bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Routing Protocol in VANETs Equipped with Directional Antennas: Topology‐Based Neighbor Discovery and Routing Analysis
Authors: Li Haipeng , Xu Zhen
Published: April 2018

In Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs), directional antenna is a good solution if a longer transmission distance is needed. When vehicles are equipped with directional antennas, however, complete paths from the sources to the destinations there may not exist. Epidemic routing protocol is considered as one of the well‐performed routing protocols when the networks are intermittently connected but it can cause a heavy load to the network and great energy consumption to the nodes. First in this paper, we propose a novel neighbor discovery algorithm which makes nodes be able to sense the topology changes around them and arrange their directional antennas accordingly. Secondly, we propose a routing protocol which is based on the conventional epidemic routing protocol, and nodes make their routing decisions according to the information collected during the neighbor discovery process. Experimental results show that the proposed neighbor discovery algorithm has better performance especially in the scenario where the node density is low. Moreover, the matching routing protocol can effectively reduce the load of the network and successfully deliver the packets to its destination in a reasonable short delay.
Fatty Liver as a Potential Surrogate for Waist Circumference in the Diagnosis of Metabolic Syndrome: A Population-Based Study among Chinese Adults
Authors: Jiang Boren , Gu Ting , Zhou Kun , Zheng Yanjun , Guo Yuyu , Lu Yingli
Published: April 2018

Increased waist circumference (WC) is an essential component of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Asians have been found to have more intra-abdominal adipose tissue than Caucasians, in spite of having smaller WC. The purpose of this study was to explore whether NAFLD could be used as a surrogate for MetS diagnosis in the normal WC population. A total of 9694 Chinese residents were selected from SPECT-China, a population-based survey of Chinese adults aged ≥ 18 years in East China. Insulin resistance was calculated by the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). MetS z-score was used to evaluate the degree of total metabolic disorder. Logistic regression models were used to obtain the associations between different categories and metabolic syndrome (MetS) components. The prevalence of NAFLD was 27.6%, in which 35.2% were without abnormal WC. Subjects with only NAFLD had similarly severe insulin resistance and OR for clustering of MetS components compared with those with only abnormal WC. A considerable number of NAFLD cases, although had severe metabolic disorder, would not be detected by the current MetS definition. NAFLD could be used as a potential surrogate marker for the diagnosis of MetS in normal WC population.
Effects of Total Intravenous Anesthesia and Low- and High-Flow Anesthesia Implementation on Middle Ear Pressure
Authors: Ozcan Ayca Dumanli , Yungul Aysun Ersen , Muderris Togay , Kasikara Hulya , Helin Sahinturk  , Kanbak Orhan , But Abdulkadir
Published: April 2018

Background. The middle ear is an air-filled lacuna in the temporal bone. Inhaled anesthetic agents increase the pressure of this lacuna. Therefore, attention must be paid in choosing not only anesthetic agents but also anesthetic method. Aim. This study compared the effects of high-flow total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) and low- and high-flow desflurane anesthesia on middle ear pressure. Study Design. Randomized prospective double-blind study. Methods. In this retrospective double-blind study, 90 patients (20–65 years old) scheduled to undergo elective thyroidectomies were divided into three randomized anesthesia groups: high-flow desflurane (Group I), low-flow desflurane (Group II), and high-flow TIVA (propofol, remifentanil) (Group III). The hemodynamic and respiratory parameters and tympanometry were measured before induction (T1), 10 minutes after intubation (T2), 10 minutes before the end of the operation (T3), and 5 (T4), 10 (T5), 15 (T6), and 30 (T7) minutes after the operation. Results. No statistically significant differences were found in the age, gender, weight, height, body mass index, surgery duration, and anesthetic duration (p>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences at T1, T3, T4, T5, T6, and T7 (p>0.007), but there was a significant difference at T2 (p<0.001), with Groups II and III having lower pressure than Group I (p<0.001). Conclusion. The high-flow desflurane group had higher postinduction middle ear pressure values. Therefore, low-flow anesthesia and TIVA can be used more safely in middle ear surgeries, provided that a well-equipped anesthetic device and appropriate monitoring conditions are available.
Study on the Relationships between Eigenmodes, Natural Modes, and Characteristic Modes of Perfectly Electric Conducting Bodies
Authors: Huang Shaode , Pan Jin , Luo Yuyue
Published: April 2018

We specify the corresponding relationships between eigenmodes, natural modes, and characteristic modes of perfectly electric conducting (PEC) bodies. The internal resonant frequencies, external resonant frequencies, current distributions, and radiation patterns of the three kinds of modes are compared to identify the relationships. Firstly, we review the definitions of the three kinds of modes and discuss their characteristics of the electromagnetic power. After that, we illustrate the relationships between these modes with three typical structures, that is, the infinite circular cylinder, sphere, and rectangular plate.
Ensemble of Rotation Trees for Imbalanced Medical Datasets
Authors: Guo Huaping , Liu Haiyan , Wu Chang-an , Liu Wei , She Wei
Published: April 2018

Medical datasets are often predominately composed of “normal” examples with only a small percentage of “abnormal” ones and how to correctly recognize the abnormal examples is very meaningful. However, conventional classification learning methods try to pursue high accuracy by assuming that the number of any class examples is similar to each other, which lead to the fact that the abnormal class examples are usually ignored and misclassified to normal ones. In this paper, we propose a simple but effective ensemble method called ensemble of rotation trees (ERT) to handle this problem in imbalanced medical datasets. ERT learns an ensemble through the following four stages: (1) undersampling subsets from normal class, (2) obtaining new balanced training sets through combining each subset and abnormal class, (3) inducing a rotation matrix on randomly sampling subset of each new balanced set, and in each rotation matrix space, (4) learning a decision tree on each balanced training data. Here, the rotation matrix is mainly to improve the diversity between ensemble members, and undersampling technique aims to improve the performance of learned models on abnormal class. Experimental results show that, compared with other state-of-the-art methods, ERT shows significantly better performance for imbalanced medical datasets.
Primary Hepatic Lymphoma Mimicking a Hepatocellular Carcinoma in a Cirrhotic Patient: Case Report and Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Bohlok Ali , De Grez Thierry , Bouazza Fikri , De Wind Roland , El-Khoury Melody , Repullo Deborah , Donckier Vincent
Published: April 2018

Introduction. Primary hepatic lymphomas (PHLs) are rare liver tumors, frequently misdiagnosed preoperatively. As these tumors could be successfully treated with chemotherapy, their early recognition is essential, potentially, to avoid useless surgery. We report on the case of a cirrhotic patient with hemochromatosis who presented a PHL, initially diagnosed as a hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and we analyze recent data from the literature on this subject.Case Presentation and Review of the Literature. A 45 mm liver tumor was found is a 68-year-old man with alcohol cirrhosis and hemochromatosis. At imaging, the diagnosis of HCC was suspected according to vascular characteristics and the presence of cirrhosis. FDG PET scan showed a solitary hypermetabolic liver tumor. Tumor markers were negative. Surgery consisted in left lateral hepatectomy. At pathology, the diagnosis of the primary hepatic marginal zone B cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) type was demonstrated. Twenty-two articles reporting 33 cases of true PHL of MALT type were found. Presentation lacked specific symptoms (70% asymptomatic). Half of patients were suspected to have other etiologies of liver mass (HCC, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma), and thus diagnosis was established postoperatively. In the patient, diagnosis was made by preoperative biopsy, and chemotherapy was first-line treatment.Discussion. Preoperative diagnosis of PHL, and particularly of primary hepatic MALT lymphoma, is challenging. This case illustrates that PHL remains to be considered among the differential diagnosis of isolated solid liver tumors. Further, it indicates that biopsy could be still indicated in case of suspected HCC in cirrhotic patients, particularly in the presence of unusual findings such as the combination of a FDG PET scan positive tumor in the absence of elevated alpha-fetoprotein.
Game Based Energy Cost Optimization for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Communication Networks
Authors: Yao Changhua , Zhu Lei , Wang Lei , Meng Junye
Published: April 2018

Due to the limited transmission power, the data transmission between the unmanned aerial vehicle and the ground station often needs the synergetic forwarding. The optimization of the synergetic forwarding organization is important to the performance of the unmanned aerial vehicle communication networks. This paper aims to optimize the energy cost using the synergetic forwarding mode in the unmanned aerial vehicle communication networks. To reduce the expensive information exchange and improve the robust of the network, we put forward an energy cost orient forwarding allocation approach using game based intelligent algorithm. The theoretic analysis and simulation results verify that the put forward method could achieve optimal energy cost communication organization.
Whole-Genome Sequencing and Comparative Genome Analysis Provided Insight into the Predatory Features and Genetic Diversity of TwoBdellovibrioSpecies Isolated from Soil
Authors: Oyedara Omotayo Opemipo , Segura-Cabrera Aldo , Guo Xianwu , Elufisan Temidayo Oluyomi , Cantú González Rafael Alejandro , Rodríguez Pérez Mario A.
Published: April 2018

Bdellovibriospp. are predatory bacteria with great potential as antimicrobial agents. Studies have shown that members of the genusBdellovibrioexhibit peculiar characteristics that influence their ecological adaptations. In this study, whole genomes of two differentBdellovibriospp. designated SKB1291214 and SSB218315 isolated from soil were sequenced. The core genes shared by all theBdellovibriospp. considered for the pangenome analysis including the epibioticB. exovoruswere 795. The number of unique genes identified inBdellovibriospp. SKB1291214, SSB218315, W, andB. exovorusJJS was 1343, 113, 857, and 1572, respectively. These unique genes encode hydrolytic, chemotaxis, and transporter proteins which might be useful for predation in theBdellovibriostrains. Furthermore, the twoBdellovibriostrains exhibited differences based on the % GC content, amino acid identity, and 16S rRNA gene sequence. The 16S rRNA gene sequence ofBdellovibriosp. SKB1291214 shared 99% identity with that of an unculturedBdellovibriosp. clone 12L 106 (a pairwise distance of 0.008) and 95–97% identity (a pairwise distance of 0.043) with that of other culturable terrestrialBdellovibriospp., including strain SSB218315. InBdellovibriosp. SKB1291214, 174 bp sequence was inserted at the host interaction(hit)locus region usually attributed to prey attachment, invasion, and development of host independentBdellovibriophenotypes. Also, a gene equivalent toBd0108inB. bacteriovorusHD100 was not conserved inBdellovibriosp. SKB1291214. The results of this study provided information on the genetic characteristics and diversity of the genusBdellovibriothat can contribute to their successful applications as a biocontrol agent.
A 41-Year-Old Patient with a Rare Cause of Severe Abdominal Sepsis Misdiagnosed as PID
Authors: Mikuscheva Anastasia , Becker David , Thompson-Fawcett Mark
Published: April 2018

Infectious pelvic inflammatory disease is a common condition and a frequent cause of abdominal pain in a young female patient. In a patient who has not completed family planning, the diagnosis is often made with a low threshold and treatment started on a low suspicion of diagnosis to avoid a negative impact on fertility. Here, we present a case of a 41-year-old woman who was misdiagnosed with infectious pelvic inflammatory disease and treated ineffectively with antibiotics when the underlying condition of her persistent abdominal pain was a midgut neuroendocrine tumor that had caused bowel perforation and formation of an abscess in the pouch of Douglas.
Resistance Mechanisms to Targeted Therapies in ROS1+ and ALK+ Non–small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: McCoach Caroline E. , Le Anh T. , Gowan Katherine , Jones Kenneth , Schubert Laura , Doak Andrea , Estrada-Bernal Adriana , Davies Kurtis D. , Merrick Daniel T. , Bunn Paul A. , Purcell W. Tom , Dziadziuszko Rafal , Varella-Garcia Marileila , Aisner Dara L. , Camidge D. Ross , Doebele Robert C.
Published: April 2018

Purpose: Despite initial benefit from tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), patients with advanced non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring ALK (ALK+) and ROS1 (ROS1+) gene fusions ultimately progress. Here, we report on the potential resistance mechanisms in a series of patients with ALK+ and ROS1+ NSCLC progressing on different types and/or lines of ROS1/ALK–targeted therapy.

Experimental Design: We used a combination of next-generation sequencing (NGS), multiplex mutation assay, direct DNA sequencing, RT-PCR, and FISH to identify fusion variants/partners and copy-number gain (CNG), kinase domain mutations (KDM), and copy-number variations (CNVs) in other cancer-related genes. We performed testing on 12 ROS1+ and 43 ALK+ patients.

Results: One of 12 ROS1+ (8%) and 15 of 43 (35%) ALK+ patients harbored KDM. In the ROS1+ cohort, we identified KIT and β-catenin mutations and HER2-mediated bypass signaling as non-ROS1–dominant resistance mechanisms. In the ALK+ cohort, we identified a novel NRG1 gene fusion, a RET fusion, 2 EGFR, and 3 KRAS mutations, as well as mutations in IDH1, RIT1, NOTCH, and NF1. In addition, we identified CNV in multiple proto-oncogenes genes including PDGFRA, KIT, KDR, GNAS, K/HRAS, RET, NTRK1, MAP2K1, and others.

Conclusions: We identified a putative TKI resistance mechanism in six of 12 (50%) ROS1+ patients and 37 of 43 (86%) ALK+ patients. Our data suggest that a focus on KDMs will miss most resistance mechanisms; broader gene testing strategies and functional validation is warranted to devise new therapeutic strategies for drug resistance. Clin Cancer Res; 24(14); 3334–47. ©2018 AACR.
A First-in-Human Phase 1 Study of LY3023414, an Oral PI3K/mTOR Dual Inhibitor, in Patients with Advanced Cancer
Authors: Bendell Johanna C. , Varghese Anna M. , Hyman David M. , Bauer Todd M. , Pant Shubham , Callies Sophie , Lin Ji , Martinez Ricardo , Wickremsinhe Enaksha , Fink Aaron , Wacheck Volker , Moore Kathleen N.
Published: April 2018

Purpose: The PI3K/mTOR pathway is frequently aberrated in cancer. LY3023414 is a potent and selective ATP-competitive inhibitor of class I PI3K isoforms, mTOR, and DNA-PK. Here we report the dose-escalation results of the first-in-human phase I study of LY3023414.

Patients and Methods: A 3+3 dose escalation for once-daily and twice-daily oral dosing of LY3023414 was followed by an expansion cohort for CYP3A4 drug–drug interaction (DDI) assessment. The primary objective was to determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Additional objectives included safety, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics, and antitumor activity.

Results: Forty-seven patients with solid tumors received LY3023414 at once-daily (20–450 mg) or twice-daily dosing (150–250 mg). Dose-limiting toxicities were observed at 450 mg once-daily (thrombocytopenia, hypotension, hyperkalemia) in three of three patients, 250-mg twice-daily dosing (hypophosphatemia, fatigue, mucositis) in three of four patients, and in one of 15 patients at 200 mg twice-daily (nausea). Common related AEs included nausea (38%), fatigue (34%), and vomiting (32%) and were mostly mild or moderate. LY3023414 pharmacokinetics demonstrated dose-dependent increase in exposure with ≥ 90% target inhibition at doses ≥150 mg. DDI analysis demonstrated LY3023414 to be a weak inhibitor of CYP3A4. Durable partial response was observed in a patient with endometrial cancer harboring PIK3R1 and PTEN truncating mutations, and 13 additional patients (28%) had a decrease in their target lesions by up to 30%.

Conclusions: LY3023414 has a tolerable safety profile and single-agent activity in patients with advanced cancers. The RP2D of LY3023414 monotherapy is 200 mg twice daily based on safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic data. Clin Cancer Res; 24(14); 3253–62. ©2018 AACR.
Disruption ofNSD1in Head and Neck Cancer Promotes Favorable Chemotherapeutic Responses Linked to Hypomethylation
Authors: Bui Nam , Huang Justin K. , Bojorquez-Gomez Ana , Licon Katherine , Sanchez Kyle S. , Tang Sean N. , Beckett Alex N. , Wang Tina , Zhang Wei , Shen John Paul , Kreisberg Jason F. , Ideker Trey
Published: April 2018

Human papillomavirus (HPV)–negative head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents a distinct classification of cancer with worse expected outcomes. Of the 11 genes recurrently mutated in HNSCC, we identify a singular and substantial survival advantage for mutations in the gene encoding Nuclear Set Domain Containing Protein 1 (NSD1), a histone methyltransferase altered in approximately 10% of patients. This effect, a 55% decrease in risk of death in NSD1-mutated versus non-mutated patients, can be validated in an independent cohort. NSD1 alterations are strongly associated with widespread genome hypomethylation in the same tumors, to a degree not observed for any other mutated gene. To address whether NSD1 plays a causal role in these associations, we use CRISPR-Cas9 to disrupt NSD1 in HNSCC cell lines and find that this leads to substantial CpG hypomethylation and sensitivity to cisplatin, a standard chemotherapy in head and neck cancer, with a 40% to 50% decrease in the IC50 value. Such results are reinforced by a survey of 1,001 cancer cell lines, in which loss-of-function NSD1 mutations have an average 23% decrease in cisplatin IC50 value compared with cell lines with wild-type NSD1.

Significance: This study identifies a favorable subtype of HPV–negative HNSCC linked to NSD1 mutation, hypomethylation, and cisplatin sensitivity. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(7); 1585–94. ©2018 AACR.
Exosomes Induce Fibroblast Differentiation into Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts through TGFβ Signaling
Authors: Ringuette Goulet Cassandra , Bernard Geneviève , Tremblay Sarah , Chabaud Stéphane , Bolduc Stéphane , Pouliot Frédéric
Published: April 2018

A particularly important tumor microenvironment relationship exists between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells. Fibroblasts, in response to cancer cells, become activated and exhibit myofibroblastic characteristics that favor invasive growth and metastasis. However, the mechanism by which cancer cells promote activation of healthy fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) is still not well understood. Exosomes are nanometer-sized vesicles that shuttle proteins and nucleic acids between cells to establish intercellular communication. Here, bladder cancer–derived exosomes were investigated to determine their role in the activation of healthy primary vesical fibroblasts. Exosomes released by bladder cancer cells are internalized by fibroblasts and promoted the proliferation and expression of CAF markers. In addition, cancer cell–derived exosomes contain TGFβ and in exosome-induced CAFs SMAD-dependent signaling is activated. Furthermore, TGFβ inhibitors attenuated CAF marker expression in healthy fibroblasts. Therefore, these data demonstrate that bladder cancer cells trigger the differentiation of fibroblasts to CAFs by exosomes-mediated TGFβ transfer and SMAD pathway activation. Finally, exosomal TGFβ localized inside the vesicle and contributes 53.4% to 86.3% of the total TGFβ present in the cancer cell supernatant. This study highlights a new function for bladder cancer exosomes as novel modulators of stromal cell differentiation.

Implication: This study identifies exosomal TGFβ as new molecular mechanism involved in cancer-associated fibroblast activation. Mol Cancer Res; 16(7); 1196–204. ©2018 AACR.
Ultraviolet Radiation Inhibits Mammary Carcinogenesis in an ER-Negative Murine Model by a Mechanism Independent of Vitamin D3
Authors: Makarova Anastasia M. , Frascari Flora , Davari Parastoo , Gorouhi Farzam , Dutt Philip , Wang Lynn , Dhawan Akash , Wang Grace , Green Jeffrey E. , Epstein Ervin H.
Published: April 2018

Three decades ago, the Garlands postulated that vitamin D3 produced in the skin by ultraviolet radiation (UVR)-induced conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to pre-D3 has anticancer effects, thus triggering more than 9,500 publications on D3 and cancer. Here, we report that UVR treatment of transgenic mice of the well-established C3(1)/SV40 Tag mammary cancer model significantly inhibits both autochthonous carcinogenesis and allograft tumor growth, but in contrast neither dietary nor topical D3 influences mammary carcinogenesis in this specific mouse model. Furthermore, UVR's inhibitory effects occur irrespective of whether or not the treatment increases circulating D3 in the mice. The inhibitory effect of UVR on autochthonous tumors occurs at or before the stage of ductal carcinoma in situ. Our studies indicate clearly that UVR can exert D3-independent anticancer effects in C3(1)/SV40 Tag mice. Therefore, supplemental D3 may not mimic all possible beneficial effects of UVR, and uncovering non–D3-mediated mechanisms of UVR tumor inhibition may lead to novel strategies for cancer prevention. Cancer Prev Res; 11(7); 383–92. ©2018 AACR.
Prophylactic Chorioretinectomy in Open Ocular Trauma: A Series of 36 Eyes
Authors: Monteiro Sílvia , Meireles Angelina
Published: April 2018

Purpose: The aim of this paper was to report the outcomes of prophylactic chorioretinectomy in open-globe injuries where a foreign body penetrated the choroid or perforated the globe. Methods: We conducted a retrospective, consecutive, noncomparative, and descriptive study of patients registered in the ocular trauma database between January 2006 and December 2014, who underwent vitrectomy with chorioretinectomy. Results: Thirty-six patients (33 male, 3 female) with a mean age of 40 years and a median of follow-up of 13 months were included. Twenty-one cases had penetrating globe injuries with an intraocular foreign body and 15 cases had perforating globe injuries. A concomitant chorioretinectomy was performed in all eyes, although it was only partial in 8 eyes. At the end of follow-up, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) rates were 6.5%, anatomical success was 80.6%, and the globe survival rate was 96.8%. Conclusion: Prophylactic chorioretinectomy is a surgical procedure that may decrease posttraumatic PVR, thus improving final visual acuity and increasing globe survival rates.
RANKL Inhibits the Production of Osteoprotegerin from Smooth Muscle Cells under Basal Conditions and following Exposure to Cyclic Strain
Authors: Davenport Colin , Harper Emma , Rochfort Keith D. , Forde Hannah , Smith Diarmuid , Cummins Philip M.
Published: April 2018

Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) promotes vascular calcification, while osteoprotegerin (OPG) opposes it by blocking RANKL activity. It remains unclear which vascular cell populations produce and secrete OPG/RANKL. This study characterizes the production of OPG/RANKL from human aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells (HAECs and HASMCs) under various conditions. HAECs and HASMCs were exposed to inflammatory stimuli (tumor necrosis factor-α or hyperglycemia) or physiological levels of hemodynamic (cyclic) strain. After 72 h, both cells and supernatant media were harvested for assessment of OPG/RANKL production. Based on initial findings, the experiments involving HASMCs were then repeated in the presence of exogenous RANKL. OPG was produced and secreted by HASMCs and (to a considerably lesser degree) HAECs under basal conditions. Inflammatory stimuli upregulated OPG production in both cell populations. Cyclic strain significantly upregulated OPG production in HASMCs. Neither cell population produced RANKL. Exposing HASMCs to exogenous RANKL inhibited basal OPG production and completely abrogated the strain-mediated upregulation of OPG. These data suggest that HASMCs are a significant source of OPG within the vasculature but that RANKL, once present, downregulates this production and appears capable of preventing the “protective” upregulation of OPG seen with HASMCs exposed to physiological levels of cyclic strain.
Prevalence of Cardiac Disease in Breast Cancer Patients at Time of Diagnosis Compared to the General Female Population in Germany
Authors: Lorenz Eva , Blettner Maria , Lange Björn , Schmidt Marcus , Schneider Astrid , Schwentner Lukas , Wollschläger Daniel , Merzenich Hiltrud
Published: April 2018

Background: Advances in oncological therapy have significantly improved breast cancer survival; therefore comorbid conditions are becoming more relevant. We investigated the prevalence of prior cardiovascular diseases and risk factors in patients with breast cancer compared to those in the general female population in Germany. Methods: The PASSOS heart study is a retrospective multicenter cohort study on cardiac late effects in breast cancer patients treated between 1998 and 2008. We analyzed the frequencies of cardiac diseases and cardiovascular risk factors in patients from this cohort as documented in anesthesia protocols compared to self-reported frequencies in the general female population in Germany. Results: 3,496 patients aged between 40 and 79 years who underwent breast surgery were considered for analysis. The age-standardized prevalence of cardiac diseases or cardiovascular risk factors was 6.75 versus 7.52% and 69 versus 80.92%, respectively. Coronary heart disease (3.96 vs. 5.18%) and angina pectoris (0.37 vs. 1.03%) prevalence was lower in breast cancer patients, while non-fatal myocardial infarction (2.06 vs. 1.81%) and stroke (2.64 vs. 2.34%) were more frequent (not statistically significant). Conclusion: Pre-existing cardiac diseases and cardiovascular risk factors are common in both study populations, being slightly less frequent in the PASSOS cohort. When making therapy decisions, the cardiac risk profile should be carefully monitored and taken into account.
Nutrition for Preterm Infants: 75 Years of History
Authors: van Goudoever Johannes B.
Published: April 2018

As technology has advanced, survival rates of preterm infants have improved dramatically. Human milk was the primary source of enteral nutrition during the early days of neonatology, but the HIV/AIDS epidemic resulted in an increased use of preterm formula. More recently, the benefits of human milk were rediscovered, resulting in increased use of donor human milk as well. The awareness that human milk does not contain the amounts of nutrients to meet the high requirements of infants born premature resulted in the development of human milk fortifiers. The development of these fortifiers is still ongoing, as are alternative methods of pasteurization of donor milk. Those initiatives will increase the use of human milk with consequently short- and long-term benefits for preterm infants.
Clinical, Diagnostic, and Treatment Disparities between HIV-Infected and Non-HIV-Infected Immunocompromised Patients with Pneumocystis jirovecii Pneumonia
Authors: Salzer Helmut J.F. , Schäfer Guido , Hoenigl Martin , Günther Gunar , Hoffmann Christian , Kalsdorf Barbara , Alanio Alexandre , Lange Christoph
Published: April 2018

The substantial decline in the Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) incidence in HIV-infected patients after the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-rich settings and the growing number of non-HIV-infected immunocompromised patients at risk leads to considerable epidemiologic changes with clinical, diagnostic, and treatment consequences for physicians. HIV-infected patients usually develop a subacute course of disease, while non-HIV-infected immunocompromised patients are characterized by a rapid disease progression with higher risk of respiratory failure and higher mortality. The main symptoms usually include exertional dyspnea, dry cough, and subfebrile temperature or fever. Lactate dehydrogenase may be elevated. Typical findings on computed tomography scans of the chest are bilateral ground-glass opacities with or without cystic lesions, which are usually associated with the presence of AIDS. Empiric treatment should be initiated as soon as PCP is suspected. Bronchoalveolar lavage has a higher diagnostic yield compared to induced sputum. Immunofluorescence is superior to conventional staining. A combination of different diagnostic tests such as microscopy, polymerase chain reaction, and (1,3)-β-D-glucan is recommended. Trimeth­oprim/sulfamethoxazole for 21 days is the treatment of choice in adults and children. Alternative treatment regimens include dapsone with trimethoprim, clindamycin with primaquine, atovaquone, or pentamidine. Patients with moderate to severe disease should receive adjunctive corticosteroids. In newly diagnosed HIV-infected patients with PCP, ART should be initiated as soon as possible. In non-HIV-infected immunocompromised patients, improvement of the immune status should be discussed (e.g., temporary reduction of immunosuppressive agents). PCP prophylaxis is effective and depends on the immune status of the patient and the underlying immunocompromising disease.
Cervical Myelopathy Caused by Invaginated Laminae of the Axis into the Spinal Canal in a Pediatric Patient
Authors: Oktay Kadir , Ericek Omer Burak , Ozsoy Kerem Mazhar , Cetinalp Nuri Eralp , Erman Tahsin
Published: April 2018

Cervical myelopathy caused by invaginated laminae of the axis is an extremely rare entity. Advanced imaging techniques are useful to define this rare pathology and site of the spinal canal compression. Surgical removal of the floating laminae is commonly an adequate treatment method. Fusion procedures should be added in the presence of instability. There are few cases of invaginated anomalous laminae of the axis in the literature. In this report, to the best of our knowledge having reviewed the literature, the youngest and first female patient is presented.
Growth Hormone Improves Cognitive Function After Experimental Stroke
Authors: Ong Lin Kooi , Chow Wei Zhen , TeBay Clifford , Kluge Murielle , Pietrogrande Giovanni , Zalewska Katarzyna , Crock Patricia , Åberg N. David , Bivard Andrew , Johnson Sarah J. , Walker Frederick R. , Nilsson Michael , Isgaard Jörgen
Published: April 2018

Background and Purpose—

Cognitive impairment is a common outcome for stroke survivors. Growth hormone (GH) could represent a potential therapeutic option as this peptide hormone has been shown to improve cognition in various clinical conditions. In this study, we evaluated the effects of peripheral administration of GH at 48 hours poststroke for 28 days on cognitive function and the underlying mechanisms.

Methods—

Experimental stroke was induced by photothrombotic occlusion in young adult mice. We assessed the associative memory cognitive domain using mouse touchscreen platform for paired-associate learning task. We also evaluated neural tissue loss, neurotrophic factors, and markers of neuroplasticity and cerebrovascular remodeling using biochemical and histology analyses.

Results—

Our results show that GH-treated stroked mice made a significant improvement on the paired-associate learning task relative to non–GH-treated mice at the end of the study. Furthermore, we observed reduction of neural tissue loss in GH-treated stroked mice. We identified that GH treatment resulted in significantly higher levels of neurotrophic factors (IGF-1 [insulin-like growth factor-1] and VEGF [vascular endothelial growth factor]) in both the circulatory and peri-infarct regions. GH treatment in stroked mice not only promoted protein levels and density of presynaptic marker (SYN-1 [synapsin-1]) and marker of myelination (MBP [myelin basic protein]) but also increased the density and area coverage of 2 major vasculature markers (CD31 and collagen-IV), within the peri-infarct region.

Conclusions—

These findings provide compelling preclinical evidence for the usage of GH as a potential therapeutic tool in the recovery phase of patients after stroke.
Mr. Market's Emotions
Authors: Maciel João Marcos , Bergamo Marília Lyra , Bradbury Judd D.
Published: April 2018

The authors present a study of artistic data visualization as reflection of human emotion. They describe the sonority of movements in the stock market with real human emotions as a method to better understand this organism with wide influence in our world.
Raw Harmonies: Transmediation through Raw Data
Authors: Peña Ernesto , James Kedrick
Published: April 2018

In this paper, the authors present the initial findings from explorations on transformation patterns of data in raw format when crossing or transmediating directly (i.e. unaffected by any other form of codification) between audio and visual media. These patterns have allowed the authors to engage in the production of transmediatic artifacts with some degree of control and agency, facilitating purposeful applications of transmediation. The products of such practices will enable a form of literacy, an aesthetic means to identify in visual media artifacts those patterns that could transmediate into useful or appealing sonic artifacts and vice versa.
In Support of Whitehead’s Time
Authors: Lestienne Rémy
Published: April 2018

In 1911, Alfred North Whitehead has a brainstorm: if we deny the reality of the instant, many problems of the philosophy of nature seem solved. His metaphysics, however, will wait until his moving to Harvard, in 1924, to mature. Besides his denial of the instants of time and the replacement of the concept of time by that of “process,” Whitehead articulates new concepts (concrescence, prehension) to account for the crystallization of successive empirical realities, the solidarity between events, the permanence of objects, and their deterministic behavior altogether. His views of nature fit well with both quantum mechanics and relativity theories, although not in the details of the latter. But one of his largely unnoticed merits, in my view, is to reopen the question of free will in the mind-body problem.
Discovering True North: Which Histories for the Russian Arctic?
Authors: Tartarchenko Ksenia
Published: April 2018

The phrase “Find True North” evokes the idea of movement in the right direction, but sometimes the phrase acquires a more metaphoric meaning of understanding where we are and where we are going. For the fields of Soviet history and post-Soviet studies, the expression is meaningful in both literal and metaphorical senses. In recent years, the number of publications devoted to the history of the Russian North has been growing steadily, although not as spectacularly as the political science works on Arctic geopolitics. Even taken together, however, these studies represent only a small fraction of the scientific literature and media accounts ballooning since the last International Polar Year, held in 2007–2008.
Stalin and the Secretaries of Local Party Organizations, 1921–1927: Subordinates, Clients, or Supporters?
Authors: Monty Christopher
Published: April 2018

This article uses archival evidence to reexamine the relationship between Stalin and the secretaries of local party organizations during the nep. The orthodox view holds that after April 1922 Stalin installed individuals personally loyal to him as secretaries throughout the party’s network of territorial committees. Stalin used these supporters to manipulate the selection of delegates to the Twelfth Party Congress, which allowed him to fabricate majorities in the Central Committee and Politburo. Using operational records generated in the Central Committee Secretariat to examine patterns of secretarial office holding, this article shows that no fewer than 490 officials served as party secretaries during Stalin’s first five years as General Secretary and that rates of turnover among local party secretaries remained persistently high. These findings suggest that Stalin did not construct a stable network of clients among the secretaries of local party organizations prior to the Fifteenth Party Congress.
Contributions to Turkish Flora: Taxonomic and distributional notes on the poorly known Noccaea (Brassicaceae) species
Authors: ÖZGİŞİ KURTULUŞ , ÖZÜDOĞRU BARIŞ , OCAK ATİLA
Published: April 2018

Herein the taxonomical status of some poorly known Noccaea (Brassicaceae) species is revised. Moreover, the morphological, distributional and ecological properties of these species are updated. Some overlooked species in Turkey such as Noccaea versicolor and N. aptera are recollected and their descriptions emended and discussed. N. huber-morathii is also recollected from its type locality after its first collection. The description and distribution of N. huber-morathii are also updated. New distribution areas for N. tatiaae and N. aghrica, which have been insufficiently known species in Turkey, are also given.
A new variety of fern from Borneo, Sphaerostephanos unitus var. dimorphophylla (Thelypteridaceae)
Authors: HAYASHI TAKEO , SULEIMAN MONICA , OKADA HIROSHI , TSUKAYA HIROKAZU
Published: April 2018

The genus Sphaerostephanos is a sub-group of Thelypteridaceae. We collected an undescribed taxon of this genus in Imbak Canyon, Sabah, Borneo. We describe this specimen as a new variety with a drawing and key of this genus.
Females of the genus Podmosta (Plecoptera: Nemouridae): comparison of terminalia and a new female record in Baltic Amber
Authors: CHEN ZHI-TENG
Published: April 2018

Based on a specimen preserved in Baltic amber from Lithuania, a new fossil female of the nemourid genus Podmosta Ricker, 1952 is described, illustrated and compared to other described species of the genus. The new female specimen is distinguished from other Podmosta females by the “rabbit-shaped” sclerite on sternum 8.
Comments on the ostracod species Neohornibrookella transoceanica (Teeter, 1975), and its broader generic significance
Authors: WARNE MARK T.
Published: April 2018

The concept of the thaerocytherid ostracod genus Neohornibrookella was established by Jellinek (1993) on valve and carapace specimens from Kenyan coastal waters, identified by him as belonging to the species Cythere lactea Brady, 1866. Thus, Jellinek (1993) nominated Cythere lactea as the type species for Neohornibrookella. However, he misidentified these Kenyan specimens, which are here interpreted to belong to the broadly distributed, thermophilic shallow marine species, Hermanites transoceanica Teeter, 1975. In accordance with Article 70.3 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, 1999, either the species originally nominated as the type species (Cythere lactea Brady, 1866), or the species represented by the Kenyan specimens on which the genus was described (Hermanites transoceanica Teeter, 1975), may be accepted as the type species for Neohornibrookella Jellinek, 1993. In accordance with Article 70.3.2 of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, 1999 I choose Hermanites transoceanica Teeter, 1975 as the types species for Neohornibrookella Jellinek, 1993 because it conforms with the established concept of the carapace morphology for this genus, as per discussion below.
The genus Setodes Rambur (Trichoptera, Leptoceridae) in Japan
Authors: KATSUMA NOBUYUKI
Published: April 2018

This report presents a revision of the Japanese species of the genus Setodes Rambur (Leptoceridae), and confirms 8 species. Among these are 3 new species: Setodes chirotheca sp. nov., distributed from Hokkaido to eastern Honshu; S. moritai sp. nov., distributed from central to western Honshu and Shikoku; and S. pseudofurcatulus sp. nov., from western Honshu. Additionally, several species are re-described: S. hinumaensis Katsuma 2009, S. ujiensis (Akagi 1960), S. minutus Tsuda 1942b, S. shirasensis Kobayashi 1984, and S. argentatus Matsumura 1907. One species, S. curviseta Kobayashi 1959 was originally described from Kyushu and is now synonymized with S. minutus. The larva, pupa, and case of S. hinumaensis are described for the first time.
A new species of Barbatula from the headwaters of the Bulgan River in western Mongolia (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)
Authors: PROKOFIEV ARTEM M.
Published: April 2018

Barbatula karabanowi, new species, is described from the upper Bulgan River drainage in Mongolia. It is most similar to B. dsapchynensis from the Zavhan River basin (Lake Valley, Mongolia). The new species is distinguished from this and all other species of Barbatula in Asia by a combination of characters, none of them unique: nostrils widely spaced; snout broad, ratio between maximum head width and width of snout at anterior nare 1.4–1.6; lips smooth, upper lip with a short incision; lower lip with short, well developed lateral lobes, mental lobes oval, lacking conical protrusions; scales absent or isolated scales present on the flank between dorsal- and caudal-fin bases; 42–44 vertebrae (usually 43); 75–88 lateral line pores on flank; paired fins with rounded tips; pigmentation pattern with densely set and partially fused irregularly shaped blotches and streaks. Barbatula karabanowi occurs in syntopy with B. cf. altayensis. It is distinguished from this species by having widely separated nares (vs. closely-set), details in the mouth structure, few or no scales (vs. squamation well developed), less vertebrae and lateral line pores (42–44 and 75–88 vs. 44–45 and 89–105, respectively), “non-muscular” cheeks in both sexes (vs. thickened, especially in the males) and details in colour pattern. These two species were found to prey on different food items and were the only fish taxa found in the studied part of the river.
Review of the genus Menestheus Stål, 1868 (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Pentatomidae)
Authors: FAÚNDEZ EDUARDO I. , RIDER DAVID A.
Published: April 2018

The Aeptini (Pentatomidae: Pentatominae) genus Menestheus Stål, 1868, is redescribed. The original misidentification of the type species for Menestheus is corrected by action of first reviser herein by establishing Paramenestheus nercivus non Dallas, 1851 sensu Stal (1868) = Menestheus cuneatus Distant, 1899 as the type species. Menestheus mcphersoni sp. nov. is described and illustrated. Characters separating the two species are discussed.
Dust Impacts on the 2012 Hurricane Nadine Track during the NASA HS3 Field Campaign
Authors: Nowottnick E. P. , Colarco P. R. , Braun S. A. , Barahona D. O. , da Silva A. , Hlavka D. L. , McGill M. J. , Spackman J. R.
Published: April 2018

During the 2012 deployment of the NASA Hurricane and Severe Storm Sentinel (HS3) field campaign, several flights were dedicated to investigating Hurricane Nadine. Hurricane Nadine developed in close proximity to the dust-laden Saharan air layer and is the fourth-longest-lived Atlantic hurricane on record, experiencing two strengthening and weakening periods during its 22-day total life cycle as a tropical cyclone. In this study, the NASA GEOS-5 atmospheric general circulation model and data assimilation system was used to simulate the impacts of dust during the first intensification and weakening phases of Hurricane Nadine using a series of GEOS-5 forecasts initialized during Nadine’s intensification phase (12 September 2012). The forecasts explore a hierarchy of aerosol interactions within the model: no aerosol interaction, aerosol–radiation interactions, and aerosol–radiation and aerosol–cloud interactions simultaneously, as well as variations in assumed dust optical properties. When only aerosol–radiation interactions are included, Nadine’s track exhibits sensitivity to dust shortwave absorption, as a more absorbing dust introduces a shortwave temperature perturbation that impacts Nadine’s structure and steering flow, leading to a northward track divergence after 5 days of simulation time. When aerosol–cloud interactions are added, the track exhibits little sensitivity to dust optical properties. This result is attributed to enhanced longwave atmospheric cooling from clouds that counters shortwave atmospheric warming by dust surrounding Nadine, suggesting that aerosol–cloud interactions are a more significant influence on Nadine’s track than aerosol–radiation interactions. These findings demonstrate that tropical systems, specifically their track, can be impacted by dust interaction with the atmosphere.
Global Assessment of the Standardized Evapotranspiration Deficit Index (SEDI) for Drought Analysis and Monitoring
Authors: Vicente-Serrano Sergio M. , Miralles Diego G. , Domínguez-Castro Fernando , Azorin-Molina Cesar , El Kenawy Ahmed , McVicar Tim R. , Tomás-Burguera Miquel , Beguería Santiago , Maneta Marco , Peña-Gallardo Marina
Published: April 2018

This article developed and implemented a new methodology for calculating the standardized evapotranspiration deficit index (SEDI) globally based on the log-logistic distribution to fit the evaporation deficit (ED), the difference between actual evapotranspiration (ETa) and atmospheric evaporative demand (AED). Our findings demonstrate that, regardless of the AED dataset used, a log-logistic distribution most optimally fitted the ED time series. As such, in many regions across the terrestrial globe, the SEDI is insensitive to the AED method used for calculation, with the exception of winter months and boreal regions. The SEDI showed significant correlations ( p < 0.05) with the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) across a wide range of regions, particularly for short (<3 month) SPEI time scales. This work provides a robust approach for calculating spatially and temporally comparable SEDI estimates, regardless of the climate region and land surface conditions, and it assesses the performance and the applicability of the SEDI to quantify drought severity across varying crop and natural vegetation areas.
‘We don’t do that’: A constructivist perspective on the use and non-use of private military contractors by Denmark
Authors: van Meegdenburg Hilde
Published: April 2018

In this article I put forward a social constructivist perspective on state use of Private Military and Security Contractors (PMSCs). I will argue that state outsourcing decisions are, to a large extent, shaped by nationally shared values, understandings and dispositions. Concretely, I first provide a detailed overview of the extent of domestic and deployed contracting by the Danish Defence and, thereafter, based on a number of semi-structured interviews, I expose the dominant understandings that shaped how PMSCs have come to be understood in Denmark. By so doing I can show that the employment of PMSCs by the Danish Defence remains comparatively limited because it is largely perceived as inappropriate and as incompatible with what it means to be ‘Danish’. Although Denmark too has to balance its international engagements with the limited resources allocated to defence (the typical functional pressures) Danish particular ‘soft’ neoliberalism and ‘hard’ commitments to IHL speak against using private actors to make that possible. This means I take in the more abstract, macro-level discussions on the end of the Cold War and the advent of neoliberalism but go beyond by asking whether, and if so how, these and other collective experiences and understandings actually (co-)shape(d) outsourcing decisions.