bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benefit–risk assessment of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins): a discrete choice experiment
Authors: Wanishayakorn Tanatape , Sornlertlumvanich Korn , Ngorsuraches Surachat
Published: February 2016

Objectives

To conduct the benefit–risk assessment of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl (HMG) coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) using a discrete choice experiment, based on 3 major stakeholders’ perspectives including patients, experts and policymakers in Thailand.

Design

A discrete choice experiment questionnaire survey in three stakeholders’ perspectives.

Setting

Public hospitals in Thailand.

Participants

A total of 353 policymakers, experts and patients.

Outcomes

Stakeholders’ preferences for assessment criteria (stroke reduction, myocardial infarction reduction, myalgia and hepatotoxicity). Statins’ ranking and maximum acceptable risk in all perspectives were also calculated.

Results

For any perspective, the most and least important criteria were the risk of hepatotoxicity and the benefit of myocardial infarction reduction, respectively. Patients and experts agreed on the order of importance for myalgia and stroke reduction, but policymakers had different order of importance in these criteria. Overall, results showed that the highest and lowest chances of being chosen were atorvastatin and rosuvastatin, respectively. Only patients’ ranking order was different from others. Maximum acceptable risk of hepatotoxicity was lower than that of myalgia, reflecting the greater concern of all perspectives to statin consequence on liver.

Conclusions

The results of benefit–risk assessment from every perspective were somewhat consistent. This study demonstrated the feasibility of applying a discrete choice experiment in the benefit–risk assessment of drugs and encouraged the engagement of multiple stakeholders in the decision-making process.
Development of an optimised 1:1 physiotherapy intervention post first-time lumbar discectomy: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Rushton A , White L , Heap A , Calvert M , Heneghan N , Goodwin P
Published: February 2016

Objectives

To develop an optimised 1:1 physiotherapy intervention that reflects best practice, with flexibility to tailor management to individual patients, thereby ensuring patient-centred practice.

Design

Mixed-methods combining evidence synthesis, expert review and focus groups.

Setting

Secondary care involving 5 UK specialist spinal centres.

Participants

A purposive panel of clinical experts from the 5 spinal centres, comprising spinal surgeons, inpatient and outpatient physiotherapists, provided expert review of the draft intervention. Purposive samples of patients (n=10) and physiotherapists (n=10) (inpatient/outpatient physiotherapists managing patients with lumbar discectomy) were invited to participate in the focus groups at 1 spinal centre.

Methods

A draft intervention developed from 2 systematic reviews; a survey of current practice and research related to stratified care was circulated to the panel of clinical experts. Lead physiotherapists collaborated with physiotherapy and surgeon colleagues to provide feedback that informed the intervention presented at 2 focus groups investigating acceptability to patients and physiotherapists. The focus groups were facilitated by an experienced facilitator, recorded in written and tape-recorded forms by an observer. Tape recordings were transcribed verbatim. Data analysis, conducted by 2 independent researchers, employed an iterative and constant comparative process of (1) initial descriptive coding to identify categories and subsequent themes, and (2) deeper, interpretive coding and thematic analysis enabling concepts to emerge and overarching pattern codes to be identified.

Results

The intervention reflected best available evidence and provided flexibility to ensure patient-centred care. The intervention comprised up to 8 sessions of 1:1 physiotherapy over 8 weeks, starting 4 weeks postsurgery. The intervention was acceptable to patients and physiotherapists.

Conclusions

A rigorous process informed an optimised 1:1 physiotherapy intervention post-lumbar discectomy that reflects best practice. The developed intervention was agreed on by the 5 spinal centres for implementation in a randomised controlled trial to evaluate its effectiveness.
Serum erythropoietin and outcome after ischaemic stroke: a prospective study
Authors: Åberg N David , Stanne Tara M , Jood Katarina , Schiöler Linus , Blomstrand Christian , Andreasson Ulf , Blennow Kaj , Zetterberg Henrik , Isgaard Jörgen , Jern Christina , Svensson Johan
Published: February 2016

Objectives

Erythropoietin (EPO), which is inversely associated with blood haemoglobin (Hb), exerts neuroprotective effects in experimental ischaemic stroke (IS). However, clinical treatment trials have so far been negative. Here, in patients with IS, we analysed whether serum EPO is associated with (1) initial stroke severity, (2) recovery and (3) functional outcome.

Design

Prospective. Controls available at baseline.

Setting

A Swedish hospital-initiated study with outpatient follow-up after 3 months.

Participants

Patients (n=600; 64% males, mean age 56 years, controls n=600) were included from the Sahlgrenska Academy Study on IS (SAHLSIS).

Primary and secondary outcome measures

In addition to EPO and Hb, initial stroke severity was assessed by the Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) and compared with SSS after 3 months (follow-up) as a measure of recovery. Functional outcome was evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at follow-up. Serum EPO and SSS were divided into quintiles in the multivariate regression analyses.

Results

Serum EPO was 21% and 31% higher than in controls at the acute phase of IS and follow-up, respectively. In patients, acute serum EPO was 19.5% higher in severe versus mild IS. The highest acute EPO quintile adjusted for sex, age and Hb was associated with worse stroke severity quintile (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.87), better stroke recovery quintile (OR 1.93, CI 1.09 to 3.41) and unfavourable mRS 3–6 (OR 2.59, CI 1.15 to 5.80). However, the fourth quintile of EPO increase (from acute to follow-up) was associated with favourable mRS 0–2 (OR 3.42, CI 1.46 to 8.03). Only the last association withstood full adjustment.

Conclusions

The crude associations between EPO and worse stroke severity and outcome lost significance after multivariate modelling. However, in patients in whom EPO increased, the association with favourable outcome remained after adjustment for multiple covariates.
Effect of temperature and precipitation on salmonellosis cases in South-East Queensland, Australia: an observational study
Authors: Stephen Dimity Maree , Barnett Adrian Gerard
Published: February 2016

Objective

Foodborne illnesses in Australia, including salmonellosis, are estimated to cost over $A1.25 billion annually. The weather has been identified as being influential on salmonellosis incidence, as cases increase during summer, however time series modelling of salmonellosis is challenging because outbreaks cause strong autocorrelation. This study assesses whether switching models is an improved method of estimating weather–salmonellosis associations.

Design

We analysed weather and salmonellosis in South-East Queensland between 2004 and 2013 using 2 common regression models and a switching model, each with 21-day lags for temperature and precipitation.

Results

The switching model best fit the data, as judged by its substantial improvement in deviance information criterion over the regression models, less autocorrelated residuals and control of seasonality. The switching model estimated a 5°C increase in mean temperature and 10 mm precipitation were associated with increases in salmonellosis cases of 45.4% (95% CrI 40.4%, 50.5%) and 24.1% (95% CrI 17.0%, 31.6%), respectively.

Conclusions

Switching models improve on traditional time series models in quantifying weather–salmonellosis associations. A better understanding of how temperature and precipitation influence salmonellosis may identify where interventions can be made to lower the health and economic costs of salmonellosis.
Access to Transplantation and Transplant Outcome Measures (ATTOM): study protocol of a UK wide, in-depth, prospective cohort analysis
Authors: Oniscu Gabriel C , Ravanan Rommel , Wu Diana , Gibbons Andrea , Li Bernadette , Tomson Charles , Forsythe John L , Bradley Clare , Cairns John , Dudley Christopher , Watson Christopher J E , Bolton Eleanor M , Draper Heather , Robb Matthew , Bradbury Lisa , Pruthi Rishi , Metcalfe Wendy , Fogarty Damian , Roderick Paul , Bradley J Andrew
Published: February 2016

Introduction

There is significant intercentre variability in access to renal transplantation in the UK due to poorly understood factors. The overarching aims of this study are to improve equity of access to kidney and kidney–pancreas transplantation across the UK and to optimise organ allocation to maximise the benefit and cost-effectiveness of transplantation.

Methods and analysis

6844 patients aged 18–75 years starting dialysis and/or receiving a transplant together with matched patients active on the transplant list from all 72 UK renal units were recruited between November 2011 and March 2013 and will be followed for at least 3 years. The outcomes of interest include patient survival, access to the transplant list, receipt of a transplant, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) including quality of life, treatment satisfaction, well-being and health status on different forms of renal replacement therapy. Sociodemographic and clinical data were prospectively collected from case notes and from interviews with patients and local clinical teams. Qualitative process exploration with clinical staff will help identify unit-specific factors that influence access to renal transplantation. A health economic analysis will explore costs and outcomes associated with alternative approaches to organ allocation. The study will deliver: (1) an understanding of patient and unit-specific factors influencing access to renal transplantation in the UK, informing potential changes to practices and policies to optimise outcomes and reduce intercentre variability; (2) a patient-survival probability model to standardise access to the renal transplant list and (3) an understanding of PROMs and health economic impact of kidney and kidney–pancreas transplantation to inform the development of a more sophisticated and fairer organ allocation algorithm.

Ethics and dissemination

The protocol has been independently peer reviewed by National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and approved by the East of England Research Ethics Committee. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at conferences.
Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids intake modifies the positive association between serum total cholesterol and colorectal cancer risk: the Rotterdam Study
Authors: Muka Taulant , Kraja Bledar , Ruiter Rikje , de Keyser Catherine E , Hofman Albert , Stricker Bruno H , Kiefte-de Jong Jessica C , Franco Oscar H
Published: February 2016

Background

It remains unclear whether serum total cholesterol is associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. Interplay between dietary fatty acids and serum total cholesterol on CRC risk may be present as well. We aimed to investigate the association between serum total cholesterol with CRC. Furthermore, we investigated whether this association was modified by intake of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).

Methods

We analysed data from 6628 participants of the Rotterdam Study, a prospective population-based follow-up study among patients aged 55 years and older. Serum total cholesterol was measured at baseline. During a mean follow-up time of 12.9 years, we identified 248 new CRC cases based on pathology data and medical records. Multivariable HRs were calculated using Cox regression models.

Results

After adjustment, serum total cholesterol levels were associated with a higher risk of CRC (HR 1.49; 95% CI 1.08 to 2.06 for highest vs lowest tertile). Statistically significant effect modification was present for PUFAs intake (P-interaction=0.04). After stratification by median PUFAs intake, an increased risk with increasing tertiles of serum total cholesterol was observed among patients with low PUFAs intake (3rd tertile vs 1st tertile: HR 2.43; 95% CI 1.41 to 4.18), whereas no association was observed among patients with high PUFAs intake (3rd tertile vs 1st tertile: HR 0.93; 95% CI 0.55 to 1.58).

Conclusions

Taken together, these findings suggest that high levels of serum total cholesterol increase CRC risk, but this risk may be reduced by high dietary PUFAs intake.
Foreign body‐induced meningoencephalitis causing seizures in a dog
Authors: Lazzerini Kali , Erickson Nancy Ann , Mundhenk Lars , Loderstedt Shenja
Published: February 2016

A young Magyar vizsla dog was presented with seizures and progressive neurological deterioration in terms of symmetric prosencephalic signs despite induction of antiepileptic therapy. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis and MRI findings were suggestive of an inflammatory process. This finding was confirmed at postmortem examination and a plant foreign body penetrating the cerebrum was found. Migrating plant material is an uncommon cause of inflammation in the CNS in dogs. It should be considered an aetiological differential diagnosis in dogs with inflammatory CSF and worsening neurological status.
Ultrastructure of basidiospores of the mycorrhizal fungus Pisolithus tinctorius
Authors: Mims Charles W.
Published: February 2016

Basidia of Pisolithus tinctorius develop from terminal hyphal cells. The distal portion of the basidium enlarges, meiosis occurs, and basidiospore initials develop on short, stout, sterigmata, Young basidia and basidiospore initials are embedded in a fibrillar matrix. As spore initials develop, the basidium becomes highly vacuolate as the contents of the basidium move into the spore initials. A single nucleus typically enters each spore initial. A spore initial is eventually delimited from the basidium near the distal end of the sterigma. Wall material is subsequently deposited in this region sealing off the young spore from the basidium. The basidium then collapses leaving the short sterigma attached to the spore. Young basidiospores are initially highly vacuolate but a large lipid droplet eventually develops and displaces the other cellular components to the periphery of the spore. The oldest spores examined possessed a four-layered wall, the outer layer of which bears the surface spines. Many aberrant spores possessing more or less typical surface spines but lacking cellular components were routinely observed in this study side by side with normal spores.
Stimulation of fungal spore germination and inhibition of sporulation in fungal vegetative thalli by fatty acids and their volatile peroxidation products
Authors: Harman G. E. , Mattick L. R. , Nash G. , Nedrow B. L.
Published: February 2016

As little as 200 parts per billion of 2,4-hexadienal in aerial solution stimulated germination of Alternaria alternata conidiospores in soil-imposed stasis. This compound, as well as trans-2-hexene-1-ol, and palmitic acid, stimulated germination of Fusarium solani f. sp. pisi conidiospores. Other 5- to 10-carbon aldehydes, ketones, and alcohols, as well as some 16- to 18-carbon aldehydes and fatty acids, stimulated germination of these spores at 10- or 100-fold higher concentrations. Chlamydospores of F. solanif. sp. pisi were stimulated to germinate by heptanal, octanal, nonanal,trans,trans-2,4-nonadienal, decanal, and undecanal at 20 000 or 20 0000 parts per billion in air, but not by any compound at lower concentrations. Compounds similar to those stimulating germination of conidiospores or chlamydospores inhibited sporulation of vegetative A. alternata thalli at concentrations as low as 800 parts per billion.
Ultrastructural study of promycelial development and basidiospore initiation in Ustilago maydis
Authors: Ramberg Jane E. , McLaughlin David J.
Published: February 2016

Cytoplasm and walls of developing promycelia and basidiospores of Ustilago maydis were examined. The promycelial wall was derived from an inner wall layer of the teliospore. Small vesicles and probable Golgi cistemae appeared to be associated with promycelial extension. Some promycelial septa contained small pores; spherical vesicles, formed centripetally in the electron-transparent lamella at the center of the septa, appeared to be involved in promycelial fragmentation. An inner layer of the basidial wall gave rise to the wall of the developing basidiospore, and a collar of torn outer wall material surrounded the spore base. Spores were formed on short sterigmata. No significant vacuolation occurred in the promycelium during initial basidiospore formation, a feature unique among phragmobasidiomycetes examined thus far. The distribution of cytoplasmic organelles in the promycelium is like that seen in vegetative structures of other fungi.The placement of Ustilaginales in the basidiomycetes is supported by the layered walls and small pores in the promycelium. Derivation of the basidiospore wall and the migration of the nucleus into the basidiospore before mitosis resembled aspects of budding in basidiomycetous yeasts.
Attenuation of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress-Mediated Liver Damage by Mulberry Leaf Diet in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats
Authors: Afrin Rejina , Arumugam Somasundaram , Wahed Mir Imam Ibne , Pitchaimani Vigneshwaran , Karuppagounder Vengadeshprabhu , Sreedhar Remya , Harima Meilei , Suzuki Hiroshi , Miyashita Shizuka , Nakamura Takashi , Suzuki Kenji , Nakamura Masahiko , Ueno Kazuyuki , Watanabe Kenichi
Published: February 2016

Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) plays a crucial role in the development of insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus. Although antidiabetic use of mulberry leaves (MLs) has been popular due to their many anti-oxidative flavonoid compounds and free radical scavenging effects, ML’s effects on ERS in experimental diabetic hepatocyte injury remain unknown. To investigate how ML affect ERS in diabetic liver, Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were assigned to induce diabetes by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozocin (STZ; 55 mg/kg) and fed with either normal chow or a diet containing 25% mulberry leaf powder diet (MLD) and examined for 56 days. We observed that MLD improved the rats’ morphological and histopathological changes. Levels of ERS markers such as phosphorylated double-stranded RNA-dependent protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK) and X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) and the protein expression of glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) were significantly higher in the diabetic liver compared to normal liver. MLD for 8 weeks significantly reduced all of these markers. MLD also significantly decreased hepatocyte apoptosis, hepatic macrophage recruitment, cellular infiltration, and CCAAT/enhancer–binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 2 (TRAF2), interleukin 1[Formula: see text] (IL-1[Formula: see text]) and sterol regulatory element binding protein isoform 1c (SREBP 1c) levels in diabetic liver. These results may suggest that MLs can preserve hepatic function in experimental diabetes by modulating ERS mediated apoptosis and liver damage.
Oleanolic Acid Inhibiting the Differentiation of Neural Stem Cells into Astrocyte by Down-Regulating JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhang Yu-Lian , Zhou Zhen , Han Wen-Wen , Zhang Lin-Lin , Song Wan-Shan , Huang Jian-Hua , Liu Shuang
Published: February 2016

To investigate the effect of oleanolic acid (OA) on the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) induced by A[Formula: see text] via regulating the JAK/STAT signaling pathway, a neurotoxicity cell model involving the induction of NSCs by soluble A[Formula: see text] (5 [Formula: see text]M) was used. The WST-1 method and immunofluorescence tests were used respectively to detect the activity of cell model and the expression of GFAP[Formula: see text]/DAPI and Tubulin[Formula: see text]/DAPI. Western blotting and real-time PCR analyses were used to observe the effects of OA on NSCs differentiation by examining key targets of the JAK/STAT signal transduction pathway. Compared with normal NSCs, A[Formula: see text]-induced NSCs had down-regulated expression of Ngn1 and up-regulated STAT3 expression and phosphorylation, and inhibited neuronal differentiation. OA treatment effectively inhibited the A[Formula: see text]-induced activation of JAK/STAT signaling, with a significant increase in Ngn1 expression and a significant decrease in p-STAT3/STAT3. These results indicate that OA could inhibit the excessive differentiation of NSCs into astrocytes by down-regulating JAK/STAT signaling which might retard the progress of AD.
Extracts fromDendropanax morbiferaLeaves Have Modulatory Effects on Neuroinflammation in Microglia
Authors: Shim Hyun-Jung , Park Sinwoo , Lee Ji-Won , Park Hye-Jin , Baek Seung-Hoon , Kim Eun-Kyoung , Yu Seong-Woon
Published: February 2016

Dendropanax morbifera (D. morbifera), a species endemic to Korea, is largely distributed throughout the southern part of the country. Its leaves, stems, roots, and seeds have been used as a form of alternative medicine for various diseases and neurological disorders including paralysis, stroke, and migraine. However, the molecular mechanisms that underlie the remedial effects of D. morbifera remain largely unknown. In this paper, extracts from D. morbifera leaves were prepared using ethyl acetate as a solvent (abbreviated as DMLE). The modulatory effects of DMLE on neuroinflammation were studied in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 murine microglial cell line. Production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-[Formula: see text]B), and different M1/M2 activation states of microglia were examined. DMLE treatment suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-[Formula: see text] (TNF-[Formula: see text]), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. DMLE treatment also attenuated the activation of MAPKs and NF-[Formula: see text]B. In a novel discovery, we found that DMLE up-regulated the marker genes representing an alternative, anti-inflammatory M2 polarization, while suppressing the expression of the classical, pro-inflammatory M1 activation state genes. Here, we uncovered the cellular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of D. morbifera against neuroinflammation using BV2 microglia cells. These results strongly suggest that DMLE was able to counter the effects of LPS on BV2 cells via control of microglia polarization states. Additionally, study results indicated that DMLE may have therapeutic potential as a neuroinflammation-suppressing treatment for neurodegenerative diseases.
Sophoraflavanone G Induces Apoptosis in Human Leukemia Cells and Blocks MAPK Activation
Authors: Li Zih-Ying , Huang Wen-Chung , Tu Rong-Syuan , Gu Pei-Yu , Lin Chwan-Fwu , Liou Chian-Jiun
Published: February 2016

Sophoraflavanone G (SG) was isolated from Sophora flavescens. Previously, we have found that SG is able to suppress the inflammatory response in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of SG on apoptosis, and explore its molecular mechanism in human leukemia HL-60 cells. HL-60 cells were treated with various concentrations of SG (3–30 [Formula: see text]M). The viability of the HL-60 cells was assessed using the MTT method, and the nuclear condensation indicative of apoptosis was observed by DAPI fluorescence staining. In addition, apoptotic signal proteins were examined using Western blotting. The results showed that apoptosis, including DNA fragmentation and nuclear condensation, increased significantly in SG-treated HL-60 cells. SG activated caspase-3 and caspase-9, and downregulated Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. SG also upregulated Bax and released cytochrome c from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm, enabling apoptosis via the mitochondrially-mediated “intrinsic” pathway. Additionally, SG was able to cleave poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 and activate mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. These results suggest that SG might increase the effect of apoptosis on HL-60 cells through caspase-3 activation, mitochondrial-mediated pathways, and the MAPK pathway.
A lightweight methodology for rapid ontology engineering
Authors: De Nicola Antonio , Missikoff Michele
Published: February 2016

UPON Lite focuses on users, typically domain experts without ontology expertise, minimizing the role of ontology engineers.
MASA
Authors: De O. Sandes Edans F. , Miranda Guillermo , Martorell Xavier , Ayguade Eduard , Teodoro George , De Melo Alba C. M. A.
Published: February 2016

Biological sequence alignment is a very popular application in Bioinformatics, used routinely worldwide. Many implementations of biological sequence alignment algorithms have been proposed for multicores, GPUs, FPGAs and CellBEs. These implementations are platform-specific; porting them to other systems requires considerable programming effort. This article proposes and evaluates MASA, a flexible and customizable software architecture that enables the execution of biological sequence alignment applications with three variants (local, global, and semiglobal) in multiple hardware/software platforms with block pruning, which is able to reduce significantly the amount of data processed. To attain our flexibility goals, we also propose a generic version of block pruning and developed multiple parallelization strategies as building blocks, including a new asynchronous dataflow-based parallelization, which may be combined to implement efficient aligners in different platforms. We provide four MASA aligner implementations for multicores (OmpSs and OpenMP), GPU (CUDA), and Intel Phi (OpenMP), showing that MASA is very flexible. The evaluation of our generic block pruning strategy shows that it significantly outperforms the previously proposed block pruning, being able to prune up to 66.5% of the cells when using the new dataflow-based parallelization strategy.
A University-NGO partnership to sustain assistive technology projects
Authors: Calefato Fabio , Lanubile Filippo , De Nicolò Roberto , Lippolis Fabrizio
Published: February 2016

In this forum we celebrate research that helps to successfully bring the benefits of computing technologies to children, older adults, people with disabilities, and other populations that are often ignored in the design of mass-marketed products. ---
Juan Pablo Hourcade, Editor
What's special about aging
Authors: Light Ann , Pedell Sonja , Robertson Toni , Waycott Jenny , Bell Jeanette , Durick Jeannette , Leong Tuck Wah
Published: February 2016

Community + Culture features practitioner perspectives on designing technologies for and with communities. We highlight compelling projects and provocative points of view that speak to both community technology practice and the interaction design field as a whole. ---
Christopher A. Le Dantec, Editor
Go west
Authors: Tatar Deborah
Published: February 2016

The
Interactions
website (interactions.acm.org) hosts a stable of bloggers who share insights and observations on HCI, often challenging current practices. Each issue we'll publish selected posts from some of the leading voices in the field.
Web Content Extraction
Authors: Weninger Tim , Palacios Rodrigo , Crescenzi Valter , Gottron Thomas , Merialdo Paolo
Published: February 2016

In this paper, we present a meta-analysis of several Web content extraction algorithms, and make recommendations for the future of content extraction on the Web. First, we find that nearly all Web content extractors do not consider a very large, and growing, portion of modernWeb pages. Second, it is well understood that wrapper induction extractors tend to break as theWeb changes; ; heuristic/ feature engineering extractors were thought to be immune to a Web site's evolution, but we find that this is not the case: heuristic content extractor performance also tends to degrade over time due to the evolution of Web site forms and practices. We conclude with recommendations for future work that address these and other findings.
An Interactive Data Repository with Visual Analytics
Authors: Rossi Ryan A. , Ahmed Nesreen K.
Published: February 2016

Scientific data repositories have historically made data widely accessible to the scientific community, and have led to better research through comparisons, reproducibility, as well as further discoveries and insights. Despite the growing importance and utilization of data repositories in many scientific disciplines, the design of existing data repositories has not changed for decades. In this paper, we revisit the current design and envision interactive data repositories, which not only make data accessible, but also provide techniques for interactive data exploration, mining, and visualization in an easy, intuitive, and free-flowing manner.
DoKnowMe
Authors: Li Zheng , O'Brien Liam , Kihl Maria
Published: February 2016

Software engineering considers performance evaluation to be one of the key portions of software quality assurance. Unfortunately, there seems to be a lack of standard methodologies for performance evaluation even in the scope of experimental computer science. Inspired by the concept of "instantiation" in object-oriented programming, we distinguish the generic performance evaluation logic from the distributed and ad-hoc relevant studies, and develop an abstract evaluation methodology (by analogy of "class") we name Domain Knowledge-driven Methodology (DoKnowMe). By replacing five predefined domain-specific knowledge artefacts, DoKnowMe could be instantiated into specific methodologies (by analogy of "object") to guide evaluators in performance evaluation of different software and even computing systems. We also propose a generic validation framework with four indicators (i.e. usefulness, feasibility, effectiveness and repeatability), and use it to validate DoKnowMe in the Cloud services evaluation domain. Given the positive and promising validation result, we plan to integrate more common evaluation strategies to improve DoKnowMe and further focus on the performance evaluation of Cloud autoscaler systems.
Control of chylomicron export from the intestine
Authors: Mansbach Charles M. , Siddiqi Shahzad
Published: February 2016

The control of chylomicron output by the intestine is a complex process whose outlines have only recently come into focus. In this review we will cover aspects of chylomicron formation and prechylomicron vesicle generation that elucidate potential control points. Substrate (dietary fatty acids and monoacylglycerols) availability is directly related to the output rate of chylomicrons. These substrates must be converted to triacylglycerol before packaging in prechylomicrons by a series of endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized acylating enzymes that rapidly convert fatty acids and monoacylglycerols to triacylglycerol. The packaging of the prechylomicron with triacylglycerol is controlled by the microsomal triglyceride transport protein, another potential limiting step. The prechylomicrons, once loaded with triacylglycerol, are ready to be incorporated into the prechylomicron transport vesicle that transports the prechylomicron from the ER to the Golgi. Control of this exit step from the ER, the rate-limiting step in the transcellular movement of the triacylglycerol, is a multistep process involving the activation of PKCζ, the phosphorylation of Sar1b, releasing the liver fatty acid binding protein from a heteroquatromeric complex, which enables it to bind to the ER and organize the prechylomicron transport vesicle budding complex. We propose that control of PKCζ activation is the major physiological regulator of chylomicron output.
A Novel RAF Kinase Inhibitor with DFG-Out–Binding Mode: High Efficacy in BRAF-Mutant Tumor Xenograft Models in the Absence of Normal Tissue Hyperproliferation
Authors: Waizenegger Irene C. , Baum Anke , Steurer Steffen , Stadtmüller Heinz , Bader Gerd , Schaaf Otmar , Garin-Chesa Pilar , Schlattl Andreas , Schweifer Norbert , Haslinger Christian , Colbatzky Florian , Mousa Sien , Kalkuhl Arno , Kraut Norbert , Adolf Günther R.
Published: February 2016

BI 882370 is a highly potent and selective RAF inhibitor that binds to the DFG-out (inactive) conformation of the BRAF kinase. The compound inhibited proliferation of human BRAF–mutant melanoma cells with 100× higher potency (1–10 nmol/L) than vemurafenib, whereas wild-type cells were not affected at 1,000 nmol/L. BI 882370 administered orally was efficacious in multiple mouse models of BRAF-mutant melanomas and colorectal carcinomas, and at 25 mg/kg twice daily showed superior efficacy compared with vemurafenib, dabrafenib, or trametinib (dosed to provide exposures reached in patients). To model drug resistance, A375 melanoma–bearing mice were initially treated with vemurafenib; all tumors responded with regression, but the majority subsequently resumed growth. Trametinib did not show any efficacy in this progressing population. BI 882370 induced tumor regression; however, resistance developed within 3 weeks. BI 882370 in combination with trametinib resulted in more pronounced regressions, and resistance was not observed during 5 weeks of second-line therapy. Importantly, mice treated with BI 882370 did not show any body weight loss or clinical signs of intolerability, and no pathologic changes were observed in several major organs investigated, including skin. Furthermore, a pilot study in rats (up to 60 mg/kg daily for 2 weeks) indicated lack of toxicity in terms of clinical chemistry, hematology, pathology, and toxicogenomics. Our results indicate the feasibility of developing novel compounds that provide an improved therapeutic window compared with first-generation BRAF inhibitors, resulting in more pronounced and long-lasting pathway suppression and thus improved efficacy. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(3); 354–65. ©2016 AACR.
Sinomenine Attenuates Angiotensin II-Induced Autophagy via Inhibition of P47-Phox Translocation to the Membrane and Influences Reactive Oxygen Species Generation in Podocytes
Authors: Wang Weili , Cai Juan , Tang Sha , Zhang Ying , Gao Xuejing , Xie Lijiao , Mou Zhirong , Wu Yuzhang , Wang Li , Zhang Jingbo
Published: February 2016

Background/Aims: Sinomenine, a pure alkaloid extracted from the Chinese medicinal plant Sinomenium acutum, and sinomenine hydrochloride (SN) has been successfully used for the therapy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and kidney diseases. Autophagy is a cytoprotective mechanism used by podocytes and other cells to alleviate the effects of oxidative stress, and angiotensin II (Ang II) significantly promotes podocyte autophagy. However, excessive autophagy may lead to cell death and podocyte depletion. The present study evaluated the effect of SN in podocytes induced by Ang II. Methods: Podocytes were pretreated with graded concentrations (10-8 M ∼ 10-4 M) of SN and then stimulated with Ang II. The LC3B protein and the p47-phox membrane fraction were measured by Western blot. Autolysosomes were assessed by transmission electron microscopy. FACS was used to quantify the ROS produced by podocytes. The translocation of p47-phox to the membrane was investigated by immunofluorescence. Results: The 10-8 M ∼ 10-4 M of SN alone did not effect ROS generation or podocyte autophagy. The 10-8 M and 10-6 M SN attenuated Ang II-induced autophagy in podocytes. Furthermore, SN decreased the level of ROS generation in Ang II-induced podocytes via inhibition of NOX subunit p47-phox translocation to the membrane. Conclusion: The appropriate concentration of SN attenuated Ang II-induced podocyte autophagy through ROS generation, at least in part, by regulating NOX subunit p47-phox translocation to the membrane.
Aggressive Surgery for Locally Advanced Gallbladder Cancer with Obstructive Jaundice: Result of a Prospective Study
Authors: Nasu Yuya , Hirano Satoshi , Tsuchikawa Takahiro , Shichinohe Toshiaki
Published: February 2016

Objective: The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical impact of our departmental policy for advanced gallbladder cancer (GBC) even with obstructive jaundice. Methods: Obstructive jaundice was defined as serum T-bil ≥2.0 mg/dl. Between 1998 and 2008, 112 patients with GBC were scheduled for surgical resection with curative intent. Thirty-six patients were converted to palliative surgery or exploration alone because of advanced disease. After excluding pathological T1 (UICC) patients (n = 11), the remaining 65 patients were divided into 2 groups; jaundiced group (n = 37) and non-jaundiced group (n = 28). Surgical procedures were conducted based on our departmental guidelines concerning each type of infiltration of GBC. Results: Bile duct resection and major hepatectomy were performed more frequently in patients with jaundice. Although patients in jaundiced group had more advanced disease, 5-year overall survival rates of the patients with or without jaundice were 27 vs. 31% (p = 0.742), which was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Aggressive surgery might improve long-term survival in patients with locally advanced GBC even in the condition of obstructive jaundice with no distant metastasis.
Bacteria from Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Spores Gigaspora sp. and Glomus sp. : Their Antagonistic Effects towards Soilborne Fungal Pathogens and Growth Stimulation of Gigaspora sp. in vitro
Authors: Budi Sri Wilarso
Published: February 2016

Eight isolates bacteria were isolated from surface sterilized endomycorrhizal spores of Gigaspora sp and six isolates bacteria isolated from Glomus sp. The tests to Â the antagonists against fungal pathogens and stimulation of endomycorrhizae hyphal development of Gigaspora sp Â in vitro Â showed that there were three.isolates (GG1, GG5 and GL3) that have the ability to inhibit the growth of pathogens and enhance the development of hyphae in vitro. Enzymatic activity test showed that there were seven isolates that produce cellulase and protease activity that is GG1, GG3, GG6, GG7, GL2, GL4 and GL6Â Key words : Bacteria, Endomycorrhizal Spores, Antagonistic effects, Stimulation effects, Fungal pathogens
Flora of Fergusson College campus, Pune, India: monitoring changes over half a century
Authors: Nerlekar Ashish N. , Lapalikar Sairandhri A. , Onkar Akshay A. , Laware S. L. , Mahajan M. C.
Published: February 2016

The present study was aimed at determining the vascular plant species richness of an urban green-space- the Fergusson College campus, Pune and comparing it with the results of the past flora which was documented in 1958 by Dr. V.D. Vartak. For this, the species richness data was obtained by both secondary sources and intensive surveys from 2009–2014. The data from the primary and secondary sources resulted in the documentation of 812 species belonging to 542 genera under 124 families, of which 534 species (65.8%) exists  today as compared to 654 in 1958 (net loss of 120 species). Of the 812 species listed, 278 species were observed only during the past, 210 species were exclusively recorded in the current survey and 324 species were observed both, in the past as well as current survey. Arboreal species richness recorded till date (196) in the campus accounts for 40.7% of that of the entire Pune City. Leguminosae and Poaceae were the dominant dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous families respectively and an inventory of all the species recorded is provided. Although the botanical garden over the past years has lost 187 species, it still houses rare species such as Acacia greggii, which has been reported from Maharashtra for the first time. Considering the rapidly changing urban land use in the city, much attention should be paid towards the conservation of these green spaces, for which such studies provide baseline data.

 
Intrusion of devil weed Chromolaena odorata, an exotic invasive, into Kinnerasani and Eturnagaram wildlife sanctuaries, Telangana, India
Authors: Suthari Sateesh , Kandagatla Ramesh , Geetha Sarede , Ragan Ajmeera , Raju Vatsavaya S.
Published: February 2016

The spread of devil weed is alarming in areas of podu cultivation, on the bunds of agricultural lands, wastelands, along roadsides, tracks, forest gaps, protected areas and plantations in the two said wildlife sanctuaries. It is found invading new territories easily along the river banks and steadily destroying the riparian elements. The manual removal of this weed (mechanical method) before flowering is the effective means to mitigate the spread of the species in comparison to the biological (Pareuchaetes pseudoinsulata, P. insulata, Actinote thalia-pyrrha) and chemical (Glyphosate, Triclopyrester) methods attempted. It is not trouble in its native habitat but is weedy in India for want of natural enemies to keep it under control. It is a mandate to prevent the loss of native biodiversity due to biological invasions. Conversely, there is an urgent need to devise action plans by managers of the respective wildlife sanctuaries to control and eradicate it. The local people are to be educated of its potential dangers to their farming on one hand and NTFP extraction from the local forests on the other. The Government of India has to develop a national level policy towards the control of invasive alien weeds in general and implement it at the earliest before we loose our indigenous biodiversity once for all.
Rediscovery, systematics and proposed Red List status of Ledebouria junnarensis S.S. Rahangdale and S.R. Rahangdale nom. nov. (Asparagaceae) - an endemic species from the Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India
Authors: Rahangdale Savita Sanjaykumar , Rahangdale Sanjaykumar Ramlal
Published: February 2016

A new name in the genus Ledebouria Roth is validated for Scilla viridis Blatter & Hallberg [non Scilla viridis (L.) Salisbury].  It is rediscovered after about 85 years of its first and only report.  It is also redescribed on the basis of morphology, anatomy, cytology and assigned the name Ledebouria junnarensis S.S. Rahangdale & S.R. Rahangdale belonging to the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Hyacinthoideae.  As this is a species endemic to the Western Ghats, Maharashtra, India, it is studied for threat status as per IUCN criteria & guidelines and assigned the status Critically Endangered B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii).  Identification keys for the genera and species of subfamily Hyacinthoideae reported from India are prepared on the basis of reported and observed characters.

 
Tangled skeins: a first report of non-captive mating behavior in the Southeast Asian Paradise Flying Snake (Reptilia: Squamata: Colubridae: Chrysopelea paradisi)
Authors: Kaiser Hinrich , Lim Johnny , Worth Heike , O’Shea Mark
Published: February 2016

We describe the courtship behavior of the Paradise Flying Snake, Chrysopelea paradisi, from a series of images taken near Sandakan, eastern Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia. During the episode observed, four males moved together with a female in various states of entanglement, traveling at ground level and into a series of bushes.  The observations took place over the course of a 30-min period until the snakes were lost to view.  Our report is the first direct observation of mating behavior in C. paradisi in the wild and provides another rare glimpse of the multi-male courtship in Southeast Asian colubrids.

 
Long-horned grasshoppers (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae) in Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra, India
Authors: Gaikwad Sunil M. , Koli Yogesh J. , Raut Gopal A. , Waghmare Sadashiv H. , Bhawane Ganesh P.
Published: February 2016

The present communication highlights the significant records of tettigoniids from Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary, Kolhapur, Maharashtra State.  A total of 11 species belonging to five subfamilies distributed over 11 genera are discussed.  Out of these 11 species nine are known from Maharashtra and two are new locality records.  Each subfamily is represented by only one species of which Phyllozelus (Phyllozelus) siccus siccus and Hexacentrus unicolor are new records to Maharashtra.

 
Basigin Promotes Cardiac Fibrosis and Failure in Response to Chronic Pressure Overload in Mice
Authors: Suzuki Kota , Satoh Kimio , Ikeda Shohei , Sunamura Shinichiro , Otsuki Tomohiro , Satoh Taijyu , Kikuchi Nobuhiro , Omura Junichi , Kurosawa Ryo , Nogi Masamichi , Numano Kazuhiko , Sugimura Koichiro , Aoki Tatsuo , Tatebe Shunsuke , Miyata Satoshi , Mukherjee Rupak , Spinale Francis G. , Kadomatsu Kenji , Shimokawa Hiroaki
Published: February 2016

Objective—

Basigin (Bsg) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that activates matrix metalloproteinases and promotes inflammation. However, the role of Bsg in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy and failure remains to be elucidated. We examined the role of Bsg in cardiac hypertrophy and failure in mice and humans.

Approach and Results—

We performed transverse aortic constriction in
Bsg

+/–

and in wild-type mice.
Bsg

+/–

mice showed significantly less heart and lung weight and cardiac interstitial fibrosis compared with littermate controls after transverse aortic constriction. Both matrix metalloproteinase activities and oxidative stress in loaded left ventricle were significantly less in
Bsg

+/–

mice compared with controls. Echocardiography showed that
Bsg

+/–

mice showed less hypertrophy, less left ventricular dilatation, and preserved left ventricular fractional shortening compared with littermate controls after transverse aortic constriction. Consistently,
Bsg

+/–

mice showed a significantly improved long-term survival after transverse aortic constriction compared with
Bsg

+/+

mice, regardless of the source of bone marrow (
Bsg

+/+

or
Bsg

+/–

). Conversely, cardiac-specific Bsg-overexpressing mice showed significantly poor survival compared with littermate controls. Next, we isolated cardiac fibroblasts and examined their responses to angiotensin II or mechanical stretch. Both stimuli significantly increased Bsg expression, cytokines/chemokines secretion, and extracellular signal–regulated kinase/Akt/JNK activities in
Bsg

+/+

cardiac fibroblasts, all of which were significantly less in
Bsg

+/–

cardiac fibroblasts. Consistently, extracellular and intracellular Bsg significantly promoted cardiac fibroblast proliferation. Finally, serum levels of Bsg were significantly elevated in patients with heart failure and predicted poor prognosis.

Conclusions—

These results indicate the crucial roles of intracellular and extracellular Bsg in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and failure in mice and humans.