bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
HRF-Relaxed
Authors: Gaster Benedict R. , Hower Derek , Howes Lee
Published: April 2015

Memory consistency models, or memory models, allow both programmers and program language implementers to reason about concurrent accesses to one or more memory locations. Memory model specifications balance the often conflicting needs for precise semantics, implementation flexibility, and ease of understanding. Toward that end, popular programming languages like Java, C, and C++ have adopted memory models built on the conceptual foundation of Sequential Consistency for Data-Race-Free programs (SC for DRF). These SC for DRF languages were created with general-purpose homogeneous CPU systems in mind, and all assume a single, global memory address space. Such a uniform address space is usually power and performance prohibitive in heterogeneous Systems on Chips (SoCs), and for that reason most heterogeneous languages have adopted split address spaces and operations with nonglobal visibility.

There have recently been two attempts to bridge the disconnect between the CPU-centric assumptions of the SC for DRF framework and the realities of heterogeneous SoC architectures. Hower et al. proposed a class of Heterogeneous-Race-Free (HRF) memory models that provide a foundation for understanding many of the issues in heterogeneous memory models. At the same time, the Khronos Group developed the OpenCL 2.0 memory model that builds on the C++ memory model. The OpenCL 2.0 model includes features not addressed by HRF: primarily support for relaxed atomics and a property referred to as scope inclusion. In this article, we generalize HRF to allow formalization of and reasoning about more complicated models using OpenCL 2.0 as a point of reference. With that generalization, we (1) make the OpenCL 2.0 memory model more accessible by introducing a platform for feature comparisons to other models, (2) consider a number of shortcomings in the current OpenCL 2.0 model, and (3) propose changes that could be adopted by future OpenCL 2.0 revisions or by other, related, models.
Microbiome, Metagenomics, and High-Dimensional Compositional Data Analysis
Authors: Li Hongzhe
Published: April 2015

The human microbiome is the totality of all microbes in and on the human body, and its importance in health and disease has been increasingly recognized. High-throughput sequencing technologies have recently enabled scientists to obtain an unbiased quantification of all microbes constituting the microbiome. Often, a single sample can produce hundreds of millions of short sequencing reads. However, unique characteristics of the data produced by the new technologies, as well as the sheer magnitude of these data, make drawing valid biological inferences from microbiome studies difficult. Analysis of these big data poses great statistical and computational challenges. Important issues include normalization and quantification of relative taxa, bacterial genes, and metabolic abundances; incorporation of phylogenetic information into analysis of metagenomics data; and multivariate analysis of high-dimensional compositional data. We review existing methods, point out their limitations, and outline future research directions.
Multivariate Order Statistics: Theory and Application
Authors: Weller Grant B. , Eddy William F.
Published: April 2015

This work revisits several proposals for the ordering of multivariate data via a prescribed depth function. We argue that one of these deserves special consideration, namely, Tukey's halfspace depth, which constructs nested convex sets via intersections of halfspaces. These sets provide a natural generalization of univariate order statistics to higher dimensions and exhibit consistency and asymptotic normality as estimators of corresponding population quantities. For absolutely continuous probability measures in [Formula: see text], we present a connection between halfspace depth and the Radon transform of the density function, which is employed to formalize both the finite-sample and asymptotic probability distributions of the random nested sets. We review multivariate goodness-of-fit statistics based on halfspace depths, which were originally proposed in the projection pursuit literature. Finally, we demonstrate the utility of halfspace ordering as an exploratory tool by studying spatial data on maximum and minimum temperatures produced by a climate simulation model.
Reducing the number of parameters in 1D arterial blood flow modeling: less is more for patient-specific simulations
Authors: Epstein Sally , Willemet Marie , Chowienczyk Phil J. , Alastruey Jordi
Published: April 2015

Patient-specific one-dimensional (1D) blood flow modeling requires estimating model parameters from available clinical data, ideally acquired noninvasively. The larger the number of arterial segments in a distributed 1D model, the greater the number of input parameters that need to be estimated. We investigated the effect of a reduction in the number of arterial segments in a given distributed 1D model on the shape of the simulated pressure and flow waveforms. This is achieved by systematically lumping peripheral 1D model branches into windkessel models that preserve the net resistance and total compliance of the original model. We applied our methodology to a model of the 55 larger systemic arteries in the human and to an extended 67-artery model that contains the digital arteries that perfuse the fingers. Results show good agreement in the shape of the aortic and digital waveforms between the original 55-artery (67-artery) and reduced 21-artery (37-artery) models. Reducing the number of segments also enables us to investigate the effect of arterial network topology (and hence reflection sites) on the shape of waveforms. Results show that wave reflections in the thoracic aorta and renal arteries play an important role in shaping the aortic pressure and flow waves and in generating the second peak of the digital pressure and flow waves. Our novel methodology is important to simplify the computational domain while maintaining the precision of the numerical predictions and to assess the effect of wave reflections.
In vivo support for the new concept of pulmonary blood flow-mediated CO2 gas excretion in the lungs
Authors: Kawai Yoshiko , Ajima Kumiko , Kaidoh Maki , Sakaguchi Masao , Tanaka Satoshi , Kawamata Mikito , Kimura Hiroko , Ohhashi Toshio
Published: April 2015

To further examine the validity of the proposed concept of pulmonary blood flow-dependent CO2 gas excretion in the lungs, we investigated the effects of intramediastinal balloon catheterization-, pulmonary artery catheterization-, or isoprenaline (ISP)-induced changes in pulmonary blood flow on the end-expiratory CO2 gas pressure (PeCO2), the maximal velocity of the pulmonary artery (Max Vp), systemic arterial pressure, and heart rate of anesthetized rabbits. We also evaluated the changes in the PeCO2 in clinical models of anemia or pulmonary embolism. An almost linear relationship was detected between the PeCO2 and Max Vp. In an experiment in which small pulmonary arteries were subjected to stenosis, the PeCO2 fell rapidly, and the speed of the reduction was dependent on the degree of stenosis. ISP produced significant increases in the PeCO2 of the anesthetized rabbits. Conversely, treatment with piceatannol or acetazolamide induced significant reductions in the PeCO2. Treatment with a cell surface F1/FO ATP synthase antibody caused significant reductions in the PeCO2 itself and the ISP-induced increase in the PeCO2. Neither the PeCO2 nor SAP was significantly influenced by marked anemia [%hematocrit (Ht), 70∼47%]. On the other hand, in the presence of less severe anemia (%Ht: 100∼70%) both the PeCO2 and SAP fell significantly when the rabbits' blood viscosity was decreased. The rabbits in which pulmonary embolisms were induced demonstrated significantly reduced PeCO2 values, which was compatible with the lowering of their Max Vp. In conclusion, we reaffirm the validity of the proposed concept of CO2 gas exchange in the lungs.
The effects of aerobic, resistance, and combination training on insulin sensitivity and secretion in overweight adults from STRRIDE AT/RT: a randomized trial
Authors: AbouAssi Hiba , Slentz Cris A. , Mikus Catherine R. , Tanner Charles J. , Bateman Lori A. , Willis Leslie H. , Shields A. Tamlyn , Piner Lucy W. , Penry Lorrie E. , Kraus Erik A. , Huffman Kim M. , Bales Connie W. , Houmard Joseph A. , Kraus William E.
Published: April 2015

Most health organizations recommend a combination of aerobic training (AT) and resistance training (RT), yet few studies have compared their acute (within 24 h of the last exercise bout) and sustained (after 14 days of no exercise training) effects alone and in combination on glucose metabolism. The present study (Studies Targeting Risk Reduction Interventions through Defined Exercise-Aerobic Training and/or Resistance Training) compared the effects of AT, RT, and the combination (AT/RT) on insulin action at both acute and sustained phases. Subjects ( N = 196) were 18-70 yr old (mean age = 50 yr), overweight (mean body mass index = 30 kg/m2), sedentary with moderate dyslipidemia, and were randomized into one of three 8-mo exercise groups: 1) RT: 3 days/wk, 8 exercises, 3 sets/exercise, 8–12 repetitions/set; 2) AT: equivalent to ∼19.2 km/wk (12 miles/wk) at 75% peak O2consumption; 3) AT/RT: the combination of AT and RT. One hundred forty-four subjects completed the intervention. Eighty-eight subjects completed all pre- and postintervention testing visits. Insulin sensitivity, glucose effectiveness, and disposition index were measured via a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test with subsequent minimal model analyses. AT/RT resulted in greater improvements in insulin sensitivity, β-cell function (disposition index), and glucose effectiveness than either AT or RT alone (all P < 0.05). Approximately 52% of the improvement in insulin sensitivity by AT/RT was retained 14 days after the last exercise training bout. Neither AT or RT led to acute or chronic improvement in sensitivity index. In summary, only AT/RT (which required twice as much time as either alone) led to significant acute and sustained benefits in insulin sensitivity.
Agaricoglycerides Protect against Hepatic Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by Attenuating Inflammatory Response, Oxidative Stress, and Expression of NF-κB
Authors: Zhao Xiang-qian , Liang Bin , Liu Yang , Huang Xiao-qiang
Published: April 2015

We have investigated the effects of agaricoglycerides (AG) in a mouse model of hepatic I/R injury. I/R triggered increases/changes in markers of liver injury, hepatic oxidative stress, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), and nuclear factorκB (NF-κB). AG significantly reduced the extent of liver inflammation and oxidative stress and also attenuated the NF-κB activation as well as TNF-αand IL-1βproduction. Our results indicate that AG may represent a novel protective strategy against I/R-induced injury and inflammatory diseases.
Self-Diagnosis and Self-Reconfiguration of Piezoelectric Actuator and Sensor Network for Large Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Liang Dong , Wu Liaoni , Fan Zhifeng , Xu Yang
Published: April 2015

For large structural health monitoring in practical applications, the sensor failure in large sensor network will generate the failure of the damage evaluation or the leaving of unmonitored area in a large structure. Hence, in order to realize a real-time and reliable evaluation for the large structural damage and satisfy the requirement of advanced maintenance of the structure, the paper introduces an efficient piezoelectric sensor failure monitoring approach integrated with self-diagnosis and self-reconfiguration reasoning method. Firstly, the developed method is introduced for large structural health monitoring. Then, the effects of piezoelectric actuator and sensor bonding defects on Lamb wave propagations are investigated in a real-world monitoring experiment for the large aviation aluminum plate. Lastly, the self-diagnosis and self-reconfiguration method of piezoelectric actuator and sensor network for large structural health monitoring based on Lamb wave for the passive and active damage monitoring is verified in the experiment. Based on the results shown in the experiment, a big potential in real-time application demonstrates that the method can accurately and rapidly identify the sensor failure by reasoning and analyzing Lamb wave propagations using proposed methods.
The Effect of Interfacial Transition Zone Properties on the Elastic Properties of Cementitious Nanocomposite Materials
Authors: Abu Taqa Ala G. , Abu Al-Rub Rashid K. , Senouci Ahmed , Al-Nuaimi Nasser , Bani-Hani Khaldoon A.
Published: April 2015

A parametric study was conducted to explore the effect of the interfacial transition zone (ITZ or interphase) on the overall elastic modulus of the CNT‐reinforced cement. The effect of the ITZ properties on the elastic modulus of the CNT‐reinforced cement was investigated using a four‐phase axisymmetric model consisting of a single CNT aligned at the center of composite unit cell, an interface, an ITZ (or interphase), and a cement matrix. The CNT and cement matrix were assumed fully elastic while the interface was modeled using a cohesive surface framework. The width and mechanical properties of the ITZ and the interface were found to affect significantly the elastic modulus and the behavior of the composite material.
Astragaloside IV Inhibits NF‐κB Activation and Inflammatory Gene Expression in LPS‐Treated Mice
Authors: Zhang Wei-Jian , Frei Balz
Published: April 2015

In this study we investigated the role of astragaloside IV (AS‐IV), one of the major active constituents purified from the Chinese medicinal herb Astragalus membranaceus, in LPS‐induced acute inflammatory responses in mice in vivo and examined possible underlying mechanisms. Mice were assigned to four groups: vehicle‐treated control animals; AS‐IV‐treated animals (10 mg/kg b.w. AS‐IV daily i.p. injection for 6 days); LPS‐treated animals; and AS‐IV plus LPS‐treated animals. We found that AS‐IV treatment significantly inhibited LPS‐induced increases in serum levels of MCP‐1 and TNF by 82% and 49%, respectively. AS‐IV also inhibited LPS‐induced upregulation of inflammatory gene expression in different organs. Lung mRNA levels of cellular adhesion molecules, MCP‐1, TNFα, IL‐6, and TLR4 were significantly attenuated, and lung neutrophil infiltration and activation were strongly inhibited, as reflected by decreased myeloperoxidase content, when the mice were pretreated with AS‐IV. Similar results were observed in heart, aorta, kidney, and liver. Furthermore, AS‐IV significantly suppressed LPS‐induced NF‐κB and AP‐1 DNA‐binding activities in lung and heart. In conclusion, our data provide new in vivo evidence that AS‐IV effectively inhibits LPS‐induced acute inflammatory responses by modulating NF‐κB and AP‐1 signaling pathways. Our results suggest that AS‐IV may be useful for the prevention or treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Short Communication: Relationship between Urinary Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin and Noninfectious Pyuria in Dogs
Authors: Proverbio D. , Spada E. , Baggiani L. , Bagnagatti De Giorgi G. , Ferro E. , Martino P. A. , Perego R.
Published: April 2015

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a neutrophil-derived protein whose concentration increases in plasma and urine with ongoing renal damage. Urinary leucocytes can be a potential source of urinary NGAL. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of urinary neutrophil count and other urinary parameters on urinary NGAL values in urine with negative culture. Urinalysis, urine culture, and determination of urinary NGAL were performed on 33 clinically healthy nonproteinuric dogs with negative urinoculture. The median uNGAL concentration in dogs in this study population was 9.74 ng/mL (IQR 1.93–25.43 ng/mL). In samples with WBCs > 5 hpf (mean 15.9, 6–50 leucocytes/hpf), median uNGAL value was significantly higher than that in samples with WBCs < 5 hpf (mean 0.9, 0–3 leucocytes/hpf), (4.96 pg/mL (0.29–11.34) and 23.65 pg/mL (20.04–29.80), resp.;P=0.0053). The severity of urinary pyuria and the UPC value were correlated with uNGAL concentration. The results of our study show that urinary NGAL concentration is correlated with WBCs number in urinary sediment of dogs with negative urinoculture. The present study suggests that noninfectious pyuria is significantly correlated with urinary NGAL values and might influence uNGAL values.
Anti‐Inflammatory and Immunoregulatory Functions of Artemisinin and Its Derivatives
Authors: Shi Chenchen , Li Haipeng , Yang Yifu , Hou Lifei
Published: April 2015

Artemisinin and its derivatives are widely used in the world as the first‐line antimalarial drug. Recently, growing evidences reveal that artemisinin and its derivatives also possess potent anti‐inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties. Meanwhile, researchers around the world are still exploring the unknown bioactivities of artemisinin derivatives. In this review, we provide a comprehensive discussion on recent advances of artemisinin derivatives affecting inflammation and autoimmunity, the underlying molecular mechanisms, and also drug development of artemisinins beyond antimalarial functions.
Inhibitory Effect of Methyleugenol on IgE‐Mediated Allergic Inflammation in RBL‐2H3 Cells
Authors: Tang Feng , Chen Feilong , Ling Xiao , Huang Yao , Zheng Xiaomei , Tang Qingfa , Tan Xiaomei
Published: April 2015

Allergic diseases, such as asthma and allergic rhinitis, are common. Therefore, the discovery of therapeutic drugs for these conditions is essential. Methyleugenol (ME) is a natural compound with antiallergic, antianaphylactic, antinociceptive, and anti‐inflammatory effects. This study examined the antiallergic effect of ME on IgE‐mediated inflammatory responses and its antiallergy mechanism in the mast cell line, RBL‐2H3. We found that ME significantly inhibited the release of β‐hexosaminidase, tumor necrosis factor‐ (TNF‐) α, and interleukin‐ (IL‐) 4, and was not cytotoxic at the tested concentrations (0–100 μM). Additionally, ME markedly reduced the production of the proinflammatory lipid mediators prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), prostaglandin D2 (PGD2), leukotriene B4 (LTB4), and leukotriene C4 (LTC4). We further evaluated the effect of ME on the early stages of the FcεRI cascade. ME significantly inhibited Syk phosphorylation and expression but had no effect on Lyn. Furthermore, it suppressed ERK1/2, p38, and JNK phosphorylation, which is implicated in proinflammatory cytokine expression. ME also decreased cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) and 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LO) phosphorylation and cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) expression. These results suggest that ME inhibits allergic response by suppressing the activation of Syk, ERK1/2, p38, JNK, cPLA2, and 5‐LO. Furthermore, the strong inhibition of COX‐2 expression may also contribute to the antiallergic action of ME. Our study provides further information about the biological functions of ME.
Time- or Space-Dependent Coefficient Recovery in Parabolic Partial Differential Equation for Sensor Array in the Biological Computing
Authors: Zhou Guanglu , Wu Boying , Ji Wen , Rho Seungmin
Published: April 2015

This study presents numerical schemes for solving a parabolic partial differential equation with a time- or space-dependent coefficient subject to an extra measurement. Through the extra measurement, the inverse problem is transformed into an equivalent nonlinear equation which is much simpler to handle. By the variational iteration method, we obtain the exact solution and the unknown coefficients. The results of numerical experiments and stable experiments imply that the variational iteration method is very suitable to solve these inverse problems.
Extramedullary Hematopoiesis in a Sentinel Lymph Node as an Early Sign of Chronic Myelomonocytic Leukemia
Authors: Bowen Joslin M. , Perry Anamarija M. , Quist Erin , Akhtari Mojtaba
Published: April 2015

Chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) is a clonal hematopoietic malignancy with features of both a myeloproliferative neoplasm and a myelodysplastic syndrome. Even though extramedullary leukemic infiltration is common in CMML patients, lymph node involvement has rarely been reported in the literature. We present an unusual case of a 72-year-old female who was found to have extramedullary hematopoiesis (EMH) in a sentinel lymph node that was excised during mastectomy for lobular breast carcinoma. One year later bone marrow biopsy was performed due to persistent anemia, thrombocytopenia, and monocytosis and the patient was diagnosed with CMML. Our case illustrates the importance of recognizing EMH in a lymph node during routine histological examination, especially in adults. Proliferation of bone marrow elements in a lymph node, in a patient with no known hematologic disorder, should trigger immediate bone marrow evaluation, as this could be the first clue in diagnosing underlying bone marrow disorder.
Protective Effect of Ethanol Extracts ofHericium erinaceuson Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Neuropathic Pain in Rats
Authors: Yi Zhang , Shao-long Yang , Ai-hong Wang , Zhi-chun Sun , Ya-fen Zhuo , Ye-ting Xu , Yu-ling He
Published: April 2015

We investigated the effects ofHericium erinaceus(HEE) on alloxan induced diabetic neuropathic pain in laboratory rats. Alloxan induced diabetic rats were administered orally HEE. After 6 weeks of treatments, treatment with HEE 40 mg/kg in diabetic animals showed significant increase in pain threshold and paw withdrawal threshold and significant decrease in serum glucose and urine glucose. We also observed a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, glutathione reductase (GR) activity, catalase (CAT) activity, Na+K+ATPase activity, and glutathione S transferase (GST) activity along with significant decreased levels of glutathione (GSH) content in diabetic rats. The total antioxidant status (TAOS) in the HEE-treated groups was significantly lower than that in the alloxan-treated group. HEE can offer pain relief in diabetic neuropathic pain. The improvement in diabetic state after HEE treatment along with the antioxidant activity could be the probable way by which it had alleviated diabetic neuropathy.
Sparse Matrix for ECG Identification with Two‐Lead Features
Authors: Tseng Kuo-Kun , Luo Jiao , Hegarty Robert , Wang Wenmin , Haiting Dong
Published: April 2015

Electrocardiograph (ECG) human identification has the potential to improve biometric security. However, improvements in ECG identification and feature extraction are required. Previous work has focused on single lead ECG signals. Our work proposes a new algorithm for human identification by mapping two‐lead ECG signals onto a two‐dimensional matrix then employing a sparse matrix method to process the matrix. And that is the first application of sparse matrix techniques for ECG identification. Moreover, the results of our experiments demonstrate the benefits of our approach over existing methods.
Activation of Sonic Hedgehog Leads to Survival Enhancement of Astrocytes via the GRP78-Dependent Pathway in Mice Infected withAngiostrongylus cantonensis
Authors: Chen Kuang-Yao , Cheng Chien-Ju , Wang Lian-Chen
Published: April 2015

Angiostrongylus cantonensisinfection may cause elevation of ROS and antioxidants in the CSF of infected mice. Astrocytes may protect the surrounding neurons from oxidative stress-induced cell death by secreting Sonic hedgehog (Shh) via the PI3-K/AKT/Bcl-2 pathway. This study was conducted to determine the role of the Shh signaling pathway inA. cantonensis-infected BABL/c mice by coculturing astrocytes with living fifth-stage larvae or soluble antigens. The Shh pathway was activated with corresponding increases in the level of the Shh. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and Shh were increased in astrocyte cocultured with living fifth-stage larvae or soluble antigens. The survival of astrocytes pretreated with Shh was significantly elevated in cocultures with the antigens but reduced by its inhibitor cyclopamine. The expression of GRP78 and Bcl-2 was significantly higher in astrocytes pretreated with recombinant Shh. These findings suggest that the expression of Shh may inhibit cell death by activating Bcl-2 through a GRP78-dependent pathway.
Ultra-Sensitive Detection of the Pretreatment EGFR T790M Mutation in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients with an EGFR-Activating Mutation Using Droplet Digital PCR
Authors: Watanabe Masaru , Kawaguchi Tomoya , Isa Shun-ichi , Ando Masahiko , Tamiya Akihiro , Kubo Akihito , Saka Hideo , Takeo Sadanori , Adachi Hirofumi , Tagawa Tsutomu , Kakegawa Seiichi , Yamashita Motohiro , Kataoka Kazuhiko , Ichinose Yukito , Takeuchi Yukiyasu , Sakamoto Kazuhiro , Matsumura Akihide , Koh Yasuhiro
Published: April 2015

Purpose: The resistance to the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) is a major concern in non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. T790M mutation in EGFR accounts for nearly 50% of the acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs. Earlier studies suggested that T790M mutation was also detected in TKI-naïve NSCLCs in a small cohort. Here, we use an ultra-sensitive droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) technique to address the incidence and clinical significance of pretreatment T790M in a larger cohort.

Experimental Design: ddPCR was established as follows: wild-type or T790M mutation-containing DNA fragments were cloned into plasmids. Candidate threshold was identified using wild-type plasmid, normal human genomic DNA, and human A549 cell line DNA, which expresses wild type. Surgically resected tumor tissues from 373 NSCLC patients with EGFR-activating mutations were then examined for the presence of T790M using ddPCR.

Results: Our data revealed a linear performance for this ddPCR method (R2 = 0.998) with an analytical sensitivity of approximately 0.001%. The overall incidence of the pretreatment T790M mutation was 79.9% (298/373), and the frequency ranged from 0.009% to 26.9%. The T790M mutation was detected more frequently in patients with a larger tumor size (P = 0.019) and those with common EGFR-activating mutations (P = 0.022), as compared with the others.

Conclusions: The ultra-sensitive ddPCR assay revealed that pretreatment T790M was found in the majority of NSCLC patients with EGFR-activating mutations. ddPCR should be utilized for detailed assessment of the impact of the low frequency pretreatment T790M mutation on treatment with EGFR-TKIs. Clin Cancer Res; 21(15); 3552–60. ©2015 AACR.
Emerging BCR/ABL1 Mutations Under Treatment with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in Paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia
Authors: Molinos-Quintana Agueda , Aquino Virginia , Montero Isabel , Pérez-de Soto Concepción , García-Lozano Raúl , Pérez-Simón José Antonio , Pérez-Hurtado José María
Published: April 2015

We report on the emergence and clinical relevance of an unusual BCR-ABL1 kinase domain mutational status in a 2-year-old female with p210-BCR-ABL Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. We detected three BCR-ABL1 clones determined by the presence of the E255V, D276G and F317L mutations. We point out the usefulness of searching for mutated populations that survive tyrosine-kinase inhibitor therapy and the role of their clonal selection over time in relation to therapeutic intervention.
The Epidemiology of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in New Hampshire, USA, 2004-2007
Authors: Caller Tracie A. , Andrews Angeline , Field Nicholas C. , Henegan Patricia L. , Stommel Elijah W.
Published: April 2015

Background/Aims: Trends in disease incidence and mortality can provide clues to disease etiology. Previously, we described a town in New Hampshire (N.H.), USA, with 25 times the expected incidence rate of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study aimed to describe the incidence and mortality of ALS across the state to assess rates relative to other states and industrialized nations. Method: A retrospective review of records from regional ALS centers, clinics and ALS organizations was conducted to obtain demographics and diagnostic details for patients diagnosed with ALS or primary lateral sclerosis in N.H. from January 2004 to December 2007. Data on mortality from review of death certificates were obtained for a similar time frame. Results: We identified 113 N.H. residents diagnosed with ALS in 2004-2007, yielding an age-standardized incidence rate ranging from 1.3 to 2.2 per 100,000 of the population per year. During the same period, the standardized mortality rate per 100,000 varied from 2.6 to 3.5. ALS was more common among men (ratio 1.6:1), who were more likely than women to have an earlier age at onset (59 ± 14.2 vs. 65 ± 11.8 years, p = 0.01). Conclusion: While localized areas in N.H. with high ALS incidence rates have been reported previously, the overall incidence and mortality rates of ALS in N.H. are similar to those in other industrialized nations.
The Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio Correlates with Age in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Liu Jifeng , Du Jintao , Fan Jinchuan , Liu Kun , Zhang Bing , Wang Shaoxin , Wang Wei , Wang Zhaohui , Cai Yongcong , Li Chunhua , Yu Tao , Zhu Guiquan , Chen Jin , Li Chao
Published: April 2015

Aim: The aim of this study is to explore the relationship between the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and clinicopathological features in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods: We performed an analysis of 843 patients, including 321 patients with PTC, 83 patients with thyroid adenoma and 439 patients with nodular goiter (NG). Thyroglobulin and thyrotropin were measured in each patient. Neutrophils, lymphocytes, and platelets were counted. Statistical analysis was used to correlate the NLR with demographic and histopathologic characteristics of the patients. Result: Age correlated with NLR and lymphocyte number in patients with PTC and NG. In patients aged >45 years, those with PTC had a higher NLR and a lower lymphocyte count than those with NG. Patients with PTC aged <45 years had a higher leukocyte count and a lower NLR than those aged ≥45 years. Patients with clinical stage I/II PTC had a lower NLR and a higher lymphocyte count than patients with stage III/IV. Conclusions: Younger patients with PTC had a higher lymphocyte count but a lower NLR than older patients with PTC. The NLR and lymphocyte counts were associated with the clinical stage. Thus, a higher NLR and a lower lymphocyte count may be prognostic for stratifying patients with thyroidal goiters and are risk factors of PTC for older patients.
Low-Dose versus Standard-Dose Intravenous Immunoglobulin to Prevent Fetal Intracranial Hemorrhage in Fetal and Neonatal Alloimmune Thrombocytopenia: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Paridaans Noortje P. , Kamphuis Marije M. , Taune Wikman Agneta , Tiblad Eleonor , Van den Akker Eline S. , Lopriore Enrico , Challis Daniel , Westgren Magnus , Oepkes Dick
Published: April 2015

Objective: Pregnancies at risk of fetal and neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia (FNAIT) are commonly treated using weekly intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) at 1 g/kg maternal weight. IVIG is an expensive multidonor human blood product with dose-related side effects. Our aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of IVIG at a lower dose, i.e. 0.5 g/kg. Methods: This was a randomized controlled multicenter trial conducted in Sweden, the Netherlands and Australia. Pregnant women with human platelet antigen alloantibodies and an affected previous child without intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) were enrolled. The participants were randomized to IVIG at 0.5 or 1 g/kg per week. The analyses were per intention to treat. The primary outcome was fetal or neonatal ICH. Secondary outcomes were platelet count at birth, maternal and neonatal IgG levels, neonatal treatment and bleeding other than ICH. Results: A total of 23 women were randomized into two groups (low dose: n = 12; standard dose: n = 11). The trial was stopped early due to poor recruitment. No ICH occurred. The median newborn platelet count was 81 × 109/l (range 8-269) in the 0.5 g/kg group versus 110 × 109/l (range 11-279) in the 1 g/kg group (p = 0.644). Conclusion: The risk of adverse outcomes in FNAIT pregnancies treated with IVIG at 0.5 g/kg is very low, similar to that using 1 g/kg, although our uncompleted trial lacked the power to conclusively prove the noninferiority of using the low dose.
Cytopathological and Microbiological Profile of Tuberculous Lymphadenitis in HIV-Infected Patients with Special Emphasis on Its Corroboration with CD4+ T-Cell Counts
Authors: Mondal Krishnendu , Mandal Rupali
Published: April 2015

Objectives: The present study was performed to evaluate various cytological patterns and acid fast bacillus (AFB) grades in HIV-infected patients with tuberculous lymphadenitis and to correlate these with each other as well as with peripheral CD4+ T-cell counts. Study Design: Ninety-two HIV-seropositive patients, cytologically diagnosed with tuberculous lymphadenitis, were evaluated. Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed as an outpatient procedure. Sonographic guidance was sought for internally sited lymph nodes. Cytopathological details were assessed on routinely stained and Ziehl-Neelsen-stained smears. Appropriate AFB grades were assigned. CD4+ T-cell counts were obtained immediately. Finally, the cytopathological findings, AFB grades and CD4+ T-cell counts were corroborated with each other. Results: Epithelioid cell granuloma in the presence of caseation appeared to be the most frequent (66.3%) cytomorphology on aspirated smears. AFB grades 3+ (37%) and 4+ (35.9%) were the commonest patterns of bacillary involvement. The mycobacterial density and cytological features significantly correlated with CD4+ T-cell counts. Conclusions: In HIV-associated tuberculous lymphadenitis, AFB grade and CD4+ T-cell counts worsen with the appearance of necrosis. Here, the peripheral CD4+ T-cell counts inversely correlated with bacillary load. Collectively, peripheral CD4+ T-cell counts, cytological findings and AFB grade exemplify the immune status in these patients.
A New Primer for Sex Identification of Ducks and a Minimally Invasive Technique for Sampling of Allantoic Fluid to Detect Sex during Bird Embryo Development
Authors: Li Huifang , Hu Yan , Song Chi , Ji Gaige , Liu Hongxiang , Xu Wenjuan , Ding Jing
Published: April 2015

During the early incubation period of the duck, from embryonic day 1 to 13, a precise identification of the sex may be difficult. In a preliminary test, we found a defect in the use of the classical P2/P8, 1237L/1272H, and 2550F/2718R primers for chromo-helicase-DNA-binding 1 gene (CHD1) as a PCR-based test to identify sex in ducks. Therefore, universal PCR primers HPF/HPR for sexing ducks were designed. The PCR product was cloned, sequenced, and analyzed using GenBank. The effectiveness of the primers was compared using samples of blood and feathers from adult birds and chorioallantoic membranes and allantoic fluid (AF) of embryos as a source of DNA. The 495-bp CHD1-Z and the 351-bp CHD1-W PCR amplicons could be easily distinguished on a 3% agarose gel, and females (ZW) displayed 2 visible bands whereas only a single band was found in males (ZZ). The results indicated that HPF/HPR primers were highly efficient and more reliable than the classical primers used for sexing ducks. During the design of the new primers, an AF sampling technique was established to collect a very small amount of AF from free-living birds. This technique, which was minimally invasive, had no adverse effects on either embryos or the post-hatching survival of young ducks and could be used in developmental biology research in birds.
“Bedouin” and “Shawaya”: The Performative Constitution of Tribal Identities in Syria during the French Mandate and Today
Authors: Lange Katharina
Published: April 2015

Drawing on archival research, ethnographic fieldwork in Syria in the 2000s, and texts published in print and on the Internet, this article investigates how social and collective identities in Syria’s tribal milieu have been negotiated through interactions between different social actors during the period of the French Mandate (1920-46) and the decade 2001-11. By scrutinizing administrative distinctions between “nomadic” and “semi-sedentary tribes”, or “Bedouin” and “Shawaya”, adopted during the Mandate, the article explores how notions of social order, which were partly informed by stereotypical imaginations of the Bedouin, have shaped local politics and influenced social dynamics in northern Syria. The article also traces how the experiences of the Mandate years resonate in articulations of social and political identity in Syria around the beginning of the twenty-first century. Taking inspiration from Judith Butler’s exposition of the performative constitution of gender identities, it is suggested that the constitution of tribal identities in Syria, too, can productively be regarded as a performative process.
The World the Bedouin Lived in: Climate, Migration and Politics in the Early Modern Arab East
Authors: Meier Astrid , Tell Tariq
Published: April 2015

Environmental history provides a perspective from which we can deepen our understanding of the past because it examines the relationships of people with their material surroundings and the effects of those relationships on the individual as well as the societal level. It is a perspective that holds particular promise for the social and political history of arid and marginal zones, as it contributes to our understanding of the reason some groups are more successful than others in coping with the same environmental stresses. Historians working on the early modern Arab East have only recently engaged with the lively field of global environmental history. After presenting a brief overview of some strands of this research, this article illustrates the potential of this approach by looking closely at a series of conflicts involving Bedouin and other power groups in the southern parts of Bilād al-Shām around the middle of the eighteenth century.
From Inception to Present
Authors: Valente Rubia R.
Published: April 2015

This article provides the first historical analysis of the role of women in the Congregação Cristã no Brasil, the oldest pentecostal church in Brazil and the largest in the state of São Paulo. Drawing on qualitative data, this study also explores the diverse views of church members and their attitudes in regard to the current status of women in the church. Although not long ago women were allowed to preach in the church and to hold ministerial positions such as cooperators, youth cooperators, deaconesses, musicians, music directors, and Bible school directors, in recent decades the role of women has quickly diminished. In addition to providing empirical data on this denominational group, the article engages the wider debate about the role of women in the pentecostal religious context.
Peter Hocken: His Life and Work
Authors: Kay William K.
Published: April 2015

This article discusses the life and work of the Roman Catholic Charismatic Peter Hocken. It shows how, over many publications and in a series of writings directed both to Catholics and to the wider Christian world, he has constructed a theological understanding of the outpouring of the Spirit in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The purpose of the Spirit in denominational and nondenominational streams turns on the key role of Messianic Jews and is essentially eschatological and ecumenical as it prepares for the return of Christ. The article also includes a list of Hocken’s publications on Pentecostalism, charismatic renewal, and Israel.
Is the Future of Biblical Theology Story-Shaped?
Authors: Brown Jeannine K.
Published: April 2015

This article explores the concept of story for biblical theology, particularly from the perspective of evangelical scholarship. It is suggested that story offers a framework for biblical theology that avoids undue emphasis on propositional theology and maintains biblical tensions within a plot-focused approach. Additionally, a storied approach to biblical theology resonates with the narrative quality of the biblical text and of human experience and is best pursued via a dynamic hermeneutic. The essay concludes by addressing some weaknesses of the category of story for biblical theology, including its use to avoid historical difficulties, the scholarly tendency toward theological abstraction, and the ethical question of the claim to have sketched the biblical story. In response, dialogue across boundaries, including those of ethnicity, nationality, denomination, and religion, can be a valuable practice to evangelicals and others who see story as a promising category for the future of biblical theology.
Participation in Christ: An Analysis of Pauline Soteriology
Authors: Aernie Jeffrey W.
Published: April 2015

Paul’s conception and description of God’s soteriological enterprise continues to be a prominent focal point in constructions of the apostle’s theology. The present essay attempts to provide an outline of this aspect of Pauline theology from inception to corporate participation. The essay is comprised of three parts: (1) an extended examination of the definition of Paul’s gospel; (2) a brief analysis of the way in which the gospel relates to Paul’s own self-presentation; and (3) a few concluding thoughts concerning the way Paul extends his conception of the gospel to the ecclesial community. The primary argument of the essay develops a construction of the participatory nature of Pauline soteriology, building on the notion that the prophetic scope of Paul’s gospel compels the apostle to understand both his own ministry and Christian theology in terms of a participation in the new creation inaugurated within the Christ event.
The Paradigmatic Translator and His Method: Ḥunayn ibn Isḥāq’s Translation of the Hippocratic Aphorisms from Greek via Syriac into Arabic
Authors: Overwien Oliver
Published: April 2015

The present article deals with the role of the Syriac intermediary within Ḥunayn ibn Isḥāq’s working process. In its first part I aim to show that the Syriac translation of the Hippocratic Aphorisms (ed. Pognon) was produced by Ḥunayn ibn Isḥāq. Since this is the first Syriac translation of an ancient medical text which can be definitely ascribed to Ḥunayn, we are now in a better position to understand his working method. In its second part I compare therefore samples of his Syriac translaton with the Greek Vorlage on the one hand and his Arabic version of this Hippocratic text on the other.
Graeco-Arabic Studies in Classical Near Eastern Studies: An Emerging Field of Training in Its Broader Institutional Context
Authors: van Bladel Kevin
Published: April 2015

This brief prospectus addresses the potential and need to realize the full growth of Graeco-Arabic Studies as a field of training and as a part of a broad and inclusive Classical Near Eastern Studies integrating several fields usually construed as separate.
Second Primary Lung Cancer After Head and Neck Cancer
Authors: Pagedar Nitin A. , Jayawardena Asitha , Charlton Mary E. , Hoffman Henry T.
Published: April 2015

Background:

Recent guidelines recommend chest computed tomography (CT) for smokers based on studies of individuals aged 55 to 74 years with 30-pack year smoking to detect lung cancers. Some have postulated that a prior diagnosis of head and neck cancer (HNC) should also warrant lung cancer screening with CT, but no studies have demonstrated benefit in this population. Our goal was to compare survival of HNC patients with second primary lung cancers (SPLCs) with survival of lung cancer–only patients to determine if detecting early stage lung cancer in those with prior HNC could lead to similar survival benefits.

Methods:

Survival estimates for patients with early stage SPLC diagnosed between ages 55 and 74 at least 1 year after HNC diagnosis were compared with patients with early stage lung cancer and no other cancers.

Results:

Median survival of patients with lung cancer only was 38 months. Median survival after SPLC was 22 months. History of head and neck cancer predicted poorer survival after lung cancer diagnosis, P < .0001.

Conclusions:

Survival outcomes after early lung cancer are worse after HNC. This finding diminishes the effectiveness of chest CT as a screening modality for HNC survivors, and further study should be undertaken prior to its routine use.
Application of electric resistance method in characterizing the ability of load transfer of interphase in single-fiber composite
Authors: Sun Xinyang , Hu Jianqian , Zhang Boming
Published: April 2015

In this paper, the tensile property of single T300 carbon fiber accompanied by the relationship between the electric resistance and the strain was tested. The collected data showed that there was a linear relationship between them. Then its coefficient of sensitivity K was acquired by computation. Next, two-dimensional loading platform was built to load the tilted cross samples in tension and the stress distribution under loading was observed through an optical microscope synchronistically. Based on the above results, the resistance method was combined with tilted cross model, the above coefficient of sensitivity was used to confirm the shearing stress of the interphase in the tilted cross model, the coefficient of sensitivity was combined to confirm the differences in stress transfer in this system, and numerical analysis was utilized to confirm the performance parameter of the cohesive interphase element in the numerical model of this system.
Wischnewski spots in fatal burns
Authors: Kanchan Tanuj , Babu Savithry Kochukarottil Satish , Geriani Disha , Atreya Alok
Published: April 2015

The occurrence of Wischnewski spots in fatal hypothermia has been considered an important indicator of reduced core temperatures, its incidence varying between 40 and 100%. Though many human and animal studies have been conducted to study this phenomenon, the underlying mechanisms contributing to the formation of Wischnewski spots are still not clearly understood. They have been largely reported in human deaths occurring from exposure to freezing temperatures. This is the first reported case of Wischnewski spots observed in a case of fatal burns.
The Expanding Role of Managed Care in the Medicaid Program
Authors: Caswell Kyle J. , Long Sharon K.
Published: April 2015

States increasingly use managed care for Medicaid enrollees, yet evidence of its impact on health care outcomes is mixed. This research studies county-level Medicaid managed care (MMC) penetration and health care outcomes among nonelderly disabled and nondisabled enrollees. Results for nondisabled adults show that increased penetration is associated with increased probability of an emergency department visit, difficulty seeing a specialist, and unmet need for prescription drugs, and is not associated with reduced expenditures. We find no association between penetration and health care outcomes for disabled adults. This suggests that the primary gains from MMC may be administrative simplicity and budget predictability for states rather than reduced expenditures or improved access for individuals.