bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How do we manage cardiopulmonary bypass coagulopathy?
Authors: Welsh Kerry J. , Nedelcu Elena , Bai Yu , Wahed Amer , Klein Kimberly , Tint Hlaing , Gregoric Igor , Patel Manish , Kar Biswajit , Loyalka Pranav , Nathan Sriram , Loubser Paul , Weeks Phillip A. , Radovancevic Rajko , Nguyen Andy N.D.
Published: June 2014

Background

Patients who undergo cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) are at risk for coagulopathy. Suboptimal turnaround time (TAT) of laboratory coagulation testing results in empiric administration of blood products to treat massive bleeding. We describe our initiative in establishing the coagulation‐based hemotherapy (CBH) service, a clinical pathology consultation service that uses rapid TAT coagulation testing and provides comprehensive assessment of bleeding in patients undergoing CPB. A transfusion algorithm that treats the underlying cause of coagulopathy was developed.

Study Design and Methods

The coagulation testing menu includes all aspects of coagulopathy with close proximity of the laboratory to the operating room to allow for rapid test results. The hemotherapy pathologist monitors laboratory results at several stages in surgery and uses a comprehensive algorithm to monitor a patient's hemostasis. The optimal number and type of blood products are selected when the patient is taken off CPB.

Results

The CBH service was consulted for 44 ventricular assist device implants, 30 heart transplants, and 31 other cardiovascular surgeries from May 2012 through November 2013. The TAT for laboratory tests was 15 minutes for complete blood count, antithrombin, and coagulation panel and 30 minutes for VerifyNow and thromboelastography, in comparison to 45 to 60 minutes in normal settings. The transfusion algorithms were used with optimal administration of blood components with preliminary data suggestive of reduced blood product usage and better patient outcomes.

Conclusion

We described the successful introduction of a novel pathology consultation service that uses a rapid TAT coagulation testing menu with transfusion algorithms for improved management of CPB patients.
Risk‐adjusted clinical outcomes in patients enrolled in a bloodless program
Authors: Frank Steven M. , Wick Elizabeth C. , Dezern Amy E. , Ness Paul M. , Wasey Jack O. , Pippa Andrew C. , Dackiw Elizabeth , Resar Linda M.S.
Published: June 2014

Background

Although clinical outcomes have been reported for patients who do not accept allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT), many previous studies lack a control group, fail to use risk adjustment, and focus exclusively on cardiac surgery.

Study Design and Methods

We report a risk‐adjusted, propensity score–matched, retrospective case‐control study of clinical outcomes for inpatients who did not accept ABT (bloodless, n = 294) and those who did accept ABT (control, n = 1157). Multidisciplinary specialized care was rendered to the bloodless patients to conserve blood and optimize clinical outcomes. Differences in hemoglobin (Hb), mortality, five morbid outcomes, and hospital charges and costs were compared. Subgroups of medical and surgical patients were analyzed, and independent predictors of outcome were determined by multivariate analysis.

Results

Overall, mortality was lower in the bloodless group (0.7%) than in the control group (2.7%; p = 0.046), primarily attributed to the surgical subgroup. After risk adjustment, bloodless care was not an independent predictor of the composite adverse outcome (death or any morbid event; p = 0.91; odds ratio, 1.02; 95% confidence interval, 0.68‐1.53). Discharge Hb concentrations were similar in the bloodless (10.8 ± 2.7 g/dL) and control (10.9 ± 2.3 g/dL) groups (p = 0.42). Total and direct hospital costs were 12% (p = 0.02) and 18% (p = 0.02) less, respectively, in the bloodless patients, a difference attributed to the surgical subgroup.

Conclusions

Using appropriate blood conservation measures for patients who do not accept ABT results in similar or better outcomes and is associated with equivalent or lower costs. This specialized care may be beneficial even for those patients who accept ABT.
A Time-Variant Reliability Analysis Method Based on Stochastic Process Discretization
Authors: Jiang C. , Huang X. P. , Han X. , Zhang D. Q.
Published: June 2014

Time-variant reliability problems caused by deterioration in material properties, dynamic load uncertainty, and other causes are widespread among practical engineering applications. This study proposes a novel time-variant reliability analysis method based on stochastic process discretization (TRPD), which provides an effective analytical tool for assessing design reliability over the whole lifecycle of a complex structure. Using time discretization, a stochastic process can be converted into random variables, thereby transforming a time-variant reliability problem into a conventional time-invariant system reliability problem. By linearizing the limit-state function with the first-order reliability method (FORM) and furthermore, introducing a new random variable, the converted system reliability problem can be efficiently solved. The TRPD avoids the calculation of outcrossing rates, which simplifies the process of solving time-variant reliability problems and produces high computational efficiency. Finally, three numerical examples are used to verify the effectiveness of this approach.
Parametric Studies of Pipe Diffuser on Performance of a Highly Loaded Centrifugal Compressor
Authors: Han Ge , Lu Xingen , Zhao Shengfeng , Yang Chengwu , Zhu Junqiang
Published: June 2014

Pipe diffusers with several different geometries were designed for a highly loaded centrifugal compressor originally using a wedge diffuser. Parametric studies on the effect of pipe diffuser performance of a highly loaded centrifugal compressor by varying pipe diffuser inlet-to-impeller exit radius ratio, throat length, divergence angle, and throat area on centrifugal compressor performance were performed using a state-of-the-art multiblock flow solver. An optimum design of pipe diffuser was obtained from the parametric study, and the numerical results indicate that this pipe diffuser has remarkable advantageous effects on the compressor performance. Furthermore, a detailed comparison of flow visualization between the pipe diffuser and the wedge diffuser was conducted to identify the physical mechanism that account for the beneficial effects of the pipe diffuser on the performance and stability of the compressor. It was found that the performance enhancement afforded by the pipe diffuser is a result of the unique diffuse inlet flow pattern. Alleviating flow distortion in the diffuser inlet and reducing the possibility of a flow separation in discrete passages are the physical mechanisms responsible for improving the highly loaded centrifugal compressor performance.
Selective Targeting of TGF-β Activation to Treat Fibroinflammatory Airway Disease
Authors: Minagawa Shunsuke , Lou Jianlong , Seed Robert I. , Cormier Anthony , Wu Shenping , Cheng Yifan , Murray Lynne , Tsui Ping , Connor Jane , Herbst Ronald , Govaerts Cedric , Barker Tyren , Cambier Stephanie , Yanagisawa Haruhiko , Goodsell Amanda , Hashimoto Mitsuo , Brand Oliver J. , Cheng Ran , Ma Royce , McKnelly Kate J. , Wen Weihua , Hill Arthur , Jablons David , Wolters Paul , Kitamura Hideya , Araya Jun , Barczak Andrea J. , Erle David J. , Reichardt Louis F. , Marks James D. , Baron Jody L. , Nishimura Stephen L.
Published: June 2014

Therapeutic targeting of an extended-closed conformation of the integrin αvβ8 inhibits TGF-β activation and ameliorates symptoms of experimental airway disease in mice.
Parallel Discovery of Alzheimer’s Therapeutics
Authors: Lo Andrew W. , Ho Carole , Cummings Jayna , Kosik Kenneth S.
Published: June 2014

Government support for parallel development of AD therapeutics.
Chronic Diseases in HIV Survivors
Authors: Vermund Sten H. , Narayan K. M. Venkat , Glass Roger I.
Published: June 2014

Screening and intervention programs are needed in low- and middle-income countries to address noncommunicable diseases arising in HIV-infected survivors on antiretroviral drug therapy.
IL-17 and GM-CSF Expression Are Antagonistically Regulated by Human T Helper Cells
Authors: Noster Rebecca , Riedel René , Mashreghi Mir-Farzin , Radbruch Helena , Harms Lutz , Haftmann Claudia , Chang Hyun-Dong , Radbruch Andreas , Zielinski Christina E.
Published: June 2014

GM-CSF–producing T helper cells in humans follow a distinct regulation program as compared to T
H
17 cells and are associated with multiple sclerosis.
A Punch to the Gut: IL-9 Promotes Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Sun Jie
Published: June 2014

Interleukin-9 amplifies mucosal inflammation and disrupts intestinal barrier function in ulcerative colitis.
Widespread surgical emphysema following trivial injury to the hand
Authors: Gietzmann William Kristian Miles , Mousinho Joana , Tandon Karuna , Turner Samuel
Published: June 2014

A 23-year-old glazer presented to the A&E department with pain in his left arm following a 2 mm puncture injury to his left thenar eminence. Examination showed crepitus throughout the arm and over the chest wall. Plain X-rays confirmed extensive surgical emphysema but no evidence of pneumothorax. Clinical observations and laboratory markers for infection were normal. The patient was prescribed broad spectrum antibiotics for presumed gas-producing organism infection. After 24 h cultures returned negative and no other signs of infection were detected. Treatment was discontinued and the patient was allowed home. Several days later he experienced severe diarrhoea and as a result required time off work. No cause was found on investigation. We postulate a benign aetiology for the surgical emphysema in this case. In future it may be possible to recognise benign surgical emphysema at presentation and avoid prescribing unnecessary antibiotics.
Pellagra in a patient with primary Sjögren’s syndrome
Authors: Ben Ghorbel Imed , Litaiem Noureddine , Chelly Ines , Houman Habib
Published: June 2014

A 27-year-old woman presented with persistent dryness of the mouth and eyes. She presented with permanent photodistributed rash involving the face and distal extremities. Laboratory tests showed positive Sjögren's syndrome (SS)-A and SS-B antibodies. Histological examination of minor salivary gland biopsy revealed inflammatory infiltration grade 4 according to Chisholm's classification. Skin biopsy showed acanthosis, hyperkeratosis in the epidermis and little inflammatory infiltrate in the dermis. There was an infiltration of CD4 T lymphocytes in the dermis. Based on the characteristics of the dermatitis and on a rapid response to niacin replacement, the diagnosis of pellagra was carried out. A complete resolution of the dermatological signs was obtained within 2 months. To the best of our knowledge, the association between primary SS and pellagra has never been reported. We emphasise the possible mechanisms of this association.
Rhodococcus equipneumonia and sepsis in an allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipient
Authors: Shahani Lokesh
Published: June 2014

Rhodococcus equiis an aerobic facultative intracellular organism that is known to infect cells of the macrophage–monocyte lineage. It is a common veterinary pathogen; however, the incidence of this infection in humans has risen and it has been recognised as an emerging opportunistic pathogen among the immunocompromised patients. We present the case of a patient with chronic myeloid leukaemia who had received allogenic stem cell transplant and presented to the hospital with clinical picture of pneumonia. Her condition worsened on initial broad spectrum antimicrobials and 3 weeks into her hospitalisation,R. equiwas isolated from her broncheoalveolar lavage and blood cultures. Based on the susceptibility, therapy was changed to four active antimicrobials; however, the patient failed to improve and eventually died. This case highlights the importance of considering the diagnosis ofR. equiamong immunosuppressed patients early in the right clinical setting due to the high virulence associated with this organism.
Are we missing anaerobic infective endocarditis in some acute coronary syndromes?
Authors: Abuzaid Ahmed , Smer Aiman , Akturk Halis Kaan , Bittner Marvin
Published: June 2014

A 76-year-old man presented with a 3-week history of intermittent fevers and dyspnoea on exertion after a dental bridge placement 2 months ago. The patient's medical history was significant for mild to moderate mitral valve prolapse. Initial evaluation was notable for a 3/6 systolic apical murmur. Laboratory investigations revealed leucocytosis and elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein and cardiac biomarkers. Patient was treated initially for non-ST elevation myocardial infarction. A 2-dimensional echocardiography was concerning for a new mitral regurgitation and a questionable vegetation adjacent to the mitral valve annulus. Transoesophageal echocardiography study confirmed the diagnosis. Subsequent microbial identification was notable forPeptostreptococciand he was started on intravenous penicillin therapy. The unexplained illness with underlying valve disease prompted consideration of infective endocarditis. This case describes a rare occurrence of anaerobic endocarditis imitating an acute coronary event.
Phantom tumour of the lung in a patient with renal failure misdiagnosed as chest infection
Authors: Althomali Sarah Ali , Almalki Mazen Mohammed , Mohiuddin Syed Atif
Published: June 2014

Phantom or vanishing tumour of the lung is a rare finding on chest radiographs that has been reported secondary to heart failure or chronic kidney disease. It has been described as an interlobular effusion of the transverse or oblique fissure of the right lung. Although it is uncommon, it should always be considered as a differential diagnosis for a radiographic opacity of the right-middle lung zone because it can be easily mistaken for a lung mass or infiltration. We herein present a case involving a patient with chronic kidney disease and a radiographic opacity of the right-middle lung that was diagnosed as a chest infection. The patient did not respond to various antibiotics and showed a poor response to diuretics, the standard treatment for phantom tumour. However, the patient markedly improved after dialysis, and the radiographic chest opacity disappeared.
Termination of pregnancy for maternal indications at the limits of fetal viability: a retrospective cohort study in the Dutch tertiary care centres
Authors: van Eerden L , Zeeman G G , Page-Christiaens G C M , Vandenbussche F , Oei S G , Scheepers H C J , van Eyck J , Middeldorp J M , Pajkrt E , Duvekot J J , de Groot C J M , Bolte A C
Published: June 2014

Objective

Maternal morbidity, either pregnancy related or pre-existent, can become life threatening and of such severity as to warrant termination of pregnancy (TOP). In this situation, chances of fetal survival are usually poor, either because of low gestational age and/or because of the fetal effects of the maternal condition. Examples include severe growth restriction in pre-eclampsia and intrauterine infection due to the very early preterm prelabour rupture of membranes. There are very few reports on the prevalence of TOP for maternal indication at the limits of fetal viability. We investigated the prevalence of and indications for TOP on maternal indication in the 10 tertiary care centres in the Netherlands during the past decade.

Study design

We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of all women who underwent TOP for maternal indications between 22 and 27 completed weeks of gestation in all 10 tertiary care centres from 2000 to 2009.

Results

During the study period, there were 1 929 470 deliveries; 163 052 (8.4%) of these took place in one of the 10 tertiary care centres and 177 pregnancies were terminated for severe maternal disease, 131 for hypertensive disorders, 29 for intrauterine infection and 17 for other reasons. The mean gestational age at TOP was 171 days (243/7)±10 days. No maternal deaths were recorded. The overall perinatal mortality was 99.4%.

Conclusions

Over a 10-year period, TOP for maternal indications was performed in 1 in 1000 deliveries in the 10 Dutch tertiary care centres. Hypertensive disorders comprised three-quarters of the cases.
Heart rate variability analysis during head-up tilt test predicts nitroglycerine-induced syncope
Authors: Efremov Kristian , Brisinda Donatella , Venuti Angela , Iantorno Emilia , Cataldi Claudia , Fioravanti Francesco , Fenici Riccardo
Published: June 2014

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine whether or not heart rate variability (HRV) analysis during the first 20 min of head-up tilt testing could predict whether patients will develop syncope after nitroglycerine administration.

Design

64 patients with previous loss of consciousness underwent head-up tilt testing with the Italian protocol, which involves the administration of nitroglycerine after 20 min of tilt. HRV parameters were analysed from 5 min intervals selected during pretest supine rest (phase 1), the first 5 min (phase 2) and the last 5 min (phase 3) of passive 20 min of tilting, prior to the administration of nitroglycerine. Differences in power (ms2) of the spectral components between the various phases of tilting were calculated for each patient and expressed as Δ.

Results

20 patients (group 1, 9 women, mean age 43.2±24.5 years) had a syncope during tilt testing after nitroglycerine, while the other 44 (group 2, 24 women, mean age 41±20.5 years) did not. In group 1, the HRV spectral parameters high frequency (HF) and total power (TP) had a significant decrement from phases 2 to 3 (p=0.012 and 0.027, respectively), while in group 2 the average HF and TP values did not change. The Δ of spectral parameters between phases 2 and 3 were able to differentiate between the two groups and to predict syncope after nitroglycerine administration (p<0.05).

Conclusions

HRV analysis within the first 20 min of passive tilting demonstrated that patients with nitroglycerine-induced syncope are characterised by a progressive decrement of parasympathetic activity, which does not occur in patients with a negative response to nitroglycerine. If confirmed on a wider population, HRV analysis could replace nitroglycerine administration and shorten the duration of the tilt test.
Salinity-induced changes in the root development of a northern woody species, Cornus sericea
Authors: Davis L. , Sumner M. , Stasolla C. , Renault S.
Published: June 2014

To study the salt-induced changes in root development, the roots of Cornus sericea L. exposed to NaCl (0, 50, and 100 mmol·L−1) for 4 weeks were sectioned at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 25 cm from the tip, after having determined their increase in length. Observations were made on longitudinal and transverse sections from embedded tissues (stained with toluidine blue) and fresh tissues (examined under UV light or stained with Sudan red 7B or phloroglucinol-HCl). A modified outermost cortical layer was observed in C. sericea, suggesting the presence of a hypodermis or exodermis. While suberin was identified in the wall of the hypodermal cells, the presence of Casparian bands in these walls could not be clearly detected in sections stained with or without berberine-hemisulphate and aniline blue. Although the overall sequence of development of root tissues in C. sericea did not appear to be modified in salt-treated plants, the development of the hypodermis and endodermis occurred closer to the root tip in salt-treated plants. These altered root characteristics could have contributed to improve the salinity tolerance of the plants by limiting the amount of Na+ and (or) Cl− reaching the shoots. Our results will provide useful information for the selection of boreal forest plants adequate for land reclamation, a major challenge for the oil sand industry faced with large areas of salt-affected land.
Large-scale migration patterns of silver American eels from the St. Lawrence River to the Gulf of St. Lawrence using acoustic telemetry
Authors: Béguer-Pon Mélanie , Castonguay Martin , Benchetrit José , Hatin Daniel , Verreault Guy , Mailhot Yves , Tremblay Valérie , Lefaivre Denis , Legault Michel , Stanley David , Dodson Julian J.
Published: June 2014

Downstream migration of silver American eels (Anguilla rostrata) from the St. Lawrence system was examined using acoustic telemetry. One hundred and thirty six silver American eels were tagged, and their passage was recorded using fixed acoustic arrays covering a 420 km distance along the St. Lawrence River and Estuary. Eighty-nine percent of the tagged eels were detected. All migrant eels (111) exhibited unidirectional and downstream movements, but the migration was not completed in one continuous direct movement. High individual variability in migratory longitudinal profiles was documented as well as in individual speed with no apparent relation to river discharge or morphological traits. Migration speed increased over the season. Our observations demonstrated that migrating silver American eels are largely nocturnal and demonstrated the use of nocturnal, ebb tide transport to leave the estuary. With 44 additional eels tagged and released in the maritime estuary, escapement of 180 silver American eels from the Gulf of St. Lawrence system was monitored along a 125 km acoustic line that entirely covered Cabot Strait in 2011. Surprisingly, only four of the tagged eels were recorded escaping the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Impairment of autophagy in endothelial cells prevents shear-stress-induced increases in nitric oxide bioavailability
Authors: Bharath Leena P. , Mueller Robert , Li Youyou , Ruan Ting , Kunz David , Goodrich Rebekah , Mills Tyler , Deeter Lance , Sargsyan Ashot , Anandh Babu Pon Velayutham , Graham Timothy E. , Symons J. David
Published: June 2014

Autophagy is a lysosomal catabolic process by which cells degrade or recycle their contents to maintain cellular homeostasis, adapt to stress, and respond to disease. Impairment of autophagy in endothelial cells studied under static conditions results in oxidant stress and impaired nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. We tested the hypothesis that vascular autophagy is also important for induction of NO production caused by exposure of endothelial cells to shear stress (i.e., 3 h × ≈20 dyn/cm2). Atg3 is a requisite autophagy pathway mediator. Control cells treated with non-targeting control siRNA showed increased autophagy, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation, and NO production upon exposure to shear stress (p < 0.05 for all). In contrast, cells with >85% knockdown of Atg3 protein expression (via Atg3 siRNA) exhibited a profound impairment of eNOS phosphorylation, and were incapable of increasing NO in response to shear stress. Moreover, ROS accumulation and inflammatory cytokine production (MCP-1 and IL-8) were exaggerated (all p < 0.05) in response to shear stress. These findings reveal that autophagy not only plays a critical role in maintaining NO bioavailability, but may also be a key regulator of oxidant–antioxidant balance and inflammatory–anti-inflammatory balance that ultimately regulate endothelial cell responses to shear stress.
Influence analysis of information erupted on social networks based onSIRmodel
Authors: Zhou Xue , Hu Yong , Wu Yue , Xiong Xi
Published: June 2014

In this paper, according to the similarity of chain reaction principle and the characteristics of information propagation on social network, we proposed a new word "information bomb". Based on the complex networks and SIR model, dynamical evolution equations were setup. Then methods used to evaluate the four indexes of bomb power were given, including influence breadth, influence strength, peak time and relaxation time. At last, the power of information was ascertained through these indexes. The process of information propagation is simulated to illustrate the spreading characteristics through the results. Then parameters which impact on the power of information bomb are analyzed and some methods which control the propagation of information are given.
ANALYSIS AND CONTROL OF FACIAL EXPRESSIONS USING DECOMPOSABLE NONLINEAR GENERATIVE MODELS
Authors: LEE CHAN-SU , SAMARAS DIMITRIS
Published: June 2014

Facial expressions convey personal characteristics and subtle emotional states. This paper presents a new framework for modeling subtle facial motions of different people with different types of expressions from high-resolution facial expression tracking data to synthesize new stylized subtle facial expressions. A conceptual facial motion manifold is used for a unified representation of facial motion dynamics from three-dimensional (3D) high-resolution facial motions as well as from two-dimensional (2D) low-resolution facial motions. Variant subtle facial motions in different people with different expressions are modeled by nonlinear mappings from the embedded conceptual manifold to input facial motions using empirical kernel maps. We represent facial expressions by a factorized nonlinear generative model, which decomposes expression style factors and expression type factors from different people with multiple expressions. We also provide a mechanism to control the high-resolution facial motion model from low-resolution facial video sequence tracking and analysis. Using the decomposable generative model with a common motion manifold embedding, we can estimate parameters to control 3D high resolution facial expressions from 2D tracking results, which allows performance-driven control of high-resolution facial expressions.
ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF A HIGH PRECISION-HIGH OUTPUT IMPEDANCE TISSUE CURRENT DRIVER FOR MEDICAL APPLICATIONS
Authors: TERZOPOULOS N. , HAYATLEH K. , SEBU C. , LIDGEY F. J. , BEN-ESMAEL M. , TAMMAM A. A. , BARKER S.
Published: June 2014

This paper describes the design and operation of a high output impedance tissue current driver circuit, for use in medical electronics, such as electrical impedance tomography (EIT). This novel architecture was designed for implementation in bipolar technology, to meet the specifications for EIT, namely operating frequency range 10 kHz–1 MHz with a target output resistance of 16 MΩ. Simulation results are presented, showing that the current source more than met the minimum specification for EIT.
Acceleration Threshold Reduction for Nonlinear Energy Harvesting
Authors: Lin Ji-Tzuoh , Lee Barclay , Alphenaar Bruce W.
Published: June 2014

Nonlinear coupling of a piezoelectric cantilever to an external magnetic force increases the power harvested from a broadband vibration source for relatively large acceleration vibrations. A threshold exists in the minimum acceleration needed for enhancement of the cantilever response. Below this threshold the nonlinear coupling damps the cantilever motion, and the power output is reduced compared to the noncoupled cantilever. By reducing the size of the coupling magnet, the acceleration required to scavenge usable power can be greatly reduced. The smaller diameter magnet decreases the spatial extent of the magnetic force, reducing the acceleration required to surmount the local potential barrier. The experiments result in a six-fold decrease in the acceleration threshold, to levels comparable to those observed in ambient environmental vibrations. The results are in good agreement with numerical calculations.
Assessment of optimized Markov models in protein fold classification
Authors: Lampros Christos , Simos Thomas , Exarchos Themis P. , Exarchos Konstantinos P. , Papaloukas Costas , Fotiadis Dimitrios I.
Published: June 2014

Protein fold classification is a challenging task strongly associated with the determination of proteins' structure. In this work, we tested an optimization strategy on a Markov chain and a recently introduced Hidden Markov Model (HMM) with reduced state-space topology. The proteins with unknown structure were scored against both these models. Then the derived scores were optimized following a local optimization method. The Protein Data Bank (PDB) and the annotation of the Structural Classification of Proteins (SCOP) database were used for the evaluation of the proposed methodology. The results demonstrated that the fold classification accuracy of the optimized HMM was substantially higher compared to that of the Markov chain or the reduced state-space HMM approaches. The proposed methodology achieved an accuracy of 41.4% on fold classification, while Sequence Alignment and Modeling (SAM), which was used for comparison, reached an accuracy of 38%.
Photoluminescence properties of Na1.45La8.55(SiO4)6(F0.9O1.1):Eu for applications as a reddish orange phosphor
Authors: Shi Qun , Hassan Dhia A. , Zeng Renjie
Published: June 2014

Europium-doped Na 1.45 La 8.55-8.55x( SiO 4)6( F 0.9 O 1.1)(0.000 ≤ x ≤ 0.045) phosphors were prepared by a conventional solid-state reaction method at 1200°C and their properties were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), and a spectral analysis system. No impurities were observed. The phosphor could be excited at 254 nm, 395 nm and 465 nm to yield a reddish orange emission which was attributed to the 5 D 0 → 7 F j (j = 0–2) transitions of the Eu ion.
Heritability of fat accumulation in white adipocytes
Authors: Katz Liora S. , Geras-Raaka Elizabeth , Gershengorn Marvin C.
Published: June 2014

Since individual cells from freshly isolated white adipose tissue (WAT) exhibit variable levels of fat accumulation, we attempted to determine which factor(s) cause this variation. We used primary WAT cells from adult mice and the mouse 3T3-L1 cell-line of preadipocytes for these studies. Cells were labeled with BODIPY (boron-dipyrromethene) lipid probe, a marker for fat accumulation in live cells, and sorted on a fluorescence-activated cell sorter into two populations exhibiting low or high BODIPY fluorescence intensity. After more than 12 doublings as dedifferentiated cells in growth medium, the sorted populations were exposed to adipogenic medium for 7 days and analyzed for BODIPY accumulation and mRNA expression of adipogenic markers. WAT-derived cells initially sorted to have low or high BODIPY fluorescence intensity maintained a similar low or high lipid phenotype after redifferentiation. Cell surface TSH receptor expression, which is known to increase when preadipocytes are differentiated, correlated with BODIPY staining in all states. mRNA levels of Pparγ, Srebp1c, aP2, and Pref1, key regulators of adipogenesis, and leptin, Glut4, Fasn, and Tshr, markers of adipocyte differentiation, correlated with the levels of fat accumulation. Overexpression of Pparγ in 3T3-L1 cells, as expected, caused cells from low- and high-BODIPY populations to accumulate more fat. More importantly, prior to differentiation, the endogenous Pparγ promoter exhibited higher levels of acetylated histone H3, an activatory modification, in high-BODIPY- compared with low-BODIPY-derived populations. We conclude that fat accumulation is a heritable trait in WAT and that epigenetic modification on the Pparγ promoter contributes to this heritability.
The cost of moving optimally: kinematic path selection
Authors: Kistemaker Dinant A. , Wong Jeremy D. , Gribble Paul L.
Published: June 2014

It is currently unclear whether the brain plans movement kinematics explicitly or whether movement paths arise implicitly through optimization of a cost function that takes into account control and/or dynamic variables. Several cost functions are proposed in the literature that are very different in nature (e.g., control effort, torque change, and jerk), yet each can predict common movement characteristics. We set out to disentangle predictions of the different variables using a combination of modeling and empirical studies. Subjects performed goal-directed arm movements in a force field (FF) in combination with visual perturbations of seen hand position. This FF was designed to have distinct optimal movements for muscle-input and dynamic costs while leaving kinematic cost unchanged. Visual perturbations in turn changed the kinematic cost but left the dynamic and muscle-input costs unchanged. An optimally controlled, physiologically realistic arm model was used to predict movements under the various cost variables. Experimental results were not consistent with a cost function containing any of the control and dynamic costs investigated. Movement patterns of all experimental conditions were adequately predicted by a kinematic cost function comprising both visually and somatosensory perceived jerk. The present study provides clear behavioral evidence that the brain solves kinematic and mechanical redundancy in separate steps: in a first step, movement kinematics are planned; and in a second, separate step, muscle activation patterns are generated.
Infrared detection without specialized infrared receptors in the bloodsucking bug Rhodnius prolixus
Authors: Zopf Lydia M. , Lazzari Claudio R. , Tichy Harald
Published: June 2014

Bloodsucking bugs use infrared radiation (IR) for locating warm-blooded hosts and are able to differentiate between infrared and temperature (T) stimuli. This paper is concerned with the neuronal coding of IR in the bug Rhodnius prolixus. Data obtained are from the warm cells in the peg-in-pit sensilla (PSw cells) and in the tapered hairs (THw cells). Both warm cells responded to oscillating changes in air T and IR with oscillations in their discharge rates. The PSw cells produced stronger responses to T oscillations than the THw cells. Oscillations in IR did the reverse: they stimulated the latter more strongly than the former. The reversal in the relative excitability of the two warm cell types provides a criterion to distinguish between changes in T and IR. The existence of strongly responsive warm cells for one or the other stimulus in a paired comparison is the distinguishing feature of a “combinatory coding” mechanism. This mechanism enables the information provided by the difference or the ratio between the response magnitudes of both cell types to be utilized by the nervous system in the neural code for T and IR. These two coding parameters remained constant, although response strength changed when the oscillation period was altered. To discriminate between changes in T and IR, two things are important: which sensory cell responded to either stimulus and how strong was the response. The label warm or infrared cell may indicate its classification, but the functions are only given in the context of activity produced in parallel sensory cells.
Quantitative genomics of voluntary exercise in mice: transcriptional analysis and mapping of expression QTL in muscle
Authors: Kelly Scott A. , Nehrenberg Derrick L. , Hua Kunjie , Garland Theodore , Pomp Daniel
Published: June 2014

Motivation and ability both underlie voluntary exercise, each with a potentially unique genetic architecture. Muscle structure and function are one of many morphological and physiological systems acting to simultaneously determine exercise ability. We generated a large ( n = 815) advanced intercross line of mice (G4) derived from a line selectively bred for increased wheel running (high runner) and the C57BL/6J inbred strain. We previously mapped quantitative trait loci (QTL) contributing to voluntary exercise, body composition, and changes in body composition as a result of exercise. Using brain tissue in a subset of the G4( n = 244), we have also previously reported expression QTL (eQTL) colocalizing with the QTL for the higher-level phenotypes. Here, we examined the transcriptional landscape of hind limb muscle tissue via global mRNA expression profiles. Correlations revealed an ∼1,168% increase in significant relationships between muscle transcript expression levels and the same exercise and body composition phenotypes examined previously in the brain. The exercise trait most often significantly correlated with gene expression in the brain was running duration while in the muscle it was maximum running speed. This difference may indicate that time spent engaging in exercise behavior may be more influenced by central (neurobiological) mechanisms, while intensity of exercise may be largely controlled by peripheral mechanisms. Additionally, we used subsets of cis-acting eQTL, colocalizing with QTL, to identify candidate genes based on both positional and functional evidence. We discuss three plausible candidate genes ( Insig2, Prcp, Sparc) and their potential regulatory role.
Nurses’ Experiences of Nonpatient Factors That Affect Nursing Workload: A Study of the PAONCIL Instrument’s Nonpatient Factors
Authors: Fagerström Lisbeth , Vainikainen Paula
Published: June 2014

In the RAFAELA patient classification system, the professional assessment of optimal nursing care intensity level (PAONCIL) instrument is used to assess the optimal nursing intensity level per unit. The PAONCIL instrument contains an overall assessment of the actual nursing intensity level and an additional list of central nonpatient factors that may increase or decrease the total nursing workload (NWL). The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess and determine which nonpatient factors affect nurses’ experiences of their total NWL in both outpatient settings and hospitals, as captured through the PAONCIL instrument. The data material consisted of PAONCIL questionnaires from 38 units and 37 outpatient clinics at 11 strategically selected hospitals in Finland, and included nurses’ answers(n=1307)to the question of which factors, other than nursing intensity, affect total NWL. The methods for data analyses were qualitative content analyses. The nonpatient factors that affected nurses’ experiences of total NWL are “organization of work,” “working conditions,” “self-control,” and “cooperation.” The actual list of nonpatient factors in the PAONCIL instrument is to a reasonable extent relevant, but the list should be improved to include nurses’ actual working conditions and self-control.
Mixed Germ Cell Testicular Cancer with Left Ventricular Metastasis Presenting with Embolic Stroke and Small Bowel Tumor Seeding
Authors: Sundararajan Srinath , Braunhut Beth , Ahmann Frederick , Agarwal Amit
Published: June 2014

Testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) metastasize in a very predictable fashion involving the retroperitoneal nodes first followed by hematogenous spread to distant organs like lungs, liver, and brain. Metastasis to heart is an extremely rare entity for GCT and fewer than 20 cases have been reported in the literature so far. We have summarized here a unique case of nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) with intracardiac metastasis resulting in systemic macroembolization to liver, spleen, brain, bowel and musculoskeletal tissues. This led to multiple adverse sequelae including ischemic stroke and bowel perforation.
On the Connectivity of Wireless Network Systems and an Application in Teacher-Student Interactive Platforms
Authors: Ge Xun
Published: June 2014

A wireless network system is a pair(U;B), whereBis a family of some base stations andUis a set of their users. To investigate the connectivity of wireless network systems, this paper takes covering approximation spaces as mathematical models of wireless network systems. With the help of covering approximation operators, this paper characterizes the connectivity of covering approximation spaces by their definable subsets. Furthermore, it is obtained that a wireless network system is connected if and only if the relevant covering approximation space has no nonempty definable proper subset. As an application of this result, the connectivity of a teacher-student interactive platform is discussed, which is established in the School of Mathematical Sciences of Soochow University. This application further demonstrates the usefulness of rough set theory in pedagogy and makes it possible to research education by logical methods and mathematical methods.
Bifurcation Analysis and Different Kinds of Exact Travelling Wave Solutions of a Generalized Two-Component Hunter-Saxton System
Authors: Meng Qing , He Bin
Published: June 2014

This paper focuses on a generalized two-component Hunter-Saxton system. From a dynamic point of view, the existence of different kinds of periodic wave, solitary wave, and blow-up wave is proved and the sufficient conditions to guarantee the existence of the above solutions in different regions of the parametric space are given. Also, some exact parametric representations of the travelling waves are presented.
Application of Daftardar Jafari Method to First Grade MHD Squeezing Fluid Flow in a Porous Medium with Slip Boundary Condition
Authors: Ullah Inayat , Rahim M. T. , Khan Hamid
Published: June 2014

In the present work, in the presence of magnetic field and with slip boundary condition, squeezing flow of a Newtonian fluid in a porous medium between two large parallel plates is investigated. The governing equations are transformed to a single nonlinear boundary value problem. Daftardar Jafari Method (DJM) is used to solve the problem in order to obtain the velocity profile of the fluid. By using residual of the problem, the validity of solution is established. The velocity profile is argued through graphs for various values of parameters.
Project Capital Allocation Combination Equilibrium Decision Model Based on Behavioral Option Game
Authors: Zhong Meirui , Zeng Anqi , Huang Jianbai , Hong Kairong
Published: June 2014

Aiming at option value of the project and fairness preference psychological utility features, this paper modified objective function between players by option game equilibrium and utility function of project managers by inequity aversion. Therefore, under the symmetric and asymmetric information conditions, a project capital allocation combination equilibrium decision model has been built. It draws a conclusion that the option value of projects has changed the utility function of shareholders and managers in capital allocation, whereas fairness preferences of the project managers have changed the way of allocation through psychological utility. These two effects have influenced the trigger point of capital allocation decision-making. One is the decrease of trigger point owing to capital allocation decision-making of a CEO affected by the option value; the other is the reaction due to the crowding-out and crowding-in effect of the project manager’s fairness preference, which restrains the severity of underinvestment. Therefore, a good incentive plan should be a balance among insurance, incentive, and fairness, not only a balance between insurance and incentive.
Encephalopathy and Neuropathy due to Glue, Paint Thinner, and Gasoline Sniffing in Trinidad and Tobago-MRI Findings
Authors: Ramcharan Kanterpersad , Ramesar Amrit , Ramdath Moshanti , Teelucksingh Joel , Gosein Maria
Published: June 2014

A 29-year-old male petrol station pump attendant was admitted with ataxia and clinical evidence of a sensorimotor polyneuropathy which developed over the preceding 3 months. He had cognitive dysfunction, hearing loss, and cerebellar clinical abnormalities that came on slowly over the three years. He had a fifteen-year history of sniffing mostly glue, occasionally paint thinners, and, in the recent two years, gasoline. Magnetic resonance brain imaging showed abnormalities of the cerebral cortex, cerebral white matter, corpus callosum, hippocampus, brainstem and cerebellar atrophy, hypointensities of basal ganglia, red nuclei, and substantia nigra as previously described in toluene sniffing. Abstinence for six months led to partial clinical improvement. Clinicians need to be aware of this preventable entity which has peculiar radiological findings which are being increasingly accepted as typical.
Managing Distrust-Induced Risk with Deposit in Supply Chain Contract Decisions
Authors: Han Guanghua , Dong Ming , Sun Qi
Published: June 2014

This paper studies the trust issue in a two-echelon supply chain information sharing process. In a supply chain, the retailer reports the forecasted demand to the supplier. Traditionally, the supplier’s trust in the retailer’s reported information is based on the retailer’s reputation. However, this paper considers that trust is random and is also affected by the reputation and the demand gap. The supplier and retailer have been shown to have different evaluations regarding the degree of trust. Furthermore, distrust is inherently linked to perceived risk. To mitigate perceived risk, a two-stage decision process with an unpayback deposit contract is proposed. At the first stage, the supplier and the retailer negotiate the deposit contract. At the second stage, a Stackelberg game is used to determine the retailer’s reported demand and the supplier’s production quantity. We show that the deposits from the retailer’s and supplier’s perspectives are different. When the retailer’s reported demand is equal to the supplier’s forecasted demand, the retailer’s evaluation of the deposit is more than that of supplier’s. When the retailer’s reported demand is equal to the retailer’s forecasted demand, the deposit from the retailer’s perspective is at the lowest level.
Increased Dietary Vitamin D Suppresses MAPK Signaling, Colitis, and Colon Cancer
Authors: Meeker Stacey , Seamons Audrey , Paik Jisun , Treuting Piper M. , Brabb Thea , Grady William M. , Maggio-Price Lillian
Published: June 2014

Epidemiologic studies associate low serum vitamin D levels with an increased risk of colon cancer and inflammatory diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). 129-Smad3tm1Par/J (Smad3−/−) mice are a model of bacteria-driven colitis and colon cancer when infected with Helicobacter bilis (H. bilis). Thus, we used this mouse model to determine whether increased dietary vitamin D would reduce inflammation and colon cancer. Smad3−/− mice were fed purified diet with either maintenance (1 IU vitamin D/g diet; maintenance) or increased concentrations of vitamin D (5 IU vitamin D/g diet; high vitamin D). One week after diet initiation, mice were inoculated with broth or H. bilis and were necropsied at several time points postinoculation to assess inflammation, dysplasia, and neoplasia incidence. At 16 weeks postinfection, 11% of mice fed high vitamin D diet had cancer compared with 41% of mice fed maintenance diet (P = 0.0121). Evaluation at an early time point (1 week postinfection) showed that animals fed high vitamin D had decreased MAPK (p-P38 and p-JNK) activation in lamina propria leukocytes as well as decreased NFκB activation in colonic epithelial cells. Reduction in MAPK and NFκB activation correlated with decreased IBD scores (2.7 vs. 15.5; P < 0.0001) as well as decreased inflammatory cell infiltrates and reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines in cecal tissue. These findings suggest that increased dietary vitamin D is beneficial in preventing inflammation-associated colon cancer through suppression of inflammatory responses during initiation of neoplasia or early-stage carcinogenesis. Cancer Res; 74(16); 4398–408. ©2014 AACR.
Cigarette Smoking and Pulmonary Function in Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer Exposed to Pulmonary-Toxic Therapy: Results from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study
Authors: Oancea S. Cristina , Gurney James G. , Ness Kirsten K. , Ojha Rohit P. , Tyc Vida L. , Klosky James L. , Srivastava DeoKumar , Stokes Dennis C. , Robison Leslie L. , Hudson Melissa M. , Green Daniel M.
Published: June 2014

Treatments for childhood cancer can impair pulmonary function. We assessed the potential impact of cigarette smoking on pulmonary function in 433 adult childhood cancer survivors (CCS) who received pulmonary-toxic therapy, using single breath diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide corrected for hemoglobin (DLCOcorr), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and total lung capacity (TLC). FEV1/FVC median values among current [1.00; interquartile range (IQR): 0.94–1.04] and former smokers (0.98; IQR: 0.93–1.04) were lower than those who had never smoked (1.02; IQR: 0.96–1.06; P = 0.003). Median FEV1/FVC values were lower among those who smoked ≥ 6 pack-years (0.99; IQR: 0.92–1.03) and those who smoked <6 pack-years (1.00; IQR: 0.94–1.04), than among those who had never smoked (P = 0.005). Our findings suggest that CCSs have an increased risk for future obstructive and restrictive lung disease. Follow-up is needed to determine whether smoking imparts more than additive risk. Smoking prevention and cessation need to be a priority in this population. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 23(9); 1938–43. ©2014 AACR.