bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hubbard model analysis of the double photoionization of aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Huber D. L.
Published: February 2018

Using the one-dimensional Hubbard model as a guide, the peaks in the double photoionization in a variety of aromatic hydrocarbons and related molecules are analyzed. In all the aromatic hydrocarbons that have been studied, there are peaks in the 2[Formula: see text] ion concentration that are 40 eV above threshold. These peaks arise from the emission of electrons from a Hubbard state associated with carbon atoms on the perimeter of the molecule. Pyrene and coronene also have low energy peaks 10 eV above threshold that are associated with the carbon atoms inside the perimeter. The linear behavior of the 2[Formula: see text] ion concentration above the two-electron ionization energy that is found in organic molecules lacking periodic symmetry in their perimeter atoms is associated with the simultaneous emission of two photoelectrons with approximately equal kinetic energies moving in opposite directions.
Community detection in complex networks using proximate support vector clustering
Authors: Wang Feifan , Zhang Baihai , Chai Senchun , Xia Yuanqing
Published: February 2018

Community structure, one of the most attention attracting properties in complex networks, has been a cornerstone in advances of various scientific branches. A number of tools have been involved in recent studies concentrating on the community detection algorithms. In this paper, we propose a support vector clustering method based on a proximity graph, owing to which the introduced algorithm surpasses the traditional support vector approach both in accuracy and complexity. Results of extensive experiments undertaken on computer generated networks and real world data sets illustrate competent performances in comparison with the other counterparts.
Geochronological and geochemical constraints on the coexistent N-MORB- and SSZ-type ophiolites in Babu area (SW China) and tectonic implications
Authors: Liu Huichuan , Peng Touping , Guo Xiaofei
Published: February 2018

Our detailed geological, geochemical and geochronological investigations indicate the coexistence of late Paleozoic (270–265 Ma) normal middle ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB)-type and suprasubduction-zone (SSZ)-type ophiolites in the Babu area (SW China). Metaperidotite samples from the Babu ophiolites show high Os concentrations and low Re/Os,
187
Os/
188
Os and
187
Re/
188
Os ratios, and represent residual upper mantle. Metagabbro and metabasalt samples show light rare earth element (LREE)-depleted REE patterns and N-MORB-like primitive mantle-normalized spider diagrams without Nb–Ta and Zr–Hf anomalies, and depleted Sr–Nd isotopic compositions (ε
Nd
(
t
) = +6.9 – +8.3). These geochemical and Re–Os–Sr–Nd isotopic data show that the Babu ophiolites are derived from a depleted mantle source and represent ancient N-MORB-like oceanic crust. In addition, peridotites, basalts and boninites with SSZ signatures (e.g. Nb–Ta negative anomalies) were also reported in the Babu ophiolites consistent with their generation in a forearc or arc setting. In combination with the arc-related high-Mg
#
limburgite, basalt and andesite, these late Paleozoic ultramafic–mafic rocks are genetically related to Paleotethyan subduction, rather than being Emeishan mantle plume related. The coexisting N-MORB- and SSZ-type ophiolites in the Babu area show similar geochemical and geochronological characteristics to the Jinshajiang–Ailaoshan–Song Ma ophiolites.

Supplementary material:
A description of the geology of the Babu ultramafic–mafic complex, sample descriptions, detailed analytical methods and results, and a summary of previously published age data for late Paleozoic magmatic rocks along the China–Vietnam border are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4007569
Are We Ready to Drive Software-Defined Networks? A Comprehensive Survey on Management Tools and Techniques
Authors: Rojas Elisa , Doriguzzi-Corin Roberto , Tamurejo Sergio , Beato Andres , Schwabe Arne , Phemius Kevin , Guerrero Carmen
Published: February 2018

In the context of the emergent Software-Defined Networking (SDN) paradigm, the attention is mostly directed to the evolution of control protocols and networking functionalities. However, network professionals also need the right tools to reach the same level—and beyond—of monitoring and control they have in traditional networks. Current SDN tools are developed on an ad hoc basis, for specific SDN frameworks, while production environments demand standard platforms and easy integration. This survey aims to foster the definition of the next generation SDN management framework by providing the readers a thorough overview of existing SDN tools and main research directions.
Survey on Load-Balancing Methods in 802.11 Infrastructure Mode Wireless Networks for Improving Quality of Service
Authors: Soo Wooi King , Ling Teck-Chaw , Maw Aung Htein , Win Su Thawda
Published: February 2018

Traffic load in any 802.11 infrastructure mode network is typically distributed unevenly between access points (APs), creating hotspots. This is due to the inherent nature of wireless area networks (WLANs), where stations are free to associate to any known AP they desire, and the lack of control by the APs themselves. This imbalance creates a condition where affected APs in the network suffer traffic congestion while others are underutilized, leading to stations experiencing lower throughput, longer latency, and operating below the network potential capacity. To alleviate this problem, some form of load balancing is required to redistribute the work load among other available APs in the wireless network. This article presents a survey of the various works done in performing load balancing in an infrastructure mode wireless network and will cover the common methods including admission control, association management, cell breathing, and association control. Updates to the IEEE standards are also presented that support load-balancing efforts. Finally, software-defined networks are investigated to determine the extent of control integration to support managing and load-balancing WLANs. Trends in load-balancing research are also uncovered that indicate how the introduction of new wireless standards influences the amount of research.
An Efficient False Path-Aware Heuristic Critical Path Selection Method with High Coverage of the Process Variation Space
Authors: Abolmaali Sheis , Kamal Mehdi , Afzali-Kusha Ali , Pedram Massoud
Published: February 2018

In this article, we present a critical path selection method that efficiently finds true (sensitizable) critical paths of a circuit in the presence of process variations. The method, which is based on the viability analysis, tries to select the least number of true critical paths that cover all of circuit critical gates. Critical gates are those that make a path critical with a probability higher than a predefined threshold value. Selecting fewer critical paths leads to less computation time for the algorithm and shorter test time of fabricated chips. For this purpose, an efficient Statistical Static Timing Analysis– (SSTA) based technique is suggested. This technique tries to find circuit-critical gates whose process parameter variations cover a major part of the process space. Improving the process space coverage using fewer paths is achieved by considering both spatial (proximity of gates) and structural (having common gates) correlations in the analysis of choosing the critical paths. In the selection process, paths with low similarities in their characteristics are preferred. In addition, only true paths whose delays affect the maximum delay of the circuit are included. The selected paths can be used in the test process of the fabricated chips to determine if the chip meets its timing requirements. Also, a modified viability analysis that incorporates statistical computations is used in the SSTA. The efficacy of the proposed method is evaluated by comparing its results for combinational and sequential ISCAS benchmarks with those obtained by exhaustive search. Results indicate although, on average, only 4.38% of all the critical paths found by the exhaustive search are selected by the proposed method, the maximum probability of criticality for the paths that are not considered in our method is, on average, less than 4%.
Inviting silence
Authors: Hamidi Foad , Baljko Melanie
Published: February 2018

In this forum we celebrate research that helps to successfully bring the benefits of computing technologies to children, older adults, people with disabilities, and other populations that are often ignored in the design of mass-marketed products. ---
Juan Pablo Hourcade, Editor
On Measuring Bias in Online Information
Authors: Pitoura Evaggelia , Tsaparas Panayiotis , Flouris Giorgos , Fundulaki Irini , Papadakos Panagiotis , Abiteboul Serge , Weikum Gerhard
Published: February 2018

Bias in online information has recently become a pressing issue, with search engines, social networks and recommendation services being accused of exhibiting some form of bias. In this vision paper, we make the case for a systematic approach towards measuring bias. To this end, we discuss formal measures for quantifying the various types of bias, we outline the system components necessary for realizing them, and we highlight the related research challenges and open problems.
Report from the Fourth Workshop on Algorithms andSystems for MapReduce and Beyond (BeyondMR '17)
Authors: Afrati Foto N. , Hidders Jan , Koutris Paraschos , Sroka Jacek , Ullman Jeffrey
Published: February 2018

This report summarizes the presentations and discussions of the fourth workshop on Algorithms and Systems for MapReduce and Beyond (BeyondMR '17). The BeyondMR workshop was held in conjunction with the 2017 SIGMOD/PODS conference in Chicago, Illinois, USA on Friday May 19, 2017. The goal of the workshop was to bring together researchers and practitioners to explore algorithms, computational models, languages and interfaces for systems that provide large-scale parallelization and fault tolerance. These include specialized programming and data-management systems based on MapReduce and extensions thereof, graph processing systems and data-intensive workflow systems.

The program featured two well-attended invited talks, the first on current and future development in big data processing by Matei Zaharia from Databricks and the University of Stanford, and the second on computational models for the analysis and development of big data processing algorithms by Ke Yi from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
Some Common Mistakes In IR Evaluation, And How They Can Be Avoided
Authors: Fuhr Norbert
Published: February 2018

This paper points out some mistakes that can be frequently found in IR publications: MRR and ERR violate basic requirements for a metric, MAP is based on unrealistic assumptions, the numbers shown overstate the precision of the result, relative improvements of arithmetic means are inappropriate, the simple holdout method yields unreliable results, hypotheses are often formulated after the experiment, significance tests frequently ignore the multiple comparisons problem, effect sizes are ignored, reproducibility of the experiments might be nearly impossible, and sometimes authors claim proof by experimentation.
CAIR'17
Authors: Joho Hideo , Cavedon Lawrence , Arguello Jaime , Shokouhi Milad , Radlinski Filip
Published: February 2018

The First International Workshop on Conversational Approaches to Information Retrieval (CAIR'17) was held on August 11th, 2017 in Tokyo, in association with SIGIR 2017, the 40th International ACM SIGIR Conference on Research and Development in Information Retrieval. CAIR'17 brought together academic and industry researchers to present and discuss new research on conversational approaches to search, particularly over speech. As speech interfaces to devices are becoming more pervasive, and with the advent of Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), investigating and designing more effective and efficient means of interacting with information sources and search engines is growing in importance. Spoken interfaces to search engines opens opportunities through the possibility of greater interactivity but also requires rethinking, e.g., how results are presented. CAIR'17 addressed a range of such issues via invited keynote presentations, research papers presented orally and via posters, and a panel discussion involving researchers from interactive IR, IR evaluation, and spoken dialogue systems.
Overview of The First Workshop on Knowledge Graphs and Semantics for Text Retrieval and Analysis (KG4IR)
Authors: Dietz Laura , Xiong Chenyan , Meij Edgar
Published: February 2018

Knowledge graphs have been used throughout the history of information retrieval for a variety of tasks. Advances in knowledge acquisition and alignment technology in the last few years have given rise to a body of new approaches for utilizing knowledge graphs in text retrieval tasks. This report presents the motivation, output, and outlook of the first workshop on Knowledge Graphs and Semantics for Text Retrieval and Analysis which was co-located with SIGIR 2017 in Tokyo, Japan. We aim to assess where we stand today, what future directions are, and which preconditions could lead to further performance increases.
Cholesterol-enriched membrane microdomains are needed for insulin signaling and proliferation in hepatic cells
Authors: Fonseca Matheus de Castro , França Andressa , Florentino Rodrigo Machado , Fonseca Roberta Cristelli , Lima Filho Antônio Carlos Melo , Vidigal Paula Teixeira Vieira , Oliveira André Gustavo , Dubuquoy Laurent , Nathanson Michael H. , Leite M. Fátima
Published: February 2018

Hepatocyte proliferation during liver regeneration is a well-coordinated process regulated by the activation of several growth factor receptors, including the insulin receptor (IR). The IR can be localized in part to cholesterol-enriched membrane microdomains, but the role of such domains in insulin-mediated events in hepatocytes is not known. We investigated whether partitioning of IRs into cholesterol-enriched membrane rafts is important for the mitogenic effects of insulin in the hepatic cells. IR and lipid rafts were labeled in HepG2 cells and primary rat hepatocytes. Membrane cholesterol was depleted in vitro with metyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) and in vivo with lovastatin. Insulin-induced calcium (Ca2+) signals studies were examined in HepG2 cells and in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes as well as in whole liver in vivo by intravital confocal imaging. Liver regeneration was studied by 70% partial hepatectomy (PH), and hepatocyte proliferation was assessed by PCNA staining. A subpopulation of IR was found in membrane microdomains enriched in cholesterol. Depletion of cholesterol from plasma membrane resulted in redistribution of the IR along the cells, which was associated with impaired insulin-induced nuclear Ca2+signals, a signaling event that regulates hepatocyte proliferation. Cholesterol depletion also led to ERK1/2 hyper-phosphorylation. Lovastatin administration to rats decreased hepatic cholesterol content, disrupted lipid rafts and decreased insulin-induced Ca2+signaling in hepatocytes, and delayed liver regeneration after PH. Therefore, membrane cholesterol content and lipid rafts integrity showed to be important for the proliferative effects of insulin in hepatic cells.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY One of insulin’s actions is to stimulate liver regeneration. Here we show that a subpopulation of insulin receptors is in a specialized cholesterol-enriched region of the cell membrane and this subfraction is important for insulin’s proliferative effects.
DNA methylation signatures of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Wang Ying , Huang Xiaoxi , Leng Dong , Li Jifeng , Wang Lei , Liang Yan , Wang Jun , Miao Ran , Jiang Tao
Published: February 2018

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a life-threatening disease, which is often underpinned by vascular remodeling. Pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) are the main participants in vascular remodeling. However, their biological role in CTEPH is not entirely clear. In the present study, we analyzed the whole epigenome-wide DNA methylation profile of cultured PASMCs from CTEPH and control cell lines with the Illumina Human Methylation 450K BeadChip. A total of 6,829 significantly differentially methylated probes (DMPs) were detected between these two groups. Among these, 4,246 DMPs were hypermethylated, while 2,583 DMPs were hypomethylated. The functional enrichment analysis of 1,743 DMPs in the promoter regions and corresponding genes indicated that DNA hypermethylation and hypomethylation might be involved in the regulation of genes that have multifarious biological roles, including roles in cancer-related diseases, the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, cell adhesion, and pattern specification processes. The observed methylations were categorized into the most important functions, including those involved in cell proliferation, immunity, and migration. We speculate that these methylations were most likely involved in the possible pathophysiology of CTEPH. Gene interaction analysis pertaining to signal networks confirmed that PIK3CA and PIK3R1 were important mediators in these whole networks. The mRNA levels of PIK3CA, HIC1, and SSH1 were verified by qPCR and corresponded with DNA methylation differences. Understanding epigenetic features associated with CTEPH may provide new insights into the mechanism that underlie this condition.
Rapid and Simple Determination of Sarafloxacin and Difloxacin in Beef by Capillary Electrophoresis Coupled with Solid-Phase Extraction
Authors: Wang Qian , Zhao Rui , Cui Yan , Liu Cuicui , Liang Liya , Yan Shijie
Published: February 2018

A simple and rapid capillary electrophoresis method with diode array detector was developed for determination of sarafloxacin and difloxacin in beef. In this study, the experimental parameters affecting the determination were systematically optimized, including wavelength, buffer system, pH and concentration, and separation temperature and voltage. Under the optimal conditions, sarafloxacin and difloxacin could be quantified within 4 min using H3BO3/Na2B4O7 buffer (35 mmol/L, pH 8.8) as background electrolyte, 25 kV as separation voltage, and 22°C as the column temperature. The linear range of the method was 1–20 μg/mL with LOD 0.8 μg/mL for sarafloxacin and 0.5–20 μg/mL with LOD 0.3 μg/mL for difloxacin. The RSDs for the peak area of 8 μg/mL sarafloxacin were 4.8% (intraday) and 7.8% (interday), respectively. The proposed method has been applied to determine the residue of sarafloxacin and difloxacin in beef samples with the satisfactory recovery.
Scattering Attenuation of SH‐Waves in Fiber‐Reinforced Composites with Partial Imperfectly Bonded Interfaces
Authors: Zhang Jun , Zeng Longhai , Liu Lian
Published: February 2018

The influence of partial imperfectly bonded interfaces between each fiber and the matrix on the scattering attenuation of coherent SH‐waves in fiber‐reinforced composites is investigated. The imperfection of interfaces is modelled using the spring model, in which the level of imperfection is characterized by a parameter K, which is called the stiffness of the imperfect interfaces. First, the single scattering of SH‐waves by a cylindrical fiber with such a partial imperfectly bonded interface to the matrix is formulated and subsequently solved using the collocation point (CP) method. Later on, based on the analysis of the corresponding single scattering problem, effects of several parameters (i.e., frequency of the incident wave, level of imperfection of interfaces, and width of the imperfect interfaces) on the far‐field scattering magnitude, scattering cross section, and scattering attenuation coefficients of coherent SH‐waves are shown graphically. The potential application of the current results to nondestructive evaluation of interfaces in composites is also discussed.
Jianpi Bushen, a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy, Combined with Chemotherapy for Gastric Cancer Treatment: A Meta‐Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Chen Yunbo , Zhang Guijuan , Chen Xiaoping , Jiang Xuefeng , Bie Fengjie , Yuan Naijun , Wang Yurong , Hao Xiaoqian , Ma Min
Published: February 2018

Objective. To investigate the effects of Jianpi Bushen (JPBS), a traditional Chinese medicine that is used to invigorate the spleen and tonify the kidney, combined with chemotherapy for the treatment of gastric cancer. Methods. Literature retrieval was performed in PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, CNKI, Wanfang Data Information Site, and VIP from inception to October 2017. Randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effects of JPBS combined with chemotherapy were identified. The primary reported outcomes were KPS (Karnofsky Performance Status), clinical curative efficiency, immune function, blood system, and nonhematologic system. Review Manager 5.3 (RevMan 5.3) was used for data analysis, and the quality of the studies was also appraised. Results. A total of 26 studies were included with 3098 individuals. The results of the meta‐analysis indicated that treatment of gastric cancer with the combination of JPBS and chemotherapy resulted in better outcomes compared to chemotherapy alone. Conclusion. Evidence from the meta‐analysis suggested that JPBS combined with chemotherapy has a positive effect on gastric cancer treatment. However, additional rigorously designed and large sample randomized controlled trials are required to confirm the efficacy and safety of this treatment.
A Novel Method for Drug Screen to Regulate G Protein-Coupled Receptors in the Metabolic Network of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Li Yang , Zheng Wei , Qiqige Wuyun , Cao Shujuan , Ruan Jishou , Zhang Yanping
Published: February 2018

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the pathogenesis of AD is poorly understood. G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are involved in numerous key AD pathways and play a key role in the pathology of AD. To fully understand the pathogenesis of AD and design novel drug therapeutics, analyzing the connection between AD and GPCRs is of great importance. In this paper, we firstly build and analyze the AD-related pathway by consulting the KEGG pathway of AD and a mass of literature and collect 25 AD-related GPCRs for drug discovery. Then the ILbind and AutoDock Vina tools are integrated to find out potential drugs related to AD. According to the analysis of DUD-E dataset, we select five drugs, that is, Acarbose (ACR), Carvedilol (CVD), Digoxin (DGX), NADH (NAI), and Telmisartan (TLS), by sorting the ILbind scores (≥0.73). Then depending on their AutoDock Vina scores and pocket position information, the binding patterns of these five drugs are obtained. We analyze the regulation function of GPCRs in the metabolic network of AD based on the drug screen results, which may be helpful for the study of the off-target effect and the side effect of drugs.
A Novel Coupled State/Input/Parameter Identification Method for Linear Structural Systems
Authors: Wan Zhimin , Wang Ting , Li Lin , Xu Zhichao
Published: February 2018

In many engineering applications, unknown states, inputs, and parameters exist in the structures. However, most methods require one or two of these variables to be known in order to identify the other(s). Recently, the authors have proposed a method called EGDF for coupled state/input/parameter identification for nonlinear system in state space. However, the EGDF method based solely on acceleration measurements is found to be unstable, which can cause the drift of the identified inputs and displacements. Although some regularization methods can be adopted for solving the problem, they are not suitable for joint input‐state identification in real time. In this paper, a strategy of data fusion of displacement and acceleration measurements is used to avoid the low‐frequency drift in the identified inputs and structural displacements for linear structural systems. Two numerical examples about a plane truss and a single‐stage isolation system are conducted to verify the effectiveness of the proposed modified EGDF algorithm.
Imaging and Methotrexate Response Monitoring of Systemic Inflammation in Arthritic Rats Employing the Macrophage PET Tracer [18F]Fluoro-PEG-Folate
Authors: Chandrupatla Durga M. S. H. , Jansen Gerrit , Mantel Elise , Low Philip S. , Matsuyama Takami , Musters René P. , Windhorst Albert D. , Lammertsma Adriaan A. , Molthoff Carla F. M. , van der Laken Conny J.
Published: February 2018

Background. In rheumatoid arthritis, articular inflammation is a hallmark of disease, while the involvement of extra-articular tissues is less well defined. Here, we examined the feasibility of PET imaging with the macrophage tracer [18F]fluoro-PEG-folate, targeting folate receptorβ(FRβ), to monitor systemic inflammatory disease in liver and spleen of arthritic rats before and after methotrexate (MTX) treatment.Methods. [18F]Fluoro-PEG-folate PET scans (60 min) were acquired in saline- and MTX-treated (1 mg/kg, 4x) arthritic rats, followed by tissue resection and radiotracer distribution analysis. Liver and spleen tissues were stained for ED1/ED2-macrophage markers and FRβexpression.Results. [18F]Fluoro-PEG-folate PET and ex vivo tissue distribution studies revealed a significant (p<0.01) 2-fold lower tracer uptake in both liver and spleen of MTX-treated arthritic rats. Consistently, ED1- and ED2-positive macrophages were significantly (p<0.01) decreased in liver (4-fold) and spleen (3-fold) of MTX-treated compared with saline-treated rats. Additionally, FRβ-positive macrophages were also significantly reduced in liver (5-fold,p<0.005) and spleen (3-fold,p<0.01) of MTX- versus saline-treated rats.Conclusions. MTX treatment reduced activated macrophages in liver and spleen, as markers for systemic inflammation in these organs. Macrophage PET imaging with [18F]fluoro-PEG-folate holds promise for detection of systemic inflammation in RA as well as therapy (MTX) response monitoring.
One-Pot Hydrothermal Synthesis, Characterization, and Desulfurization Performance of ZnFe2O4/AC Composites
Authors: Wang Hui-qiang , Liu Ming-hua , Luo Xin , Liu Yi-fan , Chen Fei-er , Lv Yuan-cai
Published: February 2018

ZnFe2O4/AC composites were prepared by the one-pot hydrothermal method using the activated carbon (AC) as a carrier. The synthesis conditions were optimized by a single-factor experiment. The structural, textural, and surface properties of the adsorbent have been comprehensively characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The SO2 removal capacities of the composites were investigated via testing the adsorption capacity at the self-made desulfurization equipment. The results show that the adsorption capacity of ZnFe2O4/AC composites is much higher than that of the AC and ZnFe2O4 samples, respectively. The composite overcomes the disadvantages of the traditional sintering, showing a very high desulfurization performance. The breakthrough time was 147 min, and the sulfur adsorption capacity could reach 23.67% in the desulfurization performance test.
Effect ofCaesalpinia coriariaFruits and Soybean Oil on Finishing Lamb Performance and Meat Characteristics
Authors: Sánchez Nallely , Mendoza Germán David , Martínez José Antonio , Hernández Pedro Abel , Camacho Diaz Luis Miguel , Lee-Rangel Hector Aarón , Vazquez Anayeli , Flores Ramirez Rogelio
Published: February 2018

To evaluate phenolic compounds and whether the combination of a tanniferous fruit and soybean oil could improve the performance, meat characteristics, and fatty acid (FA) profile in lambs, an experiment was conducted over 40 days with twenty creole male lambs (23.71±3.46 kg). The lambs were allotted in a completely randomised design, with factorial arrangement 2 × 2, with the following dietary treatments: (1) control diet, (2) 2%Caesalpinia coriariaground fruit dry matter (DM), (3) 2% soybean oil DM, and (4) 2%Caesalpinia coriariafruit plus 2% soybean oil. The concentration of condensed tannins (CT) inCaesalpinia coriaceawas 21.71 g/kg DM. No interactions were detected (P>0.05) among soybean oil andCaesalpinia coriaria, and there were no differences in daily gain, intake, and feed conversion. Soybean oil reduced (P<0.05) DM digestibility (68.05 versus 59.56%). In fat from thelongissimus thoracis et lumborum(LTL) muscle, only linoleic acid presented differences (P<0.05) between treatments. The combination ofCaesalpinia coriaceafruit and soybean oil did not improve lamb performance at the included levels.
Comparison of Urine 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3)Pyridyl-1-Butanol and Cotinine for Assessment of Active and Passive Smoke Exposure in Urban Adolescents
Authors: Benowitz Neal L. , Nardone Natalie , Jain Shonul , Dempsey Delia A. , Addo Newton , St. Helen Gideon , Jacob Peyton
Published: February 2018

Background: Many adolescents are exposed to tobacco smoke, from either active smoking (CS) or secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. Tobacco-specific biomarkers of exposure include cotinine (detects use in past 2–4 days) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL; detects use for a month or longer). NNAL is expected to detect more intermittent tobacco exposure. We compared NNAL and cotinine as biomarkers of exposure to tobacco in urban adolescents and determined the optimal NNAL cutoff point to distinguish CS from SHS exposure.

Methods: Surplus urine samples, collected from 466 adolescents attending pediatric well or urgent care visits at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital in 2013 to 2014, were assayed for cotinine and NNAL.

Results: Ninety-four percent of adolescents had measurable levels of NNAL compared with 87% for cotinine. The optimal NNAL cutoff point to distinguish CS from SHS was 9.6 pg/mL by latent class or 14.4 pg/mL by receiver-operating characteristic analysis. Cotinine and NNAL were strongly correlated, but the correlation slopes differed for active versus SHS-exposed adolescents. Among nonsmokers, NNAL levels were significantly higher in African American (median, 3.3 pg/mL) compared with other groups (0.9–1.9 pg/mL), suggesting greater exposure to SHS.

Conclusions: Urine NNAL screening finds a large majority (94%) of urban adolescents are exposed to tobacco. African Americans are exposed to higher levels of SHS than other ethnic/racial groups.

Impact: SHS is associated with significant medical morbidity in adolescents. Routine biochemical screening with NNAL or cotinine detects high prevalence of SHS exposure and should be considered as a tool to reduce SHS exposure in high-risk populations. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(3); 254–61. ©2018 AACR.
Temporal Variability of Oral Microbiota over 10 Months and the Implications for Future Epidemiologic Studies
Authors: Vogtmann Emily , Hua Xing , Zhou Liang , Wan Yunhu , Suman Shalabh , Zhu Bin , Dagnall Casey L. , Hutchinson Amy , Jones Kristine , Hicks Belynda D. , Sinha Rashmi , Shi Jianxin , Abnet Christian C.
Published: February 2018

Background: Few studies have prospectively evaluated the association between oral microbiota and health outcomes. Precise estimates of the intrasubject microbial metric stability will allow better study planning. Therefore, we conducted a study to evaluate the temporal variability of oral microbiota.

Methods: Forty individuals provided six oral samples using the OMNIgene ORAL kit and Scope mouthwash oral rinses approximately every two months over 10 months. DNA was extracted using the QIAsymphony and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced using the MiSeq. To estimate temporal variation, we calculated intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for a variety of metrics and examined stability after clustering samples into distinct community types using Dirichlet multinomial models (DMMs).

Results: The ICCs for the alpha diversity measures were high, including for number of observed bacterial species [0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65–0.82 and 0.79; 95% CI: 0.75–0.94] from OMNIgene ORAL and Scope mouthwash, respectively. The ICCs for the relative abundance of the top four phyla and beta diversity matrices were lower. Three clusters provided the best model fit for the DMM from the OMNIgene ORAL samples, and the probability of remaining in a specific cluster was high (59.5%–80.7%).

Conclusions: The oral microbiota appears to be stable over time for multiple metrics, but some measures, particularly relative abundance, were less stable.

Impact: We used this information to calculate stability-adjusted power calculations that will inform future field study protocols and experimental analytic designs. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 27(5); 594–600. ©2018 AACR.
Focal Irradiation and Systemic TGFβ Blockade in Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Formenti Silvia C. , Lee Percy , Adams Sylvia , Goldberg Judith D. , Li Xiaochun , Xie Mike W. , Ratikan Josephine A. , Felix Carol , Hwang Lin , Faull Kym F. , Sayre James W. , Hurvitz Sara , Glaspy John A. , Comin-Anduix Begoña , Demaria Sandra , Schaue Dörthe , McBride William H.
Published: February 2018

Purpose: This study examined the feasibility, efficacy (abscopal effect), and immune effects of TGFβ blockade during radiotherapy in metastatic breast cancer patients.

Experimental Design: Prospective randomized trial comparing two doses of TGFβ blocking antibody fresolimumab. Metastatic breast cancer patients with at least three distinct metastatic sites whose tumor had progressed after at least one line of therapy were randomized to receive 1 or 10 mg/kg of fresolimumab, every 3 weeks for five cycles, with focal radiotherapy to a metastatic site at week 1 (three doses of 7.5 Gy), that could be repeated to a second lesion at week 7. Research bloods were drawn at baseline, week 2, 5, and 15 to isolate PBMCs, plasma, and serum.

Results: Twenty-three patients were randomized, median age 57 (range 35–77). Seven grade 3/4 adverse events occurred in 5 of 11 patients in the 1 mg/kg arm and in 2 of 12 patients in the 10 mg/kg arm, respectively. Response was limited to three stable disease. At a median follow up of 12 months, 20 of 23 patients are deceased. Patients receiving the 10 mg/kg had a significantly higher median overall survival than those receiving 1 mg/kg fresolimumab dose [hazard ratio: 2.73 with 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02–7.30; P = 0.039]. The higher dose correlated with improved peripheral blood mononuclear cell counts and a striking boost in the CD8 central memory pool.

Conclusions: TGFβ blockade during radiotherapy was feasible and well tolerated. Patients receiving the higher fresolimumab dose had a favorable systemic immune response and experienced longer median overall survival than the lower dose group. Clin Cancer Res; 24(11); 2493–504. ©2018 AACR.
Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Strenuously Training Male Army Recruits
Authors: Epstein Danny , Borohovitz Ariel , Merdler Ilan , Furman Moran , Attali Emmanuel , Sorkin Alex , Stainfeld Yaniv , Isenberg Yoni , Mashiach Tanya , Shapira Shachar , Weisshof Roni , Dann Eldad J.
Published: February 2018

Objectives: The objectives of our study were to determine the effect of strenuous physical training on the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), iron deficiency (ID) with normal hemoglobin (Hb), and anemia without ID. Methods: Our study was a prospective observational study. We followed 115 healthy male recruits in the Israel Defense Forces elite units during 15 months of training. Blood samples were collected at recruitment and at 6-, 9- and 15-month follow-ups. Results: Upon recruitment, anemia (Hb <14 g/dL), ID, and ID anemia (IDA) were diagnosed in 28, 31, and 9% of individuals, respectively. Sixty-three subjects (54%) were followed for 6 months; 9 of them (14%) developed new-onset IDA. Among them, the prevalence of anemia rose from 19 to 52%, and ID from 33 to 35%. At the 15-month follow-up, 29% had developed new-onset IDA and 65% showed evidence of ID. Conclusion: We report a high prevalence of anemia, ID, and IDA among young healthy males participating in prolonged strenuous training programs. These findings can be partly explained by the physiological changes associated with strenuous physical activity. Further investigations aiming to develop specific diagnostic guidelines for this unique population are warranted.
Scleral Thinning after Transscleral Biopsy for Uveal Melanoma Using Lamellar Scleral Flap
Authors: Siegel Diane T. , Szalai Eszter , Wells Jill R. , Grossniklaus Hans E.
Published: February 2018

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to describe the clinical history and histopathologic findings of three cases of scleral thinning after lamellar scleral flap, including one case with confirmed extraocular tumor extension. Methods: The medical records and pathology specimens of three patients with scleral thinning after biopsy and plaque brachytherapy and lamellar scleral flap performed during a transscleral biopsy were reviewed. Results: The first two patients developed scleral thinning and visible pigmentation, but had tumors that were regressing in size on ultrasound. The two patients were followed by serial observation. The third patient exhibited scleral thinning and evidence of tumor growth on ultrasound, raising the suspicion for extraocular tumor extension. Histopathologic examination of the enucleated eye confirmed extrascleral tumor extension and showed necrotic and intact melanoma with associated pigmented macrophages. Conclusions: Patients with scleral flaps created for biopsy of uveal melanoma are at risk for scleral thinning and extrascleral extension of tumor recurrence through the flap.
Neuroinflammation in Response to Intracerebral Injections of Different HMGB1 Redox Isoforms
Authors: Aucott Hannah , Lundberg Johan , Salo Henna , Klevenvall Lena , Damberg Peter , Ottosson Lars , Andersson Ulf , Holmin Staffan , Erlandsson Harris Helena
Published: February 2018

Background: Neuroinflammation triggered by infection or trauma is the cause of central nervous system dysfunction. High-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1), released from stressed and dying brain cells, is a potent neuroinflammatory mediator. The proinflammatory functions of HMGB1 are tightly regulated by post-translational redox modifications, and we here investigated detailed neuroinflammatory responses induced by the individual redox isoforms. Methods: Male Dark Agouti rats received a stereotactic injection of saline, lipopolysaccharide, disulfide HMGB1, or fully reduced HMGB1, and were accessed for blood-brain barrier modifications using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and inflammatory responses by immunohistochemistry. Results and Conclusions: Significant blood-brain barrier disruption appeared 24 h after injection of lipopolysaccharide, disulfide HMGB1, or fully reduced HMGB1 compared to controls, as assessed in post-gadolinium T1-weighted MRI images and confirmed by increased uptake of FITC-conjugated dextran. Immunohistochemistry revealed that both HMGB1 isoforms also induced a local production of IL-1β. Additionally, disulfide HMGB1 increased major histocompatibility complex class II expression and apoptosis. Together, the results demonstrate that extracellular, cerebral HMGB1 causes significant blood-brain barrier disruption in a redox-independent manner and activates several components of neuroinflammation. Blocking HMGB1 might potentially improve clinical outcome in conditions such as stroke and traumatic brain injury.
Annotated checklist of the millipede family Chelodesmidae Cook, 1895 from São Paulo state, Brazil (Diplopoda: Polydesmida)
Authors: Bouzan Rodrigo Salvador , Iniesta Luiz Felipe Moretti , Pena-Barbosa João Paulo Peixoto , Brescovit Antonio Domingos
Published: February 2018

A checklist of the family Chelodesmidae Cook, 1895 (order Polydesmida) from state of São Paulo, Brazil has been performed based on literature and examined material from the collection of the Instituto Butantan, São Paulo (IBSP). A total of 15 genera (7 tribes and 5 genera considered incertae sedis) with 64 species are listed. Among these species, 30 presented a single one record in the state, 19 with more than one record and four recorded for the first time for the state of São Paulo, and 11 species occurring in other Brazilian states. The most distributed species is Brasilodesmus paulistus paulistus (Brölemann, 1902) with 52 records of occurrence. In addition, a complete bibliography list of the chelodesmidan fauna from the state is compiled, as well as distribution maps for all species are provided.
Testing capturing methods for the Yellow-legged Tinamou Crypturellus noctivagus (Wied, 1820) (Aves, Tinamidae) in southern Brazil
Authors: Corrêa Luiz Liberato Costa , Petry Maria Virginia
Published: February 2018

Specific and efficient methods for capturing tinamous are scarce in the scientific literature. Here we tested the effectivity of two methods for capturing the Yellow-legged Tinamou Crypturellus noctivagus (Tinamidae): a bell-trap adapted with a nylon cast net and a type of fall-trap. In a forest remnant in Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil, we applied 120 hours of sampling effort using the traps, resulting in the capture of six individuals (two females and four males). These capture methods are an efficient tools and useful for forest tinamous studies, although it can be also used for capturing other forest bird which use the forest floor.
Chaetotaxy and setal diversity of grooming legs in species of porcelain crabs (Crustacea: Anomura: Porcellanidae)
Authors: Ferreira Luciane Augusto de Azevedo , Tavares Marcos
Published: February 2018

The morphology of the fifth pereiopods was studied under scanning electron microscopy in ten species of porcelain crabs for chaetotaxy and setal diversity, namelly Megalobrachium pacificum, Megalobrachium roseum, Pachycheles grossimanus, Petrolisthes armatus, Petrolisthes tuberculatus, Pisidia brasiliensis, Pisidia longicornis, Polyonyx gibbesi, Porcellana platycheles and Porcellana sayana. Six setal types were identified: simple, pappose, sickle-shaped serrate, straight serrate, club-shaped and tooth-like cuspidate. Porcelain crabs can differ in the fifth pereiopod setal morphology, chaetotaxy and setal density, even among species within the same genus. The absence of sexual dimorphism of the grooming legs in porcelain crabs suggests that grooming eggs requires no particular grooming apparatus in females and that male and female are equal in grooming efficiency.
Range extension to Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province and revised distribution of Platyrrhinus chocoensis (Phyllostomidae: Chiroptera) in western Ecuador
Authors: Pozo-Rivera Wilmer E. , Yazán-Ayala Karolina , Alvear-Barrezueta Ramiro , Loaiza‑S. Christian R. , Berovides-Álvarez Vicente , Mancina Carlos A.
Published: February 2018

We report the first record of the Choco broad-nosed bat (Plathyrrhinus chocoensis Alberico & Velazco, 1991) in Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas province in northwestern Ecuador. This voucher specimen represents the southernmost record of the species and expands its distribution ca. 120 km south. The animal was caught at a farm, specifically in a live fence consisting of several tree species. Preservation of bat species occurring in agricultural landscapes requires local policies and environmental education.
First avifaunal survey of a Cerrado dry forest enclave on the right bank of the São Francisco River, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with insights on geographic variation of some species
Authors: Vasconcelos Marcelo Ferreira de , D’Angelo Neto Santos
Published: February 2018

Cerrado dry forest enclaves have been treated as an endemic bird area. In the last years, some avifaunal surveys have been conducted in dry forests on the left bank of the São Francisco River, eastern Brazil. Nevertheless, there is a gap of detailed ornithological surveys in the Cerrado dry forest enclaves on the right bank of this river. Here, we present the first avifaunal survey of a Cerrado dry forest enclave on the right bank of the São Francisco River. The study area, named “Curral de Pedras”, comprises a dry forest enclave and other associated habitats in central Minas Gerais state, southeastern Brazil. We recorded 172 bird species; nine taxa have their ranges strongly associated to the Caatinga; six present their ranges associated to the Atlantic Forest and one is typical of the Cerrado. Important records are those of Campylopterus calcirupicola, a recently described species associated with dry forests of central Brazil, and Celeus ochraceus, collected in its southernmost range. Furthermore, we obtained specimens that present intermediate phenotypes between the following woodcreeper species: Lepidocolaptes squamatus / L. wagleri and Xiphocolaptes albicollis / X. falcirostris. Those records reinforce the need of further sampling and collecting activities in those dry forest enclaves aiming future researches in taxonomy, geographic variation, and phylogeography.
Anuran species in a remnant of the Atlantic rainforest in an urban area
Authors: Mageski Marcio Marques , Silva-Soares Thiago , Duca Soares Charles Gladstone , Oliveira Santos Débora Cristina Baptista Medeiros de , Jesus Filho Paulo Roberto De , Costa Larissa Corteletti da , Clemente-Carvalho Rute Beatriz Garcia
Published: February 2018

Forest fragments in urban areas have many habitat resources that frogs use for refuge, reproduction and growth. Knowledge of an anuran assembly is the first step towards understanding the importance of these forest fragments in areas highly threatened by anthropogenic actions. We sampled anurans during the day and night from November 2012 to August 2013 through visual and acoustic surveys. We found 333 individuals belonging to 19 species. The highest richness and abundance were recorded in January whereas the lowest richness and abundance were recorded in June. Most species were found in open areas. Our results highlight the importance of well-studied urban fragments for the anuran community. The conservation of these habitats may ensure the viability of the ecological functions of this anuran community for the future.
Será Simão Toko um profeta? Uma leitura antropológica
Authors: Batsîkama Patrício
Published: February 2018

Simão Toko é uma das figuras históricas importantes para a Libertação dos povos africanos. Entre 1943-1950, ele lançou a sua ideologia em relação a autonomia cultural, financeira como base da emancipação. Simultaneamente, o seu movimento religioso (Tokoismo) pretendia a independência de toda África (profecia feita em 1949/1950) e profetizou muitas coisas (registadas pelo próprio colono), e hoje muitas delas já estão cumpridas. A nossa discussão começa com uma questão e tentaremos respondê-la na perspectiva de Sociologia das Religiões e Antropologia religiosa. Por outro, apresentamos o panorama onde a Teologia Tokoista pode construir uma Cultura de Paz entre os Angolanos, depois de muitos anos de Cultura de Guerra. O objectivo desta reflexão consiste em convidar os académicos angolanos a questionar-se sobre a utilidade das práticas e saberes endógenos para resolver os seus problemas. O Tokoismo é, como Pensamento Social, a instrumentalização da Cultura de Paz entre os Angolanos. Ele representa, também, o caminho para reflectir sobre outros paradigmas do diálogo face aos desafios da Globalização.
Por uma cidadania de primeira classe: supremacia racial e o debate sobre integração na imprensa afro-americana na Primeira Guerra Mundial (1917- 1919)
Authors: Francisco Flavio Thales Ribeiro
Published: February 2018

O objetivo deste artigo é o de compreender a formação de hierarquias raciais no pós-abolição e o debate na imprensa negra sobre a integração da população negra nos Estados Unidos durante a Primeira Guerra Mundial. Os periódicos Chicago Defender e The Crisis expressaram os anseios do ativismo negro nas primeiras décadas do século XX, galvanizados pela atuação dos combatentes negros no conflito no Velho Continente. A Grande Migração e a participação dos negros na Primeira Guerra mundial foram consideradas dois eventos impulsionadores de uma cidadania de primeira classe para os negros.