bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Open-Lake Experimental Investigation of Azimuth Angle Estimation Using a Single Acoustic Vector Sensor
Authors: Zhao Anbang , Ma Lin , Hui Juan , Zeng Caigao , Bi Xuejie
Published: March 2018

Five well-known azimuth angle estimation methods using a single acoustic vector sensor (AVS) are investigated in open-lake experiments. A single AVS can measure both the acoustic pressure and acoustic particle velocity at a signal point in space and output multichannel signals. The azimuth angle of one source can be estimated by using a single AVS in a passive sonar system. Open-lake experiments are carried out to evaluate how these different techniques perform in estimating azimuth angle of a source. The AVS that was applied in these open-lake experiments is a two-dimensional accelerometer structure sensor. It consists of two identical uniaxial velocity sensors in orthogonal orientations, plus a pressure sensor—all in spatial collocation. These experimental results indicate that all these methods can effectively realize the azimuth angle estimation using only one AVS. The results presented in this paper reveal that AVS can be applied in a wider range of application in distributed underwater acoustic systems for passive detection, localization, classification, and so on.
Determination of Volcanic Plume Three-Dimensional Structure Using CHRIS/PROBA-1 Multiangular Imagery: Case Study of Mount Etna
Authors: Baselga Sergio , Rodríguez-Pérez Daniel
Published: March 2018

The recent development of Earth observation satellites with multiangular capabilities and enhanced spectral resolution has led to preliminary attempts at determining the height of atmospheric scatterers, in particular, of top-cloud heights and smoke plumes originating from forest fires. Inspired by these previous studies, the present work presents an original methodology for the determination of the three-dimensional distribution of high-contrast atmospheric aerosols using multiangular images. The method starts with the approximately known geometry of image acquisition and a set of tie points and uses a linearized and regularized functional model to obtain the position of atmospheric scatterers identified by means of a semiassisted procedure on two or more images. A subsequent application to a CHRIS/PROBA-1 scene of Mount Etna following its eruption on June 14, 2014, allows determining the volcanic plume three-dimensional structure with a precision in the 100–200 m level.
Analysis of Flow Behavior for Acid Fracturing Wells in Fractured-Vuggy Carbonate Reservoirs
Authors: Wang Mingxian , Fan Zifei , Dong Xuyang , Song Heng , Zhao Wenqi , Xu Guoqing
Published: March 2018

This study develops a mathematical model for transient flow analysis of acid fracturing wells in fractured-vuggy carbonate reservoirs. This model considers a composite system with the inner region containing finite number of artificial fractures and wormholes and the outer region showing a triple-porosity medium. Both analytical and numerical solutions are derived in this work, and the comparison between two solutions verifies the model accurately. Flow behavior is analyzed thoroughly by examining the standard log-log type curves. Flow in this composite system can be divided into six or eight main flow regimes comprehensively. Three or two characteristic V-shaped segments can be observed on pressure derivative curves. Each V-shaped segment corresponds to a specific flow regime. One or two of the V-shaped segments may be absent in particular cases. Effects of interregional diffusivity ratio and interregional conductivity ratio on transient responses are strong in the early-flow period. The shape and position of type curves are also influenced by interporosity coefficients, storativity ratios, and reservoir radius significantly. Finally, we show the differences between our model and the similar model with single fracture or without acid fracturing and further investigate the pseudo-skin factor caused by acid fracturing.
Efficacy and Safety of Indigo Naturalis in Combination with Narrow‐Band Ultraviolet B for Treatment of Pityriasis Rosea: A Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Wang L. , Xue Y. N. , Li Z. W. , Zhang W. , Ji X. P. , Fan Z. , Li Y. J.
Published: March 2018

Pityriasis rosea (PR), a skin rash, causes substantial discomfort in patients. There is a lack of effective therapies for PR. A combination of ultraviolet irradiation and indigo naturalis treatment has been shown to be a safe and effective regime for control of PR; however, the data have been largely inconsistent. Tis meta‐analysis further evaluated the efficacy and safety of this combination in patients with PR. The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI, VIP, and Wan Fang databases were searched for relevant RCTs of this combination therapy in patients with PR. A total of eight studies with a combined study population of 688 patients published between January 2006 and March 2016 were eligible for this meta‐analysis. The RevMan 5.3 software was used for the meta‐analysis. The regimen of compound indigo naturalis plus NB‐UVB showed much better control of PR as compared to that achieved with use of compound indigo naturalis or NB‐UVB alone in terms of cure rate or effective rate. However, no significant difference was observed between the two with respect to incidence of adverse effects. The analysis was affected by publication bias as revealed by funnel plot analysis. Further studies with large sample sizes are required to confirm our findings.
Association of ABO Blood Group and Body Mass Index: A Cross-Sectional Study from a Ghanaian Population
Authors: Smith Samuel , Okai Isaac , Abaidoo Chrissie Stansie , Acheampong Emmanuel
Published: March 2018

ABO blood group and body mass index (BMI) have individually been appraised as risk factors for certain diseases. From statistical perspective, it may be important to examine the relationship between the ABO blood antigen and BMI. This cross-sectional study involved 412 participants aged 18 to 46 at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi. Weight and height of participants were measured for BMI calculation; blood group determination was done using antisera. Blood group O was the most prevalent (51.2%), while Rhesus-positive individuals constituted 90.3%. 6.3% of the participants were obese, while 18.7% were overweight. There was significant (p=0.006) higher prevalence of obesity in females (10.3%) than in males (3.4%). The study did not observe any significant difference by association of ABO blood group with gender (p=0.973), BMI (p=0.307), or Rhesus status (p=0.723). Regarding gender (p=0.400) and BMI (p=0.197), no statistically significant difference was observed between Rhesus blood groups. The prevalence of overweight, obesity, blood type O, and rhesus positive observed among students in this study is largely similar to what has been reported in published studies in Ghana and from other countries. Overweight and obesity were not associated with ABO blood groups or Rhesus in this study.
A Low Complexity Active Sensing and Inspection System for Monitoring of Moveable Radiation Environments
Authors: Ding Fei , Zhang Dengyin , Wang Wanping , Lei Zhenzhong
Published: March 2018

Due to the portable property of moveable radiation sources, the traditional monitoring method is becoming increasingly unsuitable and it is urgent to provide an effective and low-cost method. This paper presents an active monitoring scheme for moveable radiation environments, the in situ monitoring, including a radiation detection node, an infrared proximity node, and an alarm node; these three schemes communicate with each other through the ZigBee wireless network. An active monitoring mechanism which realizes the automatic judgment of radiation source inbound or outbound state is proposed, thereby automatically switching the data sampling mode under different working conditions, so as to reduce the energy consumption of nodes. Based on the mobile terminal client application to interact with the monitoring center, a collaborative management mode between enterprise users and the environmental protection department is realized. A testbed of a simple active sensing and inspection system is created to test its user interaction capabilities. Experimental results prove that the system schedule proposed can effectively detect and dynamically monitor the moveable radiation source. The system can be easily replicated and extended to more environmental monitoring network.
Research on the Reliability Analysis of the Integrated Modular Avionics System Based on the AADL Error Model
Authors: Wang Peng , Zhao Changxiao , Yan Fang
Published: March 2018

In recent years, the integrated modular avionics (IMA) concept has been introduced to replace the traditional federated avionics. Different avionics functions are hosted in a shared IMA platform, and IMA adopts partition technologies to provide a logical isolation among different functions. The IMA architecture can provide more sophisticated and powerful avionics functionality; meanwhile, the failure propagation patterns in IMA are more complex. The feature of resource sharing introduces some unintended interconnections among different functions, which makes the failure propagation modes more complex. Therefore, this paper proposes an architecture analysis and design language- (AADL-) based method to establish the reliability model of IMA platform. The single software and hardware error behavior in IMA system is modeled. The corresponding AADL error model of failure propagation among components, between software and hardware, is given. Finally, the display function of IMA platform is taken as an example to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Intratumoral CpG-B Promotes Antitumoral Neutrophil, cDC, and T-cell Cooperation without Reprograming Tolerogenic pDC
Authors: Humbert Marion , Guery Leslie , Brighouse Dale , Lemeille Sylvain , Hugues Stephanie
Published: March 2018

Cancer immunotherapies utilize distinct mechanisms to harness the power of the immune system to eradicate cancer cells. Therapeutic vaccines, aimed at inducing active immune responses against an existing cancer, are highly dependent on the immunological microenvironment, where many immune cell types display high levels of plasticity and, depending on the context, promote very different immunologic outcomes. Among them, plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC), known to be highly immunogenic upon inflammation, are maintained in a tolerogenic state by the tumor microenvironment. Here, we report that intratumoral (i.t.) injection of established solid tumors with CpG oligonucleotides-B (CpG-B) inhibits tumor growth. Interestingly, control of tumor growth was independent of tumor-associated pDC, which remained refractory to CpG-B stimulation and whose depletion did not alter the efficacy of the treatment. Instead, tumor growth inhibition subsequent to i.t. CpG-B injection depended on the recruitment of neutrophils into the milieu, resulting in the activation of conventional dendritic cells, subsequent increased antitumor T-cell priming in draining lymph nodes, and enhanced effector T-cell infiltration in the tumor microenvironment. These results reinforce the concept that i.t. delivery of TLR9 agonists alters the tumor microenvironment by improving the antitumor activity of both innate and adaptive immune cells.

Significance: Intratumoral delivery of CpG-B disrupts the tolerogenic tumor microenvironment and inhibits tumor growth. Cancer Res; 78(12); 3280–92. ©2018 AACR.
The Circular RNA circPRKCI Promotes Tumor Growth in Lung Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Qiu Mantang , Xia Wenjia , Chen Rui , Wang Siwei , Xu Youtao , Ma Zhifei , Xu Weizhang , Zhang Erbao , Wang Jie , Fang Tian , Hu Jingwen , Dong Gaochao , Yin Rong , Wang Jun , Xu Lin
Published: March 2018

Somatic copy number variations (CNV) may drive cancer progression through both coding and noncoding transcripts. However, noncoding transcripts resulting from CNV are largely unknown, especially for circular RNAs. By integrating bioinformatics analyses of alerted circRNAs and focal CNV in lung adenocarcinoma, we identify a proto-oncogenic circular RNA (circPRKCI) from the 3q26.2 amplicon, one of the most frequent genomic aberrations in multiple cancers. circPRKCI was overexpressed in lung adenocarcinoma tissues, in part due to amplification of the 3q26.2 locus, and promoted proliferation and tumorigenesis of lung adenocarcinoma. circPRKCI functioned as a sponge for both miR-545 and miR-589 and abrogated their suppression of the protumorigenic transcription factor E2F7. Intratumor injection of cholesterol-conjugated siRNA specifically targeting circPRKCI inhibited tumor growth in a patient-derived lung adenocarcinoma xenograft model. In summary, circPRKCI is crucial for tumorigenesis and may serve as a potential therapeutic target in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Significance: These findings reveal high expression of the circular RNA circPRKCI drives lung adenocarcinoma tumorigenesis. Cancer Res; 78(11); 2839–51. ©2018 AACR.
Hepatitis C Virus Screening Trends: Serial Cross-Sectional Analysis of the National Health Interview Survey Population, 2013–2015
Authors: Kasting Monica L. , Giuliano Anna R. , Reich Richard R. , Roetzheim Richard G. , Nelson David R. , Shenkman Elizabeth , Vadaparampil Susan T.
Published: March 2018

Background: Rates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are markedly higher for baby boomers compared with other birth cohorts, and they are now recommended for universal one-time screening. This study examines HCV screening rates and predictors for four birth cohorts [born <1945, born 1945–1965 (baby boomers), born 1966–1985, and born >1985] of a nationally representative sample over time.

Methods: We used data from the 2013–2015 National Health Interview Surveys, an annual weighted survey of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. We assessed HCV screening prevalence stratified birth cohort with bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results: There were 15,100 participants born <1945, 28,725 baby boomers, 28,089 born 1966–1985, and 13,296 born >1985 in the final analytic sample. Screening was 11.5%–12.8% for baby boomers. The second youngest birth cohort was similar to baby boomers (13.7%–14.9%), whereas the older birth cohort was screened less. After excluding participants who typically have higher rates of HCV screening than the general population, we developed a multivariable model of the general population. In the final model for baby boomers the odds of HCV screening increased significantly with each subsequent year (OR=1.20; 95% CI=1.05–1.38 and OR=1.31; 95% CI=1.13–1.52). HCV screening was also significantly associated with age, gender, and race/ethnicity in baby boomers.

Conclusions: While HCV screening is increasing over time, these increases are minimal and there is substantial room for improvement.

Impact: Future research should develop interventions to increase HCV screening with special focus on groups demonstrating significantly lower screening rates, such as Hispanics and females. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(4); 503–13. ©2018 AACR.
Appendicitis before Age 20 Years Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Later Prostate Cancer
Authors: Ugge Henrik , Udumyan Ruzan , Carlsson Jessica , Davidsson Sabina , Andrén Ove , Montgomery Scott , Fall Katja
Published: March 2018

Background: Appendicitis before age 20 years has been observed to influence the risk of several inflammatory conditions, possibly through underlying immunological mechanisms. Inflammation has further been suggested to be involved in prostate cancer development. We therefore hypothesized that immunological characteristics signaled by appendicitis before late adolescence might influence the risk of later prostate cancer, and aimed to evaluate this association in a population-based study.

Methods: We identified a large cohort of Swedish men who underwent assessment for military conscription around the age of 18 years (n = 242,573). Medical diagnoses at time of conscription were available through the Swedish Military Conscription Register. The Swedish Cancer Register was used to identify diagnoses of prostate cancer. Multivariable adjusted Cox regression analyses were used to estimate HR and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the association between appendicitis and prostate cancer.

Results: During a median of 36.7 years of follow-up, 1,684 diagnoses of prostate cancer occurred. We found a statistically significant association between appendicitis and overall prostate cancer (adjusted HR 1.70; 95% CI, 1.08–2.67). The risk was notably increased for advanced (HR 4.42; 95% CI, 1.74–11.22) and lethal (HR 8.95; 95% CI, 2.98–26.91) prostate cancer.

Conclusions: These results suggest that a diagnosis of appendicitis before adulthood potentially signals underlying immune characteristics and a pattern of inflammatory response relevant to prostate cancer risk.

Impact: The study lends support to the proposed role of inflammation in prostate carcinogenesis, and adds another area of investigation potentially relevant to prostate cancer development. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(6); 660–4. ©2018 AACR.
Urinary Bladder Cancer Tregs Suppress MMP2 and Potentially Regulate Invasiveness
Authors: Winerdal Malin E. , Krantz David , Hartana Ciputra A. , Zirakzadeh Ali A. , Linton Ludvig , Bergman Emma A. , Rosenblatt Robert , Vasko Janos , Alamdari Farhood , Hansson Johan , Holmström Benny , Johansson Markus , Winerdal Max , Marits Per , Sherif Amir , Winqvist Ola
Published: March 2018

Regulatory T cells (Treg) have long been considered one-sided suppressors of antitumor immune responses and hence associated with poor patient outcome in cancer. However, evidence is mounting of a paradoxical positive prognostic effect of Tregs on certain malignancies, including urinary bladder cancer (UBC). This discrepancy has partly been attributed to the shear misidentification of Tregs, but also to the inflammatory profile of the tumor. Our aim was to determine whether tumor-infiltrating Forkhead box P3+ (FOXP3+) cells confer a stable Treg phenotype and to investigate putative beneficial Treg functions, focusing on tumor-promoting inflammatory pathways in UBC. Patients (n = 52) with suspected UBC were prospectively included. We show, by using a broad range of analytical approaches, that tumor-infiltrating CD4+FOXP3+ T cells in UBC phenotypically, functionally, and epigenetically represent a true Treg population. At the invasive front of UBC tumors, we found an inverse relationship between Treg frequency and expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), a key proinvasive factor induced by tumor-promoting inflammation. Correspondingly, a significant, dose-dependent Treg-mediated downregulation of MMP2 protein and mRNA expression was observed in both macrophages and UBC cells. Also, we found that Treg frequency specifically at the invasive front positively correlated with survival. Thus, we identify Treg-mediated suppression of MMP2 in the tumor microenvironment as a mechanism explaining the paradoxical positive prognostic impact of tumor-infiltrating Tregs in UBC. Cancer Immunol Res; 6(5); 528–38. ©2018 AACR.
Mapping the Dimensions of General Intelligence: An Integrated Differential-Developmental Theory
Authors: Demetriou Andreas , Makris Nikolaos , Spanoudis George , Kazi Smaragda , Shayer Michael , Kazali Elena
Published: March 2018

We present a theory of mental architecture and development focusing on general intelligence (g). The theory integrates psychometric and developmental theories of intelligence into an overarching framework. The paper first focuses on the composition of g. It is shown that g involves attention control, flexibility, working memory, cognizance of mental processes, and inference. We then present a model of intellectual development involving four cycles - episodic, realistic representation-based, rule-based, and principle-based thought - and summarize several studies showing how the processes involved in g interact in each cycle. We then present research aiming to increase intelligence. Finally, we discuss the implications of this theory for psychometric, cognitive, and developmental science and show how it solves long-standing theoretical and practical problems not solved by other theories, such as the decreasing likelihood of attaining high intelligence, the differentiation of abilities with development, and the training fade-out problem.
Progressive Neurological Decline with Deep Bilateral Imaging Changes: A Protean Presentation of Dural Arteriovenous Fistulae
Authors: Colorado Rene A. , Matiello Marcelo , Yang Hyun-Sik , Rabinov James D. , Patel Aman , Hirsch Joshua A. , Chavali Ram , Leslie-Mazwi Thabele M.
Published: March 2018

Intracranial dural arteriovenous fistulae (DAVF) within the deep cerebral vasculature are diagnostically challenging because of their variable clinical presentation and typical bilateral neuroimaging findings mimicking inflammatory, infectious, and metabolic processes. Increasingly, reports have emerged highlighting the diagnostic and treatment challenges of these lesions and their associated high morbidity and rapid clinical deterioration when untreated. We describe here a case series of 4 patients with deep cerebral DAVF who presented with impaired arousal or memory and behavioral changes. In all patients, the initial differential diagnosis included metabolic, inflammatory, infectious, or neoplastic disease, with an eventual correct diagnosis obtained after catheter angiography had demonstrated arterialization of the deep venous structures, including the vein of Galen. All patients were successfully treated with endovascular embolization, with 1 patient requiring additional surgical treatment. We review the contemporary diagnostic evaluation and management of DAVF within the deep cerebral vasculature. With rapid diagnosis and treatment, a favorable outcome is possible.
A Risk-Adapted Approach to Patients with Stage I Seminoma according to the Status of Rete Testis: The Fourth Spanish Germ Cell Cancer Group Study
Authors: Aparicio Jorge , Sánchez-Muñoz Alfonso , Gumà Josep , Domenech Montserrat , Meana José A. , García-Sánchez José , Bastús Romà , Gironés Regina , González-Billalabeitia Enrique , Sagastibelza Naiara , Ochenduszko Sebastián , Sánchez Alfredo , Terrasa Josefa , Germà-Lluch Josep R. , García del Muro Xavier ,   on behalf of the Spanish Germ Cell Cancer Group
Published: March 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess a risk-adapted strategy for stage I seminoma guided by the presence of rete testis invasion. Methods: Between January 2013 and December 2015, a total of 135 consecutive patients with stage I seminoma from 18 Spanish tertiary hospitals were included in a prospective multicenter study. Median patient age was 38 years (range 22–60). Preoperative beta-human chorionic gonadotropin was elevated in 9.6% of patients. Rete testis invasion was present in 47.4% of patients. After orchiectomy, subjects with rete testis invasion were treated with 2 courses of adjuvant carboplatin (area under the curve of 7, with 21-day interval). Those without this risk factor were managed by surveillance. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: After a median follow-up time of 33 months, only 6 relapses were recorded (5 on surveillance, 1 after carboplatin). These cases were rescued with BEP or EP chemotherapy, and all 135 patients are currently disease free without sequelae. Three-year DFS was 92.0 and 98.2% for patients on surveillance and after carboplatin, respectively. Three-year OS was 100%. Conclusion: A risk-adapted approach based on rete testis invasion as a single risk factor is feasible and yielded an excellent outcome with a 3-year DFS of 94.9%.
O aluno universitário moçambicano PL2 e os caminhos da escrita: um trilho seguro vale mais do que os dois que puseram a quizumba a mancar
Authors: Lopes Armando Jorge
Published: March 2018

Recorrendo a dados de corpora em dissertações de doutorado em linguística concluídas recentemente na UEM, analisamse, no presente artigo, segmentos discursivos infelizes na escrita de alunos universitários moçambicanos que têm o Português como língua segunda (PL2). Discute-se, especificamente, a natureza da infelicidade discursiva quanto a engenhos retóricos (marcadores) e outros elementos idiomáticos e culturais. Assume-se que os aprendentes de uma língua, a nível avançado, devem adquirir as necessárias convenções e preferências retóricas e discursivas, para que o processamento linguístico-discursivo seja cada vez mais determinado por práticas da coesão textual e da coerência discursiva. A idiomaticidade, que é pessoalizada e idiossincrática, tem a ver com formações que são peculiares a utentes de uma determinada língua e cultura, e que são normalmente reconhecidas por escreventes nativos ou quase-nativos. Argumenta-se que o escrevente PL2, em média, não tem normalmente dificuldades com o conteúdo da mensagem, embora tenda, por vezes, a evidenciar problemas no modo como estrutura esse conteúdo. Revela também problemas de tipologia textual e idiomaticidade, quer por defeito (escrita sub-idiomática), quer por excesso (escrita sobre-idiomática), quando comparados com a escrita nativa. Para superar este tipo de problemas, entendemos que o processo de ensino-aprendizagem é melhor servido quando é centrado no aprendente.
Regulatory CD4
+
T Cells Recognize Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Molecule–Restricted Peptide Epitopes of Apolipoprotein B
Authors: Kimura Takayuki , Kobiyama Kouji , Winkels Holger , Tse Kevin , Miller Jacqueline , Vassallo Melanie , Wolf Dennis , Ryden Christian , Orecchioni Marco , Dileepan Thamotharampillai , Jenkins Marc K. , James Eddie A. , Kwok William W. , Hanna David B. , Kaplan Robert C. , Strickler Howard D. , Durkin Helen G. , Kassaye Seble G. , Karim Roksana , Tien Phyllis C. , Landay Alan L. , Gange Stephen J. , Sidney John , Sette Alessandro , Ley Klaus
Published: March 2018

Background:

CD4
+
T cells play an important role in atherosclerosis, but their antigen specificity is poorly understood. Immunization with apolipoprotein B (ApoB, core protein of low density lipoprotein) is known to be atheroprotective in animal models. Here, we report on a human APOB peptide, p18, that is sequence-identical in mouse ApoB and binds to both mouse and human major histocompatibility complex class II molecules.

Methods:

We constructed p18 tetramers to detect human and mouse APOB-specific T cells and assayed their phenotype by flow cytometry including CD4 lineage transcription factors, intracellular cytokines, and T cell receptor activation. Apolipoprotein E–deficient (

Apoe
−/−

) mice were vaccinated with p18 peptide or adjuvants alone, and atherosclerotic burden in the aorta was determined.

Results:

In human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from donors without cardiovascular disease, p18 specific CD4
+
T cells detected by a new human leukocyte antigen-antigen D related-p18 tetramers were mostly Foxp3
+
regulatory T cells (Tregs). Donors with subclinical cardiovascular disease as detected by carotid artery ultrasound had Tregs coexpressing retinoic acid-related orphan receptor gamma t or T-bet, which were both almost absent in donors without cardiovascular disease. In

Apoe
−/−

mice, immunization with p18 induced Tregs and reduced atherosclerotic lesions. After peptide restimulation, responding CD4
+
T cells identified by Nur77-GFP (green fluorescent protein) were highly enriched in Tregs. A new mouse I-A
b
-p18 tetramer identified the expansion of p18-specific CD4
+
T cells on vaccination, which were enriched for interleukin-10–producing Tregs.

Conclusions:

These findings show that APOB p18–specific CD4
+
T cells are mainly Tregs in healthy donors, but coexpress other CD4 lineage transcription factors in donors with subclinical cardiovascular disease. This study identifies ApoB peptide 18 as the first Treg epitope in human and mouse atherosclerosis.
Cholesterol Efflux Pathways Suppress Inflammasome Activation, NETosis, and Atherogenesis
Authors: Westerterp Marit , Fotakis Panagiotis , Ouimet Mireille , Bochem Andrea E. , Zhang Hanrui , Molusky Matthew M. , Wang Wei , Abramowicz Sandra , la Bastide-van Gemert Sacha , Wang Nan , Welch Carrie L. , Reilly Muredach P. , Stroes Erik S. , Moore Kathryn J. , Tall Alan R.
Published: March 2018

Background:

The CANTOS trial (Canakinumab Antiinflammatory Thrombosis Outcome Study) showed that antagonism of interleukin (IL)–1β reduces coronary heart disease in patients with a previous myocardial infarction and evidence of systemic inflammation, indicating that pathways required for IL-1β secretion increase cardiovascular risk. IL-1β and IL-18 are produced via the NLRP3 inflammasome in myeloid cells in response to cholesterol accumulation, but mechanisms linking NLRP3 inflammasome activation to atherogenesis are unclear. The cholesterol transporters ATP binding cassette A1 and G1 (ABCA1/G1) mediate cholesterol efflux to high-density lipoprotein, and
Abca1/g1
deficiency in myeloid cells leads to cholesterol accumulation.

Methods:

To interrogate mechanisms connecting inflammasome activation with atherogenesis, we used mice with myeloid
Abca1/g1
deficiency and concomitant deficiency of the inflammasome components
Nlrp3
or
Caspase-1/11
. Bone marrow from these mice was transplanted into
Ldlr
−/−
recipients, which were fed a Western-type diet.

Results:

Myeloid
Abca1/g1
deficiency increased plasma IL-18 levels in
Ldlr
−/−
mice and induced IL-1β and IL-18 secretion in splenocytes, which was reversed by
Nlrp3
or
Caspase-1/11
deficiency, indicating activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.
Nlrp3
or
Caspase-1/11
deficiency decreased atherosclerotic lesion size in myeloid
Abca1/g1
-deficient
Ldlr
−/−
mice. Myeloid
Abca1/g1
deficiency enhanced caspase-1 cleavage not only in splenic monocytes and macrophages, but also in neutrophils, and dramatically enhanced neutrophil accumulation and neutrophil extracellular trap formation in atherosclerotic plaques, with reversal by
Nlrp3
or
Caspase-1/11
deficiency, suggesting that inflammasome activation promotes neutrophil recruitment and neutrophil extracellular trap formation in atherosclerotic plaques. These effects appeared to be indirectly mediated by systemic inflammation leading to activation and accumulation of neutrophils in plaques. Myeloid
Abca1/g1
deficiency also activated the noncanonical inflammasome, causing increased susceptibility to lipopolysaccharide-induced mortality. Patients with Tangier disease, who carry loss-of-function mutations in
ABCA1
and have increased myeloid cholesterol content, showed a marked increase in plasma IL-1β and IL-18 levels.

Conclusions:

Cholesterol accumulation in myeloid cells activates the NLRP3 inflammasome, which enhances neutrophil accumulation and neutrophil extracellular trap formation in atherosclerotic plaques. Patients with Tangier disease, who have increased myeloid cholesterol content, showed markers of inflammasome activation, suggesting human relevance.
Clustered Emergency Room Visits Following an Acute Heart Failure Admission: A Population‐Based Study
Authors: Duero Posada Juan G. , Moayedi Yasbanoo , Zhou Limei , McDonald Michael , Ross Heather J. , Lee Douglas S. , Bhatia R. Sacha
Published: March 2018

Background

While it is well known that heart failure patients presenting to the emergency room (ER) have high short‐term mortality after discharge, the outcomes of patients with heart failure with repeated
ER
visits within a short time are not known. In this study, we aimed to determine whether clustering is associated with an increased risk of death.

Methods and Results

This is a retrospective, population‐based cohort study with an accrual window between 2003 and 2014 and maximal follow‐up up to and including March 31, 2015. Data were obtained from administrative databases from Ontario, Canada. Clustering was defined a priori as 3 or more
ER
visits within a 6‐month period. The main outcome of interest was time to death conditional on 6‐month survival. A total of 72 810 patients with an index hospitalization for acute heart failure were evaluated.
ER
clustering was observed in 15.1% of the population. Increased burden of comorbidities, primary rural residence, and lack of primary care provider were identified as factors associated with
ER
clustering. Age‐ and sex‐adjusted mortality for clustered patients was higher than for nonclustered (hazard ratio [HR] 1.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.47–1.55,
P
<0.0001). Adjusted mortality risk was also higher for patients with clustered
ER
visits (
HR
1.42; 95% confidence interval 1.38–1.46;
P
<0.0001).

Conclusions

Clustering, as defined by 3 or more
ER
visits for any reason within 6 months of index heart failure hospitalization reflects a novel risk factor associated with increased mortality. Future research into the strategies to better manage complex patients with heart failure with recurrent
ER
visits are warranted.
Risk of Stroke or Death Is Associated With the Timing of Carotid Artery Stenting for Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis: A Secondary Data Analysis of the German Statutory Quality Assurance Database
Authors: Tsantilas Pavlos , Kuehnl Andreas , Kallmayer Michael , Knappich Christoph , Schmid Sofie , Breitkreuz Thorben , Zimmermann Alexander , Eckstein Hans‐Henning
Published: March 2018

Background

Subgroup analyses from randomized trials indicate that the time interval between the neurologic index event and carotid artery stenting is associated with periprocedural stroke and death rates in patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis. The aim of this article is to analyze whether this observation holds true under routine conditions in Germany.

Methods and Results

Secondary data analysis was done on 4717 elective carotid artery stenting procedures that were performed for symptomatic carotid stenosis. The patient cohort was divided into 4 groups according to the time interval between the index event and intervention (group I 0‐2,
II
3‐7,
III
8‐14, and
IV
15‐180 days). Primary outcome was any in‐hospital stroke or death. For risk‐adjusted analyses, a multilevel multivariable regression model was used. The in‐hospital stroke or death rate was 3.7% in total and 6.0%, 4.4%, 2.4%, and 3.0% in groups I,
II
,
III
, and
IV
, respectively. Adjusted analysis showed a decreased risk for any stroke or death in group
III
, a decreased risk for any major stroke or death in groups
III
and
IV
, and a decreased risk for any death in groups
II
and
III
compared to the reference group I.

Conclusions

A short time interval between the neurologic index event and carotid artery stenting of up to 7 days is associated with an increased risk for stroke or death under routine conditions in Germany. Although results cannot prove causal relationships, carotid artery stenting may be accompanied by an increased risk of stroke or death during the early period after the index event.
Reliability and Physiological Interpretation of Pulmonary Gas Exchange by “Circulatory Equivalents” in Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Tan Chunting , Rossiter Harry B. , Porszasz Janos , Bowen T. Scott , Witte Klaus K. , Stringer William W. , Casaburi Richard , Hansen James E.
Published: March 2018

Background

Peak ratios of pulmonary gas‐exchange to ventilation during exercise (

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O
2

/

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and

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CO
2

/

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˙

E

, termed “circulatory equivalents”) are sensitive to heart failure (
HF
) severity, likely reflecting low and/or poorly distributed pulmonary perfusion. We tested whether peak

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/

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and

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/

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would: (1) distinguish
HF
patients from controls; (2) be independent of incremental exercise protocol; and (3) correlate with lactate threshold (
LT
) and ventilatory compensation point (
VCP
), respectively.

Methods and Results

Twenty‐four
HF
patients (61±11 years) with reduced ejection fraction (31±8%) and 11 controls (63±7 years) performed ramp‐incremental cycle ergometry. Eighteen
HF
patients also performed slow (5±1 W/min), medium (9±4 W/min), and fast (19±6 W/min) ramps. Peak

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˙

O
2

/

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and

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CO
2

/

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˙

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from X‐Y plot, and
LT
and
VCP
from 9‐panel plot, were determined by 2 independent, blinded, assessors. Peak

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2

/

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E

(31.2±4.4 versus 41.8±4.8 mL/L;
P
<0.0001) and

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˙

CO
2

/

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˙

E

(29.3±3.0 versus 36.9±4.0 mL/L;
P
<0.0001) were lower in
HF
than controls. Within individuals, there was no difference across 3 ramp rates in peak

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˙

O
2

/

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E

(
P
=0.62) or

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˙

CO
2

/

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˙

E

(
P
=0.97). Coefficient of variation (
CV
) in peak

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˙

O
2

/

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˙

E

was lower than for
LT
(5.1±2.1% versus 8.2±3.7%;
P
=0.014), and coefficient of variation in peak

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˙

CO
2

/

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˙

E

was lower than for
VCP
(3.3±1.8% versus 8.7±4.2%;
P
<0.001). In all participants, peak

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˙

O
2

/

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˙

E

was correlated with, but occurred earlier than,
LT
(
r
2
=0.94; mean bias, −0.11 L/min), and peak

V
˙

CO
2

/

V
˙

E

was correlated with, but occurred earlier than,
VCP
(
r
2
=0.98; mean bias −0.08 L/min).

Conclusions

Peak circulatory equivalents during exercise are strongly associated with (but not identical to)
LT
and
VCP
. Peak circulatory equivalents are reliable, objective, effort‐independent indices of gas‐exchange abnormality in
HF
.
Forty years of dietary studies on barn owl (Tyto alba) reveal long term trends in diversity metrics of small mammal prey
Authors: Milana Giuliano , Luiselli Luca , Amori Giovanni
Published: March 2018

The diet of predators is influenced by local conditions (e.g., characteristics of habitat and microhabitat, seasonality, prey availability) and therefore tends to change across time. In this paper, the diet composition of the barn owl (Tyto alba) in Italy was studied using a meta-analysis of 47 articles (covering 212 independent sites, with multiple surveys for some sites, thus giving a total of 290 datasets) between 1972 and 2012. General Linear Models were used to assess the effects of year and study site on four distinct diversity indices (species richness, dominance, Shannon-Weaver diversity and equitability). The year of data collection was a factor used in all analyses. Year had a greater effect than study site on all diversity indices, but the effect was not significant for the evenness and the species richness. However, dietary dominance increased significantly over the years, the Shannon-Weaver index of diversity decreased significantly over time, and equitability also decreased significantly over time. The relative abundance of various species of rodents did not increase/decrease progressively over the years, although there were inter-annual fluctuations. On the other hand, the relative abundance of insectivores tended to decrease with time, and there was a significantly negative correlation between year and the frequency of consumption of Sorex spp. and a marginally significant negative correlation for Crocidura leucodon.
Invasion of a Holarctic planktonic cladoceran Daphnia galeata Sars (Crustacea: Cladocera) in the Lower Lakes of South Australia
Authors: KARABANOV DMITRY P. , BEKKER EUGENIYA I. , SHIEL RUSSELL J. , KOTOV ALEXEY A.
Published: March 2018

We found a Holarctic microcrustacean Daphnia galeata Sars, 1863 (Cladocera: Daphniidae) in the Lower Lakes of South Australia. This taxon was never detected in continental Australia before. Its identity was confirmed by the sequences of mitochondrial COI, 12S and 16S and nuclear 18S and 28S genes. A maximum likelihood tree from a dataset from combining 12S + 16S mitochondrial sequence and a split network of the COI haplotypes are provided, but resolution of both genes is not sufficient to reveal the exact region of the Holarctic from where D. galeata was introduced to Australia; the vector of its invasion also is unknown. We hypothesize that appearance of D. galeata in the Lower Lakes of the Murray River is related to a recent anthropogenic eutrophication of water bodies in this region, keeping in mind that examples of successful invasion of some European lakes by D. galeata after their eutrophication are well-known. We also hypothesize that establishment of this non-indigenous taxon populations in Australia might have a strong negative impact on native lake biota.
Wage Stagnation and Buyer Power: How Buyer-Supplier Relations Affect U.S. Workers’ Wages, 1978 to 2014
Authors: Wilmers Nathan
Published: March 2018

Since the 1970s, market restructuring has shifted many workers into workplaces heavily reliant on sales to outside corporate buyers. These outside buyers wield substantial power over working conditions among their suppliers. During the same period, wage growth for middle-income workers stagnated. By extending organizational theories of wage-setting to incorporate interactions between organizations, I predict that wage stagnation resulted in part from production workers’ heightened exposure to buyer power. Panel data on publicly traded companies shows that dependence on large buyers lowers suppliers’ wages and accounts for 10 percent of wage stagnation in nonfinancial firms since the 1970s. These results are robust to a series of supplementary measures of buyer power; instrumental variable analysis using mergers between buyers; corrections for selection and missing data; and controls for individual worker characteristics like education and occupation. The results show how product market restructuring and new forms of economic segmentation affect workers’ wages. The spread of unequal bargaining relations between corporate buyers and their suppliers has slowed wage growth for workers.
Health Care for All: An Overview of the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid Expansion in the USA
Authors: Arguelles Ariel , Sabharwal Meghna
Published: March 2018

One of the most significant health care reforms since the implementation of Medicare and Medicaid, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) enacted into law in 2010, was met with widespread criticism. The expansion of Medicaid eligibility was a specific focus of these critiques as sceptics believed the long-term effects would be primarily negative for both the physical and fiscal health of the population. This article provides a brief history of the ACA along with the role of political and public opinion. This is followed with an analysis of initial criticisms and concerns surrounding the eligibility and expansion—with a brief discussion of the constitutionality of the law. Finally, while the long-term effects of the ACA upon health care access and service in the USA are yet to be seen, preliminary results indicate positive effects, contrary to the negatives originally assumed. The article concludes with a summary of current health care reform and a prospective on the future of health care reform in the USA.
Green Revolution Model and Agrarian Crisis: Towards a Perspectival Critique
Authors: Srinivasulu K.
Published: March 2018

In the dominant interpretation, the agrarian crisis and farmers’ suicides have been viewed either as outcomes of individual decisions/actions of the farmers or as caused by vagaries of nature or certain policies. The present study views them as symptomatic of a deeper systemic crisis in agriculture in the post-Green Revolution and post-economic reform period.

By examining the transformation of the agrarian question, especially consequent upon the generalisation of the Green Revolution model, this article highlights the importance of the changing dynamics between farm and non-farm sector in terms of accumulation and interaction and the changes in the class–caste relations internal to the rural society as the causes of the crisis.
Book review: A.K. Singh, Military and Media
Authors: Kumar Rajneesh
Published: March 2018

A.K. Singh, Military and Media. New Delhi: Lancer Publication, 2006, 261 pp., ₹764.
Book review: Pablo Solon, G. Azam, C. Aquiton and E.P. Beltran, Systematic Alternatives
Authors: Bhatia Ravi P.
Published: March 2018

Pablo Solon, G. Azam, C. Aquiton and E.P. Beltran, Systematic Alternatives. Bangkok: Fundacion Solon/Attac France/Focus on the Global South and Co-Publishers in India: Focus on Global South and SADED, 2017, 202 pp.
Book review: T.C.A. Raghavan, The People Next Door: The Curious History of India’s Relations with Pakistan
Authors: Ghosh Tuktuk
Published: March 2018

T.C.A. Raghavan, The People Next Door: The Curious History of India’s Relations with Pakistan. Noida: HarperCollins, 2017, 360 pp., ₹503.
Book review: Joseph N. Cayer and Meghna Sabharwal, Public Personnel Administration: Managing Human Capital
Authors: Arguelles Ariel
Published: March 2018

Joseph N. Cayer and Meghna Sabharwal, Public Personnel Administration: Managing Human Capital (6th edition). San Diego, CA: Birkdale Publishers, 2016, 348 pp. $50–$60 USD.
Student-tailored final year project on microcontroller-based hardware-in-the-loop speed control of a wind generator
Authors: Larruscain Gorka , Tapia Gerardo , Susperregui Ana , Martinez M Itsaso
Published: March 2018

Student-supervisor cooperation was carried out to design the inter-subject final year project reported in this paper. According to the student feedback, this approach allowed gathering his main interests – vector control, microcontroller programming and wind power generation – together, therefore reinforcing his motivation towards his final year project and making him feel particularly responsible for its outcome. Microcontroller-based hardware-in-the-loop emulation made possible to combine the three afore-cited student interests. In this context, the virtual prototype of a current-controlled wind turbine-driven 2-MW permanent-magnet synchronous generator is presented, along with the pseudo-code corresponding to the permanent-magnet synchronous generator speed control algorithm programmed in an 8-bit microcontroller. In addition, tuning formulas are derived for the digital integral-proportional controllers commanding both the permanent-magnet synchronous generator current and speed. Detailed descriptions are provided in order to guarantee reproducibility. Implementation of the hardware-in-the-loop rig is also tackled, supported by illustrative results obtained when running it. The developed hardware-in-the-loop rig is considered suitable for laboratory practices of subjects like digital control and microcontroller programming.
Fruitlessness of Anti-Corruption Agencies: Lessons from the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice in Ghana
Authors: Asamoah Kwame , Ofosu-Mensah Emmanuel Ababio
Published: March 2018

Political corruption has become one of the most topical issues in the political discourse in Ghana. This stems from the fact that corruption has become so endemic and systemic in Ghanaian polity with its negative effects on the economy. Indeed, political corruption negatively affects job creation, investment potentials, infrastructural development and generally the standard of living of the people. It is within this context that anti-corruption institutions have been established in Ghana to address the menace of corruption. The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is one of such institutions established under the 1992 Republican Constitution of Ghana tasked with the responsibility of addressing the problem of corruption in Ghanaian public administration system. This paper examines the extent to which the Commission has achieved this constitutional mandate of addressing the problem of corruption. The study finds that some drawbacks which inhibit the potency of CHRAJ in addressing the problem of corruption include lack of political will by the governing elite to support the institution, eroding confidence of the Commission, the trend of appointing the Head of the Commission in an acting capacity, constitutional weaknesses, poor capacity building support and low motivation. The paper therefore offers pragmatic policy suggestions to address the inherent deficiencies of the Commission with the objective of making it more functional.