bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Elementary excitation and energy landscape in simple liquids
Authors: Egami T.
Published: June 2014

The nature of excitations in liquids has been a subject of debate for a long time. In liquids, phonons are extremely short-lived and marginalized. Instead, recent research results indicate that local topological or configurational excitations (anankeons) are the elementary excitations in high temperature metallic liquids. Local topological excitations are those which locally alter the atomic connectivity network by cutting or forming atomic bonds, and are directly tied to the atomistic origin of viscosity in the liquid. The local potential energy landscape (PEL) of anankeons represents the probability weighted projection of the global PEL to a single atom. The original PEL is an insightful concept, but is highly multi-dimensional and difficult to characterize or even to visualize. A description in terms of the local PEL for anankeons appears to offer a simpler and more effective approach toward this complex problem. At the base of these advances, is the recognition that atomic discreteness and the topology of atomic connectivity are the most crucial features of the structure in liquids, which current nonlinear continuum theories cannot fully capture. These discoveries could open the way to the explanation of various complex phenomena in liquids, such as atomic transport, fragility, and the glass transition, in terms of these excitations.
An Approach for Data Labelling and Concept Drift Detection Based on Entropy Model in Rough Sets for Clustering Categorical Data
Authors: Reddy H. Venkateswara , Raju S. Viswanadha , Kumar B. Suresh , Jayachandra C.
Published: June 2014

Clustering is an important technique in data mining. Clustering a large data set is difficult and time consuming. An approach called data labelling has been suggested for clustering large databases using sampling technique to improve efficiency of clustering. A sampled data is selected randomly for initial clustering and data points which are not sampled and unclustered are given cluster label or an outlier based on various data labelling techniques. Data labelling is an easy task in numerical domain because it is performed based on distance between a cluster and an unlabelled data point. However, in categorical domain since the distance is not defined properly between data points and data points with cluster, then data labelling is a difficult task for categorical data. This paper proposes a method for data labelling using entropy model in rough sets for categorical data. The concept of entropy, introduced by Shannon with particular reference to information theory is a powerful mechanism for the measurement of uncertainty information. In this method, data labelling is performed by integrating entropy with rough sets. This method is also applied to drift detection to establish if concept drift occurred or not when clustering categorical data. The cluster purity is also discussed using Rough Entropy for data labelling and for outlier detection. The experimental results show that the efficiency and clustering quality of this algorithm are better than the previous algorithms.
Dielectric and magnetic properties of Ba-, La- and Pb-doped Bi0.8Gd0.1M0.1Fe0.9Ti0.1O3 perovskite ceramics
Authors: Rai Radheshyam , Valente M. A. , Shukla Anoop Kumar , Sharma Seema , Kholkin Andrei L.
Published: June 2014

The multiferroic Bi 0.8 Gd 0.1 M 0.1 Fe 0.9 Ti 0.1 O 3, (where M = Ba (DB), La (DL) and Pb (DP)) has been synthesized by using solid-state reaction technique. Effects of Ba , La and Pb substitution on the structure, electrical and ferroelectric properties of Bi 0.8 Gd 0.1 M 0.1 Fe 0.9 Ti 0.1 O 3 samples have been studied by performing X-ray diffraction, dielectric and magnetic measurements. The crystal structures of the ceramic samples have a tetragonal phase. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurement shows a significant change in the magnetic properties of Ba -doped Bi 0.8 Gd 0.1 M 0.1 Fe 0.9 Ti 0.1 O 3 as compared to La - and Pb -doped ceramics. It is seen that coercive field (H C ) and remanent magnetization (M R ) increases with Ba -doped ceramics but decreases for La - and Pb -doped ceramics.
Thermotectonic history of SE China since the Late Mesozoic: insights from detailed thermochronological studies of Hong Kong
Authors: Tang Denise L. K. , Seward Diane , Wilson Colin J. N. , Sewell Roderick J. , Carter Andrew , Paul Bence T.
Published: June 2014

The late Mesozoic Yanshanian volcanic arc affected an extensive region of SE China, but the conclusion of magmatism and later evolution are not fully understood. Widespread Yanshanian ignimbrites and their contemporaneous granites exposed in Hong Kong represent a microcosm of this magmatic arc. To constrain the post-magmatic thermal history of the region, we present zircon and apatite fission-track analyses from these rocks. Double dating using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry U–Pb and fission-track techniques on detrital zircons from post-volcanic Cretaceous sediments is used to further constrain the tectonothermal evolution. The resulting dataset and thermal modelling suggest that the igneous rocks and Cretaceous sediments together experienced post-emplacement or post-depositional heating to >250 °C, subsequently cooling through 120–60 °C after
c
. 80 Ma. The heating reflects the combined effects of an enhanced geothermal gradient and burial. We interpret the enhanced gradient to represent continuing Yanshanian magmatic activity until
c
. 100–80 Ma, much later than previously considered. Our data also indicate a long-term, slow cooling (
c
. 1 °C myr
–1
) since the early Cenozoic, linked to
c
. 2–3 km of erosion-driven exhumation. The thermotectonic history of Hong Kong reflects the mid-Cretaceous transition of SE China from an active to a passive margin bordered by marginal basins that formed in the early Cenozoic.

Supplementary material:

Descriptions of samples, operating conditions of the laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry system and the full dataset of U–Pb dating of detrital zircons are available at
www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18750
.
The Price of Anarchy for Selfish Ring Routing is Two
Authors: Chen Xujin , Doerr Benjamin , Doerr Carola , Hu Xiaodong , Ma Weidong , van Stee Rob
Published: June 2014

We analyze the network congestion game with atomic players, asymmetric strategies, and the maximum latency among all players as social cost. This important social cost function is much less understood than the average latency. We show that the price of anarchy is at most two, when the network is a ring and the link latencies are linear. Our bound is tight. This is the first sharp bound for the maximum latency objective.
Enhancing Performance Optimization of Multicore/Multichip Nodes with Data Structure Metrics
Authors: Rane Ashay , Browne James
Published: June 2014

Program performance optimization is usually based solely on measurements of execution behavior of code segments using hardware performance counters. However, memory access patterns are critical performance limiting factors for today's multicore chips where performance is highly memory bound. Therefore diagnoses and selection of optimizations based only on measurements of the execution behavior of code segments are incomplete because they do not incorporate knowledge of memory access patterns and behaviors. This article presents a low-overhead tool (MACPO) that captures memory traces and computes metrics for the memory access behavior of source-level (C, C++, Fortran) data structures. MACPO explicitly targets the measurement and metrics important to performance optimization for multicore chips. The article also presents a complete process for integrating measurement and analyses of code execution with measurements and analyses of memory access patterns and behaviors for performance optimization, specifically targeting multicore chips and multichip nodes of clusters. MACPO uses more realistic cache models for computation of latency metrics than those used by previous tools. Evaluation of the effectiveness of adding memory access behavior characteristics of data structures to performance optimization was done on subsets of the ASCI, NAS and Rodinia parallel benchmarks and two versions of one application program from a domain not represented in these benchmarks. Adding characteristics of the behavior of data structures enabled easier diagnoses of bottlenecks and more accurate selection of appropriate optimizations than with only code centric behavior measurements. The performance gains ranged from a few percent to 38 percent.
Adaptive Prefetching on POWER7
Authors: Jiménez Víctor , Cazorla Francisco J. , Gioiosa Roberto , Buyuktosunoglu Alper , Bose Pradip , O'Connell Francis P. , Mealey Bruce G.
Published: June 2014

Hardware data prefetch engines are integral parts of many general purpose server-class microprocessors in the field today. Some prefetch engines allow users to change some of their parameters. But, the prefetcher is usually enabled in a default configuration during system bring-up, and dynamic reconfiguration of the prefetch engine is not an autonomic feature of current machines. Conceptually, however, it is easy to infer that commonly used prefetch algorithms---when applied in a fixed mode---will not help performance in many cases. In fact, they may actually degrade performance due to useless bus bandwidth consumption and cache pollution, which in turn, will also waste power. We present an adaptive prefetch scheme that dynamically modifies the prefetch settings in order to adapt to workloads' requirements. We use a commercial processor, namely the IBM POWER7 as a vehicle for our study. First we characterize---in terms of performance and power consumption---the prefetcher in that processor using microbenchmarks and SPEC CPU2006. We then present our adaptive prefetch mechanism showing performance improvements with respect to the default prefetch setting up to 2.7X and 1.3X for single-threaded and multiprogrammed workloads, respectively. Adaptive prefetching is also able to reduce power consumption in some cases. Finally, we also evaluate our mechanism with SPECjbb2005, improving both performance and power consumption.
State of the art in software quality assurance
Authors: Nandakumar R. , Lal A. K. , Parmar R. M.
Published: June 2014

The authors present a summary of their understanding of the publications that appeared in the computing literature during the last five-year period, with the word quality as part of their title and dealing with some or other aspects of software quality assurance. Specifically, the summary covers the following eight sub-topics, viz., (i) quality models; (ii) timely QA feedback; (iii) quantitative approaches to predicting software quality and the effectiveness of software QA; (iv) optimal choice of QA methods; (v) design level QA; (vi) impact of parallel development options on software quality; (vii) continued QA efforts even after the operational deployment of the software product; and (viii) use of CASE tools and perceived value for QA at NASA JPL. This digest also includes summaries of three short papers describing ongoing research on (i) prioritizing QA efforts; (ii) QA in an Agile development context; and (iii) presenting the software quality status to stakeholders during development. Major trends observed in the summary pertain to (i) continuing software QA efforts even after the operational deployment of the software product, which may also be pertinent to the proliferation of mobile applications; (ii) presenting the current software quality status to different stakeholders using concise sets of software metrics; and (iii) the effectiveness of hybrid approach of tool use combined with expert judgment for software QA. The emphasis on software QA activities spreading throughout the software product life cycle, from its beginning to end, is clearly observed in the reviewed literature.
FISA-XP
Authors: Sonia  , Singhal Archana , Banati Hema
Published: June 2014

The steep rise in security threats has forced organizations to adopt sound security practices right from the development stage of any software project. With the rising popularity of lightweight, agile methodologies, this becomes more complicated. This paper proposes a framework, FISA-XP, which can be adopted for the development of a secure software system. The proposed framework integrates security activities with the core activities of Extreme Programming based on their degree of agility. In order to calculate agility degree, some agility features are selected using a threshold value. The compatibility of the agile activities with security activities is subsequently assessed by introducing an integration matrix that describes whether integration of an agile activity with each security activity is possible or not. This framework assists in integrating security activities with agile activities, keeping the combined agility degree within acceptable limits. Thus, our approach introduces an Acceptable Agility Reduction Factor, which gives a threshold value for an acceptable reduction in agility degree. If reduction in combined agility degree is below the threshold value then that security activity is not accepted for integration. TISA-XP, an automated tool, has been designed to enable developers to use FISA-XP practically. This tool has been used by a software-developing company on an experimental basis and the feedback reflects its practical feasibility.
Hard Instances of Algorithms and Proof Systems
Authors: Chen Yijia , Flum Jörg , Müller Moritz
Published: June 2014

If the class TAUT of tautologies of propositional logic has no almost optimal algorithm, then every algorithm A deciding TAUT has a hard sequence, that is, a polynomial time computable sequence witnessing that A is not almost optimal. We show that this result extends to every Π
t
p
-complete problem with
t
≥1; however, assuming the Measure Hypothesis, there is a problem which has no almost optimal algorithm but is decided by an algorithm without hard sequences. For problems
Q
with an almost optimal algorithm, we analyze whether every algorithm deciding
Q
, which is not almost optimal, has a hard sequence.
Robust Polylines Tracing for N-Symmetry Direction Field on Triangulated Surfaces
Authors: Ray Nicolas , Sokolov Dmitry
Published: June 2014

We are proposing an algorithm for tracing polylines that are oriented by a direction field defined on a triangle mesh. The challenge is to ensure that two such polylines cannot cross or merge. This property is fundamental for mesh segmentation and is impossible to enforce with existing algorithms.

The core of our contribution is to determine how polylines cross each triangle. Our solution is inspired by EdgeMaps where each triangle boundary is decomposed into inflow and outflow intervals such that each inflow interval is mapped onto an outflow interval. To cross a triangle, we find the inflow interval that contains the entry point, and link it to the corresponding outflow interval, with the same barycentric coordinate. To ensure that polylines cannot merge or cross, we introduce a new direction field representation, we resolve the inflow/outflow interval pairing with a guaranteed combinatorial algorithm, and propagate the barycentric positions with arbitrary precision number representation. Using these techniques, two streamlines crossing the same triangle cannot merge or cross, but only locally overlap when all streamline extremities are located on the same edge.

Cross-free and merge-free polylines can be traced on the mesh by iteratively crossing triangles. Vector field singularities and polyline/vertex crossing are characterized and consistently handled.
Digest of ACM educational activities
Authors: McGettrick Andrew , Timanovsky Yan
Published: June 2014

Welcome to the latest installment of "EduBits," your quarterly pipeline to new and exciting happenings in the world of ACM education. In this edition, we visit the ACM Education Board-sponsored Learning @ Scale conference, ACM's first annual symposium on MOOCs, and learn about a new report from the ACM Education Policy Committee urging states to expand computer science education. Also, updates from the ACM Public Policy Office and Code.org take stock of the extraordinary number of first-time-coders participating in the Hour of Code.
The Multicore Transformation Opening Statement
Authors: Tichy Walter
Published: June 2014

Chips with multiple processors, called multicore chips, have caused a resurgence of interest in parallel computing. Multicores are now available in servers, PCs, laptops, embedded systems, and mobile devices. Because multiprocessors could be mass-produced for the same cost as uniprocessors, parallel programming is no longer reserved for a small elite of programmers such as operating system developers, database system designers, and supercomputer users. Thanks to multicore chips, everyone's computer is a parallel machine. Parallel computing has become ubiquitous. In this symposium, seven authors examine what it means for computing to enter the parallel age.
Scaffolding Collaboration: An interview with Chen Wenli
Authors: Tracey Ryan
Published: June 2014

In the Singaporean culture where individuals do not automatically act as a group, a structured process is promoting collaborative learning and critical thinking.
Bare-Bones Teaching-Learning-Based Optimization
Authors: Zou Feng , Wang Lei , Hei Xinhong , Chen Debao , Jiang Qiaoyong , Li Hongye
Published: June 2014

Teaching-learning-based optimization (TLBO) algorithm which simulates the teaching-learning process of the class room is one of the recently proposed swarm intelligent (SI) algorithms. In this paper, a new TLBO variant called bare-bones teaching-learning-based optimization (BBTLBO) is presented to solve the global optimization problems. In this method, each learner of teacher phase employs an interactive learning strategy, which is the hybridization of the learning strategy of teacher phase in the standard TLBO and Gaussian sampling learning based on neighborhood search, and each learner of learner phase employs the learning strategy of learner phase in the standard TLBO or the new neighborhood search strategy. To verify the performance of our approaches, 20 benchmark functions and two real-world problems are utilized. Conducted experiments can been observed that the BBTLBO performs significantly better than, or at least comparable to, TLBO and some existing bare-bones algorithms. The results indicate that the proposed algorithm is competitive to some other optimization algorithms.
Changes in Transformational Leadership and Empirical Quality Outcomes in a Finnish Hospital over a Two-Year Period: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Mäntynen Raija , Vehviläinen-Julkunen Katri , Partanen Pirjo , Turunen Hannele , Miettinen Merja , Kvist Tarja
Published: June 2014

This paper describes the changes in transformational leadership and quality outcomes that occurred between 2008 and 2011 in a Finnish university hospital that is aiming to meet the Magnet standards. Measurements were conducted in 2008-2009 and subsequently in 2010-2011 by surveying nursing staff and patients. Nursing staff were surveyed using web-based surveys to collect data on transformational leadership (n1=499,n2=498) and patient safety culture (n1=234,n2=512) and using both postal and web-based surveys to gather information on job satisfaction (n1=1176,n2=779). Questionnaires were used to collect data on care satisfaction from patients (n1=678,n2=867). Transformational leadership was measured using the 54-item TLS, job satisfaction with the 37-item KUHJSS, patient safety culture with the 42-item HSPSC, and patient satisfaction using the 42-item RHCS questionnaire. Transformational leadership, which was the weakest area, was at the same level between the two measurement occasions. Job satisfaction scores increased between 2008 and 2010, although they were generally excellent in 2008. The scores for nonpunitive responses to errors and events reported were also higher in the 2010-2011 surveys. The highest empirical outcome scores related to patient satisfaction. The project and the development initiatives undertaken since 2008 seem to have had positive effects on empirical quality outcomes.
Development and Parametric Evaluation of a Tabulated Chemistry Tool for the Simulation of n-Heptane Low-Temperature Oxidation and Autoignition Phenomena
Authors: Vourliotakis George , Kolaitis Dionysios I. , Founti Maria A.
Published: June 2014

Accurate modelling of preignition chemical phenomena requires a detailed description of the respective low-temperature oxidative reactions. Motivated by the need to simulate a diesel oil spray evaporation device operating in the “stabilized” cool flame regime, a “tabulated chemistry” tool is formulated and evaluated. The tool is constructed by performing a large number of kinetic simulations, using the perfectly stirred reactor assumption. n-Heptane is used as a surrogate fuel for diesel oil and a detailed n-heptane mechanism is utilized. Three independent parameters (temperature, fuel concentration, and residence time) are used, spanning both the low-temperature oxidation and the autoignition regimes. Simulation results for heat release rates, fuel consumption and stable or intermediate species production are used to assess the impact of the independent parameters on the system’s thermochemical behaviour. Results provide the physical and chemical insight needed to evaluate the performance of the tool when incorporated in a CFD code. Multidimensional thermochemical behaviour “maps” are created, demonstrating that cool flame activity is favoured under fuel-rich conditions and that cool flame temperature boundaries are extended with increasing fuel concentration or residence time.
A Bioinformatics Pipeline for the Analyses of Viral Escape Dynamics and Host Immune Responses during an Infection
Authors: Leung Preston , Bull Rowena , Lloyd Andrew , Luciani Fabio
Published: June 2014

Rapidly mutating viruses, such as hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV, have adopted evolutionary strategies that allow escape from the host immune response via genomic mutations. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing are reshaping the field of immuno-virology of viral infections, as these allow fast and cheap generation of genomic data. However, due to the large volumes of data generated, a thorough understanding of the biological and immunological significance of such information is often difficult. This paper proposes a pipeline that allows visualization and statistical analysis of viral mutations that are associated with immune escape. Taking next generation sequencing data from longitudinal analysis of HCV viral genomes during a single HCV infection, along with antigen specific T-cell responses detected from the same subject, we demonstrate the applicability of these tools in the context of primary HCV infection. We provide a statistical and visual explanation of the relationship between cooccurring mutations on the viral genome and the parallel adaptive immune response against HCV.
Domain Adaptation for Pedestrian Detection Based on Prediction Consistency
Authors: Li-ping Yu , Huan-ling Tang , Zhi-yong An
Published: June 2014

Pedestrian detection is an active area of research in computer vision. It remains a quite challenging problem in many applications where many factors cause a mismatch between source dataset used to train the pedestrian detector and samples in the target scene. In this paper, we propose a novel domain adaptation model for merging plentiful source domain samples with scared target domain samples to create a scene-specific pedestrian detector that performs as well as rich target domain simples are present. Our approach combines the boosting-based learning algorithm with an entropy-based transferability, which is derived from the prediction consistency with the source classifications, to selectively choose the samples showing positive transferability in source domains to the target domain. Experimental results show that our approach can improve the detection rate, especially with the insufficient labeled data in target scene.
Development of a Compact Wide-Slot Antenna for Early Stage Breast Cancer Detection Featuring Circular Array Full-View Geometry
Authors: Tiang S. S. , Hathal M. S. , Anwar N. S. Nik , Ain M. F. , Abdullah M. Z.
Published: June 2014

A novel planar type antenna printed on a high permittivity Rogers’ substrate is proposed for early stage microwave breast cancer detection. The design is based on a p-shaped wide-slot structure with50 Ωmicrostrip feeding circuit to eliminate losses of transmission. The design parameters are optimized resulting in a good reflection coefficient at −10 dB from 4.5 to 10.9 GHz. Imaging result using inhomogeneous breast phantom indicates that the proposed antenna is capable of detecting a 5 mm size cancerous tumor embedded inside the fibroglandular region with dielectric contrast between the target and the surrounding materials ranging from 1.7 : 1 to 3.6 : 1.
Loss of miR125a Expression in a Model of K-ras–Dependent Pulmonary Premalignancy
Authors: Liclican Elvira L. , Walser Tonya C. , Hazra Saswati , Krysan Kostyantyn , Park Stacy J. , Pagano Paul C. , Gardner Brian K. , Larsen Jill E. , Minna John D. , Dubinett Steven M.
Published: June 2014

Understanding the molecular pathogenesis of lung cancer is necessary to identify biomarkers/targets specific to individual airway molecular profiles and to identify options for targeted chemoprevention. Herein, we identify mechanisms by which loss of microRNA (miRNA)125a-3p (miR125a) contributes to the malignant potential of human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) harboring an activating point mutation of the K-ras proto-oncogene (HBEC K-ras). Among other miRNAs, we identified significant miR125a loss in HBEC K-ras lines and determined that miR125a is regulated by the PEA3 transcription factor. PEA3 is upregulated in HBEC K-ras cells, and genetic knockdown of PEA3 restores miR125a expression. From a panel of inflammatory/angiogenic factors, we identified increased CXCL1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production by HBEC K-ras cells and determined that miR125a overexpression significantly reduces K-ras–mediated production of these tumorigenic factors. miR125a overexpression also abrogates increased proliferation of HBEC K-ras cells and suppresses anchorage-independent growth (AIG) of HBEC K-ras/P53 cells, the latter of which is CXCL1-dependent. Finally, pioglitazone increases levels of miR125a in HBEC K-ras cells via PEA3 downregulation. In addition, pioglitazone and miR125a overexpression elicit similar phenotypic responses, including suppression of both proliferation and VEGF production. Our findings implicate miR125a loss in lung carcinogenesis and lay the groundwork for future studies to determine whether miR125a is a possible biomarker for lung carcinogenesis and/or a chemoprevention target. Moreover, our studies illustrate that pharmacologic augmentation of miR125a in K-ras–mutated pulmonary epithelium effectively abrogates several deleterious downstream events associated with the mutation. Cancer Prev Res; 7(8); 845–55. ©2014 AACR.
Effects of Multiple Doses of Voriconazole on the Vision of Healthy Volunteers: A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study
Authors: Zrenner Eberhart , Tomaszewski Konrad , Hamlin Julia , Layton Gary , Wood Nolan
Published: June 2014

Purpose: To investigate the effects, and their reversibility, of multiple oral voriconazole doses on a variety of visual tests in healthy male volunteers. Methods: Single-center, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in 36 volunteers who received voriconazole (n = 18, 400 mg every 12 h on day 1, then 300 mg every 12 h for 27.5 days) or matched placebo (n = 18). Electroretinograms (ERGs) and ophthalmological examinations were performed at screening, throughout the study and at follow-up. Results: Fifteen (83.3%) volunteers treated with voriconazole experienced ≥1 treatment-related visual adverse events (AEs); these included enhanced visual perceptions, blurred vision, color vision changes and photophobia. No serious AEs were reported. Voriconazole reduced from baseline scotopic maximal a- and b-wave amplitude, shortened implicit time and decreased oscillatory potential amplitude compared with placebo. Under photopic conditions, the 30-Hz flicker response amplitude was significantly reduced and was accompanied by a slight but nonsignificant prolongation of peak time. These effects did not progress in degree over the treatment period, and mean changes from baseline in ERG parameters were similar to placebo by day 43 (14 days after end of treatment). In the first week, color vision discrimination was impaired in the tritan axis, although this resolved by end of treatment and was similar to placebo by day 43. Mean deviation in the static visual field indicated increased sensitivity following voriconazole treatment, correlating with decreased amplitude in conjunction with shortened implicit time. Conclusions: Effects of voriconazole on altered visual perception, ERG, color vision and static visual field thresholds are nonprogressive over a treatment period and reversible. It is hypothesized that voriconazole has a pharmacological effect on rod and cone pathways including a possible mechanism of disinhibition that reversibly puts the retina in a more light-adapted state and leads to increased relative contrast sensitivity.
Risks of Malignant and Non-Malignant Tumours in Tall Women Treated with High-Dose Oestrogen during Adolescence
Authors: Benyi Emelie , Kieler Helle , Linder Marie , Ritzén Martin , Carlstedt-Duke Jan , Tuvemo Torsten , Westphal Otto , Sävendahl Lars
Published: June 2014

Background/Aim: High-dose oestrogen treatment has been used to reduce growth in tall adolescent girls. The long-term safety with regard to cancer has not been clarified. Our aim was to study if this growth reduction therapy affects cancer risk later in life. Methods: A cohort study of 369 (172 treated, 197 untreated) Swedish women who in 1973-1993 were assessed for tall adolescent stature was designed. Data were collected from university hospital records, patient questionnaires, and the Swedish Cancer Register. Results: Risks are presented as odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals comparing treated to untreated subjects. In treated subjects, the overall OR for having a tumour (malignant or non-malignant) was 1.7 (0.8-3.8). The ORs were 2.3 (0.4-12.8) for breast tumours, 0.8 (0.2-2.6) for gynaecological tumours, and 6.1 (1.04-∞) for melanoma. When limiting to malignant tumours, the crude ORs were of similar magnitude. Conclusion: The OR for any melanoma was higher in treated than in untreated women, suggesting an increased risk of melanoma associated with high-dose oestrogen treatment during adolescence. Although the risk estimates were increased for overall tumours, breast tumours, malignant gynaecological tumours, and malignant melanoma, these associations were not statistically significant. Our results need to be verified in a larger cohort.
The Addition of C-Reactive Protein to Validated Staging Systems Improves Their Prognostic Ability in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Kinoshita Akiyoshi , Onoda Hiroshi , Imai Nami , Iwaku Akira , Oishi Mutumi , Tanaka Ken , Fushiya Nao , Koike Kazuhiko , Nishino Hirokazu , Matsushima Masato , Tajiri Hisao
Published: June 2014

Objectives: C-reactive protein (CRP) is a practical prognostic marker in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We investigated the prognostic value of adding the CRP level to other validated staging systems (Cancer Liver Italian Program, Japan Integrated Staging, Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer classification system, Tokyo score and tumor node metastasis classification) in HCC patients. Methods: One hundred and eighty-six newly diagnosed HCC patients were retrospectively evaluated. A multivariate analysis identified the clinicopathological variables associated with overall survival; the variables identified were then added to each staging system and compared to those without the additional variable. Results: In multivariate analysis, an elevated serum CRP level was independently associated with a poor prognosis (hazard ratio 3.792, p < 0.0001). The addition of the CRP level to each of the established staging systems provided a higher linear χ2 value and a lower -2 log likelihood than those without the addition of the term. Moreover, the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) analysis showed that the addition of CRP improved the AUC of each staging system. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that an elevated serum CRP level is independently associated with a poor prognosis in HCC patients, and the addition of the CRP level to the validated staging systems could improve the prognostic ability of each staging system.
In vitro and in vivo Characterization of a New Organic Nitrate Hybrid Drug Covalently Bound to Pioglitazone
Authors: Knorr Maike , Hausding Michael , Pfeffer Amanda , Jurk Kerstin , Jansen Thomas , Schwierczek Kathrin , Oelze Matthias , Kröller-Schön Swenja , Schulz Eberhard , Wenzel Philip , Gori Tommaso , Burgin Karl , Sartor Dirk , Scherhag Armin , Münzel Thomas , Daiber Andreas
Published: June 2014

Background/Aims: Organic nitrates represent a group of nitrovasodilators that are clinically used for the treatment of ischemic heart disease. The new compound CLC-3000 is an aminoethyl nitrate (AEN) derivative of pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione antidiabetic agent combining the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ agonist activity of pioglitazone with the NO-donating activity of the nitrate moiety. Methods: In vitro and in vivo characterization was performed by isometric tension recording, platelet function, bleeding time and detection of oxidative stress. Results: In vitro, CLC-3000 displayed more potent vasodilation than pioglitazone alone or classical nitrates. In vitro, some effects on oxidative stress parameters were observed. Authentic AEN or the AEN-containing linker CLC-1275 displayed antiaggregatory effects. In vivo treatment with CLC-3000 for 7 days did neither induce endothelial dysfunction nor nitrate tolerance nor oxidative stress. Acute or chronic administration of AEN increased the tail vein bleeding time in mice. Conclusion: In summary, the results of these studies demonstrate that CLC-3000 contains a vasodilative and antithrombotic activity that is not evident with pioglitazone alone, and that 7 days of exposure in vivo showed no typical signs of nitrate tolerance, endothelial dysfunction or other safety concerns in Wistar rats.
High-Protein Breakfast Promotes Weight Loss by Suppressing Subsequent Food Intake and Regulating Appetite Hormones in Obese Chinese Adolescents
Authors: Wang Shaoyun , Yang Lijuan , Lu Juming , Mu Yiming
Published: June 2014

Objective: A high-protein diet may decrease food intake through regulating satiety and appetite hormones and can be an effective strategy for weight loss. Few studies exist on obese Chinese adolescents. Methods and Materials: 156 obese Chinese adolescents were enrolled and randomly assigned to one of two isoenergetic breakfasts, either with egg or steamed bread. Subsequent lunchtime food intake was recorded 4 h later. Appetite was assessed with a visual analog scale. Anorexigenic hormones peptide YY (PYY), glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and orexigenic hormone ghrelin were determined with radioimmunoassay at 0, 30, and 180 min. Body weight was recorded. The tests were repeated 3 months later. Analysis was performed between two tests and then two groups. Pearson's correlation was used for association analysis. Results: Subsequent lunchtime food intake and body weight were decreased while satiety was increased in subjects on an egg breakfast, which is associated with an increase of serum PYY and GLP-1 (p < 0.001, respectively). There were strong correlations between weight loss, appetite, subsequent food intake and changes of appetite hormones. Conclusion: A high-protein breakfast promotes weight loss in obese Chinese adolescents, possibly through its regulation of satiety, subsequent food intake and appetite hormones.
Prevalence and Characteristics of Coronary-Cameral Communications in Adult Patients: Coronary Angiographic Analysis of 16,573 Patients
Authors: Yuksel Serkan , Yasar Erdogan , Nar Gokay , Gulel Okan , Demircan Sabri , Yilmaz Ozcan , Sahin Mahmut
Published: June 2014

Objective: To analyze the coronary angiograms of patients with symptomatic heart disease in order to determine the frequency and characteristics of coronary-cameral communications (CCCs) in a single center. Subjects and Methods: The coronary angiograms of 16,573 patients with symptomatic heart disease performed from November 2001 to January 2011 were analyzed. The diagnosis of coronary fistula and coronary-cameral microcommunications (CCMCs) was made according to previously defined criteria. Results: Of the 16,573 patients, 15 (0.09%; 8 males and 7 females, mean age 63 ± 12 years) had CCCs, while coronary fistulas were identified in 2 (0.01%). In the first patient, the coronary fistula arose from the branches of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery and the right coronary artery (RCA) and drained into the right ventricle. In the second patient, the fistula originated from branches of the LAD artery, the circumflex (Cx) artery and the RCA and drained into the left ventricle. In 7 patients, the CCMCs originated from the LAD artery. In 3 patients, the Cx artery was the origin. The CCMCs originated from the RCA in 2 patients. In 1 patient the CCMC took its origin from the RCA and the Cx artery, while in 2 patients the CCMCs were associated with intracardiac masses in the left atrium and the right atrium, respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of CCCs in adult patients was low and that of large coronary fistulas was even lower; coronary fistulas are probably very rare in adult patients because the majority of them are detected and treated during childhood.
Whipple's Disease
Authors: Obst Wilfried , von Arnim Ulrike , Malfertheiner Peter
Published: June 2014

Background: Whipple's disease (WD) is rarely the cause of a malabsorption syndrome. The disease is a chronic infection of the intestinal mucosa with the bacterium Tropheryma whipplei, which leads to a lymphostasis with an impaired absorption of the nutrition. Due to its low incidence (1:1,000,000) and the non-specific early symptoms, the disease is often diagnosed only after many years. Methods: Based on a selective literature review and the clinical experience of the authors, the current knowledge of WD regarding pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and therapy are presented in this paper. Results: Recent studies suggest that a host-specific dysfunction of the intestinal macrophages is responsible for the chronic infection with T. whipplei. Prior to patients reporting symptoms of a malabsorption syndrome (chronic diarrhea/steatorhea, weight loss), they often suffer from non-specific symptoms (polyarthralgia, fever, fatigue) for many years. Misdiagnoses such as seronegative polyarthritis are frequent. Furthermore, neurological, cardiac, ocular, or dermatological symptoms may occur. The standard method concerning diagnosis is the detection of PAS(periodic acid-Schiff)-positive macrophages in the affected tissues. Immunohistochemical staining and PCR(polymerase chain reaction)-based genetic analysis increase the sensitivity and specificity of conventional detection methods. Endoscopically, the intestinal mucosa appears edematous with lymphangiectasias, enlarged villi, and white-yellowish ring-like structures. The German treatment recommendations include a two-week intravenous induction therapy with ceftriaxone, which is followed by a three-month oral maintenance therapy with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Conclusion: WD is rarely responsible for a malabsorption syndrome. However, if WD is not recognized, the disease can be lethal. New diagnostic methods and prospectively approved therapeutic concepts allow an adequate treatment of the patient. Due to the host-specific susceptibility to T. whipplei, a lifelong follow-up is necessary.
A Case of Plummer-Vinson Syndrome Showing Rapid Improvement of Dysphagia and Esophageal Web after Two Weeks of Iron Therapy
Authors: Tahara Tomomitsu , Shibata Tomoyuki , Okubo Masaaki , Yoshioka Daisuke , Ishizuka Takamitsu , Sumi Kazuya , Kawamura Tomohiko , Nagasaka Mitsuo , Nakagawa Yoshihito , Nakamura Masakatsu , Arisawa Tomiyasu , Ohmiya Naoki , Hirata Ichiro
Published: June 2014

Plummer-Vinson syndrome (PVS) is a rare entity characterized by upper esophageal webs and iron deficiency anemia. We report a case of PVS whose esophageal web was rapidly improved by iron therapy. A 77-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of dysphagia, vomiting, shortness of breath and weight loss for 1 month. Physical examination revealed conjunctival pallor, koilonychia, angular cheilitis and smooth tongue, and laboratory findings were consistent with microcytic hypochromic anemia with iron deficiency. Gastrointestinal endoscopy and barium-swallow esophagography detected a web that prevented passage of the endoscope into the upper portion of the esophagus. The patient received oral iron therapy daily; the hemoglobin concentration rose to 8.9 g/dl and the complaints of dysphagia were dramatically improved after 2 weeks, with improvement of luminal stenosis confirmed by gastrointestinal endoscopy and barium-swallow esophagography. The PVS described in this report had a distinct clinical course, showing very rapid improvement of dysphagia and esophageal web after 2 weeks of oral iron therapy.
Successful Retrieval of a Retained Capsule Endoscope with Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery
Authors: Tashiro Yoshihiko , Kawai Masaya , Takehara Kazuhiro , Munakata Shinya , Ishiyama Shun , Sugimoto Kiichi , Takahashi Makoto , Kojima Yutaka , Goto Michitoshi , Tomiki Yuichi , Shibuya Tomoyoshi , Osada Taro , Watanabe Sumio , Sakamoto Kazuhiro
Published: June 2014

Capsule endoscopy (CE) is commonly used for examining and diagnosing gastrointestinal disease, especially small bowel disease. Capsule retention is a well-known and significant complication of CE and requires surgical or endoscopic removal. Most reports described the retrieval of retained CE via laparotomy. We report a case of successful retrieval of the capsule using single incision laparoscopic surgery.
Dietary Salt Intake Exaggerates Sympathetic Reflexes and Increases Blood Pressure Variability in Normotensive Rats
Authors: Simmonds Sarah S. , Lay Jennifer , Stocker Sean D.
Published: June 2014

Previous studies have reported that chronic increases in dietary salt intake enhance sympathetic nerve activity and arterial blood pressure (ABP) responses evoked from brain stem nuclei of normotensive, salt-resistant rats. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether this sensitization results in exaggerated sympathetic nerve activity and ABP responses during activation of various cardiovascular reflexes and also increases ABP variability. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were fed 0.1% NaCl chow (low), 0.5% NaCl chow (medium), 4.0% NaCl chow (high) for 14 to 17 days. Then, the animals were prepared for recordings of lumbar, renal, and splanchnic sympathetic nerve activity and ABP. The level of dietary salt intake directly correlated with the magnitude of sympathetic nerve activity and ABP responses to electrical stimulation of sciatic afferents or intracerebroventricular infusion of 0.6 mol/L or 1.0 mol/L NaCl. Similarly, there was a direct correlation between the level of dietary salt intake and the sympathoinhibitory responses produced by acute volume expansion and stimulation of the aortic depressor nerve or cervical vagal afferents. In contrast, dietary salt intake did not affect the sympathetic and ABP responses to chemoreflex activation produced by hypoxia or hypercapnia. Chronic lesion of the anteroventral third ventricle region eliminated the ability of dietary salt intake to modulate these cardiovascular reflexes. Finally, rats chronically instrumented with telemetry units indicate that increased dietary salt intake elevated blood pressure variability but not mean ABP. These findings indicate that dietary salt intake works through the forebrain hypothalamus to modulate various centrally mediated cardiovascular reflexes and increase blood pressure variability.
Downregulation of Microvascular Endothelial Type B Endothelin Receptor Is a Central Vascular Mechanism in Hypertensive Pregnancy
Authors: Mazzuca Marc Q. , Li Wei , Reslan Ossama M. , Yu Peng , Mata Karina M. , Khalil Raouf A.
Published: June 2014

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related disorder characterized by hypertension with an unclear mechanism. Studies have shown endothelial dysfunction and increased endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels in hypertensive pregnancy (HTN-Preg). ET-1 activates endothelin receptor type-A in vascular smooth muscle to induce vasoconstriction, but the role of vasodilator endothelial endothelin receptor type-B (ET
B
R) in the changes in blood pressure (BP) and vascular function in HTN-Preg is unclear. To test whether downregulation of endothelial ET
B
R expression/activity plays a role in HTN-Preg, BP was measured in normal pregnancy (Norm-Preg) rats and rat model of HTN-Preg produced by reduction of uteroplacental perfusion pressure (RUPP), and mesenteric microvessels were isolated for measuring diameter, [Ca
2+
]
i
, and endothelin receptor type-A and ET
B
R levels. BP, ET-1– and potassium chloride–induced vasoconstriction, and [Ca
2+
]
i
were greater in RUPP than in Norm-Preg rats. Endothelium removal or microvessel treatment with ET
B
R antagonist BQ-788 enhanced ET-1 vasoconstriction and [Ca
2+
]
i
in Norm-Preg, but not RUPP, suggesting reduced vasodilator ET
B
R in HTN-Preg. The ET-1+endothelin receptor type-A antagonist BQ-123 and the ET
B
R agonists sarafotoxin 6c and IRL-1620 caused less vasorelaxation and nitrate/nitrite production in RUPP than in Norm-Preg. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester reduced sarafotoxin 6c– and IRL-1620–induced relaxation in Norm-Preg but not in RUPP, supporting that ET
B
R-mediated nitric oxide pathway is compromised in RUPP. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blots, and immunohistochemistry revealed reduced endothelial ET
B
R expression in RUPP. Infusion of BQ-788 increased BP in Norm-Preg, and infusion of IRL-1620 reduced BP and ET-1 vasoconstriction and [Ca
2+
]
i
and enhanced ET
B
R-mediated vasorelaxation in RUPP. Thus, downregulation of microvascular vasodilator ET
B
R is a central mechanism in HTN-Preg, and increasing ET
B
R activity could be a target in managing preeclampsia.