bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel Encoding and Routing Balance Insertion Based Particle Swarm Optimization with Application to Optimal CVRP Depot Location Determination
Authors: Chen Ruey-Maw , Shen Yin-Mou
Published: October 2015

A depot location has a significant effect on the transportation cost in vehicle routing problems. This study proposes a hierarchical particle swarm optimization (PSO) including inner and outer layers to obtain the best location to establish a depot and the corresponding optimal vehicle routes using the determined depot location. The inner layer PSO is applied to obtain optimal vehicle routes while the outer layer PSO is to acquire the depot location. A novel particle encoding is suggested for the inner layer PSO, the novel PSO encoding facilitates solving the customer assignment and the visiting order determination simultaneously to greatly lower processing efforts and hence reduce the computation complexity. Meanwhile, a routing balance insertion (RBI) local search is designed to improve the solution quality. The RBI local search moves the nearest customer from the longest route to the shortest route to reduce the travel distance. Vehicle routing problems from an operation research library were tested and an average of 16% total routing distance improvement between having and not having planned the optimal depot locations is obtained. A real world case for finding the new plant location was also conducted and significantly reduced the cost by about 29%.
Accelerating Smith-Waterman Alignment for Protein Database Search Using Frequency Distance Filtration Scheme Based on CPU-GPU Collaborative System
Authors: Liu Yu , Hong Yang , Lin Chun-Yuan , Hung Che-Lun
Published: October 2015

The Smith-Waterman (SW) algorithm has been widely utilized for searching biological sequence databases in bioinformatics. Recently, several works have adopted the graphic card with Graphic Processing Units (GPUs) and their associated CUDA model to enhance the performance of SW computations. However, these works mainly focused on the protein database search by using the intertask parallelization technique, and only using the GPU capability to do the SW computations one by one. Hence, in this paper, we will propose an efficient SW alignment method, called CUDA-SWfr, for the protein database search by using the intratask parallelization technique based on a CPU-GPU collaborative system. Before doing the SW computations on GPU, a procedure is applied on CPU by using the frequency distance filtration scheme (FDFS) to eliminate the unnecessary alignments. The experimental results indicate that CUDA-SWfr runs 9.6 times and 96 times faster than the CPU-based SW method without and with FDFS, respectively.
Automatic Generation of Validated Specific Epitope Sets
Authors: Carrasco Pro Sebastian , Sidney John , Paul Sinu , Lindestam Arlehamn Cecilia , Weiskopf Daniela , Peters Bjoern , Sette Alessandro
Published: October 2015

Accurate measurement of B and T cell responses is a valuable tool to study autoimmunity, allergies, immunity to pathogens, and host-pathogen interactions and assist in the design and evaluation of T cell vaccines and immunotherapies. In this context, it is desirable to elucidate a method to select validated reference sets of epitopes to allow detection of T and B cells. However, the ever-growing information contained in the Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) and the differences in quality and subjects studied between epitope assays make this task complicated. In this study, we develop a novel method to automatically select reference epitope sets according to a categorization system employed by the IEDB. From the sets generated, three epitope sets (EBV, mycobacteria and dengue) were experimentally validated by detection of T cell reactivityex vivofrom human donors. Furthermore, a web application that will potentially be implemented in the IEDB was created to allow users the capacity to generate customized epitope sets.
Improving Both Energy and Time Efficiency of Depth-Based Routing for Underwater Sensor Networks
Authors: Diao Boyu , Xu Yongjun , An Zhulin , Wang Fei , Li Chao
Published: October 2015

Underwater Sensor Network (UWSN) is a representative three-dimensional wireless sensor network. Due to the unique characteristics of underwater acoustic communication, providing energy-efficient and low-latency routing protocols for UWSNs is challenging. Major challenges are water currents, limited resources, and long acoustic propagation delay. Network topology of UWSNs is dynamic and complex as sensors have always been moving with currents. Some proposed protocols adopt geographic routing to address this problem, but three-dimensional localization is hard to obtain in underwater environment. As depth-based routing protocol (DBR) uses depth information only which is much more easier to obtain, it is more practical for UWSNs. However, depth information is not enough to restrict packets to be forwarded within a particular area. Packets may be forwarded through multiple paths which might cause energy waste and increase end-to-end delay. In this paper, we introduce underwater time of arrival (ToA) ranging technique to address the problem above. To maintain all the original advantages of DBR, we make the following contributions: energy-efficient depth-based routing protocol that reduces redundancy energy cost in some blind zones; low-latency depth-based routing protocol that is able to deliver a packet through an optimal path. The proposed protocols are validated through extensive simulations.
Analysis of the Oxidative Stress Status in Nonspecific Vaginitis and Its Role in Vaginal Epithelial Cells Apoptosis
Authors: Chen Zhaojie , Zhang Zhen , Zhang Haiyan , Xie Beibei
Published: October 2015

Nonspecific vaginitis (NSV), also named bacterial vaginosis, is one of the most common genital system diseases in women during their reproductive years. The specific pathogenic mechanism of NSV is not clear yet. Upon the balance alteration, large amount of reactive oxidant species (ROS) is generated and accumulated in the genital tract, and thus resulting in oxidative stress, which has been reported to be an important trigger of mitochondrial pathway cell apoptosis. In this study, the antioxidant secretion level and antioxidant enzyme activity in the vaginal discharge were evaluated to analyze the oxidative status in the vaginal tract of NSV patients. The effect of oxidative stress on the vaginal mucosa epithelial cell apoptosis was then studied. The role of oxidative stress on NSV development was uncovered; thus open new direction for the prevention and treatment of NSV by providing antiradical agents was revealed.
Effects of Nitrogen‐Doped Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes on Murine Fibroblasts
Authors: Munguía-Lopez J. G. , Muñoz-Sandoval E. , Ortiz-Medina J. , Rodriguez-Macias F. J. , De Leon-Rodriguez A.
Published: October 2015

The effect of nitrogen‐doped multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNx) on the proliferation
of NIH‐3T3 murine fibroblasts is presented. CNTs were dispersed in
distillated water and incubated with mammalian cells in order to evaluate their toxicity. Also, the
influence of factors such as dosage (7 and 70 µg/mL), exposure time (24 to 96 h),
and the exposure route (before and after cell liftoff) on the cell proliferation was evaluated. When the CNx
were simultaneously incubated with the cells, the control culture reached a maximum cell concentration of
1.3 × 105  ±  3.4 × 104 cells per well at 96 h, whereas cultures with
7 µg/mL reached a concentration of 2.6 × 104  ±  5.3 × 103 cells.
In the case of 70 µg/mL of CNx most of the cells were dead. The CNx
that were added 24 h after cell dissociation showed that live cells decreased, with a cell concentration of
9.6 × 104  ±  9 × 103 for 7 µg/mL and
5.5 × 104  ±  9.5 × 103 for 70 µg/mL, in contrast to control cultures with
1.1 × 106  ±  1.5 × 104. The results showed that the CNx had
cytotoxic effects depending on the concentration and exposure route.
Energy Efficient MAC Scheme for Wireless Sensor Networks with High-Dimensional Data Aggregate
Authors: Kim Seokhoon , Joh Hangki , Choi Seungjun , Ryoo Intae
Published: October 2015

This paper presents a novel and sustainable medium access control (MAC) scheme for wireless sensor network (WSN) systems that process high-dimensional aggregated data. Based on a preamble signal and buffer threshold analysis, it maximizes the energy efficiency of the wireless sensor devices which have limited energy resources. The proposed group management MAC (GM-MAC) approach not only sets the buffer threshold value of a sensor device to be reciprocal to the preamble signal but also sets a transmittable group value to each sensor device by using the preamble signal of the sink node. The primary difference between the previous and the proposed approach is that existing state-of-the-art schemes use duty cycle and sleep mode to save energy consumption of individual sensor devices, whereas the proposed scheme employs the group management MAC scheme for sensor devices to maximize the overall energy efficiency of the whole WSN systems by minimizing the energy consumption of sensor devices located near the sink node. Performance evaluations show that the proposed scheme outperforms the previous schemes in terms of active time of sensor devices, transmission delay, control overhead, and energy consumption. Therefore, the proposed scheme is suitable for sensor devices in a variety of wireless sensor networking environments with high-dimensional data aggregate.
LAPM: The Location Aware Prediction Model in Human Sensing Systems
Authors: Yu Ruiyun , Wang Pengfei , Liao Shiyang
Published: October 2015

The mobile human social network actually might be the hugest and best “sensor network” because of the explosive growth in social network content. Nowadays, more and more mobile social applications offer a much easier way for people to share their feeling including vision, haptic, hearing, and smell with the location information by words, images, or even videos. These new sharing methods appearing in the mobile social network actually give us a precious chance to sense the world. Extra systems, which are specialized in particular sensing, do not need to be created any more. The specific sensing data can be acquired from the social network by handling the heterogeneous data. The contribution of this paper lies in developing a model that collects samples considering the relevancy from the perspective of location from different mobile social networks and estimating the occurrence likelihood of the perceived event with collected samples. The simulations and real-world case studies are also developed to verify the reliability of the model and the effectiveness of the Location Aware EM algorithm.
Total Graph Interpretation of the Numbers of the Fibonacci Type
Authors: Bednarz Urszula , Włoch Iwona , Wołowiec-Musiał Małgorzata
Published: October 2015

We give a total graph interpretation of the numbers of the Fibonacci type. This graph interpretation relates to an edge colouring by monochromatic paths in graphs. We will show that it works for almost all numbers of the Fibonacci type. Moreover, we give the lower bound and the upper bound for the number of all(A1,2A1)-edge colourings in trees.
Exploring New Models in All Detail withSARAH
Authors: Staub Florian
Published: October 2015

I give an overview about the features theMathematicapackageSARAHprovides to study new models. In general,SARAHcan handle a wide range of models beyond the MSSM coming with additional chiral superfields, extra gauge groups, or distinctive features like Dirac gaugino masses. All of these models can be implemented in a compact form inSARAHand are easy to use:SARAHextracts all analytical properties of the given model like two-loop renormalization group equations, tadpole equations, mass matrices, and vertices. Also one- and two-loop corrections to tadpoles and self-energies can be obtained. For numerical calculationsSARAHcan be interfaced with other tools to get the mass spectrum, to check flavour or dark matter constraints, and to test the vacuum stability or to perform collider studies. In particular, the interface toSPhenoallows a precise prediction of the Higgs mass in a given model comparable to MSSM precision by incorporating the important two-loop corrections. I show in great detail with the example of theB-L-SSM howSARAHtogether withSPheno,HiggsBounds/HiggsSignals,FlavorKit,Vevacious,CalcHep,MicrOmegas,WHIZARD, andMadGraphcan be used to study all phenomenological aspects of a model.
Mechanical Properties and Biodegradability of the Kenaf/Soy Protein Isolate-PVA Biocomposites
Authors: Won Jong Sung , Lee Ji Eun , Jin Da Young , Lee Seung Goo
Published: October 2015

The effective utilization of original natural fibers as indispensable components in natural resins for developing novel, low-cost, eco-friendly biocomposites is one of the most rapidly emerging fields of research in fiber-reinforced composite. The objective of this study is to investigate the interfacial adhesion properties, water absorption, biodegradation properties, and mechanical properties of the kenaf/soy protein isolate- (SPI-) PVA composite. Experimental results showed that 20 wt% poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and 8 wt% glutaraldehyde (GA) created optimum conditions for the consolidation of the composite. The increase of interfacial shear strength enhanced the composites flexural and tensile strength of the kenaf/SPI-PVA composite. The kenaf/SPI-PVA mechanical properties of the composite also increased with the content of cross-linking agent. Results of the biodegradation test indicated that the degradation time of the composite could be controlled by the cross-linking agent. The degradation rate of the kenaf/SPI-PVA composite with the cross-linking agent was lower than that of the composite without the cross-linking agent.
Dynamic Vibration Characteristic Analysis for the Power-Split Transmission System Based on Loaded Tooth Contact Analysis
Authors: Dong Hao , Cao Yan , Fang Zhou
Published: October 2015

In order to solve the dynamic vibration characteristics of the power-split transmission system, the system of the dynamic mechanical model is established. Firstly, according to the theoretical analysis method of the tooth contact analysis (TCA) and loaded tooth contact analysis (LTCA), the actual meshing process of each gear pair is simulated, and the time-varying mesh stiffness excitation is obtained, which can improve the numerical precision. Next, by using the lumped mass method, the bending-torsional coupling three-dimensional dynamical model of the power-split transmission is established. The identical dimensionless equations are deduced by eliminating the effect of rigid displacement and the method of dimensional normalization. Next, the frequency domain and time domain responses of this system are obtained. The dynamic load change characteristics of each gear pair are analyzed. The results show that establishment, solution, and analysis of the system dynamics model could provide a basis for the dynamic design and have an important significance for the dynamic efficiency analysis and dynamic performance optimization design of the power-split transmission. Through theoretical data compared with the experimental data, we verified the correctness of the method proposed.
Numerical Simulations for Nonlinear Waves Interaction with Multiple Perforated Quasi-Ellipse Caissons
Authors: Ren Xiaozhong , Ma Yuxiang
Published: October 2015

A three-dimensional numerical flume is developed to study cnoidal wave interaction with multiple arranged perforated quasi-ellipse caissons. The continuity equation and the Navier-Stokes equations are used as the governing equation, and the VOF method is adopted to capture the free surface elevation. The equations are discretized on staggered cells and then solved using a finite difference method. The generation and propagation of cnoidal waves in the numerical flume are tested first. And the ability of the present model to simulate interactions between waves and structures is verified by known experimental results. Then cnoidal waves with varying incident wave height and period are generated and interact with multiple quasi-ellipse caissons with and without perforation. It is found that the perforation plays an effective role in reducing wave runup/rundown and wave forces on the caissons. The wave forces on caissons reduce with the decreasing incident wave period. The influence of the transverse distance of multiple caissons on wave forces is also investigated. A closer transverse distance between caissons can produce larger wave forces. But when relative adjacent distanceL/D(Lis the transverse distance andDis the width of the quasi-ellipse caisson) is larger than 3, the effect of adjacent distance is limited.
Identification of Hydraulic Conductivity in Aquifer for Coupled FEM and Adaptive Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Deng Xianghui , Fang Haibo , Chen Jianxun , Kou Junshu
Published: October 2015

The hydraulic conductivity of a natural rock mass was difficult to determine because of the complex structure and the significant influence of uncertain factors. In this paper, hydraulic conductivity was adopted to conduct an inversion analysis according to the measurement of head materials by combining the finite element method with the adaptive genetic algorithm. The results showed that the maximum relative error of the measuring and computation groundwater levels at the measuring points was 5.3%, and the average head error was 1.41%; the effective hydraulic conductivity of intensively weathered layer, moderately weathered layer, and fresh bedrock layer in riverbed formation tended to decline gradually; the effective permeability coefficient in directionYwas the minimum in the same aquifer. Therefore, the established hydraulic conductivity inversion analysis method was effective.
Synthesis of Salt Responsive Spherical Polymer Brushes
Authors: Su Na , Li Houbin , Huang Yu , Zhang Xiongzhi
Published: October 2015

A facile preparation of novel salt responsive spherical polymer brushes (SPB) consisting of a carbon spheres core and a shell of sodium polystyrene sulfonate (PSSNa) was described. The SPB were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The radius R of carbon spheres and hydrodynamic radius Rh of SPB were ca. 370 nm and 785 nm, respectively. The brushes had Mw of 393600 g/mol with polydispersity Mw/Mn of 1.58. Furthermore, the dependence of PSSNa brushes on ionic strength and pH was investigated.
Space Charge Property of Polyethylene/Silica Nanocomposites at Different Elongations
Authors: Wang Can , Wang Youyuan , Fan Peng , Liao Ruijin
Published: October 2015

This paper prepares polyethylene/silica nanocomposites with concentrations of 3 wt% and 5 wt% by using silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanopowder (nanosilica) with particle sizes of 15 and 50 nm. Samples whose elongations are 3%, 6%, and 10% are prepared. Pulsed electroacoustic technique is applied to evaluate the space charge distribution in samples. Test results show that homocharge near electrodes is generated in the polyethylene/silica nanocomposites. Nanocomposites with a nanoparticle concentration of 3 wt% and particle size of 15 nm suppress the accumulation of space charge effectively. The amount of space charge in the samples increases with the increase in elongation. At an elongation of 10%, packet‐like space charge is generated in polyethylene/silica nanocomposites with the concentration of 5 wt% and particle sizes of 15 and 50 nm. The packet‐like space charge in nanocomposites whose particle size is 50 nm is more obvious than that in nanocomposites whose particle size is 15 nm. The experiment results are explained by applying interface characteristics, dipole model, and induced dipole model.
Molecular Mechanisms and Novel Therapeutic Approaches to Rhabdomyolysis-Induced Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Panizo Nayara , Rubio-Navarro Alfonso , Amaro-Villalobos Juan Manuel , Egido Jesús , Moreno Juan Antonio
Published: October 2015

Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome caused by injury to skeletal muscle that usually leads to acute kidney injury (AKI). Rhabdomyolysis has been linked to different conditions, including severe trauma and intense physical exercise. Myoglobin-induced renal toxicity plays a key role in rhabdomyolysis-associated kidney damage by increasing oxidative stress, inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, vasoconstriction, and apoptosis. New drugs that target the harmful effects of myoglobin have been recently developed, and some have been proven to be successful in animal models of acute renal failure secondary to rhabdomyolysis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the pathological mechanisms of renal damage and describes new therapeutic approaches to this condition based on novel compounds that target key pathways involved in myoglobin-mediated kidney damage.
Perioperative Blood Transfusion, Age at Surgery, and Prognosis in a Database of 526 Upper Gastrointestinal Cancers
Authors: Kosumi Keisuke , Baba Yoshifumi , Harada Kazuto , Yoshida Naoya , Watanabe Masayuki , Baba Hideo
Published: October 2015

Aims: It is demonstrated that older animals have significantly weaker responses to new alloantigen stimulation than young animals, but the effect on prognosis of perioperative blood transfusion in relation to patient age is unknown. This study is retrospective review to investigate the relationship between perioperative blood transfusion, age at surgery, and clinical outcome in upper gastrointestinal cancer patients. Methods: We analyzed data of 526 upper gastrointestinal cancer patients who underwent curative resection from 2005 to 2010. Results: In esophageal cancer patients, patients with blood transfusion experienced significantly shorter overall survival (OS; univariate HR 2.50, p = 0.0006) and disease-free survival (DFS; univariate HR 1.71, p = 0.016) than patients without. Similar results were observed in gastric cancer patients (OS; univariate HR 3.35, p = 0.0001 and DFS; univariate HR = 3.18, p < 0.0001). Furthermore perioperative blood transfusion may be an independent prognostic factor in esophageal cancer patients (multivariate HR = 2.07, p = 0.026). Interestingly, age at surgery significantly affected the influence of blood transfusion on patient outcome in esophageal cancer patients (p for interaction = 0.022). Conclusion: The negative effect of perioperative blood transfusion was particularly evident among younger patients with esophageal cancer.
Use of Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus on Peritoneal Dialysis: Correlation with Glycated Hemoglobin and Detection of High Incidence of Unaware Hypoglycemia
Authors: Qayyum Ahad , Chowdhury Tahseen A. , Oei Elizabeth Ley , Fan Stanley L.
Published: October 2015

Introduction: Glycated hemoglobin is used to assess diabetic control although its accuracy in dialysis has been questioned. How does it compare to the Continuous Glucose Monitoring System (CGMS) in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients? Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 60 insulin-treated diabetic patients on PD. We determined the mean interstitial glucose concentration and the proportion of patients with hypoglycemia (<4 mmol/l) or hyperglycemia (>11 mmol/l). Results: The correlation between HbA1c and glucose was 0.48, p < 0.0001. Three of 15 patients with HbA1c >75 mmol/mol experienced significant hypoglycemia (14-144 min per day). The patients with frequent episodes of hypoglycemia could not be differentiated from those with frequent hyperglycemia by demographics or PD prescription. Conclusion: HbA1c and average glucose levels measured by the CGMS are only weakly correlated. On its own, HbA1c as an indicator of glycemic control in patients with diabetes on PD appears inadequate. We suggest that the CGMS technology should be more widely adopted.
Possible Gender-Related Modulation by the ROCK1 Gene in Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility
Authors: Zucchini Cinzia , Martinelli Marcella , De Sanctis Paola , Rodia Maria Teresa , Mattei Gabriella , Ugolini Giampaolo , Montroni Isacco , Ghignone Federico , Solmi Rossella
Published: October 2015

Aim: In view of accumulating evidence supporting a pivotal role of the Rho/ROCK pathway in cancer, we investigated Rho-kinase polymorphisms as potential susceptibility factors in colorectal cancer (CRC) in a representative sample of the Italian population. Methods: DNA obtained from the peripheral blood samples of 137 CRC patients and 141 healthy controls was genotyped for four ROCK1 (rs35996865; rs73963110; rs2127958; rs288980) and five ROCK2 (rs12692437; rs7563468; rs35768389; rs17463896; rs16857265) selected single nucleotide polymorphisms. Results: None of the allelic variants of the nine selected markers was associated with the occurrence of CRC or with the development of regional lymph node metastasis. By contrast, the ROCK1 rs35996865 G variant allele was significantly more frequent in male patients (p = 0.028) than in the control group. Conclusion: This finding is, at present, the first that points to a possible gender-related modulation by the ROCK1 gene in CRC susceptibility.
Transcription Factor-7-Like 2 Gene Variants Affect the Metabolic Phenotypes of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Gammoh Emily , Mahmood Naeema A. , Madan Samira , Ebrahim Bashayer H. , Mustafa Fekria E. , Almawi Wassim Y.
Published: October 2015

Background: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrinopathy, which shares genetic features with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Insofar as transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) is consistently replicated T2DM susceptibility locus, this study evaluates whether common TCF7L2 variants are associated with PCOS and related metabolic features. Methods: The association between TCF7L2 rs4506565, rs7903146, rs12243326, and rs12255372 SNPs and PCOS was tested in 242 women with PCOS and in 236 control women. Results: The allelic distribution of rs4506565, rs7903146, rs12243326, and rs12255372 TCF7L2 variants was not significantly different between women with PCOS and control women. The genotype distribution of the 4 TCF7L2 loci was comparable between PCOS cases and controls, irrespective of the genetic analysis model used (additive, dominant, recessive). Carriage of rs4506565 minor allele correlated with free insulin and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, while the presence of rs12243326 and rs12255372 minor allele correlated with waist changes. Four-locus (rs4506565-rs7903146, rs12243326, and rs12255372) haplotype analysis identified PCOS-susceptible (ACTG) and -protective (TTTG) haplotypes, which remained significant after controlling for multiple comparisons and for key covariates. Conclusions: Although individual TCF7L2 variants were not associated with the presence of PCOS in Bahraini women, specific TCF7L2 haplotypes were identified, which were both positively and negatively associated with PCOS.
Five Simultaneous Primary Tumors in a Single Patient: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Williamson Casey W. , Paravati Anthony , Ghassemi Majid , Lethert Kristine , Hua Patricia , Hartman Patricia , Sanghvi Parag
Published: October 2015

Multiple primary malignancies (MPMs) are present when a patient is diagnosed with more than one primary malignancy and when each tumor is histologically unrelated to the others. MPMs are considered synchronous when they present within 6 months of one another. Here, we report the case of a 57-year-old woman with a past medical history significant for melanoma in 1988, who presented in 2014 with 5 distinct tumors within 4 months: malignant melanoma of the right popliteal fossa, invasive lobular breast carcinoma, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, nodular lymphocyte predominant Hodgkin lymphoma, and a giant cell tumor of tendon sheath/pigmented villonodular synovitis. We discuss her treatment and also present a brief review of the literature. The incidence of MPMs appears to be on the rise, which demands an interdisciplinary, multimodal, and personalized approach to care.
Prognosis of Allogeneic Haematopoietic Stem Cell Recipients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective, Single-Centre Study
Authors: Lindgaard Sidsel Christy , Nielsen Jonas , Lindmark Anders , Sengeløv Henrik
Published: October 2015

Background: Allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a procedure with inherent complications and intensive care may be necessary. We evaluated the short- and long-term outcomes of the HSCT recipients requiring admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: We retrospectively examined the outcome of 54 adult haematological HSCT recipients admitted to the ICU at the University Hospital Rigshospitalet between January 2007 and March 2012. Results: The overall in-ICU, in-hospital, 6-month and 1-year mortality rates were 46.3, 75.9, 79.6 and 86.5%, respectively. Mechanical ventilation had a statistically significant effect on in-ICU (p = 0.02), 6-month (p = 0.049) and 1-year (p = 0.014) mortality. Renal replacement therapy also had a statistically significant effect on in-hospital (p = 0.038) and 6-month (p = 0.026) mortality. Short ICU admissions, i.e. <10 days, had a statistically significant positive effect on in-hospital, 6-month and 1-year mortality (all p < 0.001). The SAPS II, APACHE II and SOFA scoring systems grossly underestimated the actual in-hospital mortality observed for these patients. Conclusion: The poor prognosis of critically ill HSCT recipients admitted to the ICU was confirmed in our study. Mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy and an ICU admission of ≥10 days were each risk factors for mortality in the first year after ICU admission.
Telomere Attrition and Elongation after Chronic Dialysis Initiation in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease
Authors: Kato Sawako , Shiels Paul G. , McGuinness Dagmara , Lindholm Bengt , Stenvinkel Peter , Nordfors Louise , Qureshi Abdul Rashid , Yuzawa Yukio , Matsuo Seiichi , Maruyama Shoichi
Published: October 2015

Aims: To analyze changes in telomere length (TL) after dialysis initiation. Methods: In 59 Japanese incident dialysis patients, associations between TL in peripheral blood leukocytes, inflammatory biomarkers and nutritional status at baseline and changes in TL during 1 year of dialysis, were investigated. Results: Whereas relative TL decreased by 8.6% (median 14.4%), TL elongation occurred in 16 patients (27%). Change in TL (ΔTL), defined as TL at 1 year minus TL at baseline, was associated with baseline TL (ρ = -0.70, p < 0.0001) and leukocyte count (ρ = 0.26, p = 0.044). In a logistic regression model, baseline TL (p < 0.0001) and leukocyte count (p = 0.047) were associated with ΔTL. Conclusions: TL shortening was observed in most incident dialysis patients. In 16 of the 59 patients, TL elongation occurred, possibly reflecting a more robust biological aging in patients whose naïve leukocytes may have undergone less proliferation to replace lost leukocytes.
Anti-Phospholipase A2 Receptor Antibody as Prognostic Indicator in Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy
Authors: Kim Yang Gyun , Choi Young-Wook , Kim Se-Yun , Moon Ju Young , Ihm Chun-Gyoo , Lee Tae Won , Jeong Kyung-Hwan , Yang Seung Hee , Kim Yon Su , Oh Yun Jung , Lee Sang Ho
Published: October 2015

Background: Anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody (PLA2R-Ab) is useful in diagnosing idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). We investigated the clinical relevance of PLA2R-Ab enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with IMN. Methods: We measured PLA2R-Ab with an ELISA kit from the serum of 160 patients with IMN (n = 93), secondary MN (n = 14) and other glomerulonephritis (n = 41) as well as healthy controls (n = 12) at the time of renal biopsy and investigated the correlation of titers of PLA2R-Ab with clinical parameters. Results: PLA2R-Ab was positive in 41 of 93 patients (44.1%) with IMN. No samples from the patients with secondary MN and other glomerulonephritis or healthy controls were positive with the ELISA test. The PLA2R-Ab-positive patients showed severe disease activity and a low remission rate. The PLA2R-Ab titer positively correlated with proteinuria and was negatively associated with renal function and serum albumin. The patients with a high titer of PLA2R-Ab had significantly decreased remission rates. The cumulative probabilities of remission was significantly lower in patients with PLA2R-Ab (p = 0.01) and even so in patients with a high titer of PLA2R-Ab (p = 0.04). When we compared the ELISA titers with Western blot (WB) data of 43 patients who had been enrolled in our previous study, 18 and 30 patients were positive on ELISA (41.9%) and WB (69.8%), respectively. WB and ELISA had a concordance rate of 72.1% and were positively correlated (r = 0.590, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The presence, as well as a high titer, of PLA2R-Ab on ELISA was associated with poor prognosis of IMN. Assessment of PLA2R-Ab with ELISA is an easy and reliable tool for the diagnosis and guidance of therapeutic plans.
Molecular Screen Identifies Cardiac Myosin–Binding Protein-C as a Protein Kinase G-Iα Substrate
Authors: Thoonen Robrecht , Giovanni Shewit , Govindan Suresh , Lee Dong I. , Wang Guang-Rong , Calamaras Timothy D. , Takimoto Eiki , Kass David A. , Sadayappan Sakthivel , Blanton Robert M.
Published: October 2015

Background—

Pharmacological activation of cGMP-dependent protein kinase G I (PKGI) has emerged as a therapeutic strategy for humans with heart failure. However, PKG-activating drugs have been limited by hypotension arising from PKG-induced vasodilation. PKGIα antiremodeling substrates specific to the myocardium might provide targets to circumvent this limitation, but currently remain poorly understood.

Methods and Results—

We performed a screen for myocardial proteins interacting with the PKGIα leucine zipper (LZ)–binding domain to identify myocardial-specific PKGI antiremodeling substrates. Our screen identified cardiac myosin–binding protein-C (cMyBP-C), a cardiac myocyte–specific protein, which has been demonstrated to inhibit cardiac remodeling in the phosphorylated state, and when mutated leads to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in humans. GST pulldowns and precipitations with cGMP-conjugated beads confirmed the PKGIα–cMyBP-C interaction in myocardial lysates. In vitro studies demonstrated that purified PKGIα phosphorylates the cMyBP-C M-domain at Ser-273, Ser-282, and Ser-302. cGMP induced cMyBP-C phosphorylation at these residues in COS cells transfected with PKGIα, but not in cells transfected with LZ mutant PKGIα, containing mutations to disrupt LZ substrate binding. In mice subjected to left ventricular pressure overload, PKGI activation with sildenafil increased cMyBP-C phosphorylation at Ser-273 compared with untreated mice. cGMP also induced cMyBP-C phosphorylation in isolated cardiac myocytes.

Conclusions—

Taken together, these data support that PKGIα and cMyBP-C interact in the heart and that cMyBP-C is an anti remodeling PKGIα kinase substrate. This study provides the first identification of a myocardial-specific PKGIα LZ-dependent antiremodeling substrate and supports further exploration of PKGIα myocardial LZ substrates as potential therapeutic targets for heart failure.
Host status and phenotypic diversity of rice genotypes in relation to Pratylenchus brachyurus resistance
Authors: Biela Fabio , Dias-Arieira Claudia Regina , Machado Andressa Cristina Zamboni , Santana-Gomes Simone de Melo , Cardoso Michelly Ragazzi , Hernandes Isabela , Mattei Danielle
Published: October 2015

The aim of this study was to assess the susceptibility of rice genotypes toPratylenchus brachyurusand investigate the inheritance of resistance in the crop. Two experiments were conducted under controlled conditions, using naturally infested soil. Twenty-six rice genotypes were assessed, with maize used to show the susceptibility pattern. The maize was cultivated for 90 days and the initial nematode population was determined. Then, rice genotypes were cultivated, and the final nematode population and the reproduction factor (RF) were estimated 90 days after germination. All genotypes were susceptible toP. brachyurusin the two experiments but only one showed statistical differences, indicating variation in susceptibility, and genotypes Linhagem L03-107 and Cateto Amarelo scored higher than the control genotype, with RF of 8.80 and 9.48, respectively. Inheritance of resistance was poorly influenced by genotype genetics. Cluster analysis allowed the identification of five different groups of genotypes but there was low genetic variability among the genotypes.
The Quest for an English-Speaking Nāgārjuna
Authors: MacDonald Anne
Published: October 2015

Over the past century Nāgārjuna’s Mūlamadhyamakakārikā (MMK) has been translated, in part and in its entirety, into an array of languages. Although a number of English translations have appeared, a philologically reliable yet readable English rendering of the MMK has remained a desideratum. A new translation by Mark Siderits and Shōryū Katsura now supersedes Jay Garfield’s previously popular MMK translation, which, made in reliance on only the Tibetan version of the MMK, is often problematic (The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way, Oxford, 1995). Siderits’ and Katsura’s attempt to improve upon previous translations of the MMK was recently acknowledged by the Khyentse Foundation, which at the 17th Congress of the International Association of Buddhist Studies awarded them its 2014 “Prize for Outstanding Translation.”
Natural and Social Inequality
Authors: Aas Sean , Wasserman David
Published: October 2015

This paper examines the moral import of a distinction between natural and social inequalities. Following Thomas Nagel, it argues for a “denatured” distinction that relies less on the biological vs. social causation of inequalities than on the idea that society is morally responsible for some inequalities but not others. It maintains that securing fair equality of opportunity by eliminating such social inequalities has particularly high priority in distributive justice. Departing from Nagel, it argues that society can be responsible for inequalities not only when they are the unintended result of justifiable projects, but even when their alleviation would be very costly. Sharing Nagel’s general concept of ‘social inequality’, then, this paper proposes a far more expansive conception. We argue that many disadvantages due to disability fall under this conception. Eliminating or alleviating those disadvantages should be regarded as securing fair equality of opportunity, not improving the condition of the worst-off.
Agency and Moral Status
Authors: Sebo Jeff
Published: October 2015

According to our traditional conception of agency, most human beings are agents and most, if not all, nonhuman animals are not. However, recent developments in philosophy and psychology have made it clear that we need more than one conception of agency, since human and nonhuman animals are capable of thinking and acting in more than one kind of way. In this paper, I make a distinction between perceptual and propositional agency, and I argue that many nonhuman animals are perceptual agents and that many human beings are both kinds of agent. I then argue that, insofar as human and nonhuman animals exercise the same kind of agency, they have the same kind of moral status, and I explore some of the moral implications of this idea.
Why Moral Error Theorists Should Become Revisionary Moral Expressivists
Authors: Svoboda Toby
Published: October 2015

Moral error theorists hold that morality is deeply mistaken, thus raising the question of whether and how moral judgments and utterances should continue to be employed. Proposals include simply abolishing morality (Richard Garner), adopting some revisionary fictionalist stance toward morality (Richard Joyce), and conserving moral judgments and utterances unchanged (Jonas Olson). I defend a fourth proposal, namely revisionary moral expressivism, which recommends replacing cognitivist moral judgments and utterances with non-cognitivist ones. Given that non-cognitivist attitudes are not truth apt, revisionary expressivism does not involve moral error. Moreover, revisionary expressivism has the theoretical resources to retain many of the useful features of morality, such as moral motivation, moral disagreement, and moral reasoning. Revisionary expressivism fares better than the three major alternatives in both avoiding moral error and preserving these useful features of morality. I also show how this position differs from the “revolutionary expressivism” of Sebastian Köhler and Michael Ridge.
Replaceable Lawyers and Guilty Defendants
Authors: Talbot Brian
Published: October 2015

Many criminal lawyers should expect that, were they to not defend a certain client, someone no less capable would do so. It is morally wrong for such attorneys to defend defendants who should be punished. This is true even if we grant that the defendant’s right to be defended outweighs any rights that might be infringed by the defense and that the benefits of defending are greater than the harm. Nor does this argument depend on any particular view of punishment. The fact that the attorney expects to be replaced by someone equally capable has an asymmetric effect on the reasons for and against defending. The reasons that justify defending become extremely attenuated by this expectation, no matter what they are, while the reasons against defending are much less affected, no matter what they are.
A new species of freshwater crab of the genus Kingsleya Ortmann, 1897 (Crustacea: Brachyura: Pseudothelphusidae) from Amazonia, Brazil
Authors: PEDRAZA MANUEL , TAVARES MARCOS
Published: October 2015

A new species of freshwater crab, Kingsleya celioi, from the Brazilian Amazon (Pará State) is described and illustrated. The new species can be easily separated from their congeners by a suite of morphological characters, including the apical plate of the first gonopod large, widest medially in abdominal view, with single large spine-like outgrowth in midlength of mesial margin; distal, proximal lobes of apical plate unequal in size, distal lobe largest, tapering distally in lateral view.
A Multiscale Model for the Intraseasonal Impact of the Diurnal Cycle over the Maritime Continent on the Madden–Julian Oscillation
Authors: Majda Andrew J. , Yang Qiu
Published: October 2015

The eastward-propagating Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) typically exhibits complex behavior during its passage over the Maritime Continent, sometimes slowly propagating eastward and other times stalling and even terminating there with large amounts of rainfall. This is a huge challenge for present-day numerical models to simulate. One possible reason is the inadequate treatment of the diurnal cycle and its scale interaction with the MJO. Here these two components are incorporated into a simple self-consistent multiscale model that includes one model for the intraseasonal impact of the diurnal cycle and another one for the planetary/intraseasonal circulation. The latter model is forced self-consistently by eddy flux divergences of momentum and temperature from a model for the diurnal cycle with two baroclinic modes, which capture the intraseasonal impact of the diurnal cycle. The MJO is modeled as the planetary-scale circulation response to a moving heat source on the synoptic and planetary scales. The results show that the intraseasonal impact of the diurnal cycle during boreal winter tends to strengthen the westerlies (easterlies) in the lower (upper) troposphere in agreement with the observations. In addition, the temperature anomaly induced by the intraseasonal impact of the diurnal cycle can cancel that from the symmetric–asymmetric MJO with convective momentum transfer, yielding stalled or suppressed propagation of the MJO across the Maritime Continent. The simple multiscale model should be useful for the MJO in observations or more complex numerical models.
The Effect of Spurious Cloud Edge Supersaturations in Lagrangian Cloud Models: An Analytical and Numerical Study
Authors: Hoffmann F.
Published: October 2015

This study analyzes the production and the effect of spurious cloud edge supersaturations in Lagrangian cloud models (LCMs), which simulate droplets and aerosols explicitly as Lagrangian particles. By applying an idealized one-dimensional setup, it is shown that the production of spurious cloud edge supersaturations in LCMs and Eulerian cloud models is identical. In LCMs, however, the effect of spurious supersaturations on the number of activated/deactivated particles is decreased due to (i) a physically more appropriate representation of the activation process, and (ii) the LCM’s ability to represent the distribution of liquid water on the subgrid scale. Additionally, an analytic solution for the production of spurious supersaturations in both Lagrangian and Eulerian cloud models is derived, enabling the identification of the upper limit of spurious supersaturations and the conditions under which they occur.
China’s Rising Nationalism and Its Forefront
Authors: Li Liqing
Published: October 2015

This is a sociological analysis of empirical data regarding the alleged rising nationalism in contemporary China. Different from most of the studies of Chinese nationalism with a focus on the official and elite alike, as well as eye-catching nationalistic scenes, such as, pro-China demonstrations, this study adopts a micro-sociological approach and looks into how the forefront of China’s rising nationalism, the Chinese youth, engages with notions of nation and nationalism, and when, if at all, such notions become salient to them. Through this investigation, this article finds that the nation is not something students self-consciously engage themselves with between times of overt ‘hot’ nationalism display. So far from being fervent nationalists as has been suggested by some based on eye-catching nationalistic scenes, the forefront of China’s rising nationalism, the Chinese youth, neither actively (self-consciously) engages with nation and nationalism nor do they advance these to the highest political value as fervent nationalists do. Therefore, it is the contention of this article that the usual portrayal of a rising Chinese nationalism based on eye-catching nationalistic scenes overly exaggerates the degree to which the nation and nationalism are seriously and actively engaged by the Chinese people, especially the young Chinese who are supposed to be the most active social segment of the rising nationalism.
Protests on the Front Page: Media Salience, Institutional Dynamics, and Coverage of Collective Action in the New York Times, 1960-1995
Authors: Rafail Patrick , Walker Edward T. , McCarthy John D.
Published: October 2015

Past research has illuminated consistent patterns in the type of protests that receive media attention. Still, we know relatively little about the differential prominence editors assign to events deemed worthy of coverage. We argue that while media routines shape whether events are covered, mass media organizations, social institutions, and systemic changes are important factors in determinations of prominence. To examine patterns of prominence, this study analyzes the factors influencing page placement patterns of protests covered in the New York Times, 1960-1995. We find that (1) protests are less likely to appear prominently over time, but this effect is conditioned by the paper’s editorial and publishing regime; (2) regime effects were especially consequential for civil rights and peace protests; (3) effects of event size and violence weakened over time; and (4) events embedded within larger cycles of protest coverage during less constricted news cycles were more likely to be featured prominently.