bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Murine Model for Hantaan Virus-Induced Lethal Disease Shows Two Distinct Paths in Viral Evolutionary Trajectory with and without Ribavirin Treatment
Authors: Chung Dong-Hoon , Västermark Åke , Camp Jeremy V. , McAllister Ryan , Remold Susanna K. , Chu Yong-Kyu , Bruder Carl , Jonsson Colleen B.
Published: August 2013

In vitro, ribavirin acts as a lethal mutagen in Hantaan virus (HTNV)-infected Vero E6 cells, resulting in an increased mutation load and viral population extinction. In this study, we asked whether ribavirin treatment in the lethal, suckling mouse model of HTNV infection would act similarly. The HTNV genomic RNA (vRNA) copy number and infectious virus were measured in lungs of untreated and ribavirin-treated mice. In untreated, HTNV-infected mice, the vRNA copy number increased for 10 days postinfection (dpi) and thereafter remained constant through 26 dpi. Surprisingly, in ribavirin-treated, HTNV-infected mice, vRNA levels were similar to those in untreated mice between 10 and 26 dpi. Infectious virus levels, however, were different: in ribavirin-treated mice, the amount of infectious HTNV was significantly decreased relative to that in untreated mice, suggesting that ribavirin reduced the specific infectivity of the virus (amount of infectious virus produced per vRNA copy). Mutational analysis revealed a ribavirin-associated elevation in mutation frequency in HTNV vRNA similar to that previously reportedin vitro. Codon-based analyses of rates of nonsynonymous (dN) and synonymous (dS) substitutions in the S segment revealed a positive selection for codons within the HTNV N protein gene in the ribavirin-treated vRNA population. In contrast, the vRNA population in untreated, HTNV-infected mice showed a lower level of diversity, reflecting purifying selection for the wild-type genome. In summary, these experiments show two different evolutionary paths thatHantavirusmay take during infection in a lethal murine model of disease, as well as the importance of thein vivohost environment in the evolution of the virus, which was not apparent in our priorin vitromodel system.
Effects of the Number of Genome Segments on Primary and Systemic Infections with a Multipartite Plant RNA Virus
Authors: Sánchez-Navarro Jesús A. , Zwart Mark P. , Elena Santiago F.
Published: August 2013

Multipartite plant viruses were discovered because of discrepancies between the observed dose response and predictions of the independent-action hypothesis (IAH) model. Theory suggests that the number of genome segments predicts the shape of the dose-response curve, but a rigorous test of this hypothesis has not been reported. Here,
Alfalfa mosaic
virus
(AMV), a tripartite
Alfamovirus
, and transgenic
Nicotianatabacum
plants expressing no (wild type), one (P2), or two (P12) viral genome segments were used to test whether the number of genome segments necessary for infection predicts the dose response. The dose-response curve of wild-type plants was steep and congruent with the predicted kinetics of a multipartite virus, confirming previous results. Moreover, for P12 plants, the data support the IAH model, showing that the expression of virus genome segments by the host plant can modulate the infection kinetics of a tripartite virus to those of a monopartite virus. However, the different types of virus particles occurred at different frequencies, with a ratio of 116:45:1 (RNA1 to RNA2 to RNA3), which will affect infection kinetics and required analysis with a more comprehensive infection model. This analysis showed that each type of virus particle has a different probability of invading the host plant, at both the primary- and systemic-infection levels. While the number of genome segments affects the dose response, taking into consideration differences in the infection kinetics of the three types of AMV particles results in a better understanding of the infection process.
A Novel Influenza Virus Hemagglutinin-Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Fusion Protein Subunit Vaccine against Influenza and RSV
Authors: Turner Tiffany M. , Jones Les P. , Tompkins S. Mark , Tripp Ralph A.
Published: August 2013

Influenza A virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cause substantial morbidity and mortality afflicting the ends of the age spectrum during the autumn through winter months in the United States. The benefit of vaccination against RSV and influenza using a subunit vaccine to enhance immunity and neutralizing antibody was investigated. Influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) and RSV fusion (F) protein were tested as vaccine components alone and in combination to explore the adjuvant properties of RSV F protein on HA immunity. Mice vaccinated with HA and F exhibited robust immunity that, when challenged, had reduced viral burden for both influenza and RSV. These studies show an enhancing and cross-protective benefit of F protein for anti-HA immunity.
Crystal Structure of the Receptor-Binding Domain from Newly Emerged Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus
Authors: Chen Yaoqing , Rajashankar Kanagalaghatta R. , Yang Yang , Agnihothram Sudhakar S. , Liu Chang , Lin Yi-Lun , Baric Ralph S. , Li Fang
Published: August 2013

The newly emerged Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has infected at least 77 people, with a fatality rate of more than 50%. Alarmingly, the virus demonstrates the capability of human-to-human transmission, raising the possibility of global spread and endangering world health and economy. Here we have identified the receptor-binding domain (RBD) from the MERS-CoV spike protein and determined its crystal structure. This study also presents a structural comparison of MERS-CoV RBD with other coronavirus RBDs, successfully positioning MERS-CoV on the landscape of coronavirus evolution and providing insights into receptor binding by MERS-CoV. Furthermore, we found that MERS-CoV RBD functions as an effective entry inhibitor of MERS-CoV. The identified MERS-CoV RBD may also serve as a potential candidate for MERS-CoV subunit vaccines. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of the evolution of coronavirus RBDs, provides insights into receptor recognition by MERS-CoV, and may help control the transmission of MERS-CoV in humans.
C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Is Essential for Efficient Systemic Transduction of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Vector 1 (rAAV-1) and rAAV-6 in Mice
Authors: Denard Jerome , Marolleau Beatrice , Jenny Christine , Rao Tata Nageswara , Fehling Hans Jörg , Voit Thomas , Svinartchouk Fedor
Published: August 2013

The clinical relevance of gene therapy using the recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors often requires widespread distribution of the vector, and in this case, systemic delivery is the optimal route of administration. Humoral blood factors, such as antibodies or complement, are the first barriers met by the vectors administered systemically. We have found that other blood proteins, galectin 3 binding protein (G3BP) and C-reactive protein (CRP), can interact with different AAV serotypes in a species-specific manner. While interactions of rAAV vectors with G3BP, antibodies, or complement lead to a decrease in vector efficacy, systemic transduction of the CRP-deficient mouse and its respective control clearly established that binding to mouse CRP (mCRP) boosts rAAV vector 1 (rAAV-1) and rAAV-6 transduction efficiency in skeletal muscles over 10 times. Notably, the high efficacy of rAAV-6 in CRP-deficient mice can be restored by reconstitution of the CRP-deficient mouse with mCRP. Human CRP (hCRP) does not interact with either rAAV-1 or rAAV-6, and, consequently, the high efficiency of mCRP-mediated muscle transduction by these serotypes in mice cannot be translated to humans. No interaction of mCRP or hCRP was observed with rAAV-8 and rAAV-9. We show, for the first time, that serum components can significantly enhance rAAV-mediated tissue transduction in a serotype- and species-specific manner. Bioprocessing in body fluids should be considered when transfer of a preclinical proof of concept for AAV-based gene therapy to humans is planned.
Role of Human Herpesvirus 8 Interleukin-6-Activated gp130 Signal Transducer in Primary Effusion Lymphoma Cell Growth and Viability
Authors: Cousins Emily , Nicholas John
Published: August 2013

Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) infection is associated with Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma (PEL), and multicentric Castleman's disease. HHV-8-encoded viral interleukin-6 (vIL-6) is believed to contribute to pathogenesis via proproliferative, antiapoptotic, and proangiogenic activities. In PEL cells, vIL-6 is produced in functional amounts during viral latency and promotes the growth of these cells, mediating its activity from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), where it is predominantly localized. This vIL-6 activity is dependent, in part, on its interaction with a splice variant of vitamin K epoxide reductase complex subunit 1 (VKORC1), termed VKORC1 variant 2 (VKORC1v2). Here we report that the IL-6 signal transducer, gp130, which can support vIL-6 signaling from the ER, is also required for optimal PEL cell growth and viability. Levels of activated extracellular regulated kinases (ERKs) 1 and 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) and STAT3, phosphorylated following gp130 stimulation, were reduced in gp130-depleted BCBL-1 and BC-1 cells. Diminished STAT activation was also detected in JSC-1 and BC-3 cells. Effects of gp130 depletion on growth could be mimicked by short hairpin RNA targeting of ERKs 1 and 2 or by depletion of STAT3. Finally, inhibition of vIL-6–gp130 association specifically within the ER compartment suppressed cell proliferation and viability, mirroring the effects of gp130 depletion. Combined, these data demonstrate that gp130, in addition to VKORC1v2, is essential for normal PEL cell growth and survival and that ER-localized vIL-6–gp130 interactions are critical for these activities. Targeting of intracellular vIL-6–gp130 interactions could potentially provide a means of PEL therapy.
The Respiratory Syncytial Virus Fusion Protein Targets to the Perimeter of Inclusion Bodies and Facilitates Filament Formation by a Cytoplasmic Tail-Dependent Mechanism
Authors: Baviskar Pradyumna S. , Hotard Anne L. , Moore Martin L. , Oomens Antonius G. P.
Published: August 2013

The human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) fusion (F) protein cytoplasmic tail (CT) and matrix (M) protein are key mediators of viral assembly, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. A complementation assay was developed to systematically examine the role of the F protein CT in infectious virus production. The ability of F mutants with alanine substitutions in the CT to complement an F-null virus in generating infectious progeny was quantitated by flow cytometry. Two CT regions with impact on infectious progeny production were identified: residues 557 to 566 (CT-R1) and 569 to 572 (CT-R2). Substitutions in CT-R1 decreased infectivity by 40 to 85% and increased the level of F-induced cell-cell fusion but had little impact on assembly of viral surface filaments, which are believed to be virions. Substitutions in CT-R2, as well as deletion of the entire CT, abrogated infectious progeny production and impaired viral filament formation. However, CT-R2 mutations did not block but rather delayed the formation of viral filaments, which continued to form at a low rate and contained the viral M protein and nucleoprotein (N). Microscopy analysis revealed that substitutions in CT-R2 but not CT-R1 led to accumulation of M and F proteins within and at the perimeter of viral inclusion bodies (IBs), respectively. The accumulation of M and F at IBs and coincident strong decrease in filament formation and infectivity upon CT-R2 mutations suggest that F interaction with IBs is an important step in the virion assembly process and that CT residues 569 to 572 act to facilitate release of M-ribonucleoprotein complexes from IBs.
Prostate cancer with metastases to the kidney: a rare manifestation of a common disease
Authors: Khan Fahd , Mahmalji Wasim , Sriprasad Seshadri , Madaan Sanjeev
Published: August 2013

A 66-year-old Caucasian man with a background of prostate cancer presented with a progressive history of nausea, reduced appetite, shortness of breath and a distended abdomen. Radiological imaging revealed a left-sided renal mass and gross ascites suggestive of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Subsequent histological examination and immunostaining of renal mass biopsy revealed features characteristic of metastatic moderately differentiated to a focally poorly differentiated, large duct type of prostatic adenocarcinoma.
Sarcoidosis as a cause of unappreciated hypercalcaemia in a patient with end-stage renal disease on peritoneal dialysis
Authors: Kwon Ami , Koh Eun Sil , Chung Sungjin , Kim Yong Kyun
Published: August 2013

The differential diagnosis of hypercalcaemia in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing dialysis should be considered for causes related or unrelated to renal failure itself or therapies for renal failure. In particular, peritoneal dialysis may hinder awareness of a clinical problem due to its own peculiarities and effects on homeostasis of the body, thus creating misconceptions in interpreting laboratory data and diagnosing a disease. We describe here a case of systemic sarcoidosis which was delayed due to failure to recognise underestimated hypercalcaemia in a patient undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Clinicians need to remain aware of the change of minerals that may arise from peritoneal dialysis and should perform an extensive investigation for the cause of hypercalcaemia.
Paediatric recurrent herpetic whitlow
Authors: Patel Ramnik , Kumar Hemant , More Bharat , Patricolo Mario
Published: August 2013

We present a case of recurrent painful blisters of middle phalanx of the left ring finger of a 15-month-old previously healthy and immunocompetent female child. These lesions initially were confused with infective bacterial whitlow, treated with incision and drainage, and later with cigarette burns which led to referral to child protection team. Paediatric dermatologist finally diagnosed after scrapping and virology culture. The patient had recovery following full treatment with topical and systemic acyclovir. She presented again at the age of 4 with recurrence which required topical and systemic acyclovir therapy with good recovery. It is important to be aware of the danger of incorrect diagnosis, raising child protection concerns and management leading to danger of cross infection and serious illness especially in the immunocompromised patients.
Tuberculosis of bilateral first costotransverse joints
Authors: Gupta Mayank , Jain Vijay Kumar , Naik Ananta Kumar , Arya Rajendera Kumar
Published: August 2013

Involvement of posterior spine constitutes to 1–6% of the cases of spinal tuberculosis (TB). To the best of our knowledge, TB of costotransverse joints has only been reported once in the literature. The purpose of this study is to describe a case of TB arthritis of costotransverse joints. A 22-year-old immunocompetent patient presented with a 3-month history of pain in the neck and upper back along with a swelling on the left side of the base of the neck. On performing an MRI of the cervicodorsal spine, there was evidence of destructive collections at the bilateral first and right-sided second costotransverse joints. The patient was diagnosed as a case of tubercular pathology and was managed successfully with antitubercular chemotherapy.
Collet-Sicard syndrome as a result of unilateral carotid artery dissection
Authors: Smith Rupert , Tassone Peter , Saada Janak
Published: August 2013

A 52-year-old man presented with sudden onset symptoms of multiple cranial nerve palsies (IX, X and XII) following a 10-day history of coryzal illness. Follow-up examination established atrophy of the trapezius suggesting additional involvement of the spinal accessory nerve (XI). Further investigation including CT and MRI demonstrated dissection of the internal carotid artery. Given the involvement of cranial nerves IX to XII, and that the patient demonstrated no signs of Horner's syndrome, we suggested that this patient fits the description of Collet-Sicard syndrome. On vascular opinion the carotid dissection was expected to resolve without intervention but the patient was prescribed aspirin for thromboprophylaxis. Gradual resolution of neurological symptoms was observed at 8-week follow-up.
A cohort study of mortality predictors in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic fibrosing interstitial pneumonia
Authors: Usui Yutaka , Kaga Akiko , Sakai Fumikazu , Shiono Ayako , Komiyama Ken-ichiro , Hagiwara Koichi , Kanazawa Minoru
Published: August 2013

Objectives

To assess clinical, laboratory and radiographic findings associated with outcomes and to clarify more practical ways to predict hospital mortality in patients with acute exacerbation (AE) of chronic fibrosing interstitial pneumonia (CFIP).

Design

Single-centre retrospective cohort study.

Setting

University Hospital in Japan.

Participants

We identified 51 consecutive patients with AE of idiopathic CFIP through multidisciplinary discussion. Patients who had connective tissue disease, drug-induced lung disease, pneumoconiosis, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, sarcoidosis, pulmonary histiocytosis, lymphangioleiomyomatosis and eosinophilic pneumonia were excluded.

Interventions

There were no interventions.

Main outcome measures

The main outcome was determination of in-hospital mortality predictors. Other outcomes included clinical, laboratory and radiographic differences between non-survivors and survivors in patients with AE of CFIP.

Results

The mean age of the patients with AE of CFIP was 71 years. Compared with survivors, non-survivors had a significantly shorter duration of symptoms before admission, lower prevalence of peripheral distribution of ground-glass opacity and centrilobular emphysema (CLE) on thin-section CT, lower peripheral lymphocyte count, higher brain natriuretic peptide titre, lower Pao2:Fio2(P:F) ratio, higher prevalence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and higher SIRS score on admission (p=0.0069, 0.0032, 0.015, 0.040, 0.0098, 0.012, 9.9×10−7and 5.4×10−6, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed SIRS (HR=6.2810, p=0.015), CLE (HR=0.0606, p=3.6×10−5) and serum procalcitonin level (HR=2.7110, p=0.022) to be independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. A Kaplan-Meier estimate on the basis of stratification according to the presence or absence of SIRS and CLE demonstrated a distinct survival curve for each subset of patients.

Conclusions

Distinct survival curves documented by stratification according to the presence or absence of SIRS and CLE may provide basic information for a rational management strategy for patients with AE of CFIP on admission.
Trajectory of intensive treat-to-target disease modifying drug regimen in an observational study of an early rheumatoid arthritis cohort
Authors: White Douglas , Pahau Helen , Duggan Emily , Paul Sanjoy , Thomas Ranjeny
Published: August 2013

Objectives

Studies of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) cohorts have analysed treatment response and prognostic factors at fixed time points. However, in treat-to-target protocols, therapeutic decision-making is dynamic and responsive to disease activity over time. To determine when a minimal residual disease response target should be expected, our primary objective was to identify the time-dependent therapeutic response to combination disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for 12 months. Our secondary objective determined factors affecting this response trajectory.

Design

Observational cohort.

Setting

Treat-to-target early RA clinic in Australian tertiary referral hospital.

Participants

We enrolled consecutive patients attending an early arthritis clinic with symptom duration less than 12 months, who were diagnosed with RA for the first time between 2004 and 2008. 101 met these eligibility criteria and data were available at baseline through 12 months.

Interventions

intensive DMARDs according to a treat-to-target protocol.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

We measured disease activity scores (DAS) at each visit, then analysed therapeutic response and associated factors in a time-dependent fashion over 12 months.

Results

The median DAS4vESR of 4.46 at baseline decreased 12 weeks later by 24%, while the proportion with DAS4v ≤ 2.6 increased (p<0.01). DAS4v continued to decrease over 52 weeks. DAS4v reduction of at least −0.45 at 4 weeks was predictive of DAS4v at 28 and 52 weeks. Female gender, current smoking, primary education and an interaction between baseline weight and C reactive protein (CRP) negatively impacted DAS4v reduction over 4 and 52 weeks. Time-varying effects of blood pressure, neutrophils, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and CRP also significantly influenced DAS4v over 52 weeks.

Conclusions

Time-dependent data suggest that the largest reduction of DAS4v to combination DMARDs occurs in the first month of therapy, and this predicts subsequent response. Variables known to impact long-term treatment response in RA also impacted early DAS4v response to combination DMARDs.
A survey of radiation treatment planning peer-review activities in a provincial radiation oncology programme: current practice and future directions
Authors: Brundage Michael , Foxcroft Sophie , McGowan Tom , Gutierrez Eric , Sharpe Michael , Warde Padraig
Published: August 2013

Objectives

To describe current patterns of practice of radiation oncology peer review within a provincial cancer system, identifying barriers and facilitators to its use with the ultimate aim of process improvement.

Design

A survey of radiation oncology programmes at provincial cancer centres.

Setting

All cancer centres within the province of Ontario, Canada (n=14). These are community-based outpatient facilities overseen by Cancer Care Ontario, the provincial cancer agency.

Participants

A delegate from each radiation oncology programme filled out a single survey based on input from their multidisciplinary team.

Outcome measures

Rated importance of peer review; current utilisation; format of the peer-review process; organisation and timing; case attributes; outcomes of the peer-review process and perceived barriers and facilitators to expanding peer-review processes.

Results

14 (100%) centres responded. All rated the importance of peer review as at least 8/10 (10=extremely important). Detection of medical error and improvement of planning processes were the highest rated perceived benefits of peer review (each median 9/10). Six centres (43%) reviewed at least 50% of curative cases; four of these centres (29%) conducted peer review in more than 80% of cases treated with curative intent. Fewer than 20% of cases treated with palliative intent were reviewed in most centres. Five centres (36%) reported usually conducting peer review prior to the initiation of treatment. Five centres (36%) recorded the outcomes of peer review on the medical record. Thirteen centres (93%) planned to expand peer-review activities; a critical mass of radiation oncologists was the most important limiting factor (median 6/10).

Conclusions

Radiation oncology peer-review practices can vary even within a cancer system with provincial oversight. The application of guidelines and standards for peer-review processes, and monitoring of implementation and outcomes, will require effective knowledge translation activities.
Allocating scarce resources in real-time to reduce heart failure readmissions: a prospective, controlled study
Authors: Amarasingham Ruben , Patel Parag C , Toto Kathleen , Nelson Lauren L , Swanson Timothy S , Moore Billy J , Xie Bin , Zhang Song , Alvarez Kristin S , Ma Ying , Drazner Mark H , Kollipara Usha , Halm Ethan A
Published: August 2013

Objective

To test a multidisciplinary approach to reduce heart failure (HF) readmissions that tailors the intensity of care transition intervention to the risk of the patient using a suite of electronic medical record (EMR)-enabled programmes.

Methods

A prospective controlled before and after study of adult inpatients admitted with HF and two concurrent control conditions (acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and pneumonia (PNA)) was performed between 1 December 2008 and 1 December 2010 at a large urban public teaching hospital. An EMR-based software platform stratified all patients admitted with HF on a daily basis by their 30-day readmission risk using a published electronic predictive model. Patients at highest risk received an intensive set of evidence-based interventions designed to reduce readmission using existing resources. The main outcome measure was readmission for any cause and to any hospital within 30 days of discharge.

Results

There were 834 HF admissions in the pre-intervention period and 913 in the post-intervention period. The unadjusted readmission rate declined from 26.2% in the pre-intervention period to 21.2% in the post-intervention period (p=0.01), a decline that persisted in adjusted analyses (adjusted OR (AOR)=0.73; 95% CI 0.58 to 0.93, p=0.01). In contrast, there was no significant change in the unadjusted and adjusted readmission rates for PNA and AMI over the same period. There were 45 fewer readmissions with 913 patients enrolled and 228 patients receiving intervention, resulting in a number needed to treat (NNT) ratio of 20.

Conclusions

An EMR-enabled strategy that targeted scarce care transition resources to high-risk HF patients significantly reduced the risk-adjusted odds of readmission.
Inflammatory bowel disease and exercise: results of a Crohn's and Colitis UK survey
Authors: Chan D , Robbins H , Rogers S , Clark S , Poullis A
Published: August 2013

Background

Over 250 000 people in the UK are affected with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and approximately 10 000 new cases are diagnosed every year. These chronic bowel conditions have been shown to affect both work and recreational activity. In the general population, regular exercise has numerous benefits to health and well-being and there are additional benefits for those with IBD. However, people with IBD face significant challenges in trying to take regular exercise.

Objective

With the renewed focus on sport brought about by the recent London Olympics, Crohn's and Colitis UK surveyed its members to explore their sport and fitness habits.

Methods

918 members participated in the survey, which is the largest survey of its kind, investigating the exercise habits of people with IBD.

Results

The survey showed widespread uptake of exercise in those with IBD, with a large number feeling better for it. However, it also identified a considerable number of respondents who reported a significant negative impact of IBD on their ability to take up, enjoy and derive benefit from sporting activities.

Conclusion

Asking questions about sporting leisure activity in clinical consultations may identify those in need of help and support and possibly identify factors to be dealt with, in order to enable them to take part in these beneficial activities.
Dyna-CT-assisted percutaneous microballoon compression for trigeminal neuralgia
Authors: Huo Xiaochuan , Sun Xiaoyun , Zhang Zhenxing , Guo Wenshi , Guan Ning , Luo Junsheng
Published: August 2013

Background

Percutaneous microballoon compression (PMC) for trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a well-established technique. However, complications from cannulating the foramen ovale (FO) have been reported because direct puncture of the FO is sometimes difficult. Here we report our experience with Dyna-CT-assisted PMC for TN in cannulating the FO and determining the position and volume of the balloon.

Methods

Dyna-CT-assisted PMC was performed for image reconstruction in 16 cases. The optimal working projection was generated and further fluoroscopic data were used to determine the relationship of the needle with the FO during puncture. The balloon position and three-dimensional shape were verified with Dyna-CT during balloon compression and the balloon volume and puncture angle were also calculated. Patients’ prognosis is discussed.

Results

Dyna-CT allows quick, safe and easy cannulation of the FO. It provided three-dimensional images which were more elaborate than the classic ‘pear shape’ images for determining correct positioning in 16 cases. The volume of the inflated balloon ranged from 568.2 mm3to 891.4 mm3(average 769.5 mm3). The angle of introducing the cannula ranged from 15.32° to 35.48° rotation to the midline (average 25.18°) and 38.47°–51.89° angulation to the Reid line (average 46.17°). All the patients were pain-free after PMC. Four patients had resolvable masseter weakness and fine touch loss. No recurrence of TN was reported on follow-up.

Conclusions

Dyna-CT performed by digital subtraction angiography assists PMC in three ways: (1) the FO can be better visualized independent of the patient’s position; (2) needle correction or insertion can be performed much more easily because of the direct fluoroscopic control; and (3) the needle position, balloon position, balloon configuration and the volume of the inflated balloon is more reliably determined. The use of Dyna-CT-assisted PMC has a low incidence of complications and a good prognosis.
Impaired chemoreflex sensitivity during septic shock induced by cecal ligation and perforation
Authors: Santiago Michael B. , Vieira Alexandre A. , Giusti-Paiva Alexandre
Published: August 2013

In this study, we sought to determine the effects produced by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP) on the autonomic responses to the activation of peripheral chemoreflexes in conscious rats. The peripheral chemoreflex was activated with potassium cyanide (KCN; 40 μg·(0.1 mL)−1; intravenous injection (i.v.)) in male Wistar rats 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after CLP or sham surgery. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), and respiratory frequency (fR) were recorded simultaneously. CLP surgery reduced the baseline MAP when compared with the sham animals. In the animals of the sham group, the autonomic responses to KCN produced increases in MAP and fR as well as a decrease in HR. However, 12 and 24 h after CLP surgery, the autonomic responses to KCN were attenuated. The restoration of MAP by i.v. injected l-NAME or phenylephrine did not restore the autonomic response to KCN in rats subjected to CLP. These data show that septic shock induced by CLP compromised the autonomic responses to peripheral chemoreflex activation in conscious rats, suggesting that an important regulatory mechanism is impaired during the course of this condition.
ON VECTORIZATION FOR LATTICE BASED SIMULATIONS
Authors: SHET ANIRUDDHA G. , SIDDHARTH K. , SORATHIYA SHAHAJHAN H. , DESHPANDE ANAND M. , SHERLEKAR SUNIL D. , KAUL BHARAT , ANSUMALI SANTOSH
Published: August 2013

We present a vector-friendly blocked computing strategy for the lattice Boltzmann method (LBM). This strategy, along with a recently developed data structure, Structure of Arrays of Structures (SoAoS), is implemented for multi-relaxation type lattice Boltzmann (LB). The proposed methodology enables optimal memory bandwidth utilization in the advection step and high compute efficiency in the collision step of LB implementation. In a dense computing environment, current performance optimization framework for LBM is able to achieve high single-core efficiency.
SINGULARITY STRUCTURE OF ${\mathcal N} = 2$ SUPERSYMMETRIC YANG–MILLS THEORIES
Authors: SEO JIHYE SOFIA
Published: August 2013

In this paper, we consider the case where electrons, magnetic monopoles and dyons become massless. Here, we consider the [Formula: see text] supersymmetric Yang–Mills (SYM) theories with classical gauge groups with a rank r, SU(r+1), SO(2r), Sp(2r) and SO(2r+1) which are studied by Riemann surfaces called Seiberg–Witten curves. We discuss physical singularity associated with massless particles, which can be studied by geometric singularity of vanishing 1-cycles in Riemann surfaces in hyperelliptic form. We pay particular attention to the cases where mutually nonlocal states become massless (Argyres–Douglas theories), which corresponds to Riemann surfaces degenerating into cusps. We discuss nontrivial topology on the moduli space of the theory, which is reflected as monodromy associated to vanishing 1-cycles. We observe how dyon charges get changed as we move around and through singularity in moduli space.
IRON IMPURITY IN ZIRCON BY DFT COMPUTATIONS
Authors: STASHANS ARVIDS , RIVERA KRUPSKAYA
Published: August 2013

A single Fe impurity impact on the properties of ZrSiO 4 low pressure phase (zircon) has been addressed in the present work. First-principles density functional theory and generalized gradient approximation have been exploited throughout the study. Strong electron correlation effects not included in the density-functional formalism are treated by a Hubbard-type on-site Coulomb repulsion approach. Our results provide evidence over occurrence of a local magnetic moment in the material. Reduction in the band-gap width, changes in chemical bonding and microstructure of the defective region have been discussed as well.
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE HORIZON?
Authors: MATHUR SAMIR D.
Published: August 2013

The Schwarzschild metric has an apparent singularity at the horizon r = 2M. What really happens there? If physics at the horizon is "normal" laboratory physics, then we run into Hawking's information paradox. If we want nontrivial structure at the horizon, then we need a mechanism to generate this structure that evades the "no hair" conjectures of the past. Further, if we have such structure, then what would be the role of the traditional black hole metric which continues smoothly past the horizon? Recent work has provided an answer to these questions, and in the process revealed a beautiful tie-up between gravity, string theory and thermodynamics.
FERMION PERTURBATIONS IN HIGHER-DIMENSIONAL STRING-THEORY BLACK HOLES
Authors: PIEDRA OWEN PAVEL FERNÁNDEZ , CASTILLO JOSE BERNAL , SANTANA YULIER JIMENEZ , NORIS LEOSDAN FIGUEREDO
Published: August 2013

In this paper, we report the results of a detailed investigation of the complete time evolution of massless fermion fields propagating in spacetimes of higher-dimensional stringy black hole solutions, obtained from intersecting branes in string/M theory. We write the Dirac equation in D-dimensional spacetime in a form suitable to perform a numerical integration of it, and using a Prony fitting of the time domain data, we determine the quasinormal frequencies that characterize the test field evolution at intermediary times. We also present the results obtained for the quasinormal frequencies using a sixth-order WKB approximation, that are in perfect agreement with the numerical results. The power-law exponents that describe the field relaxation at very late-times are also determined, and we show that they depends upon the dimensionality of spacetime, and are identical to that associated with the relaxation of boson fields for odd dimensions. The dependence of the frequencies and damping factor of the spinor field with the charges of the stringy black hole are studied.
CRYPTANALYSIS AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE QUANTUM PRIVATE COMPARISON PROTOCOL USING EPR PAIRS
Authors: WANG CONG , XU GANG , YANG YI-XIAN
Published: August 2013

In this paper, we carry out an in-depth analysis of the quantum private comparison (QPC) protocol with the semi-honest third party (TP). The security of QPC protocol using the EPR pairs is re-examined. Unfortunately, we find that TP can use the fake EPR pairs to steal all the secret information. Furthermore, we give two simple and feasible solutions to improve the original QPC protocol. It is shown that the improved protocol is secure, which can resist various kinds of attacks from both the outside eavesdroppers and the inside participants, even the semi-honest TP.
About learning models with multiple query-dependent features
Authors: Macdonald Craig , Santos Rodrygo L.T. , Ounis Iadh , He Ben
Published: August 2013

Several questions remain unanswered by the existing literature concerning the deployment of query-dependent features within learning to rank. In this work, we investigate three research questions in order to empirically ascertain best practices for learning-to-rank deployments. (i) Previous work in data fusion that pre-dates learning to rank showed that while different retrieval systems could be effectively combined, the combination of multiple models within the same system was not as effective. In contrast, the existing learning-to-rank datasets (e.g., LETOR), often deploy multiple weighting models as query-dependent features within a single system, raising the question as to whether such a combination is needed. (ii) Next, we investigate whether the training of weighting model parameters, traditionally required for effective retrieval, is necessary within a learning-to-rank context. (iii) Finally, we note that existing learning-to-rank datasets use weighting model features calculated on different fields (e.g., title, content, or anchor text), even though such weighting models have been criticized in the literature. Experiments addressing these three questions are conducted on Web search datasets, using various weighting models as query-dependent and typical query-independent features, which are combined using three learning-to-rank techniques. In particular, we show and explain why multiple weighting models should be deployed as features. Moreover, we unexpectedly find that training the weighting model's parameters degrades learned model's effectiveness. Finally, we show that computing a weighting model separately for each field is less effective than more theoretically-sound field-based weighting models.
Mining pure high-order word associations via information geometry for information retrieval
Authors: Hou Yuexian , Zhao Xiaozhao , Song Dawei , Li Wenjie
Published: August 2013

The classical bag-of-word models for information retrieval (IR) fail to capture contextual associations between words. In this article, we propose to investigate
pure high-order dependence
among a number of words forming an unseparable semantic entity, that is, the high-order dependence that cannot be reduced to the random coincidence of lower-order dependencies. We believe that identifying these pure high-order dependence patterns would lead to a better representation of documents and novel retrieval models. Specifically, two formal definitions of pure dependence—unconditional pure dependence (UPD) and conditional pure dependence (CPD)—are defined. The exact decision on UPD and CPD, however, is NP-hard in general. We hence derive and prove the sufficient criteria that entail UPD and CPD, within the well-principled information geometry (IG) framework, leading to a more feasible UPD/CPD identification procedure. We further develop novel methods for extracting word patterns with pure high-order dependence. Our methods are applied to and extensively evaluated on three typical IR tasks: text classification and text retrieval without and with query expansion.
Fast candidate generation for real-time tweet search with bloom filter chains
Authors: Asadi Nima , Lin Jimmy
Published: August 2013

The rise of social media and other forms of user-generated content have created the demand for real-time search: against a high-velocity stream of incoming documents, users desire a list of relevant results at the time the query is issued. In the context of real-time search on tweets, this work explores candidate generation in a two-stage retrieval architecture where an initial list of results is processed by a second-stage rescorer to produce the final output. We introduce Bloom filter chains, a novel extension of Bloom filters that can dynamically expand to efficiently represent an arbitrarily long and growing list of monotonically-increasing integers with a constant false positive rate. Using a collection of Bloom filter chains, a novel approximate candidate generation algorithm called BWand is able to perform both conjunctive and disjunctive retrieval. Experiments show that our algorithm is many times faster than competitive baselines and that this increased performance does not require sacrificing end-to-end effectiveness. Our results empirically characterize the trade-off space defined by output quality, query evaluation speed, and memory footprint for this particular search architecture.
Discovering tasks from search engine query logs
Authors: Lucchese Claudio , Orlando Salvatore , Perego Raffaele , Silvestri Fabrizio , Tolomei Gabriele
Published: August 2013

Although Web search engines still answer user queries with lists of
ten blue links
to webpages, people are increasingly issuing queries to accomplish their daily tasks (e.g.,
finding a recipe
,
booking a flight
,
reading online news
, etc.). In this work, we propose a two-step methodology for discovering tasks that users try to perform through search engines. First, we identify
user tasks
from individual user sessions stored in search engine query logs. In our vision, a user task is a set of possibly noncontiguous queries (within a user search session), which refer to the same need. Second, we discover
collective tasks
by aggregating similar user tasks, possibly performed by distinct users. To discover user tasks, we propose query similarity functions based on unsupervised and supervised learning approaches. We present a set of query clustering methods that exploit these functions in order to detect user tasks. All the proposed solutions were evaluated on a manually-built ground truth, and two of them performed better than state-of-the-art approaches. To detect collective tasks, we propose four methods that cluster previously discovered user tasks, which in turn are represented by the bag-of-words extracted from their composing queries. These solutions were also evaluated on another manually-built ground truth.
Gaze awareness in conversational agents
Authors: Ishii Ryo , Nakano Yukiko I. , Nishida Toyoaki
Published: August 2013

In face-to-face conversations, speakers are continuously checking whether the listener is engaged in the conversation, and they change their conversational strategy if the listener is not fully engaged. With the goal of building a conversational agent that can adaptively control conversations, in this study we analyze listener gaze behaviors and develop a method for estimating whether a listener is engaged in the conversation on the basis of these behaviors. First, we conduct a Wizard-of-Oz study to collect information on a user's gaze behaviors. We then investigate how conversational disengagement, as annotated by human judges, correlates with gaze transition, mutual gaze (eye contact) occurrence, gaze duration, and eye movement distance. On the basis of the results of these analyses, we identify useful information for estimating a user's disengagement and establish an engagement estimation method using a decision tree technique. The results of these analyses show that a model using the features of gaze transition, mutual gaze occurrence, gaze duration, and eye movement distance provides the best performance and can estimate the user's conversational engagement accurately. The estimation model is then implemented as a real-time disengagement judgment mechanism and incorporated into a multimodal dialog manager in an animated conversational agent. This agent is designed to estimate the user's conversational engagement and generate probing questions when the user is distracted from the conversation. Finally, we evaluate the engagement-sensitive agent and find that asking probing questions at the proper times has the expected effects on the user's verbal/nonverbal behaviors during communication with the agent. We also find that our agent system improves the user's impression of the agent in terms of its engagement awareness, behavior appropriateness, conversation smoothness, favorability, and intelligence.
Fitting Statistical Models of Random Search in Simulation Studies
Authors: Cheng Russell C. H.
Published: August 2013

We consider optimization of expected system performance by random search. There are two sources of random variation in this process: (i) a search-induced variability because the expected performance of the system will vary randomly according to the alternatives randomly selected for examination, and (ii) a simulation induced variability, because there will be random error in estimating expected system performance from finite simulation runs. We show that, in altering the balance between these two sources of variability, three distinct forms of asymptotic behavior of the estimate of the optimal expected system performance are possible. The form of the asymptotic results shows that they may be not be easy to apply in practical work. As an alternative, a methodology for fitting a statistical model that accounts for both types of variability is suggested. This then allows the distributional properties of quantities of interest, like the optimum performance value and the best value obtained by the search, to be estimated by resampling and which also allows a test of goodness of fit of the model. Four numerical examples are given.
Limit Theorems for Simulation-Based Optimization via Random Search
Authors: Chia Yen Lin , Glynn Peter W.
Published: August 2013

This article develops fundamental theory related to the use of simulation-based nonadaptive random search as a means of optimizing a function that can be expressed as an expectation. Our results establish rates of convergence that express the trade-off between exploration and estimation, and fully characterize the limit distributions that arise. Our rates of convergence results should be viewed as a baseline against which to compare more intelligent algorithms.
Integer-Ordered Simulation Optimization using R-SPLINE
Authors: Wang Honggang , Pasupathy Raghu , Schmeiser Bruce W.
Published: August 2013

We consider simulation-optimization (SO) models where the decision variables are integer ordered and the objective function is defined implicitly via a simulation oracle, which for any feasible solution can be called to compute a point estimate of the objective-function value. We develop R-SPLINE---a Retrospective-search algorithm that alternates between a continuous Search using Piecewise-Linear Interpolation and a discrete Neighborhood Enumeration, to asymptotically identify a local minimum. R-SPLINE appears to be among the first few gradient-based search algorithms tailored for solving integer-ordered local SO problems. In addition to proving the almost-sure convergence of R-SPLINE’s iterates to the set of local minima, we demonstrate that the probability of R-SPLINE returning a solution outside the set of true local minima decays exponentially in a certain precise sense. R-SPLINE, with no parameter tuning, compares favorably with popular existing algorithms.