bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND THE UNFCCC PROCESS: SOME SIMULATIONS FROM AN ARMINGTON EXTENDED CLIMATE MODEL
Authors: TIAN HUIFANG , WHALLEY JOHN
Published: November 2015

We report simulation results for alternative multilateral emissions cuts and accompanying policies which could come under renewed reconsideration for the process to follow the Durban UNFCCC negotiations. The model is an Armington type trade model extended to capture climate change. We calibrate the model to alternative BAU damage scenarios following the Stern report and the literature that has followed. We consider different depths, forms, and timeframes for emission reductions by China, India, Russia, Brazil, US, EU, Japan, and a residual row both jointly and block wise. We assume regionally uniform percentage of both climate change and damages by region, which are relaxed later in sensitivity analysis. The welfare impacts of both emission reductions and accompanying measures are computed in Hicksian money metric equivalent form over three alternative potential commitment periods: 2012–2020, 2012–2030, and 2012–2050. Our multiyear multicounty global modeling framework captures the benefit of emission mitigation through preferences incorporating temperature change. Countries are linked not only through shared welfare impacts of global temperature change but also through trade among country subscripted goods. These trade impacts influence net country benefits from alternative emission reduction agreements. We also evaluate the potential impacts of potential accompanying mechanisms including funds/transfers, border adjustments, and tariffs.
Intercity Rail Transit and Integrated Development of the Pearl River Delta Urban Cluster: Based on the Perspective of Network Analysis
Authors: QIN Chenglin , HUO Ni , CHONG Zhaohui
Published: November 2015

Intercity rail transit is an important power promoting the integrated development of urban clusters. This paper adopts a social network analysis to analyze the impact of the intercity rail development on the integration of the Pearl River Delta urban cluster in 2010, 2012, and 2020, respectively. The results show that the development of intercity rail transit is generally conducive to enhancing the network development trend of the Pearl River Delta urban cluster, strengthening the inter links and promoting the division of labor within the urban cluster, reinforcing the status of the center cities, thus promoting the integrated development of the Pearl River Delta urban cluster. However, the development of intercity rail transit still cannot break the former core–periphery structure, which may aggravate the unbalanced development among cities. Therefore, on the one hand, accelerating the construction of intercity rail transit is an important path to promote the integrated development of the Pearl River Delta urban cluster; on the other hand, it is necessary to optimize the intercity rail network planning, so that the adverse impact could be mitigated.
Metagenomics: Retrospect and Prospects in High Throughput Age
Authors: Kumar Satish , Krishnani Kishore Kumar , Bhushan Bharat , Brahmane Manoj Pandit
Published: November 2015

In recent years, metagenomics has emerged as a powerful tool for mining of hidden microbial treasure in a culture independent manner. In the last two decades, metagenomics has been applied extensively to exploit concealed potential of microbial communities from almost all sorts of habitats. A brief historic progress made over the period is discussed in terms of origin of metagenomics to its current state and also the discovery of novel biological functions of commercial importance from metagenomes of diverse habitats. The present review also highlights the paradigm shift of metagenomics from basic study of community composition to insight into the microbial community dynamics for harnessing the full potential of uncultured microbes with more emphasis on the implication of breakthrough developments, namely, Next Generation Sequencing, advanced bioinformatics tools, and systems biology.
Dysuria, Urinary Retention, and Inguinal Pain as Manifestation of Sacral Bannwarth Syndrome
Authors: Finsterer Josef , Dauth Johannes , Angel Kurt , Markowicz Mateusz
Published: November 2015

Only few cases with sacral radiculitis due to infection withBorrelia burgdorferileading to neurogenic urinary dysfunction have been reported. A 57-year-old male developed urethral pain and urinary retention, requiring permanent catheterization. Extensive urological investigations did not reveal a specific cause, which was why neurogenic bladder dysfunction was suspected. Neurologic exam revealed only mildly reduced tendon reflexes. Cerebral and spinal MRI were noninformative. CSF investigations, however, revealed pleocytosis, elevated protein, and antibodies againstBorrelia burgdorferi. Intravenous ceftriaxone for three weeks resulted in immediate improvement of bladder dysfunction, with continuous decline of residual urine volume and continuous increase of spontaneous urine volume even after removal of the catheter and initiation of self-catheterization. Sacral radiculitis due to infection withBorrelia burgdorferiis a potential cause of detrusor areflexia and urethral, perineal, inguinal, and scrotal pain and may be misinterpreted as cystitis or urethritis. Ceftriaxone may result in progressive recovery of bladder dysfunction and pain. Neuroborreliosis may manifest exclusively as neurourological problem.
Adaptive Integrated Guidance and Fault Tolerant Control Using Backstepping and Sliding Mode
Authors: Fathi Jegarkandi Mohsen , Ashrafifar Asghar , Mohsenipour Reza
Published: November 2015

A new method of integrated guidance and control for homing missiles with actuator fault against manoeuvring targets is proposed. Model of the integrated guidance and control system in the pitch plane with actuator fault and some uncertainty is developed. A control law using combination of adaptive backstepping and sliding mode approaches is designed to achieve interception in the presence of bounded uncertainties and actuator fault. Simulation results show that new approach has better performance than adaptive backstepping and has good performance in the presence of actuator fault.
Performance Characteristic of Cold Recycled Mixture with Asphalt Emulsion and Chemical Additives
Authors: Du Shaowen
Published: November 2015

Three types of chemical additives were used to modify asphalt emulsion recycled mixture. These chemical additives include composite Portland cement (CPC), hydrated lime (HL), and a combination of hydrated lime and ground-granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBF). The influence of different additives on the recycled mixture performance was investigated by volumetric and strength tests, moisture susceptibility test, rutting resistance test, and low temperature bending test. To better understand its performance characteristic, the microstructure images of the recycled mixture were observed by environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM). Test results demonstrate that the performance improvement of the emulsion recycled mixture depends on the types and content of chemical additives. Several recommendations are presented for the selection of chemical materials. Based on ESEM image analysis, the interface bonding mechanism is proposed to explain the performance characteristic of the recycled mixture with asphalt emulsion and cementitious materials.
Expression of Ribonucleotide Reductase Subunit-2 and Thymidylate Synthase Correlates with Poor Prognosis in Patients with Resected Stages I–III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Grossi Francesco , Dal Bello Maria Giovanna , Salvi Sandra , Puzone Roberto , Pfeffer Ulrich , Fontana Vincenzo , Alama Angela , Rijavec Erika , Barletta Giulia , Genova Carlo , Sini Claudio , Ratto Giovanni Battista , Taviani Mario , Truini Mauro , Merlo Domenico Franco
Published: November 2015

Biomarkers can help to identify patients with early-stages or locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have high risk of relapse and poor prognosis. To correlate the expression of seven biomarkers involved in DNA synthesis and repair and in cell division with clinical outcome, we consecutively collected 82 tumour tissues from radically resected NSCLC patients. The following biomarkers were investigated using IHC and qRT-PCR: excision repair cross-complementation group 1 (ERCC1), breast cancer 1 (BRCA1), ribonucleotide reductase subunits M1 and M2 (RRM1 and RRM2), subunit p53R2, thymidylate synthase (TS), and class IIIbeta-tubulin (TUBB3). Gene expression levels were also validated in an available NSCLC microarray dataset. Multivariate analysis identified the protein overexpression of RRM2 and TS as independent prognostic factors of shorter overall survival (OS). Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a trend in shorter OS for patients with RRM2, TS, and ERCC1, BRCA1 overexpressed tumours. For all of the biomarkers except TUBB3, the OS trends relative to the gene expression levels were in agreement with those relative to the protein expression levels. The NSCLC microarray dataset showed RRM2 and TS as biomarkers significantly associated with OS. This study suggests that high expression levels of RRM2 and TS might be negative prognostic factors for resected NSCLC patients.
Flow over Exponentially Stretching Sheet through Porous Medium with Heat Source/Sink
Authors: Swain I. , Mishra S. R. , Pattanayak H. B.
Published: November 2015

An attempt has been made to study the heat and mass transfer effect in a boundary layer MHD flow of an electrically conducting viscous fluid subject to transverse magnetic field on an exponentially stretching sheet through porous medium. The effect of thermal radiation and heat source/sink has also been discussed in this paper. The governing nonlinear partial differential equations are transformed into a system of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations and then solved numerically using a fourth-order Runge-Kutta method with a shooting technique. Graphical results are displayed for nondimensional velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles while numerical values of the skin friction local Nusselt number and Sherwood number are presented in tabular form for various values of parameters controlling the flow system.
Is Valproate Depressogenic in Patients Remitting from Acute Mania? Case Series
Authors: Vasudev Kamini , Sharma Priya
Published: November 2015

Valproate is an effective antimanic agent and is recommended as a first-line medication in the treatment of acute mania. Current evidence based guidelines recommend that valproate should be given as a loading dose as it produces a rapid antimanic and antipsychotic response with minimal side-effects. However, no clear guidelines are available on the appropriate dosing or serum levels of valproate in the continuation or maintenance phase of bipolar disorder. We present 4 clinical cases to hypothesize that the higher doses of valproate, such as those used in the treatment of acute mania, may cause a depressive switch. So consideration should be given to reducing the dose of valproate if a patient develops depressive symptoms following recovery from the manic episode, as a therapeutic strategy. The cases also indicate that relatively lower doses and serum levels of valproate are effective in the maintenance phase compared to those needed in the acute manic phase of bipolar disorder. This is the first set of case series that questions the depressogenic potential of valproate in patients remitting from an acute manic episode. It highlights that different doses and serum levels of valproate may be therapeutic in different phases of bipolar disorder.
Correlation of Vitreous Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Uric Acid Concentration Using Optical Coherence Tomography in Diabetic Macular Edema
Authors: Krizova Libuse , Kalousova Marta , Kubena Ales Antonin , Chrapek Oldrich , Chrapkova Barbora , Sin Martin , Zima Tomas
Published: November 2015

Purpose. We investigated two factors linked to diabetic macular edema (DME), vitreous and serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and uric acid (UA) in patients with DME, and compared the results with changes in optical coherence tomography (OCT) and visual acuity (VA).Methods. A prospective study of 29 eyes, 16 cystoid DME and nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (DR) and 13 nondiabetic controls. Biochemical analysis of vitreous and serum samples was performed and OCT scans were graded according to central retinal thickness (CRT), cube volume (CV), cube average thickness (CAT), and serous retinal detachment (SRD).Results. In DME group, intravitreal concentrations of VEGF (p<0.001), UA (p=0.038), and total protein (p<0.001) were significantly higher than in control group. In DME subjects, intravitreal UA correlated significantly with intravitreal VEGF (ƍ= 0.559,p=0.03) but not with total vitreous protein and serum UA. Increased intravitreal VEGF in DME group correlated with increase in CV (ƍ= 0.515/p=0.041). None of the OCT parameters correlated with the VA.Conclusions. The results suggest that the CV might be assessor of anti-VEGF therapy efficacy. Second, apart from VEGF, the role of UA in the pathogenesis and progression of DR should be considered.
In Vitro and In Vivo Comparison of Lymphocytes Transduced with a Human CD16 or with a Chimeric Antigen Receptor Reveals Potential Off-Target Interactions due to the IgG2 CH2-CH3 CAR-Spacer
Authors: Clémenceau Béatrice , Valsesia-Wittmann Sandrine , Jallas Anne-Catherine , Vivien Régine , Rousseau Raphaël , Marabelle Aurélien , Caux Christophe , Vié Henri
Published: November 2015

The present work was designed to compare two mechanisms of cellular recognition based on Ab specificity: firstly, when the anti-HER2 mAb trastuzumab bridges target cells and cytotoxic lymphocytes armed with a Fc receptor (ADCC) and, secondly, when HER2 positive target cells are directly recognized by cytotoxic lymphocytes armed with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). To compare these two mechanisms, we used the same cellular effector (NK-92) and the same signaling domain (FcεRIγ). The NK-92 cytotoxic cell line was transfected with either a FcγRIIIa-FcεRIγ(NK-92CD16) or a trastuzumab-based scFv-FcεRIγchimeric receptor (NK-92CAR). In vitro, the cytotoxic activity against HER2 positive target cells after indirect recognition byNK-92CD16was always inferior to that observed after direct recognition byNK-92CAR. In contrast, and somehow unexpectedly, in vivo, adoptive transfer ofNK-92CD16+ trastuzumab but not ofNK-92CARinduced tumor regression. Analysis of the in vivo xenogeneic system suggested that the human CH2-CH3 IgG2 used as a spacer in our construct was able to interact with the FcR present at the cell surface of the few NSG-FcR+ remaining immune cells. This interaction, leading to blockage of theNK-92CARin the periphery of the engrafted tumor cells, stresses the critical role of the composition of the spacer domain.
Speech Signal and Facial Image Processing for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Assessment
Authors: Espinoza-Cuadros Fernando , Fernández-Pozo Rubén , Toledano Doroteo T. , Alcázar-Ramírez José D. , López-Gonzalo Eduardo , Hernández-Gómez Luis A.
Published: November 2015

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder characterized by recurring breathing pauses during sleep caused by a blockage of the upper airway (UA). OSA is generally diagnosed through a costly procedure requiring an overnight stay of the patient at the hospital. This has led to proposing less costly procedures based on the analysis of patients’ facial images and voice recordings to help in OSA detection and severity assessment. In this paper we investigate the use of both image and speech processing to estimate the apnea-hypopnea index, AHI (which describes the severity of the condition), over a population of 285 male Spanish subjects suspected to suffer from OSA and referred to a Sleep Disorders Unit. Photographs and voice recordings were collected in a supervised but not highly controlled way trying to test a scenario close to an OSA assessment application running on a mobile device (i.e., smartphones or tablets). Spectral information in speech utterances is modeled by a state-of-the-art low-dimensional acoustic representation, called i-vector. A set of local craniofacial features related to OSA are extracted from images after detecting facial landmarks using Active Appearance Models (AAMs). Support vector regression (SVR) is applied on facial features and i-vectors to estimate the AHI.
Improvement in Paretic Arm Reach-to-Grasp following Low Frequency Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Depends on Object Size: A Pilot Study
Authors: Tretriluxana Jarugool , Kantak Shailesh , Tretriluxana Suradej , Wu Allan D. , Fisher Beth E.
Published: November 2015

Introduction. Low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) delivered to the nonlesioned hemisphere has been shown to improve limited function of the paretic upper extremity (UE) following stroke. The outcome measures have largely included clinical assessments with little investigation on changes in kinematics and coordination. To date, there is no study investigating how the effects of LF-rTMS are modulated by the sizes of an object to be grasped.Objective. To investigate the effect of LF-rTMS on kinematics and coordination of the paretic hand reach-to-grasp (RTG) for two object sizes in chronic stroke.Methods. Nine participants received two TMS conditions: real rTMS and sham rTMS conditions. Before and after the rTMS conditions, cortico-motor excitability (CE) of the nonlesioned hemisphere, RTG kinematics, and coordination was evaluated. Object sizes were 1.2 and 7.2 cm in diameter.Results. Compared to sham rTMS, real rTMS significantly reduced CE of the non-lesioned M1. While rTMS had no effect on RTG action for the larger object, real rTMS significantly improved movement time, aperture opening, and RTG coordination for the smaller object.Conclusions. LF-rTMS improves RTG action for only the smaller object in chronic stroke. The findings suggest a dissociation between effects of rTMS on M1 and task difficulty for this complex skill.
Oncocytic Adrenocortical Neoplasm Diagnosed after Robot-Assisted Adrenalectomy
Authors: Harbin Andrew C. , Chen Andrew , Bhattacharyya Siddharth , Khurana Jasvir S. , Kaplan Joshua R. , Eun Daniel D.
Published: November 2015

Oncocytic tumors, composed of eosinophilic, mitochondria-rich cells, can occur in several locations throughout the body. These tumors can occur in the adrenal cortex and are rarely malignant. We report a case of a patient presenting with an incidental adrenal mass which was later diagnosed as a oncocytic adrenocortical neoplasm (OAN). The patient is a 53-year-old man found to have a 7.2 cm right adrenal mass, incidentally found by computed tomography (CT). After metabolic workup was negative, a right robotic adrenalectomy (RA) was performed. Pathologic analysis revealed clusters of large cells with abundant eosinophilic and granular cytoplasm, consistent with OAN. This pathology is rare, with only about 150 cases described in the literature. It occurs in females 2.5 times more frequently and more commonly on the left side. Diagnosis is usually made by imaging criteria, typically with CT or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Treatment is generally surgical, since OAN can be malignant in some cases. Differentiation between benign and malignant OAN is done based on the Lin-Weiss-Bisceglia criteria and can be difficult. If malignancy is diagnosed, recurrence is common and close surveillance should be performed.
Alzheimer’s Disease: Exploring the Role of Inflammation and Implications for Treatment
Authors: McCaulley Mark E. , Grush Kira A.
Published: November 2015

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by both structural abnormalities and inflammation in the brain. While recent research has chiefly focused on the structural changes involved in AD, understanding the pathophysiology and associated inflammation of the AD brain helps to elucidate potential therapeutic and preventative options. By exploring the data supporting an inflammatory etiology of AD, we present a case for the use of existing evidence-based treatments addressing inflammation as promising options for treating and preventing AD. We present data demonstrating tumor necrosis factor alpha association with the inflammation of AD. We also discuss data supporting TNF alpha associated inflammation in traumatic brain injury, stroke, and spinal disc associated radiculopathy. We augment this previously unarticulated concept of a unifying pathophysiology of central nervous system disease, with reports of benefits of TNF alpha inhibition in many hundreds of patients with those diseases, including AD. We also assess the pathophysiologic and clinical trial evidence supporting the role of other inflammation resolving treatments in AD. In aggregate, the data from the several potentially effective therapeutic and preventative options contained within this report presents a clearer picture of next steps needed in research of treatment alternatives.
Morphoagronomic Characterization of Tomato Plants and Fruit: A Multivariate Approach
Authors: Pilar Campos de Melo Aniela , Marçal Fernandes Paulo , Venturoli Fábio , de Melo Silva-Neto Carlos , Rubio Neto Aurélio
Published: November 2015

Consumers in the fresh fruit market choose fruits mainly following criteria related to the external appearance. However, the introduction of new material for planting depends on the productive capacity of the plant as well as on the formation of fruit that meets consumer desires. Given the above, the objective of this study was to morphoagronomically characterize tomato genotypes using multivariate statistics. The genotype seedlings (Ellus, Black Mauri, Green Zebra, Green Tomato, Pomodoro Marmande, Pomodoro Fiorentino, Pitanga, and Black Krim) were transplanted 30 days after sowing. The morphoagronomic characterization of the genotypes was carried out by evaluating plants and fruits. The data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, namely, position and variability measurements. In addition, a multivariate cluster analysis and a principal component analysis were carried out for plant and fruit attributes. The cluster and principal component analyses were efficient in characterizing plants and/or fruits of different tomato genotypes. Such efficiency enhances result interpretation and proposed inferences, with applied relevance for the producers. The genotype Ellus has a combination of morphoagronomic plant and fruit traits superior to other genotypes. Such superior traits enable a high productivity.
Millennial-Scale Asian Monsoon Influenced Longjie Lake Evolution during Marine Isotope Stage 3, Upper Stream of Changjiang (Yangtze) River, China
Authors: Li Chaozhu , Fu Jianli , Yi Liang , Zhou Xin , Wang Shubing , Jiang Fuchu
Published: November 2015

Millennial-scale climate change in Asian monsoon region during MIS 3 has been studied using stalagmite, loess, and peat sediments. However, records from more materials are essential to further illustrate dynamics of these events. In the present study, a time-series of grain size covering 60–30 ka was reconstructed from lake sediments in the Yunnan Province, southwestern China. The time-series contains 14 obvious millennial-scale events during the period. On millennial-scale, the grain size record is generally consistent with mean stalagmiteδ18O from Hulu Cave, grain size of Gulang loess sequence, Chinese Loess Plateau, and Greenland ice coreδ18O. The results show that the millennial-scale variation was well compared with the Dansgaard-Oeschger (DO) events, indicating that those global events were well documented in lake sediments in the Asian monsoon region. Because the grain size can be used as a proxy for water discharge, we suggest that signal of the DO events might be transmitted to lake evolution by Asian monsoon.
Ergosterol Alleviates Kidney Injury in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Mice
Authors: Ang Li , Yuguang Liu , Liying Wang , Shuying Zhang , Liting Xu , Shumin Wang
Published: November 2015

Ergosterol (ERG) has been widely used in the development of novel drugs due to its unique physiological function. However, little is known about the protective effects of ERG on diabetes. Hence, the current study was designed to evaluate the positive role of ergosterol on streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced diabetes in mice. Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was carried out to assess blood glucose level. Biochemical parameters such as uric acid, creatinine, serum insulin, triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) were also measured. Pathological condition of kidney was examined by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. The expressions of PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, NF-κBp65, p-NF-κBp65, IκBα, and p-IκBαwere analyzed by western blot. ERG significantly reduced the concentrations of blood glucose, uric acid, creatinine, TG, and TC. Serum insulin was elevated with ERG treatment. In addition, renal pathologic changes of diabetes mice were also alleviated by ERG. Obtained data revealed that ERG restored the levels of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling-related proteins in comparison with diabetes mice. Above all, it could be assumed that ERG might play a positive role in regulating STZ-induced diabetes through suppressing PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway.
Fuzzy Logic Based Control of the Lateral Stability of Tractor Semitrailer Vehicle
Authors: Yang Xiujian , Song Juntao , Gao Jin
Published: November 2015

A novel control scheme is proposed to improve the yaw stability of a tractor semitrailer vehicle in critical situations. The control scheme is a two-layer structure consisting of an upper yaw moment controller and a lower brake force distributor. The tractor and the trailer are, respectively, stabilized by two independent fuzzy logic based yaw moment controllers. The controllers for the tractor and the trailer are, respectively, designed to track the reference yaw rate of the tractor and the hitch angle between the tractor and the trailer while considering the variation of the hitch angular rate at the same time. The corrective yaw moments determined by the corresponding upper fuzzy yaw moment controllers are realized by active wheel braking. The performance of the proposed control scheme is evaluated by simulations on a nonlinear vehicle model. The results demonstrate that the proposed control scheme is robust and effective in stabilizing the severe instabilities such as jackknife and trailer oscillation in the chosen simulation scenarios. It is believed that this control scheme is robust to the variation of road adhesion conditions.
Role of Calprotectin as a Modulator of the IL27‐Mediated Proinflammatory Effect on Endothelial Cells
Authors: Dorosz Susann A. , Ginolhac Aurélien , Kähne Thilo , Naumann Michael , Sauter Thomas , Salsmann Alexandre , Bueb Jean-Luc
Published: November 2015

An underlying endothelial dysfunction plays a fundamental role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular events and is the central feature of atherosclerosis. The protein‐based communication between leukocytes and inflamed endothelial cells leading to diapedesis has been largely investigated and several key players such as IL6, TNFα, or the damage associated molecular pattern molecule (DAMP) calprotectin are now well identified. However, regarding cytokine IL27, the controversial current knowledge about its inflammatory role and the involved regulatory elements requires clarification. Therefore, we examined the inflammatory impact of IL27 on primary endothelial cells and the potentially modulatory effect of calprotectin on both transcriptome and proteome levels. A qPCR‐based screening demonstrated high IL27‐mediated gene expression of IL7, IL15, CXCL10, and CXCL11. Calprotectin time‐dependent downregulatory effects were observed on IL27‐induced IL15 and CXCL10 gene expression. A mass spectrometry‐based approach of IL27 ± calprotectin cell stimulation enlightened a calprotectin modulatory role in the expression of 28 proteins, mostly involved in the mechanism of leukocyte transmigration. Furthermore, we showed evidence for STAT1 involvement in this process. Our findings provide new evidence about the IL27‐dependent proinflammatory signaling which may be under the control of calprotectin and highlight the need for further investigations on molecules which might have antiatherosclerotic functions.
A Simple and Efficient Method for Preparing Cell Slides and Staining without Using Cytocentrifuge and Cytoclips
Authors: Hu Xiaotang , Laguerre Verronika , Packert Daniel , Nakasone Alice , Moscinski Lynn
Published: November 2015

Cell staining is a necessary and useful technique for visualizing cell morphology and structure under a microscope. This technique has been used in many areas such as cytology, hematology, oncology, histology, virology, serology, microbiology, cell biology, and immunochemistry. One of the key pieces of equipment for preparing a slide for cell staining is cytology centrifuge (cytocentrifuge) such as cytospin. However, many small labs do not have this expensive equipment and its accessory, cytoclips (also expensive relatively), which makes them difficult to study cell cytology. Here we present an alternative method for preparing a slide and cell staining in the absence of a cytocentrifuge (and cytoclips). This method is based on the principle that a regular cell centrifuge can be used to concentrate cells harvested from cell culture and then deposit the concentrated cell suspension to a slide evenly by using a cell spreader, followed by cell staining. The method presented is simple, rapid, economic, and efficient. This method may also avoid a possible change in cell morphology induced by cytocentrifuge.
Ammonia Sensing by PANI-DBSA Based Gas Sensor Exploiting Kelvin Probe Technique
Authors: Yadav Anju , Agarwal Ajay , Agarwal Pankaj B. , Saini Parveen
Published: November 2015

Dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) doped polyaniline (PANI-DBSA) has been synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline monomer in the presence of DBSA. The UV-visible spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction measurements confirm the formation of PANI and its doping by DBSA. SEM images show the formation of submicron size rod shaped PANI particles. A vibrating capacitor based ammonia gas sensor was prepared by spin coating PANI-DBSA film over copper (Cu) substrate. The sensor exploited Kelvin probe technique to monitor contact potential difference between PANI and Cu as a function of time and ammonia concentration. Upon exposure to 30 ppm ammonia, the sensor displays response time of 329 s, recovery time of 3600 s, and sensitivity value of 1.54 along with good repeatability.
Atypical Kaposi Sarcoma of the Tongue in HIV Positive Tanzanian Female
Authors: Shao Elichilia , Ruhangisa Flora , Minja Neema , Nnko Kanankira , Katundu Denis , Semango George , Mbwilo Eva , Mwasamwaja Amos , Kilonzo Kajiru , Lyaruu Isaack
Published: November 2015

We report atypical case of Kaposi Sarcoma (KS) in a 32-year-old human immunodeficiency virus- (HIV-) infected female, involving only the tongue. Viral loads and CD4 T cells were measured and were 65,000 cps/mL and 10 cells/mL, respectively. This patient was newly diagnosed and had no history of antiretroviral therapy (ART), radiotherapy, or immunosuppressive drugs prior to this admission. Clinically, there were no dermatological features of KS lesions which are purple, red, or brown and which may be flat, raised (plaques), or bumpy (nodules) except for fungating and protruding enlarged tongue which was necrotic. Histologically, it was proven to be the most common type of KS “epidemic” or AIDS-related KS.
A High Power Density Integrated Charger for Electric Vehicles with Active Ripple Compensation
Authors: Pan Liwen , Zhang Chengning
Published: November 2015

This paper suggests a high power density on-board integrated charger with active ripple compensation circuit for electric vehicles. To obtain a high power density and high efficiency, silicon carbide devices are reported to meet the requirement of high-switching-frequency operation. An integrated bidirectional converter is proposed to function as AC/DC battery charger and to transfer energy between battery pack and motor drive of the traction system. In addition, the conventional H-bridge circuit suffers from ripple power pulsating at second-order line frequency, and a scheme of active ripple compensation circuit has been explored to solve this second-order ripple problem, in which a pair of power switches shared traction mode, a ripple energy storage capacitor, and an energy transfer inductor. Simulation results in MATLAB/Simulink validated the eligibility of the proposed topology. The integrated charger can work as a 70 kW motor drive circuit or a converter with an active ripple compensation circuit for 3 kW charging the battery. The impact of the proposed topology and control strategy on the integrated charger power losses, efficiency, power density, and thermal performance has also been analysed and simulated.
Chemotherapy Induces Programmed Cell Death-Ligand 1 Overexpression via the Nuclear Factor-κB to Foster an Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment in Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Peng Jin , Hamanishi Junzo , Matsumura Noriomi , Abiko Kaoru , Murat Kumuruz , Baba Tsukasa , Yamaguchi Ken , Horikawa Naoki , Hosoe Yuko , Murphy Susan K. , Konishi Ikuo , Mandai Masaki
Published: November 2015

Emerging evidence has highlighted the host immune system in modulating the patient response to chemotherapy, but the mechanism of this modulation remains unclear. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of chemotherapy on antitumor immunity in the tumor microenvironment of ovarian cancer. Treatment of ovarian cancer cell lines with various chemotherapeutic agents resulted in upregulated expression of MHC class I and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) in a NF-κB–dependent manner and suppression of antigen-specific T-cell function in vitro. In a mouse model of ovarian cancer, treatment with paclitaxel increased CD8+ T-cell infiltration into the tumor site, upregulated PD-L1 expression, and activated NF-κB signaling. In particular, tumor-bearing mice treated with a combination of paclitaxel and a PD-L1/PD-1 signal blockade survived longer than mice treated with paclitaxel alone. In summary, we found that chemotherapy induces local immune suppression in ovarian cancer through NF-κB–mediated PD-L1 upregulation. Thus, a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy targeting the PD-L1/PD-1 signaling axis may improve the antitumor response and offers a promising new treatment modality against ovarian cancer. Cancer Res; 75(23); 5034–45. ©2015 AACR.
Targeting a Plk1-Controlled Polarity Checkpoint in Therapy-Resistant Glioblastoma-Propagating Cells
Authors: Lerner Robin G. , Grossauer Stefan , Kadkhodaei Banafsheh , Meyers Ian , Sidorov Maxim , Koeck Katharina , Hashizume Rintaro , Ozawa Tomoko , Phillips Joanna J. , Berger Mitchel S. , Nicolaides Theodore , James C. David , Petritsch Claudia K.
Published: November 2015

The treatment of glioblastoma (GBM) remains challenging in part due to the presence of stem-like tumor-propagating cells that are resistant to standard therapies consisting of radiation and temozolomide. Among the novel and targeted agents under evaluation for the treatment of GBM are BRAF/MAPK inhibitors, but their effects on tumor-propagating cells are unclear. Here, we characterized the behaviors of CD133+ tumor-propagating cells isolated from primary GBM cell lines. We show that CD133+ cells exhibited decreased sensitivity to the antiproliferative effects of BRAF/MAPK inhibition compared to CD133− cells. Furthermore, CD133+ cells exhibited an extended G2–M phase and increased polarized asymmetric cell divisions. At the molecular level, we observed that polo-like kinase (PLK) 1 activity was elevated in CD133+ cells, prompting our investigation of BRAF/PLK1 combination treatment effects in an orthotopic GBM xenograft model. Combined inhibition of BRAF and PLK1 resulted in significantly greater antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects beyond those achieved by monotherapy (P < 0.05). We propose that PLK1 activity controls a polarity checkpoint and compensates for BRAF/MAPK inhibition in CD133+ cells, suggesting the need for concurrent PLK1 inhibition to improve antitumor activity against a therapy-resistant cell compartment. Cancer Res; 75(24); 5355–66. ©2015 AACR.
Obesity Contributes to Ovarian Cancer Metastatic Success through Increased Lipogenesis, Enhanced Vascularity, and Decreased Infiltration of M1 Macrophages
Authors: Liu Yueying , Metzinger Matthew N. , Lewellen Kyle A. , Cripps Stephanie N. , Carey Kyle D. , Harper Elizabeth I. , Shi Zonggao , Tarwater Laura , Grisoli Annie , Lee Eric , Slusarz Ania , Yang Jing , Loughran Elizabeth A. , Conley Kaitlyn , Johnson Jeff J. , Klymenko Yuliya , Bruney Lana , Liang Zhong , Dovichi Norman J. , Cheatham Bentley , Leevy W. Matthew , Stack M. Sharon
Published: November 2015

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is the leading cause of death from gynecologic malignancy, with high mortality attributable to widespread intraperitoneal metastases. Recent meta-analyses report an association between obesity, ovarian cancer incidence, and ovarian cancer survival, but the effect of obesity on metastasis has not been evaluated. The objective of this study was to use an integrative approach combining in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies to test the hypothesis that obesity contributes to ovarian cancer metastatic success. Initial in vitro studies using three-dimensional mesomimetic cultures showed enhanced cell–cell adhesion to the lipid-loaded mesothelium. Furthermore, in an ex vivo colonization assay, ovarian cancer cells exhibited increased adhesion to mesothelial explants excised from mice modeling diet-induced obesity (DIO), in which they were fed a “Western” diet. Examination of mesothelial ultrastructure revealed a substantial increase in the density of microvilli in DIO mice. Moreover, enhanced intraperitoneal tumor burden was observed in overweight or obese animals in three distinct in vivo models. Further histologic analyses suggested that alterations in lipid regulatory factors, enhanced vascularity, and decreased M1/M2 macrophage ratios may account for the enhanced tumorigenicity. Together, these findings show that obesity potently affects ovarian cancer metastatic success, which likely contributes to the negative correlation between obesity and ovarian cancer survival. Cancer Res; 75(23); 5046–57. ©2015 AACR.
An Effective Immuno-PET Imaging Method to Monitor CD8-Dependent Responses to Immunotherapy
Authors: Tavaré Richard , Escuin-Ordinas Helena , Mok Stephen , McCracken Melissa N. , Zettlitz Kirstin A. , Salazar Felix B. , Witte Owen N. , Ribas Antoni , Wu Anna M.
Published: November 2015

The rapidly advancing field of cancer immunotherapy is currently limited by the scarcity of noninvasive and quantitative technologies capable of monitoring the presence and abundance of CD8+ T cells and other immune cell subsets. In this study, we describe the generation of 89Zr-desferrioxamine–labeled anti-CD8 cys-diabody (89Zr-malDFO-169 cDb) for noninvasive immuno-PET tracking of endogenous CD8+ T cells. We demonstrate that anti-CD8 immuno-PET is a sensitive tool for detecting changes in systemic and tumor-infiltrating CD8 expression in preclinical syngeneic tumor immunotherapy models including antigen-specific adoptive T-cell transfer, agonistic antibody therapy (anti-CD137/4-1BB), and checkpoint blockade antibody therapy (anti–PD-L1). The ability of anti-CD8 immuno-PET to provide whole body information regarding therapy-induced alterations of this dynamic T-cell population provides new opportunities to evaluate antitumor immune responses of immunotherapies currently being evaluated in the clinic. Cancer Res; 76(1); 73–82. ©2015 AACR.
Postconflict Conciliation within One-Male Breeding Units in Sichuan Snub-Nosed Monkeys in the Qinling Mountains, China
Authors: Zhao Hai-Tao , Li Jia-Xuan , Wang Xiao-Wei , Zhang Jian , Wang Cheng-Liang , Qi Xiao-Guang , Guo Song-Tao , Li Bao-Guo
Published: November 2015

This study analyzed conflict and postconflict (PC) conciliation between males and females within one-male breeding units in Sichuan snub-nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in the Qinling Mountains, China. The PC matched-control and time rule methods were used to collect and analyze data recorded from September 2013 to June 2014. The conciliatory tendency among individuals following conflict was 82.07%, and affiliation occurred within a few minutes after the conflict, which was not significantly different between mating and nonmating seasons. The PC conciliation scenarios were different from those reported from captivity. Lumbar hold and grooming were the most common expressions in reconciliation. In addition, bystander affiliation was uniquely found, which may be associated with the more terrestrial locomotion of R. roxellana, compared with other colobines.
Differentiation of Sex Chromosomes and Karyotype Characterisation in the Dragonsnake Xenodermus javanicus (Squamata: Xenodermatidae)
Authors: Rovatsos Michail , Johnson Pokorná Martina , Kratochvíl Lukáš
Published: November 2015

Highly differentiated heteromorphic ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes with a heterochromatic W are a basic principle among advanced snakes of the lineage Colubroidea, while other snake lineages generally lack these characteristics. For the first time, we cytogenetically examined the dragonsnake, Xenodermus javanicus, a member of the family Xenodermatidae, which is phylogenetically nested between snake lineages with and without differentiated sex chromosomes. Although most snakes have a karyotype with a stable chromosomal number of 2n = 36, the dragonsnake has an unusual, derived karyotype with 2n = 32 chromosomes. We found that heteromorphic ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes with a heterochromatic W are present in the dragonsnake, which suggests that the emergence of a highly differentiated W sex chromosome within snakes predates the split of Xenodermatidae and the clade including families Pareatidae, Viperidae, Homalopsidae, Lamprophiidae, Elapidae, and Colubridae. Although accumulations of interstitial telomeric sequences have not been previously reported in snakes, by using FISH with a telomeric probe we discovered them in 6 pairs of autosomes as well as in the W sex chromosome of the dragonsnake. Similarly to advanced snakes, the sex chromosomes of the dragonsnake have a significant accumulation of repeats containing a (GATA)n sequence. The results facilitate the dating of the differentiation of sex chromosomes within snakes back to the split between Xenodermatidae and other advanced snakes, i.e. around 40-75 mya.
Chronic Hemodialysis Therapy in the West
Authors: Rocco Michael V.
Published: November 2015

Background: Chronic hemodialysis (HD) in the 1960s encompassed a wide variety of prescriptions from twice weekly to five times per week HD. Over time, HD prescriptions in the West became standardized at three times per week, 2.5-4 h per session, with occasional additional treatments for volume overload. Summary: When clinical trials of dialysis dose failed to show significant benefit of extending time compared with the traditional dialysis prescription, interest in more frequent HD was renewed. Consequently, there has been growth in home HD therapies as well as alternative dialysis prescriptions. Data from recent randomized clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits and risks of these more frequent therapies, with surprising differences in outcomes between short daily HD and long nocturnal HD. More frequent therapies improve control of both hypertension and hyperphosphatemia, but at the expense of increased vascular access complications and, at least for nocturnal HD, a faster loss of residual renal function. Key Messages: In the West, the standard HD prescription is three treatments per week with a minimal time of 3.0 h and dialysis is performed in an outpatient dialysis center. A minority of patients will have a fourth treatment per week for volume issues. Alternative HD prescriptions, although rare, are more available compared to the recent past. Facts from East and West: (1) While developed Western and Asian countries provide end-stage renal disease patients full access to HD, healthcare systems from South and South-East Asia can offer access to HD only to a limited fraction of the patients in need. Even though the annual costs of HD are much lower in less developed countries (for instance 30 times lower in India compared to the US), patients often cannot afford costs not covered by health insurance. (2) The recommended dialysis pattern in the West is at least three sessions weekly with high-flux dialyzers. Studies from Shanghai and Taiwan might however indicate a benefit of twice versus thrice weekly sessions. In less developed Asian countries, a twice weekly pattern is common, sometimes with dialyzer reuse and inadequate water treatment. A majority of patients decrease session frequency or discontinue the program due to financial constraint. (3) As convective therapies are gaining popularity in Europe, penetration in Asia is low and limited by costs. (4) In Asian countries, in particular in the South and South-East, hepatitis and tuberculosis infections in HD patients are higher than in the West and substantially increase mortality. (5) Progress has recently been made in countries like Thailand and Brunei to provide universal HD access to all patients in need. Nevertheless, well-trained personnel, reliable registries and better patient follow-up would improve outcomes in low-income Asian countries.
CD19-Targeted CAR T Cells: A New Tool in the Fight against B Cell Malignancies
Authors: Miller Brian C. , Maus Marcela V.
Published: November 2015

Adoptive cell immunotherapy is a novel tool in the fight against cancer. Serving both effector and memory functions for the immune system, T cells make an obvious candidate for adoptive cell immunotherapy. By modifying native T cells with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), these cells can theoretically be targeted against any extracellular antigen. To date, the best-studied and clinically validated CAR T cells recognize CD19, a cell surface molecule on B cells and B cell malignancies. These CD19-directed T cells have shown clinical utility in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, with some patients achieving long-term disease remissions after treatment. This review will briefly summarize the current data supporting the use of adoptively transferred CAR T cells for the treatment of CD19-positive malignancies. Given these exciting results, the Food and Drug Administration has granted a ‘breakthrough' designation for several variations of CD19-directed CAR T cells for treatment of adult and pediatric relapsed/refractory ALL.
Situação das bibliotecas escolares no Brasil: o que sabemos?
Authors: Campello Bernadete Santos , Caldeira Paulo Da Terra , Alvarenga Maura , Soares Laura Valladares de Oliveira
Published: November 2015

Este estudo teve como objetivo conhecer as características de diagnósticos sobre bibliotecas escolares brasileiras, elaborados por diversos autores. Foram identificados e analisados dezoito diagnósticos publicados na literatura da área, de 1979 a 2011, de forma a se obter uma visão do que já se estudou e se conhece a respeito das condições das bibliotecas escolares brasileiras. Foram analisados: os objetivos dos diagnósticos, a metodologia utilizada e a técnica de coleta de dados, o referencial teórico, os resultados obtidos, as conclusões e recomendações feitas pelos autores. A variedade de procedimentos de coleta e análise dos dados utilizados em cada diagnóstico impossibilitou inferências e conclusões mais aprofundadas. No conjunto, esses trabalhos compõem um retrato parcial da biblioteca escolar no país, confirmando a situação precária dessas instituições e tornando mais visíveis os problemas existentes.