bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Proteomic mapping of proteins released during necrosis and apoptosis from cultured neonatal cardiac myocytes
Authors: Marshall Kurt D. , Edwards Michelle A. , Krenz Maike , Davis J. Wade , Baines Christopher P.
Published: January 2014

Cardiac injury induces myocyte apoptosis and necrosis, resulting in the secretion and/or release of intracellular proteins. Currently, myocardial injury can be detected by analysis of a limited number of biomarkers in blood or coronary artery perfusate. However, the complete proteomic signature of protein release from necrotic cardiac myocytes is unknown. Therefore, we undertook a proteomic-based study of proteins released from cultured neonatal rat cardiac myocytes in response to H2O2 (necrosis) or staurosporine (apoptosis) to identify novel specific markers of cardiac myocyte cell death. Necrosis and apoptosis resulted in the identification of 147 and 79 proteins, respectively. Necrosis resulted in a relative increase in the amount of many proteins including the classical necrotic markers lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), high-mobility group B1 (HMGB1), myoglobin, enolase, and 14-3-3 proteins. Additionally, we identified several novel markers of necrosis including HSP90, α-actinin, and Trim72, many of which were elevated over control levels earlier than classical markers of necrotic injury. In contrast, the majority of identified proteins remained at low levels during apoptotic cell death, resulting in no candidate markers for apoptosis being identified. Blotting for a selection of these proteins confirmed their release during necrosis but not apoptosis. We were able to confirm the presence of classical necrotic markers in the extracellular milieu of necrotic myocytes. We also were able to identify novel markers of necrotic cell death with relatively early release profiles compared with classical protein markers of necrosis. These results have implications for the discovery of novel biomarkers of necrotic myocyte injury, especially in the context of ischemia-reperfusion injury.
δ-Opioid receptor activation stimulates normal diet intake but conversely suppresses high-fat diet intake in mice
Authors: Kaneko Kentaro , Mizushige Takafumi , Miyazaki Yuri , Lazarus Michael , Urade Yoshihiro , Yoshikawa Masaaki , Kanamoto Ryuhei , Ohinata Kousaku
Published: January 2014

The central opioid system is involved in a broadly distributed neural network that regulates food intake. Here, we show that activation of central δ-opioid receptor not only stimulated normal diet intake but conversely suppressed high-fat diet intake as well. [d-Pen2,5]-enkephalin (DPDPE), an agonist selective for the δ-receptor, increased normal diet intake after central administration to nonfasted male mice. The orexigenic activity of DPDPE was inhibited by blockade of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS), D-type prostanoid receptor 1 (DP1), and neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor type 1 (Y1) for PGD2 and NPY, respectively, suggesting that this was mediated by the PGD2-NPY system. In contrast, DPDPE decreased high-fat diet intake in mice fed a high-fat diet. DPDPE-induced suppression of high-fat diet intake was blocked by antagonists of melanocortin 4 (MC4) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) receptors but not by knockout of the L-PGDS gene. These results suggest that central δ-opioid receptor activation suppresses high-fat diet intake via the MC-CRF system, independent of the orexigenic PGD2 system. Furthermore, orally administered rubiscolin-6, an opioid peptide derived from spinach Rubisco, suppressed high-fat diet intake. This suppression was also blocked by centrally administered naltrindole, an antagonist for the δ-receptor, suggesting that rubiscolin-6 suppressed high-fat diet intake via activation of central δ-opioid receptor.
Partially dissociable roles of OFC and ACC in stimulus-guided and action-guided decision making
Authors: Khani Abbas
Published: January 2014

Recently, the functional specialization of prefrontal areas of the brain, and, specifically, the functional dissociation of the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), during decision making have become a particular focus of research. A number of neuropsychological and lesion studies have shown that the OFC and ACC have dissociable functions in various dimensions of decision making, which are supported by their different anatomical connections. A recent single-neuron study, however, described a more complex picture of the functional dissociation between these two frontal regions during decision making. Here, I discuss the results of that study and consider alternative interpretations in connection with other findings.
Coordination between digit forces and positions: interactions between anticipatory and feedback control
Authors: Fu Qiushi , Santello Marco
Published: January 2014

Humans adjust digit forces to compensate for trial-to-trial variability in digit placement during object manipulation, but the underlying control mechanisms remain to be determined. We hypothesized that such digit position/force coordination was achieved by both visually guided feed-forward planning and haptic-based feedback control. The question arises about the time course of the interaction between these two mechanisms. This was tested with a task in which subjects generated torque (± 70 N·mm) on a virtual object to control a cursor moving to target positions to catch a falling ball, using a virtual reality environment and haptic devices. The width of the virtual object was varied between large (L) and small (S). These object widths result in significantly different horizontal digit relative positions and require different digit forces to exert the same task torque. After training, subjects were tested with random sequences of L and S widths with or without visual information about object width. We found that visual cues allowed subjects to plan manipulation forces before contact. In contrast, when visual cues were not available to predict digit positions, subjects implemented a “default” digit force plan that was corrected after digit contact to eventually accomplish the task. The time course of digit forces revealed that force development was delayed in the absence of visual cues. Specifically, the appropriate digit force adjustments were made 250–300 ms after initial object contact. This result supports our hypothesis and further reveals that haptic feedback alone is sufficient to implement digit force-position coordination.
A New Characterization of Compact Sets in Fuzzy Number Spaces
Authors: Huang Huan , Wu Congxin
Published: January 2014

We give a new characterization of compact subsets of the fuzzy number space equipped with the level convergence topology. Based on this, it is shown that compactness is equivalent to sequential compactness on the fuzzy number space endowed with the level convergence topology. Our results imply that some previous compactness criteria are wrong. A counterexample also is given to validate this judgment.
Medium Optimization for the Production of Fibrinolytic Enzyme byPaenibacillussp. IND8 Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Vijayaraghavan Ponnuswamy , Prakash Vincent Samuel Gnana
Published: January 2014

Production of fibrinolytic enzyme by a newly isolatedPaenibacillussp. IND8 was optimized using wheat bran in solid state fermentation. A 25full factorial design (first-order model) was applied to elucidate the key factors as moisture, pH, sucrose, yeast extract, and sodium dihydrogen phosphate. Statistical analysis of the results has shown that moisture, sucrose, and sodium dihydrogen phosphate have the most significant effects on fibrinolytic enzymes production (P<0.05). Central composite design (CCD) was used to determine the optimal concentrations of these three components and the experimental results were fitted with a second-order polynomial model at 95% level (P<0.05). Overall, 4.5-fold increase in fibrinolytic enzyme production was achieved in the optimized medium as compared with the unoptimized medium.
Modification of the HeRO Graft Allowing Earlier Cannulation and Reduction in Catheter Dependent Days in Patients with End Stage Renal Disease: A Single Center Retrospective Review
Authors: Hart Deirdre , Gooden Christie , Cummings L. S. , Wible Brandt C. , Borsa John , Randall Henry
Published: January 2014

After creation of an arteriovenous fistula or placement of an arteriovenous graft, several weeks are required for maturation prior to first cannulation. Patients need an alternative way to receive hemodialysis during this time, frequently a catheter. After multiple failed access attempts, patients can run out of options and become catheter dependent. At our institution, we place HeRO grafts in eligible patients who have otherwise been told they would be catheter dependent for life. By combining the HeRO graft system with a Flixene graft, patients are able to remove catheters sooner or avoid placement as they can undergo cannulation for hemodialysis the next day. Utilizing this novel technique, twenty-one patients over a two-year period with various forms of central venous stenosis, catheter dependence, or failing existing arteriovenous access have been successfully converted to stable long term noncatheter based upper extremity access.
Large Scale Explorative Oligonucleotide Probe Selection for Thousands of Genetic Groups on a Computing Grid: Application to Phylogenetic Probe Design Using a Curated Small Subunit Ribosomal RNA Gene Database
Authors: Jaziri Faouzi , Peyretaillade Eric , Missaoui Mohieddine , Parisot Nicolas , Cipière Sébastien , Denonfoux Jérémie , Mahul Antoine , Peyret Pierre , Hill David R. C.
Published: January 2014

Phylogenetic Oligonucleotide Arrays (POAs) were recently adapted for studying the huge microbial communities in a flexible and easy-to-use way. POA coupled with the use of explorative probes to detect the unknown part is now one of the most powerful approaches for a better understanding of microbial community functioning. However, the selection of probes remains a very difficult task. The rapid growth of environmental databases has led to an exponential increase of data to be managed for an efficient design. Consequently, the use of high performance computing facilities is mandatory. In this paper, we present an efficient parallelization method to select known and explorative oligonucleotide probes at large scale using computing grids. We implemented a software that generates and monitors thousands of jobs over the European Computing Grid Infrastructure (EGI). We also developed a new algorithm for the construction of a high-quality curated phylogenetic database to avoid erroneous design due to bad sequence affiliation. We present here the performance and statistics of our method on real biological datasets based on a phylogenetic prokaryotic database at the genus level and a complete design of about 20,000 probes for 2,069 genera of prokaryotes.
Enhanced Butanol Production byClostridium acetobutylicumNCIMB 13357 Grown on Date Fruit as Carbon Source in P2 Medium
Authors: Khamaiseh Emran I. , Abdul Hamid Aidil , Abdeshahian Peyman , Wan Yusoff Wan Mohtar , Kalil Mohd Sahaid
Published: January 2014

The production of biobutanol was studied by the cultivation ofClostridium acetobutylicumNCIMB 13557 in P2 medium including date fruit as the sole substrate. The effect of P2 medium and the effect of different concentrations of date fruit ranging from 10 to 100 g/L on biobutanol production were investigated. Anaerobic batch culture was carried out at 35°C incubation temperature and pH 7.0 ± 0.2 for 72 h. Experimental results showed that the lowest yield of biobutanol and acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) was 0.32 and 0.35 gram per gram of carbohydrate consumed (g/g), respectively, when an initial date fruit concentration of 10 g/L was utilized. At this fruit date concentration a biobutanol production value of 1.56 g/L was obtained. On the other hand, the maximum yield of biobutanol (0.48 g/g) and ABE (0.63 g/g) was produced at 50 g/L date fruit concentration with a biobutanol production value as high as 11 g/L. However, when a higher initial date fruit concentration was used, biobutanol and ABE production decreased to reach the yield of 0.22 g/g and 0.35 g/g, respectively, where 100 g/L date fruit was used. Similar results also revealed that 10.03 g/L biobutanol was produced using 100 g/L date fruit.
Analysis of Feeder Bus Network Design and Scheduling Problems
Authors: Almasi Mohammad Hadi , Mirzapour Mounes Sina , Koting Suhana , Karim Mohamed Rehan
Published: January 2014

A growing concern for public transit is its inability to shift passenger’s mode from private to public transport. In order to overcome this problem, a more developed feeder bus network and matched schedules will play important roles. The present paper aims to review some of the studies performed on Feeder Bus Network Design and Scheduling Problem (FNDSP) based on three distinctive parts of the FNDSP setup, namely, problem description, problem characteristics, and solution approaches. The problems consist of different subproblems including data preparation, feeder bus network design, route generation, and feeder bus scheduling. Subsequently, descriptive analysis and classification of previous works are presented to highlight the main characteristics and solution methods. Finally, some of the issues and trends for future research are identified. This paper is targeted at dealing with the FNDSP to exhibit strategic and tactical goals and also contributes to the unification of the field which might be a useful complement to the few existing reviews.
Riemannian Gradient Algorithm for the Numerical Solution of Linear Matrix Equations
Authors: Duan Xiaomin , Sun Huafei , Zhao Xinyu
Published: January 2014

A Riemannian gradient algorithm based on geometric structures of a manifold consisting of all positive definite matrices is proposed to calculate the numerical solution of the linear matrix equationQ=X+∑i=1mAiTXAi. In this algorithm, the geodesic distance on the curved Riemannian manifold is taken as an objective function and the geodesic curve is treated as the convergence path. Also the optimal variable step sizes corresponding to the minimum value of the objective function are provided in order to improve the convergence speed. Furthermore, the convergence speed of the Riemannian gradient algorithm is compared with that of the traditional conjugate gradient method in two simulation examples. It is found that the convergence speed of the provided algorithm is faster than that of the conjugate gradient method.
Significance of Normalization on Anatomical MRI Measures in Predicting Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Zhou Qi , Goryawala Mohammed , Cabrerizo Mercedes , Barker Warren , Duara Ranjan , Adjouadi Malek
Published: January 2014

This study establishes a new approach for combining neuroimaging and neuropsychological measures for an optimal decisional space to classify subjects with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This approach relies on a multivariate feature selection method with different MRI normalization techniques. Subcortical volume, cortical thickness, and surface area measures are obtained using MRIs from 189 participants (129 normal controls and 60 AD patients). Statistically significant variables were selected for each combination model to construct a multidimensional space for classification. Different normalization approaches were explored to gauge the effect on classification performance using a support vector machine classifier. Results indicate that the Mini-mental state examination (MMSE) measure is most discriminative among single-measure models, while subcortical volume combined with MMSE is the most effective multivariate model for AD classification. The study demonstrates that subcortical volumes need not be normalized, whereas cortical thickness should be normalized either by intracranial volume or mean thickness, and surface area is a weak indicator of AD with and without normalization. On the significant brain regions, a nearly perfect symmetry is observed for subcortical volumes and cortical thickness, and a significant reduction in thickness is particularly seen in the temporal lobe, which is associated with brain deficits characterizing AD.
Finite-Time Boundedness for a Class of Delayed Markovian Jumping Neural Networks with Partly Unknown Transition Probabilities
Authors: Liang Li
Published: January 2014

This paper is concerned with the problem of finite-time boundedness for a class of delayed Markovian jumping neural networks with partly unknown transition probabilities. By introducing the appropriate stochastic Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional and the concept of stochastically finite-time stochastic boundedness for Markovian jumping neural networks, a new method is proposed to guarantee that the state trajectory remains in a bounded region of the state space over a prespecified finite-time interval. Finally, numerical examples are given to illustrate the effectiveness and reduced conservativeness of the proposed results.
Alumina-Based Ceramics for Armor Application: Mechanical Characterization and Ballistic Testing
Authors: Silva M. V. , Stainer D. , Al-Qureshi H. A. , Montedo O. R. K. , Hotza D.
Published: January 2014

The aim of this work is to present results of mechanical characterization and ballistic test of alumina-based armor plates. Three compositions (92, 96, and 99 wt% Al2O3) were tested for 10 mm thick plates processed in an industrial plant. Samples were pressed at 110 MPa and sintered at 1600°C for 6 h. Relative density, Vickers hardness, and four-point flexural strength measurements of samples after sintering were performed. Results showed that the strength values ranged from 210 to 300 MPa depending on the porosity, with lower standard deviation for the 92 wt% Al2O3sample. Plates (120 mm × 120 mm × 12 mm) of this composition were selected for ballistic testing according to AISI 1045, using a metallic plate as backing and witness plates in the case of penetration or deformation. Standard NIJ-0108.01 was followed in regard to the type of projectile to be used (7.62 × 51 AP, Level IV, 4068 J). Five alumina plates were used in the ballistic tests (one shot per plate). None of the five shots penetrated or even deformed the metal sheet, showing that the composition containing 92 wt% Al2O3could be considered to be a potential ballistic ceramic, being able to withstand impacts with more than 4000 J of kinetic energy.
Treatment withRhizoma DioscoreaeExtract Has Protective Effect on Osteopenia in Ovariectomized Rats
Authors: Zhang Zhiguo , Xiang Lihua , Bai Dong , Fu Xiaowei , Wang Wenlai , Li Yan , Liu Hong , Pan Jinghua , Li Ya’nan , Xiao Gary Guishan , Ju Dahong
Published: January 2014

The aims of this study were to evaluate the osteoprotective effect of aqueous extract fromRhizoma Dioscoreae(RDE) on rats with ovariectomy- (OVX-) induced osteopenia. Our results show that RDE could inhibit bone loss of OVX rats after a 12-week treatment. The microarray analysis showed that 68 genes were upregulated and that 100 genes were downregulated in femurs of the RDE group rats compared to those in the OVX group. The Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) showed that several downregulated genes had the potential to code for proteins that were involved in the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway (Sost, Lrp6, Tcf7l2, and Alpl) and the RANKL/RANK signaling pathway (Map2k6 and Nfatc4). These results revealed that the mechanism for an antiosteopenic effect of RDE might lie in the synchronous inhibitory effects on both the bone formation and the bone resorption, which is associated with modulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling and the RANKL/RANK signaling.
Web Services Integration Strategy with Minimum Hops Constraint in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Ouyang Wen , Chen Min-Lang
Published: January 2014

Both wireless sensor networks and service-oriented architectures (SOA) are very popular distributed computing paradigm. Web service is a widely accepted implementation of SOA. However, web service is based on Internet protocols and requires adaptation to suit the restrictions posed by WSNs. The development of Internet of Things has triggered research of web services of WSNs which made the consolidation of these technologies possible. At the same time, web service integration enables the support of more functionalities since many applications rely on not just one web service, but a whole school of them. Thus, how to compose and integrate different web services efficiently to provide complicated services becomes an essential topic. This paper investigates a problem which minimizes the number of hops of web services while integrating these web services to finish a set of tasks. We call this problem Minimum Hops of Service Integration Problem. It is proved that, when there are no precedence relationships between the tasks, the decision problem is NP-complete. This implies that this web services integration problem is NP-hard. For the case when the relationships between the tasks are in linear order, a polynomial-time, optimal web service integration algorithm, using greedy strategy, is provided.
Isocitrate Dehydrogenase-1 Mutations as Prognostic Biomarker in Glioblastoma Multiforme Patients in West Bohemia
Authors: Polivka J. , Polivka J. , Rohan V. , Pesta M. , Repik T. , Pitule P. , Topolcan O.
Published: January 2014

Introduction. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant primary brain tumor in adults. Recent whole-genome studies revealed novel GBM prognostic biomarkers such as mutations in metabolic enzyme IDH—isocitrate dehydrogenases (IDH1 and IDH2). The distinctive mutation IDH1 R132H was uncovered to be a strong prognostic biomarker for glioma patients. We investigated the prognostic role of IDH1 R132H mutation in GBM patients in West Bohemia.Methods. The IDH1 R132H mutation was assessed by the RT-PCR in the tumor samples from 45 GBM patients treated in the Faculty Hospital in Pilsen and was correlated with the progression free and overall survival.Results. The IDH1 R132H mutation was identified in 20 from 44 GBM tumor samples (45.4%). The majority of mutated tumors were secondary GBMs (16 in 18, 89.9%). Low frequency of IDH1 mutations was observed in primary GBMs (4 in 26, 15.3%). Patients with IDH R132H mutation had longer PFS, 136 versus 51 days (P<0.021, Wilcoxon), and OS, 270 versus 130 days (P<0.024, Wilcoxon test).Summary. The prognostic value of IDH1 R132H mutation in GBM patients was verified. Patients with mutation had significantly longer PFS and OS than patients with wild-type IDH1 and suffered more likely from secondary GBMs.
Testing the Psychometric Properties of a Chinese Version of the Level of Expressed Emotion Scale
Authors: Chien Wai Tong , Chan Zenobia Chung-Yee , Chan Sally Wai-Chi
Published: January 2014

This study tested the psychometric properties of a Chinese version of the level of expressed emotion scale in Hong Kong Chinese patients with severe mental illness and their family caregivers. First, the semantic equivalence with the original English version and test-retest reliability at 2-week interval of the Chinese version was examined. After that, the reproducibility, construct validity, and internal consistency of the Chinese version were tested. The Chinese version indicated good semantic equivalence with the English version (kappa values = 0.76–0.95 and ICC = 0.81–0.92), test-retest reliability (r= 0.89–0.95,P<0.01), and internal consistency (Cronbach’sα= 0.86–0.92). Among 262 patients with severe mental illness and their caregivers, the 50-item Chinese version had substantial loadings on one of the four factors identified (intrusiveness/hostility, attitude towards patient, tolerance, and emotional involvement), accounting for 71.8% of the total variance of expressed emotion. In confirmatory factor analysis, the identified four-factor model showed the best fit based on all fit indices (χ2/df= 1.93,P=0.75; AGFI = 0.96; TLI = 1.02; RMSEA = 0.031; WRMR = 0.78) to the collected data. The four-factor Chinese version also indicated a good concurrent validity with significant correlations with family functioning (r= −0.54) and family burden (r= 0.49) and a satisfactory reproducibility over six months (intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.90). The mean scores of the overall and subscale of the Chinese version in patients with unipolar disorder were higher than in other illness groups (schizophrenia, psychotic disorders, and bipolar disorder;P<0.01). The Chinese version demonstrates sound psychometric properties to measure families’ expressed emotion in Chinese patients with severe mental illness, which are found varied across countries.
Multiple Power-Saving MSSs Scheduling Methods for IEEE802.16e Broadband Wireless Networks
Authors: Huang Shih-Chang
Published: January 2014

This work proposes two enhanced multiple mobile subscriber stations (MSSs) power-saving scheduling methods for IEEE802.16e broadband wireless networks. The proposed methods are designed for the Unsolicited Grant Service (UGS) of IEEE802.16e. To reduce the active periods of all power-saving MSSs, the base station (BS) allocates each MSS fewest possible transmission frames to retrieve its data from the BS. The BS interlaces the active periods of each MSS to increase the amount of scheduled MSSs and splits the overflowing transmission frames to maximize the bandwidth utilization. Simulation results reveal that interlacing the active periods of MSSs can increase the number of scheduled MSSs to more than four times of that in the Direct scheduling method. The bandwidth utilization can thus be improved by 60%–70%. Splitting the overflowing transmission frames can improve bandwidth utilization by more than 10% over that achieved using the method of interlacing active periods, with a sacrifice of only 1% of the sleep periods in the interlacing active period method.
An Efficient Secure Data Aggregation Based on Homomorphic Primitives in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Zhou Qiang , Yang Geng , He Liwen
Published: January 2014

Data aggregation is an important method to reduce the energy consumption in wireless sensor networks (WSNs); however, it suffers from the security problems of data privacy and integrity. Existing solutions either have large communication and computation overheads or only produce inaccurate results. This paper proposes a novel secure data aggregation scheme based on homomorphic primitives in WSNs (abbreviated as SDA-HP). The scheme adopts a symmetric-key homomorphic encryption to protect data privacy and combines it with homomorphic MAC synchronically to check the aggregation data integrity. It compares the scheme with the previously known methods such as SIES, iPDA, and iCPDA in terms of the data privacy protection efficiency, integrity performance, computation overhead, communication overhead, and data aggregation accuracy. Simulation results and performance analysis show that our SDA-HP requires less communication and computation overheads than previously known methods and can effectively preserve data privacy, check data integrity, and achieve high data transmission efficiency and accurate data aggregation rate while consuming less energy to prolong network lifetime. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that provides both integrity and privacy based on homomorphic primitives.
Age-Related Consequences of Childhood Obesity
Authors: Kelsey Megan M. , Zaepfel Alysia , Bjornstad Petter , Nadeau Kristen J.
Published: January 2014

The severity and frequency of childhood obesity has increased significantly over the past three to four decades. The health effects of increased body mass index as a child may significantly impact obese youth as they age. However, many of the long-term outcomes of childhood obesity have yet to be studied. This article examines the currently available longitudinal data evaluating the effects of childhood obesity on adult outcomes. Consequences of obesity include an increased risk of developing the metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and its associated retinal and renal complications, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obstructive sleep apnea, polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, asthma, orthopedic complications, psychiatric disease, and increased rates of cancer, among others. These disorders can start as early as childhood, and such early onset increases the likelihood of early morbidity and mortality. Being obese as a child also increases the likelihood of being obese as an adult, and obesity in adulthood also leads to obesity-related complications. This review outlines the evidence for childhood obesity as a predictor of adult obesity and obesity-related disorders, thereby emphasizing the importance of early intervention to prevent the onset of obesity in childhood.
Hemoadsorption of High-Mobility Group Box Chromosomal Protein 1 Using a Column for Large Animals
Authors: Nishiyama R. , Shinoda M. , Tanabe M. , Oshima G. , Takano K. , Miyasho T. , Fuchimoto Y. , Yamada S. , Inoue T. , Shimada K. , Suda K. , Tanaka M. , Hayashida T. , Yagi H. , Kitago M. , Obara H. , Itano O. , Takeuchi H. , Kawachi S. , Maruyama I. , Kitagawa Y.
Published: January 2014

Background: High-mobility group box chromosomal protein 1 (HMGB1) has recently been identified as an important mediator of various kinds of acute and chronic inflammation. A method for efficiently removing HMGB1 from the systemic circulation could be a promising therapy for HMGB1-mediated inflammatory diseases. Materials and Methods: In this study, we produced a new adsorbent material by chemically treating polystyrene fiber. We first determined whether the adsorbent material efficiently adsorbed HMGB1 in vitro using a bovine HMGB1 solution and a plasma sample from a swine model of acute liver failure. We then constructed a column by embedding fabric sheets of the newly developed fibers into a cartridge and tested the ability of the column to reduce plasma HMGB1 levels during a 4-hour extracorporeal hemoperfusion in a swine model of acute liver failure. Results: The in vitro adsorption test of the new fiber showed high performance for HMGB1 adsorption (96% adsorption in the bovine HMGB1 solution and 94% in the acute liver failure swine plasma, 2 h incubation at 37°C; p < 0.05 vs. incubation with no adsorbent). In the in vivo study, the ratio of the HMGB1 concentration at the outlet versus the inlet of the column was significantly lower in swine hemoperfused with the newly developed column (53 and 61% at the beginning and end of perfusion, respectively) than in those animals hemoperfused with the control column (94 and 93% at the beginning and end of perfusion, respectively; p < 0.05). Moreover, the normalized plasma level of HMGB1 was significantly lower during perfusion with the new column than with the control column (p < 0.05 at 1, 2, and 3 h after initiation of perfusion). Conclusion: These data suggest that the newly developed column has the potential to effectively adsorb HMGB1 during hemoperfusion in swine.
Effects of vorapaxar on platelet reactivity and biomarker expression in non-ST-elevation acute coronary syndromes
Authors: Storey Robert F. , Kotha Jayaprakash , Smyth Susan S. , Moliterno David J. , Rorick Tyrus L. , Moccetti Tiziano , Valgimigli Marco , Dery Jean Pierre , Cornel Jan H. , Thomas Gregory S. , Huber Kurt , Harrington Robert A. , Hord Edward , Judge Heather M. , Chen Edmond , Strony John , Mahaffey Kenneth W. , Tricoci Pierluigi , Becker Richard C. , Jennings Lisa K.
Published: January 2014

Vorapaxar is an antagonist of the protease activated receptor-1 (PAR-1), the principal platelet thrombin receptor. The Thrombin Receptor Antagonist for Clinical Event Reduction (TRACER) trial evaluated vorapaxar compared to placebo in non-ST-elevation (NSTE)-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients. It was the study′s objective to assess the pharmacodynamic effects of vorapaxar versus placebo that included aspirin or a thienopyridine or, frequently, a combination of both agents in NSTE-ACS patients. In a substudy involving 249 patients, platelet aggregation was assessed by light transmittance aggregometry (LTA) in 85 subjects (41 placebo, 44 vorapaxar) using the agonists thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP, 15 μM), adenosine diphosphate (ADP, 20 μM), and the combination of collagen-related peptide (2.5 μg/ml) + ADP (5 μM) + TRAP (15 μM) (CAT). VerifyNow® IIb/IIIa and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) phosphorylation assays were performed, and platelet PAR-1 expression, plasma platelet/endothelial and inflammatory biomarkers were determined before and during treatment. LTA responses to TRAP and CAT and VerifyNow results were markedly inhibited by vorapaxar. Maximal LTA response to TRAP (median, interquartile range) 2 hours post loading dose: placebo 68% (53–75%) and vorapaxar 3% (2–6%), p<0.0001. ADP inhibition was greater in the vorapaxar group at 4 hours and one month (p<0.01). In contrast to the placebo group, PAR-1 receptor number in the vorapaxar group at one month was significantly lower than the baseline (179 vs 225; p=0.004). There were significant changes in selected biomarker levels between the two treatment groups. In conclusion, vorapaxar caused a potent inhibition of PAR-1-mediated platelet aggregation. Further studies are needed to explore vorapaxar effect on P2Y12 inhibition, PAR-1 expression and biomarkers and its contribution to clinical outcomes.
The endothelial protein C receptor impairs the antibacterial response in murine pneumococcal pneumonia and sepsis
Authors: Daan de Boer J. , Kager Liesbeth M. , Roelofs Joris J. T. H. , Meijers Joost C. M. , Esmon Charles T. , Levi Marcel , van ’t Veer Cornelis , van der Poll Tom , Schouten Marcel
Published: January 2014

Pneumococcal pneumonia is a frequent cause of gram-positive sepsis and has a high mortality. The endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) has been implicated in both the activation of protein C (PC) and the anti-inflammatory actions of activated (A)PC. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the EPCR in murine pneumococcal pneumonia and sepsis. Wild-type (WT), EPCR knockout (KO) and Tie2-EPCR mice, which overexpress EPCR on the endothelium, were infected intranasally (pneumonia) or intravenously (sepsis) with viable Streptococcus pneumoniae and euthanised at 24 or 48 hours after initiation of the infection for analyses. Pneumonia did not alter constitutive EPCR expression on pulmonary endothelium but was associated with an influx of EPCR positive neutrophils into lung tissue. In pneumococcal pneumonia EPCR KO mice demonstrated diminished bacterial growth in the lungs and dissemination to spleen and liver, reduced neutrophil recruitment to the lungs and a mitigated inflammatory response. Moreover, EPCR KO mice displayed enhanced activation of coagulation in the early phase of disease. Correspondingly, in pneumococcal sepsis EPCR KO mice showed reduced bacterial growth in lung and liver and attenuated cytokine release. Conversely, EPCR-overexpressing mice displayed higher bacterial outgrowth in lung, blood, spleen and liver in pneumococcal sepsis. In conclusion, EPCR impairs antibacterial defense in both pneumococcal pneumonia and sepsis, which is associated with an enhanced pro-inflammatory response.
Automatic Functional Harmonic Analysis
Authors: De Haas W. Bas , Magalhães José Pedro , Wiering Frans , C. Veltkamp Remco
Published: January 2014

Music scholars have been studying tonal harmony intensively for centuries, yielding numerous theories and models. Unfortunately, a large number of these theories are formulated in a rather informal fashion and lack mathematical precision. In this article we present HarmTrace, a functional model of Western tonal harmony that builds on well-known theories of tonal harmony. In contrast to other approaches that remain purely theoretical, we present an implemented system that is evaluated empirically. Given a sequence of symbolic chord labels, HarmTrace automatically derives the harmonic relations between chords. For this, we use advanced functional programming techniques that are uniquely available in the Haskell programming language. We show that our system is fast, easy to modify and maintain, robust against noisy data, and that its harmonic analyses comply with Western tonal harmony theory.
The Viability of the Web Browser as a Computer Music Platform
Authors: Wyse Lonce , Subramanian Srikumar
Published: January 2014

The computer music community has historically pushed the boundaries of technologies for music-making, using and developing cutting-edge computing, communication, and interfaces in a wide variety of creative practices to meet exacting standards of quality. Several separate systems and protocols have been developed to serve this community, such as Max/MSP and Pd for synthesis and teaching, JackTrip for networked audio, MIDI/OSC for communication, as well as Max/MSP and TouchOSC for interface design, to name a few. With the still-nascent Web Audio API standard and related technologies, we are now, more than ever, seeing an increase in these capabilities and their integration in a single ubiquitous platform: the Web browser. In this article, we examine the suitability of the Web browser as a computer music platform in critical aspects of audio synthesis, timing, I/O, and communication. We focus on the new Web Audio API and situate it in the context of associated technologies to understand how well they together can be expected to meet the musical, computational, and development needs of the computer music community. We identify timing and extensibility as two key areas that still need work in order to meet those needs.
Decomposition of Residual Circulation in Estuaries
Authors: Cheng Peng
Published: January 2014

The residual currents in estuaries are produced by a variety of physical mechanisms. To understand the contribution of each individual mechanism to the creation of residual circulation, it is necessary to separate the effect of one particular mechanism from the others. In this study, a method based on dynamics is developed to decompose the residual circulation into individual components corresponding to different forcing mechanisms. Specifically, residual flows are partitioned based on the separate contributions by river discharge, horizontal density gradient, internal tidal asymmetry, advection, semi–Stokes transport, and wind. The method includes the effects of the earth’s rotation and can be applied for general conditions. Under the precondition that the ratio between width and length of the estuary is small, the continuity equation can be simplified such that the method only requires the data at a cross-estuary section to decompose residual currents. This makes the method practicable for real estuaries. Results from a generic numerical model are used to illustrate the decomposition method and to demonstrate its validity for weakly stratified estuaries.
A 4DVAR System for the Navy Coastal Ocean Model. Part II: Strong and Weak Constraint Assimilation Experiments with Real Observations in Monterey Bay*
Authors: Ngodock Hans , Carrier Matthew
Published: January 2014

A four-dimensional variational data assimilation (4DVAR) system was recently developed for the Navy Coastal Ocean Model (NCOM). The system was tested in the first part of this study using synthetic surface and subsurface data. Here, a full range of real surface and subsurface data is considered following encouraging results from the preliminary test. The data include sea surface temperature and sea surface height from satellite, as well as subsurface observations from gliders deployed during the second Autonomous Ocean Sampling Network field experiment in California’s Monterey Bay. Data assimilation is carried out with strong and weak constraints, and results are compared against independent observations. This study clearly shows that the 4DVAR approach improves the free-running model simulation and that the weak constraint experiment has lower analysis errors than does the strong constraint version.
Redeeming Byzantine Epistolography
Authors: Hatlie Peter
Published: January 2014

The Russian scholar V.A. Smetanin, whose work during the 1970s and 1980s dealt exclusively with Byzantine epistolography, would clearly like to think of himself as an ‘epistolologist’, occupied in the specialised field of Byzantine ‘epistolology’. Epistolology is an auxiliary discipline within history, according to Smetanin, which encompasses both theoretical and practical concerns. Its theoretical interests are to work out methods for, (a) drawing boundaries between letters and other historical documents, (b) dating letters on the basis of their epistolological markings (epistolologicheskich priznakov), and (c) understanding the introduction and assimilation of correspondence into learned discourse. On its practical side, epistolology aims to solve problems of, (a) the immediate components (nepocredstvennoe vychlenenie) of correspondence, (b) its architectonics, and finally (c), the introduction and assimilation of the epistolographic legacy into learned discourse. Smetanin opens a middle road within epistolology, too, in effect a series of ‘steps’ (stupenich) which converge on both theory and practice. Thus the so-called takes in the question of the distinguishing features of epistolography, works out its manner or conduct and (c) studies its function or use.
‘Lignum Vitae’ or ‘Crux Gemmata’? The Cross of Golgotha in the Early Byzantine Period
Authors: Milner Christine
Published: January 2014

The assumption is often made – and even stated as fact – that in the Early Byzantine period, the rock of Golgotha in Jerusalem was surmounted by a memorial cross. Such an assumption ignores the manifold problems in establishing not only whether this cross actually existed, but if so, what kind of cross it was, at what date it was put there, and by whom, and whether it was a permanent fixture. This paper will examine contemporary evidence, both textual and iconographic, in an attempt to discover whether there is any basis for positing the existence of such a cross; and it will also refer briefly, where appropriate, to the arguments or claims of modern scholars.
Religious experience in late Antiquity: theological ambivalence and Christianization
Authors: Trombley Frank R.
Published: January 2014

This paper contains a discussion of religious experience from the perspective of sociological and psychoanalytic theory by applying it to a selection of Late Antique texts. Inscriptions and certain hagiographic texts that contain personal statements are particularly important, because they show less redactional and stylistic manipulation than theologically inspired works like Augustine’s Confessions and Eusebius of Caesarea’s Ecclesiastical History. The most common types of religious experience were dream- and waking-visions of divine and daemonic beings, Christian martyrs and recently deceased family members. The paper concludes that there is a clear correspondence between the descriptions given in Late Antique texts and the types of phenomena addressed in psychoanalytic theory and practice, and that this discipline can add a new dimension to our understanding of religious behaviour.
The Justinianic plague revisited
Authors: Stathakopoulos Dionysios
Published: January 2014

In mid July 541 a plague epidemic broke out in the small city of Pelusium at the mouth of the Nile and was subsequently disseminated to the entire Mediterranean basin and even as far as Yemen in the South and Finland in the North. It constitutes the first historically recorded certain appearance of true plague. Contemporary populations witnessed what was to be the beginning of a series of outbreaks that ravaged the Mediterranean world until 750. This cycle of epidemics has been conventionally termed Justinianic Plague. In this study the most important works devoted to this series of events will be critically surveyed with the goal of establishing the status of research on this topic so far, and the possible questions that need to be addressed in the future.
Olympius and the ‘Saracens’ of Sicily
Authors: Woods David
Published: January 2014

The purpose of this note is to indicate how a recently re-edited inscription may contribute towards the solution of a long-standing problem posed by a short notice in the Liber Pontificalis. This notice appears to report that, following his failure to force Pope Martin I to accept the Typus issued by the emperor Constans II (641-68), the cubicularius and exarch of Italy Olympius led an expedition against the Saracens living in Sicily. He then died of disease ca. 652. The standard edition, and a recent translation, run:

Videns ergo Olympius exarchus quia manus Dei circumtegebat Martinum sanctissimum papam, necesse habuit se cum pontifice concordare et omnia quae ei iussa fuerant eidem sanctissimo viro indicare. Quia facta pace cum sancta Dei ecclesia, colligens exercitum, profectus est Siciliam adversus gentem Saracenorum qui ibidem inhabitabant. Et peccato faciente maior interitus in exercitu Romano provenit. Et post hoc isdem exarchus morbo interiit.

So when Olympius saw that God’s hand was shielding holy Pope Martin, hewas forced to reconcile himself to the pontiff and disclose all his orders to that holy man. Now that he had made peace with God’s holy church he mustered the army and set out for Sicily against the Saracen people who were living there. The result of sin was that the destruction befalling the Roman army was all the greater. After this the exarch died of disease.
Early explorations of Cappadocia and the monastic myth
Authors: G. Kalas Veronica
Published: January 2014

In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, European travellers and explorers who discovered Cappadocia’s exotic landscape of volcanic rock formations introduced the notion of a region populated by monks. Although written sources of the medieval period are silent in this regard, scholarship has persisted with this notion about the region ever since. Perhaps the general eighteenth- and nineteenth-century understanding of Byzantium as a period of decline following the Golden Age of Classical Antiquity reinforced the monastic interpretation. According to Edward Gibbon (1737–1794), the later history of the Roman Empire in the east was ‘a uniform tale of weakness and misery.’
Clothing Manufacture 1860-1890
Authors: Ginsberg Madeleine
Published: January 2014

Between 1860 and 1890 England and France settled into their respective roles: England clothed the world and France the Haute Monde. It was a period of great industrial expansion and of crucial importance to the needle trades, which with the invention of the sewing machine had crossed forever into a modern age of industrialised mass production. It is well documented for contemporaries realised the importance of the revolution that they were observing. Its triumphs are recorded in the Exhibition reports, bread and butter existence in the pages of the Blue Books and its hardships in Trade Union records.
Romantic to Sentimental: The Changing Line of Women's Dress, 1830-1860
Authors: Arnold Janet
Published: January 2014

It is difficult when faced with the enchanting fashion plates of the early 1830s, particularly those from Townsend's Parisian Costumes, to discuss anything so mundane as the patterns and techniques used in the construction of the dresses so illustrated. However, it is from this study that we can date, with any certainty, the dresses which survive from this period.
Boots and Shoes 1830-1860
Authors: Swann June
Published: January 2014

Boot of white kid, the upper very skilfully cut in one piece with a tiny throat on the inside top for good fit; it laces up inside over a tongue, the silk braid lace being knotted at the bottom; square slightly upturned toe; slightly wedged 1 in. heel covered in black kid; sueded sole shaped for left foot with black edge "finish" under the arch; white silk tassel decoration on the front. It is reputed to have belonged to Queen Adelaide, wife of William IV, died 1849, and the style is possible for c.1834 but is more likely to be c.1850.
New and Recent Books
Authors: Snowden James , Tarrant Naomi E. A.
Published: January 2014

These books are not available from the Costume Society but must be obtained from bookshops or the institutions concerned.

We have taken the opportunity to include certain publications previously missed.