bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Possibilities of Using Solid Biomass for Covering the Heating Needs in Hospitals in Crete, Greece
Authors: Vourdoubas John
Published: July 2016

The possibility of heating two large hospitals in Crete, Greece utilizing locally produced solid biomass has been investigated. Olive kernel wood is produced in Crete as a byproduct of the olive processing industry and it is an excellent renewable fuel. It is currently used for heat generation replacing heating and fuel oil. Use of solid biomass for heat generation is a mature and reliable technology resulting in the mitigation of the greenhouse effect. Cost analysis estimations regarding the replacement of heating oil with olive kernel wood for heating two large hospitals in Crete have shown that the investment is very attractive. The required capital investment for the installation of new biomass boilers in the hospitals has been estimated at 1.7-2.1 mil. €. Replacement of the heating oil with olive kernel wood would result in annual savings of 1963 – 2328 € per bed. Annual CO2 emissions savings due to the use of renewable fuel have been calculated at 8.8-10.4 kg CO2 per bed. Realization of such energy investments in hospitals could be obtained with public-private partnerships and the financial support of energy service companies.
Wireless Networked Control for Active Trailer Steering Systems of Articulated Vehicles
Authors: Mirfakhraie Tina , He Yuping , Liscano Ramiro
Published: July 2016

Compared with conventional wired control systems, Wireless Networked Control (WNC) systems bear a number of advantages, including flexibility, low-cost and easy maintenance. In all networked control systems, a major challenge is network delay, which degrades the overall system performance, but this is more significant in wireless communications. This paper investigates the use of a LQR-gain scheduler to provide a proper control gain vector to stabilize an articulated vehicle with an Articulated Trailer Steering (ATS) system affected by delays in the sensor data that caused by wireless communications in the feedback control loop. Through comparing with a baseline vehicle that has no sensor feedback delay, it is demonstrated that the LQR gain scheduler controller can tolerate up to 0.9 s delays before the articulated vehicle becomes unstable.
Improving Child Safety Seat Performance Through Finite Element Simulations
Authors: Hu Jingwen , Jayakar H. R. Raj
Published: July 2016

In this study, a finite element (FE) model of a child seat was developed. This model along with a HIII 6-year-old child ATD model was validated against four sled tests with different restraint conditions under FMVSS 213 test environments. The simulated results of ATD kinematics and restraint forces correlated well to the test data. In order to reduce the weight of the child seat while keeping its safety performance, different design concepts were explored by FE simulations with a mesh morphing method. It was found that lowering the height of child seat base can effectively reduce the weight and head/knee excursions in frontal crashes at the same time. Reducing the material in low stress areas would reduce the weight but slightly increase the ATD head and knee excursions in crashes. Overall, the modified design with reduced based height and reduced weight in low stress areas has a weight of 1.13 lbs less than the original seat, and the ATD head and knee excursions in FMVSS 213 test conditions with four different restraint conditions all reduced. In addition, it was found that changing the tube shape can potentially change the distribution of the head and knee excursions without much impact on weight. This study demonstrated the feasibility and usefulness for introducing FE simulations into the child seat design process. Future studies using this validated FE child seat model should focus on other crash scenarios, such as those with different impact severities and directions to improve safety performance of the child seat design.
Robust Handling Performance Against Weight Variation for Light Weight Vehicle
Authors: Takekoshi Kyosuke , Udagawa Yusuke , Shiiba Taichi
Published: July 2016

This paper addresses the suitable design parameter for a light weight vehicle to achieve the robust handling performance against the weight variation. Running simulations were conducted to evaluate the effect of the weight variation on the handling performance. The target vehicle was a 5-seater passenger car and its weight was 600 kg. A 3-DOF vehicle model was used with which the rolling motion of a vehicle body during cornering can be considered to verify the relationship between the handling performance, design parameters, and the weight variation of the vehicle. The Magic Formula tire model was used to express the non-linearity of lateral tire forces depending on the vertical tire forces, which vary with the rolling motion of the vehicle. The handling performance was evaluated with steady-state cornering simulations and pulse response simulations.
New Identification Approach of Road Bank Angle and Road Grade
Authors: Rezaeian Ayyoub , Khajepour Amir , Melek William , Chen Shih-Ken , Moshchuk Nikolai
Published: July 2016

In this paper, a novel approach is presented to identify road bank angle and road grade. The proposed approach uses kinematics of the vehicle body and vehicle frame to identify these angles. The effect of vehicle body angle is separated from the effect of road angle in the measured longitudinal and lateral acceleration signals. Additionally, because the algorithm does not use a tire model, it is robust against changes in tire parameters. Effectiveness of the proposed approach is verified for different road grade and bank angles and in maneuvers that excite longitudinal and lateral vehicle dynamics at the same time.
In silico simulations of tunneling barrier measurements for molecular orbital-mediated junctions: A molecular orbital theory approach to scanning tunneling microscopy
Authors: Terryn Raymond J. , Sriraman Krishnan , Olson Joel A. , Baum J. Clayton , Novak Mark J.
Published: July 2016

A new simulator for scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) is presented based on the linear combination of atomic orbitals molecular orbital (LCAO-MO) approximation for the effective tunneling Hamiltonian, which leads to the convolution integral when applied to the tip interaction with the sample. This approach intrinsically includes the structure of the STM tip. Through this mechanical emulation and the tip-inclusive convolution model, dI/dz images for molecular orbitals (which are closely associated with apparent barrier height, ϕap) are reported for the first time. For molecular adsorbates whose experimental topographic images correspond well to isolated-molecule quantum chemistry calculations, the simulator makes accurate predictions, as illustrated by various cases. Distortions in these images due to the tip are shown to be in accord with those observed experimentally and predicted by other ab initio considerations of tip structure. Simulations of the tunneling current dI/dz images are in strong agreement with experiment. The theoretical framework provides a solid foundation which may be applied to LCAO cluster models of adsorbate–substrate systems, and is extendable to emulate several aspects of functional STM operation.
After failed coup, Turkey's academics feel regime's wrath
Authors: Bohannon John
Published: July 2016

Thousands of researchers and university officials fired, suspended, or told to return home immediately.
The smoking gun for Atlantic circulation changes
Authors: Schmittner Andreas
Published: July 2016

Deep-sea sediments record changes in ocean circulation during the last glacial age
HIV Maintains an Evolving and Dispersed Population in Multiple Tissues during Suppressive Combined Antiretroviral Therapy in Individuals with Cancer
Authors: Rose Rebecca , Lamers Susanna L. , Nolan David J. , Maidji Ekaterina , Faria N. R. , Pybus Oliver G. , Dollar James J. , Maruniak Samuel A. , McAvoy Andrew C. , Salemi Marco , Stoddart Cheryl A. , Singer Elyse J. , McGrath Michael S.
Published: July 2016

While combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) can result in undetectable plasma viral loads, it does not eradicate HIV infection. Furthermore, HIV-infected individuals while on cART remain at an increased risk of developing serious comorbidities, such as cancer, neurological disease, and atherosclerosis, suggesting that during cART, tissue-based HIV may contribute to such pathologies. We obtained DNA and RNA
env
,
nef
, and
pol
sequences using single-genome sequencing from postmortem tissues of three HIV
+
cART-treated (cART
+
) individuals with undetectable viral load and metastatic cancer at death and performed time-scaled Bayesian evolutionary analyses. We used a sensitive
in situ
hybridization technique to visualize HIV
gag-pol
mRNA transcripts in cerebellum and lymph node tissues from one patient. Tissue-associated virus evolved at similar rates in cART
+
and cART-naive (cART
−
) patients. Phylogenetic trees were characterized by two distinct features: (i) branching patterns consistent with constant viral evolution and dispersal among tissues and (ii) very recently derived clades containing both DNA and RNA sequences from multiple tissues. Rapid expansion of virus near death corresponded to wide-spread metastasis. HIV RNA
+
cells clustered in cerebellum tissue but were dispersed in lymph node tissue, mirroring the evolutionary patterns observed for that patient. Activated, infiltrating macrophages were associated with HIV RNA. Our data provide evidence that tissues serve as a sanctuary for wild-type HIV during cART and suggest the importance of macrophages as an alternative reservoir and mechanism of virus spread.

IMPORTANCE
Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) reduces plasma HIV to undetectable levels; however, removal of cART results in plasma HIV rebound, thus highlighting its inability to entirely rid the body of infection. Additionally, HIV-infected individuals on cART remain at high risk of serious diseases, which suggests a contribution from residual HIV. In this study, we isolated and sequenced HIV from postmortem tissues from three HIV
+
cART
+
individuals who died with metastatic cancer and had no detectable plasma viral load. Using high-resolution evolutionary analyses, we found that tissue-based HIV continues to replicate, evolve, and migrate among tissues during cART. Furthermore, cancer onset and metastasis coincided with increased HIV expansion, suggesting a linked mechanism. HIV-expressing cells were associated with tissue macrophages, a target of HIV infection. Our results suggest the importance of tissues, and macrophages in particular, as a target for novel anti-HIV therapies.
Retinopathy of prematurity screening leading to cardiopulmonary arrest: fatal complication of a benign procedure
Authors: Agrawal Yashwant , Patri Sandeep , Kalavakunta Jagadeesh K , Gupta Vishal
Published: July 2016

A 6-week-old female infant born at 31 weeks of gestation was brought to the ophthalmology office for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening. One drop of phenylephrine (2.5%) and tropicamide (1%) ophthalmic solution was instilled in each eye for ROP evaluation. She was breast fed about 5 min after receiving the medication. She was covered in a blanket and soon her mother could not feel her suckling. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated with return of spontaneous circulation in 1–2 min. She was admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit and monitored overnight. After an uncomplicated hospital course, she was discharged the following day. It was determined that the eye drops had induced cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) as apnoea and bradycardia of prematurity resolve by 36 weeks and CPA occurred within minutes of the medication administration. Identification of CPA, prompt intervention and awareness of the offending agent is of prime importance in management of such complications.
Hundred top-cited articles focusing on acute kidney injury: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Liu Yuan-hui , Wang Sheng-qi , Xue Jin-hua , Liu Yong , Chen Ji-yan , Li Guo-feng , He Peng-cheng , Tan Ning
Published: July 2016

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major global health issue, associated with poor short-term and long-term outcomes. Research on AKI is increasing with numerous articles published. However, the quantity and quality of research production in the field of AKI is unclear.

Methods and analysis

To analyse the characteristics of the most cited articles on AKI and to provide information about achievements and developments in AKI, we searched the Science Citation Index Expanded for citations of AKI articles. For the top 100 most frequently cited articles (T100), we evaluated the number of citations, publication time, province of origin, journal, impact factor, topic or subspecialty of the research, and publication type.

Results

The T100 articles ranged from a maximum of 1971 citations to a minimum of 215 citations (median 302 citations). T100 articles were published from 1951 to 2011, with most articles published in the 2000s (n=77), especially the 5-year period from 2002 to 2006 (n=51). The publications appeared in 30 journals, predominantly in the general medical journals, led byNew England Journal of Medicine(n=17), followed by expert medical journals, led by theJournal of the American Society of Nephrology(n=16) andKidney International(n=16). The majority (83.7%) of T100 articles were published by teams involving ≥3 authors. T100 articles originated from 15 countries, led by the USA (n=81) followed by Italy (n=9). Among the T100 articles, 69 were clinical research, 25 were basic science, 21 were reviews, 5 were meta-analyses and 3 were clinical guidelines. Most clinical articles (55%) included patients with any cause of AKI, followed by the specific causes of contrast-induced AKI (25%) and cardiac surgery-induced AKI (15%).

Conclusions

This study provides a historical perspective on the scientific progress on AKI, and highlights areas of research requiring further investigations and developments.
Cadherin 5 expression correlates with poor survival in human gastric cancer
Authors: Higuchi Kyoko , Inokuchi Mikito , Takagi Yoko , Ishikawa Toshiaki , Otsuki Sho , Uetake Hiroyuki , Kojima Kazuyuki , Kawano Tatsuyuki
Published: July 2016

Aims

Although expressed in tumour cells of various malignancies, cadherin 5 (CDH5), also known as vascular endothelial cadherin, plays an important role in homotypic cell–cell adhesion among epithelial cells. However, the clinical significance of CDH5 expression in gastric cancer has not been sufficiently demonstrated. In this study, CDH5 expression in gastric cancer was evaluated and the correlations between CDH5 expression and the clinicopathological features and outcomes of the disease were examined.

Methods

Differentiated-type gastric adenocarcinomas obtained from 102 patients who underwent gastrectomy were analysed. CDH5 expression was assessed by immunohistochemical staining of the membranes of the cancer cells.

Results

High CDH5 expression was significantly associated with the following clinicopathological variables related to tumour progression: depth of invasion (p=0.012), venous invasion (p=0.013), lymphatic invasion (p=0.001), metastatic lymph nodes (p=0.009), pathological stage (p=0.008) and distant metastasis or recurrent disease (p=0.009). Patients with high CDH5 expression had significantly poorer disease-specific survival (p=0.021), although CDH5 was not determined to be an independent prognostic factor by multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

CDH5 may play a key role in the progression or metastasis of differentiated-type gastric cancer and serve as a target for its treatment.
Long-term outcomes after ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation: an observational study over 6 years
Authors: Wynn Gareth J , El-Kadri Moutaz , Haq Iram , Das Moloy , Modi Simon , Snowdon Richard , Hall Mark , Waktare Johan EP , Todd Derick M , Gupta Dhiraj
Published: July 2016

Objectives

To address the limited long-term outcome data for catheter ablation (CA) of persistent atrial fibrillation (PeAF), we analysed consecutive ablations performed at our centre from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2010 and followed patients prospectively until January 2014.

Methods

Both arrhythmia recurrence and symptom relief were assessed. Follow-up data were collected from hospital records, supplemented by data from general practitioners and referring hospitals. At the end of the follow-up period, all patients were contacted by phone to determine their up-to-date clinical condition.

Results

188 consecutive patients with PeAF (157 male, mean age 57.3±9.7 years, 20% with long-standing PeAF) underwent a mean of 1.75 procedures (range 1–4). Telephone follow-up was achieved for 77% of surviving patients. Over a mean follow-up of 46±16 months (range 4–72), 139 (75%) patients experienced arrhythmia recurrence after a single procedure and 90 (48%) after their final procedure. Median time to first recurrence was 210 days (range 91–1850). 71% of recurrences were within the first year following ablation and 91% within 2 years. At final follow-up, 82% of patients reported symptomatic improvement. 7 (2.3%) major complications occurred, and there was no procedure-related death or stroke.

Conclusions

CA for PeAF is safe with a low rate of complications. Over a follow-up period of up to 6 years, a large majority of patients experience significant symptomatic improvement but recurrence after the initial procedure is the norm rather than the exception. 2 years' follow-up is sufficient to observe 90% of AF recurrences, but recurrence can occur even after 5 years' remission.
‘Bolam’ to ‘Montgomery’ is result of evolutionary change of medical practice towards ‘patient-centred care’
Authors: Lee Albert
Published: July 2016

The Supreme Court judgement in ‘Montgomery v Lanarkshire Health Board’ has caused a change in the law concerning the duty of doctors on disclosure of information to patients regarding risks. The law now requires a doctor to take reasonable care to ensure that the patient is aware of any material risks involved in any recommended treatment, and of any reasonable alternative or variant treatments. Are doctors totally removed from the protective shield even if the practice is accepted by a reasonable body of medical opinion previously laid down by ‘Bolam’ with the recent Supreme Court decision in the ‘Montgomery’ case? This paper questions whether the ‘Bolam’ principle needs to be discarded or re-interpreted in the modern context of health care. Adopting ‘patient-centred’ care to unfold the ‘significant risks’ attached to patients would align with the evolving changes in medical law. It should be the changing context of health care driving the evolving change of law.
40Ar/39Ar thermochronology of the Thor-Odin – Pinnacles area, southeastern British Columbia: tectonic implications of cooling and exhumation patterns
Authors: van Rooyen D. , Carr S.D.
Published: July 2016

The Thor-Odin dome is a basement-cored tectonothermal culmination in southern British Columbia, containing high-grade metamorphic rocks that were polydeformed during the Cordilleran orogenesis. A north–south 40Ar/39Ar thermochronology transect was carried out throughout a ∼7 km thick tilted section in the Thor-Odin dome and structurally overlying rocks to construct thermochronological histories using existing U–Pb geochronology data with new 40Ar/39Ar data and to determine the nature of the boundary between the dome and overlying rocks at Cariboo Alp. Hornblende cooling dates are ∼62–58 Ma at the highest structural level, ∼57–55 Ma in the middle, and ∼57–53 Ma at Cariboo Alp on the upper boundary of the dome. Muscovite and biotite cooling dates are ∼53–50.5 Ma; identical throughout the dome, margin, and overlying panel. The Cariboo Alp area separating the Thor-Odin dome from overlying rocks did not accommodate major post-cooling extensional deformation; rather, it is a Late Cretaceous to Paleocene compressional shear zone. These domains cooled at different rates from >700 to ca. 300 °C, with upper structural levels cooling at rates of ca. 20 °C/Ma and the lowest levels at rates in excess of 120 °C/Ma. All levels passed through the closure temperature for argon in biotite (here calculated to be 320–330 °C) together at ca. 52–51 Ma. Differential cooling rates are the result of interaction between northeast-directed compressional transport of rocks towards the foreland of the orogen overlapping with activity on the Columbia River fault zone, reflecting crustal-scale extension that reached a peak in the Eocene.
An optical pressure sensor based on π-shaped surface plasmon polariton resonator
Authors: Duan Gaoyan , Lang Peilin , Wang Lulu , Yu Li , Xiao Jinghua
Published: July 2016

We propose a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) structure which consists of a [Formula: see text]-shaped resonator and a surface plasmon polariton (SPP) waveguide. The finite element method (FEM) is employed in the simulation. The results show that this structure forms an optical pressure sensor. The transmission spectra have a redshift with increasing pressure, and the relation between the wavelength shift and the pressure is linear. The nanoscale pressure sensor shows a high sensitivity and may have potential applications in biological and biomedical engineering.
Quantum nonlocality and the end of classical spacetime
Authors: Banerjee Shreya , Bera Sayantani , Singh Tejinder P.
Published: July 2016

Quantum nonlocal correlations and the acausal, spooky action at a distance suggest a discord between quantum theory and special relativity. We propose a resolution for this discord by first observing that there is a problem of time in quantum theory. There should exist a reformulation of quantum theory which does not refer to classical time. Such a reformulation is obtained by suggesting that spacetime is fundamentally noncommutative. Quantum theory without classical time is the equilibrium statistical thermodynamics of the underlying noncommutative relativity. Stochastic fluctuations about equilibrium give rise to the classical limit and ordinary spacetime geometry. However, measurement on an entangled state can be correctly described only in the underlying noncommutative spacetime, where there is no causality violation, nor a spooky action at a distance.
Noncommutativity in the early universe
Authors: Oliveira-Neto G. , Silva de Oliveira M. , Monerat G. A. , Corrêa Silva E. V.
Published: July 2016

In the present work, we study the noncommutative version of a quantum cosmology model. The model has a Friedmann–Robertson–Walker (FRW) geometry, the matter content is a radiative perfect fluid and the spatial sections have zero constant curvature. In this model, the scale factor takes values in a bounded domain. Therefore, its quantum mechanical version has a discrete energy spectrum. We compute the discrete energy spectrum and the corresponding eigenfunctions. The energies depend on a noncommutative parameter [Formula: see text]. We compute the scale factor expected value ([Formula: see text]) for several values of [Formula: see text]. For all of them, [Formula: see text] oscillates between maxima and minima values and never vanishes. It gives an initial indication that those models are free from singularities, at the quantum level. We improve this result by showing that if we subtract a quantity proportional to the standard deviation of [Formula: see text] from [Formula: see text], this quantity is still positive. The [Formula: see text] behavior, for the present model, is a drastic modification of the [Formula: see text] behavior in the corresponding commutative version of the present model. There, [Formula: see text] grows without limits with the time variable. Therefore, if the present model may represent the early stages of the universe, the results of the present paper give an indication that [Formula: see text] may have been, initially, bounded due to noncommutativity. We also compute the Bohmian trajectories for [Formula: see text], which are in accordance with [Formula: see text], and the quantum potential [Formula: see text]. From [Formula: see text], we may understand why that model is free from singularities, at the quantum level.
Cosmological implications of the dark matter equation of state
Authors: Yang Weiqiang , Li Hang , Wu Yabo , Lu Jianbo
Published: July 2016

In this paper, we study a model which is composed of the cosmological constant and dark matter with nonzero equation of state parameter, which could be called as [Formula: see text]wDM. In the synchronous gauge, we obtain the perturbation equations of dark matter, and deduce the evolution equations of growth factor about the dark matter and baryons. Based on the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method, we constrain this model by the recently available cosmic observations which include cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation, baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO), type Ia supernovae (SNIa) and [Formula: see text] data points from redshift-space distortion (RSD). The results present a tighter constraint on the model than the case without [Formula: see text] data. In 3[Formula: see text] regions, we find the dark matter equation of state parameter [Formula: see text]. The currently available cosmic observations do not favor the nonzero dark matter equation of state parameter, no deviation from the lambda cold dark matter ([Formula: see text]CDM) model is found in 1[Formula: see text] region.
Water-soluble porphyrinoids as G-quadruplex binders and telomerase inhibitors
Authors: Ikawa Yoshiya , Katsumata Sho , Sakashita Ryuichi , Sato Shinobu , Takenaka Shigeori , Furuta Hiroyuki
Published: July 2016

Water-soluble derivatives of three kinds of expanded porphyrins (N-fused pentaphyrin, hexaphyrin, and heptaphyrin) were synthesized and their binding ability to G-quadruplex (G4-) DNA was evaluated. The inhibitory effects on enzymatic telomere extension were also investigated together with other tetrapyrrolic porphyrinoids. While expanded porphyrins increased the melting temperature of G4-DNA more effectively than the regular porphyrins, a porphyrin isomer (N-confused porphyrin) showed the highest inhibitory effect on telomerase activity.
Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger in GABAergic Presynaptic Boutons of Rat Central Neurons
Authors: Doi Atsushi , Kakazu Yasuhiro , Akaike Norio
Published: July 2016

Rat Meynert neurons were acutely isolated using a dissociation technique that maintains functional GABAergic presynaptic boutons. Miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) were recorded under voltage-clamp conditions using whole cell patch-clamp recordings. Using the frequency of mIPSCs as a measure of presynaptic terminal excitability, the existence of a Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) in these GABAergic nerve terminals was clearly demonstrated. Both the frequency and the amplitude of mIPSCs were unaffected by replacement of extracellular Na2+. However, in this Na+-free external solution, ouabain could now induce a transient increase of mIPSCs frequency, which was not inhibited by adding Cd2+ or cyclopiazonic acid but was inhibited by removing external Ca2+. This indicates that this transient potentiation was dependent on external Ca2+, but that this Ca2+influx was not via voltage-dependent Ca2+channels. KB-R7943, an inhibitor of NCX, at a concentration of 3 × 10−6 M, reduced this transient increase of mIPSCs frequency without affecting mIPSCs amplitude and the response to exogenous GABA. These results demonstrate the existence of NCX in these GABAergic nerve terminals. In zero external Na+, ouabain causes an accumulation of intraterminal Na+ and a resultant influx of Ca2+ through the reversed mode operation of NCX. However, under more physiological conditions, NCX may also operate in a forward mode and serve to maintain low intracellular [Ca2+] in nerve terminals.
Glutamate Uptake Controls Expression of a Slow Postsynaptic Current Mediated by mGluRs in Cerebellar Purkinje Cells
Authors: Reichelt W. , Knöpfel T.
Published: July 2016

At the cerebellar parallel fiber-Purkinje cell synapse, isolated presynaptic activity induces fast excitatory postsynaptic currents via ionotropic glutamate receptors while repetitive, high-frequency, presynaptic activity can also induce a slow excitatory postsynaptic current that is mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1-EPSC). Here we investigated the involvement of glutamate uptake in the expression of the mGluR1-EPSC. Inhibitors of glutamate uptake led to a large increase of the mGluR1-EPSC. d-aspartate (0.4 mM) andl(−)-threo-3-hydroxyaspartate (0.4 mM) increased the mGluR1-EPSC ∼4.5 and ∼9-fold, respectively, while dihydrokainic acid (1 mM), had no significant effect on the mGluR1-EPSC.d-aspartate (0.4 mM) shifted the concentration-response curve of the depression of the mGluR1-EPSC by the low-affinity mGluR1 antagonist ( S)-a-Methyl-4-carboxyphenylglycine [( S)-MCPG] to higher concentrations and decreased the stimulus intensity and the number of necessary stimuli to evoke an mGluR1-EPSC. Depression of the mGluR1-EPSC by rapid pressure application of ( S)-MCPG at varying time intervals after tetanic stimulation of the parallel fibers indicated that the glutamate concentration in the peri- and extrasynaptic space decayed with time constants of 36 and 316 ms under control conditions and with inhibition of glutamate uptake, respectively.

These results show that expression of the slow mGluR-mediated excitatory postsynaptic current is controlled by glutamate transporter activity. Thus in contrast to fast glutamatergic synaptic transmission, metabotropic glutamate receptor-mediated transmission is critically dependent on the activity and capacity of glutamate uptake.
Evidence That REM Sleep Is Controlled by the Activation of Brain Stem Pedunculopontine Tegmental Kainate Receptor
Authors: Datta Subimal
Published: July 2016

Glutamate, the neurotransmitter, enhances rapid-eye-movement (REM) sleep when microinjected into the brain stem pedunculopontine tegmentum (PPT) of the cat and rat. Glutamate and its various receptors are normally present in the PPT cholinergic cell compartment. The aim of this study was to identify which specific receptor(s) in the cholinergic cell compartment of the PPT are involved in glutamate-induced-REM sleep. To identify these glutamate-induced REM-sleep-generating receptor(s) in the PPT cholinergic cell compartment, specific receptors were pharmacologically blocked differentially by localized pretreatment of specific glutamate receptor antagonists; glutamate was then microinjected into the PPT cholinergic cell compartment while quantifying the effects on REM sleep in freely moving chronically instrumented rats. The results demonstrate that when kainate receptors were blocked by pretreatment with a kainate-specific receptor antagonist, microinjection of glutamate was unable to induce REM sleep. Pharmacological blockade of specific N-methyl-d-aspartate and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors was unable to block glutamate-microinjection-induced-REM sleep. These findings suggest, for the first time, that the activation of kainate receptors within the cholinergic cell compartment of the PPT is an essential portion of the mechanism for the generation of glutamate-induced REM sleep in the rat.
The Significance of Habitat Characteristics to the Spatial Distribution of Local Avian Assemblage at Gannoruwa Mountain Forest Reserve, Kandy, Sri Lanka
Authors: Rathnayake D. G. R. M. M. Kaushalya , Ileperuma Arachchi I. Sandunika , Pathirana Buwaneka S. , Wickramasinghe S.
Published: July 2016

Distribution patterns corresponding to habitat characteristics in tropical forests have not been largely studied. Natural forest structure as well as the anthropogenic alterations to the forests equally affects the distribution patterns of wet zone avifauna. The study reveals the importance of % canopy closure, distance from the forest edge, tree density, diversity, and elevation to the community composition of local forest birds inhabiting Gannoruwa Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka. The most important factors resulting in the study for shaping the avian distribution pattern are distance from the edge,elevation, and the % canopy closure. With the increase of favouring resources to the avian fauna at the edges and the juxtaposition of the edge, many forest loving species were observed to move towards the edge. The pattern is proven advantageous, but harmful in the long run. Thus, it is advisable that the conservation plans should focus on habitat destruction and the anthropogenic disturbance along forest edges.
Local Tumor Treatment in Combination with Systemic Ipilimumab Immunotherapy Prolongs Overall Survival in Patients with Advanced Malignant Melanoma
Authors: Theurich Sebastian , Rothschild Sacha I. , Hoffmann Michael , Fabri Mario , Sommer Andrea , Garcia-Marquez Maria , Thelen Martin , Schill Catherine , Merki Ramona , Schmid Thomas , Koeberle Dieter , Zippelius Alfred , Baues Christian , Mauch Cornelia , Tigges Christian , Kreuter Alexander , Borggrefe Jan , von Bergwelt-Baildon Michael , Schlaak Max
Published: July 2016

Immune checkpoint inhibition with ipilimumab has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy and significantly improved outcomes of patients with advanced malignant melanoma. Local peripheral treatments (LPT), such as radiotherapy or electrochemotherapy, have been shown to modulate systemic immune responses, and preliminary data have raised the hypothesis that the combination of LPT with systemic immune checkpoint blockade might be beneficial. Clinical data from 127 consecutively treated melanoma patients at four cancer centers in Germany and Switzerland were analyzed. Patients received either ipilimumab (n = 82) or ipilimumab and additional LPT (n = 45) if indicated for local tumor control. The addition of LPT to ipilimumab significantly prolonged overall survival (OS; median OS 93 vs. 42 weeks, unadjusted HR, 0.46; P = 0.0028). Adverse immune-related events were not increased by the combination treatment, and LPT-induced local toxicities were in most cases mild. In a multivariable Cox regression analysis, we show that the effect of added LPT on OS remained statistically significant after adjusting for BRAF status, tumor stage, tumor burden, and central nervous system metastases (adjusted HR, 0.56; 95% confidence interval, 0.31–1.01, P = 0.05). Our data suggest that the addition of LPT to ipilimumab is safe and effective in patients with metastatic melanoma irrespective of clinical disease characteristics and known risk factors. Induction of antitumor immune responses is most likely the underlying mechanism and warrants prospective validation. Cancer Immunol Res; 4(9); 744–54. ©2016 AACR.
Graft Reconditioning before Liver Transplantation
Authors: Hoyer Dieter P. , Minor Thomas
Published: July 2016

Background: The high demand for livers for transplantation has led to organs of limited quality being accepted to expand the donor pool. This is associated with inferior outcomes due to more pronounced preservation injury. Accordingly, recent research has aimed to develop preservation modalities for improved preservation as well as strategies for liver viability assessment and liver reconditioning. Methods: The PubMed database was searched using the terms ‘perfusion', ‘liver', ‘preservation', and ‘reconditioning' in various combinations, and the according literature was reviewed. Results: Several perfusion techniques have been developed in recent years with the potential for liver reconditioning. Preclinical and first emerging clinical data suggest feasibility, safety, and superiority over the current gold standard of cold storage. Conclusion: This review outlines current advances in the field of liver preservation with an emphasis on liver reconditioning methods.
Moving towards Specific Nutrigenetic Recommendation Algorithms: Caffeine, Genetic Variation and Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: De Caterina Raffaele , El-Sohemy Ahmed
Published: July 2016

Recent research has indicated that part of the interindividual variability in cardiovascular responses to caffeine has a genetic basis. Therefore, knowledge of the individual's genetic constitution may allow an individual tailoring of dietary advice for the use of caffeine-containing beverages, yielding an example of the potential of practical translation of nutrigenetic information. This paper reviews the basis for possible nutrigenetic recommendations on the consumption of caffeine, discussing the current gaps in knowledge but also proposing a mode of action in this research area, which may be transposed to other types of similar recommendations.
Impact of XRCC1, GSTP1, and GSTM1 Polymorphisms on the Survival of Ovarian Carcinoma Patients Treated with Chemotherapy
Authors: Zhai Xiang-Hong , Huang Jing , Wu Feng-Xia , Zhu Dong-Yi , Wang An-Cong
Published: July 2016

Background: Single nucleotide polymorphic variants of DNA repair genes may improve drug efficacy through altering expression levels of the encoded proteins. This study evaluated the influence of genetic polymorphism GSTP1 Ile105Val, GSTM1 (null/non-null) and 2 XRCC1 polymorphisms (Arg194Trp and Arg399Gln) on the survival of ovarian carcinoma patients treated with chemotherapy. Methods: 106 patients received treatment with a carboplatin-based or alternative chemotherapy. Polymorphisms were genotyped by pyrosequencing. Results: The genotypes XRCC1 194Arg/Trp and XRCC1 194Trp/Trp conferred no significant risk of death when compared to 194Arg/Arg (hazard ratio (HR) 1.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.33-3.09, and HR 0.89, 95% CI 0.31-2.57, respectively). Similarly, those carrying the XRCC1 399Arg/Gln genotype had no increased risk of death compared to the XRCC1 399Arg/Arg (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.39-1.86); no homozygous carriers of the glutamine allele (XRCC1 399 Gln/Gln) were detected. The GSTP1 105Ile/Val had no increased risk of death compared to the GSTP1 105Ile/Ile (HR = 1.20, 95% CI = 0.55-2.63) and no homozygous carriers of the valine allele (GSTP1 105Val/Val) were detected in the study. Compared to the non-null genotype of GSTM1, the mortality rate was nonsignificantly reduced in patients with the null genotype (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.48-2.42). However, overall survival of the patients treated with the carboplatin-based regimen was significantly longer than for those treated with alternative chemotherapy (plog-rank = 0.006). Conclusions: The present findings suggest that there are no correlations between genotypes and survival.
Mild Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Early-Onset Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Seubert-Ravelo Ana Natalia , Yáñez-Téllez M. Guillermina , Salgado-Ceballos Hermelinda , Escartín-Pérez Rodrigo Erick , Neri-Nani Gabriel Adolfo , Velázquez-Osuna Salvador
Published: July 2016

Background/Aims: Few studies have described mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and cognitive characteristics in early-onset Parkinson's disease (EOPD). This study describes attention/working memory, language, memory, visuospatial abilities, executive function, and frequency of MCI and dementia in EOPD. Methods: Eighty-one EOPD patients were administered neuropsychological tests and the Beck Depression Inventory. Scores were compared with age/education-appropriate norms and were correlated to years of disease progression and severity of motor symptoms. The frequency of MCI and dementia was determined by the Movement Disorder Society criteria. Results: Thirty-one percent of patients met the MCI criteria, but none had dementia. Commonly affected domains were memory, visuospatial, and executive function. Cognitive dysfunction was not explained by depression or severity of motor symptoms. Conclusion: One third of EOPD patients presented with MCI, which was not associated with the same risk factors as reported in late-onset Parkinson's disease. MCI could have a different prognostic value in EOPD.
Muscle MRI of the Upper Extremity in the Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1
Authors: Hayashi Kouji , Hamano Tadanori , Kawamura Yasutaka , Kimura Hirohiko , Matsunaga Akiko , Ikawa Masamichi , Yamamura Osamu , Mutoh Tatsuro , Higuchi Itsuro , Kuriyama Masaru , Nakamoto Yasunari
Published: July 2016

Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the relation between muscle MRI findings and weakness of the upper extremity muscles in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Methods: Nineteen DM1 patients from 15 families were enrolled in this study. Muscle weakness was evaluated using the modified Medical Research Council scale. Subjects also underwent a genetic study and muscle MRI of the upper extremities. Results: In patients with DM1, the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP), flexor pollicis longus, flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS), extensor pollicis, abductor pollicis longus (APL), lateral head of triceps brachii and infraspinatus (INF) muscles were frequently and severely affected. Muscle strength was significantly correlated with the severity of muscle MRI findings in the FDP, short head of biceps brachii (SBB), and medial head of triceps brachii muscles. Disease duration was correlated significantly with MRI findings in the FDP, FDS, long head of biceps brachii, INF, APL, and SBB muscles. Unexpectedly, the degree of trinucleotide expansion of myotonin protein kinase was not correlated with muscle MRI findings. Conclusion: Muscle MRI of the upper extremity is useful to detect affected muscles in DM1 patients.
Dabigatran in real-world atrial fibrillation
Authors: Costa Francisco Moscoso , Ferreira Jorge , Mendes Miguel , Carmo João
Published: July 2016

In the RE-LY clinical trial, dabigatran presented a better effectiveness/ safety profile when compared to warfarin. However, clinical trials are not very representative of the real-world setting. We aimed to assess the performance of dabigatran in real-world patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) by means of a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational comparison studies with vitamin K antagonists (VKA). We searched PubMed, Embase and Scopus databases until November 2015 and selected studies according to the following criteria: observational study performed with nonvalvular AF patients; reporting adjusted hazard ratios (HR) of clinical events in a follow-up period; for dabigatran 75 mg, 110 mg or 150 mg versus VKA. Twenty studies were selected which included 711,298 patients, 210,279 of which were treated with dabigatran and the remaining 501,019 with VKA. Ischaemic stroke incidence was of 1.65 /100 patient-years for dabigatran and 2.85/100 patient-years for VKA (HR 0.86, 95 % confidence interval of 0.74–0.99). Major bleeding rate was 3.93/100 patient-years for dabigatran and 5.61/100 patient-years for VKA (0.79, 0.69–0.89). Risk of mortality (0.73, 0.61–0.87) and intracranial bleeding (0.45, 0.38–0.52) were significantly lower in patients treated with dabigatran when compared to patients on VKA. Risk of gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding was significantly higher in patients treated with dabigatran (1.13, 1.00–1.28). No significant difference was observed in risk of myocardial infarction (0.99, 0.89–1.11). In this combined analysis of real-world observational comparison studies with VKA, dabigatran was associated with a lower risk of ischaemic stroke, major bleeding, intracranial bleeding and mortality, higher risk of GI bleeding and a similar risk of myocardial infarction.

Supplementary Material to this article is available online at www.thrombosis-online.com.
Two new, brachypterous Limnellia species from the Venezuelan Andes (Diptera: Ephydridae)
Authors: COSTA DANIEL N. R. , SAVARIS MARCOANDRE , MARINONI LUCIANE , MATHIS WAYNE N.
Published: July 2016

Two new, brachypterous species of Limnellia are described from specimens collected in the Venezuelan Andes: L. vounitis (Trujillo: Bocon, La Cristalina (Andes; 09°14.7′N, 70°19.1′W; 2500 m)) and L. flavifrontis (Mérida: Mérida, Sierra Nevada National Park (Laguna Negra; 8°47.1'N; 70°48.4'W; 3300 m)). To facilitate identification of these unusual species, we have included a diagnosis of the tribe Scatellini and of the genus Limnellia and have also provided an annotated key to the South American genera of this tribe. The descriptions are supplemented with illustrations, photographs, and scanning electron micrographs of external structures and structures of the male terminalia.
Pareiorhaphis vetula, a new armored catfish from the headwaters of the Rio Doce basin, Brazil (Siluriformes: Loricariidae)
Authors: PEREIRA EDSON H. L. , LEHMANN PABLO A. , REIS ROBERTO E.
Published: July 2016

A new species of Pareiorhaphis is described from the upper Rio Doce basin. The description is based on a series of specimens recently collected in small headwater tributaries to the Rio Guanhães, a tributary of the Rio Santo Antonio, left bank of the Rio Doce in Minas Gerais State, eastern Brazil. Pareiorhaphis vetula, new species, is a small loricariid catfish with dark brown spots irregularly scattered over a brown background on the dorsal surface of body and along flanks. The new species differs from all other Pareiorhaphis species by having the maxillary barbel completely adnate to the lower lip and by adult males possessing a particularly elongate, sharply pointed, conical urogenital papilla. In addition, Pareiorhaphis vetula is further distinguished from most congeners by having a shorter pelvic-fin spine, or by possessing more numerous premaxillary teeth, and by lacking a dorsal-fin spinelet. A comparison with congeners P. nasuta, P. scutula and P. proskynita, which also occur in headwater streams of the Rio Doce basin is also presented.
Fourteen new species of Heterospilus Haliday (Hymenoptera, Braconidae: Doryctinae) from Brazil
Authors: CHILETTO BO. , PENTEADO-DIAS AM.
Published: July 2016

Fourteen new species of the genus Heterospilus Haliday found in semideciduous mesophilic forest areas at São Paulo State, Brazil are described. They are: Heterospilus ayewai sp. n., H. caetetus sp. n., H. fernandesi sp. n., H. fiorelinii sp. n., H. granulosus sp. n., H. homalos sp. n., H. intervalesi sp. n., H. japi sp.n., H. meloi sp. n., H. mesopleuron sp. n., H. periotoi sp. n., H. riveroni sp. n., H. sormusi sp. n., and H. virginensis sp. n. Heterospilus species are characterized by the sculpturation of the vertex: granulate, striate, rugose, or smooth, without sculpturation. All specimens of Heterospilus in this study are in the species group with a smooth, unsculptured vertex.
A comprehensive inventory of the Gulf of Alaska sponge fauna with the description of two new species and geographic range extensions
Authors: LEHNERT HELMUT , STONE ROBERT P.
Published: July 2016

Two new species, Hamacantha (Vomerula) cassanoi n. sp. and Prosuberites salgadoi n. sp., are described from the eastern Gulf of Alaska in the North Pacific Ocean. These are the first records of the genera Hamacantha and Prosuberites from Alaska. We also report two geographic range extensions for the region. Geodia japonica Sollas, 1888 was previously known only from Japan and is now recorded from the Gulf of Alaska. We also document the first record of Rhizaxinella cervicornis Thiele, 1898 from the Gulf of Alaska. Our comprehensive inventory of the sponge fauna of the Gulf of Alaska confirms the presence of 52 taxa with an additional 38 taxa suspected of occurring in the region. This is a much lower number of species than that recorded from neighbouring regions like the Aleutian Islands and British Columbia.
A review of the Nearctic linyphiid spider Arcuphantes fragilis (Araneae, Linyphiidae) and closely related species
Authors: MA SHUANGCHUN , MARUSIK YURI M. , TU LIHONG
Published: July 2016

The Western Nearctic species Arcuphantes fragilis Chamberlin & Ivie, 1943 and several closely related species are reviewed. Seven species are recognized, including two new species: A. cavaticus Chamberlin & Ivie, 1943, A. decoratus Chamberlin & Ivie, 1943, A. fragilis Chamberlin & Ivie, 1943, A. dentatus n. sp., A. curvomarginatus n. sp., A. potteri Chamberlin & Ivie, 1943, and A. sylvaticus Chamberlin & Ivie, 1943. The female of A. decoratus is described for the first time. These seven species share a same genital type, distinguishing them from other congeners, with small differences among them. Illustrations for A. dentatus n. sp., SEM images and digital photographs for all seven species are presented. Descriptions of new species, redescriptions of known species and a key for the seven species are provided.