bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
6α-Acetoxyanopterine: A Novel Structure Class of Mitotic Inhibitor Disrupting Microtubule Dynamics in Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Levrier Claire , Sadowski Martin C. , Rockstroh Anja , Gabrielli Brian , Kavallaris Maria , Lehman Melanie , Davis Rohan A. , Nelson Colleen C.
Published: October 2016

The lack of a cure for metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) highlights the urgent need for more efficient drugs to fight this disease. Here, we report the mechanism of action of the natural product 6α-acetoxyanopterine (6-AA) in prostate cancer cells. At low nanomolar doses, this potent cytotoxic alkaloid from the Australian endemic tree Anopterus macleayanus induced a strong accumulation of LNCaP and PC-3 (prostate cancer) cells as well as HeLa (cervical cancer) cells in mitosis, severe mitotic spindle defects, and asymmetric cell divisions, ultimately leading to mitotic catastrophe accompanied by cell death through apoptosis. DNA microarray of 6-AA–treated LNCaP cells combined with pathway analysis identified very similar transcriptional changes when compared with the anticancer drug vinblastine, which included pathways involved in mitosis, microtubule spindle organization, and microtubule binding. Like vinblastine, 6-AA inhibited microtubule polymerization in a cell-free system and reduced cellular microtubule polymer mass. Yet, microtubule alterations that are associated with resistance to microtubule-destabilizing drugs like vinca alkaloids (vinblastine/vincristine) or 2-methoxyestradiol did not confer resistance to 6-AA, suggesting a different mechanism of microtubule interaction. 6-AA is a first-in-class microtubule inhibitor that features the unique anopterine scaffold. This study provides a strong rationale to further develop this novel structure class of microtubule inhibitor for the treatment of malignant disease. Mol Cancer Ther; 16(1); 3–15. ©2016 AACR.
Attenuation of Renal Functional Decline Following Angioplasty and Stenting in Atherosclerotic Renovascular Disease
Authors: Hagemann Rodrigo , dos Santos Silva Vanessa , Cardoso Carvalho Fábio , Barretti Pasqual , Martin Luis Cuadrado , Vassallo Diana , Kalra Philip A. , da Silva Franco Roberto Jorge
Published: October 2016

Background: To date, renal revascularization has not been shown to be advantageous when compared to optimized medical treatment in patients with atheromatous renovascular disease (ARVD). This study aims to investigate the effect of revascularization in patients with pre-intervention worsening renal function and in those with stable renal function. Patients and Methods: In this single-centre observational study, patients who were diagnosed with at least 60% angiographic stenosis unilaterally or bilaterally between January 1996 and October 2008 and who were followed-up until February 2011 were retrospectively analysed. Evolution of renal function was determined from the slope of reciprocal of serum creatinine (RCr-slope) before and after diagnostic angiography or revascularization; this required 5 or more creatinine measurements before and at least another 5 measurements post-procedure. Patients were divided into 2 groups: one comprising patients with negative RCr-slope before the procedure and a second group of patients with prior positive RCr-slope. A stepwise, adjusted logistic regression was used to determine the OR of revascularization on attenuation of RCr-slope. Results: Data for 52 patients were analysed. Median age was 64 (58-72) and median follow-up was 15 (8-34) months. Only patients with a negative RCr-slope (-0.0078 (95% CI -0.0174, -0.0033) dl/mg/month) who underwent revascularization manifested an improved RCr-slope during follow-up (+0.0013 (95% CI -0.0002, 0.0039) dl/mg/month, p < 0.001). This finding remained statistically significant even after the adjustment for proteinuria and bilateral arterial disease. Conclusion: Revascularization may be indicated for patients with ARVD and progressively worsening renal function. This patient subgroup should ideally be evaluated in future randomized controlled trials.
Dance Experience and Associations with Cortical Gray Matter Thickness in the Aging Population
Authors: Porat Shai , Goukasian Naira , Hwang Kristy S. , Zanto Theodore , Do Triet , Pierce Jonathan , Joshi Shantanu , Woo Ellen , Apostolova Liana G.
Published: October 2016

Introduction: We investigated the effect dance experience may have on cortical gray matter thickness and cognitive performance in elderly participants with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: 39 cognitively normal and 48 MCI elderly participants completed a questionnaire regarding their lifetime experience with music, dance, and song. Participants identified themselves as either dancers or nondancers. All participants received structural 1.5-tesla MRI scans and detailed clinical and neuropsychological evaluations. An advanced 3D cortical mapping technique was then applied to calculate cortical thickness. Results: Despite having a trend-level significantly thinner cortex, dancers performed better in cognitive tasks involving learning and memory, such as the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II) short delay free recall (p = 0.004), the CVLT-II long delay free recall (p = 0.003), and the CVLT-II learning over trials 1-5 (p = 0.001). Discussion: Together, these results suggest that dance may result in an enhancement of cognitive reserve in aging, which may help avert or delay MCI.
Activity of c-Met/ALK Inhibitor Crizotinib and Multi-Kinase VEGF Inhibitor Pazopanib in Metastatic Gastrointestinal Neuroectodermal Tumor Harboring EWSR1-CREB1 Fusion
Authors: Subbiah Vivek , Holmes Oliver , Gowen Kyle , Spritz Daniel , Amini Behrang , Wang Wei-Lien , Schrock Alexa B. , Meric-Bernstam Funda , Zinner Ralph , Piha-Paul Sarina , Zarzour Maria , Elvin Julia A. , Erlich Rachel L. , Stockman David L. , Vergilio Jo-Anne , Suh James H. , Stephens Philip J. , Miller Vincent , Ross Jeffrey S. , Ali Siraj M.
Published: October 2016

Malignant gastrointestinal neuroectodermal tumor (GNET) is an aggressive rare tumor, primarily occurring in young adults with frequent local-regional metastases and recurrence after local control. The tumor is characterized by the presence of EWSR1-ATF1 or EWSR1-CREB1 and immunohistochemical positivity for S-100 protein without melanocytic marker positivity. Due to poor responses to standard sarcoma regimens, GNET has a poor prognosis, and development of effective systemic therapy is desperately needed to treat these patients. Herein, we present a patient with a small bowel GNET who experienced recurrent hepatic and skeletal metastases after a primary resection. Comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) in the course of clinical care with DNA and RNA sequencing demonstrated the presence of an exon 7 to exon 6 EWSR1-CREB1 fusion in the context of a diploid genome with no other genomic alterations. In a clinical trial, the patient received a combination of 250 mg crizotinib with 600 mg pazopanib quaque die and achieved partial response and durable clinical benefit for over 2.8 years, and with minimal toxicity from therapy. Using a CGP database of over 50,000 samples, we identified 11 additional cases that harbor EWSR1-CREB1 and report clinicopathologic characteristics, as these patients may also benefit from such a regimen.
Effect of Verbal Empathy and Touch on Anxiety Relief in Patients Undergoing Flexible Bronchoscopy: Can Empathy Reduce Patients' Anxiety?
Authors: Choi Sun Mi , Lee Jinwoo , Park Young Sik , Lee Chang-Hoon , Lee Sang-Min , Yim Jae-Joon
Published: October 2016

Background: Patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy usually experience anxiety before and during the procedure. Objectives: We performed this study to investigate whether verbal empathy and intentional touch from a bronchoscopist could reduce anxiety in patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy. Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized trial in a university-affiliated hospital. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: a control group, a verbal empathy group, or a verbal empathy and touch group. The staff pulmonologist performing bronchoscopy expressed verbal empathy and used touch by speaking to the patient (using predefined short statements) and making eye contact, and by laying his/her left hand on the patient's right shoulder. We assessed the level of patient anxiety with a visual analog scale before and after the intervention. Results: Participants were 267 patients with a median age of 65 years; 62.2% were men. Although there were no differences in changes in anxiety between the three groups, subgroup analysis of the visual analog scale including participants with higher baseline anxiety (empathy and touch group participants with anxiety ≥60 mm; empathy group and empathy and touch group participants with anxiety ≥70 mm) showed a larger reduction in anxiety than the control group. Conclusions: Verbal empathy and touch given by a bronchoscopist before bronchoscopy reduced anxiety in patients with high baseline anxiety levels.
The MAP kinase JNK2 mediates cigarette smoke-induced arterial thrombosis
Authors: Stämpfli Simon F. , Reiner Martin F. , Shi Yi , Keller Stephan , Akhmedov Alexander , Clerigué Ariane Schaub , Spescha Remo D. , Beer Hans-Jürg , Lüscher Thomas F. , Tanner Felix C. , Camici Giovanni G. , Breitenstein Alexander
Published: October 2016

Despite public awareness of its deleterious effects, smoking remains a major cause of death. Indeed, it is a risk factor for atherothrombotic complications and in line with this, the introduction of smoking ban in public areas reduced smoking-associated cardiovascular complications. Nonetheless, smoking remains a major concern, and molecular mechanisms by which it causes cardiovascular disease are not known. Peripheral blood monocytes from healthy smokers displayed increased JNK2 and tissue factor (TF) gene expression compared to non-smokers (n=15, p<0.05). Similarly, human aortic endothelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke total particulate matter (CS-TPM) revealed increased TF expression mediated by JNK2 (n=4; p<0.05). Wild-type and JNK2−/− mice were exposed to cigarette smoke for two weeks after which arterial thrombosis was investigated. Wild-type mice exposed to smoke displayed reduced time to thrombotic arterial occlusion (n=8; p<0.05) and increased tissue factor activity (n=7; p<0.05) as compared to wild-type controls (n=6), while JNK2−/− mice exposed to smoke maintained an unaltered thrombotic potential (n=8; p=NS) and tissue factor activity (n=8) comparable to that of JNK2−/− and wild-type controls (n=6; p=NS). Smoking caused an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in wild-type but not in JNK2−/− mice (n=7; p<0.05 for wild-type mice and n=5–6; p=NS for JNK2−/− mice). In conclusion, the MAP kinase JNK2 mediates cigarette smoke-induced TF activation, arterial thrombosis and ROS production. These results underscore a major role of JNK2 in smoke-mediated thrombus formation and may offer an attractive target to prevent smoke-related thrombosis in those subjects which do not manage quitting.
Trimethylamine
N
‐Oxide and Mortality Risk in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease
Authors: Senthong Vichai , Wang Zeneng , Fan Yiying , Wu Yuping , Hazen Stanley L. , Tang W. H. Wilson
Published: October 2016

Background

Production of the proatherogenic metabolite, trimethylamine
N
‐oxide (
TMAO
), from dietary nutrients by intestinal microbiota enhances atherosclerosis development in animal models and is associated with atherosclerotic coronary artery disease in humans. The utility of studying plasma levels of
TMAO
to risk stratify in patients with peripheral artery disease (
PAD
) has not been reported.

Methods and Results

We examined the relationship between fasting plasma
TMAO
and all‐cause mortality (5‐year), stratified by subtypes of
PAD
and presence of coronary artery disease in 935 patients with
PAD
who underwent elective angiography for cardiac evaluation at a tertiary care hospital. Median plasma
TMAO
was 4.8 μmol/L (interquartile range, 2.9–8.0 μmol/L). Elevated
TMAO
levels were associated with 2.7‐fold increased mortality risk (fourth versus first quartiles, hazard ratio 2.86, 95%
CI
1.82–3.97,
P
<0.001). Following adjustments for traditional risk factors, inflammatory biomarkers, and history of coronary artery disease, the highest
TMAO
quartile remained predictive of 5‐year mortality (adjusted hazard ratio 2.06, 95%
CI
1.36–3.11,
P
<0.001). Similar prognostic value for elevated
TMAO
was seen for subjects with carotid artery, non–carotid artery, or lower extremity
PAD
.
TMAO
provided incremental prognostic value for all‐cause mortality (net reclassification index, 40.22%;
P
<0.001) and improvement in area under receiver operator characteristic curve (65.7% versus 69.4%;
P
=0.013).

Conclusions

TMAO
, a pro‐atherogenic metabolite formed by gut microbes, predicts long‐term adverse event risk and incremental prognostic value in patients with
PAD
. These findings point to the potential for
TMAO
to help improve selection of high‐risk
PAD
patients with or without significant coronary artery disease, who likely need more aggressive and specific dietary and pharmacologic therapy.
Fast, Accurate Localization of Epileptic Seizure Onset Zones Based on Detection of High-Frequency Oscillations Using Improved Wavelet Transform and Matching Pursuit Methods
Authors: Wu Min , Wan Ting , Wan Xiongbo , Du Yuxiao , She Jinhua
Published: October 2016

This letter describes the improvement of two methods of detecting high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) and their use to localize epileptic seizure onset zones (SOZs). The wavelet transform (WT) method was improved by combining the complex Morlet WT with Shannon entropy to enhance the temporal-frequency resolution during HFO detection. And the matching pursuit (MP) method was improved by combining it with an adaptive genetic algorithm to improve the speed and accuracy of the calculations for HFO detection. The HFOs detected by these two methods were used to localize SOZs in five patients. A comparison shows that the improved WT method provides high specificity and quick localization and that the improved MP method provides high sensitivity.
On Decoding Grid Cell Population Codes Using Approximate Belief Propagation
Authors: Yoo Yongseok , Kim Woori
Published: October 2016

Neural systems are inherently noisy. One well-studied example of a noise reduction mechanism in the brain is the population code, where representing a variable with multiple neurons allows the encoded variable to be recovered with fewer errors. Studies have assumed ideal observer models for decoding population codes, and the manner in which information in the neural population can be retrieved remains elusive. This letter addresses a mechanism by which realistic neural circuits can recover encoded variables. Specifically, the decoding problem of recovering a spatial location from populations of grid cells is studied using belief propagation. We extend the belief propagation decoding algorithm in two aspects. First, beliefs are approximated rather than being calculated exactly. Second, decoding noises are introduced into the decoding circuits. Numerical simulations demonstrate that beliefs can be effectively approximated by combining polynomial nonlinearities with divisive normalization. This approximate belief propagation algorithm is tolerant to decoding noises. Thus, this letter presents a realistic model for decoding neural population codes and investigates fault-tolerant information retrieval mechanisms in the brain.
Improving the Incoherence of a Learned Dictionary via Rank Shrinkage
Authors: Ubaru Shashanka , Seghouane Abd-Krim , Saad Yousef
Published: October 2016

This letter considers the problem of dictionary learning for sparse signal representation whose atoms have low mutual coherence. To learn such dictionaries, at each step, we first update the dictionary using the method of optimal directions (MOD) and then apply a dictionary rank shrinkage step to decrease its mutual coherence. In the rank shrinkage step, we first compute a rank 1 decomposition of the column-normalized least squares estimate of the dictionary obtained from the MOD step. We then shrink the rank of this learned dictionary by transforming the problem of reducing the rank to a nonnegative garrotte estimation problem and solving it using a path-wise coordinate descent approach. We establish theoretical results that show that the rank shrinkage step included will reduce the coherence of the dictionary, which is further validated by experimental results. Numerical experiments illustrating the performance of the proposed algorithm in comparison to various other well-known dictionary learning algorithms are also presented.
s
Authors: Kaplan Vera
Published: October 2016

The article surveys contemporary Israeli historiography of the 1917 revolutions, focusing mainly on studies that appeared in Hebrew, but also considering some works by Israeli historians that were published in Russian and English. The article examines the research problems addressed by Israeli historians, including such questions as the inevitability vs. unpredictability of the February and October revolutions; the conflicting character of the Russian revolutionary cultures; elements of modern utopianism in the revolutionary ideology; and individual and communal survival during the revolutionary era. Special attention is paid to the representation of the 1917 revolutions in Jewish history, including biographies of historical figures who were active in both the Russian revolutionary and the Jewish national movement in Palestine. The article claims that the studies of Israeli historians are characterized by a rich documentary basis and approach the 1917 revolution as a profound cultural, and not only political and social, event.
Towards a monophyletic classification of Lejeuneaceae V: the systematic position of Pictolejeunea
Authors: BECHTELER JULIA , LEE GAIK EE , SCHÄFER-VERWIMP ALFONS , RENNER MATT A. M. , PERALTA DENILSON F. , HEINRICHS JOCHEN
Published: October 2016

With more than 1,000 species in some 70 genera, Lejeuneaceae represent the largest family of liverworts. Although much progress has been made in recent years, the supraspecific classification of Lejeuneaceae has not yet been satisfactorily solved. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of a three marker dataset (nrITS, cp DNA rbcL and trnL-trnF) derived from 85 accessions of Lejeuneeae and 13 outgroup species revealed Pictolejeunea picta in a sister relationship to the remainder of Lejeuneeae, the most speciose tribe of Lejeuneaceae. Based on the outcome of the phylogenetic analyses, we establish subtribe Pictolejeuneinae subtr. nov.
Lectotypification of the Names of Two species of Omphalogramma (Primulaceae)
Authors: HUSAIN DANISH , KATIYAR PUSHPENDRA , AGNIHOTRI PRIYANKA , HUSAIN TARIQ
Published: October 2016

Members of the genus Omphalogramma Franchet (1898: 178) are perennial herbs with stout woody rhizomes bearing zygomorphic, solitary flowers. Confined to the Eastern Himalayas, approximately 13 species are known in the genus, of which nine are found in China (Hu and Kelso 1996).
The Green Ocean Amazon Experiment (GoAmazon2014/5) Observes Pollution Affecting Gases, Aerosols, Clouds, and Rainfall over the Rain Forest
Authors: Artaxo P. , Machado L. , Manzi A. O. , Souza R. A. F. , Schumacher C. , Wang J. , Biscaro T. , Brito J. , Calheiros A. , Jardine K. , Medeiros A. , Portela B. , de Sá S. S. , Adachi K. , Aiken A. C. , Albrecht R. , Alexander L. , Andreae M. O. , Barbosa H. M. J. , Buseck P. , Chand D. , Comstock J. M. , Day D. A. , Dubey M. , Fan J. , Fast J. , Fisch G. , Fortner E. , Giangrande S. , Gilles M. , Goldstein A. H. , Guenther A. , Hubbe J. , Jensen M. , Jimenez J. L. , Keutsch F. N. , Kim S. , Kuang C. , Laskin A. , McKinney K. , Mei F. , Miller M. , Nascimento R. , Pauliquevis T. , Pekour M. , Peres J. , Petäjä T. , Pöhlker C. , Pöschl U. , Rizzo L. , Schmid B. , Shilling J. E. , Dias M. A. Silva , Smith J. N. , Tomlinson J. M. , Tóta J. , Wendisch M.
Published: October 2016

The Observations and Modeling of the Green Ocean Amazon 2014–2015 (GoAmazon2014/5) experiment took place around the urban region of Manaus in central Amazonia across 2 years. The urban pollution plume was used to study the susceptibility of gases, aerosols, clouds, and rainfall to human activities in a tropical environment. Many aspects of air quality, weather, terrestrial ecosystems, and climate work differently in the tropics than in the more thoroughly studied temperate regions of Earth. GoAmazon2014/5, a cooperative project of Brazil, Germany, and the United States, employed an unparalleled suite of measurements at nine ground sites and on board two aircraft to investigate the flow of background air into Manaus, the emissions into the air over the city, and the advection of the pollution downwind of the city. Herein, to visualize this train of processes and its effects, observations aboard a low-flying aircraft are presented. Comparative measurements within and adjacent to the plume followed the emissions of biogenic volatile organic carbon compounds (BVOCs) from the tropical forest, their transformations by the atmospheric oxidant cycle, alterations of this cycle by the influence of the pollutants, transformations of the chemical products into aerosol particles, the relationship of these particles to cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) activity, and the differences in cloud properties and rainfall for background compared to polluted conditions. The observations of the GoAmazon2014/5 experiment illustrate how the hydrologic cycle, radiation balance, and carbon recycling may be affected by present-day as well as future economic development and pollution over the Amazonian tropical forest.
Isotopic Fractionation in Wintertime Orographic Clouds
Authors: Lowenthal Douglas , Hallar A. Gannet , McCubbin Ian , David Robert , Borys Randolph , Blossey Peter , Muhlbauer Andreas , Kuang Zhiming , Moore Mary
Published: October 2016

The Isotopic Fractionation in Snow (IFRACS) study was conducted at Storm Peak Laboratory (SPL) in northwestern Colorado during the winter of 2014 to elucidate snow growth processes in mixed-phase clouds. The isotopic composition (δ18O and δD) of water vapor, cloud water, and snow in mixed-phase orographic clouds were measured simultaneously for the first time. The depletion of heavy isotopes [18O and deuterium (D)] was greatest for vapor, followed by snow, then cloud. The vapor, cloud, and snow compositions were highly correlated, suggesting similar cloud processes throughout the experiment. The isotopic composition of the water vapor was directly related to its concentration. Isotopic fractionation during condensation of vapor to cloud drops was accurately reproduced assuming equilibrium fractionation. This was not the case for snow, which grows by riming and vapor deposition. This implies stratification of vapor with altitude. The relationship between temperature at SPL and δ18O was used to show that the snow gained most of its mass within 922 m above SPL. Relatively invariant deuterium excess (d) in vapor, cloud water, and snow from day to day suggests a constant vapor source and Rayleigh fractionation during transport. The diurnal variation of vapor d reflected the differences between surface and free-tropospheric air during the afternoon and early morning hours, respectively. These observations will be used to validate simulations of snow growth using an isotope-enabled mesoscale model with explicit microphysics.
Developing Evaluation Indicators to Improve the Process of Coproducing Usable Climate Science
Authors: Wall Tamara U. , Meadow Alison M. , Horganic Alexandra
Published: October 2016

Resource managers and decision-makers are increasingly tasked with integrating climate change science into their decisions about resource management and policy development. This often requires climate scientists, resource managers, and decision-makers to work collaboratively throughout the research processes, an approach to knowledge development that is often called “coproduction of knowledge.” The goal of this paper is to synthesize the social science theory of coproduction of knowledge, the metrics currently used to evaluate usable or actionable science in several federal agencies, and insights from experienced climate researchers and program managers to develop a set of 45 indicators supporting an evaluation framework for coproduced usable climate science. Here the proposed indicators and results from two case studies that were used to test the indicators are presented, as well as lessons about the process of evaluating the coproduction of knowledge and collaboratively producing climate knowledge.
Analysis of an electrostatically actuated micro-plate subject to proportional-derivative controllers
Authors: Nwagoum Tuwa PR , Woafo P
Published: October 2016

This paper deals with the analysis of stability and dynamics of simply supported micro-plate, actuated by suddenly applied electrostatic forces on both sides and subjected to proportional-derivative control. The Galerkin decomposition is used to obtain the modal equation of the system. Using both a continuous time approach with delay and discrete time approach, the stability analysis is presented in order to obtain the stability boundary and stability charts in the parameter space of control gains. The bifurcation diagram and time series are used to confirm the existence of the Hopf bifurcation and to analyse the pull-in instability. By applying the proportional derivative control to the system under study, the vibrations are controlled and it is found that the control voltage generated digitally is more effective compared to the voltage generated continuously.
Clinical–radiological–pathological spectrum of central nervous system–idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease in the elderly
Authors: Tobin W Oliver , Costanzi Chiara , Guo Yong , Parisi Joseph E , Weigand Stephen D , Lucchinetti Claudia F
Published: October 2016

Background:

The spectrum of central nervous system–idiopathic inflammatory demyelinating disease (CNS-IIDD) in the elderly is uncertain.

Objective:

To describe the clinical, radiological, and pathological features of a cohort of 30 pathologically proven CNS-IIDD patients ⩾65 years.

Methods:

Elderly multiple sclerosis (MS)/clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) patients were compared to a cohort of 125 patients with pathologically proven MS/CIS and symptom onset <65 years.

Results:

Median age at symptom onset was 69 years (interquartile range (IQR) = 68–75). Median follow-up was 1.9 years (IQR = 1.0–5.6). Diagnoses were MS (14/30), CIS (11/30), neuromyelitis optica (NMO; 4/30), and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM; 1/30). Disability was higher in patients with MS/CIS ⩾65 compared to patients <65 (median Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) 4 (IQR = 2.5–7) vs 2.5 (IQR = 1.5–4); p = 0.002). When compared to patients <65 years, there was no difference in the lesion size, number of patients fulfilling Barkhof’s criteria, edema, or mass effect. Confluent demyelination was observed in 27 patients (MS/CIS (23/25), NMO (4)), 2 had a mixed perivenular/confluent pattern (MS (1), ADEM (1)), and 1 patient with MS had a mixed confluent/perivenular/coalescent pattern. Early active lesions were found in 19/30 patients ((MS (4), CIS (13), NMO (2); 53%). Cortical demyelination was present in 7/12 (58%) patients (MS (3), CIS(3), ADEM (1)).

Conclusion:

A spectrum of CNS-IIDD can develop in the elderly, with presenting symptoms similar to younger patients. Early diagnosis of CNS demyelinating disease is essential to avoid invasive and disabling procedures.
Performance comparison of capillary mat radiant and floor radiant heating systems assisted by an air source heat pump in a residential building
Authors: Zhao Min , Kang Weibin , Luo Xilian , Yu Chuck Wah , Meng X. Z. , Gu Zhaolin
Published: October 2016

The radiant heating system assisted by an air source heat pump has been widely applied in China for its effective energy conservation, high comfort performance and flexible utilization. Because the coefficient of performance of the system is strictly controlled by the supply water temperature heated by the air source heat pump, an efficient radiant terminal with low-temperature supply water is of significance to the coefficient of performance. In this research, the energy-saving feature of the capillary mat radiant heating system was first proved theoretically based on the influence of the heat transfer temperature difference on the coefficient of performance of the air source heat pump. In order to compare the performances of the capillary mat radiant and floor radiant heating systems, an experiment platform of two different radiant terminals assisted by an air source heat pump was established in a residential building in Xi’an, China. Experimental results showed that, to satisfy the indoor heating requirements, the supply and return water temperatures ought to be 35.0℃ and 30.9℃, respectively, and for the capillary mat radiant heating system, 43.9℃ and 38.8℃, respectively, for the floor radiant heating system. However, the electricity consumption of the capillary mat radiant heating system is 45% less than that of the floor radiant heating system. Thus, our study validated the energy-saving potential of the capillary mat radiant heating system assisted by an air source heat pump.
A systematic view on data descriptors for the visual analysis of tabular data
Authors: Schulz Hans-Jörg , Nocke Thomas , Heitzler Magnus , Schumann Heidrun
Published: October 2016

Visualization has become an important ingredient of data analysis, supporting users in exploring data and confirming hypotheses. At the beginning of a visual data analysis process, data characteristics are often assessed in an initial data profiling step. These include, for example, statistical properties of the data and information on the data’s well-formedness, which can be used during the subsequent analysis to adequately parametrize views and to highlight or exclude data items. We term this information data descriptors, which can span such diverse aspects as the data’s provenance, its storage schema, or its uncertainties. Gathered descriptors encapsulate basic knowledge about the data and can thus be used as objective starting points for the visual analysis process. In this article, we bring together these different aspects in a systematic form that describes the data itself (e.g. its content and context) and its relation to the larger data gathering and visual analysis process (e.g. its provenance and its utility). Once established in general, we further detail the concept of data descriptors specifically for tabular data as the most common form of structured data today. Finally, we utilize these data descriptors for tabular data to capture domain-specific data characteristics in the field of climate impact research. This procedure from the general concept via the concrete data type to the specific application domain effectively provides a blueprint for instantiating data descriptors for other data types and domains in the future.
Domestic Violence and Girlhood: The Making and Breaking of a Disordered Subjectivity
Authors: Pyscher Tracey
Published: October 2016

This article examines the resistive actions and discourses that shape and reshape the hegemonic and resistant interplay between female youth with histories of domestic violence (HDVs) and educators. Taken out of a larger critical ethnographic study, discussion demonstrates how one urban middle school girl with an HDV is positioned as an object of “emotional and behavioral disorder” and how she responded to violating pedagogies through performances of cultural resistance built out of her social experience of domestic violence. The article draws upon theoretical and methodological insights, including Butler’s notion of performativity, Scott’s theory of resistance, Hill-Collins’s standpoint theory, as well as Scollon and Scollon’s mediated discourse analysis. Similar to the girls in this study, sharing an identity of being a survivor of domestic violence herself, the author discusses how she and female participants (re)worked and (re)wrote agentic social moments in the field. Telling girls’ stories through counter-narratives and participatory research practices helps to reposition the often deficit subjectivities ascribed to girls with HDV.
Francis Bannerman Sons Archive
Authors: Mayer David
Published: October 2016

The late-nineteenth-century theatre and other forms of popular performance are linked to first decades of the American motion picture industry through their mutual commercial supplier: Francis Bannerman Sons. The Bannerman family, founding the nation's first military surplus store, from the 1870s through the 1930s supplied weaponry from small arms to cannons, blank ammunition, costumes, uniforms, saddlery, and miscellaneous accoutrements to theatre companies, wild west shows, and vaudevillians, later supplying similar items to recently-formed motion picture studios. The Bannerman archive is a major, but untouched, source for studying American entertainments through this span of time.
Perioperative physical exercise interventions for patients undergoing lung cancer surgery: What is the evidence?
Authors: Mainini Carlotta , Rebelo Patrícia FS , Bardelli Roberta , Kopliku Besa , Tenconi Sara , Costi Stefania , Tedeschi Claudio , Fugazzaro Stefania
Published: October 2016

Surgical resection appears to be the most effective treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Recent studies suggest that perioperative pulmonary rehabilitation improves functional capacity, reduces mortality and postoperative complications and enhances recovery and quality of life in operated patients. Our aim is to analyse and identify the most recent evidence-based physical exercise interventions, performed before or after surgery. We searched in MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library and PsycINFO. We included randomised controlled trials aimed at assessing efficacy of exercise-training programmes; physical therapy interventions had to be described in detail in order to be reproducible. Characteristics of studies and programmes, results and outcome data were extracted. Six studies were included, one describing preoperative rehabilitation and three assessing postoperative intervention. It seems that the best preoperative physical therapy training should include aerobic and strength training with a duration of 2–4 weeks. Although results showed improvement in exercise performance after preoperative pulmonary rehabilitation, it was not possible to identify the best preoperative intervention due to paucity of clinical trials in this area. Physical training programmes differed in every postoperative study with conflicting results, so comparison is difficult. Current literature shows inconsistent results regarding preoperative or postoperative physical exercise in patients undergoing lung resection. Even though few randomised trials were retrieved, treatment protocols were difficult to compare due to variability in design and implementation. Further studies with larger samples and better methodological quality are urgently needed to assess efficacy of both preoperative and postoperative exercise programmes.
Profile characteristics of fake Twitter accounts
Authors: Gurajala Supraja , White Joshua S , Hudson Brian , Voter Brian R , Matthews Jeanna N
Published: October 2016

In online social networks, the audience size commanded by an organization or an individual is a critical measure of that entity’s popularity and this measure has important economic and/or political implications. Such efforts to measure popularity of users or exploit knowledge about their audience are complicated by the presence of fake profiles on these networks. In this study, analysis of 62 million publicly available Twitter user profiles was conducted and a strategy to identify automatically generated fake profiles was established. Using a combination of a pattern-matching algorithm on screen-names and an analysis of update times, a reasonable number (∼0.1% of total users) of highly reliable fake user accounts were identified. Analysis of profile creation times and URLs of these fake accounts revealed their distinct behavior relative to a ground truth data set. The characteristics of friends and followers of users in the two data sets further revealed the very different nature of the two groups. The ratio of number of followers-to-friends for ground truth users was ∼1, consistent with past observations, while the fake profiles had a median ratio ∼30, indicating that the fake users we identified were primarily focused on gathering friends. An analysis of the temporal evolution of accounts over 2 years showed that the friends-to-followers ratio increased over time for fake profiles while they decreased for ground truth users. Our results, thus, suggest that a profile-based approach can be used for identifying a core set of fake online social network users in a time-efficient manner.
The rise and rise of halloysite
Authors: Jock Churchman G. , Pasbakhsh Pooria , Hillier Stephen
Published: October 2016

Up until about 2005, the main application of halloysites had been as an alternative raw material to kaolinite for ceramics. Since then, however, there has been an exponential increase in studies aimed at applications of halloysite nanotubes, now widely referred to as HNTs. The readily available and relatively cheap nanotubular forms of halloysite have potential uses in nanocomposites with polymers, as carriers for active agents, e.g. in medicine, agriculture, cosmetics and environmental remediation, as well as in nanotemplating, as supports for catalyst immobilization and as heterogeneous catalysts.
Magnetic halloysite nanotubes for yeast cell surface engineering
Authors: Konnova S.A. , Lvov Y.M. , Fakhrullin R.F.
Published: October 2016

Halloysite clay nanotubes are safe and biocompatible nanomaterials and their application in biomaterials is very promising. The microencapsulation of yeast cells in the shell of clay nanotubes modifying their properties was demonstrated here. Each cell was coated with a 200–300 nm-thick tube shell and this coating was not harmful for these cells’ reproduction. Synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles on the surfaces of the nanotubes allowed for magnetic-field manipulation of the coated cells, including their separation. Providing nano-designed shells for biological cells is a step forward in development of ‘cyborg’ microorganisms combining their intrinsic properties with functions added through nano-engineering.
Correlations among the mineralogical and physical properties of halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)
Authors: Hillier Stephen , Brydson Rik , Delbos Evelyne , Fraser Tony , Gray Nia , Pendlowski Helen , Phillips Ian , Robertson Jean , Wilson Ian
Published: October 2016

Twenty one samples of relatively pure tubular halloysites (HNTs) from localities in Australia, China, New Zealand, Scotland, Turkey and the USA have been investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and electron microscopy. The halloysites occur in cylindrical tubular forms with circular or elliptical cross sections and curved layers and also as prismatic tubular forms with polygonal cross sections and flat faces. Measurements of particle size indicate a range from 40 to 12,700 nm for tube lengths and from 20 to 600 nm for diameters. Size distributions are positively skewed with mean lengths ranging from 170 to 950 nm and mean diameters from 50 to 160 nm. Cylindrical tubes are systematically smaller than prismatic ones. Features related to order/ disorder in XRD patternse.g.as measured by a ‘cylindrical/prismatic’ (CP) index and IR spectra as measured by an ‘OH-stretching band ratio’ are related to the proportions of cylindricalvs. prismatic tubes and correlated with other physical measurements such as specific surface area and cation exchange capacity. The relationships of size to geometric form, along with evidence for the existence of the prismatic form in the hydrated state and the same 2M1stacking sequence irrespective of hydration state (i.e.10vs. 7 Å) or form, suggests that prismatic halloysites are the result of continued growth of cylindrical forms.
Assessment of CD37 B-cell antigen and cell of origin significantly improves risk prediction in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Xu-Monette Zijun Y. , Li Ling , Byrd John C. , Jabbar Kausar J. , Manyam Ganiraju C. , Maria de Winde Charlotte , van den Brand Michiel , Tzankov Alexandar , Visco Carlo , Wang Jing , Dybkaer Karen , Chiu April , Orazi Attilio , Zu Youli , Bhagat Govind , Richards Kristy L. , Hsi Eric D. , Choi William W. L. , Huh Jooryung , Ponzoni Maurilio , Ferreri Andrés J. M. , Møller Michael B. , Parsons Ben M. , Winter Jane N. , Wang Michael , Hagemeister Frederick B. , Piris Miguel A. , Han van Krieken J. , Medeiros L. Jeffrey , Li Yong , van Spriel Annemiek B. , Young Ken H.
Published: October 2016

Key Points

CD37 positivity predicts significantly better survival for DLBCL, and is superior to other prognostic factors in GCB-DLBCL. CD37 loss is an important risk factor for R-CHOP resistance in both GCB- and ABC-DLBCL.
MVA vaccine encoding CMV antigens safely induces durable expansion of CMV-specific T cells in healthy adults
Authors: La Rosa Corinna , Longmate Jeff , Martinez Joy , Zhou Qiao , Kaltcheva Teodora I. , Tsai Weimin , Drake Jennifer , Carroll Mary , Wussow Felix , Chiuppesi Flavia , Hardwick Nicola , Dadwal Sanjeet , Aldoss Ibrahim , Nakamura Ryotaro , Zaia John A. , Diamond Don J.
Published: October 2016

Key Points

First in human trial of Triplex vaccine shows safety and expansion of durable CMV-specific T cells with potential for viremia control. Triplex is immunogenic in both CMV-seronegative and -seropositive healthy adults with or without previous smallpox vaccination.
GOLD criteria overestimate airflow limitation in one-third of cases in the general Finnish population
Authors: Kainu Annette , Timonen Kirsi , Lindqvist Ari , Piirilä Päivi
Published: October 2016

The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) diagnostic criteria for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) use a fixed threshold of forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio (<0.70) in post-bronchodilation spirometry to indicate disease, which has been shown to underestimate and overestimate disease prevalence in younger and older adults, respectively, whilst criteria based on reference values have better accuracy. Differences in reference values have limited their use in international studies. However, the new Global Lung Function Initiative reference values (GLI2012) showed FEV1/FVC to be the least dependent on ethnicity. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of airflow limitation with GLI2012 and the degree of underdetection or overestimation related to the use of GOLD in the general population.

A Finnish population sample of 1323 subjects (45% male) with post-bronchodilation spirometry was studied.

80 subjects (6.0%) and 55 subjects (4.2%) were identified with airflow limitation with GOLD and GLI2012 criteria, respectively. The proportion of overestimation with GOLD increased with age from 25% of cases in 50-year-olds to 54% in 70-year-olds. Using z-score-based grading resulted in more dispersion in severity grading.

In conclusion, the GOLD criteria cause a marked overestimation already from 50-year-olds and should be replaced with the GLI2012 criteria to improve diagnostic accuracy.
Psychopathology in the 2016 Election
Authors: LERNER RABBI MICHAEL
Published: October 2016

In present-day America we are witnessing the way the ethos of global capitalism and its impact on daily life shapes and nurtures a growing societal-based psychopathology. No matter who wins in November 2016, anger and hate-oriented political movements will be with us until the economic system and its core assumptions fundamentally change. Understanding how this happens is a first step toward healing.
Recent advances in aortic valve replacement for aortic stenosis
Authors: Al-Adhami Ahmed , Al-Attar Nawwar
Published: October 2016

Aortic valve replacement is no longer an operation that is approached solely through a median sternotomy. Recent advances in the fields of transcatheter valves have expanded the proportion of patients eligible for intervention. Comparisons between transcatheter valves and conventional surgery have shown non-inferiority of transcatheter valve implants in patients with a high or intermediate pre-operative predictive risk. With advances in our understanding of sutureless valves and their applicability to minimally invasive surgery, the invasiveness and trauma of surgery can be reduced with potential improvements in outcome. The strategy of care has radically changed over the last decade.
Improving data transparency in clinical trials using blockchain smart contracts
Authors: Nugent Timothy , Upton David , Cimpoesu Mihai
Published: October 2016

The scientific credibility of findings from clinical trials can be undermined by a range of problems including missing data, endpoint switching, data dredging, and selective publication. Together, these issues have contributed to systematically distorted perceptions regarding the benefits and risks of treatments. While these issues have been well documented and widely discussed within the profession, legislative intervention has seen limited success. Recently, a method was described for using a blockchain to prove the existence of documents describing pre-specified endpoints in clinical trials. Here, we extend the idea by using smart contracts - code, and data, that resides at a specific address in a blockchain, and whose execution is cryptographically validated by the network - to demonstrate how trust in clinical trials can be enforced and data manipulation eliminated. We show that blockchain smart contracts provide a novel technological solution to the data manipulation problem, by acting as trusted administrators and providing an immutable record of trial history.
Decrease of Harmful Atmospheric Emission at Oil and Gas Condensate Fields Owing to Application of Jet Devices
Authors: Спиридонов  , Spiridonov V. , Акимов  , Akimov M.
Published: October 2016

Actuality of atmosphere protection from pollution by low-pressure flare gas as well as possibility of solving of this problem

owing to application of liquid-gas jet devices with two-phase active flow are shown. Results of experimental investigations

of ejectors with active two-phase flow at mass fraction of gas in active flow more than 0.003 are presented. Significant

error of calculation results using approach which does not take into consideration interaction of active gas and liquid

at mixing chamber initial zone is observed. It is shown that use of momentum conservation equation for liquid and gas

flows at mixing chamber initial zone enables to take into account influence of active gas energy and to obtain satisfactory

agreement of calculation and experimental data at mass fraction of gas in active flow more than 0.003. The obtained

results were used for designing of liquid-gas jet devices with active two-phase flow for low-pressure flare gas utilization at

Kokdumalak oil and gas condensate field.
Sixtieth Issue of the Journal
Authors: Девисилов  , Devisilov Vladimir
Published: October 2016

The article considers the results of a ten-year period of journal’s publication. During this period there were published 60

issues of the journal. The remit of the journal is justified. The author considers achievements, problems which recur by

publication of the journal, and weaknesses in the work of the editorial board. Further development tasks are set.