bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences Deploying an Always-on Farm Network
Authors: Kapetanovic Zerina , Vasisht Deepak , Won Jongho , Chandra Ranveer , Kimball Mark
Published: August 2017

Data-driven techniques for agriculture can help farmers reduce waste, increase farm output and ensure sustainability for the environment. The key enabler for such techniques is an always-on connected IoT system that can sense the different characteristics of the farm and generate short-term and long-term actionable insights for the farmer. Yet building such a system is very challenging due to sparse Internet connectivity and lack of reliable power sources. This is further exacerbated by weather variability that stresses the system in numerous ways. We discuss how we built and deployed Farmbeats [6] in the face of these challenges. We hope our experiences will aid researchers who are beginning to explore deployments in farming or other weakly connected, power-starved scenarios, such as construction, oil fields, mining, and others.
EmotionCheck
Authors: Costa Jean , Adams Alexander T. , Jung Malte F. , Guimbretière François , Choudhury Tanzeem
Published: August 2017

Previous studies indicate that the way we perceive our bodily signals, such as our heart rate, can influence how we feel. Inspired by these studies, we built EmotionCheck, which is a wearable device that can change users' perception of their heart rate through subtle vibrations on the wrist. The results of an experiment with 67 participants show that the EmotionCheck device can help users regulate their anxiety through false feedback of a slow heart rate.
China–Africa Encounters: Historical Legacies and Contemporary Realities
Authors: Siu Helen F. , McGovern Mike
Published: August 2017

This review uses multilingual sources to illuminate China–Africa encounters in historical, socialist, and postsocialist contexts. It emphasizes interregional connections over time and uses nuanced ethnographic accounts to complement macrogeopolitical analyses. The article focuses on mutual stereotypes as well as on the negotiation of social and cultural barriers in everyday life. It challenges static, bounded conceptual categories in social science and policy research. The ethnographic studies cited highlight the complexities of human agency and historical legacies on the ground and show the contested democratization of space and opportunities that ensue both when Africans enter Chinese social fields and vice versa. In the process, these examples force us to rethink analytical assumptions about mobility, hierarchy, and political economy in ways that complicate Cold War–derived understandings of both China and Africa.
Human–Animal Communication
Authors: Kulick Don
Published: August 2017

Since the demise in the 1980s of research by psychologists who attempted to teach human language to apes, a range of other perspectives has arisen that explore how humans can communicate with animals and what the possibility of such communication means. Sociologists interested in symbolic interactionism, anthropologists writing about ontology, equestrian and canine trainers, people with autism who say they understand animals because they think like animals, and a ragbag of sundry New Age women who claim to be able to converse with animals through telepathy have started discussing human–animal communication in ways that recast the whole point of thinking about it. This review charts how interest in human–animal communication has moved from a concern with cognition to a concern with ethics, and it discusses the similarities and differences that exist among the range of writing on this topic.
Numerical Models of Surface Tension
Authors: Popinet Stéphane
Published: August 2017

Numerical models of surface tension play an increasingly important role in our capacity to understand and predict a wide range of multiphase flow problems. The accuracy and robustness of these models have improved markedly in the past 20 years, so that they are now applicable to complex, three-dimensional configurations of great theoretical and practical interest. In this review, I attempt to summarize the most significant recent developments in Eulerian surface tension models, with an emphasis on well-balanced estimation, curvature estimation, stability, and implicit time stepping, as well as test cases and applications. The advantages and limitations of various models are discussed, with a focus on common features rather than differences. Several avenues for further progress are suggested.
Neutron Star Mergers and Nucleosynthesis of Heavy Elements
Authors: Thielemann F.-K. , Eichler M. , Panov I.V. , Wehmeyer B.
Published: August 2017

The existence of neutron star mergers has been supported since the discovery of the binary pulsar and the observation of its orbital energy loss, consistent with General Relativity. They are considered nucleosynthesis sites of the rapid neutron-capture process (r-process), which is responsible for creating approximately half of all heavy elements beyond Fe and is the only source of elements beyond Pb and Bi. Detailed nucleosynthesis calculations based on the decompression of neutron star matter are consistent with solar r-process abundances of heavy nuclei. Neutron star mergers have also been identified with short-duration [Formula: see text]-ray bursts via their IR afterglow. The high neutron densities in ejected matter permit a violent r-process, leading to fission cycling of the heaviest nuclei in regions far from (nuclear) stability. Uncertainties in several nuclear properties affect the abundance distributions. The modeling of astrophysical events also depends on the hydrodynamic treatment, the occurrence of a neutrino wind after the merger and before the possible emergence of a black hole, and the properties of black hole accretion disks. We discuss the effect of nuclear and modeling uncertainties and conclude that binary compact mergers are probably a (or the) dominant site of the production of r-process nuclei in our Galaxy.
The China Jinping Underground Laboratory and Its Early Science
Authors: Cheng Jian-Ping , Kang Ke-Jun , Li Jian-Min , Li Jin , Li Yuan-Jing , Yue Qian , Zeng Zhi , Chen Yun-Hua , Wu Shi-Yong , Ji Xiang-Dong , Wong Henry T.
Published: August 2017

The China Jinping Underground Laboratory, inaugurated in 2010, is an underground research facility with the deepest rock overburden and largest space by volume in the world. The first-generation science programs include dark matter searches conducted by the CDEX and PandaX experiments. These activities are complemented by measurements of ambient radioactivity and the installation of low-background counting systems. Phase II of the facility is being constructed, and its potential research projects are being formulated. In this review, we discuss the history, key features, results, and status of this facility and its experimental programs, as well as their future evolution and plans.
The Distribution, Evolution, and Roles of Gene Transfer Agents in Prokaryotic Genetic Exchange
Authors: Lang Andrew S. , Westbye Alexander B. , Beatty J. Thomas
Published: August 2017

Diverse prokaryotes produce gene transfer agents (GTAs), which are bacteriophage-like particles that exclusively package pieces of the producing cell's genome and transfer them to other cells. There are clear evolutionary connections between GTAs and phages, but GTAs have properties that lead us to suggest they are more than simply defective phages and instead provide a selective advantage for the producing organisms. The five types of currently known GTAs are genetically distinct, indicating multiple instances of convergent evolution. GTA production can be regulated by the producing organism and coordinated to coincide with development of the capability to receive DNA from GTAs. Recent discoveries of the genetic basis of GTA production in the bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus and characterization of novel phages that possess homologs of this GTA's structural and regulatory genes have provided important new connections among these elements and highlight the tangled evolutionary relationships within the phageome.
Spinal Anesthesia and Spinal Anesthesia with Subdiaphragmatic Lidocaine in Shoulder Pain Reduction for Gynecological Laparoscopic Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Asgari Zahra , Rezaeinejad Mahroo , Hosseini Reihaneh , Nataj Masoumeh , Razavi Maryam , Sepidarkish Mahdi
Published: August 2017

Objective. The aim of this study was to compare the effectiveness of spinal anesthesia with subdiaphragmatic lidocaine at the beginning of surgery versus spinal anesthesia in pain reduction for gynecological laparoscopic surgery. Methods. This was a clinical trial conducted in Arash Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Eighty-four patients were randomized to either spinal anesthesia with subdiaphragmatic lidocaine, spinal anesthesia, or general anesthesia (GA). The primary outcome was patients’ pain perception during surgery, 2, 4, 6, and 12 hours after surgery, and prior to discharge and was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS). Results. The results showed that there are no significant changes in pain perception over time in none of the three groups (F(4,76) = 0.37, P=0.82). The severity of pain experienced by patients at all-time interval after surgery was similar between groups [F(2,79) = 0.54, P=0.58]. Conclusion. The use of subdiaphragmatic lidocaine at the beginning of surgery combined with spinal anesthesia was not associated with a statistically significant difference in patients’ postoperative VAS scores compared to spinal anesthesia and GA during and after gynecological surgical procedures. The study was registered in Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial by the number of IRCT2016022226698N1.
Association of Neovascular Glaucoma with Risk of Stroke: A Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Su Cheng-Wen , Chang Yue-Cune , Lin Cheng-Li , Chen Hsin-Yi
Published: August 2017

Neovascular glaucoma (NVG), caused by ocular ischemia, is a serious ocular disease complicated by intractably increased intraocular pressure. Cerebrovascular accidents are classified into ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. Based on the similar pathogenic mechanisms of NVG and ischemic stroke, we investigated the relationship between NVG and stroke by using a nationally representative sample. This study included 416 NVG patients and 4160 controls. Medical comorbidities were also evaluated. The cumulative incidence of ischemic stroke was 15.6% higher in the NVG cohort than in the control cohort (p<0.001); the incidence density rates of stroke were 3.80 and 1.19 per 10,000 person-years in the NVG and control cohorts, respectively. According to the multivariable Cox regression results, the estimated adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of stroke was 2.07 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.41–3.02) for the NVG cohort. Furthermore, the NVG cohort was 2.24-fold more likely to develop ischemic stroke (95% CI = 1.51–3.32). The risk of ischemic stroke was higher in patients with hypertension (aHR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.55–2.82) and in patients with diabetic retinopathy (aHR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.05–2.72). Notably, patients with NVG have a higher risk of ischemic stroke, but not hemorrhagic stroke.
Influence of the Smile Line on Smile Attractiveness in Short and Long Face Individuals
Authors: Al Taki Amjad , Hayder Mohammed Thar , Mohammad Hamdan Ahmad
Published: August 2017

Objectives. The study assessed the impact of facial height on attractiveness of smile, in association with the maxillary gingival display. This research was performed by dental professionals and laypersons.Materials and Methods. Frontal extraoral photographs were captured for both short and long faces. The photographs were modified using software for image-processing and three rater groups (orthodontists, dentists, and laypersons) evaluated the smile attractiveness, with 30 subjects in each group. Differences in ratings of the different smiles among the different experimental groups were examined using the Kruskal-Wallis test. The Mann–WhitneyUtest was performed for pairwise comparisons between the experimental groups.Results. Dentists and laypeople were most likely to agree. For the short face, laypeople and dentists both rated the +2 mm gingival display smile as the most attractive smile whilst orthodontists ranked the 0 mm gingival display smile as the most attractive smile. For the long face, laypeople and dentists ranked the 0 mm gingival display smile as the most attractive smile, whilst orthodontists ranked the +2 mm gingival display as the most attractive.Conclusion. Smile line of both short and long face subjects was found to influence the smile attractiveness rating by the three rater groups.
Evaluation of Electrochemical Treatment of Chloride Contaminated Mortar Containing GGBS
Authors: Lee Ki Hong , Jung Young Hee , Hwang Jun Pil , Sim Jong Sung
Published: August 2017

The present study concerns the influence of cementitious binder on electrochemical treatment of steel embedded in salt contaminated mortar. As binder, ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) were used and the current density of 250–750 mA/m2 was applied for 4 weeks to complete electrochemical chloride extraction. To evaluate the effect of electrochemical treatment the chloride profile and corrosion behaviour covering chloride concentration, galvanic current density, linear polarization resistance, open circuit potential, and mass loss were measured. An increase in the applied direct current density resulted in a decrease in the chloride concentration at the vicinity of steel, accompanying the mitigated corrosion damage. The performance of electrochemical treatment was more remarkable in mortar containing GGBS presumably due to binding mechanism. However, corrosion damage was more detrimental in GGBS rather than OPC at a given potential, while GGBS had superior corrosion resistance to a corrosive environment and treatment conditions. Therefore, the electrochemical treatment should be conducted prudently to evaluate the corrosion state of embedded steel depending on binder type.
Nonlinear Dynamics Response of a Planar Mechanism with Two Driving Links and Prismatic Pair Clearance
Authors: Wu Lijuan , Marghitu Dan B. , Zhao Jing
Published: August 2017

The influence of the joint clearance on the dynamic response of a planar mechanism with two driving links and prismatic pair clearance is investigated under variable input speeds of the system. The simulation model was built with a nonlinear impact model. The normal contact force is characterized by Hertz contact theory and an energy dissipation term. A tangential friction force is involved in the simulation model based on Coulomb’s friction law. The simulation results indicate that the largest Lyapunov exponents are dependent on the clearance size and the input speed.
What Drives Embryo Development? Chromosomal Normality or Mitochondria?
Authors: Bayram A. , Elkhatib I. , Arnanz A. , Linan A. , Ruiz F. , Lawrenz B. , Fatemi H. M.
Published: August 2017

Objective. To report the arrest of euploid embryos with high mtDNA content. Design. A report of 2 cases. Setting. Private fertility clinic. Patients. 2 patients, 45 and 40 years old undergoing IVF treatment. Interventions. Mature oocytes were collected and vitrified from two ovarian stimulations. Postthaw, survived mature oocytes underwent fertilization by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number were done using next generation sequencing (NGS). The only normal embryo among the all-biopsied embryos had the highest “Mitoscore” value and was the only arrested embryo in both cases. Therefore, the embryo transfer was cancelled. Main Outcome Measures. Postthaw survival and fertilization rate, embryo euploidy, mtDNA copy number, and embryo development. Results. In both patients, after PGS only 1 embryo was euploid. Both embryos had the highest mtDNA copy number from all tested embryos and both embryos were arrested on further development. Conclusions. These cases clearly demonstrate the lack of correlation between mtDNA value (Mitoscore) and chromosomal status of embryo.
Depletion of the Third Complement Component Ameliorates Age‐Dependent Oxidative Stress and Positively Modulates Autophagic Activity in Aged Retinas in a Mouse Model
Authors: Rogińska Dorota , Kawa Miłosz P. , Pius-Sadowska Ewa , Lejkowska Renata , Łuczkowska Karolina , Wiszniewska Barbara , Kaarniranta Kai , Paterno Jussi J. , Schmidt Christian A. , Machaliński Bogusław , Machalińska Anna
Published: August 2017

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of complement component C3 global depletion on the biological structure and function of the aged retina. In vivo morphology (OCT), electrophysiological function (ERG), and the expression of selected oxidative stress‐, apoptosis‐, and autophagy‐related proteins were assessed in retinas of 12‐month‐old C3‐deficient and WT mice. Moreover, global gene expression in retinas was analyzed by RNA arrays. We found that the absence of active C3 was associated with (1) alleviation of the age‐dependent decrease in retinal thickness and gradual deterioration of retinal bioelectrical function, (2) significantly higher levels of antioxidant enzymes (catalase and glutathione reductase) and the antiapoptotic survivin and Mcl‐1/Bak dimer, (3) lower expression of the cellular oxidative stress marker—4HNE—and decreased activity of proapoptotic caspase‐3, (4) ameliorated retinal autophagic activity with localization of ubiquitinated protein conjugates commonly along the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) layer, and (5) significantly increased expression of several gene sets associated with maintenance of the physiological functions of the neural retina. Our findings shed light on mechanisms of age‐related retinal alterations by identifying C3 as a potential therapeutic target for retinal aging.
State Estimation for Sampled‐Data Descriptor Nonlinear System: A Strong Tracking Unscented Kalman Filter Approach
Authors: Liang Tiantian , Wang Mao , Zhou Zhenhua
Published: August 2017

This paper proposes a state estimation method for a sampled‐data descriptor system by the Kalman filtering method. The sampled‐data descriptor system is firstly discretized to obtain a discrete‐time nonsingular model. Based on the discretized nonsingular system, a strong tracking unscented Kalman filter (STUKF) algorithm is designed for the state estimation. Then, a defined suboptimal fading factor is proposed and added to the prediction covariance for decreasing the weight of the prior knowledge on the conventional UKF filtering solution. Finally, a simulation example is given to show the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Fucoxanthin, a Marine Carotenoid, Attenuates β‐Amyloid Oligomer‐Induced Neurotoxicity Possibly via Regulating the PI3K/Akt and the ERK Pathways in SH‐SY5Y Cells
Authors: Lin Jiajia , Yu Jie , Zhao Jiaying , Zhang Ke , Zheng Jiachen , Wang Jialing , Huang Chunhui , Zhang Jingrong , Yan Xiaojun , Gerwick William H. , Wang Qinwen , Cui Wei , He Shan
Published: August 2017

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by neurofibrillary tangles, synaptic impairments, and loss of neurons. Oligomers of β‐amyloid (Aβ) are widely accepted as the main neurotoxins to induce oxidative stress and neuronal loss in AD. In this study, we discovered that fucoxanthin, a marine carotenoid with antioxidative stress properties, concentration dependently prevented Aβ oligomer‐induced increase of neuronal apoptosis and intracellular reactive oxygen species in SH‐SY5Y cells. Aβ oligomers inhibited the prosurvival phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt cascade and activated the proapoptotic extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) pathway. Moreover, inhibitors of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) and mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MEK) synergistically prevented Aβ oligomer‐induced neuronal death, suggesting that the PI3K/Akt and ERK pathways might be involved in Aβ oligomer‐induced neurotoxicity. Pretreatment with fucoxanthin significantly prevented Aβ oligomer‐induced alteration of the PI3K/Akt and ERK pathways. Furthermore, LY294002 and wortmannin, two PI3K inhibitors, abolished the neuroprotective effects of fucoxanthin against Aβ oligomer‐induced neurotoxicity. These results suggested that fucoxanthin might prevent Aβ oligomer‐induced neuronal loss and oxidative stress via the activation of the PI3K/Akt cascade as well as inhibition of the ERK pathway, indicating that further studies of fucoxanthin and related compounds might lead to a useful treatment of AD.
Single‐Machine Scheduling with Learning Effects and Maintenance: A Methodological Note on Some Polynomial‐Time Solvable Cases
Authors: Ying Kuo-Ching , Lu Chung-Cheng , Lin Shih-Wei , Chen Jie-Ning
Published: August 2017

This work addresses four single‐machine scheduling problems (SMSPs) with learning effects and variable maintenance activity. The processing times of the jobs are simultaneously determined by a decreasing function of their corresponding scheduled positions and the sum of the processing times of the already processed jobs. Maintenance activity must start before a deadline and its duration increases with the starting time of the maintenance activity. This work proposes a polynomial‐time algorithm for optimally solving two SMSPs to minimize the total completion time and the total tardiness with a common due date.
Functional Capacity and Motor Performance of Upper Limbs in Individuals with Cerebellar Disorders: A Pilot Study
Authors: Giangiardi Vivian Farahte , Freitas Sandra Maria Sbeghen F. de , Paiva Silva Flávia P. de , Banjai Renata Morales , Alouche Sandra Regina
Published: August 2017

In simple daily activities carried out by the upper limbs, the cerebellum is responsible for the adaptations required for the accurate movement based on previous experiences and external references. This paper aims to characterize the performance of the upper limbs after a cerebellar disease. We evaluated the digital and handgrip strength, dexterity, and function of the upper limbs. The motor performance of the upper limbs was assessed through the use of a digitizing tablet by performing aiming movements with the upper limb most affected by cerebellar disease and the paired limb of the healthy group. The results showed differences between groups: the cerebellar group had higher latency to movement onset, was slower, and presented less smooth trajectories and higher initial direction errors. Moreover, the movement direction influenced the peak velocity and the smoothness for both groups (contralateral directions were slower and less smooth). We concluded that cerebellar disorder leads to movement planning impairment compromising the formulation of an internal model. Alterations on movement execution seem to be a consequence from disruptions in the anticipatory model, leading to more adaptations. These findings are compatible with the roles of the cerebellum on the control of voluntary movement.
Contamination Levels and Identification of Bacteria in Milk Sampled from Three Regions of Tanzania: Evidence from Literature and Laboratory Analyses
Authors: Msalya G.
Published: August 2017

Milk in Tanzania has been reported to be contaminated with large number of bacteria. This is because (1) milk is obtained from animals with unknown health status, (2) good milking and handling practices are to a large extent not observed, and (3) marketing and distribution are done in informal channels. These factors are potential causes of milk-borne diseases and milk quality loss. The aim of this study was to assess nutritional risks in milk as reported in literature over a period of 20 years and through analyses of samples collected during the present study. The issues highlighted in literature were high bacteria and coliform counts exceeding standard levels in East Africa, prevalence of bacteria and drug residues in milk, and adulteration. Based on performed analyses, total bacterial count1.0×107colony forming units per millilitre (cfu/ml) and total coliform count1.1×107 cfu/ml, also greater than recommended levels, were found. Ten bacteria types were isolated from milk samples (five,Pseudomonas aeruginosa,Listeria monocytogenes,Listeria innocua,Listeria ivanovii, andKlebsiellaspp. are reported in Tanzanian for the first time). Two drugs tetracycline and sulphur were detected. Therefore, it is worth noting that integrated research is needed to evaluate the situation and address these challenges.
Serum Transthyretin Level as a Plausible Marker for Diagnosis of Child Acute Malnutrition
Authors: Tsegaye Behailu , Mekasha Amha , Genet Solomon
Published: August 2017

Malnutrition is a major underlying condition for mortality in children under five years of age in developing countries, particularly in Ethiopia. The most important forms of malnutrition in Ethiopia are protein and energy deficiencies. There is no reliable laboratory method at present to assess acute malnutrition. Transthyretin is a homotetrameric serum protein with half-life of two days. The main objective of this study was to assess the estimation of serum transthyretin level as a useful diagnostic method to evaluate nutritional status of children. We used a newly designed transthyretin test kit to evaluate nutritional status of children admitted to our hospital. There is no national reference standard; hence we made a comparative study using anthropometric measurements and measurement of serum albumin level. A total of 102 children (51 controls and 51 study subjects) were included in this study. Transthyretin was found to be more sensitive to changes in acute malnutrition than albumin, and its level reflects recent dietary intake compared to overall nutritional status. The method is more sensitive and reliable for detection of acute malnutrition, along with anthropometric methods. Measurement of serum transthyretin level can be used as a valuable diagnostic method for assessment of acute malnutrition among children.
Recurrent HELLP Syndrome at 22 Weeks of Gestation
Authors: Kascak Peter , Paskala Milos , Antal Peter , Gajdosik Radovan
Published: August 2017

We describe a case of a woman who presented with HELLP syndrome in two subsequent pregnancies (age 36 and 40), at gestational age of 22 weeks in both pregnancies with a rapid onset and progression. She presented with characteristic clinical symptoms and laboratory findings. Both pregnancies were delivered by caesarean sections due to deterioration in the mother’s condition, although neither pregnancy progressed into the 1st stage of the syndrome according to Mississippi classification. This case highlights the admittedly rare but serious condition of recurring HELLP syndrome at a gestational age before the limit of viability of the fetus. In such situations, pregnancy termination should be considered to minimise risk to the mother’s life and health.
The Impact of Serosal Invasion on Prognosis after Curative Hepatectomy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Invasion to Adjacent Organs and Rupture of Tumor Were Crucial Tumor-Related Prognostic Factors Needed for Survival
Authors: Kato Yoshiyasu , Okamura Yukiyasu , Sugiura Teiichi , Ito Takaaki , Yamamoto Yusuke , Ashida Ryo , Uesaka Katsuhiko
Published: August 2017

Background/Aims: Several tumor factors seem to be related to the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) prognosis, but they are not definitive, except for major vascular invasion. We analyzed the impact of serosal invasion, which is histologically classified into four groups according to the definition of the Liver Cancer Study Group of Japan - S0: no tumor invasion of serosa, S1: tumor invasion of serosa, S2: tumor invasion of adjacent organs, S3: tumor rupture with intraperitoneal bleeding. Methods: This retrospective study included 421 consecutive patients who underwent hepatectomy as an initial treatment for HCC between September 2002 and December 2014. Results: Kaplan-Meier analysis and log-rank tests revealed that both recurrence-free survival (RFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) worsened as the serosal invasion status advanced. Multivariate analyses showed that S2/S3 was independently correlated with RFS (hazard ratio [HR] 3.52; p  < 0.001) and DSS (HR 2.58; p  = 0.039). Another multivariate analysis showed that serosal invasion (S1-S3) was independently correlated with RFS (HR 1.70; p = 0.015) but not with DSS (HR 1.38; p = 0.27). Conclusion: Invasion to adjacent organs and tumor rupture were crucial prognostic factors for both DSS and RFS. Serosal invasion was an independent prognostic factor only for RFS.
Molecular Recognition Profiles and Clinical Patterns of PR-10 Sensitization in a Birch-Free Mediterranean Area
Authors: Scala Enrico , Abeni Damiano , Cecchi Lorenzo , Guerra Emma Cristina , Locanto Maria , Pirrotta Lia , Giani Mauro , Asero Riccardo
Published: August 2017

Background: The order Fagales represents an important cause of tree-pollen allergy in northern countries. We investigated the IgE recognition profiles, mutual relationships, and association with clinical symptoms of a panel of allergens belonging to the PR-10 family, the main proteins responsible for Fagales allergy (Act d 8, Aln g 1, Api g 1, Ara h 8, Bet v 1, Cor a 1.0101, Cor a 1.0401, Gly m 4, Mal d 1, and Pru p 1). Methods: A total of 526 PR-10-reactive subjects living in central and southern Italy were studied by ImmunoCAP-ISAC-112 microarray analysis. Results: Overall, Bet v 1 reactivity was the most commonly (74%) observed among PR-10 proteins, but Cor a 1.0101 was the most prevalent in participants aged <6 years, and between 15 and 65 years. Overall, 26% of the PR-10-reactive persons were Bet v 1 negative, whilst 93.6% of the PR-10 polyreactive individuals were Bet v 1 positive. Among the 10 PR-10s evaluated, 100 combinations were recorded. The strongest association was observed between molecules with the highest sequence identities (Bet v 1 and Cor a 1.0101, Cor a 1.0401 or Aln g 1; Mal d 1 and Pru p 1). Bet v 1-, Cor a 1.0101-, and Aln g 1-specific IgE recognition was associated with respiratory symptoms, whilst Ara h 8, Cor a 1.0401, Gly m 4, Mal d 1, and Pru p 1 were selectively linked to an oral allergic syndrome. Conclusions: Testing IgE reactivity to a panel of PR-10s in a birch-free area discloses peculiar relationships between clinical phenotypes and sensitization profiles, allowing the identification of novel cluster patterns.
Attitudes of Surgeons toward Elderly Cancer Patients: A Survey from the SIOG Surgical Task Force
Authors: Saur Nicole M. , Montroni Isacco , Ghignone Federico , Ugolini Giampaolo , Audisio Riccardo A.
Published: August 2017

Cancer care in elderly patients is complex. A recent survey showed that among mostly academic surgeons, practice patterns varied in the care of elderly patients. The authors suggested three areas of intervention in improving care of this population: frailty assessment, nutritional assessment, and assessment of quality of life.
Modulation of CD4+ T Helper Cell Memory Responses in the Human Skin
Authors: Padovan Elisabetta
Published: August 2017

Immunological memory is defined as the capacity to mount faster and more effective immune responses against antigenic challenges that have been previously encountered by the host. CD4+ T helper (Th) cells play central roles in the establishment of immunological memory as they assist the functions of other leukocytes. Th cells express polarized cytokine profiles and distinct migratory and seeding capacities, but also retain a certain functional plasticity that allows them to modulate their proliferation, activity, and homing behaviour upon need. Thus, in healthy individuals, T cell immunomodulation fulfils the task of eliciting protective immune responses where they are needed. At times, however, Th plasticity can lead to collateral tissue damage and progression to autoimmune diseases or, conversely, incapacity to reject malignant tissues and clear chronic infections. Furthermore, common immune players and molecular pathways of diseases can lead to different outcomes in different individuals. A mechanistic understanding of those pathways is therefore crucial for developing precise and curative medical interventions. Here, I focus on the skin microenvironment and comprehensively describe some of the cellular and molecular determinants of CD4+ T cell memory responses in homeostatic and pathological conditions. In discussing the cellular network orchestrating cutaneous immunity, I comprehensively describe the bidirectional interaction of skin antigen-presenting cells and mononuclear phagocytes with Th17 lymphocytes, and examine how the outcome of this interaction is influenced by endogenous skin molecules, including sodium salts and neuropeptides.
Beta-Adrenergic Blockade Decreases the Neuroimmune Changes in Mice Induced by Cohabitation with an Ehrlich Tumor-Bearing Cage Mate
Authors: Margatho Rafael O. , Massoco Cristina de O. , Calefi Atilio S. , Cruz Daniel S.G. , Sandini Thaisa M. , Alves Glaucie Jussilane , Florio Jorge C. , Palermo-Neto João
Published: August 2017

Objectives: Cohabitation with Ehrlich tumor-bearing (ETB) mice induced behavioral, neurochemical, hormonal, and immune effects in the conspecifics as a consequence of stress-induced activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) with catecholamine release. In the current study, the nonspecific β-AR blocker d,l-propranolol and the specific β2-AR blocker ICI-118.551 were employed as pharmacological tools to assess the extent to which catecholamines participated in the effects induced by cohabitation with ETB mice. Methods: Two experiments were performed, 1 with d,l-propranolol treatment and the other with ICI-118.551. One mouse in the experimental group was called the “companion of the sick partner” (CSP) since it was forced to live in the same cage with 2 (experiment 1) or 1 (experiment 2) cage mate that had been i.p. injected with 5 × 106 Ehrlich tumor cells. Results: The d,l-propranolol treatment, but not the ICI-118.551 treatment, attenuated the effects of cohabitation with 2 ETB mice on both open-field behavior and the hypothalamic levels and turnover rate of norepinephrine. The 2 β-AR blockers were unable to change the serum corticosterone levels and adrenal weights of the CSP mice; however, these drugs abrogated the effects of cohabitation on neutrophil oxidative burst and phagocytosis. Finally, an increase in the 5-HT turnover rate was observed in the olfactory bulb of CSP mice compared to their respective controls, an effect that was not modified by β-AR blockade. Conclusion: These results confirm and strengthen our hypothesis that the SNS is involved in the effects induced by cohabitation with ETB mice and point towards β2-AR participation in the immune effects analyzed.
Local Allergic Rhinitis in Adult Patients with Chronic Nasal Symptoms
Authors: Krajewska-Wojtys Anna , Jarzab Jerzy , Zawadzińska Kamila , Pyrkosz Katarzyna , Bozek Andrzej
Published: August 2017

Background: Local allergic rhinitis (LAR) remains an underdiagnosed condition characterized by the local production of IgE antibodies during the natural exposure to aeroallergens. The prevalence of LAR in adult patients with a previous diagnosis of non-AR was assessed. Material and Methods: Eighty-four patients with perennial nasal allergy symptoms but a negative skin prick test and specific IgE antibodies against common inhalant allergens were included in the study. Nasal provocation tests were performed with the inhalant allergens Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Alternaria, and cat allergen, followed by the detection of nasal-specific IgE antibodies in the lavage during the challenge. Results: LAR was confirmed in 21 (25%) study patients. In the remaining 63 (75%) patients, non-AR was diagnosed. In addition, LAR was found following exposure to D. pteronyssinus in 19 (22.6%) patients, Alternaria in 3 (3.6%) patients, and the cat allergen in 1 (1.2%) patient. In 2 patients, concomitant allergies to D. pteronyssinus and Alternaria were observed. Conclusion: LAR can be a form of chronic perennial rhinitis that has previously been considered to be non-AR.
A Pilot Study Investigating Clinical Responses and Biological Pathways of Azelastine/Fluticasone in Nonallergic Vasomotor Rhinitis before and after Cold Dry Air Provocation
Authors: Singh Umesh , Bernstein Jonathan A. , Lorentz Holly , Sadoway Tara , Nelson Victoria , Patel Piyush , Salapatek Anne Marie
Published: August 2017

Background: Nonallergic vasomotor rhinitis (NAVMR) has been considered a diagnosis by exclusion due to unknown mechanisms or lack of diagnostic biomarkers. Methods: To determine clinical responses and biological pathways in NAVMR subjects challenged to cold dry air (CDA) in an environmental exposure chamber (EEC) pre- and posttreatment with azelastine/fluticasone (AzeFlu), 30 NAVMR subjects, prescreened for CDA-induced symptoms (approx. 14°C, <15% relative humidity, ×1 h) were randomized to treatment with AzeFlu (n = 20) or placebo (n = 10) for 2 weeks. Total nasal symptoms scores, minimum cross-sectional area, cough, and conjunctival redness were recorded at visit 1 (pretreatment) and visit 2 (posttreatment) before, during, and after CDA challenge. At both visits, nasal lavage fluid (NLF) and nasal scrapings (NS) were collected pre- and post-CDA challenge. Substance P, neurokinin-A, and calcitonin gene-related peptide concentrations in NLF were analyzed pre- and postchallenge at each visit. Their relationship with CDA-induced symptoms was determined by statistical analysis. MicroRNA sequencing from NS determined differentially expressed miRNA between the treatment groups post-CDA challenge at each visit. Results: The minimum cross-sectional area (p < 0.05), cough count (p < 0.05), and substance P (p < 0.01) improved posttreatment with AzeFlu versus placebo. Gene targets for differentially expressed miRNAs at visit 1 were enriched for biological pathways regulating epithelial ciliogenesis and cell integrity that were modified in the AzeFlu-treated group versus placebo posttreatment. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the feasibility of an EEC model to investigate CDA-induced clinical responses and pathobiology in NAVMR subjects pre- and posttreatment with AzeFlu. NAVMR disease mechanisms for other nonallergic triggers can be investigated similarly.
Typhoid Fever and Acute Appendicitis: A Rare Association Not Yet Fully Formed
Authors: Sartori Daniel J. , Sun Katherine , Hopkins Mary Ann , Sloane Mark F.
Published: August 2017

Infections caused by foodborne enteric pathogens including typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonella species can mimic symptoms of acute appendicitis. The association between such bacterial pathogens and pathology-proven acute appendicitis has been described, but this link is poorly understood. Here we describe a case of a young man with typhoid fever presenting with histology-proven acute appendicitis requiring urgent appendectomy, and provide a brief review of relevant literature to prompt more widespread recognition of this rare cause of a common surgical emergency.
Scintigraphic Patterns of Indium-111 Oxine-Labeled White Blood Cell Imaging of Gram-Negative versus Gram-Positive Vertebral Osteomyelitis
Authors: Elgazzar Abdelhamid H. , Dannoon Shorouk , Sarikaya Ismet , Farghali Medhat , Junaid Thamradeen A.
Published: August 2017

Objective: The goal of the study was to investigate whether or not gram-negative organisms that secrete antichemotactic factors cause the nonaccumulation pattern of 111In-oxine-labeled white blood cell (111In-WBC) scans. Materials and Methods:Staphylococcus aureus (gram-positive) (group 1) was injected into 25 rabbits and Escherichia coli (gram-negative) (group 2) into another 25 to induce infection in the lumbar vertebrae or left thigh bone (femur). Sixteen successfully infected and surviving rabbits from each group were used for imaging and analysis. Of the 16 rabbits, each group included 8 with vertebral infection and 8 with femur infection. For imaging, each rabbit was injected intravenously with 11.1 MBq (300 μCi) 111In-WBC, and images were acquired 24 h later. Microscopic histopathology was performed after decalcification to confirm osteomyelitis. Results: The 111In-WBC accumulation was observed in 7 (87.5%) of the 8 rabbits infected with S. aureus in the vertebrae and thigh bone. Of the rabbits infected with the gram-negative vertebrae, 1 (12.5%) showed little accumulation of 111In-WBC. Of the 8 rabbits with gram-negative-infected femurs, 1 had high accumulation and another had low accumulation of 111In-WBC, while the rest did not show any uptake. Osteomyelitis was confirmed by histopathology in all the successfully infected rabbits used for imaging. Conclusion: In the majority of the gram-positive-infected rabbit vertebrae there was high accumulation of 111In-WBC. However, no accumulation of 111In-WBC was observed in most of the vertebrae infected with gram-negative organisms, which release antichemotactic factors that prevent adequate accumulation of WBC at the infected area.
Relaxation and the Role of Calcium in Isolated Contracting Myocardium From Patients With Hypertensive Heart Disease and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Runte K. Elisabeth , Bell Stephen P. , Selby Donald E. , Häußler Tim N. , Ashikaga Takamuru , LeWinter Martin M. , Palmer Bradley M. , Meyer Markus
Published: August 2017

Background

Relaxation characteristics and Ca
2+
homeostasis have not been studied in isolated myocardium from patients with hypertensive heart disease (HHD) and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Prolonged myocardial relaxation is believed to play an important role in the pathophysiology of these conditions. In this study, we evaluated relaxation parameters, myocardial calcium (Ca
2+
), and sodium (Na
+
) handling, as well as ion transporter expression and tested the effect of Na
+
-influx inhibitors on relaxation in isolated myocardium from patients with HHD and HFpEF.

Methods and Results

Relaxation characteristics were studied in myocardial strip preparations under physiological conditions at stimulation rates of 60 and 180 per minute. Intracellular Ca
2+
and Na
+
were simultaneously assessed using Fura-2 and AsanteNATRIUMGreen-2, whereas elemental analysis was used to measure total myocardial concentrations of Ca, Na, and other elements. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to measure expression levels of key ion transport proteins. The lusitropic effect of Na
+
-influx inhibitors ranolazine, furosemide, and amiloride was evaluated. Myocardial left ventricular biopsies were obtained from 36 control patients, 29 HHD and 19 HHD+HFpEF. When compared with control patients, half maximal relaxation time (RT
50
) at 60 per minute was prolonged by 13% in HHD and by 18% in HHD+HFpEF (both
P
<0.05). Elevated resting Ca
2+
levels and a tachycardia-induced increase in diastolic Ca
2+
were associated with incomplete relaxation and an increase in diastolic tension in HHD and HHD+HFpEF. Na
+
levels were not increased, and expression levels of Ca
2+
- or Na
+
-handling proteins were not altered. Na
+
-influx inhibitors did not improve relaxation or prevent incomplete relaxation at high stimulation rates.

Conclusions

Contraction and relaxation are prolonged in isolated myocardium from patients with HHD and HHD+HFpEF. This leads to incomplete relaxation at higher rates. Elevated calcium levels in HFpEF are neither a result of an impaired Na
+
gradient nor expression changes in key ion transporters and regulatory proteins.
Glucose Homeostasis, Pancreatic Endocrine Function, and Outcomes in Advanced Heart Failure
Authors: Melenovsky Vojtech , Benes Jan , Franekova Janka , Kovar Jan , Borlaug Barry A. , Segetova Marketa , Tura Andrea , Pelikanova Tereza
Published: August 2017

Background

The mechanisms and relevance of impaired glucose homeostasis in advanced heart failure (
HF
) are poorly understood. The study goals were to examine glucose regulation, pancreatic endocrine function, and metabolic factors related to prognosis in patients with nondiabetic advanced HF.

Methods and Results

In total, 140 advanced
HF
patients without known diabetes mellitus and 21 sex‐, age‐, and body mass index–matched controls underwent body composition assessment, oral glucose tolerance testing, and measurement of glucose‐regulating hormones to model pancreatic β‐cell secretory response. Compared with controls,
HF
patients had similar fasting glucose and insulin levels but higher levels after oral glucose tolerance testing. Insulin secretion was not impaired, but with increasing
HF
severity, there was a reduction in glucose, insulin, and insulin/glucagon ratio—a signature of starvation. The insulin/C‐peptide ratio was decreased in
HF
, indicating enhanced insulin clearance, and this was correlated with lower cardiac output, hepatic insufficiency, right ventricular dysfunction, and body wasting. After a median of 449 days, 41% of patients experienced an adverse event (death, urgent transplant, or assist device). Increased glucagon and, paradoxically, low fasting plasma glucose displayed the strongest relations to outcome (
P
=0.01). Patients in the lowest quartile of fasting plasma glucose (3.8–5.1 mmol·L
−1
, 68–101 mg·dL
−1
) had 3‐times higher event risk than in the top quartile (6.0–7.9 mmol·L
−1
, 108–142 mg·dL
−1
; relative risk: 3.05 [95% confidence interval, 1.46–6.77];
P
=0.002).

Conclusions

Low fasting plasma glucose and increased glucagon are robust metabolic predictors of adverse events in advanced
HF
. Pancreatic insulin secretion is preserved in advanced
HF
, but levels decrease with increasing
HF
severity due to enhanced insulin clearance that is coupled with right heart failure and cardiac cachexia.
Novel Urinary Peptidomic Classifier Predicts Incident Heart Failure
Authors: Zhang Zhen‐Yu , Ravassa Susana , Nkuipou‐Kenfack Esther , Yang Wen‐Yi , Kerr Shona M. , Koeck Thomas , Campbell Archie , Kuznetsova Tatiana , Mischak Harald , Padmanabhan Sandosh , Dominiczak Anna F. , Delles Christian , Staessen Jan A.
Published: August 2017

Background

Detection of preclinical cardiac dysfunction and prognosis of left ventricular heart failure (
HF
) would allow targeted intervention, and appears to be the most promising approach in its management. Novel biomarker panels may support this approach and provide new insights into the pathophysiology.

Methods and Results

A retrospective comparison of urinary proteomic profiles generated by mass spectrometric analysis from 49
HF
patients, 36 patients who progressed to
HF
within 2.6±1.6 years, and 192 sex‐ and age‐matched controls who did not progress to
HF
enabled identification of 96 potentially
HF
‐specific peptide biomarkers. Based on these 96 peptides, the classifier called Heart Failure Predictor (
HFP
) was established by support vector machine modeling. The incremental prognostic value of
HFP
was subsequently evaluated in urine samples from 175 individuals with asymptomatic diastolic dysfunction from an independent population cohort. Within 4.8 years, 17 of these individuals progressed to overt
HF
. The area under receiver‐operating characteristic curve was 0.70 (95%
CI
, 0.56–0.82);
P
=0.0047 for
HFP
and 0.57 (0.42–0.72;
P
=0.62) for N‐terminal pro b‐type natriuretic peptide. Hazard ratios were 1.63 (
CI
, 1.04–2.55;
P
=0.032) per 1‐
SD
increment in
HFP
and 0.70 (
CI
, 0.35–1.41;
P
=0.32) for a doubling of the logarithmically transformed N‐terminal pro b‐type natriuretic peptide.

Conclusions

HFP
is a novel biomarker derived from the urinary proteome and might serve as a sensitive tool to improve risk stratification, patient management, and understanding of the pathophysiology of
HF
.