bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cor Triatriatum Sinister Identified after New Onset Atrial Fibrillation in an Elderly Man
Authors: Zepeda Ignacio A. , Morcos Peter , Castellanos Luis R.
Published: December 2014

A 73-year-old man with new onset atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response underwent transthoracic echocardiography that revealed an echogenic linear structure along the left atrium, suggestive of cor triatriatum sinister (CTS). CTS was confirmed with transesophageal echocardiography which demonstrated a proximal accessory atrium receiving pulmonary venous flow separated from a distal true atrium by a fibromuscular membrane with a large fenestration allowing flow between the chambers. In CTS, the left atrium is divided into proximal and distal chambers by a fenestrated fibromuscular septum. This cardiac anomaly accounts for 0.1% of cases of congenital heart disease and rarely presents in adults. CTS is primarily diagnosed with echocardiography and is associated with left atrial enlargement and development of atrial fibrillation. Treatment options depend on size of the communication between proximal and distal chambers, the gradient across the membrane, and the position of pulmonary veins. In some instances, surgical resection of the membrane that divides the left atrium is warranted.
Prostaglandin E2 Labour Induction with Intravaginal (Minprostin) versus Intracervical (Prepidil) Administration at Term: Randomized Study of Maternal and Neonatal Outcome and Patient’s Perception Using the Osgood Semantic Differential Scales
Authors: Reinhard Joscha , Rösler Roberta , Yuan Juping , Schiermeier Sven , Herrmann Eva , Eichbaum Michael H. , Louwen Frank
Published: December 2014

Aim. To compare the efficacy, safety, and patient’s perception of two prostaglandin E2 application methods for induction of labour.Method. Above 36th weeks of gestation, all women, who were admitted to hospital for induction of labour, were prospectively randomised to intravaginal 1 mg or intracervical 0.5 mg irrespective of cervical Bishop score. The main outcome variables were induction-to-delivery interval, number of foetal blood samples, PDA rate, rate of oxytocin augmentation, rate of vaginal delivery, and patient’s perception using semantic differential questionnaire.Results. Thirty-nine patients were enrolled in this study. There was no statistical significant difference between the two groups in regard to perceptions of induction. The median induction delivery time using intravaginal versus intracervical administration was 29.9 versus 12.8 hours, respectively (P=0.04). No statistically difference between the groups was detected in regard to parity, gestation age, cervical Bishop score, number of foetal blood samples, PDA rate, rate of oxytocin augmentation, and mode of birth.Summary. Irrespective of the cervical Bishop Score, intracervical gel had a shorter induction delivery time without impingement on the women’s perception of induction.
New Algorithms for Computing the Time-to-Collision in Freeway Traffic Simulation Models
Authors: Hou Jia , List George F. , Guo Xiucheng
Published: December 2014

Ways to estimate the time-to-collision are explored. In the context of traffic simulation models, classical lane-based notions of vehicle location are relaxed and new, fast, and efficient algorithms are examined. With trajectory conflicts being the main focus, computational procedures are explored which use a two-dimensional coordinate system to track the vehicle trajectories and assess conflicts. Vector-based kinematic variables are used to support the calculations. Algorithms based on boxes, circles, and ellipses are considered. Their performance is evaluated in the context of computational complexity and solution time. Results from these analyses suggest promise for effective and efficient analyses. A combined computation process is found to be very effective.
Comparison of the Psychological Symptoms and Disease-Specific Quality of Life between Early- and Typical-Onset Parkinson’s Disease Patients
Authors: Fereshtehnejad Seyed-Mohammad , Hadizadeh Hasti , Farhadi Farzaneh , Shahidi Gholam Ali , Delbari Ahmad , Lökk Johan
Published: December 2014

The impact of Parkinson’s disease (PD) on psychological status and quality of life (QoL) may vary depending on age of disease onset. The aim of this study was to compare psychological symptoms and disease-specific QoL between early onset versus the rest of the PD patients. A total number of 140 PD patients with the mean current age of 61.3(SD=10.4) yr were recruited in this study. PD patients with the onset age of ≤50 yr were defined as “early-onset” (EOPD) group(n=45), while the ones with >50 yr at the time of diagnosis were categorized as the “typical-onset” (TOPD) patients(n=95). Different questionnaires and scales were used for between-group comparisons including PDQ39, HADS (hospital anxiety and depression scale), FSS (fatigue severity scale), MNA (mininutritional assessment), and the UPDRS. Depression score was significantly higher in EOPD group (6.3(SD=4.5)versus 4.5(SD=4.2),P=0.02). Among different domains of QoL, emotion score was also significantly higher in the EOPD group (32.3(SD=21.6)versus 24.4(SD=22.7),P=0.05). Our findings showed more severe depression and more impaired emotional domain of QoL in early-onset PD patients. Depression and anxiety play an important role to worsen QoL among both EOPD and TOPD patients, while no interaction was observed in the efficacy of these two psychiatric symptoms and the onset age of PD patients.
Computational Simulation of Tumor Surgical Resection Coupled with the Immune System Response to Neoplastic Cells
Authors: Naveja J. Jesús , Contreras-Torres Flavio F. , Rodríguez-Galván Andrés , Martínez-Lorán Erick
Published: December 2014

Numerous mathematical and computational models have arisen to study and predict the effects of diverse therapies against cancer (e.g., chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and even therapies under research with oncolytic viruses) but, unfortunately, few efforts have been directed towards development of tumor resection models, the first therapy against cancer. The model hereby presented was stated upon fundamental assumptions to produce a predictor of the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing a tumor resection. It uses ordinary differential equations validated for predicting the immune system response and the tumor growth in oncologic patients. This model could be further extended to a personalized prognosis predictor and tools for improving therapeutic strategies.
Robust Scheduling for Berth Allocation and Quay Crane Assignment Problem
Authors: Rodriguez-Molins M. , Salido M. A. , Barber F.
Published: December 2014

Decision makers must face the dynamism and uncertainty of real‐world environments when they need to solve the scheduling problems. Different incidences or breakdowns, for example, initial data could change or some resources could become unavailable, may eventually cause the infeasibility of the obtained schedule. To overcome this issue, a robust model and a proactive approach are presented for scheduling problems without any previous knowledge about incidences. This paper is based on proportionally distributing operational buffers among the tasks. In this paper, we consider the berth allocation problem and the quay crane assignment problem as a representative example of scheduling problems. The dynamism and uncertainty are managed by assessing the robustness of the schedules. The robustness is introduced by means of operational buffer times to absorb those unknown incidences or breakdowns. Therefore, this problem becomes a multiobjective combinatorial optimization problem that aims to minimize the total service time, to maximize the buffer times, and to minimize the standard deviation of the buffer times. To this end, a mathematical model and a new hybrid multiobjective metaheuristic is presented and compared with two well‐known multiobjective genetic algorithms: NSGAII and SPEA2+.
Yaws Prevalence, Lessons from the Field and the Way Forward towards Yaws Eradication in Ghana
Authors: Agana-Nsiire Patrick , Kaitoo Ekow , Agongo Emmanuel Erasmus Akurugu , Bonsu George , Kyei-Faried Sadik , Amponsa-Achiano Kwame , Ahmed Kofi , Appiah-Denkyira Ebenezer , Asiedu Kingsley , Amankwa Joseph , Bonsu Frank Adae
Published: December 2014

Despite past WHO/UNICEF led global yaws eradication efforts, the disease seems to persist. The true burden is however not known for comprehensive action. Ghana’s data showed significant increase in notified cases since the 1970s. Recognizing limitations in routine data, we carried out a yaws treatment survey in 2008 in three purposively selected districts to establish the prevalence and learn lessons for renewed action. Of 208,413 school children examined, 4,006 were suspected yaws cases (prevalence 1.92 (95% CI: 1.86–1.98) percent). Of 547 schools surveyed, 13% had prevalence between 5% and 10% while 3% had prevalence above 10%. The highest school prevalence was 19.5%. Half of the schools had cases. The large sample allowed aggregating the school results by administrative levels. The lowest aggregated prevalences of 0.23%, 0.40%, and 0.64% were in the urban sub-districts of Asamankese, Oda, and Achiase, respectively, while the highest of 8.61%, 3.69%, and 1.4% were in rural Akroso, Mepom, and Aperade, respectively. In conclusion, the prevalence of yaws is high in some schools in rural, hard-to-reach areas of Ghana. Considering past global eradication efforts, our findings suggest yaws may be resurging for which programmatic action is needed.
Image Encryption Algorithm Based on DNA Encoding and Chaotic Maps
Authors: Zhang Jian , Fang DongXin , Ren Honge
Published: December 2014

We propose a new image encryption algorithm based on DNA sequences combined with chaotic maps. This algorithm has two innovations: (1) it diffuses the pixels by transforming the nucleotides into corresponding base pairs a random number of times and (2) it confuses the pixels by a chaotic index based on a chaotic map. For any size of the original grayscale image, the rows and columns are fist exchanged by the arrays generated by a logistic chaotic map. Secondly, each pixel that has been confused is encoded into four nucleotides according to the DNA coding. Thirdly, each nucleotide is transformed into the corresponding base pair a random number of time(s) by a series of iterative computations based on Chebyshev’s chaotic map. Experimental results indicate that the key account of this algorithm is 1.536 × 10127, the correlation coefficient of a 256 × 256 Lena image between, before, and after the encryption processes was 0.0028, and the information entropy of the encrypted image was 7.9854. These simulation results and security analysis show that the proposed algorithm not only has good encryption effect, but also has the ability to repel exhaustive, statistical, differential, and noise attacks.
Hydroxyapatite-Based Colloidal Gels Facilitate the Proliferation and Migration of Chondrocytes and the Adhesion of Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Jamal Syed A. , Ye Qiang
Published: December 2014

Collective movement of cells that have been delivered on biomaterials for transplantation purposes would be a desirable attribute that would promote wound healing, cell proliferation, and eventual growth and regeneration of damaged organs. We hypothesized that colloidal gels made from hydroxyapatite (HA) and poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) particles will be conducive to the growth and migration of porcine chondrocytes, will allow the adhesion of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells, and will have negligible effects on the cell cycle of these cells. Then, we performed experiments designed to assess the viability and migratory properties of porcine chondrocytes studded on nanosized HA/PLGA particles. Our experiments show that porcine chondrocytes migrated in and around a hydroxyapatite-based biomaterial that could be described as a colloidal gel. Cells in the colloidal gel demonstrated unidirectional movement. Cells were seen to be extending lamellae and were followed by other cells.
Network Analysis of Plasmidomes: The Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 Case
Authors: Orlandini Valerio , Emiliani Giovanni , Fondi Marco , Maida Isabel , Perrin Elena , Fani Renato
Published: December 2014

Azospirillum brasilense is a nitrogen-fixing bacterium living in association with plant roots. The genome of the strain Sp245, isolated in Brazil from wheat roots, consists of one chromosome and six plasmids. In this work, the A. brasilense Sp245 plasmids were analyzed in order to shed some light on the evolutionary pathways they followed over time. To this purpose, a similarity network approach was applied in order to identify the evolutionary relationships among all the A. brasilense plasmids encoded proteins; in this context a computational pipeline specifically devoted to the analysis and the visualization of the network-like evolutionary relationships among different plasmids molecules was developed. This information was supplemented with a detailed (in silico) functional characterization of both the connected (i.e., sharing homology with other sequences in the dataset) and the unconnected (i.e., not sharing homology) components of the network. Furthermore, the most likely source organism for each of the genes encoded by A. brasilense plasmids was checked, allowing the identification of possible trends of gene loss/gain in this microorganism. Data obtained provided a detailed description of the evolutionary landscape of the plasmids of A. brasilense Sp245, suggesting some of the molecular mechanisms responsible for the present-day structure of these molecules.
Acute Renal Infarction Presenting with Acute Abdominal Pain Secondary to Newly Discovered Atrial Fibrillation: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Eltawansy Sherif Ali , Patel Shil , Rao Mana , Hassanien Samaa , Maniar Mihir
Published: December 2014

We report an 85-year-old female with known history of recurrent diverticulitis presented with abdominal pain. It was believed that the patient again needed to be treated for another diverticulitis and was started on the routine treatment. The initial CT scan of abdomen showed renal infarcts bilaterally that were confirmed by a CT with and without intravenous contrast secondary to unknown cause. An ECG found accidentally that the patient was in atrial fibrillation, which was the attributed factor to the renal infarctions. Subsequently, the patient was started on the appropriate anticoagulation and discharged.
Integrinβ6-Targeted Immunoliposomes Mediate Tumor-Specific Drug Delivery and Enhance Therapeutic Efficacy in Colon Carcinoma
Authors: Liang Benjia , Shahbaz Muhammad , Wang Yang , Gao Huijie , Fang Ruliang , Niu Zhengchuan , Liu Song , Wang Ben , Sun Qi , Niu Weibo , Liu Enyu , Wang Jiayong , Niu Jun
Published: December 2014

Purpose: Adjuvant chemotherapy is one of the significant treatments for colon cancer in clinic. However, it does not achieve the desired therapeutic efficacy, largely due to chemotherapeutic resistance. Integrinβ6 (ITGB6) is expressed in malignant colonic epithelia, but not in normal epithelia, and is associated with the progression, metastasis, and chemotherapeutic resistance of colon cancer. Accordingly, it is necessary to design therapeutic approaches for efficient and targeted drug delivery into ITGB6-positive cancer cells to improve chemotherapeutic efficacy in colon cancer.

Experimental Design: PEGylated liposomes were employed to design ITGB6-targeted immunoliposomes, which have ITGB6 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) conjugated. We evaluated the ITGB6-targeted immunoliposomes internalization into colon cancer cells and examined 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)–induced cellular apoptosis produced by ITGB6-targeted immunoliposomes+5-FU. In addition, the biodistribution and antitumor efficiency of ITGB6-targeted immunoliposomes were observed in vivo.

Results: ITGB6-targeted immunoliposomes enhanced cellular internalization in ITGB6-positive colon cancer cells compared with liposomes. Furthermore, the ITGB6-targeted immunoliposome internalization was dependent on the ITGB6 expression level on cellular surface. ITGB6-targeted immunoliposomes decreased the 5-FU IC50 more than 90% in HT-29 and SW480β6 cells relative to liposomes. Moreover, when loaded with 5-FU, ITGB6-targeted immunoliposomes produced an approximately 1.5-fold higher 5-FU–induced cellular apoptosis rate than liposomes. In vivo, the therapeutic activity of ITGB6-targeted immunoliposomes+5-FU was significantly superior, resulting in 25% to 35% reduction of tumor weight compared with 5-FU or liposomes+5-FU.

Conclusions: ITGB6-targeted immunoliposomes provide a highly efficient approach for targeted drug delivery in colon cancer and thus offer the potential of a novel and promising anticancer strategy for clinical therapy. Clin Cancer Res; 21(5); 1183–95. ©2014 AACR.
Redifferentiation of Iodine-Refractory BRAF V600E-Mutant Metastatic Papillary Thyroid Cancer with Dabrafenib
Authors: Rothenberg S. Michael , McFadden David G. , Palmer Edwin L. , Daniels Gilbert H. , Wirth Lori J.
Published: December 2014

Purpose: To determine whether the selective BRAF inhibitor, dabrafenib, can stimulate radioiodine uptake in BRAF V600E-mutated unresectable or metastatic iodine-refractory papillary thyroid cancer (PTC).

Experimental Design: Ten patients with BRAF V600E-mutant iodine-refractory PTC were enrolled. Absence of radioiodine uptake on iodine-131 whole body scan obtained within 14 months of study entry was required. Each patient received dabrafenib (150 mg twice daily) for 25 days before thyrotropin α-stimulated iodine-131 whole body scan (4 mCi/148 MBq). Patients whose scan showed new sites of radioiodine uptake remained on dabrafenib for 17 more days, and then were treated with 150 mCi (5.5 GBq) iodine-131. The primary endpoint of the study was the percentage of patients with new radioiodine uptake after treatment with dabrafenib.

Results: Six of 10 patients (60%) demonstrated new radioiodine uptake on whole body scan after treatment with dabrafenib. All 6 were treated with 5.5 GBq iodine-131. Two patients had partial responses and 4 patients had stable disease on standard radiographic restaging at 3 months. Thyroglobulin decreased in 4 of 6 treated patients. One patient developed squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. There were no other significant adverse events attributed to dabrafenib.

Conclusions: Dabrafenib can stimulate radioiodine uptake in patients with metastatic BRAF V600E-mutant iodine-refractory PTC, representing a potential new therapeutic approach for these patients. Clin Cancer Res; 21(5); 1028–35. ©2014 AACR.
Critical Role of Platelet Glycoprotein Ibα in Arterial Remodeling
Authors: Chandraratne Sue , von Bruehl Marie-Luise , Pagel Judith-Irina , Stark Konstantin , Kleinert Eike , Konrad Ildiko , Farschtschi Said , Coletti Raffaele , Gärtner Florian , Chillo Omari , Legate Kyle R. , Lorenz Michael , Rutkowski Simon , Caballero-Martinez Amelia , Starke Richard , Tirniceriu Anca , Pauleikhoff Laurenz , Fischer Silvia , Assmann Gerald , Mueller-Hoecker Josef , Ware Jerry , Nieswandt Bernhard , Schaper Wolfgang , Schulz Christian , Deindl Elisabeth , Massberg Steffen
Published: December 2014

Objective—

Arteriogenesis is strongly dependent on the recruitment of leukocytes, especially monocytes, into the perivascular space of growing collateral vessels. On the basis of previous findings that platelets are central players in inflammatory processes and mediate the recruitment of leukocytes, the aim of this study was to assess the role of platelets in a model of arterial remodeling.

Approach and Results—

C57Bl6 wild-type mice,
IL4-R/Iba
mice lacking the extracellular domain of the glycoprotein Ibα (GPIbα) receptor, and mice treated with antibodies to block GPIbα or deplete circulating platelets were studied in peripheral arteriogenesis. Using a novel model of intravital 2-photon and epifluorescence imaging, we visualized and quantified the interaction of platelets with leukocytes and the vascular endothelium in vivo. We found that transient platelet adhesion to the endothelium of collateral vessels was a major event during arteriogenesis and depended on GPIbα. Furthermore, leukocyte recruitment was obviously affected in animals with defective platelet GPIbα function. In
IL4-R/Iba
mice, transient and firm leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium of collateral vessels, as well as leukocyte accumulation in the perivascular space, were significantly reduced. Furthermore, we detected platelet–leukocyte aggregates within the circulation, which were significantly reduced in
IL4-R/Iba
animals. Finally, platelet depletion and loss of GPIbα function resulted in poor reperfusion recovery as determined by laser Doppler imaging.

Conclusions—

Thus, GPIbα-mediated interactions between platelets and endothelial cells, as well as leukocytes, support innate immune cell recruitment and promote arteriogenesis-establishing platelets as critical players in this process.
Human Experimental Endotoxemia in Modeling the Pathophysiology, Genomics, and Therapeutics of Innate Immunity in Complex Cardiometabolic Diseases
Authors: Patel Parth N. , Shah Rhia Y. , Ferguson Jane F. , Reilly Muredach P.
Published: December 2014

Inflammation is a fundamental feature of several complex cardiometabolic diseases. Indeed, obesity, insulin resistance, metabolic dyslipidemia, and atherosclerosis are all closely linked inflammatory states. Increasing evidence suggests that the infectious, biome-related, or endogenous activation of the innate immune system may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease. Here, we describe the human experimental endotoxemia model for the specific study of innate immunity in understanding further the pathogenesis of cardiometabolic disease. In a controlled, experimental setting, administration of an intravenous bolus of purified
Escherichia coli
endotoxin activates innate immunity in healthy human volunteers. During endotoxemia, changes emerge in glucose metabolism, lipoprotein composition, and lipoprotein functions that closely resemble those observed chronically in inflammatory cardiovascular disease risk states. In this review, we describe the transient systemic inflammation and specific metabolic consequences that develop during human endotoxemia. Such a model provides a controlled induction of systemic inflammation, eliminates confounding, undermines reverse causation, and possesses unique potential as a starting point for genomic screening and testing of novel therapeutics for treatment of the inflammatory underpinning of cardiometabolic disease.
Imaging Vessel Wall Biology to Predict Outcome in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Golestani Reza , Razavian Mahmoud , Nie Lei , Zhang Jiasheng , Jung Jae-Joon , Ye Yunpeng , de Roo Michelle , Hilgerink Koen , Liu Chi , Robinson Simon P. , Sadeghi Mehran M.
Published: December 2014

Background—

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture risk is currently determined based on size and symptoms. This approach does not address the rupture risk associated with small aneurysms. Given the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in AAA weakening and rupture, we investigated the potential of MMP-targeted imaging for detection of aneurysm biology and prediction of outcome in a mouse model of AAA with spontaneous rupture.

Methods and Results—

Fifteen-week-old mice (n=66) were infused with angiotensin II for 4 weeks to induce AAA. Saline-infused mice (n=16) served as control. The surviving animals underwent in vivo MMP-targeted micro–single photon emission computed tomographic/computed tomographic imaging, using RP805, a technetium-99m–labeled MMP-specific tracer, followed by ex vivo planar imaging, morphometry, and gene expression analysis. RP805 uptake in suprarenal aorta on micro–single photon emission computed tomographic images was significantly higher in animals with AAA when compared with angiotensin II–infused animals without AAA or control animals. CD68 expression and MMP activity were increased in AAA, and significant correlations were noted between RP805 uptake and CD68 expression or MMP activity but not aortic diameter. A group of angiotensin II–infused animals (n=24) were imaged at 1 week and were followed up for additional 3 weeks. RP805 uptake in suprarenal aorta at 1 week was significantly higher in mice that later developed rupture or AAA. Furthermore, tracer uptake at 1 week correlated with aortic diameter at 4 weeks.

Conclusions—

MMP-targeted imaging reflects vessel wall inflammation and can predict future aortic expansion or rupture in murine AAA. If confirmed in humans, this may provide a new paradigm for AAA risk stratification.
Sex Differences in Short-Term Outcomes After Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Irie Fumi , Kamouchi Masahiro , Hata Jun , Matsuo Ryu , Wakisaka Yoshinobu , Kuroda Junya , Ago Tetsuro , Kitazono Takanari , Ishitsuka Takao , Fujimoto Shigeru , Ibayashi Setsuro , Kusuda Kenji , Arakawa Shuji , Tamaki Kinya , Sadoshima Seizo , Irie Katsumi , Fujii Kenichiro , Okada Yasushi , Yasaka Masahiro , Nagao Tetsuhiko , Ooboshi Hiroaki , Omae Tsuyoshi , Toyoda Kazunori , Nakane Hiroshi , Sugimori Hiroshi , Fukuda Kenji , Fukushima Yoshihisa
Published: December 2014

Background and Purpose—

Variable sex differences in clinical outcomes after stroke have been reported worldwide. This study aimed to elucidate whether sex is an independent risk factor of poor functional outcome after acute ischemic stroke.

Methods—

Using the database of patients with acute stroke registered in the Fukuoka Stroke Registry in Japan from 1999 to 2013, 6236 previously independent patients with first-ever ischemic stroke who were admitted within 24 hours of onset were included in this study. Baseline characteristics were assessed on admission. Study outcomes included neurological improvement, neurological deterioration, and poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score, 3–6 at discharge). Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between sex and clinical outcomes.

Results—

Overall, 2398 patients (38.5%) were women. Severe stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, ≥8) on admission was more prevalent in women than in men. The frequency of neurological improvement or deterioration during hospitalization was not different between the sexes. After adjusting for possible confounders, including age, stroke subtype and severity, risk factors, and poststroke treatments, it was found that female sex was independently associated with poor functional outcome at discharge (odds ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–1.57). There was heterogeneity of the association between sex and poor outcome according to age: women had higher risk of poor outcome than men among patients aged ≥70 years, but no clear sex difference was found in patients aged <70 years.

Conclusions—

Female sex was associated with the risk of poor functional outcome at discharge after acute ischemic stroke.
Delayed Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase–Activating Polypeptide Delivery After Brain Stroke Improves Functional Recovery by Inducing M2 Microglia/Macrophage Polarization
Authors: Brifault Coralie , Gras Marjorie , Liot Donovan , May Victor , Vaudry David , Wurtz Olivier
Published: December 2014

Background and Purpose—

Until now, except thrombolysis, the therapeutical strategies targeting the acute phase of cerebral ischemia have been proven ineffective, and no approach is available to attenuate the delayed cell death mechanisms and the resulting functional deficits in the late phase. Then, we investigated whether a targeted and delayed delivery of pituitary adenylate cyclase–activating polypeptide (PACAP), a peptide known to exert neuroprotective activities, may dampen delayed pathophysiological processes improving functional recovery.

Methods—

Three days after permanent focal ischemia, PACAP-producing stem cells were transplanted intracerebro ventricularly in nonimmunosuppressed mice. At 7 and 14 days post ischemia, the effects of this stem cell–based targeted delivery of PACAP on functional recovery, volume lesions, and inflammatory processes were analyzed.

Results—

The delivery of PACAP in the vicinity of the infarct zone 3 days post stroke promotes fast, stable, and efficient functional recovery. This was correlated with a modulation of the postischemic inflammatory response. Transcriptomic and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis–based bioinformatic analyses identified several gene networks, functions, and key transcriptional factors, such as nuclear factor-κB, C/EBP-β, and Notch/RBP-J as PACAP’s potential targets. Such PACAP-dependent immunomodulation was further confirmed by morphometric and phenotypic analyses of microglial cells showing increased number of Arginase-1
+
cells in mice treated with PACAP-expressing cells specifically, demonstrating the redirection of the microglial response toward a neuroprotective M2 phenotype.

Conclusions—

Our results demonstrated that immunomodulatory strategies capable of redirecting the microglial response toward a neuroprotective M2 phenotype in the late phase of brain ischemia could represent attractive options for stroke treatment in a new and unexploited therapeutical window.
New Grading System Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Mouse Model of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
Authors: Egashira Yusuke , Shishido Hajime , Hua Ya , Keep Richard F. , Xi Guohua
Published: December 2014

Background and Purpose—

A grading system for experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) that does not require animal euthanasia is currently unavailable. We proposed a new grading system based on MRI and evaluated the feasibility of this method in a mouse model of SAH.

Methods—

SAH was induced by endovascular perforation in adult male C57BL/6 mice. Mice underwent MRI 24 hours after SAH and were categorized into the following 5 grades based on T2*-weighted imaging: Grade 0, no visible SAH or intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH); Grade 1, minimal/localized SAH without IVH; Grade 2, minimal/localized SAH with IVH; Grade 3, thick/diffuse SAH without IVH; and Grade 4, thick/diffuse SAH with IVH. Neurological deficits were then assessed and the mice euthanized for conventional SAH grading.

Results—

Among a total of 47 mice, 4% were scored as grade 0, 30% as grade 1, 11% as grade 2, 30% as grade 3, and 26% as grade 4. This MRI grading had excellent interobserver reliability (weighted
κ
value =0.94), and there were strong correlations between the MRI grading and the conventional grading (
r
=0.85;
P
<0.001) or between MRI grade and neurological scores (
r
=−0.46;
P
<0.01).

Conclusions—

The new MRI grading correlated well with conventional grading and enabled in vivo evaluation of SAH severity. This grading system may offer advantages in future studies of experimental SAH.
New species of Graphidaceae from Zhejiang Province, China
Authors: KALB KLAUS , JIA ZE-FENG
Published: December 2014

Four species of the lichen family Graphidaceae from Zhejiang Province, China, are described as new, namely Fissurina baishanzuensis, with hemithecioid ascomata, an entire, dark orange brown exciple and broadly ellipsoid muriform ascospores; F. subundulata, distinguished by hemithecioid ascomata, an entire, dark orange brown exciple and ellipsoid, muriform ascospores which are distinctly larger than in F. baishanzuensis; Graphis jinhuana, distinguished by mostly unbranched erumpent ascomata with a lateral thalline margin, open, non-pruinose discs, a laterally carbonized exciple, 7–9-septate ascospores and producing norstictic acid; and Graphis pananensis with irregularly branched ascomata with a lateral thalline margin, a concealed disc, a completely carbonized exciple, 7–9-septate ascospores and without secondary chemistry.
New species of Graphidaceae (Ostropales, Lecanoromycetes) from southern Thailand
Authors: SUTJARITTURAKAN JUTARAT , SAIPUNKAEW WANARUK , BOONPRAGOB KANSRI , KALB KLAUS
Published: December 2014

Fourteen species of the lichen family Graphidaceae from southern Thailand are described as new, namely Creographa subbrasiliensis, which is similar to C. brasiliensis but without chemistry; Diorygma angusticarpum, which differs from D. hieroglyphicum by a I+ blue hymenium and lirellae with a slit-like disc; D. chumphonense, distinguished by its small, densely muriform ascospores and production of salazinic and norstictic acids; D. citri, distinguished by a I- hymenium and a complex chemistry including salazinic and hypostictic acids as major metabolites; D. conprotocetraricum, which is unique by its chemistry, i.e. conprotocetraric acid as a major substance; D. fuscopruinosum with a brown pruina on the disc of the apothecium and comparatively small ascospores; D. hieroglyphicellum, which is similar to D. hieroglyphicum but differs by much smaller ascospores; D. inexpectatum, which is distinguished by its chemistry (salazinic and hypostictic acids) and a I+ blue hymenium; D. salazinicum, separated from D. pruinosum by its rare chemistry (stictic and salazinic acids as ± major metabolites); D. subpruinosum, distinguished by often 2-spored asci and protocetraric and hypostictic acids as major constituents; D. thailandicum, which is similar to D. pruinosum, but differs by protocetraric and stictic acid as major metabolites; Graphis australosiamensis, distinguished by one muriform ascospore per ascus, a laterally carbonized exciple and norstictic acid in the thallus; Ocellularia palianensis, distinguished by small, transversely septate ascospores and by producing two unknown substances; and Platygramme microspora, which is distinguished by very small transseptate ascospores and producing stictic acid and its satellites.
New higher taxa in the lichen family Graphidaceae (lichenized Ascomycota: Ostropales) based on a three-gene skeleton phylogeny
Authors: Lumbsch H. Thorsten , Kraichak Ekaphan , Parnmen Sittiporn , Plata Eimy Rivas , Aptroot André , Cáceres Marcela E. S. , ERTZ DAMIEN , Feuerstein Shirley Cunha , Mercado-Díaz Joel A. , STAIGER BETTINA , BROECK DRIES VAN DEN , Lücking Robert
Published: December 2014

We provide an updated skeleton phylogeny of the lichenized family Graphidaceae (excluding subfamily Gomphilloideae), based on three loci (mtSSU, nuLSU, RPB2), to elucidate the position of four new genera, Aggregatorygma, Borinquenotrema, Corticorygma, and Paratopeliopsis, as well as the placement of the enigmatic species Diorygma erythrellum, Fissurina monilifera, and Redingeria desseiniana. Based on the resulting topology, in addition to three tribes described previously, we recognize four further tribes in the subfamily Graphidoideae: Acanthothecieae Lumbsch, Kraichak & Lücking, Diploschisteae (Zahlbr.) Lumbsch, Kraichak & Lücking, Leptotremateae Lumbsch, Kraichak & Lücking, and Wirthiotremateae Lumbsch, Kraichak & Lücking. The phylogenetic position of Aggregatorygma and Borinquenotrema was not resolved with support, whereas Corticorygma forms part of Acanthothecieae, supported sister to Acanthothecis, and Paratopeliopsis belongs in Thelotremateae, unsupported sister to Leucodecton. Diorygma erythrellum is confirmed as a member of the Diorygma-Thalloloma clade, while Fissurina monilifera, inspite of its myriotremoid ascomata, belongs in Fissurina s.str. Redingeria dessiniana, although resembling the genus Phaeographopsis, is supported sister to R. glaucoglyphica. Topeliopsis darlingtonii forms the sister group to Gintarasia megalophthalma. Consequently, T. darlingtonii and the closely related T. elixii are recombined in Gintarasia as Gintarasia darlingtonii (Frisch & Kalb) Lumbsch, Kraichak & Lücking, and G. elixii (Frisch & Kalb) Lumbsch, Kraichak & Lücking.
New fertile isidiate Graphidaceae from the Solomon Islands
Authors: APTROOT ANDRÉ
Published: December 2014

Two new species of Graphidaceae are described from the Solomon Islands. Fissurina longiisidiata occurs on tree bark in lowland forests and is characterized by the presence of long cylindrical, glossy green isidia and 3-septate ascospores. Pseudoramonia isidiata occurs on dead leaves in mountain forest and is characterized by the presence of gnarled, somewhat tapering, whitish grey isidia and 7-septate, somewhat clavate ascospores.
Taxonomic study of crustose coralline algae off the northeastern Brazilian coast
Authors: Costa Iara Oliveira , Horta Paulo Antunes , Bergstrom Ellie R , Nunes José Marcos De Castro
Published: December 2014

This work presents a detailed morphoanatomical study of crustose coralline algae species from the northeastern Brazilian coast, in the north of Bahia state. Nine species have been recognized: Sporolithon episporum, Lithophyllum stictaeforme, Spongites yendoi, Spongites sp., Mesophyllum erubescens, Phymatolithon masonianum, Phymatolithon calcareum, Lithothamnion crispatum and Lithothamnion brasiliense. Phymatolithon masonianum and Phymatolithon calcareum constitute the first record of these species for the northern coast of Brazil. An identification key, as well as descriptions, illustrations, comparisons with related taxa, and geographical distributions for Brazil as well as global geographic distributions are presented. Additionally, some ecological implications are discussed focusing the need of more studies about this neglected group of coralline red algae.
Rhodolith forming coralline algae in the Upper Miocene of Santa Maria Island (Azores, NE Atlantic): a critical evaluation
Authors: Rebelo Ana Cristina , Rasser Michael , Riosmena-Rodríguez Rafael , Neto Ana Isabel , Ávila Sérgio
Published: December 2014

The Late Miocene Malbusca outcrop is located in the southeastern coast of Santa Maria Island (Azores, NE Atlantic), interspersed in volcanic formations. At ~20 meters above present sea level, a prominent discontinuous layer of rhodoliths seizes with an extension of ~250 meters. This paper presents the first taxonomic record of fossil rhodolith forming coralline algae for the Miocene of the Azores. The preserved taxonomic features used were the following: (1) arrangement of basal filaments, (2) epithallial cells (when observable), (3) presence of cell fusions, (4) conceptacle type, (5) number of cells layers which conceptacle chamber floors are situated below the surrounding thallus surface and (6) for the sporangial pores, the orientation of the filaments around the conceptacle pores. Based on these characters, six taxa were identified encompassing three Corallinaceae (Lithophyllum prototypum, Lithophyllum sp., Spongites sp. and Hydrolithon sp.) and one Hapalidaceae (Phymatolithon calcareum and cf. Phymatolithon sp.). An unidentified coaxial thallus was also present, the coaxial construction ascribing the specimens to the genus Mesophyllum or Neogoniolithon. Taxonomic accounts for the identified taxa are described, illustrated and an identification key is provided. The report of L. prototypum represents the first Miocene record and the preservation of the specimens is very good. Miocene coralline algae seem very consistent among deposits but some species are relevant for particular areas, like in the Azores.
Floristic composition of crustose coralline algae from the St. Peter and St. Paul Archipelago, a summit of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Authors: Crespo Thalita Mendes , Bahia Ricardo Da Gama , Maneveldt Gavin Willian , Amado Filho Gilberto Menezes
Published: December 2014

Crustose Coralline Algae (CCA) are important constituents of tropical coral reef environments throughout the world’s oceans, acting as structural reinforcement and recruitment cues. Despite their importance and their ubiquity, very little is known of the biodiversity of CCA in remote areas of the world’s oceans. On the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago (SPSPA), located in the central equatorial Atlantic Ocean, CCA occur abundantly in intertidal rock pools and the surrounding subtidal zones. This study represents the first attempt at detailing the CCA species composition for the archipelago along a depth interval between 0 to 70 m. Seven taxa of CCA were identified: Corallinaceae sp., Hydrolithon rupestre, Hydrolithon sp., Lithophyllum johansenii, Lithothamnion muelleri, Mesophyllum engelhartii, and Titanoderma pustulatum pustulatum. A decrease in CCA species richness and change in species composition was seen from shallow to deeper zones that can be explained by a significant reduction in temperature and photon irradiance observed bellow 30 m depth.
Echeveria munizii (Crassulaceae) a new species of epiphyte from tropical Volcán de Colima, Mexico
Authors: Vázquez-García José Antonio , Nieves-hernández Gregorio , Padilla-Lepe Jesús , Nuño-Rubio Ana Teresa , Cházaro-Basáñez Miguel De Jesús
Published: December 2014

Echeveria munizii, a new species from the southwestern slopes of Volcán de Colima on the Colima-Jalisco border in western Mexico is described and illustrated. This species belongs to series Gibbiflorae and is most similar to E. fulgens from which it differs in having adaxially sulcate leaves with straight and hyaline margins, olive green to brownish green surface, a fewer flowered inflorescence with fewer flowers per branch, a pink / orange bicolored corolla with the inner surface pale pink to orange, the base of the carpels white, and longer pedicels. A species conservation assessment, undertaken using IUCN criteria, determines Echeveria munizii to be Critically Endangered (CR).
The Bacidia coprodes group (Ramalinaceae, Lecanoromycetes, Ascomycota), with special reference to the species in Europe and North America
Authors: Ekman Stefan
Published: December 2014

This paper aims to clarify taxonomy and nomenclature of the lichen Bacidia coprodes and its closest relatives in Europe and North America. Bacidia coprodes as treated in recent works was found to consist of three distinct species in Europe and North America, the correct names of which are B. coprodes (s. str.), B. notarisiana, and B. granosa. In addition, a fourth species, B. inornata (Nyl.) Blomb. & Forssell, was found to be closely related to this group of lichens and is also treated here. The four species can be separated by apothecial and pycnidial pigmentation as well as conidium shape and size. They are closely related to species currently treated in Bacidia, Toninia, or Arthrosporum. Six basionyms, viz. Bilimbia coprodes, Patellaria salevensis, Bilimbia subtrachona, Lecidea chytrina, L. chytrina var. hormospora, and L. inornata, are lectotypified. Detailed descriptions and a determination key are provided.
Using Land Cover, Population, and Night Light Data for Assessing Local Temperature Differences in Mainz, Germany
Authors: Lindén Jenny , Esper Jan , Holmer Björn
Published: December 2014

Urban areas are believed to affect temperature readings, thereby biasing the estimation of twentieth-century warming at regional to global scales. The precise effect of changes in the surroundings of meteorological stations, particularly gradual changes due to urban growth, is difficult to determine. In this paper, data from 10 temperature stations within 15 km of the city of Mainz (Germany) over a period of 842 days are examined to assess the connection between temperature and the properties of the station surroundings, considering (i) built/paved area surface coverage, (ii) population, and (iii) night light intensity. These properties were examined in circles with increasing radii from the stations to identify the most influential source areas. Daily maximum temperatures Tmax, as well as daily average temperatures, are shown to be significantly influenced by elevation and were adjusted before the analysis of anthropogenic surroundings, whereas daily minimum temperatures Tmin were not. Significant correlations (p < 0.1) between temperature and all examined properties of station surroundings up to 1000 m are found, but the effects are diminished at larger distance. Other factors, such as slope and topographic position (e.g., hollows), were important, especially to Tmin. Therefore, properties of station surroundings up to 1000 m from the stations are most suitable for the assessment of potential urban influence on Tmax and Tmin in the temperate zone of central Europe.
The Potential of Deriving Tree-Ring-Based Field Reconstructions of Droughts and Pluvials over Fennoscandia*,+
Authors: Seftigen Kristina , Cook Edward R. , Linderholm Hans W. , Fuentes Mauricio , Björklund Jesper
Published: December 2014

Moisture availability has been identified as one of the most important factors in the context of future climate change. This paper explores the potential of applying a multiproxy approach to dendroclimatology to infer the twentieth-century moisture variability over Fennoscandia. Fields of the warm-season (June–August) standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) were developed from a dense network of precipitation-sensitive annually resolved tree-ring width (TRW), maximum density (MXD), and stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope chronologies using a point-by-point local regression technique (PPR). Two different approaches were tested for selecting candidate tree-ring predictors of SPEI for each gridpoint reconstruction: a search radius method and a search spatial correlation contour method. As confirmed by a range of metrics of reconstruction fidelity, both methods produced reconstructions showing a remarkably high accuracy in a temporal sense, but with some minor regional differences. As a whole, the spatial skill of the reconstructed fields was generally quite good, showing the greatest performance in the central and southern parts of the target region. Lower reconstruction skills were observed in northern part of the study domain. Regional-scale moisture anomalies were best captured by the reconstructions, while local-scale features were not as well represented. The authors speculate that a spatially and temporally varying tree-ring proxy response to temperature and precipitation in the region may cause some uncertainties in a Fennoscandian hydroclimatic reconstruction; this needs further investigation. Overall, this study shows a great potential for making long-term spatiotemporal reconstructions of moisture variability for the Fennoscandian region using tree-ring data.
Analyzing the Inundation Pattern of the Poyang Lake Floodplain by Passive Microwave Data
Authors: Shang Haolu , Jia Li , Menenti Massimo
Published: December 2014

The soil wetness condition is a useful indicator of inundation hazard in floodplains, such as the Poyang Lake floodplain. Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) passive microwave data were used to monitor water-saturated soil and open water areas of the Poyang Lake floodplain from 2001 to 2008, capturing the inundation patterns of this area in space and time. The polarization difference brightness temperature (PDBT) at 37 GHz is sensitive to the water extension even under dense vegetation. The zero-order radiative transfer model was simplified to retrieve the vertical–horizontal (V–H)-polarized effective emissivity difference from the PDBT at 37 GHz. Vegetation fractional area and vegetation transmission function were derived from NDVI to represent the vegetation attenuation. This effective emissivity difference has a quasi-linear relationship with the fractional area of water-saturated soil and standing water, no matter the frequency. Using the multifrequency-polarization surface emission (Qp) model and the Dobson model of the soil–water mixture, the two segments of this relationship were combined into a quasi-linear model. Comparing the retrieved water-saturated soil and standing water area of Poyang Lake with the lake area obtained from the MODIS and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image at higher spatial resolution, the calculations show a good fit with the MODIS and SAR data, with R2 = 0.7664 and relative RMSE = 17.74%. The cross-correlation analysis shows that the Poyang Lake extension fluctuates with a 5-day time lag with the upstream land area of water-saturated soil and standing water. Since the closure of the Three Gorges Dam, this relationship is more evident.