bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cavity enhancement of the magneto-optical Kerr effect of a magnetic cobalt nanowires array
Authors: Moradi Mehrdad , Ghanaatshoar Majid
Published: January 2016

In this paper, the optimization and amplification of magneto-optical (MO) response of Silicon (Si)/Cobalt (Co)-nanowires (NWs) in the presence of zinc sulphide (ZnS) and SiO2 thin layers were investigated. The existence of ZnS layer with ideal thickness on the Si/Co structure, leads to an appropriate optical cavity which amplifies the MO Kerr signal (KS). In addition, the capping layer, SiO2, which is useful in manufacturing process, acts as a complementary layer for ZnS layer. The proposed structure Si/Co/ZnS/SiO2 with appropriate thicknesses enhances the KS of Si/Co-nanowire up to 20 times relative to same structure without covering layers.
Entanglement dynamics of quantum states generated by a Kerr medium and a beam splitter
Authors: Rohith M. , Sudheesh C. , Rajeev R.
Published: January 2016

We study theoretically the dynamics of entangled states created in a beam splitter with a nonlinear Kerr medium placed into one input arm. Entanglement dynamics of initial classical and nonclassical states are studied and compared. Signatures of revival and fractional revival phenomena exhibited during the time evolution of states in the Kerr medium are captured in the entangled states produced by the beam splitter. Dynamics of entanglement shows local minima at the instants of fractional revivals. These minima correspond to the generation of two-component Schrödinger cat states or multi-component Schrödinger cat-like states if the initial state considered is a coherent state. Maximum entanglement is obtained at the instants of collapses of wave packets in the medium. Our analysis shows increase in entanglement with increase in the degree of nonclassicality of the initial states considered. We show that the states generated at the output of the beam splitter using initial nonclassical states are more robust against decoherence due to photon absorption by an environment than those formed by an initial classical state.
Melting curve of metals Cu, Ag and Au under pressure
Authors: Tam Pham Dinh , Hoc Nguyen Quang , Tinh Bui Duc , Tan Pham Duy
Published: January 2016

In this paper, the dependence of the melting temperature of metals Cu, Ag and Au under pressure in the interval from 0 kbar to 40 kbar is studied by the statistical moment method (SMM). This dependence has the form of near linearity and the calculated slopes of melting curve are 3.9 for Cu, 5.7 for Ag and 6 for Au. These results are in good agreement with the experimental data.
Asymptotic average shadowing property, almost specification property and distributional chaos
Authors: Wang Lidong , Wang Xiang , Lei Fengchun , Liu Heng
Published: January 2016

It is proved that a nontrivial compact dynamical system with asymptotic average shadowing property (AASP) displays uniformly distributional chaos or distributional chaos in a sequence. Moreover, distributional chaos in a system with AASP can be uniform and dense in the measure center, that is, there is an uncountable uniformly distributionally scrambled set consisting of such points that the orbit closure of every point contains the measure center. As a corollary, the similar results hold for the system with almost specification property.
Solitons, Bäcklund transformations, Lax pair and conservation laws for the nonautonomous mKdV–sinh-Gordon equation with time-dependent coefficients
Authors: Liu Lei , Tian Bo , Sun Wen-Rong , Wang Yu-Feng , Wang Yun-Po
Published: January 2016

The transition phenomenon of few-cycle-pulse optical solitons from a pure modified Korteweg–de Vries (mKdV) to a pure sine-Gordon regime can be described by the nonautonomous mKdV–sinh-Gordon equation with time-dependent coefficients. Based on the Bell polynomials, Hirota method and symbolic computation, bilinear forms and soliton solutions for this equation are obtained. Bäcklund transformations (BTs) in both the binary Bell polynomial and bilinear forms are obtained. By virtue of the BTs and Ablowitz–Kaup–Newell–Segur system, Lax pair and infinitely many conservation laws for this equation are derived as well.
Micromechanical Continuum Damage Analysis of Plain Woven Composites
Authors: Li L. , Aliabadi F. , Wen P. H.
Published: January 2016

Application of meshfree Galerkin method to homogenization and Continuum Damage Mechanics (CDM) analysis of plain woven composites is presented. Three types of meshfree formulations are developed and include: radial basis function, moving least squares and moving Kriging.

Three benchmark examples are used to demonstrated the efficiency of the meshfree formulation as well as compare the performance of the three shape functions. Non-linear stress–strain relationhip of unit cellusing the three shape functions are assessed with two benchmark examples of CDM model.
Spectroscopic Imaging of Strongly Correlated Electronic States
Authors: Yazdani Ali , da Silva Neto Eduardo H. , Aynajian Pegor
Published: January 2016

The study of correlated electronic systems from high-Tc cuprates to heavy-fermion systems continues to motivate the development of experimental tools to probe electronic phenomena in new ways and with increasing precision. In the past two decades, spectroscopic imaging with scanning tunneling microscopy has emerged as a powerful experimental technique. The combination of high energy and spatial resolutions provided by this technique reveals unprecedented detail of the electronic properties of strongly correlated metals and superconductors. This review examines specific experiments, theoretical concepts, and measurement methods that have established the application of these techniques to correlated materials. A wide range of applications, such as the study of collective responses to single atomic impurities, the characterization of quasiparticle-like excitations through their interference, and the identification of competing electronic phases using spectroscopic imaging, are discussed.
Cardiovascular Effects of Incretin-Based Therapies
Authors: White William B. , Baker William L.
Published: January 2016

The incretin-based therapies, dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs, are important new classes of therapy for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). These agents prolong the action of the incretin hormones, GLP-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP), by inhibiting their breakdown. The incretin hormones improve glycemic control in T2DM by increasing insulin secretion and suppressing glucagon levels. The cardiovascular (CV) effects of the incretin-based therapies have been of substantial interest since 2008, when the US Food and Drug Administration began to require that all new therapies for diabetes undergo rigorous assessment of CV safety through large-scale CV outcome trials. This article reviews the most recent CV outcome trials of the DPP-4 inhibitors (SAVOR-TIMI 53, EXAMINE, and TECOS) as evidence that the incretin-based therapies have acceptable CV safety profiles for patients with T2DM. The studies differ with regard to patient population, trial duration, and heart failure outcomes but show similar findings for CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and stroke, as well as hospitalization for unstable angina.
Critical Illness Brain Injury
Authors: Girard Timothy D. , Dittus Robert S. , Ely E. Wesley
Published: January 2016

A growing body of literature has shown that survivors of critical illness often struggle with cognitive impairment that persists months to years after hospital discharge. We describe the epidemiology of this form of cognitive impairment—which we refer to as critical illness brain injury—and review the history and maturation of the investigation of this previously unrecognized, yet common problem. We then review the characteristics of critical illness brain injury, which can vary in severity and typically affects multiple domains of cognition. Finally, we examine known risk factors for critical illness brain injury and, based on these data, suggest approaches to patient management.
Gadolinium-Induced Fibrosis
Authors: Todd Derrick J. , Kay Jonathan
Published: January 2016

Gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs), once believed to be safe for patients with renal disease, have been strongly associated with nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF), a severe systemic fibrosing disorder that predominantly afflicts individuals with advanced renal dysfunction. We provide a historical perspective on the appearance and disappearance of NSF, including its initial recognition as a discrete clinical entity, its association with GBCA exposure, and the data supporting a causative relationship between GBCA exposure and NSF. On the basis of this body of evidence, we propose that the name gadolinium-induced fibrosis (GIF) more accurately reflects the totality of knowledge regarding this disease. Use of high-risk GBCAs, such as formulated gadodiamide, should be avoided in patients with renal disease. Restriction of GBCA use in this population has almost completely eradicated new cases of this debilitating condition. Emerging antifibrotic therapies may be useful for patients who suffer from GIF.
Early Combination Antiretroviral Therapy Limits HIV-1 Persistence in Children
Authors: Luzuriaga Katherine
Published: January 2016

Globally, 240,000 infants are newly infected with HIV-1 each year and 3.2 million children are living with the infection. Combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) has reduced HIV-1-related disease and mortality in children but is not curative owing to the early generation of a latent reservoir of long-lived memory CD4+T cells bearing replication-competent HIV-1 provirus integrated into cellular DNA. This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of the establishment of HIV-1 persistence in children and how early initiation of cART in the setting of the developing infant immune system limits the formation of the long-lived latent CD4+cell reservoir that remains a barrier to remission or cure.
Interaction between environmental temperature and hypoxia on central and peripheral fatigue during high-intensity dynamic knee extension
Authors: Lloyd Alex , Raccuglia Margherita , Hodder Simon , Havenith George
Published: January 2016

This study investigated causative factors behind the expression of different interaction types during exposure to multistressor environments. Neuromuscular fatigue rates and time to exhaustion (TTE) were investigated in active men ( n = 9) exposed to three climates [5°C, 50% relative humidity (rh); 23°C, 50% rh; and 42°C, 70% rh] at two inspired oxygen fractions (0.209 and 0.125 FiO2; equivalent attitude = 4,100 m). After a 40-min rest in the three climatic conditions, participants performed constant-workload (high intensity) knee extension exercise until exhaustion, with brief assessments of neuromuscular function every 110 s. Independent exposure to cold, heat, and hypoxia significantly ( P < 0.01) reduced TTE from thermoneutral normoxia (reductions of 190, 405, and 505 s from 915 s, respectively). The TTE decrease was consistent with a faster rate of peripheral fatigue development ( P < 0.01) compared with thermoneutral normoxia (increase of 1.6, 3.1, and 4.9%/min from 4.1%/min, respectively). Combined exposure to hypoxic-cold resulted in an even greater TTE reduction (−589 s), likely due to an increase in the rate of peripheral fatigue development (increased by 7.6%/min), but this was without significant interaction between stressors ( P > 0.198). In contrast, combined exposure to hypoxic heat reduced TTE by 609 s, showing a significant antagonistic interaction ( P = 0.003) similarly supported by an increased rate of peripheral fatigue development (which increased by 8.3%/min). A small decline (<0.4%/min) in voluntary muscle activation was observed only in thermoneutral normoxia. In conclusion, interaction type is influenced by the impact magnitude of the effect of the individual stressors' effect on exercise capacity, whereby the greater the effect of stressors, the greater the probability that one stressor will be abolished by the other. This indicates that humans respond to severe and simultaneous physiological strains on the basis of a worst-strain-takes-precedence principle.
Effect of superoxide anion scavenger on rat hearts with chronic intermittent hypoxia
Authors: Pai Peiying , Lai Ching Jung , Lin Ching-Yuang , Liou Yi-Fan , Huang Chih-Yang , Lee Shin-Da
Published: January 2016

Only very limited information regarding the protective effects of the superoxide anion scavenger on chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced cardiac apoptosis is available. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of the superoxide anion scavenger on cardiac apoptotic and prosurvival pathways in rats with sleep apnea. Forty-two Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups, rats with normoxic exposure (Control, 21% O2, 1 mo), rats with chronic intermittent hypoxia exposure (Hypoxia, 3-7% O2 vs. 21% O2 per 40 s cycle, 8 h per day, 1 mo), and rats with pretreatment of the superoxide anion scavenger and chronic intermittent hypoxia exposure (Hypoxia-O2−-Scavenger, MnTMPyP pentachloride, 1 mg/kg ip per day; 3–7% O2 vs. 21% O2 per 40 s cycle, 8 h per day, 1 mo) at 5–6 mo of age. After 1 mo, the protein levels and apoptotic cells of excised hearts from three groups were measured by Western blotting and terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The superoxide anion scavenger decreased hypoxia-induced myocardial architecture abnormalities, left ventricular hypertrophy, and TUNEL-positive apoptosis. The superoxide anion scavenger decreased hypoxia-induced Fas ligand, Fas death receptors, Fas-associated death domain (FADD), activated caspase-8, and activated caspase-3 (Fas-dependent apoptotic pathway) as well as Bad, activated caspase-9 and activated caspase-3 (mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway), endonuclease G (EndoG), apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), and TUNEL-positive apoptosis. The superoxide anion scavenger increased IGF-1, IGF-1R, p-PI3k, p-Akt, p-Bad, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL (survival pathway). Our findings imply that the superoxide anion scavenger might prevent cardiac Fas-mediated and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis and enhance the IGF-1-related survival pathway in chronic intermittent hypoxia. The superoxide anion scavenger may prevent chronic sleep apnea-enhanced cardiac apoptotic pathways and enhances cardiac survival pathways.
The Impact of Chronic Tobacco Smoking on Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Greek Population
Authors: Moschos Marilita M. , Nitoda Eirini , Laios Konstantinos , Ladas Dimitrios S. , Chatziralli Irini P.
Published: January 2016

Aim. To investigate the effect of more than 25‐year cigarette smoking on choroidal and retinal thickness, using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT). Methods. Thirty‐one smokers and 25 age‐ and sex‐matched nonsmokers, serving as control group, were submitted to slit‐lamp biomicroscopy and dilated fundoscopy, SD‐OCT, measurements of intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), and axial length (AL). Heidelberg Spectralis was used to calculate choroidal thickness (CT), ganglion cell complex (GCC), outer retina layers (ORL), and macular thicknesses (MT). Results. The smokers’ group consisted of 17 males and 14 females with mean age of 57.8 ± 4.5 years, while the controls’ group consisted of 14 males and 11 females with mean age of 68.0 ± 4.1 years. CT and GCC thicknesses were significantly reduced in smokers compared to control group. The differences in thicknesses of ORL were marginally significant between two groups. The measurements of MT, IOP, CCT, and AL had the same distributions between smokers and nonsmokers. Conclusions. Tobacco smoking seems to result in thinner choroid and retina compared to nonsmokers. This is the first study in literature that investigates the anatomical effect of smoking for more than 25 years on the choroid and retina.
Pathological Characteristics of Primary Bladder Carcinoma Treated at a Tertiary Care Hospital and Changing Demographics of Bladder Cancer in Sri Lanka
Authors: Sasikumar S. , Wijayarathna K. S. N. , Karunaratne K. A. M. S. , Gobi U. , Pathmeswaran A. , Abeygunasekera Anuruddha M.
Published: January 2016

Objectives. The aim was to compare demographics and pathological features of bladder carcinoma treated in a urology unit with findings of previous studies done in Sri Lanka.Materials and Methods. Data of newly diagnosed patients with bladder cancer in a tertiary referral centre from 2011 to 2014 were analysed. Data on bladder cancers diagnosed from 1993 to 2014 were obtained from previous publications and Sri Lanka Cancer Registry.Results. There were 148 patients and mean age was 65 years. Male to female ratio was 4.1 : 1. Urothelial carcinoma (UC) was found in 89.2% of patients. Muscle invasion was noted in 35% of patients compared to 48.4% two decades ago. In patients with UC, 16.5% were found to have pT1high grade tumour. It was 5.3% from 1993 to 2000. Pure squamous cell carcinoma was found in 8.1% of patients while primary or de novo carcinoma in situ (not associated with high grade pT1tumours) was seen in one patient only.Conclusions. The percentage of squamous carcinoma is higher among Sri Lankan patients while primary carcinoma in situ is a rarity. The percentage of muscle invasive disease has decreased while the percentage of pT1high grade tumours has increased during the last two decades in Sri Lanka.
Misdiagnosis of Extensive Maxillofacial Infection and Its Relationship with Periodontal Problems and Hyperglycemia
Authors: Statkievicz Cristian , Faverani Leonardo P. , Gomes-Ferreira Pedro Henrique Silva , Ramalho-Ferreira Gabriel , Garcia-Junior Idelmo Rangel
Published: January 2016

Background. Complex dental infections can reach distant areas of the alveolar process, invading the secondary fascial spaces.Objectives. This case report aims to show a misdiagnosis of odontogenic infection and a great need for dentist in the hospital environment.Case Report. A male patient presented facial asymmetry and trismus, while the facial CT examination showed a hyperdense mass involving the left masseteric, pterygomandibular, and superficial temporal regions. The patient was then referred to oral oncology center by emergency physician with cancer suspicion. After 15 days, the patient returned to the same emergency room and was attended by the surgical and maxillofacial trauma team, presenting tachycardia, tachypnea, dysphagia, and trismus. During anamnesis, the patient reported being an uncontrolled diabetic. In intraoral exam, a poor oral condition and generalized periodontitis were observed.Results. Correct diagnosis of odontogenic infection was established and adequately treated.Conclusions. Symptomatology bland may mask the severity of an infection; every increase in volume associated with trismus, poor oral hygiene with or without hyperglycemia should be heavily investigated for the presence of an infectious process. It emphasizes the importance of a dentist working with the physician in emergency room.
Anomalous Origination of Right Coronary Artery from Left Sinus in Asymptomatic Young Male Presenting with Positive Ischemic Response on Treadmill Test
Authors: Setianto Budi Yuli , Hartopo Anggoro Budi , Gharini Putrika Prastuti Ratna , Taufiq Nahar
Published: January 2016

Anomalous origination of coronary artery from the opposite sinus (ACAOS) is a rare coronary artery anomaly. Right ACAOS with interarterial course is a type of ACAOS, which conveys a high risk for myocardial ischemia or sudden death. We reported a case of right ACAOS with interarterial course in otherwise healthy young male. He was asymptomatic, until an obligatory medical check-up with treadmill test showed a sign of positive ischemic response. Further work-up revealed that he had right ACAOS with interarterial course. Watchful observation was applied to him, while strenuous physical activity and competitive sport were absolutely prohibited.
Interventricular Septal Hematoma after Retrograde Intervention for a Chronic Total Occlusion of a Right Coronary Artery: Echocardiographic and Magnetic Resonance Imaging—Diagnosis and Follow-Up
Authors: Araki Makoto , Murai Tadashi , Kanaji Yoshihisa , Matsuda Junji , Usui Eisuke , Niida Takayuki , Ichijo Sadamitsu , Hamaya Rikuta , Kakuta Tsunekazu
Published: January 2016

The reverse CART technique provides the potential to modify the retrograde procedure by improving the controlled movement of the retrograde wire and improve the success rates of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusion (CTO). Development of interventricular hematoma is a rare complication of CTO PCI. A 63-year-old man with effort angina with a right coronary artery CTO lesion underwent PCI by retrograde approach from the LAD to a septal branch. A contrast “stain” was demonstrated surrounding the septal collateral channel used for the retrograde approach at the end of the procedure without symptom. Echocardiography indicated an increased interventricular septum thickness with low echo signals region and decreased contractility. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging using gadolinium showed a diffusely thickened septum with a low signal fusiform neocavitation delimited by an enhanced-signal ring suggesting intraventricular septal dissecting hematoma. After conservative treatment, follow-up echocardiogram and CMR showed the resolution of the hematoma without clinical events. This case highlights the potentially lethal complication of septal perforator dissection and hematoma that may cause severe myocardial injury caused by retrograde approach for CTO PCI.
Morphological and Biochemical Effects on the Skeletal Muscle of Ovariectomized Old Female Rats Submitted to the Intake of Diets with Vegetable or Animal Protein and Resistance Training
Authors: Figueiredo Braggion Glaucia , Ornelas Elisabete , Carmona Sattin Cury Jurema , Edviges Alves Lima Natália , Aquino Rita C. , Affonso Fonseca Fernando Luiz , Maifrino Laura Beatriz Mesiano
Published: January 2016

Introduction. Sarcopenia is a process characterized by reduction in protein mass and muscle strength with increasing age, especially in the postmenopausal period, resulting in functional limitations and with great impact on the physical autonomy of the elderly. Objective. To evaluate the effects of diets with vegetable proteins (VP) or animal proteins (AP) associated with resistance training (RT) on the structural and biochemical parameters of the medial gastrocnemius muscle in Wistar rats with sarcopenia. Methods. An experimental model with ovariectomized rats was used to induce sarcopenia and resistance training. The histochemical technique was used for the typing of muscle fibers, the cross‐sectional area of myocytes, and volume densities of myocytes and interstitium; the technique of Picrosirius stain was used to highlight the collagen fibers. Results. The VP diet was not able to minimize the effects of sarcopenia in the medial gastrocnemius of sedentary animals and when associated with RT, it promoted maintenance of the CSA, attenuating the atrophy of type IIB fibers in the medial gastrocnemius. The AP diet in sedentary animals protected the type I fibers. When combined with RT, the AP promoted muscle remodeling, with reduction in volume density of type I and IIA fibers, and increase of IIB fibers, together with an increase in collagen volume density. Conclusion. The data suggest a tendency to better results of hypertrophy in animal groups that consumed the AP diet, even the sedentary animals, although more evident in those trained.
Quantitative Imaging in Cancer Clinical Trials
Authors: Yankeelov Thomas E. , Mankoff David A. , Schwartz Lawrence H. , Lieberman Frank S. , Buatti John M. , Mountz James M. , Erickson Bradley J. , Fennessy Fiona M.M. , Huang Wei , Kalpathy-Cramer Jayashree , Wahl Richard L. , Linden Hannah M. , Kinahan Paul E. , Zhao Binsheng , Hylton Nola M. , Gillies Robert J. , Clarke Laurence , Nordstrom Robert , Rubin Daniel L.
Published: January 2016

As anticancer therapies designed to target specific molecular pathways have been developed, it has become critical to develop methods to assess the response induced by such agents. Although traditional, anatomic CT, and MRI examinations are useful in many settings, increasing evidence suggests that these methods cannot answer the fundamental biologic and physiologic questions essential for assessment and, eventually, prediction of treatment response in the clinical trial setting, especially in the critical period soon after treatment is initiated. To optimally apply advances in quantitative imaging methods to trials of targeted cancer therapy, new infrastructure improvements are needed that incorporate these emerging techniques into the settings where they are most likely to have impact. In this review, we first elucidate the needs for therapeutic response assessment in the era of molecularly targeted therapy and describe how quantitative imaging can most effectively provide scientifically and clinically relevant data. We then describe the tools and methods required to apply quantitative imaging and provide concrete examples of work making these advances practically available for routine application in clinical trials. We conclude by proposing strategies to surmount barriers to wider incorporation of these quantitative imaging methods into clinical trials and, eventually, clinical practice. Our goal is to encourage and guide the oncology community to deploy standardized quantitative imaging techniques in clinical trials to further personalize care for cancer patients and to provide a more efficient path for the development of improved targeted therapies. Clin Cancer Res; 22(2); 284–90. ©2016 AACR.
Triggering of Suicidal Erythrocyte Death by Regorafenib
Authors: Zierle Jens , Bissinger Rosi , Bouguerra Ghada , Abbès Salem , Lang Florian
Published: January 2016

Background/Aims: The multikinase inhibitor regorafenib is utilized for the treatment of malignancy. The substance is effective in part by triggering suicidal death or apoptosis of tumor cells. Side effects of regorafenib include anemia. At least in theory, regorafenib induced anemia could result from stimulated suicidal erythrocyte death or eryptosis, characterized by cell shrinkage and cell membrane scrambling with phosphatidylserine translocation to the erythrocyte surface. Triggers of eryptosis include increase of cytosolic Ca2+ activity ([Ca2+]i), oxidative stress and ceramide. The present study explored, whether regorafenib induces eryptosis and, if so, whether it is effective up- and/or downstream of Ca2+. Methods: To this end, phosphatidylserine exposure at the cell surface was estimated from annexin-V-binding, cell volume from forward scatter, [Ca2+]i from Fluo3-fluorescence, ROS formation from DCFDA dependent fluorescence, and ceramide abundance utilizing specific antibodies. Results: A 48 hours exposure of human erythrocytes to regorafenib (≥ 0.5 µg/ml) significantly increased the percentage of annexin-V-binding cells, significantly decreased forward scatter (≥ 1.25 µg/ml), but did not significantly increase Fluo3-fluorescence, DCFDA fluorescence or ceramide abundance. The effect of regorafenib on annexin-V-binding and forward scatter was not significantly blunted by removal of extracellular Ca2+. Regorafenib (5 µg/ml) significantly augmented the increase of annexin-V-binding, but significantly blunted the decrease of forward scatter following treatment with the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin. Conclusions: Regorafenib triggers cell shrinkage and phospholipid scrambling of the erythrocyte cell membrane, an effect at least in part downstream of Ca2+.
Role of ALKBH1 in the Core Transcriptional Network of Embryonic Stem Cells
Authors: Ougland Rune , Jonson Ida , Moen Marivi Nabong , Nesse Gaute , Asker Gry , Klungland Arne , Larsen Elisabeth
Published: January 2016

Background/Aims: ALKBH1, an AlkB homologue in the 2-oxoglutarate and Fe2+ dependent hydroxylase family, is a histone dioxygenase that removes methyl groups from histone H2A. Studies of transgenic mice lacking Alkbh1 reveal that most Alkbh1-/- embryos die during embryonic development. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) derived from these mice have prolonged expression of pluripotency markers and delayed induction of genes involved in neural differentiation, indicating that ALKBH1 is involved in regulation of pluripotency and differentiation. The aim of this study was to further investigate the role ALKBH1 in early development. Methods: Double-filter methods for nitrocellulose-filter binding, dot blot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immonocytochemistry, cell culture and differentiation of mouse ESCs, Co-IP and miRNA analysis. Results: We found that SOX2 and NANOG bind the ALKBH1 promoter, and we identified protein-protein interactions between ALKBH1 and these core transcription factors of the pluripotency network. Furthermore, lack of ALKBH1 affected the expression of developmentally important miRNAs, which are involved in the regulation of NANOG, SOX2 and neural differentiation. Conclusion: Our results suggest that ALKBH1 interacts with the core transcriptional pluripotency network of ESCs and is involved in regulation of pluripotency and differentiation.
A Novel Mixture Model to Estimate the Time to Drug Effect Onset and Its Association with Covariates
Authors: Xu Meng Yuan , Umbach David M. , Murphy Eleanor , McMahon Francis , Shugart Yin Y.
Published: January 2016

Objective: Drugs take effect at different times in different individuals. Consequently, researchers seek to examine how the timing of the biological response to drugs may be affected by factors such as gender, genotypes, age, or baseline symptom scores. Methods: Typically, studies measure symptoms immediately after the initiation of drug treatment and then at a sequence of later time points. In this study, we develop a statistical mixture model for analyzing such longitudinal data. Our method estimates the onset of drug effect and assesses the association between the probability distribution of the onset times and possible contributing factors. Our mixture model treats the timing of onset as missing for each individual but restricts it, for simplicity, to two possible onset points, early or late. To estimate the model, we use an expectation-maximization-based approach and provide the general formulas of the variance and covariance matrix for the estimated parameters. Results: We evaluate the model's overall utility and performance via simulation studies. In addition, we illustrate its use by application to longitudinal data from the Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression (STAR*D) study. The algorithm identified age and anxiety status as significant factors in affecting the onset distribution of citalopram (Celexa).
A Defining Moment in a Life-Long Journey with Dialysis
Authors: Weintraub Judy
Published: January 2016

Background: The author seeks to address the issue of lack of communication between the physician and the patients as one of the possibilities for continued poor outcomes despite technical advances in dialysis. The failure to relate to patients as ‘people' leads to a failure to individualize treatment and deal with atypical problems presented by some patients, which, in turn, leads to less than optimal outcomes. Summary: Statistical statements of life expectancy for dialysis patients are misleading. While accurate in a vacuum, they are less accurate when applied to individuals. Life expectancy can be improved by better communication and education, which may lead, in turn, to positive attitudes and motivation. Though often overlooked, these factors are instrumental in achieving optimal results. The author draws on her personal experience of 40 years using all modalities of dialysis. Through abundant experience from decades of interactions with practitioners and healthcare professionals, she states her views on how dialysis need not be spirit- and life-defeating. Key Message: While long-term global results are yet to be quantified, the author's 40 years of dialysis and a productive, happy life, speaks for itself. Dialysis is not the end of life; it is only a condition to be dealt with.
From Crime to Disease: Laws on Infanticide in the Modern Era
Authors: Obladen Michael
Published: January 2016

This is the third of three papers investigating the legislative history concerning infanticide. After Antiquity and the Middle Ages, this paper focuses on legislative reforms during the last 400 years. Despite dreadful punishment, the practice remained frequent until safe abortion became available. In the 17th century, the rate of executions of women for this crime was 1 per 100,000 inhabitants. The actual incidence greatly exceeded this figure. The death penalty failed to deter, and punishing fornication promoted rather than prevented infanticide. Well into the 18th century, severely malformed infants were killed. The lung flotation test, albeit unreliable, was used to save the mother from the death penalty. When the motives for infanticide - poverty, shame, despair, and preserving honour - became understood in the late 18th century, the image of the ‘child murderess' changed, and infanticide shifted from constituting a capital crime to a privileged delict. Illegitimate pregnancy was no longer punished, and lying-in hospitals for pregnant unmarried women and foundling hospitals for their children were established. Specific infanticide laws were issued in Prussia in 1756, Britain in 1803, and France in 1811. Once psychosis and denial of pregnancy became understood, severe penalties were no longer issued. The justifications for lenient legislation included social circumstances, difficult proof, and curtailed protection of the newborn due to its illegitimacy, helplessness, and diminished awareness. Thoughts on the limited right to live of newborn infants are still hampering ethical decisions when the beginning and end of life are near each other.
Comunicação, linguagem e consumo: uma análise de discurso nos limites da publicização
Authors: Oliveira Frederico Jorge Tavares de
Published: January 2016

Neste trabalho, realizei uma análise de discurso de enunciados que circulam no metrô com o objetivo de demonstrar sua participação na textura de formações discursivas e sua vinculação ao plano das formações ideológicas, das ideologias. Especificamente, busco compreender a produção de efeitos de sentido nos limites ou nas mediações de um mesmo entorno teórico e empírico da publicização, testando assim não só o confronto de interesses sociais, mas a maneira como o signo ideológico oculta esse confronto no discurso.
A criatividade em jogo: paráfrase e polissemia no processo de produção do discurso publicitário
Authors: Hansen Fábio
Published: January 2016

Este artigo apresenta como objeto de investigação o processo criativo
publicitário na perspectiva teórica da linguagem a partir da Análise de
Discurso. Em nossa abordagem examinamos o funcionamento polissêmico
e parafrástico do processo de constituição do discurso publicitário. O objetivo
é analisar de que modo afloram nele a criatividade e a produtividade.
Para cumprir tal objetivo, recortamos sequências discursivas produzidas
a partir da observação de um processo criativo em uma agência de
propaganda, e por meio de entrevistas com profissionais de criação que
dele participaram. Assim, atestamos que o processo de criação publicitária
é repleto de paráfrases. Logo, é um lugar de produtividade. Os criativos
trabalham sob o efeito de liberdade criativa, produzindo um efeito de
criatividade na concepção do dizer publicitário.
A sedução de Império: surrealismo versus verossimilhança no viés da ficção televisiva
Authors: Nascimento Robéria Nádia Araújo
Published: January 2016

Este texto, derivado de uma pesquisa em andamento, problematiza a teledramaturgia e suas funções narrativas, entrecruzando-se com a observação de alguns elementos que perpassam a telenovela Império e outras tramas de Aguinaldo Silva. Como embasamento teórico, dialoga com as proposições de Gordillo (2010), Martín-Barbero (2004; 2014), Bulhões (2009), Paiva (2010) e Lopes (2009), a fim de compreender as estratégias de verossimilhança e surrealismo que permeiam o universo da ficção e o tornam fértil ambiente de fruição para os sentidos plurais que mobilizam o imaginário coletivo. Aborda a concepção de realismo fantástico, na tentativa de pensar quais estratégias midiáticas fomentam a ressonância e a mediação das tramas, que despertam novos sentidos de inteligibilidade do cotidiano sociocultural. Por fim, sugere aportes teóricometodológicos para possíveis análises de produtos ficcionais seriados.
A utilização da Lei de Acesso à Informação pela imprensa: análise dos jornais Folha de S.Paulo, O Estado de S. Paulo e O Globo
Authors: Nascimento Solano Dos Santos , Rodrigues Georgete Medleg , Kraemer Luciana
Published: January 2016

Este artigo apresenta os resultados da análise das reportagens obtidas com o uso da Lei de Acesso à Informação Pública (LAI), publicadas pelos jornais Folha de S. Paulo, O Estado de S. Paulo e O Globo entre 16 de maio de 2012 (quando a lei entrou em vigor) e 15 de janeiro de 2014. Os três jornais publicaram, juntos, no período, 96 reportagens obtidas com a LAI. Os principais temas das reportagens foram ética pública e serviços públicos. Reportagens sobre a ditadura militar foram escassas e em quantidade semelhante à das que trataram de futebol. Um total de 65 repórteres foram os autores das reportagens, o que indica a incorporação da utilização da LAI na rotina jornalística.
O teatro do século XVIII no Brasil: das festas públicas às casas de ópera
Authors: Soutto Mayor Mariana
Published: January 2016

O artigo investiga as novidades teatrais que ocorreram no Brasil colonial durante o século XVIII. Desde o início da colonização houve no Brasil a aclimatação de modelos festivos europeus, mas foi no século XVIII que ocorreu a construção de instituições teatrais conhecidas como casas de ópera, modificando as funções relacionadas ao teatro. O texto aponta questões sobre esses processos de mudanças, considerando as manifestações cênicas que ocorriam anteriormente aos edifícios teatrais pelo viés da teatralidade
Resistência e restauração de identidades no teatro da microrregião de Pelotas
Authors: Oliveira Adriano Moraes de
Published: January 2016

O presente texto é resultado de uma pesquisa realizada entre 2012 e 2014 com o objetivo de mapear os grupos teatrais em atividade na microrregião de Pelotas, com o interesse de ampliar o conhecimento sobre as práticas teatrais desse espaço geográfico. O mapeamento aponta para uma prática teatral em que as motivações são muito próximas daquelas dos grandes centros econômicos: experimentação de linguagem, investigação de poética, preservação da memória e, obviamente, teatro como empreendimento comercial e de entretenimento. São apresentadas, também, as principais características do teatro na microrregião de Pelotas, de modo a indicar as ações de resistência a novos modelos, mas também a valorização de modelos de atuação por meio da reiterada restauração identitária.
“Diálogos pernambucanos”: a hora marcada, de Isaac Gondim Filho
Authors: Jardim Jéssica Cristina
Published: January 2016

O projeto “Diálogos Pernambucanos: Hermilo Borba Filho e a moderna dramaturgia nordestina” tem por objetivo estudar o processo de modernização do teatro no Brasil, enfocando a produção de dramaturgos pernambucanos. Em seu primeiro módulo, a pesquisa teve como objeto a obra de Isaac Gondim Filho. Neste ensaio, tratamos do fantástico moderno na peça A hora marcada (1955). 
Mutirão em Novo Sol e o experimentalismo político no teatro brasileiro da década de 1960
Authors: Toledo Paulo Bio , Neiva Sara Mello
Published: January 2016

Este artigo analisa a peça Mutirão em Novo Sol escrita em 1961 no ambiente do Teatro Arena, assim como o histórico de suas montagens entre 1961 e 1963. Embora esquecida por mais de meio século, a peça foi marcante para o teatro engajado dos anos anteriores ao Golpe Militar de 1964 tanto por protagonizar experiências avançadas na cena como pela inovadora tentativa de composição épica na dramaturgia.
Reverberações dramatúrgicas: técnica Klauss Vianna – princípios mediadores do processo criativo
Authors: Vieira Valquiria Moura
Published: January 2016

Este texto propõe que a dramaturgia se constrói das relações entre ler e perguntar em um processo mediado pelos princípios que sustentam uma técnica, levando em consideração a não separação de um pensamento de corpo/mundo. A partir da técnica Klauss Vianna e da Teoria Corpomídia, articula como metodologia o diálogo entre a tríade: criação de procedimentos, estado de presença e pergunta.
Mythology or Zoology
Authors: Atkins Peter Joshua
Published: January 2016

The challenge of Bible translation is often confounded by the uncertain identity of many of the animals and mythological creatures found in the text. This essay is an attempt to analyse why these creatures have complex, obscure translations and thereby complicate the passages they inhabit. Over time, this problematic translation of the biblical passages has been influenced by a variety of different historical and contextual factors; however, it has also interestingly influenced the readership of the biblical text. By focussing upon a couple of particularly intriguing words, this essay displays the impact that the process of translation has had upon the understanding of the biblical text.
Begonia leipingensis (Begoniaceae), a new compound-leaved species with unique petiolule pattern from Guangxi of China
Authors: LI CHUN , YANG LI-HUA , TIAN DAI-KE , CHEN YUE , WU RUI-JUAN , FU NAI-FENG
Published: January 2016

Begonia leipingensis D. K. Tian, L. H. Yang & C. Li (2n = 30), a new species in Begonia sect. Coelocentrum from the limestone area of Guangxi, China. B. leipingensisis is easily distinguished from any other compound-leaved species in Begonia by its large variation in petiolule number and its unique spirally-arranged petiolule pattern, which has never been seen in Begoniaceae before and rarely seen even in other angiosperm taxa. Besides having non-overlapping flowering periods, it is clearly different from B. fangii, the most morphologically similar species in the same section and with the same chromosome number. In addition to its unique petiolule pattern, B. leipingensis has longer abaxial wings, shorter internodes, and usually larger leaves, leaflets and habit. Molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that B. leipingensis formed an independent lineage belonging to Sect. Coelocentrum. Morphological and phylogenetic evidence strongly supports this species as a new taxon in Sect. Coelocentrum of Begonia. B. leipingensis was assessed to be critically endangered based on criterion outlined by IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.
Andrographis megamalayana (Andrographinae: Acanthaceae), a new species from the southern Western Ghats, India
Authors: Gnanasekaran Gunadayalan , Karuppusamy Subbiah , Murthy Garimella Venkata Suryanarayana
Published: January 2016

Andrographis megamalayana Gnanasek., Karupp. & G.V.S. Murthy (Andrographinae: Acanthaceae), a new species from the southern Western Ghats, India, is described here with illustrations, colour photographs, relationships with its allied species and IUCN conservation status. In addition, the pollen and seed morphology have been described here using Light and Scanning Electron Microscopes.
Acailandica and Ipamerica: two new Neotropical grapholitine genera (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)
Authors: RAZOWSKI JÓZEF , BECKER VITOR O.
Published: January 2016

Two genera, Acailandica and Ipamerica, and five species (Acailandica acailandiae, A. maja, A. hilara, A. cacaulandiae, Ipamerica auctuncus) are described as new. Species of Acailandica are brightly colored (= telochromatic), whereas those of Ipamerica are cryptic. Carpocapsa comptana Walker, Grapholitha subtilana Zeller, and Laspeyresia pyrozona Meyrick are transferred to Acailandica, resulting in the following new combinations: Acailandica comptana (Walker), A. subtilana (Zeller), and A. pyrozona (Meyrick).
Generic delimitation between Fragariocoptes and Sierraphytoptus (Acari: Eriophyoidea: Phytoptidae) and a supplementary description of Fragariocoptes gansuensis with remarks on searching for mummified eriophyoid mites in herbaria under UV light
Authors: CHETVERIKOV PHILIPP E.
Published: January 2016

Generic concepts of Fragariocoptes Roivainen, 1951 and Sierraphytoptus Keifer, 1939 are discussed and the correct delimitation between these two genera is given. A supplementary description of Fragariocoptes gansuensis Wei, Chen & Luo, 2005 is included based on fresh specimens from Astrakhan, Russia and dried mummies found in old herbaria collected in 1919 from southern European Russia of the cinquefoil, Potentilla bifurca L. (Rosaceae) with pathological stem proliferation. The male of this species is described for the first time. The cuticle of eriophyoid mummies emitted a faint glow under UV light wavelength equal to 365 nm of a common UV Light-Emitting diode (LED) lamp showing that this characteristic could be useful for quickly detecting eriophyoids in old herbaria which would otherwise be almost indistinguishable against the background under the regular white light source of a stereomicroscope. This was only possible for plant material stored in appropriate conditions enabling the autofluorescent signal of the dried mite cuticle to remain strong enough for observation.
A new species of Microhyla (Anura: Microhylidae) from Sri Lanka: an integrative taxonomic approach
Authors: WIJAYATHILAKA NAYANA , GARG SONALI , SENEVIRATHNE GAYANI , KARUNARATHNA NUWAN , BIJU S.D. , MEEGASKUMBURA MADHAVA
Published: January 2016

Species boundaries of Microhyla rubra of India and Sri Lanka were assessed using the following criteria: genetic barcoding, morphology, and vocalization. We use a ca. 500 bp fragment of the 16S rRNA mitochondrial gene and show that there is an uncorrected pairwise distance of 2.7−3.2% between the Indian and Sri Lankan populations of M. rubra. We show that they are different in several call characteristics such as, dominant frequency, call duration, call rise time and pulse rate. Morphologically, the Sri Lankan population can be distinguished from the typical M. rubra described from southern India, by a combination of characters: body size, skin texture, and feet dimensions. We recognize the population from Sri Lanka as a new species, Microhyla mihintalei sp. nov., a widely distributed lowland species with an elevational distribution of up to 500 m a.s.l.
Spatial and Temporal Variability of Rainfall in the Alps–Mediterranean Euroregion
Authors: Rysman Jean-François , Lemaître Yvon , Moreau Emmanuel
Published: January 2016

This study describes the main patterns of rainfall distribution in the Alps–Mediterranean “Euroregion” using a ground radar and characterizes the associated processes using model output. The radar dataset spans 2009–12 with fine spatial (1 km) and temporal (5 min) resolutions. The most significant rain accumulations were observed in 2009 and 2010, and the most intense extreme events occurred in 2010. Conversely, 2012 was a dry year. Model output revealed that the wind shear, the pressure, and the meridional wind at low level were the three main factors explaining the rainfall variability between 2009 and 2012. At the monthly scale, the maximum of rain accumulation was observed in November along the coast. Results also showed that the most intense rain rates were observed during early summer and autumn in the “Pre-Alps.” The monthly variability was characterized by a displacement of extreme rain events from land to sea from late spring to winter. Correlation analyses showed that this displacement was essentially controlled by the convective available potential energy (CAPE). Rainfall showed a diurnal variability from April to August for the land areas of the Alps–Mediterranean Euroregion. The diurnal variability was significant during the spring and summer months, with maximal rain intensity between 1600 and 1800 UTC. The correlation of the rainfall with CAPE showed that this cycle was related to atmospheric instability. A secondary peak in average rain rate was observed during the early morning and was likely triggered by land breezes. The results highlighted that rainfall characteristics are extremely diverse in terms of intensity and distribution in this relatively small region.