. , Bradshaw Amy D.
Published: March 2018

Myocardial fibrosis and the resultant increases in left ventricular stiffness represent pivotal consequences of chronic pressure overload (PO) that impact both functional capacity and the rates of morbid and mortal events. However, the time course and cellular mechanisms that underlie PO-induced fibrosis have not been completely defined. Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is a matricellular protein that has been shown to be required for insoluble collagen deposition and increased myocardial stiffness in response to PO in mice. As macrophages are associated with increases in fibrillar collagen, the hypothesis that macrophages represent a source of increased SPARC production in the PO myocardium was tested. The time course of changes in the myocardial macrophage population was compared with changes in procollagen type I mRNA, production of SPARC, fibrillar collagen accumulation, and diastolic stiffness. In PO hearts, mRNA encoding collagen type I was increased at 3 days, whereas increases in levels of total collagen protein did not occur until 1 wk and were followed by increases in insoluble collagen at 2 wk. Increases in muscle stiffness were not detected before increases in insoluble collagen content (>1 wk). Significant increases in myocardial macrophages that coincided with increased SPARC were found but did not coincide with increases in mRNA encoding collagen type I. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry identified macrophages as a cellular source of SPARC. We conclude that myocardial macrophages play an important role in the time-dependent increases in SPARC that enhance postsynthetic collagen processing, insoluble collagen content, and myocardial stiffness and contribute to the development of fibrosis.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Myocardial fibrosis and the resultant increases in left ventricular and myocardial stiffness represent pivotal consequences of chronic pressure overload. In this study a murine model of cardiac fibrosis induced by pressure overload was used to establish a time course of collagen expression, collagen deposition, and cardiac macrophage expansion.
RNA sequencing of kidney distal tubule cells reveals multiple mediators of chronic aldosterone action
Authors: Poulsen Søren Brandt , Limbutara Kavee , Fenton Robert A. , Pisitkun Trairak , Christensen Birgitte Mønster
Published: March 2018

The renal aldosterone-sensitive distal tubule (ASDT) is crucial for sodium reabsorption and blood pressure regulation. The ASDT consists of the late distal convoluted tubule (DCT2), connecting tubule (CNT), and collecting duct. Due to difficulties in isolating epithelial cells from the ASDT in large quantities, few transcriptome studies have been performed on this segment. Moreover, no studies exist on isolated DCT2 and CNT cells (excluding intercalated cells), and the role of aldosterone for regulating the transcriptome of these specific cell types is largely unknown. A mouse model expressing eGFP in DCT2/CNT/initial cortical collecting duct (iCCD) principal cells was exploited to facilitate the isolation of these cells in high number and purity. Combined with deep RNA sequencing technology, a comprehensive catalog of chronic aldosterone-regulated transcripts from enriched DCT2/CNT/iCCD principal cells was generated. There were 257 significantly downregulated and 290 upregulated transcripts in response to aldosterone ( P < 0.05). The RNA sequencing confirmed aldosterone regulation of well-described aldosterone targets including Sgk1 and Tsc22d3. Changes in selected transcripts such as S100a1 and Cldn4 were confirmed by RT-qPCR. The RNA sequencing showed downregulation of Nr3c2 encoding the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), and cell line experiments showed a parallel decrease in MR protein. Furthermore, a large number of transcripts encoding transcription factors were downregulated. An extensive mRNA transcriptome reconstruction of an enriched CNT/iCCD principal cell population was also generated. The results provided a comprehensive database of aldosterone-regulated transcripts in the ASDT, allowing development of novel hypotheses for the action of aldosterone.
Cecal versus fecal microbiota in Ossabaw swine and implications for obesity
Authors: Panasevich Matthew R. , Wankhade Umesh D. , Chintapalli Sree V. , Shankar Kartik , Rector R. Scott
Published: March 2018

The gut microbiome plays a critical role in the onset and progression of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. However, it is not well documented whether the cecal vs. the fecal microbiome is more relevant when assessing their contributions to these diseases. Here, we amplified the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene from cecal and fecal samples of female Ossabaw swine fed a low-fat control diet (10.5% fat, n = 4) or Western diet (43.0% fat, 17.8% high fructose corn syrup, 2% cholesterol; n = 3) for 36 wk. Obesity significantly lowered alpha-diversity ( P < 0.05), and there was clear separation in beta-diversity between lean and obese pigs, as well as between cecal and fecal samples ( P < 0.05). Obesity dramatically increased ( P < 0.05) the Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio in fecal samples, and Actinobacteria was higher ( P < 0.05) in fecal vs. cecal samples in obese pigs. Cyanobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Fusobacteria were increased ( P < 0.05), while Spirochaetes, Tenericutes, and Verrucomicrobia were decreased ( P < 0.05) in obese vs. lean pigs. Prevotellaceae was reduced ( P < 0.05) in obese fecal vs. cecal samples. Moreover, cecal samples in obese had greater ( P < 0.05) predicted metabolic capacity for glycan biosynthesis and metabolism and LPS biosynthesis compared with fecal. Obese pigs also had greater ( P < 0.05) capacity for carbohydrate metabolism, which was driven by obese fecal rather than cecal samples and was opposite in lean pigs ( P < 0.05). The observed differences in pro-inflammatory microbiota and their metabolic capacity in cecal vs. fecal samples of obese pigs provide new insight into evaluating the microbiome in the pathogenesis of obesity and metabolic disease.
Genome-wide map of proximity linkage to renin proximal promoter in rat
Authors: Stodola Timothy J. , Liu Pengyuan , Liu Yong , Vallejos Andrew K. , Geurts Aron M. , Greene Andrew S. , Liang Mingyu
Published: March 2018

A challenge to understanding enhancer-gene relationships is that enhancers are not always sequentially close to the gene they regulate. Physical proximity mapping through sequencing can provide an unbiased view of the chromatin close to the proximal promoter of the renin gene ( Ren). Our objective was to determine genomic regions that physically interact with the renin proximal promoter, using two different genetic backgrounds, the Dahl salt sensitive and normotensive SS-13BN, which have been shown to have different regulation of plasma renin in vivo. The chromatin conformation capture method with sequencing focused at the Ren proximal promoter in rat-derived cardiac endothelial cells was used. Cells were fixed, chromatin close to the Ren promoter was captured, and fragments were sequenced. The clustering of mapped reads produced a genome-wide map of chromatin in contact with the Ren promoter. The largest number of contacts was found on chromosome 13, the chromosome with Ren, and contacts were found on all other chromosomes except chromosome X. These contacts were significantly enriched with genes positively correlated with Ren expression and with mapped quantitative trait loci associated with blood pressure, cardiovascular, and renal phenotypes. The results were reproducible in an independent biological replicate. The findings reported here represent the first map between a critical cardiovascular gene and physical interacting loci throughout the genome and will provide the basis for several new directions of research.
Role of glial-like type II cells as paracrine modulators of carotid body chemoreception
Authors: Nurse Colin A. , Leonard Erin M. , Salman Shaima
Published: March 2018

Mammalian carotid bodies (CB) are chemosensory organs that mediate compensatory cardiorespiratory reflexes in response to low blood PO2 (hypoxemia) and elevated CO2/H+ (acid hypercapnia). The chemoreceptors are glomus or type I cells that occur in clusters enveloped by neighboring glial-like type II cells. During chemoexcitation type I cells depolarize, leading to Ca2+-dependent release of several neurotransmitters, some excitatory and others inhibitory, that help shape the afferent carotid sinus nerve (CSN) discharge. Among the predominantly excitatory neurotransmitters are the purines ATP and adenosine, whereas dopamine (DA) is inhibitory in most species. There is a consensus that ATP and adenosine, acting via postsynaptic ionotropic P2X2/3 receptors and pre- and/or postsynaptic A2 receptors respectively, are major contributors to the increased CSN discharge during chemoexcitation. However, it has been proposed that the CB sensory output is also tuned by paracrine signaling pathways, involving glial-like type II cells. Indeed, type II cells express functional receptors for several excitatory neurochemicals released by type I cells including ATP, 5-HT, ACh, angiotensin II, and endothelin-1. Stimulation of the corresponding G protein-coupled receptors increases intracellular Ca2+, leading to the further release of ATP through pannexin-1 channels. Recent evidence suggests that other CB neurochemicals, e.g., histamine and DA, may actually inhibit Ca2+ signaling in subpopulations of type II cells. Here, we review evidence supporting neurotransmitter-mediated crosstalk between type I and type II cells of the rat CB. We also consider the potential contribution of paracrine signaling and purinergic catabolic pathways to the integrated sensory output of the CB during chemotransduction.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration Approval: Neratinib for the Extended Adjuvant Treatment of Early-Stage HER2-Positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Singh Harpreet , Walker Amanda J. , Amiri-Kordestani Laleh , Cheng Joyce , Tang Shenghui , Balcazar Pamela , Barnett-Ringgold Kimberly , Palmby Todd R. , Cao Xianhua , Zheng Nan , Liu Qi , Yu Jingyu , Pierce William F. , Daniels Selena R. , Sridhara Rajeshwari , Ibrahim Amna , Kluetz Paul G. , Blumenthal Gideon M. , Beaver Julia A. , Pazdur Richard
Published: March 2018

On July 17, 2017, the FDA approved neratinib (NERLYNX; Puma Biotechnology, Inc.) for the extended adjuvant treatment of adult patients with early-stage HER2-overexpressed/amplified breast cancer, to follow adjuvant trastuzumab-based therapy. Approval was based on data from ExteNET, a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter trial. Women with early-stage HER2-positive breast cancer and within 2 years of completing adjuvant trastuzumab were randomized to neratinib (n = 1,420) or placebo (n = 1,420) for 1 year. The primary endpoint was invasive disease-free survival (iDFS), defined as the time between randomization date to first occurrence of invasive recurrence (local/regional, ipsilateral, or contralateral breast cancer), distant recurrence, or death from any cause, with 2 years and 28 days of follow-up. The trial showed a statistically significant treatment effect favoring neratinib with a stratified HR of 0.66 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.49–0.90, P = 0.008]. The estimated iDFS rate at 2 years was 94.2% (95% CI, 92.6%–95.4%) in patients treated with neratinib versus 91.9% (95% CI, 90.2%–93.2%) in those receiving placebo. Diarrhea was the most common adverse event (AE), with a 40% incidence of grade 3 or 4 diarrhea, and represents the most common AE leading to treatment discontinuation. Other frequent AEs (>10% incidence) were nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, vomiting, rash, stomatitis, decreased appetite, and muscle spasms. Other than diarrhea, neratinib is associated with a low incidence of severe AEs; toxicities are generally reversible and manageable with dose interruptions, dose reductions, and/or standard medical care. This article summarizes FDA decision-making and data supporting the neratinib approval. Clin Cancer Res; 24(15); 3486–91. ©2018 AACR.

See related commentary by Unni et al., p. 3483
Race/Ethnicity, Dietary Acid Load, and Risk of End-Stage Renal Disease among US Adults with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Crews Deidra C. , Banerjee Tanushree , Wesson Donald E. , Morgenstern Hal , Saran Rajiv , Burrows Nilka Ríos , Williams Desmond E. , Powe Neil R. ,   The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Chronic Kidney Disease Surveillance Team
Published: March 2018

Background: Dietary acid load (DAL) contributes to the risk of CKD and CKD progression. We sought to determine the relation of DAL to racial/ethnic differences in the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among persons with CKD. Methods: Among 1,123 non-Hispanic black (NHB) and non-Hispanic white (NHW) National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III participants with estimated glomerular filtration rate 15–59 mL/min/1.73 m2, DAL was estimated using the Remer and Manz net acid excretion (NAEes) formula and 24-h dietary recall. ESRD events were ascertained via linkage with Medicare. A competing risk model (accounting for death) was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) for treated ESRD, comparing NHBs with NHWs, adjusting for demographic, clinical and nutritional factors (body surface area, total caloric intake, serum bicarbonate, protein intake), and NAEes. Additionally, whether the relation of NAEes with ESRD risk varied by race/ethnicity was tested. Results: At baseline, NHBs had greater NAEes (50.9 vs. 44.2 mEq/day) than NHWs. It was found that 22% developed ESRD over a median of 7.5 years. The unadjusted HR comparing NHBs to NHWs was 3.35 (95% CI 2.51–4.48) and adjusted HR (for factors above) was 1.68 (95% CI 1.18–2.38). A stronger association of NAE with risk of ESRD was observed among NHBs (adjusted HR per mEq/day increase in NAE 1.21, 95% CI 1.12–1.31) than that among NHWs (HR 1.08, 95% CI 0.96–1.20), p interaction for race/ethnicity × NAEes = 0.004. Conclusions: Among US adults with CKD, the association of DAL with progression to ESRD is stronger among NHBs than NHWs. DAL is worthy of further investigation for its contribution to kidney outcomes across race/ethnic groups.
Prisioneiro, militante e escritor: um novo olhar sobre as Memórias do cárcere e o seu autor
Authors: Scaraggi Elisa
Published: March 2018

Resenha do livro Armas de papel: Graciliano Ramos, as Memórias do cárcere e o Partido Comunista Brasileiro, de Fabio Cesar Alves
Mapa da crítica de rodapé paulista (1920-1950)
Authors: Serrano Pedro Bueno de Melo
Published: March 2018

Este artigo, elaborado a partir de dissertação de mestrado defendida no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Sociologia da USP, em 2016, dedica-se a mapear a crítica literária paulista praticada entre as décadas de 1920 e 1950 em jornais. Após uma introdução sobre as características gerais da modalidade e sobre a relação entre Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo como polos da cultura brasileira no período, quatro jornais paulistas foram tomados para uma pesquisa detalhada a respeito da publicação de crítica. A partir dos resultados obtidos, pretende-se contribuir para o aprofundamento das discussões sobre a crítica literária brasileira do período e, dentro dela, da crítica literária paulista.
CD40L Deficiency Protects Against Aneurysm Formation
Authors: Kusters Pascal J.H. , Seijkens Tom T.P. , Beckers Linda , Lievens Dirk , Winkels Holger , de Waard Vivian , Duijvestijn Adriaan , Lindquist Liljeqvist Moritz , Roy Joy , Daugherty Alan , Newby Andrew , Gerdes Norbert , Lutgens Esther
Published: March 2018

Objective—

The mechanisms underlying formation of arterial aneurysms remain incompletely understood. Because inflammation is a common feature during the progressive degeneration of the aortic wall, we studied the role of the costimulatory molecule CD40L, a major driver of inflammation, in aneurysm formation.

Approach and Results—

Transcriptomics data obtained from human abdominal aortic aneurysms and normal aortas revealed increased abundance of both CD40L and CD40 in media of thrombus-free and thrombus-covered human abdominal aortic aneurysms samples. To further unravel the role of CD40L in aneurysm formation, apolipoprotein E–deficient (
Apoe
−/−
) and
Cd40l
−/−
Apoe
−/−
mice were infused with angiotensin II for 7 and 28 days. Only a minority of
Cd40l
−/−
Apoe
−/−
mice (33% and 17%) developed (dissecting) aneurysms compared with 75% and 67% of
Apoe
−/−
littermates after 7 and 28 days of infusion, respectively. Total vessel area of the aorta at the suprarenal level was 52% smaller in angiotensin II–infused
Cd40l
−/−
Apoe
−/−
mice compared with that in angiotensin II–infused
Apoe
−/−
mice. Chimeric
Apoe
−/−
mice repopulated with
Cd40l
−/−
Apoe
−/−
bone marrow afforded a similar protection against dissecting aneurysm formation. Moreover, lack of CD40L protected mice from fatal aneurysm rupture. T helper cell and macrophage accumulation in aneurysmal tissue was reduced in
Cd40l
−/−
Apoe
−/−
mice with a concomitant decrease in expression of proinflammatory chemo- and cytokines. In addition, aneurysms of
Cd40l
−/−
Apoe
−/−
mice displayed reduced abundance of matrix metalloproteinase-13 and an increase in tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 while activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 was diminished.

Conclusions—

Deficiency of (hematopoietic) CD40L protects against dissecting aneurysm formation and reduces the incidence of fatal rupture. This is associated with a decreased accumulation and activation of inflammatory cells and a dampened protease activity in the arterial wall.
Impact of Ischemic and Valvular Heart Disease on Atrial Excitation:A High‐Resolution Epicardial Mapping Study
Authors: Mouws Elisabeth M. J. P. , Lanters Eva A. H. , Teuwen Christophe P. , van der Does Lisette J. M. E. , Kik Charles , Knops Paul , Yaksh Ameeta , Bekkers Jos A. , Bogers Ad J. J. C. , de Groot Natasja M. S.
Published: March 2018

Background

The influence of underlying heart disease or presence of atrial fibrillation (
AF
) on atrial excitation during sinus rhythm (
SR
) is unknown. We investigated atrial activation patterns and total activation times of the entire atrial epicardial surface during
SR
in patients with ischemic and/or valvular heart disease with or without
AF
.

Methods and Results

Intraoperative epicardial mapping (N=128/192 electrodes, interelectrode distances: 2 mm) of the right atrium, Bachmann's bundle (
BB
), left atrioventricular groove, and pulmonary vein area was performed during
SR
in 253 patients (186 male [74%], age 66±11 years) with ischemic heart disease (N=132, 52%) or ischemic valvular heart disease (N=121, 48%). As expected,
SR
origin was located at the superior intercaval region of the right atrium in 232 patients (92%).
BB
activation occurred via 1 wavefront from right‐to‐left (N=163, 64%), from the central part (N=18, 7%), or via multiple wavefronts (N=72, 28%). Left atrioventricular groove activation occurred via (1)
BB
: N=108, 43%; (2) pulmonary vein area: N=9, 3%; or (3)
BB
and pulmonary vein area: N=136, 54%; depending on which route had the shortest interatrial conduction time (
P
<0.001). Ischemic valvular heart disease patients more often had central
BB
activation and left atrioventricular groove activation via pulmonary vein area compared with ischemic heart disease patients (N=16 [13%] versus N=2 [2%];
P
=0.009 and N=86 [71%] versus N=59 [45%];
P
<0.001, respectively). Total activation times were longer in patients with
AF
(
AF
: 136±20 [92–186] ms; no
AF
: 114±17 [74–156] ms;
P
<0.001), because of prolongation of right atrium (
P
=0.018) and
BB
conduction times (
P
<0.001).

Conclusions

Atrial excitation during
SR
is affected by underlying heart disease and
AF
, resulting in alternative routes for
BB
and left atrioventricular groove activation and prolongation of total activation times. Knowledge of atrial excitation patterns during 
SR
and its electropathological variations, as demonstrated in this study, is essential to further unravel the pathogenesis of
AF
.
Postsystolic Shortening by Speckle Tracking Echocardiography Is an Independent Predictor of Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in the General Population
Authors: Brainin Philip , Biering‐Sørensen Sofie Reumert , Møgelvang Rasmus , Søgaard Peter , Jensen Jan Skov , Biering‐Sørensen Tor
Published: March 2018

Background

Postsystolic shortening (
PSS
) has been proposed as a novel marker of contractile dysfunction in the myocardium. Our objective was to assess the prognostic potential of
PSS
on cardiovascular events and death in the general population.

Methods and Results

The study design consisted of a prospective cohort study of 1296 low‐risk participants from the general population, who were examined by speckle tracking echocardiography. The primary end point was the composite of heart failure, myocardial infarction, and cardiovascular death, defined as major adverse cardiovascular events (
MACEs
). The secondary end point was all‐cause death. The postsystolic index (
PSI
) was defined as follows: [(maximum strain in cardiac cycle−peak systolic strain)/(maximum strain in cardiac cycle)]×100.
PSS
was regarded as present if
PSI
>20%. During a median follow‐up of 11 years, 149 participants (12%) were diagnosed as having
MACE
s and 236 participants (18%) died. Increasing number of walls with
PSS
predicted both end points, an association that persisted after adjustment for age, sex, estimated glomerular filtration rate, global longitudinal strain, hypertension, heart rate, left ventricular ejection fraction,
LV
mass index, pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide, previous ischemic heart disease, systolic blood pressure, average peak early diastolic longitudinal mitral annular velocity (e′), ratio between peak transmitral early and late diastolic inflow velocity (E/A), and left atrial volume index:
MACEs
(hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.67;
P
=0.006 per 1 increase in walls displaying
PSS
) and death (hazard ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–1.57;
P
=0.006 per 1 increase in walls displaying
PSS
). The strongest predictor of end points was ≥2 walls exhibiting PSS. The
PSI
also predicted increased risk of the end points, and the associations remained significant in multivariable models:
MACEs
(per 1% increase in
PSI
: hazard ratio, 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.36;
P
=0.024) and death (per 1% increase in
PSI
: hazard ratio, 1.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.05–1.33;
P
=0.005).

Conclusions

Presence of
PSS
in the general population provides independent and long‐term prognostic information on the occurrence of
MACEs
and death.
Age-Specific Associations of Renal Impairment With Magnetic Resonance Imaging Markers of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease in Transient Ischemic Attack and Stroke
Authors: Liu Bian , Lau Kui Kai , Li Linxin , Lovelock Caroline , Liu Ming , Kuker Wilhelm , Rothwell Peter M.
Published: March 2018

Background and Purpose—

It has been hypothesized that cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) and chronic renal impairment may be part of a multisystem small-vessel disorder, but their association may simply be as a result of shared risk factors (eg, hypertension) rather than to a systemic susceptibility to premature SVD. However, most previous studies were hospital based, most had inadequate adjustment for hypertension, many were confined to patients with lacunar stroke, and none stratified by age.

Methods—

In a population-based study of transient ischemic attack and ischemic stroke (OXVASC [Oxford Vascular Study]), we evaluated the magnetic resonance imaging markers of cerebral SVD, including lacunes, white matter hyperintensities, cerebral microbleeds, and enlarged perivascular space. We studied the age-specific associations of renal impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m
2
) and total SVD burden (total SVD score) adjusting for age, sex, vascular risk factors, and premorbid blood pressure (mean blood pressure during 15 years preevent).

Results—

Of 1080 consecutive patients, 1028 (95.2%) had complete magnetic resonance imaging protocol and creatinine measured at baseline. Renal impairment was associated with total SVD score (odds ratio [OR], 2.16; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.69–2.75;
P
<0.001), but only at age <60 years (<60 years: OR, 3.97; 95% CI, 1.69–9.32;
P
=0.002; 60–79 years: OR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.72–1.41;
P
=0.963; ≥80 years: OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.59–1.54;
P
=0.832). The overall association of renal impairment and total SVD score was also attenuated after adjustment for age, sex, history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and premorbid average systolic blood pressure (adjusted OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.56–1.02;
P
=0.067), but the independent association of renal impairment and total SVD score at age <60 years was maintained (adjusted OR, 3.11; 95% CI, 1.21–7.98;
P
=0.018). Associations of renal impairment and SVD were consistent for each SVD marker at age <60 years but were strongest for cerebral microbleeds (OR, 5.84; 95% CI, 1.45–23.53;
P
=0.013) and moderate–severe periventricular white matter hyperintensities (OR, 6.28; 95% CI, 1.54–25.63;
P
=0.010).

Conclusions—

The association of renal impairment and cerebral SVD was attenuated with adjustment for shared risk factors at older ages, but remained at younger ages, consistent with a shared susceptibility to premature disease.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Does Not Improve Language Outcome in Subacute Poststroke Aphasia
Authors: Spielmann Kerstin , van de Sandt-Koenderman W. Mieke E. , Heijenbrok-Kal Majanka H. , Ribbers Gerard M.
Published: March 2018

Background and Purpose—

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on word-finding treatment outcome in subacute poststroke aphasia.

Methods—

In this multi-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial with 6-month follow-up, we included 58 patients with subacute aphasia (<3 months poststroke), who were enrolled in a stroke rehabilitation program. Patients participated in 2 separate intervention weeks. Each intervention week included 5 daily sessions of 45-minute word-finding therapy combined with either anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (1 mA, 20 minutes; experimental group) or sham transcranial direct current stimulation (control group) over the left inferior frontal gyrus. The primary outcome measure was the Boston Naming Test. Secondary outcome measures included naming performance for trained/untrained picture items and verbal communication.

Results—

Both the experimental (n=26) and the control group (n=32) improved on the Boston Naming Test over the intervention period and 6-month follow-up; however, there were no significant differences between groups. Also for the secondary outcome measures, no significant differences were found.

Conclusions—

The results of the present study do not support an effect of transcranial direct current stimulation as an adjuvant treatment in subacute poststroke aphasia.

Clinical Trial Registration—

URL:
http://www.trialregister.nl/trialreg/admin/rctview.asp
. Unique identifier: NTR4364.
Thalamic Diaschisis in Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Reidler Paul , Thierfelder Kolja M. , Fabritius Matthias P. , Sommer Wieland H. , Meinel Felix G. , Dorn Franziska , Wollenweber Frank A. , Duering Marco , Kunz Wolfgang G.
Published: March 2018

Background and Purpose—

Ipsilateral thalamic diaschisis (ITD) describes the reduction of thalamic function, metabolism, and perfusion resulting from a distant lesion of the ipsilateral hemisphere. Our aim was to evaluate the perfusion characteristics and clinical impact of ITD in acute middle cerebral artery stroke, which does not directly affect the thalamus.

Methods—

One hundred twenty-four patients with middle cerebral artery infarction were selected from a prospectively acquired cohort of 1644 patients who underwent multiparametric computed tomography (CT), including CT perfusion for suspected stroke. Two blinded readers evaluated the occurrence of ITD, defined as ipsilateral thalamic hypoperfusion present on ≥2 CT perfusion maps. Perfusion alterations were defined according to the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score regions. Final infarction volume and subacute complications were assessed on follow-up imaging. Clinical outcome was quantified using the modified Rankin Scale. Multivariable linear and ordinal logistic regression analysis were applied to identify independent associations.

Results—

ITD was present in 25/124 subjects (20.2%, ITD+). In ITD+ subjects, perfusion of the caudate nucleus, internal capsule, and lentiform nucleus was more frequently affected than in ITD− patients (each with
P
<0.001). In the ITD+ group, larger cerebral blood flow (
P
=0.002) and cerebral blood volume (
P
<0.001) deficit volumes, as well as smaller cerebral blood flow–cerebral blood volume mismatch (
P
=0.021) were observed. There was no independent association of ITD with final infarction volume or clinical outcome at discharge in treatment subgroups (each with
P
>0.05). ITD had no influence on the development of subacute stroke complications.

Conclusions—

ITD in the form of thalamic hypoperfusion is a frequent CT perfusion finding in the acute phase in middle cerebral artery stroke patients with marked involvement of subcortical areas. ITD does not result in thalamic infarction and had no independent impact on patient outcome. Notably, ITD was misclassified as part of the ischemic core by automated software, which might affect patient selection in CT perfusion–based trials.
Detection of the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) by environmental DNA: is eDNA adequate for reptiles?
Authors: Raemy Matthieu , Ursenbacher Sylvain
Published: March 2018

Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of combining molecular technologies with environmental sampling to detect various vertebrate species in aquatic ecosystems. The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is a threatened and elusive aquatic reptile with shy behaviour. We aimed to develop and evaluate a methodology to detect the presence of this secretive aquatic reptile in ponds from environmental water samples. First, we determined that reptilian DNA can be isolated and amplified from water samples in artificial and natural ponds with known turtle density. Then we compared the potential of two water sampling methods (through filtration or precipitation) and found no significant differences between these approaches. Finally, we demonstrated that the eDNA concentration detected is not correlated with the number of E. orbicularis individuals or biomass. Detection of eDNA was higher in artificial ponds with small volumes of water or in the shallow waters of natural ponds. The eDNA-based methodology aims to detect the presence of specific species, even at low density, with better accuracy than visual observation. However, our study indicates that this method of population monitoring should be applied with caution to aquatic reptiles.
A molecular phylogeny of the Rhigonematomorpha De Ley & Blaxter, 2002 as inferred from SSU and LSU rDNA sequences
Authors: Mejia-Madrid Hugo H.
Published: March 2018

A molecular hypothesis of the Infraorder Rhigonematomorpha is presented. The phylogeny recovered using combined SSU and LSU markers suggests that the Rhigonematomorpha is nested within a larger clade that includes Ascaridomorpha, Spiruromorpha and Oxyuridomorpha and is strongly supported by maximum likelihood (ML) bootstrap support values (BS) and Bayesian posterior probabilities (BPP). SSU and LSU ML and Bayesian analyses recovered Rhigonematomorpha as a paraphyletic clade. In the ML and Bayesian analyses of a combined matrix of complete to partial sequences of SSU and LSU, respectively, Rhigonematomorpha is recovered as a monophyletic clade with moderate BPP but low BS. Highly supported BS and BPP of a combined SSU and LSU matrix support a hypothesis of a monophyletic Superfamily Ransomnematoidea that includes the families Carnoyidae, Hethidae, Ransomnematidae plus aBrumptaemilius,Cattiena,Insulanemaclade, and a monophyletic Superfamily Rhigonematoidea that probably includes the paraphyletic families Rhigonematidae and Ichthyocephalidae. It is suggested that the future inclusion of more families and genera might help resolve the monophyly of the Infraorder Rhigonematomorpha as advanced here.
Beckett’s Collaborative Translations in the 1950s
Authors: Van Hulle Dirk , Verhulst Pim
Published: March 2018

In the 1950s, Samuel Beckett worked together with a number of writer-translators on English, French and German versions of his novels and plays. This article studies the material traces of these collaborations to analyse the collaborations as a crucial phase in a 4-step process toward a poetics of bilingualism, consisting of (1) writing in another language, (2) collaborating on the translations, (3) eventually giving preference to self-translation, and (4) finally presenting his work as a bilingual oeuvre. Beckett also appears to have played a greater part in his German translations than hitherto assumed, which calls for a reassessment of Beckett’s “trilingual” engagement with his work in the development of a “bilingual” poetics.
Bilinguisme et autotraduction à l’ œuvre dans l’ écriture de Samuel Beckett
Authors: Montini Chiara
Published: March 2018

L’ autotraduction dans l’ œuvre de Beckett témoigne de la tentative de miner la fonction auteur (Foucault, 1969) et le rôle de l’ original dans la littérature occidentale moderne. Censée effacer celui ‘qui parle’, non plus en tant qu’ auteur, mais en tant que “traducteur servile,” l’ autotraduction met en scène un ‘moi’ sans cesse changeant. En multipliant les ‘egos’ de l’ auteur, les langues, les références et les textes, l’ autotraduction permet d’ interroger la croyance en l’ unité de l’ origine et donc l’ aura (Benjamin, 1937) de l’ œuvre d’ art et de l’ auteur. Écriture et traduction finissent par se rencontrer : elles sont les deux têtes de Janus Bifrons. Grâce à l’ autotraduction Beckett représente ce qu’ il y a de paradoxal dans l’ écriture et dans le rapport du sujet au langage.
Iterative Publishing
Authors: Jennings Chris
Published: March 2018

Books like other created artefacts go through a number of iterations before being ready for public display. It is possible to observe and record what those changes are and when they happened and who made them? This article considers how the reader of the book will know what version they are reading and the author/editor will know what version they are editing. It does so in relation to print, digital, and author or editor workflow.
New lineages of Lebinthini from Australia (Orthoptera: Gryllidae: Eneopterinae)
Authors: ROBILLARD TONY , SU YOU NING
Published: March 2018

A monograph concerning the Australian crickets was published in 1983 by Otte & Alexander, but this territory still harbors many undiscovered, undescribed treasures. Both existing species of Australian Lebinthus prove to belong to the tribe Eurepini. Our study results in the following new combinations: Salmanites miripara (Otte & Alexander, 1983) n. comb. and Eurepa bifasciata (Chopard, 1951) n. comb. In the meantime, newly collected material from northern Queensland allows us to describe two new lineages of brachypterous Lebinthini from northern Australia, the species Macrobinthus kutini n. sp., and the new genus Julverninthus and the species Julverninthus rentzi n. sp. and Julverninthus minoris n. sp.
A new species of Hemiphyllodactylus (Squamata: Gekkonidae) from Hong Kong
Authors: SUNG YIK-HEI , LEE WING-HO , NG HO-NAM , ZHANG YANJIE , YANG JIAN-HUAN
Published: March 2018

A new species of gekkonid, Hemiphyllodactylus hongkongensis sp. nov., is described based on a series of specimens collected from Hong Kong SAR, China. The new species can be distinguished from other known congeners by molecular divergence in the mitochondrial ND2 gene and morphological characters including 5–6 chin scales; a manual lamellar formula of 3–3(4)–4–4; a pedal lamellar formula of 3(4)–4(5)–4(5)–4; 24–25 continuous femoral and precloacal pores; 12–15 dorsal scales and 9–10 ventral scales contained in diameter of eye. At present, the genus Hemiphyllodactylus comprises 22 described species.
How Do Environmental Conditions Influence Vertical Buoyancy Structure and Shallow-to-Deep Convection Transition across Different Climate Regimes?
Authors: Zhuang Yizhou , Fu Rong , Wang Hongqing
Published: March 2018

We developed an entraining parcel approach that partitions parcel buoyancy into contributions from different processes (e.g., adiabatic cooling, condensation, freezing, and entrainment). Applying this method to research-quality radiosonde profiles provided by the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program at six sites, we evaluated how atmospheric thermodynamic conditions and entrainment influence various physical processes that determine the vertical buoyancy structure across different climate regimes as represented by these sites. The differences of morning buoyancy profiles between the deep convection (DC)/transition cases and shallow convection (SC)/nontransition cases were used to assess preconditions important for shallow-to-deep convection transition. Our results show that for continental sites such as the U.S. Southern Great Plains (SGP) and west-central Africa, surface conditions alone are enough to account for the buoyancy difference between DC and SC cases, although entrainment further enhances the buoyancy difference at SGP. For oceanic sites in the tropical west Pacific, humidity dilution in the lower to middle free troposphere (~1–6 km) and temperature mixing in the middle to upper troposphere (>4 km) have the most important influences on the buoyancy difference between DC and SC cases. For the humid central Amazon region, entrainment in both the boundary layer and the lower free troposphere (~0–4 km) have significant contributions to the buoyancy difference; the upper-tropospheric influence seems unimportant. In addition, the integral of the condensation term, which represents the parcel’s ability to transform available water vapor into heat through condensation, provides a better discrimination between DC and SC cases than the integral of buoyancy or the convective available potential energy (CAPE).
Composite Analysis of Polar Mesocyclones over the Western Part of the Sea of Japan
Authors: Watanabe Shun-ichi I. , Niino Hiroshi , Yanase Wataru
Published: March 2018

Polar mesocyclones occur frequently over the Sea of Japan during winter in association with cold air outbreaks from the Eurasian continent. In this study, the general characteristics of polar mesocyclones over the western part of the Sea of Japan are examined using composite analysis. The synoptic-scale environment associated with these mesocyclones is characterized by a negative sea level pressure anomaly to the east that causes a cold air outbreak at low levels. There is also a geopotential height trough moving eastward at upper levels. In the cold air outbreak, a convergence zone known as the Japan Sea polar airmass convergence zone (JPCZ), collocated with a thermal ridge, develops on the lee side of the mountains at the root of the Korean Peninsula. These polar mesocyclones are generated when the upper-level trough approaches the JPCZ from the west. However, the behavior of the JPCZ and the movement of the polar mesocyclones differ depending on the location of the upper-level trough. A piecewise potential vorticity inversion analysis revealed that the circulation associated with the upper-level trough modifies the low-level winds, which affects the direction of extension of the JPCZ as well as the genesis location and the movement of the polar mesocyclones.
Mass Mobilization and the Durability of New Democracies
Authors: Kadivar Mohammad Ali
Published: March 2018

The “elitist approach” to democratization contends that “democratic regimes that last have seldom, if ever, been instituted by mass popular actors” (Huntington 1984:212). This article subjects this observation to empirical scrutiny using statistical analyses of new democracies over the past half-century and a case study. Contrary to the elitist approach, I argue that new democracies growing out of mass mobilization are more likely to survive than are new democracies that were born amid quiescence. Survival analysis of 112 young democracies in 80 different countries based on original data shows that the longer the mobilization, the more likely the ensuing democracy is to survive. I use a case study of South Africa to investigate the mechanisms. I argue that sustained unarmed uprisings have generated the longest-lasting new democracies—largely because they are forced to develop an organizational structure, which provides a leadership cadre for the new regime, forges links between the government and society, and strengthens checks on the power of the post-transition government.
Effect of Fentanyl Nasal Packing Treatment on Patients With Acute Postoperative Pain After Nasal Operation: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial
Authors: Kim Kwan-Sub , Yeo Nam-Kyung , Kim Seong-Su , Park Woong-Sub , Kwak Su-Hyun , Cho Sang-Hyeon , Sung Gyu-Wan , Kim Hae-Sook , Yi Sang-Wook , Cho Hae Jun
Published: March 2018

Purpose:

Nasal packing is an option for bleeding control after endoscopic sinus surgery and septoplasty. Although new packing materials have been developed, patients still suffer from pain and require additional analgesics treatments. In this study, a prospective, randomized, and double-blind controlled trial was designed to evaluate the effect of fentanyl-soaked packing on pain after endoscopic sinus surgery and septoplasty.

Methods:

One hundred fifty-two patients who underwent nasal surgeries due to chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal septal deviation were enrolled in this study. At the end of operation, 50 mcg fentanyl-soaked biodegradable synthetic polyurethane foams packing Nasopore or Merocel were applied to a group of 79 patients, and saline-soaked ones were applied to another group of 73 patients. To evaluate the influence of fentanyl on postoperative nasal pain, patients’ conditions were assessed via means of Numeric Rating Scale, patient satisfaction, and Ramsay Sedation Scale. In addition, symptoms of headache or sore throat and any signs of cardiopulmonary-relevant indicators were monitored.

Results:

The fentanyl group had significantly decreased Numeric Rating Scale and increased patient satisfaction in every operation type for the majority of postoperative time periods ( P < .05) with reduced postoperative headache and sore throat compared to the control group. The fentanyl group showed a higher score on Ramsay Sedation Scale than the control group ( P < .05 in group including endoscopic sinus surgery). There were no significant differences in cardiopulmonary-relevant indicators between the 2 groups ( P > .05).

Conclusion:

Fentanyl group showed significantly reduced postoperative pain without serious adverse effects. We suggest that topical fentanyl application to nasal packs can be a useful method to reduce pain during the early postoperative period after endoscopic sinus surgery and septoplasty.
High-Density Otologic Camps in Regions of Sparse Expertise
Authors: Girma Bizuayehu , Bitew Asnake , Kiros Nega , Redleaf Miriam
Published: March 2018

Aims/Purpose:

When 2 models of otologic surgery instruction in Ethiopia are compared, high-density otologic surgery campaigns are more effective for accelerated skills transfer in areas of sparse expertise than the standard outpatient clinic/OR model.

Methods:

A continuously operating otolaryngology/head and neck surgery department in a large public hospital is compared with a nonprofit specialty hospital where outpatients are selected for weeklong surgical campaigns. The number and variety of otologic visits and operations in each setting, presence of expert supervision, and resident-trainees’ surgical progress were tallied.

Results:

The public hospital saw 84 otologic operations in 1 full year. Meanwhile, the ear specialty surgical campaign site saw 185 otologic operations in 6 surgical campaign weeks. All operations at both sites were performed primarily by trainees. Experienced otologists supervised 40% of operations at the public hospital and 100% at the surgical campaign site. At the end of the year, none of the 10 resident-trainees in the public hospital were able to perform a simple underlay tympanoplasty, compared to 6 of 12 resident-trainees in the campaign setting.

Conclusions:

Where otologic expertise is sparse, otologic surgical campaigns allow the most effective use of resources—patient pathology, medical facilities, trainee attendance, and imported instructors.